It’s hard to believe that the new year is almost here! 2022 has been a year of new experiences and the return of guest favorites at Walt Disney World resort. Today we’re sharing some of the BEST of 2022 at the Most Magical Place on Earth!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
This long-awaited coaster is easily the top of our list for 2022. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened at EPCOT on May 27, 2022 with major praise. Guests love this first-of-its-kind coaster that can be fun for the entire family! Not only does Cosmic Rewind boast the title of first reverse-launch Disney Parks coaster, but the ride vehicles rotate 360 degrees and the tracklist of six tunes are pretty memorable. EPCOT even offered a special holiday overlay for the rollercoaster during the Festival of the Holidays this year! We can’t wait to see how this new coater continues to climb to the top of guests’ must-do lists in 2023 and beyond.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party & Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
One guest favorite year after year is Magic Kingdom’s most epic special ticket events - Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Whether you visit for Halloween, the holiday season, or both, guests of all ages will agree that these parties are a must-do. We’ve been missing this festive fun for two years, so seeing the return of these special ticket events meant so much to Disney Parks goers!
Both events feature exclusive parades, snacks, entertainment, character meet and greets, and even attraction overlays. What made this year’s parties extra special were the extra gifts that guests received. For Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, guests got a special trick-or-treat bag and a poster on their way out of the party. For Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, guests took home a party ornament for their tree and a poster on their way out of the event. What exciting extras can we expect at next year’s parties?
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
In March of this year guests were able to start living their own Star Wars adventures in a new 2-night experience on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. This is the world’s first Star Wars hotel, but this special experience has a hefty price tag! Your reservation on the Galactic Starcruiser includes your two night stay on the Halcyon, exclusive Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Databand, admission into Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a special Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge excursion, a meal at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, valet parking, food and drinks while aboard the Halcyon, and ongoing never-before-experienced entertainment. If you haven’t ventured onto the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser yet, maybe 2023 will be your chance!
MagicBand+
Disney changed the way we experience the parks with the new MagicBand+ devices. With all of the same capabilities of the original MagicBand and so much more, this new wrist device takes Disney days to a whole new level. MagicBand+ interacts with the Fab 50 statues, nighttime spectaculars, and more bringing the parks to life! There’s even a new experience available in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge through MagicBand+ called Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters. By October, MagicBand+ had made its way to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. With the Walt Disney Company celebrating its 100th birthday in 2023, it will be interesting to see how this new technology is incorporated into the celebration!
Minnie Vans & Car Locator
2022 brought back convenient on-property transportation like Disney’s Minnie Van service. Minnie Van is connected through Lyft and provides service to and from select locations within Walt Disney World Resort. What makes Minnie Van different from other rideshare options is that Minnie Van drivers are Disney Cast Members. Also, you can’t miss the polka dots on these special vehicles!
Another car feature that Disney gave us in 2022 is the Car Locator feature on the My Disney Experience app. Never lose track of your vehicle again in the overwhelming sea of cars that is a Disney parking lot! This complimentary app feature is presented by State Farm and uses location services to find and save your parking details. Simply click “Save Vehicle Location” to document your location and enjoy your day in the Disney Parks!
Character Dining & Interactions
After years of missing character hugs, autographs, and interactions, they finally made their return this year. For the first time since early 2020, guests could ask Mickey for an autograph, hug Chip and Dale, and twirl and dance with their favorite Disney princesses. The fun didn’t stop at Character Meet & Greets, though. Character dining would once again include character hugs! With Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration in full swing, these extra magical interactions were much-appreciated by visiting guests.
Guest-Favorite Shows & Entertainment
The Disney Parks are known for their world-class shows and entertainment, but for years many of these memorable experiences hadn’t returned. Throughout 2022, we would see the return of favorites like Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade and Festival of the Lion King! While some experiences returned unchanged, many received upgrades of new songs, names, characters, and more. Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! is one Disney’s Animal Kingdom experience that got a major overhaul. Other guest favorites that returned this year include Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire and the long-awaited Fantasmic!
It’s been quite a year for the Most Magical Place on Earth, but 2023 is promising to be the most exciting yet. With so many best of’s in 2022, this year will be hard to beat! Did your favorite Walt Disney World 2022 moment make our list?
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