The Disneyland Hotel Expansion Gets a Name & More Disney News
Today’s update represents more of a hodgepodge of significant stories that I haven’t covered yet.
However, there’s one headliner here. Read on to learn the name of the 16th Disney Vacation Club resort!
What’s in a Name?
Okay, there’s not much to this conversation, but it’s still important. The Disneyland tower expansion has a confirmed name.
You’ll possibly become an owner at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel. This addition will include 350 new rooms, 271 of which are studios.
Also, let’s not ignore the obvious here. Who wouldn’t want to own at Disneyland Hotel? It’s a part of theme park history.
Walt Disney couldn’t afford to build a hotel, so he attempted to persuade any number of affluent friends to do it in his stead.
Only a virtual stranger, a rancher named Jack Wrather, liked the idea enough to proceed.
So, Disney wouldn’t own the Disneyland Hotel until 1988, more than 30 years later! Walt Disney made several offers during his lifetime, but Wrather wouldn’t sell.
Now, you can do something that Walt Disney never could. You can buy an ownership interest at Disneyland Hotel! How great is that?!
More Disneyland Updates
The Blue Bayou Restaurant has officially closed for renovations at Disneyland. Park officials had hinted this downtime will require months.
Presumably, the eatery’s changes will mirror ones occurring at Pirates of the Caribbean this year.
Disney has also published the menu for the three upcoming Star Wars Nite events in May. They’ll take place on May 3rd, May 4th, and May 27th.
I know that many Walt Disney World fans, me included, miss Star Wars Weekends and the crazy menu items at Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine.
This event won’t offer any of those decadent desserts. Still, it does sell savory dishes like Fried Reptavian Wings and Roasted Gornt Yakitori. You can read the full menu here.
The park will also host another after-hours event this summer. Disneyland After Dark: Grad Nite Reunion will occur on June 23rd, 28th, and 30th.
You can read all about the event here. Disney is billing it as “Grad Nite’s Greatest Hits” and will sell tickets starting at $150.
By the way, this event will occur at Disney California Adventure, not Disneyland.
DVC and Disney Cruise Notes
First, Disney Cruise Line has updated its pandemic policies to reflect something Dr. Anthony Fauci recently stated. The United States is out of the pandemic phase.
Due to the changing circumstances, Disney has rolled back its COVID-19 measures. That includes changes at Disney Cruise Line.
Courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog
You no longer need to wear face-coverings on motorcoach transportation to and from the cruise terminal. Similarly, you don’t have to wear a face mask at the terminal anymore.
Still, you should pack a face-covering just in case. Some ports of call fall under the jurisdiction of other governments. They might still have face mask requirements in place.
Next, golf fans should know that Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course will close half its course for upcoming renovations.
Through May 8th, you’ll only have access to nine holes. And that’s not even the worst part.
Upcoming construction on World Drive will force the complete closure of the golf course on May 9th. Unfortunately, it’ll stay down for an extended period.
Once the golf course reopens, it will feature an updated design. So, there’s that. Still, you won’t be golfing here this summer. Here’s the official site update on the subject.
In better news, the Top of the World Lounge will reopen soon at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Photo Courtesy of DisneyTouristBlog.com
Disney hasn’t posted an exact date yet, but the official website reflects the impending return of this lounge.
Walt Disney World Updates
At Walt Disney World, we’re halfway to Halloween. Naturally, Disney makes a big deal of this event now.
So, you’ll find a unique Twilight Zone Tower of Terror lens available when you purchase PhotoPass.
Also, the ride video at Haunted Mansion has been updated. Now, you’ll go home with a random Hitchhiking Ghost each time!
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, park officials have posted a preview clip of Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! Here’s a peek:
Finally, park officials have confirmed that MagicBand+ will arrive in 2022. Here’s the tweet:
https://twitter.com/DisneyParks/status/1519455233285447680
Access all available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.
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