SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2023) – After overwhelming public participation, the emperor penguin chick hatched at SeaWorld San Diego has officially been named: and her name is Pearl. Over 29,000 people voted with Pearl receiving more than half the votes. Pearl hatched on September 12, 2023, the first chick hatched at SeaWorld San Diego since 2010. SeaWorld San Diego is the only zoo in the Western Hemisphere where emperor penguins can be seen.

​Pearl is expected to be ready to join the park’s penguin colony in early 2024, at which point she will be visible to the general public. Until then, in response to the extraordinary public interest in her arrival, SeaWorld San Diego has created two new special ticket opportunities to enable a limited number of guests to see her now behind-the-scenes, with ten percent of the proceeds going to support penguin conservation around the world:

• Ultimate Penguin On-Ice Experience & Viewing of Pearl – For the first time, guests will be invited to step onto the snow amongst six different penguin species, including the emperor penguins, at Penguin Encounter. They will learn about penguins from an aviculturist, who will share what it takes to care for these highly specialized animals. Guests will receive a rare and extremely special viewing of Pearl. Tickets start at $199.
  
• Penguin Up Close Tour & Viewing of Pearl – Guests will go behind the scenes at Penguin Encounter for an up-close interaction with one of the penguins from Penguin Encounter. They will meet an aviculturist and learn what it takes to care for these highly specialized animals. Guests will receive a rare and extremely special viewing of Pearl. Tickets start at $94.

​Tickets can be purchased at https://seaworld.com/san-diego/animals/penguins/

“We have been amazed by the outpouring of excitement around Pearl’s hatching and cannot wait for guests to be able to see her and follow her journey as she matures,” said Eric Otjen, Head of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Diego. “This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people given the rarity of the species, so these new limited time viewings are something extremely special.  We are always looking for new ways to educate our guests on the importance of emperor penguins and to help them understand just how specially adapted emperor penguins are for the extreme conditions of the Antarctic environment. We are uniquely able to do that because SeaWorld San Diego is the only zoo in the Western Hemisphere where this important species can be seen.”

Penguin Encounter is home to a colony of 17 emperor penguins, as well as 300 other penguins including king, gentoo, macaroni, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins. The exhibit is a 25-degree, snow-filled habitat where the resident penguins can swim and interact within the colony. A colony of warm-weather Magellanic penguins, native to South America, live in a habitat outside the Encounter. Penguin Encounter is also home to nearly 60 puffins and murres. Emperor penguins are currently listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act due to the loss of Antarctic sea ice and rising sea levels caused by climate change.
For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorldSanDiego.com. Follow SeaWorld San Diego on Facebook and Instagram for the latest park updates and information.

Festive Foods Marketplace 
The Festive Foods Marketplace features seasonal comfort dishes that reflect family traditions from many cultures. Some menu items were also inspired by the personal stories of Disney chefs. 

Guests may choose to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass*, which can be shared among guests or used over multiple visits to this year’s Disney Festival of Holidays, to redeem eight coupon tabs for food or non-alcoholic beverage selections from participating marketplaces and dining locations. For more fun, guests can pick up a Disney Festival of Holidays Tasting Passport and collect stamps from the marketplaces they try. Guests who collect all the marketplace stamps can receive a special completion stamp.  ​

Additional dining locations throughout Disney California Adventure serve special holiday menu items, such as new kielbasa with pierogi from Smokejumpers Grill and pan con pollo from Sonoma Terrace. Paradise Garden Grill features many new items for Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, such as tacos gobernador and achiote-marinated half chicken. Guests may pick up the Disney Festival of Holidays Tasting Passport at the park or check the Disneyland app for a full list of offerings. Mobile ordering through the Disneyland app** may also be available for some holiday food offerings at participating quick-service dining locations. 
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The fun continues with “Friends of the Festival” in the Downtown Disney District, which features more themed offerings at shops and restaurants. ​

Check the latest entertainment details and schedules at Disneyland.com or the Disneyland mobile app. Entertainment, experiences, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability or unavailable, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Both Theme Park reservations and valid admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.  
*An event Sip and Savor Pass will expire on the stated date and will not be valid at any other event or at any other time. Passes are nonrefundable, subject to restrictions, and not valid for Theme Park admission. Other restrictions apply. Both valid theme park admission and park reservation required for park entry. 
**Message, data and roaming rates may apply for use of the Disneyland app. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. ​

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2023) — Holidays at the Disneyland Resort begins Nov. 10, 2023, through Jan. 7, 2024, with an invitation for families to create and relive treasured traditions, from sharing a meal with loved ones, delighting in festive entertainment, marveling at seasonal décor and more.  

