Why Walt Disney World's Latest Park Ticket Price Hike Might Not Matter to You

Plus New Festive PhotoPass Opportunities and More Disney Travel News

Disney is raising prices on some Walt Disney World theme park tickets, but will that affect your vacation? This story plus festive new Disney PhotoPass options, a new Disney restaurant cancellation policy, EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Foodie Guide and more Disney travel news.

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What the New Disney World Ticket Pricing Will Mean for You

Beginning December 8, Walt Disney World will introduce park-specific pricing on 1-day, 1-park tickets. This means you will now have to select a date and theme park before buying your park ticket. When you buy a 1-Day ticket for a specific date and theme park, a theme park reservation will automatically be made for you at the time of purchase. 

For Disney travelers who buy multi-day Walt Disney World tickets, nothing will change and you will continue to make theme park reservations.

With the new park-specific pricing, Magic Kingdom Park will be priced at the highest level as it still the crown jewel and the most-visited theme park in the world. 

One-day Disney World ticket prices will be as follows: 

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom: $109-$159 (same range as today)

• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $124-$179

• EPCOT: $114-$179

• Magic Kingdom Park: $124-$189  (Note: The $189 price for the week of Christmas to New Year’s.)

Park Hopper Add-on 

• On December 8 there will also be new pricing for Park Hopper and Park Hopper Plus add-ons. 

Annual Passes  

• On December 8, Annual Pass pricing for the Incredi-, Sorcerer and Pirate Annual Passes will increase between $43-100. The Disney Pixie Dust Pass will remain at its current price.

• The Disney Pixie Dust Pass remains available for purchase, but the other three Annual Passes are still not for sale. All Annual Passes continue to be available for renewal.

Good News: Disney Dining has a New Same-Day Cancellation Policy

You can now cancel dining reservations up to two hours before your meal without being charged a cancellation fee.

Use the My Disney Experience app or DisneyWorld.com and click the cancellation button up to two hours prior to your scheduled time to cancel free of charge. If they don't cancel by then or don't show up, the credit card provided at the time of reservation will be charged a $10 fee per person.

Note there are some exclusions. This does NOT apply to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Victoria & Albert’s and Monsieur Paul. Each of these venues has its own dining cancellation policy.

Disney Cruise Line Announces Acquisition of Ship with Plans to Visit New Markets

Disney announced they acquired a partially completed ship that will bring Disney Cruise Line to new global destinations. Disney will work with the Meyer Werft shipbuilding company to complete the cruise ship previously known as the Global Dream in Wismar, Germany. The ship will be renamed with certain features reimagined under the world-renowned expertise of Walt Disney Imagineers and is expected to set sail in 2025. 

The new ship will be based outside the United States.

Mickey’s Toontown to Reopen at Disneyland Park on March 8, 2023

The official reopening date of Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park is March 8, 2023.
Highlights include:

• Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard, including a sound garden where kids will discover new ways to make noise and enjoy an all-new elevated clubhouse

• inside there will be an interactive candy-making contraption that begins outside of Goofy’s home, as drips of honey fall from a beehive onto a chute that slides the colorful drops around and down into the home. Junior candymakers will help Goofy make the candy.

• Donald’s Boat will be perched in the duck pond of the Goof homestead. Kids will enjoy making a splash here.

• Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster is a fun-sized coaster for the town’s tiniest citizens.

• At Mickey’s House and Minnie’s House you'll still be able to step inside to enjoy a self-guided tour. You may even be able to visit with Mickey and Minnie while they're there. 

Festive PhotoPass Fun at Walt Disney World Resort

The holiday atmosphere is in full swing at Walt Disney World and Disney PhotoPass photographers have a ton of holly-jolly props, Magic Shots, and more. Be sure to keep a lookout for where to find them.

After dark in front of the Christmas trees at EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs.

On the bridge leading from Oasis to Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, on Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, at all World Celebration locations at EPCOT, at the Disney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs, and in Magic Kingdom Park at the entrance, the PhotoPass Studio inside Sir Mickey’s, and on Main Street, U.S.A.
These are just a few examples and there will be opportunities at most locations across Walt Disney World.

