The Jingle Cruise Holiday Overlay Is Here
Jingle Cruise is back, and we have a Gingerbread Carousel spinning at a DVC resort!
Welcome to the 2021 holiday season, everyone!
Holiday Decorations and Ride Overlays Are Back!
Every year, Disneyland gets a head start on Walt Disney World. Haunted Mansion Holiday, the combo Halloween/Christmas overlay, goes live in August.
Then, on November 1st, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT switch from Halloween to Christmas.
When I say that this change occurs overnight, I mean it literally. Guests left the Disney After Hours – Boo Bash after midnight.
Many of these sleepy guests leveraged their sugar rush into a Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom.
The ones staying at official Disney resorts even utilized Early Theme Park Hours to enter the parks by 8 a.m.
After they presumably ordered plenty of coffee, they wandered Magic Kingdom and other parks, where they discovered a bit of magic.
Cast member elves had worked overnight to add yuletide decorations throughout the parks!
Here’s a video of Magic Kingdom’s current state:
Obviously, the full decorations won’t go up for another few days, but that’s a fantastic start!
The most essential element is the Christmas Tree in the center of Main Street, U.S.A.
Also, the Magic Kingdom Emporium Shop has fully transitioned to the holiday season.
You may still find a few pieces of Halloween merchandise there, but it’s primarily Christmas stuff now.
More about the Holiday Updates Already Live
At Magic Kingdom, my favorite aspect is now live as well. Disney switched from Jungle Cruise to Jingle Cruise overnight on November 1st.
The boats now feature their festive names like Eggnog Annie and Mistletoe Millie. Cast members update the script to reflect the holiday theme, too.
At EPCOT, Living with the Land has started the switch but is nowhere near completion yet. In a matter of days, it’ll be 100 percent Christmas style, though.
Nearby, the Gingerbread Carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is up and spinning.
This year’s theme is The Little Mermaid, and it’s spectacular. Take a look:
Also, the Nice List at the start of the video is an inside joke. It shows which cast members worked on the Gingerbread Carousel.
Meanwhile, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the skeleton is up for its legendary Gingerbread House.
You can see a snippet at the start of this clip:
Disney had previously indicated that this house wouldn’t officially be ready until November 10th. However, I have a sneaking suspicion it might finish sooner.
Other Disney Updates
First, you may have heard that Shanghai Disneyland has closed. On October 30th, one person tested positive for COVID-19. Then, this happened.
Yes, 30,000 tourists remained in the park for the body of a day until they all tested negative for COVID-19. The cast members had to do so as well.
Shanghai Disneyland didn’t open to the public on Halloween and then remained closed on November 1st and 2nd.
The current plan calls for the park to reopen tomorrow, November 3rd. So, the shutdown is temporary.
As a reminder, Beijing hosts the Winter Olympics on February 4th, 2022. So, the region won’t hesitate to close the park again if anyone else tests positive.
On a happier note, the next time you tap a Magic Band, you’ll be in for a treat, at least if you’re an annual passholder.
When you successfully check into the park, the scanner will light up purple, the same color as Figment.
You’ll also receive a musical accompaniment that sounds like Pixie Dust.
By the way, the Figment notification for annual passholders will happen at all Walt Disney World parks, not just EPCOT.
Finally, Disney just confirmed the return dates for some Club Levels at DVC properties.
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge brings back Club Level on December 16th.
Disney’s Yacht Club will restore its services on January 20th, followed by Beach Club on January 27th.
Then, on February 3rd, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will restart its Club Level amenities again. So, update your Club Level scorecards accordingly.
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