It’s hard to believe 2022 is wrapping up and 2023 is almost here. As we prepare to turn the calendar to the new year, let’s take a look back at some of the biggest Disney stories from the past year.
We’re sorting our list based on total website traffic, which means the wild story about Bob Iger returning as Disney CEO will narrowly miss the cut despite being the craziest story of the year.
Which Disney story was the most popular on our website in 2022?
5. All Disneyland Annual Passes Have Blockout Dates
Annual passes were an extremely hot topic in 2022. New sales for annual passes were paused at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World for most of 2022. At Disneyland, renewals were even paused until August. When renewals did open at Disneyland, guests found that every pass level contained blockout dates.
Even the top tier Disneyland annual pass now has blockout dates. No pass provides 365-day access. That’s obviously a polarizing move that bothered a lot of guests.
4. Video: Torrential Rains Flood Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is no stranger to wild flooding scenes. The Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland in a severe storm can transform into a giant pond. But, we usually don’t see too much flooding at the other parks and resorts.
That changed in March 2022 when torrential rains flooded areas in Walt Disney World that generally handle water pretty well. There was a river down the middle of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Waves could be spotted in the parking lot of Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort. It was a crazy storm.
3. Why We Didn’t Renew Our Annual Passes at Walt Disney World
Speaking of annual passes, we didn’t renew our passes at Walt Disney World. That might sound crazy considering we operate a website about Disney. The decision wasn’t an easy one, but we feel the overall value and experience as passholders at Walt Disney World no longer justifies the rising prices.
Our other major factor for not renewing? Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. Both options offer better experiences (in our opinion), and it’s nice to not be locked into Walt Disney World.
2. Video: Tour the Disney Wish Concierge Lounge and Sundeck
The Disney Wish made its grand debut in July 2022, and Disney fans were quick to voice their opinions on the new ship. Most praised the new food options on the pool deck, but the decision to make the walking track an incomplete circuit with several sets of steps left many baffled.
Faults aside, the concierge space on the Disney Wish is clearly a step up compared to the other Disney Cruise Line ships. It almost has to be considering Disney elected to have more concierge suits and rooms on the Wish than on any other Disney ship.
1. What Songs Play on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opened in May 2022 at EPCOT. The coaster became an instant favorite despite the concerns that it doesn’t really fit into the original vision of EPCOT. The ride is super smooth, has controlled spins, and has a great mix of songs that help create an incredibly fun experience.
There’s six different songs that can play on the coaster train as it speeds around the track. Guests don’t know what song will play because the system randomizes the songs for each train when it’s dispatched. It’s fun to guess what song will come on, and guests have wasted little time ranking their favorites. Disney even created a special holiday mix that played during the 2022 holiday season.
Disney has the flexibility to adjust Cosmic Rewind’s soundtrack whenever they see fit, which should help keeps things fresh for years to come.
