Unlike the parks that have been packed these past few weeks, this month’s Bitesize Orlando April 2023 news update is suspiciously quiet but this month, it is definitely a case of quality over quantity as I do have news that a lot of people have been waiting for plus another sudden permanent closure coming to Universal Orlando and 2 new confirmed openings for Seaworld. As usual, I will start with some quick website updates first.
Website Updates
I’ve been incredibly busy behind the scenes these past 4 weeks. As I promised in last month’s Bitezise Orlando update all crowd calendars are now live. They are under the planning section of the website. Click this link for the crowd calendar overview page then choose your park to see crowd projections for the rest of this year.
I managed to get the crowd calendars live a lot quicker than I was hoping so I have also had time to work on an idea I have had for a whole.
New Orlando Planning Guide Exposure Channel
They say a picture speaks a thousand words so I have always wanted to give more of a visual view of the parks and Orlando in general. I also hope to show that theme park photography can be stunning even using your humble mobile phone. Good photos don’t necessarily come with more megapixels but with patience, angles, timing and a little bit of luck, you can have some Instaworthy photos of your trip.
Exposure is a visual storytelling platform but for the purposes of my visual guides, it works perfectly. I can concentrate on creating the guides quickly while I let Exposure handle a lot of the technical stuff that I would have to do were I to build the visual guides into this website.
Over the last 3 weeks, I have uploaded visual guides to all 4 of Disney’s main parks;
These guides are just the start. In May I hope to get visual guides up for Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure before I head off to Universal Orlando myself towards the end of May. Looking further forward I want to create guides for things outside of the main parks to highlight what else you can do in and around International Drive and Kissimmee. There is so much to see and do that you could keep coming back for years, as many people do. If you like my visual guides you can subscribe to be notified the minute I post a new article to Exposure but I will include any new articles here in my monthly news updates.
Orlando 2023
On the 21st of May, I will be heading stateside once again but my plans have changed quite a bit from my initial idea. I will be visiting Universal Orlando, Busch Gardens and Seaworld so if you want to see up-to-date photos of these parks while I am there please follow me on Instagram. If there are any photos you would like me to get while I am there please drop me a line and I will do my best.
What I am not doing this time is Disney. I won’t ever deny that a Disney holiday is cheap but with only a limited amount of time, Disney’s ticket prices and hotel costs were just too expensive to build into this whistlestop trip to Orlando but I hope to go back soon once a lot of the construction in EPCOT and Magic Kingdom is finished.
Leaving Disney aside this trip I have time to visit one of my favourite parks, Busch Gardens as I will be staying in Clearwater Beach for a week. It’s been several years since I have visited Busch Gardens and I can’t wait to ride some of the biggest, fastest roller coasters in the American South once again plus it’ll be great to see what they have done with the park in my absence. Look out for plenty of photos and updates on Busch Gardens over the coming weeks. I will also be spending a day in the neighbouring Adventure Island water park which I have never visited. Adventure Island is never marketed much over this side of the Atlantic. I had to get Seaworld Combo tickets direct from the US website, not the UK version that insists I visit Aquatica instead. Look out for a full guide, photos and all the details on Busch Gardens water park including whether it’s worth your time and money as well as how to get tickets when I return.
I hope also to have time to visit some other local attractions that deserve a spotlight so look out for more non-theme park-related articles over the summer. The main reason for this trip is actually Key West. I will be working on Key West and Clearwater area guides over the summer. Now onto the news.
Disney World News April 2023
Before we get into the main news I want to give a quick heads up that Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be closed for Refurbishment on May the 1st and 2nd so if you want to see it you may have to alter your plans/park reservations.
2024 Early Booking Offer: “Welcome Back To Being You”
The big news this month is the launch of the annual UK early booking offer for Disney World holidays for 2024, this year tagged with the slightly perplexing slogan “Welcome Back To Being You”.
The headline figures are designed to get you to book your 2024 Disney World trip as soon as possible, especially as Disney is saying this offer is only available for a short (ish) amount of time compared to last year’s offer which went throughout the summer.
