TouringPlans Travel Beat 7-13-2024

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!

• Oogie Boogie Bash is Sold Out
• New York Bans Single-Use Plastic Toiletries
• D23 Full Schedule Announced
• Jungle Cruise Refurbishment Begins August 26
• New Four Seasons Private Residences at Disney World
• Nassau Cruise Port to Add Waterpark
• Win a Stay at Fort Wilderness Cabins
• Headline News Recap

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

Oogie Boogie Bash is Sold Out

Oogie Boogie Bash tickets at Disney California Adventure are now sold out for the season, with no dates showing availability. At Disney World, tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights went on sale to the general public this week. So far all dates for those events are still available and are expected to remain that way for a while; Disneyland events typically sell out much more quickly due to local demand.

New York Bans Single-Use Plastic Toiletries

Disney’s switch over the last several years to wall-mounted toiletry dispensers instead of single-use bottles has been the subject of a lot of forum debate. But it’s becoming an industry-wide standard, and now it’s the law in New York. Expect to see the single-use bottles gone from hotels with more than 50 rooms by January 1, 2025; hotels with fewer than 50 rooms will have an additional year to comply.

D23 Full Schedule Announced

D23 is coming up in just a few weeks on August 9, and the full panel lineup and schedule dropped this week. Here’s what most of us what to know: The Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase will take place on Saturday, August 10 at 7 pm Pacific Time. Josh D’Amaro hosts, and this is where big news about what’s coming to the parks and cruise line over the next several years is revealed. The panel is usually live-streamed, stay tuned for details when Disney releases them. And of course, you know we’ll have all the big news here on the blog.

Jungle Cruise Refurbishment Begins August 26

The Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom will be heading to refurbishment beginning on August 26. It’s expected to reopen before the holidays, but Disney didn’t commit to a date.

New Four Seasons Private Residences at Disney World

Do you want to live at Disney World and also at the Four Seasons? This week the owner of the Four Seasons Orlando Resort at Disney World, and Disney World, announced their intention to build an enclave of private residences. The new residences will be part of Golden Oak (not to be confused with the Golden Oak Outpost in the Magic Kingdom) and will comprise a residential tower and individual boutique homes on a property adjacent to the Four Seasons. The project will include a total of 40 residences ranging from 3,500 to 7,000 square feet. Owners will not only have the benefit of a Disney World address, but also access to all the amenities of the adjacent Four Seasons Resort, plus an onsite Residential Services team to provide the kind of luxury support that Four Seasons customers have grown to expect. Sales will begin in late 2024 with prices starting at $5 million. Most of us can only dream, but if interested you can put your name on the call list.

Nassau Cruise Port to Add Waterpark

The Atlantis Resort, with its extensive water recreation, is a popular port excursion for ships parking at Nassau. Starting in 2026, those who don’t want to commit to its hefty price tag will have other options as Nassau prepares to build a waterpark complex directly at the port. Nassau intends the addition to add family-friendly options to its local activities and differentiate it from other ports in the Caribbean. The $35 million project is expected to take about 18 months to complete and add about 350 local jobs.

Win a Stay at Fort Wilderness Cabins

The new Disney Vacation Club Cabins at Fort Wilderness are open and you can win a 6-night stay! Visit the sweepstakes site for official rules and to fill out your entry. You can get a single entry for filling out the form, and additional entries for watching some short promotional videos. The contest is open to both DVC members and non-members, no purchase is necessary. Prize includes

• 6-night stay in a One-Bedroom Cabin at The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort at Walt Disney World® Resort
• Five (5) Roundtrip airfares
• Five 7-day Walt Disney World® Resort Theme Park tickets, with Park Hopper® option
• Golf cart access
• Roundtrip ground transportation

Headline News Recap

Some big news this week is for the other side of the world, as Disney and OLC announced a partnership to bring Disney cruising to Japan. A New Disney Ship Is on the Horizon – In Japan!

Closer to home, Halloween Horror Nights dropped more House info and Frequent Fear Passes. Insidious the Further Haunted House & Frequent Fear Passes for Halloween Horror Nights 2024

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