TouringPlans Travel Beat 10-27-2024

At Travel Beat we have all the “other” news from the last week or so—the stuff that wasn’t big enough to stop the presses for. What did the newsroom bring us this week? Bullets are just ahead if you’re in a hurry, and more details follow below. Don’t forget to check out the Headline News Recap, in case there was something you missed!

• Festival of the Arts Dates Announced for 2025
• New Menu Items at SciFi Dine and Mama Melrose’s
• Disney Cruise Line Now Owns the Disney Treasure
• Mickey’s Very Merry and Other Christmas Menu Items at Disney World
• Multiple Disneyland Closures Are Over
• Headline News Recap

Can you guess which story inspired this week’s cover image? Leave your guesses in the comments!

Festival of the Arts Dates Announced for 2025

It’s coming! EPCOT’s second-shortest Festival will kick off in 2025, running from January 17 to February 24. Look for the return of Food Studios, the Disney on Broadway concert series, audience participation Paint by Numbers, chalk art from more talented artists who don’t need to paint by numbers, and of course, the banners in the Germany train station display. You know we’ll have coverage of all of it here on this fine blog, including menus and other details as they are released.

New Menu Items at SciFi Dine and Mama Melrose’s

Two Hollywood Studios restaurants rolled out some menu additions on Wednesday. At the Sci-Fine Dine In restaurant, the additions look like a celebration of all meats, but especially beef:

• Beamed-Up Burger with Fries: Two-pressed signature-blend patties, American cheese, shredded lettuce, jalapeño-bourbon-bacon jam, and house-made burger sauce on a brioche bun
• Prime Rib Sandwich: Toasted hoagie roll filled with shaved prime rib, provolone cheese, house-made giardiniera, arugula, and a side of au jus

Over at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, it looks more like a smorgasbord, if we’re allowed to use that word when describing an Italian restaurant.

• Mama’s Pasta with Shrimp: Three-cheese sauce, sauteed kale, cavatappi, roasted butternut squash, and wild mushroom
• Tuscan White Bean Purée: Roasted garlic and eggplant, fresh herbs, and chili oil (plant-based)
• Braised Waygu Beef on Orecchiette: Red wine-braised waygu beef, dried cherries, and pink peppercorn

Disney Cruise Line Now Owns the Disney Treasure

Captain, she’s ready to sail! On Thursday, October 24, the Disney Treasure marked off its final construction milestone as it changed ownership.  During the handover ceremony in Eemshaven, Netherlands, Disney Signature Experiences President Thomas Mazloum and Captain Marco Nogara received the ship from Meyer Werft CEO Bernd Eikens and Managing Director Bernard Meyer. And in just a couple of months on December 21, the Treasure will sail out of Port Canaveral on her maiden voyage.

Mickey’s Very Merry and Other Christmas Menu Items at Disney World

Christmas is getting ready to swoop on in the instant that Halloween is over at Disney World. With the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party just two weeks away, Disney has released the party-specific menus, along with some seasonal treats that will be available during regular park hours.

The Sugar Plum-Vanilla Soft-serve Sundae above (Sugar plum-vanilla soft-serve swirl dipped in celebration cake cone dip topped with marshmallows and almonds) is available during regular park hours and during the party at Storybook Treats. I’m pretty sure it won’t come in a ceramic dish like in the picture when you get it in the park, but it does look yummy, doesn’t it? You can see the rest of the lineup here, and look for these in the parks beginning on November 8.

Multiple Disneyland Closures Are Over

On Friday, the lineup at Disneyland grew just a little as several of the park’s attractions, dining, and merch locations made their way back from refurb. The Disneyland Railroad has reopened, although the New Orleans Square station remains unavailable. The Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree officially opens, returning after its transformation from The Hungry Bear Restaurant, and also in Critter Country Ray’s Berets has opened. Finally, over in Disney California Adventure, World of Color – ONE has also returned.

Headline News Recap

It was another bonzer week for headline news, so let’s dig in.

Right up at the beginning on Tuesday, Epic Universe tickets went on sale. Everything you need to know about admission is here: Epic Universe Admission Information & FAQ

Same day, Disneyland released the actual details of their previously announced “coming soon” room discounts. Early 2025 Room Discounts at Disneyland Resort

Wednesday: more tickets on sale news, this time for Magic Keys at Disneyland. Go-Go-Go! Magic Key Pass Sales Return November 6, 2024.

But on the East Coast … sad trombones, as prices at Disney World had their annual “adjustment”. This included increases on Annual Passes, but it also saw the release of ticket and hotel room rates for November and December of 2025. If you were looking for a holiday season package next year, now you can book it. Disney World Prices Inflated A Bit Today

And just as we thought Thursday might go past without any major announcements, Disney released the 2025 Military Salute Discount in the late afternoon. Disney World Military Salute Announced for 2025

That’s it for this week’s Travel Beat. What news are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!