2024 Disney World Booking Offer Headline Figures
- Up to $2,100 Disney Dining & Merchandise Credit
- 14-day ticket for the price of 7 with Memory Maker included
- Up to $400 Disney gift card
As always, these are the top-tier offers that you can receive but they are dependent on the hotel you book and also in some cases, the room type so let’s break the figures down.
2024 Disney World Booking Offer Hotel Tiers
There are 3 tiers to this offer and the hotel tier denotes the total amount of credit you will receive but your arrival date will also play a part this year.
For arrivals from the 9th of January until the 18th of December 2024 but EXCLUDING arrivals in August & September (see below for those). These are pulled straight from section 1.2 of the offers terms and conditions page (see below for the direct page link to those):
- Tier 1 Resorts – $36 per room per night
- Tier 2 Resorts – $72 per room per night
- Tier 3 Resorts – $86 per room per night
August & September 2024 arrivals have increased rates:
- Tier 1 Resorts – $50 per room per night
- Tier 2 Resorts – $100 per room per night
- Tier 3 Resorts – $150 per room per night
Tier 1 resorts are classed as value resorts, tier 2 are moderate and tier 3 are deluxe hotels, villas and DVC properties. Just in case you need a quick overview of which resorts are in which tier:
Tier 1 – Value Resorts
All-Star Movies
All-Star Music
All-Star Sports
Pop Century
Art of Animation
Tier 2 – Moderate Resorts:
Caribbean Beach
Coronado Springs
Port Orleans – Riverside
Port Orleans – French Quarter
Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Tier 3 – Deluxe Resorts:
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Beach Club
Boardwalk Inn
Contemporary Resort
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Polynesian Village
Wilderness Lodge
Yacht Club
Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Riviera Resort
So now we know the nightly credit and the associated resorts, how do you get that headline $2,100 merchandise and dining credit? You need to stay in a deluxe tier 3 property for 2 weeks and arrive between the 1st of August and the 30th of September 2024.
Basically, if you arrive outside of August and September you can only get up to $1,200, not the $2,100 headline figure.
So far so good but what about that Disney gift card?
The gift card is being dangled as an extra carrot if you like, another little incentive to get you to book but you will only get the $400 headline figure on one condition. You need to book a flight-inclusive package through Disney Holidays. Hotel and ticket packages only receive a $200 Disney Gift Card. While the dining and merchandise credit is per room, the Disney gift card is per booking.
Generally speaking, 8 out of 10 times you will be better served to sort your own flights over getting Disney to sort them for you but I completely understand that some people prefer to have one point of contact. Please also remember that flight-inclusive bookings are more strict than hotel & ticket-only bookings should you need to change something at a later date as you will be tied to the airline booking conditions as well as Disney.
Memory Maker and 14 Days for the price of 7 Days is a standard UK ticket offer, I can’t recall any time between 2022’s early booking offer almost a year ago and this current offer that 14-day Disney tickets haven’t been offered for the price of 7-day tickets nor included Memory Maker.
To save you working out the maximum you could be entitled to, the kind folks at Attraction Tickets have broken down the offer by hotel bindings just as they did last year. For comparison here is a screenshot of both; this year’s more generous offer is on the left. Of course, Disney is not offering these out of kindness. If you have been tracking hotel prices for your stay you may have noticed that prices are now somewhat inflated compared to before the offer.
2024 Disney World Booking Offer Terms & Exclusions
There is also some red tape, ie; exclusions and conditions you need to adhere to. While the offer is live and before you book your trip you should read these thoroughly. At the time of publishing this article, the main points to note are:
- All bookings must be made before the 6th of July (clause 1.1)
- Specific room types are excluded from the offer (ie Little Mermaid rooms at AOA). Section 1.3.4 has a full list of exclusions for this promotion
- Exclusion dates apply: Not available for arrivals between the 23rd of March and April 12th (Spring Break) and October 12th to 25th (Halloween) (clause 1.2.1)
- Minimum 5-night stay, maximum 21-night stay (clause 1.2.1)
- The Disney Gift card needs to be picked up from the Disney World store in Disney Springs and can only be used in Walt Disney World and select US Disney stores ONLY (clause 1.5)
- Extra $200 Disney Gift Card credit for flight-inclusive bookings is only for flights into Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA), clause 1.6 in the terms.
