TouringPlans Travel Beat 9-7-2024

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!

• “First Wave” DVC Member Cruise on Disney Destiny Announced
• New Winter Discounts Available at Aulani
• Blizzard Beach Reopening November 4, Typhoon Lagoon Closing
• Water Parks Seasonal Pass Now Available
• Vampire Stitch Popcorn Bucket Coming to Disneyland & DCL
• Hello Kitty Arrives at Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk
• Limited Time Mooncake at Food & Wine Festival
• Headline News Recap

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

“First Wave” DVC Member Cruise on Disney Destiny Announced

Booking for the inaugural season of the Disney Destiny began this week, with the highest level Pearl Castaway Club Members eligible to book beginning yesterday.  Booking for the general public begins September 12, and if you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member you’ll have a special opportunity wait just a bit longer – until October 23, 2024 – and book a members-only exclusive “First Wave” sailing.

The 5-night sailing departs on November 28, 2025 from Fort Lauderdale. The Bahamas itinerary includes stops at both Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay, as well as two sea days. The Member-Exclusive Voyage is part of the Disney Collection exchange; at least one guest will need to be paid for using DVC points (charts are not yet released) although others can be paid with cash. And like all Disney Collection exchange bookings, members need to be eligible for Membership Extras.

New Winter Discounts Available at Aulani

A pair of new discounts for winter and early spring were released this week for Aulani. All guests are eligible to save with the 2025 Winter Room Offer:

• Save 25% for stays of 5 or more nights for travel most nights from Jan. 4 through April 10, 2025
• Save 20% for stays of 4 or more nights for travel most nights from Jan. 4 through April 10, 2025

If you’re a Disney® Visa® Cardmember you can save even more with the Disney Visa 2025 Winter Room Offer, valid most nights from Jan. 4 through April 10, 2025:

• Save 30% on Villas for stays of 5 or more nights
• Save 25% on rooms for stays of 5 nights or more
• Save 25% on Villas for stays of 4 nights
• Save 20% on rooms for stays of 4 nights

Plus, when Cardmembers book through Sept. 17, 2024, stays of 4 or more nights include a $150 Resort credit!

Blizzard Beach Reopening November 4, Typhoon Lagoon Closing

It’s been a seasonal ritual since 2019: Blizzard Beach opens and Typhoon Lagoon closes. In the spring, as the world turns, the reverse occurs with Blizzard Beach closing and Typhoon Lagoon opening. Except maybe not this year, since 2025 on-site Disney stays include a water parks perk. Will we see both parks open at the same time in 2025? Only Disney knows, but in the meantime we’re looking forward to seeing Blizzard Beach’s snow-capped peaks again in November.

Water Parks Seasonal Pass Now Available

The Water Parks Seasonal Pass has returned at Disney World. The pass is $79 per tax, and allows you to visit an unlimited number of times between now and May 23, 2025. Blockout dates apply from April 12-20, 2025, and the parks do sometimes close when temps are low or weather is otherwise unfavorable.

Vampire Stitch Popcorn Bucket Coming to Disneyland & DCL

Everyone’s favorite alien is coming to a popcorn bucket near you — provided you’re visiting Disneyland or will be sailing the high seas with Disney Cruise Line. (Disney World fans are left making the McKayla Maroney face.) The bucket debuts at Disneyland Resort on September 12, and at a later date (unspecified) on Disney Cruise Line.

Hello Kitty Arrives at Universal Studios Hollywood CityWalk

Hello Kitty has arrived in Hollywood, with the debut of the Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe and the Sanrio Smile Shop at Universal Hollywood Studios CityWalk. The Cafe is a Grab ‘n’ Go location serving a variety of treats, desserts, and beverages, and you can recognize it by its giant Hello Kitty bow and pastel pink and white awning.

The Sanrio Smile shop next door celebrates all things Sanrio and Hello Kitty. You can find merchandise and collectables themed to Hello Kitty and her friends Cinnamoroll, Keroppi, Kuromi, My Melody, Badtz-maru and Chococat, plus an in-store photo op. Hello Kitty Merchandise can also be found at the Animation Studio Store within the Universal Studios Hollywood park.

Limited Time Mooncake at Food & Wine Festival

This year’s Food & Wine Festival kicked off just over a week ago, and we’ve reviewed quite a bit of stuff from the menus – which mostly don’t change. But if you’re visiting between tomorrow and September 21, stop by the China Global Marketplace to try out the limited-time Snowy Mooncake, a butterfly pea flower-infused snow skin mooncake with creamy custard filling.

Headline News Recap

Follow-on announcements continue to roll out after D23. The newest one this week sees Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy closing in Hollywood Studios. Villains Head to Hollywood Studios on the Heels of Lightning McQueen Departure

Then, some news that might leave you scrambling to rework your touring plans if you’re visiting in the near future: TRON Lightcycle / Run Switching to Standby Queue at Magic Kingdom

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