Mickey's Magic Minute • Feb 23

👋 Good evening! Welcome to your pixie dusting of Disney news.

Whether you're a seasoned subscriber or a new arrival, we're thrilled to have you here. Each week we'll deliver the latest Disney scoop and our favorite Disney deals directly to your inbox.

In this weekend issue:

🎬 Pixar’s First-Ever Original Series Hits Disney+
Pixar’s Win or Lose is now streaming, offering a heartfelt and humorous look at eight characters leading up to a championship softball game.

🎟️ Disney Parks May Introduce Demand-Based Ticket Pricing
A new dynamic pricing model may soon arrive at Disney parks, where ticket costs fluctuate based on guest demand.

🏰 Magic Kingdom Extends Hours in Early March!
Early entry starts at 7:30 AM on March 2–3, with closing times extended to 11:00 PM on select nights.

✨ First Look: Disney Starlight Nighttime Parade Photo Op at runDisney Expo
A preview of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, Magic Kingdom’s first nighttime parade since 2016, is now available at the runDisney expo.

🦁 Animal Kingdom Stays Open Later in Early March!
Park hours are extended through March 8, giving guests more time to explore attractions like Pandora and Kilimanjaro Safaris.

🐥 New Pheasant Chicks Arrive at Animal Kingdom
Malayan great argus pheasant chicks have hatched on the Maharajah Jungle Trek, growing fast and following their mother.

🚀 EPCOT Updates Early Entry & Rope Drop Procedures
New morning entry rules direct Early Entry guests to a designated path while rope drop crowds wait near Guest Relations.

🎭 Behind-the-Scenes Look at Fantasmic! Revealed
Disney offers a rare peek into the technical magic behind Fantasmic!, from harnesses to button-operated effects.

🍸 Walt Disney’s Secret Bar: The Predecessor to Club 33
Before Club 33, Walt had a hidden VIP lounge inside Disneyland’s Red Wagon Inn, where he entertained guests with a private bar.

✨ Stay tuned for the latest Disney news and updates!

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Disney+

🎬 PIXAR’S FIRST-EVER ORIGINAL SERIES HITS DISNEY+

Pixar’s first-ever original series, Win or Lose, is now streaming on Disney+, following eight intertwined perspectives leading up to a championship softball game. Co-creators Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates blend Pixar’s signature heart and humor with fresh storytelling techniques, offering a unique look at how different people experience the same events.

Walt Disney World

🎟️ DISNEY PARKS MAY INTRODUCE DEMAND-BASED TICKET PRICING

Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort may soon adopt a dynamic pricing model, where ticket prices fluctuate based on guest demand rather than being fixed by date. This system, already in place at Disneyland Paris, could mean ticket prices change in real-time as more guests purchase them.

MAGIC KINGDOM

🏰 MAGIC KINGDOM EXTENDS HOURS IN EARLY MARCH!

Magic Kingdom will open earlier and stay open later on select days in early March, with early entry starting at 7:30 AM on March 2—3 and park closing extended until 11:00 PM on multiple nights. Guests visiting on March 5 can also enjoy extended evening hours from 10:00 PM—12:00 AM!

 FIRST LOOK: DISNEY STARLIGHT NIGHTTIME PARADE PHOTO OP AT runDISNEY EXPO

A photo op for Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, Magic Kingdom’s first nighttime parade since 2016, is now available at the runDisney expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Set to debut in summer 2025, the parade will feature the Blue Fairy leading floats inspired by Encanto, Moana, Peter Pan, Frozen, and more, using cutting-edge technology to bring Disney magic to life.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

🦁 ANIMAL KINGDOM STAYS OPEN LATER IN EARLY MARCH!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will have extended evening hours from March 2—8, with closing times pushed to 7:00 or 8:00 PM on select nights. Plan accordingly to enjoy more time exploring Pandora, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and your other park favorites!

🐥 NEW PHEASANT CHICKS ARRIVE AT ANIMAL KINGDOM

Malayan great argus pheasant chicks have hatched in the aviary on the Maharajah Jungle Trek, where they can be seen following their mother as they quickly grow independent. Visitors to Animal Kingdom can now spot those adorable new arrivals while exploring the lush trails of the park!

EPCOT

🚀 EPCOT UPDATES EARLY ENTRY & ROPE DROP PROCEDURES

EPCOT has adjusted its morning entry process, with Early Entry guests now directed to a designated path on the right of Spaceship Earth, while regular rope drop guests must wait further back near Guest Relations. These changes come ahead of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind switching to a standby queue on February 25, likely to manage expected high demand.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

🎭 BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT FANTASMIC! REVEALED

Disney has released a behind-the-scenes look at Fantasmic! in Hollywood Studios, showcasing the intricate technical work, button-operated effects, and even harness-required roles that bring the show to life. While no public backstage tours are currently offered, many fans hope Disney will introduce one in the future.

Disneyland

🍸 WALT DISNEY’S SECRET BAR: THE PREDECESSOR TO CLUB 33

Before Club 33, Walt Disney had his own private VIP lounge, known as Walt’s Hideout, hidden inside the Red Wagon Inn at Disneyland, where he entertained guests with a full bar and exclusive dining. Though the Red Wagon Inn closed in 1964 and late became the Plaza Inn, Walt’s concept of a secret retreat for VIPs lived on with the creation of Club 33 in 1967.

runDisney

 FIRST LOOK: DISNEY STARLIGHT NIGHTTIME PARADE PHOTO OP AT runDISNEY EXPO

A photo op for Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, Magic Kingdom’s first nighttime parade since 2016, is now available at the runDisney expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Set to debut in summer 2025, the parade will feature the Blue Fairy leading floats inspired by Encanto, Moana, Peter Pan, Frozen, and more, using cutting-edge technology to bring Disney magic to life.

Thank you so much for being a part of Mickey’s Magic Minute! We’re thrilled to have you along for all the magical updates, exclusive behind-the-scenes peeks, and heartwarming stories from the world of Disney. Your support means the world to us, and we can’t wait to share even more pixie-dusted moments with you.

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Thanks again for being part of our enchanting community. Stay magical!