- Park Pass Reservations are still required at the time of the offer (clause 1.8) meaning you must be in possession of a valid ticket AND a park pass reservation through the My Disney Experience app in order to be granted entry to a Disney theme park.
- Hotel and ticket package bookings are modifiable without fees anytime up to 7 days before arrival up to and including 31st December 2024 (clause 1.10).
- Flight-inclusive packages are modifiable “without fees anytime up to 7 days before your arrival date excluding any transport fees imposed by the transport carrier for arrival up to and including 31st December 2024.” This means you will likely be charged by the airline for any modifications or cancellations.
- Accommodation-only or accommodation and ticket package bookings can be secured for £50 per person deposit with full payment due 56 days before you arrive. Packages including flights or a Disney Cruise can be secured with a £150 per person deposit with the balance due 100 days before departure (clause 2.0). Remember cancellation and amendment fees may also apply to the travel portion of these bookings.
Hopefully, these main bullet points will give you enough information to make an informed decision and cut through the headline marketing blurb but if you have any questions please feel free to reach out for clarification.
Price Increase At Cinderealla’s Royal Table
Coinciding with the return of the full-character meals at Cinderella’s Royal Table, prices have increased pretty much with what they were last time multiple princesses were back in the dining room signing autographs at tables before COVID put a stop to all things personal.
Here are the charges pre and post-change. The price hikes may look hefty but remember that prices were initially reduced when the princesses were no longer allowed inside the dining hall so the actual price rise difference between 2019 when the same level of service was offered is less than other character dining spots on the resort.
- Adult’s breakfast; previously $45 per person, now $65 per person
- Children’s breakfast; previously $29 per person, now $39 per person
- Adult’s dinner; previously $67 per person, now $79 per person
- Children’s dinner; previously $39 per person, now $47 per person
Keep in mind that these prices also don’t include tax and tips!
Water Flowing Through ‘Journey Of Water – Inspired by Moana’
Disney Parks has shared a short TikToc video showing some activated water features in the new ‘Journey Of Water – Inspired by Moana’ walk-through attraction that is due to open later this year.
Most of the rest of the central core of EPCOT’s former Future World still resembles a building site but the Journey Of Water attraction is a green oasis on one side. Could we see the early opening of this area to summer crowds in a few weeks? Nothing has been announced but it’s entirely plausible given how far along this area is from the rest of the central core.
For now, have a look at the TikToc video I have embedded below and judge for yourselves.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Dates Confirmed
Disney cast member Bridget Schulte has confirmed the dates for EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival will be from the 27th of July until the 18th of November in 2023.
Along with the dates, there are some new family-friendly activities to try. Fans of cheese will be able to grab a passport and try different cheeses around World Showcase. With the purchase of any of the 5 cheese dishes on the back guests can redeem a unique sweet treat from Shimmering Sips.
In Remy’s ‘Ratatouille Hide & Squeak’ guests must search for Remy around World Showcase and throughout Global Marketplaces.
From September 29th until October 31st there will also be a pumpkin scavenger hunt titled ‘Plutos’ Pumpkin Pursuit’.
The popular Eat To The Beat concert series will also be returning. Artists and dates will be announced later.
2023 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Dates & Prices
I have some more dates for your Dinsey calendar as Disney have also just released dates and prices for 2023’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, a separately ticketed event held on select nights in Magic Kingdom from August through Early November.
Tickets can be purchased online (with a VPN outside of the US) or by calling Disney on 0800 028 0778. The cheapest tickets are in mid-August priced at $109 plus tax per person going all the way up to $199 plus tax if you want to visit on Halloween Weekend. Children’s prices (ages 3-9) start at $99 going up to $189. The dates are as follows:
- August: 11th, 15th, 18th, 22nd, 25th, 29th
- September: 1st, 4th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th, 29th
- October: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 27th, 29th, 31st
- November: 1st
Tickets go on standard sale very soon, in just a couple of days but if you have a reservation in a Disney Resort hotel or select partner hotels you can already book your tickets. The event sold out completely last year so there is no reason to expect it won’t this year. If you want to go on a popular date I would advise you don’t leave it until you arrive before booking your tickets but there should be availability for a good while yet. Last year’s event didn’t sell out until late August.