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort offers distinctly Disney experiences guests of all ages can enjoy, such as Disney Festival of Holidays, the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular and magical “snowfall” in the Downtown Disney District.  
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Some favorite Disney characters celebrate the holidays this year with festive new outfits at Disneyland Park and Disney ¡Viva Navidad! at Disney California Adventure Park. For the first time, characters will also get into the spirit of the season at Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. ​

Cultural celebrations in Disney California Adventure Park with Disney Festival of Holidays
Disney Festival of Holidays in Disney California Adventure Park draws inspiration from the diverse dishes and cherished traditions of Christmas, Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. Offering a feast for the senses, guests can expect to sample new and returning food and beverages such as southern mac and cheese and a beef brisket slider, accompanied by upbeat music at the Palisades Stage, Sonoma Terrace and for the first time, the Hollywood Backlot, where Disney Festival of Holidays will also be celebrated.

Festivalgoers may purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which offers eight entitlement tabs that can be shared among friends and family. Valid for the entirety of Disney Festival of Holidays, foodies may redeem their tabs for select food and nonalcoholic beverages from several marketplaces and select dining locations in Disney California Adventure.*
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Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will return to Paradise Gardens Park for its tenth season, and this year, guests will be able to taste their way through an all-new menu at Paradise Garden Grill. The Three Caballeros will host a joyous street party, featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their holiday best. Additional festivities will include live music and dancing, visits with beloved Disney characters and special appearances by Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto.”

Festive décor throughout Disneyland Resort
Décor will make the season bright throughout Disneyland Resort, featuring grand Christmas trees decorated with uniquely themed ornaments in both theme parks, the Downtown Disney District, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel. Icicles and snow-capped turrets will adorn Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, and at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, a festive gingerbread house will inspire amateur gingerbread architects with its intricate design. With a bit of Disney magic, “snow” is scheduled to fall every night in select areas of Disneyland Park.
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Ornaments, lights and more will also embellish beloved attractions. In Disneyland, a merry boat ride on the wintry waterway of “it’s a small world” Holiday will serenade guests with choruses of jolly tunes. In New Orleans Square, Jack Skellington from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” redecorates the Haunted Mansion into the frightfully festive Haunted Mansion Holiday, complete with a hauntingly delightful gingerbread house. Guests can gear up for some cheer in Disney California Adventure on Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, which will both undergo seasonal spins for the “haul-idays.”

Limited-time food and beverage and merchandise
The festive flair extends to dining locations across the Disneyland Resort. For the first time, Goofy’s Kitchen features characters dressed in holiday outfits, jolly décor and seasonal flavors from Dec. 1, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024. Plus, more than 75 new and returning limited-time food and beverages can be found around the Disneyland Resort, such as the Mickey ornament macaron, celebration potato and Filipino feast burrito.  
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Families and friends can remember their visit for years to come, and find great gifts for loved ones, with collections of holiday merchandise featuring the Disney Classics Christmas collection, the Disney Festival of Holidays collection and other festive seasonal attire. ​

Seasonal spectaculars and entertainment
Mickey Mouse and some of his friends will don all-new outfits in Disneyland, putting a spin on the classic red and green with midcentury modern-inspired looks. Through Dec. 24, Santa Claus will pose for jolly family photos, making stops in Critter Country in Disneyland, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel.

“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” will spread holiday cheer in Disneyland Park, starring characters from Disney Animation’s “Frozen,” Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” and more. The “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular will illuminate the night sky over Disneyland Park with breathtaking fireworks and sprinklings of snow. For guests who want to add even more holiday magic to their trip, the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour will offer a hosted experience of select seasonal offerings and reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.”**

Multiple times per day, Disney and Pixar characters will march to the festive beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers in “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” in Disney California Adventure. The spirit of togetherness and love will fill Paradise Bay as hundreds of fountains illustrate warm moments from Disney animated films in “World of Color – Season of Light” nighttime spectacular.
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In addition to holiday shopping and dining in the Downtown Disney District, guests can groove to a variety of “mistle-toe-tapping” live musical performances select evenings at the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage. On some nights at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel, live entertainment will create a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.

About the Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprising unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club units; the magical, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” theme. For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visit Disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort opened July 17, 1955. Open daily, year-round.

Entertainment, experiences, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability or unavailable, and are subject to restrictions, and change or cancellation without notice. Both valid Theme Park reservation and admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. Visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.

*An event Sip and Savor Pass will expire on the stated date and will not be valid at any other event or at any other time. Passes are nonrefundable, subject to restrictions, and not valid for Theme Park admission. Other restrictions apply. Both valid theme park admission and park reservation required for park entry.
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**Separate fee and tour reservation required.  Additionally, both valid theme park admission and park reservation required for park entry. Cancellation fee and other restrictions may apply. Subject to availability, and change or cancellation without notice.