The New Cake Bake Shop is Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk

Disney has confirmed that the Cake Bake Shop is coming to Disney’s BoardWalk in 2023. This will replace the ESPN Club and is a table service restaurant and bakery.

Foodie Guide to EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2022

The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays runs until December 30 and food is a big part of it. Here's what you will find, including our recommended top picks.

Mele Kalikimaka (Near Port of Entry)
Food Items: 

• Kālua Pork with Okinawa sweet potatoes and mango salad

• Lomi Lomi Salmon with tomatoes, onions, salmon roe, yuzu-mayonnaise, and yuca chips (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

• Haupia: Hawaiian coconut pudding with candied macadamia nuts and coconut

Beverages: 

• Kona Brewing Co. Big Wave Golden Ale

• Florida Orange Groves Sparkling Pineapple Wine

• Melon Breeze with Spiced Rum

Holiday Sweets & Treats (Near Port of Entry)
Beverages: 

• Hot Cocoa (Non-alcoholic)

• Chocolate Peppermint Shake featuring Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea (Non-alcoholic)

• Breckenridge Brewery Christmas Ale

• Playalinda Brewing Co. Coquito Beer

• Brew Hub S’mores Porter

• Hot Cocoa with assorted alcoholic cordials (Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico Liqueur, or Fireball Cinnamon Whisky)

• Chocolate Peppermint Shake: Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea and Whipped Cream Vodka

• Beer Flight

Nochebuena Cocina (Near Port of Entry) (New)
Food Items:

• IMPOSSIBLE Chorizo Tamale with plant-based cotija cheese and spicy red Chile sauce (New) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) (Plant-based Item) 

• Pernil: Mojo Pork with tostones and ketchup-mayonnaise (New) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

• Alfajores: Vanilla shortbread cookie with dulce de leche and coconut (New) (Cookie Stroll)

Beverages:

• 81Bay Brewing Co. Horchata Beer

• Chai Ginger Mule featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka

Chestnuts & Good Cheer Holiday Kitchen (Near Test Track)
Food Items: 

• Cinnamon-glazed Almonds (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

• Cinnamon-glazed Cashews (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

• Cinnamon-glazed Pecans (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

• Fire-roasted Chestnuts (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

Beverages:

• Hot Cocoa (Non-alcoholic)

• G. Lee Eggnog (Non-alcoholic)

• Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Hazel Nutty-Cracker Sweet Stout

• Hot Cocoa with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, whipped cream, and candied nuts

• G. Lee Eggnog with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey

• Firenog: T.G. Lee Eggnog with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

Holiday Hearth Desserts (The Odyssey Pavilion)
Food Items:

• Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake with cream cheese icing

• Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie

• Snowball Cookies

• Peppermint Bark (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

• Mouse Crunch made with M&M’S chocolate candies

• Maple Bûche de Noël: Maple mousse and cranberry rolled in gingerbread chiffon cake

• Gingerbread Cookie (Cookie Stroll)

Beverages:

• Hot Cocoa (non-alcoholic)

• Cinnamon Apple Cider (non-alcoholic)

• 3 Daughters Brewing Winter Spiced Lager

• BrewDog Hoppy Christmas IPA

• Wicked Weed Brewing Milk & Cookies Imperial Milk Stout

• Cocoa Candy Cane: Hot Cocoa with peppermint schnapps

• Beer Flight

Refreshment Port (Near Canada)
Food Items:

• Coquito Soft-serve Waffle Cone

• Turkey Poutine: French Fries with turkey gravy, cranberry relish, and crispy onions

Beverages:

• Boulevard Brewing Quirk Cranberry Apple Cinnamon Seltzer (New) 

• Pasek Cellars Cranberry Wine (New) 

• Pumpkin spice ginger cocktail with Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka

• Coquito Soft-serve topped with Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum

Yukon Holiday Kitchen (Canada)
Food Items:
Select Dishes featuring Melissa’s Produce

• Seared Scallops with parsnip silk, apple chutney, and hazelnut croquant

• Beef Bourguignon with crushed potatoes

• SNICKERS-Doodle Cookie made with SNICKERS bar pieces (Cookie Stroll) 

Beverages:

• Frozen Coffee (Non-alcoholic)

