Though the next 4 years are going to be transformative for Walt Disney World, there is a LOT going on in the next 6 months. From the phased opening of Star Wars Land to the start of an all-new nighttime show, here’s everything new guests can experience at the resort from now until the end of the year!
1. The NBA Experience (Disney Springs) – August 12, 2019
Disney confirmed this year that the NBA Experience will open this summer on August 12, 2019, just before the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When guests enter the NBA Experience, they will feel as if they’re walking through the players’ tunnel at an NBA or WNBA arena and will then be able to check out a variety of experiences themed to the world of basketball.
A ticket to NBA Experience will be all-inclusive, and will allow guests to access every activity inside this entertainment complex. In addition to being able to experience whatever they want, whenever they want, guests will also be able to return to favorite areas and experience them over and over again if they wish. Some of the options will include:
- A slam dunk challenge, where guests can change the height of a standard 10-foot hoop to as low as seven feet to perform their own superstar moves – captured by burst photography.
- An activity that tests shooting skills with spots on a court that light up as guests move from one location to another attempting to sink as many shots as possible in 15 seconds.
- A way for guests to see how they stack up to some of the world’s best basketball players by measuring their vertical leap, wingspan, shooting and dribbling.
- Personalization for various activities with guests’ names and associating the activity with their favorite NBA or WNBA teams.
- Real-time technology to aggregate statistics of NBA and WNBA games and players for continuous updates, while leaderboards will track top NBA Experience performers throughout each day.
2. Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular (Magic Kingdom) – August 16, 2019
Image: Disney
Neither the 2018 nor the 2017 edition of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party featured any new shows or entertainment offerings, but it looks like this temporary dry spell is ending in 2019, as this year’s event will feature a brand new nighttime show, Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular. Though we’ve been expecting this change since the end of Wishes in 2016, Disney has finally announced that the long-running Happy HalloWishes will not be returning, and its its place will be a new show that will feature state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, lighting and dazzling fireworks that come together to tell a not-so-scary story about how anything can happen on Halloween night.
According to Disney the show will take guests along on a trick-or-treating adventure, where four friends – Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – find themselves drawn into a mysterious haunted house. The journey takes them from one room of the house to another, encountering dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a whole series of troublemaking Disney villains.
3. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – August 29, 2019
Image: Disney
The first confirmed ride for the forthcoming Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a flight simulator ride that allows guests to “take the controls of one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon, on a customized secret mission”.
Interestingly, guests who experience this attraction won’t just be tagging along for a ride (like they currently do on Star Tours) but will actually be piloting the Millennium Falcon themselves! Guests will be able to turn, bank and even fire weapons in this simulation-style experience.
Image: Disney
When guests enter the attraction they will be able to climb into one of seven pods that seat six riders each. Each pod will be able to rotate 360 degrees, and there will be a LOT of interactive elements all around riders that will affect the experience. According to one of the attraction’s creative directors, there will be 200 buttons, knobs and switches on the inside of the cockpit, each with a specific function.
Image: Disney
And interestingly, many of these interactive elements will be specific to different “jobs” riders will have on the ride, similar to the format for Mission: Space. So, for instance, gunners in the center will have weapons controls while engineers in the back will have buttons and levers related to keeping the ship flying.
And guests will definitely want to do well with their jobs, as those who bring back their bounty and fly the ship expertly without a lot of damage will be able to earn extra Galactic Credits, which will change the way characters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge interact with them. Conversely, guests who lose the bounty or damage the ship will end up owing money, which will also produce different interactions with characters.
This all sounds really exciting, but it looks like there will be one big issue with this attraction when it opens: wait times are going to be crazy. With seven pods that seat 6 each, you’re looking at an attraction that can only handle 42 guests per ride cycle, which is very low for an attraction that will undoubtedly be extremely popular when it opens next year. And making matters potentially even worse, Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will be the ONLY ride that opens with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will not open until later this year.
Because of the massive interest that will undoubtedly accompany this attraction, Disney has announced that they will not be offering FastPass+ reservations for this attraction when it opens, and we don’t expect this to change very much while this attraction is the only one open in this part of the park.
4. Oga’s Cantina (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – August 29, 2019
Image: Disney
Oga’s Cantina will be the local watering hole on Black Spire Outpost, and will have both choices for kids and libations for adults. Interestingly, musical entertainment in this establishment will be provided by RX-24, who Star Tours fans may recall as the former StarSpeeder 3000 pilot droid prior to the “Adventures Continue” reimagining of this attraction.
Inside the Cantina guests can enjoy exotic sounding drinks like the Bespin Fizz, Bloody Rancor, Dagobah Slug Slinger, Fuzzy Tauntaun, Jedi Mind Trick, Jet Juice, The Outer Rim, Spriran Caf, T-16 Skyhopper, and Yub Nub, and non-alcohol drinks Black Spire Brew, Blue Bantha, Carbon Freeze, Cliff Dweller, Hyperdrive Punch It!, Jabba Juice, Moogan Tea, and Tarine Tea. You can read more about the menu in this out-of-this-world eatery here.
5. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – August 29, 2019
Image: Disney
The main restaurant in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, which is a counter service restaurant run by Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs, a chef who used to work for Maz Kanata. This restaurant occupies space that was previously used as storage, and features a highly-themed indoor dining room as well as a shaded outside eating area as well. Here’s the menu for this new restaurant:
- Braised Shaak Roast, featuring beef pot roast with cavatelli pasta, kale, and mushrooms
- Fried Endorian Tip-Yip, a fried chicken dish with roasted vegetable mash and herb gravy
- Oven-roasted Tip Yip, featuring roasted chicken with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds with a green curry ranch dressing
- Smoked Kaadu Ribs, featuring smoked country pork ribs with blueberry corn muffin and cabbage slaw
- Oven-roasted Burra Fish, featuring Dijon-crusted fish with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds with a creamy green curry ranch dressing
- Yobshrimp Noodle Salad, a marinated noodle salad with chilled shrimp
- Felucian Garden Spread, a kefta “meatball” dish with herb hummus and tomato-cucumber relish with pita bread
- Ithorian Garden Loaf, a plant-based “meatloaf” dish served with roasted vegetable mash, seasonal vegetables, and mushroom sauce
6. Disney Skyliner (Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – September 29, 2019
Image: Disney
Walt Disney World‘s new gondolas project, officially named Disney Skyliner, will connect Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and the new DVC property, Disney’s Riviera Resort through a series of elevated, closed-cabin gondolas.
Disney has confirmed that on September 29, 2019 the Disney Skyliner gondolas will take flight and officially begin transporting guests around Walt Disney World Resort.
7. Epcot Forever (Epcot) – October 1, 2019
Image: Disney
Though it was previously announced that IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth was set to end its 20-year run this fall, we now know that this iconic Disney nighttime spectacular will officially close on September 30 2019. And then directly after the end of this show, Epcot Forever will debut on October 1st, 2019, Here’s the official description of this new show:
Epcot Forever is a celebration of what Epcot has been and what Epcot is going to become. Music is the star of the show, and we use songs going back to the very beginnings of Epcot to music in the park today – from attractions, spectaculars and other shows – and put them into a fireworks spectacular on the lagoon every night. Guests are going to hear music they know and love but in a whole new way.
8. The Odyssey “Experience Center” (Epcot) – Fall 2019
There are a LOT of changes coming to Epcot over the next five years, and to help guests keep track of everything happening there will be a new semi-permanent “Experience Center” opening in the former Odyssey restaurant later this year that will showcase the upcoming changes to Epcot.
This reimagined preview space will feature engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the future of Epcot, and will be open for the next few years while all of the following ambitious projects are in development
9. Future World Space restaurant (Epcot) – Fall 2019
Image: Disney
Though we weren’t totally surprised last year by the confirmations of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Ratatouille attractions, one announcement that we did not see coming was that of a new space-themed restaurant in Future World. No name or location details were provided, but Disney did specify that this establishment would have special “windows” that simulate views of the galaxy as diners “travel high above the earth” during their meal.
Construction on this upcoming restaurant, which will is being built in a newly developed area between Mission: Space and Test Track, is moving quickly, and Disney has confirmed that guests will be able to dine here before the end of the year.
10. Awesome Planet (Epcot) – Fall 2019
Image: Disney
Earlier this year Disney announced Awesome Planet, a brand new original film especially designed for Epcot, that will be coming to the Harvest Theater at the Land pavilion later this year. Here is the official description of this upcoming new film:
An on-screen exploration of the realm we call home, showcases the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic story of our earth with all the grandeur guests have come to expect.
With spectacular nature photography, immersive in-theater effects, and space sequences created by none other than Industrial Light & Magic (which provided the cinematic foundation for the Star Wars franchise), “Awesome Planet” will stir Epcot guests and deliver an environmental message that will resonate far beyond its final scenes.
Of course, this description is fairly general and vague, but the concept behind this new film still sounds really interesting and the ecologically-friendly message in Awesome Planet is definitely something that will align with the overall theme of the Land Pavilion, but will hopefully feel more up-to-date than its Lion King-themed predecessor. We’re also excited about the prospect of the Harvest Theater being upgraded to facilitate the special effects detailed above in the description of the new show.
11. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks (Magic Kingdom) – November 8, 2019
Disney has confirmed that Holiday Wishes is not coming back this year, and has been replaced with a new show called Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show. Here’s the official description:
Hosted by Minnie Mouse, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show will celebrate the magic of Christmas with medleys of beloved holiday songs, from “Joy to the World” and “Deck the Halls” to “Up on the House Top” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”
Guests will be able to see this new fireworks show during the 23 nights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which will take place on select nights November 8 – December 22, 2019. This show will also presumably be performed during regular park hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
12. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – December 5, 2019
While the Millennium Falcon ride will use new technology to deliver a thrilling experience the likes of which hasn’t been seen before at a Disney park, the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride will be a more traditional dark ride experience, and will be using some amazing technology to bring the world of the First Order to life
According to the several sources, this attraction will have a whopping total of 305 animatronic figures and droids, almost a third of which are expected to be Stormtroopers. In addition, hat this attraction will have 18 different show scenes that involve 5 different ride systems, making it one of the most (if not the most) technically advanced rides at a Disney park ever.
The entire Star Wars: Ride of the Resistance experience is said to be a half hour long, with three pre-show segments happening before the ride itself, which is said to be less than ten minutes long.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before the end of the year, on December 5, 2019, just in time for the busy holiday season!
