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Ears the News: December 22, 2017 Edition


Welcome to the latest edition of Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com.


Disney has announced that a new Cirque du Soleil show will be coming to Disney Springs.

Nearly twenty years after teaming up to bring “La Nouba” to the stage, the two entertainment companies are working together on a new collaboration. 

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com.
This original show will be created by Cirque du Soleil and will pay homage to Disney’s rich history of animation, with a vivid story told in a way that only Cirque du Soleil can deliver. Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, elaborated, sharing “We are incredibly inspired by Disney’s immense creative universe. We are convinced that bringing Disney’s magic to life on stage will touch audiences and bring them back to their childhood.”

An opening date is yet to be announced. The current La Nouba show will have its final performance on December 31, 2017.

Donald Trump made his debut in the Magic Kingdom's Hall of Presidents.

As part of a completely reworked show, President Trump makes a speech and stands alongside the other former United States Presidents.

Following a year-long transformation, The Hall of Presidents officially reopened at the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday December 19, with new enhancements. Check out the video below courtesy of WDWMagic.com. 


Having trouble viewing the video? Click here to watch on YouTube.


This past weekend Star Wars: Galactic Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios hosted a special panel with Walt Disney Imagineering to update guests on the latest progress at Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.

Star Wars lead Imagineer Scott Trowbridge was joined by Imagineers Robin Reardon and Chris Beatty, and Doug Chiang from Lucasfilm.

The designers shared an inside look at the Millennium Falcon that guests will be able to get inside.

A look at a fleet of full-size X-wing fighters being built for the Star Wars lands.

And finally a look at one of the merchandise locations, overseen by a Toydarian, one of the creatures we first encountered on Tatooine in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.”

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com.
Disney has announced the 17 acts that will take part in the Garden Rocks concert series - part of the 2018 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.

New acts include country favorites Lonestar, British rock legends Foghat and Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles. Returning favorites include disco pioneers Village People and ‘80s supergroups like Night Ranger.

Here is this year’s lineup (subject to change without notice):
  • March 2-5: Night Ranger “Sister Christian” 
  • March 9-12: STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City” 
  • March 16-19: Simple Plan “Welcome to My Life” 
  • March 23-26: Little River Band “Reminiscing” 
  • March 30-April 2: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman” 
  • April 6-7: Foghat (NEW!) “Slow Ride” 
  • April 8-9: Survivor (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “Eye of the Tiger” 
  • April 13-14: Smash Mouth (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “All Star” 
  • April 15-16: Rick Springfield (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “Jessie’s Girl” 
  • April 20-21: Jo Dee Messina (NEW to Garden Rocks!) “Stand by Me” 
  • April 22-23: Lonestar (NEW!) “Amazed” 
  • April 27-30: Blood, Sweat and Tears featuring Bo Bice “Spinning Wheel” 
  • May 4-7: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry VIII I Am” 
  • May 11-12: Village People “Y.M.C.A.” 
  • May 13-14: Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles (NEW!) “Hotel California” 
  • May 18-21: The Guess Who “American Woman” 
  • May 25-28: The Spinners “Working My Way Back to You” 
Garden Rocks performances are at the America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and are included with Epcot admission.

Guests of the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels, beginning with stays on January 1, 2018, and continuing throughout 2018, will be able to take part in the Extra Magic Hours benefit at Walt Disney World Theme Parks.

The Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels are: B Resort & Spa; Best Western Lake Buena Vista; DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando; Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace; Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista; Holiday Inn Orlando; and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista.

Also, scheduled to begin January 10, 2018, guests at the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels, who have booked a Walt Disney Travel Company package including a stay at one of the hotels, and theme park admission, will be able to link their hotel reservation on MyDisneyExperience.com, and with a linked, valid theme park ticket, these guests can utilize a 60-day booking window for FastPass+ selections.

This hotel benefit is available from January 1 – December 31, 2018, and is subject to change without notice. Guests without the Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option must use their ticket for admission to the same theme park where they would like to enjoy the Extra Magic Hours benefit.

Other benefits of staying at one of the Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels include:
  • Advance tee times and discounts at all Walt Disney World® Resort golf courses 
  • The ability to book advance dining and dinner show reservations for all restaurants across the Walt Disney World® Resort. 

Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels include:
  • B Resort & Spa – the resort opened in June 2014 with 394 newly renovated guest rooms, the full-service B Indulged AVEDA Spa, and features American Kitchen Bar & Grill 
  • Best Western Lake Buena Vista – the 18-story, 325-room resort overlooks scenic Lake Buena Vista and the Walt Disney World Resort, and offers two restaurants, a lounge, and wireless internet 
  • DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando – the hotel features 229 suites, and is the only all-suite resort hotel in the Disney Springs Resort Area 
  • Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace –the 27-acre, newly renovated hotel features a redesigned pool area with four pools, seven restaurants and lounges, spa, and a Character Breakfast every Sunday 
  • Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – the closest hotel to Disney Springs, the resort offers two pools, a Disney Character Breakfast each Sunday, seven restaurants and lounges (including Benihana Steakhouse), and 24-hour fitness center 
  • Holiday Inn Orlando – featuring modern Florida décor, a beach entry swimming pool, and complimentary Wi-Fi in all guest rooms and public areas 
  • Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista – featuring a Disney Character Breakfast 3 days a week, 394 guest rooms, six dining options, and the Oasis Aquatic Pool Playground with interactive water features. 
World of Disney will be undergoing a major refurbishment in 2018 which will completely change the look of the store.

During this time, the store will be moving portions of its inventory to a temporary location across from Polite Pig in the Town Center.

As of now, the existing World of Disney store is open as normal.

Following the final Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tonight, the Magic Kingdom will begin offering its holiday entertainment during regular park hours.

Here is the schedule.

December 23 - 29, 2017
  • Happily Ever After - 9pm. 
  • A Frozen Holiday Wish - 6:15pm. 
  • Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade - 12pm and 3:30pm. 
  • Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration - 7pm, 8pm and 11pm. 
  • A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas - 3:45pm, 4:45pm, 5:45pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm and 9:30pm. 
  • VoicePlay (December 24 and 25) - 3:15pm, 4:15pm, 5:15pm and 6:15pm. 
December 30 - 31, 2017
  • Fantasy in the Sky fireworks - 6:30pm and 11:50pm. 
  • A Frozen Holiday Wish - 6pm. 
  • Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade - 12pm and 3:30pm. 
  • Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration - 8pm, 9pm and 10pm. 
  • A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas - 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2:15pm, 3:45pm, 4:45pm and 5:45pm. 
  • DJ Dance Parties - Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage, Frontierland and Tomorrowland 

Select Walt Disney World Resort hotel restaurants are now available for reservations on OpenTable.

In some cases, booking via OpenTable may be a useful alternative to booking via My Disney Experience, as OpenTable does not have penalties for cancellations and may be more flexible with changes.

Restaurants available on OpenTable for reservations include:
  • Artist Point 
  • Boatwright's 
  • Flying Fish 
  • Grand Floridian Cafe 
  • Jiko 
  • Sanaa 
  • The Wave 

Looking to plan your next trip to Walt Disney World? Contact the agents at Kingdom Konsultant Travel to help you plan your dream vacation. Email vacations@kingdomkonsultant.com for a free quote today.
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