Universal Orlando News April 2023
Poseidon’s Fury Closing For Good
The writing may have been on the wall for some time for this opening day attraction at Islands Of Adventure but Universal has finally confirmed that the ‘Poseidon’s Fury’ special effects walk-through show will be permanently closing.
The last performance will be on May the 9th, just over a week away. No details have been announced as to what will replace it but given its proximity to the Wizarding World Of Hogsmead and another adjacent plot of land in the former Sinbad Stunt Show Theatre which has remained intact since closing for good in September 2018 could we see an extension of the Wizarding World at Islands Of Adventure?
Universal are already hard at work creating another Wizarding World in their new park, Epic Universe which will open in the summer of 2025 so the timing of this closure seems strange. Ground prep and construction of just an extension to Hogsmead would take a couple of years, even at Universal’s speedy pace compared to Disney so it’s unlikely a new e-ticket-type attraction could open in Islands Of Adventure before Epic Universe opens.
It will be interesting what Universal decide to do with this increasingly larger plot of unused land. It’s not really large enough to have a new land but would Universal want to take the shine off of the new land in Epic Universe by extending Hogsmead so close to Epic Universe’s unveiling or is this area going to be left as it has been for a while yet? It will certainly be interesting to see what Universal have in store for the last remnants of the Lost Continent.
Seaworld Orlando News April 2023
Pipeline Opening Soon!
I’ve been watching the rapid construction of Pipeline with interest since it was announced in October. This past week Seaworld released a tweet announcing that Pipeline will be officially opening sometime in May so we won’t have to wait too much longer to test out the first stand-up coaster built in the last couple of decades. Check out the tweet below. My ‘local’ stand-up coaster in Drayton Manor in Derbyshire hasn’t aged too well so I am excited to see how smooth this ride feels at the end of May when I visit Seaworld.
Seaworld’s Aquatica Celebrates 15 Years With New Kids Area
Hard to believe that Aquatica is 15 years old this year, I still remember my first visit a few weeks after it opened.
Aquatica has always gone big with family attractions and fun. To celebrate 15 successful years in Orlando, Seaworld is extending children’s options in the park by opening Turi’s Kid Cove, an area dedicated to young children with multiple water play elements and 12 slides anchored by Tamariki Twirl, a pint-sized version of Kare Kare Curl. In true Aquatica style, there will also be plenty of seating around the area. The area will be taking over and enhancing the existing children’s area Kata’s Kookaburra Cove next to Big Surf Shores. You also won’t have long to wait to experience the new area as it is due to open sometime in May.
Orlando Area News April 2023
Peter Pan Immersive Experience In Orlando
Join Peter Pan and friends on an adventure to Neverland if you’re in Orlando between May 10th and August 6th. The creative minds at ExploreHidden have converted Oliv Bar in Orlando into an immersive 90-minute immersive adventure.
Staring in the bedroom of Wendy, John and Michael guests will be transported to Neverland where they can take part in activities like hook toss and archery. They can even walk the plank to collect gold coins to make a “brew of belief” to save Tinkerbell.
Tickets cost $47 plus tax for the 90-minute immersive party, for more info and to reserve your place including 2 complimentary themed cocktails head to the Explore Hidden website.
Sunshine Flyer Offering Free Kids Places and Reduced Adult Prices
Sunshine Flyer the steampunk motorcoach transfer company is conducting a kids ride free promo for the month of May.
Sunshine Flyer isn’t going to be as cheap as Uber for a standard family but they do get you from Orlando International Airport to your Disney Resort hotel in a bit of style. Sunshine Flyer staff complete their look by dressing as 1920s conductors and engineers.
If you were already looking at Sunshine Flyer to get you to your Disney hotel once you land adult tickets are currently $30 round trip. The kids ride free promo is valid for travel from June until the end of August and can be booked up until 4 days before you plan to use it.
That’s it for another month, I’ll be back later in May with some Instagram updates direct from Universal Orlando and Busch Gardens.
Have a great month and in case you want to subscribe to my Exposure channel quickly I’ve embedded the subscribe form below.