• 81Bay Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Banana Porter

• Playalinda Brewing Co. Maple Cookie Blonde Ale

• Collective Arts Coffee Maple Porter

• Regional Icewine

• Regional Red Wine

• Frozen Coffee with Tap 357 Whisky

• Beer Flight

L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen (Between France and Morocco) 
Food Items:

• Pastrami on Rye with house-made pickles and deli mustard

• Smoked Salmon Potato Latke (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

• Potato Latkes (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) (Plant-based Item) 

• Sufganiyot: Mini jelly-filled doughnuts

• Black and White Cookie (Plant-based Item) (Cookie Stroll) 

Beverages:

• Brooklyn Brewery Winter IPA,

• Frozen New York Whiskey Sour: Manifest Whiskey and Manischewitz Blackberry Wine (New) 

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
Food Items:

• Grilled Kebabs with carrot-chickpea salad and garlic aïoli 

  • Lamb Kefta (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

  • Chermoula Chicken (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

• Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with hummus, chermoula, and Zhoug dips 

Beverages: 

• 3 Daughters Brewing Cranberry Cider

• Woodchuck Winter Chill Hard Cider

• Ciderboys Mad Bark Hard Cider

• Fig Cocktail with sparkling wine, fig vodka, and cranberry juice

• Cider Flight

American Holiday Table 
Food Items:
Select Dishes featuring Melissa’s Produce

• Slow-roasted Turkey with BEN’S ORIGINAL Stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce

• Blackened Catfish with Hoppin’ John and comeback sauce (New)(Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

• Chocolate Crinkle Cookie (Cookie Stroll) 

Beverages:

• Gulf Stream Brewing Whiteout Sails Wit Beer

• 3 Daughters Brewing Eggnog White Porter

• Playalinda Brewing Co. Peppermint Chocolate Stout

• Beer Flight

Bavaria Holiday Kitchen (Germany)
Food Items:
Select Dishes featuring Melissa’s Produce

• Pork Schnitzel with mushroom sauce, Spätzle, and braised red cabbage

• Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl with steamed baby vegetables and marble potatoes

• Linzer Cookie (Cookie Stroll) 

Beverages:

• Possmann Pure Hard Apple Cider

• The Tank Brewing Co. Prost! Fest Bier

• Ayinger Brewery Celebrator Doppelbock

• Regional Riesling

• Glühwein: House-made hot spiced wine

• Beer Flight

jooRefreshment Outpost: 
Food Items: 

• Peanut Stew with sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and roasted peanuts (New)(Plant-based Item) (Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

• DOLE Whip Raspberry

Beverages:

• UFO Beer Company Triple Berry Teleporter

• Stem Ciders Cocoa Caramel Hard Apple Cider

• Boulevard Brewing Co. Unfiltered Wheat Beer

The Donut Box (Near Test Track) 
Food Items:

• Croissant Donut with cinnamon-sugar

• Holiday Yeast Donut with vanilla icing and red and white sprinkles (New) 

• Chocolate Peppermint Donut

• Eggnog and Cream-filled Donut with cinnamon icing and crumbled gingersnap cookies

• The Donut Box

Beverages:

• Gingerbread Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic)

• Coppertail Brewing Co. Gingerbread Stout

• Gingerbread Milk Shake with whipped cream vodka

Connections Café 
Food Item:

• Holiday Sugar Cookie (Holiday Cookie Stroll)

Connections Eatery
Beverages:

• Coquito Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic)

• Holiday Sangria: Indaba Chenin Blanc, Laird's Applejack Brandy, white cranberry juice, and boba pearls

• Coquito Milk Shake with Bacardí Superior Rum

Sunshine Seasons
Food Item:

• Jingle Sugar Cookie made with M&M’S chocolate candies (Holiday Cookie Stroll) 

Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen (France)
Food Items:

• Napoleon de Saumon Fumé en Brioche: Smoked salmon napoleon with layers of smoked salmon, dill mousse, and crème fraîche mousse served in brioche

• Rôti de Jambon Sauce Moutarde à l’ancienne, Pommes Dauphine: Roasted ham with mushrooms, pearl onions, bacon, mustard sauce, and puff potatoes (New) 

