This week at Walt Disney World, Disney shuts down advance purchase of Genie+ service for the foreseeable future, announces some key reopenings, plus adds a new preview to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Outside Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando gets a new fireworks show, Universal kicks off its annual Halloween Horror Nights announcement, plus a new Tribute Store begins to take shape at Universal Studios Florida!
1. Genie+ advance purchase no longer available
Disney announced this week that starting June 8, all guests who want to purchase Disney Genie+ will only be able to do so through the My Disney Experience app on the day of their visit, subject to availability. Essentially this means that guests will need to wake up early each day of their vacation if they want to use the Genie+ service, and available slots could in theory sell out before some guests are able to purchase the service for the day. On the flip side, however, limiting Genie+ purchases will improve attraction availability for those guests who are able to purchase the service, potentially creating a better value.
Disney has said that this change will be in effect for the rest of 2022 and 2023. However, guests who have already made an advance purchase of Genie+ for dates this year will not be affected by this change in policy.
2. Harmony Barber Shop to reopen July 31
Disney has confirmed that the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street USA, which has not operated since 2020, will have its long-awaited reopening later this summer on July 31. Reservations for this experience will be available in the My Disney Experience app beginning June 28 and walk-in appointments will be accepted daily based on availability.
3. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will reopen later this year
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will also be reopening later this year, but Disney has not yet confirmed when makeovers by a Fairy Godmother will once again be available. When it shut down in 2020 there were two locations for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, one at Magic Kingdom and another at Disney Springs, and it is unknown if one or both of these locations will be a part of this reopening.
4. Details revealed about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue
Several details were confirmed this week about the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue, which will be in use starting on the attraction’s first day, May 27. The queue will initially become available for early risers at 7:00 AM for all guests (including those outside the park) until it reaches capacity. A second wave will then be available at 1:00 PM for those who missed the first wave. However, guests will need to be in EPCOT to join this later queue. This attraction’s virtual queue will also be available during Extended Evening Hours for resort guests.
As a reminder, standby will not be offered at all for this attraction when it opens, but individual Lightning Lane passes can be purchased for those who miss out on a spot in the virtual queue.
5. Lightyear film sneak peek now playing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Just steps away from Toy Story Land, Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is playing host to a new film preview of Lightyear, the new Toy Story spin-off from Pixar opening this summer. You can check out a trailer for the film above.
6. Partial lineup revealed for Eat to the Beat concert series, returning this summer
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is kicking off in just a few weeks on July 14 and Disney has announced some big names will be returning to the park as part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series including Hanson, Boys II Men, and Tiffany. Hoobastank and Stokley are among the new artists that will make their debut this year as part of the concert series.
The concerts will take place on the America Gardens Theatre Stage which is located in front of the American Adventure pavilion starting at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM. You can check out the full lineup here.
7. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure coming to $15 Genie+ service
After being a part of the individual Lightning Lane lineup for several months, it looks like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT will be shifting to the more-inclusive $15 per guest, per day Genie+ service at the end of the month. This change is likely due to the aforementioned addition of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind to the individual Lightning Lane selections.
8. Early Theme Park entry program to continue through the end of next year
It looks like Disney’s replacement for the former Extra Magic Hours program has been quite the success as Disney confirmed this week that the Early Theme Park entry perk for its resort hotel guests will continue through at least the end of 2023. This benefit allows all on-site hotel guests an extra 30 minutes of additional time inside each park every morning so they can get a head start on their day. No announcements have been made about the evening extended hours just yet, but as of right now, this program is still available for select hotel guests.
9. Universal Studios Florida announces first Halloween Horror Nights House
Universal is kicking the summer off with a scream with the announcement of this year’s first house: Universal Monsters: Legends Collide. This haunted house brings together The Wolf Man, Dracula and The Mummy all together for the first time inside a haunted house at this attraction. You can check out a video preview above. Halloween Horror Nights kicks off this fall on September 2.
10. New tribute store coming to Universal Studios Florida
Universal Orlando Resort has updated the in-park Tribute Store facade once again, this time with a structure that looks like a movie marquee. Though the theme for the summer tribute store hasn’t been announced yet, it seems safe to assume that when this store re-opens it will be themed around the magic of the movies.
11. SeaWorld Orlando announces new nighttime show
SeaWorld has announced that they will be debuting a new nighttime spectacular this summer called Ignite 360, which will feature more lights, lasers, fountains and fireworks than previous shows. In addition, guests will be able to reserve space on the 400-foot-high Sky Tower for an additional fee to watch the show from up high while enjoying drinks and sweets. This new show will be a part of the park’s summer Electric Ocean event, kicking off next week on May 27.
