TouringPlans Travel Beat 12-15-2024

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!

• Dates for Flower & Garden in 2025!
• Gran Fiesta Tour Refurbishment Dates
• 50% Deposit Offer on Disney Cruise Line
• Details for the Premiere of the World Premiere Area in Paris
• Island Tower at the Polynesian Opening on Tuesday
• Headline News Recap

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

Dates for Flower & Garden in 2025!

Set your calendars and book your trips: the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is returning to Disney World from March 5 to June 2, 2025! Get ready for spring to take over at EPCOT, including Outdoor Kitchens, the Butterfly Garden, Garden Rocks concerts, and more. This year’s edition is the 30th Anniversary, but Disney hasn’t confirmed whether anything special is on tap to celebrate the milestone.

Gran Fiesta Tour Refurbishment Dates

The Gran Fiesta Tour will be taking a break for some TLC from January 6 through March 15, 2025.

50% Deposit Offer on Disney Cruise Line

Booking a cruise to put under the Christmas tree just got a bit easier, as Disney has reduced the required deposit on select sailings between June 16, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Book from now to March 14, 2025 and pay only half the regular deposit, with the rest due at time of final payment. Not valid for the Adventure or early Destiny itineraries; see the terms and conditions on Disney’s offer page.

Details for the Premiere of the World Premiere Area in Paris

ICYMI, Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris will be renamed to Disney Adventure World when World of Frozen opens as a new land there in 2026. In preparation, the park’s entrance is also undergoing a major transformation, to become a welcoming area with shopping and dining that leads to the heart of World Premiere Plaza.

The new World Premiere area will open in Spring of 2025 and pay homage to some of the iconic movie theaters in Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Dine at the new Hollywood Gardens restaurant, or grab a bite at the Searchlight kiosk. For shopping, there’s the new Mickey’s of Hollywood Boutique with Art Deco decor inspired by the classic American department store of the 1920s. And of course, look for Disney details, touches of Mickey, and hidden Mickeys throughout.

Island Tower at the Polynesian Opening on Tuesday

If you’re a DVC member who loves the Poly but has bemoaned the lack of 1- and 2-bedroom Villas, fret no more. The Island Tower opens on Tuesday, December 17 – and of course, these rooms are also bookable for cash as inventory allows. Our intrepid parks reporters have a stay booked this week, but our new writer Jacqueline Dole was kind enough to send along this preview photo. Look for her articles on cruising and the parks in the weeks ahead!

Headline News Recap

The holidays are kinda crazy – after last week’s bonanza of Disneyland news, there were no headliners this week!

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