• Macaron en Sucette, Ganache à la Menthe Poivrée et aux Chocolats Valrhona: Macaron lollipop with peppermint and Valrhona chocolate ganache (New)

Beverages:

• Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini: Grey Goose La Vanille Vodka, vodka, chocolate milk, and whipped cream

• Côté Mas Syrah-Grenache (New) 

• Spiced Pumpkin Punch: Rhum Clement VSOP Vieux Agricole, spiced pumpkin purée, oat milk (New)

• Cranberry Mimosa: Pol Remy Sparkling Wine with orange juice and cranberry syrup

Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (France)  
Food Item: 

• Macaron Christmas Tree (New) 

Tuscany Holiday Kitchen (Italy)
Food Items:

• Tortellini in Brodo: 5-cheese tortellini, house-made aromatic winter truffle broth, chives (New) 

• Salmone alla Siciliana: Cured salmon tartare, Sicilian blood orange, pistachios, and basil (New)

• Panettone: Panettone bread pudding and vanilla cream (New)

Beverages:

• Prosecco

• Moscato

• Banfi Rosa Regale

• Italian Sangria Red or White

• Italian Margarita with tequila and limoncello

• Peroni Pilsner

Shanghai Holiday Kitchen (China) 
Food Items:

• Chicken Skewer with creamy peanut sauce

• Beef Noodle Soup Bowl with slow-braised beef shank, green onion, house-made chili oil (New) 

• Vegetable Spring Rolls with citrus sauce (New)

Beverages:

• Panda Bubble Tea: Classic milk tea with black and white boba pearls (non-alcoholic)

• Lucky Foo Pale Ale

• Kung Fu Master with Tito’s Vodka, Triple Sec, mango, orange juice, and soda water

• Marco Boba with amaretto, iced coffee, whole milk, and boba pearls

• The Lucky Mo: SKYY Infusions Vodka, peach schnapps, piña colada mix, orange juice, soda water

Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen (Japan)
Food Items:

• Sushi Tree: Sushi Roll with krab meat and cream cheese topped with tempura, Ikura salmon roe, and spicy mayonnaise

• New Year Celebration Soba: Buckwheat soba noodles in a hot dashi soup with yuzu, shrimp tempura, kamaboko fish cake, and chopped green onion

• Mochi Cake: Gooey rice cake made with rice flour and served with Hojicha cream, strawberry, tangerine, and sweet red beans

Beverages: 

• Ichigo Milk Boba: Cranberry and yuzu cream drink featuring Japanese Calpico Soft Drink and popping strawberry boba pearls (Non-alcoholic) (New)

• Japanese Christmas Punch: Shōchū, Plum wine, cranberry, and lemon (New)

• Ozeki Sake Platinum: Junmai Daiginjo

• Brew Hub Strawberry Lager (New) 

Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen (Mexico)
Food Items:

• Giant Tostada de Barbacoa: Braised barbacoa beef on a giant tostada, chipotle black bean purée, salsa verde, queso cotija, crema Mexicana, and pickled onion (New)(Gluten/ Wheat Friendly) 

• Cochinita Pibil Tamal: Cochinita pibil in corn masa topped with Pipián sauce, queso cotija, and crema Mexicana (New)(Gluten/ Wheat Friendly)

• Dulce de Leche Churros sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar

Beverages:

• Pomegranate Margarita: Ilegal Mezcal Joven, black currant liqueur, pomegranate, and ginger juice with a hibiscus salt rim (New)

• Horchata Margarita: Centinela Blanco Tequila, Abasolo Corn Whisky, Agua de Horchata, and a hint of cinnamon-infused mezcal

• Holiday Cerveza: Cielito Lindo Artisanal Mexican Beer blended for the holiday season (New)

Funnel Cake (The American Adventure)  

• Mini Funnel Cake topped with Peppermint Ice Cream, Chocolate Whipped Cream, and Crushed Peppermint (New) 

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

• Horchata Cold Brew: A holly jolly blend of Joffrey’s Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew and horchata topped with whipped cream and cinnamon (New) (Non-alcoholic) (Spirited version available featuring Bacardí Coquito Coconut Cream Liqueur) 

Available at Select Marketplaces

• Chip 'n' Dale Spork (New)