During Sensory Sensitive Day, several accommodations will be made to create a more comfortable environment for guests. These arrangements include reduced noise levels, quieter music and a limited display of lights in designated areas. The Village and Country Fair will open promptly at the same time as the park’s front gate, and Country Fair rides and games will be available exclusively for attendees until noon. Additionally, Santa’s List will be open until noon to visitors of the event, and Midway Market will be open for snack and refreshment purchases.

The Dollywood Express, one of the main attractions for Sensory Sensitive Day, will begin boarding for its first ride shortly after the park opens. This exclusive ride experience will feature a “silent” trip aboard the iconic train, meaning that the whistle will not be blown throughout the duration of the journey. This 20-minute experience is a guest favorite attraction, and will make two silent trips during the event. Visitors with sensory issues should be aware that while the train whistle will not blow from 9 a.m. to noon, there are other sounds associated with this trip to which guests may be sensitive.

The Village opens to all park guests at 11 a.m., but special event activities continue in Country Fair and Grandstand Café opens for guests to purchase lunch. The event concludes at noon, as these exclusive areas open to the public and lights and sounds resume on their regular operating schedule.

Sensory sensitive individuals can find a variety of rides and attractions to enjoy throughout the park. Popular attractions for those with sensory sensitivity include Lil’ Pilots Playground, Granny’s Garden, Rockin’ Roadway and Dragonflier. Guests can enjoy a hands-on candle dipping activity at Old Flames Candles to continue the enjoyment with an immersive experience. Popular shows for individuals with sensory sensitivities include ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas and O’ Holy Night.

Families and individuals attending Sensory Sensitive Day will also have access to Dollywood’s Ride Accessibility Center, conveniently located inside the park next to the Dollywood Emporium. At the RAC, Dollywood staff members provide detailed information about rider requirements to help families make well-informed decisions to safely, comfortably and conveniently experience Dollywood’s thrilling roller coasters, as well as provide a boarding pass tailored specifically to each individual for the rides they can enjoy. Dollywood’s Calming Room will also be accessible to families and individuals if needed.

For more accessibility information, ticket information and parking guidelines, please visit dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.

About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa. Currently under construction, the 302-room Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is scheduled for completion in 2023. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 48 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and was named in 2022 by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top-three U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, a favorite of USA Today voters and Tripadvisor reviewers, provides guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary. 

Orlando, Fla., Universal City, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2023) – Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood celebrate the upcoming release of DreamWorks Animations’ new film, Trolls Band Together – dancing its way into theaters on Friday, November 17 – with limited-time experiences for guests of all ages to enjoy.
 
Beginning this week, guests across both coasts can “get happy” with these special offerings inspired by the new film and popular Trolls characters:

• Trolls-Themed Beverages: Guests can indulge in an assortment of all-new “fantastamazing” beverages themed to favorite Trolls characters at Mel’s Diner in Universal Studios Hollywood and Schwab’s Pharmacy at Universal Studios Florida, including:
  • Tiny Diamond Shake (featured at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood) – vanilla soft serve ice cream blended with Oreo® cookies, whipped topping and finished with edible silver glitter in true Tiny Diamond fashion.
  • Poppy’s Popping Strawberry Shake (featured at Universal Studios Hollywood) – strawberry soft serve ice cream topped with whipped cream, blue-raspberry Pop Rocks® candy and flower sprinkles.
  • Poppy’s Popping Strawberry Lemonade (featured at Universal Studios Florida) –   crafted with strawberry Dole Whip, sweet lemonade, strawberry sorbet, and topped with blue-raspberry Pop Rocks® candy and flower sprinkles.
  • BroZone Shake (featured at Universal Studios Florida) - vanilla soft serve ice cream with a whipped topping along with blue-raspberry Pop Rocks® candy and colorful Nerd Candy.

• Rockin’ Photo Opportunities: Guests can pose with fan-favorite Trolls character Poppy as she rocks her dazzling new band attire during special meet and greets inside Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood. Plus, interactive sets at Universal Studios Florida and Universal CityWalk Hollywood include a cutting-edge screen where guests can digitally interact with the characters, along with a dual-sided photo backdrop that places guests on stage with beloved Trolls characters and on the opposite side, backstage with Poppy and Viva.  

• New Trolls Merchandise: Guests can shop a vibrant selection of brand-new Trolls merchandise, including a stylish new purse, adorable figurines of the film characters, apparel and more.

 
For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com, and for Universal Studios Hollywood, visit www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com

Paying tribute to the original treehouse that Walt Disney and his Imagineers built in 1962 for the movie “Swiss Family Robinson,” the Adventureland Treehouse inspired by Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson will open in a fresh, new way Nov. 10, 2023, at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif.

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