Disney Parks Blog has a section dedicated to cast members called “Cast Life Stories.” This section of the site is my absolute favorite because it allows you to see all the work they put into creating magic for guests.

A recent story caught my eye: ‘Go Behind the Magic of Holiday Merchandise Window Displays with Disney Cast.‘ I love the window displays during the holidays, and I always wonder who comes up with them and how they make them happen. So, of course, I was excited to see that there was an entire article dedicated to this.

This article showcases the merchandise cast members at EPCOT and their Merchandise Presentation Area Manager, Don Schultz.

At EPCOT, the team honors the park’s past, present and future with their designs by building colorful, futuristic layouts for locations like Creations Shop, while including special nods to the park’s legacy, like repurposing an original Figment figure from Journey Into Imagination With Figment in their new displays. 

Disney Parks Blog

“The holidays are a visual merchandiser’s big game,” said Don. “We all work together to decorate trees and come up with wild creative concepts, and we usually end up with snow and glitter everywhere.”

Don Schultz

I have always wondered how early they start planning out these windows, and in this article, they let us know that they start planning in July. In merchandise, Christmas in July has a whole different meaning. I knew they started planning early, but I thought it began in September. It’s incredible how much time they dedicate to preparing for the season.

“It’s a passion,” said Evan Harkrider, a senior merchandise presentation specialist on the team. “My favorite part about the design process is how it all comes together in the end and how we’re able to take our ideas and bring them to life through these displays.” 

Disney Parks Blog

After the design and planning phase, the cast members jump into installing the new designs. For guests visiting the parks, it seems like these new window sets appear with the wave of a wand when, in reality, cast members put them up after hours. While guests are sleeping in their hotels, they are installing the displays.

“We’ll usually have two weeks of overnight installations, and I just love it,” said Don. “I’ve always loved that part… How in the middle of the night, it all comes alive.”

Disney Parks Blog

The Walt Disney World Ambassadors posted a behind-the-scenes video on their Instagram page showcasing how they make these holiday window displays possible.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Walt Disney World Ambassadors (@wdw.ambassador)

Now when I see these different displays, no matter the season, I will think about all the hard work and dedication that goes into creating them.

The Crystal Palace has expanded its cocktail menu as the hard liquor restrictions around the Magic Kingdom continue to be loosened.

The Magic Kingdom used to be infamously dry, following Walt Disney’s wishes. “No liquor, no beer, nothing,” was the decree he made for Disneyland. Magic Kingdom followed the same rules until 2012, when Be Our Guest opened with beer and wine on the dinner menu. In 2016, alcohol was added to the lunch and dinner menus at four more table-service restaurants. It’s become standard for table-service restaurants to offer beer and wine at the Magic Kingdom, but the addition of cocktails began this fall.

Diners at the Crystal Palace have had the option of ordering mimosas and sangria since 2018. Now, they can choose from more specialty cocktails.

The three new cocktails listed below are available at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, alongside the mimosa and sangria:

• Jack Rose: Laird’s Applejack Brandy, Hibiscus Grenadine, Lemon Juice, and Lime Juice – $13.50
• Last Word: Fords Gin, Green Chartreuse Liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, and Lime Juice garnished with Luxardo Cherries – $18
• Bloody Mary: Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Bloody Mary Mix garnished with Cucumber, Grape Tomato, and Green Olive – $14.50

Liquor cocktails were added to Be Our Guest Restaurant and Cinderella’s Royal Table earlier this month; Tony’s Town Square Restaurant in October; and Diamond Horseshoe, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in September.

Some guests have been in support of the larger rollout of liquor cocktails, given that the other three Walt Disney World parks offer them. However, some oppose them on the ground that they go against Walt Disney’s wishes or wanting to keep Magic Kingdom more “family friendly.”

How do you feel about the growing list of liquor cocktails at the Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post The Crystal Palace Expands Cocktail Menu as Alcohol Rules Continue to Loosen at Magic Kingdom appeared first on WDW News Today.

For every Resistance fighter, the battle against the First Order takes time, energy, and supplies. The Resistance Supply store in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park offers what every operative needs. After a run-in with the Mandalorian, we spotted some new X-wing pilot apparel and a notebook.

Flight Crew Jacket – $129.99

Before you embark on your mission, this starfighter jacket offers comfort and a stylish Star Wars look. Any of your partners within the resistance will recognize you in this jacket. They might even notice the number of enemies you have defeated also.

This jacket features a pocket design. Right above the pocket are three crossed-out TIE fighters, indicating your status as an accomplished fighter. There are yellow stripes on the pocket, and the flap reads, “Flight Crew” in Aurebesh, the primary script of the Star Wars universe.

The back of this jacket also reads “Flight Crew.”

The straps on this jacket have metal latches that complete the starfighter look. With this, you look prepared to take on a whole First Order fleet.

Youth X-Wing Pilot Flight Crew Jacket – $59.99

Resistance Supply offers a jacket for the starfighter in training also. This youth-size jacket looks similar in many ways to the adult version. The pockets are located in a different spot on the front of this jacket though. The same color scheme can be seen as well as a zipper in the middle with a Velcro-style covering.

Upon closer examination of the place where the pocket was on the adult jacket, we see the symbol showing our loyalty in this battle between good and evil. It also reads “Flight Crew.”

The youth jacket gets even more specific, designating the wearer as an X-wing pilot.

The other pocket shows the same three crossed-out TIE fighters.

Youth “Resist” Shirt – $29.99

To go with your jacket, Resistance Supply also sells youth “Resist” shirts. This light-colored shirt displays the symbol of resistance in the top corner, and an “X-wing Pilot” designation. Watch out for Stormtroopers when wearing this.

A tag on the bottom of the shirt reads “Resist” in both English and Aurebesh.

The Black Spire Outpost logo is on the right side of the back, while the left side reads “Resistance.”

Youth X-Wing Shirt – $24.99

If looking for a bit more contrast in color, this shirt might fit your plans. Though the colors are still understated, they show a little more to catch the eye. An X-Wing fighter features prominently on the front. This shirt has a pocket with a closure also.

The pocket reads “x-Wing” in Aurebesh with the resistance Starbird on the closure of the pocket.

On the bottom corner, we see the word “resist” in two languages like the previous shirt.

On the back, a readout of some X-wing stats runs down the bottom beside “Resistance.” The Black Spire Outpost logo is on the center of the top.

X-Wing Themed Notebook – $24.99

All good fighter pilots need a way to write down their thoughts. Resistance Supply sells an X-wing themed notebook. The outside is designed like a traditional datapad.

The back of the notebook continues with this dark background and a darker shadow of the Resistance symbol.

Inside are blueprint-style graphics of gears and an X-wing ship.

Will you be showing off your rank as an X-wing pilot with any of the new merchandise? Let us know in the comments below.

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

The post New X-Wing Pilot Apparel and More at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Park appeared first on WDW News Today.