The 3 BIG Updates From Walt Disney World This Week (May 11-17, 2014)

This is the weekly news, rumors and refurbishments update for Walt Disney World for the week of May 11, 2014.

We’re trying out a new format this week, so let us know what you think!

Here are the three biggest updates from around the resort for the past seven days…

1. A favorite returns to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in June

The new Harambe Theater in the Africa section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom is nearing completion. The new theater will host the Festival of the Lion King stage show that closed in January due to the closing of Camp Minnie-Mickey.

The cast of the show is already allowed to enter the new theater to practice their performances. The Festival of Lion King will return this June.

2. A new party for Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney will be hosting a special event party at Disney’s Animal Kingdom every Saturday from June 7 – August 9 called Harambe Nights.

The event includes a Welcome Reception of appetizers and African-inspired wine and beers. After the reception is a performance in the newly built Harambe Theater called “The Lion King – Concert in the Wild”. The show will be hosted by a celebrity narrator and will tell the story of how Simba grew up to be King.

Once the show ends, the party begins. The Harambe Nights Street Party will feature characters, music, and live performers, but most importantly an all-inclusive buffet. The menu for the event is below:

Fresh Cooked Breads, Salads and More

Watercress, melon, feta and berry balsamic onion salad
Kachumbari salad with tomato, paneer, carrot and cilantro
Roasted beetroot salad with sunflower seeds
Creamy mac ‘n cheese
Spicy vegetable samosa with mango chutney
Traditional naan, onion kulcha and pappadum breads
Roasted pepper hummus, raita and garlic-ginger pickle

Surf and Turf

Mango, radish, lime and mustard seed salad
Watermelon, cucumber and fennel salad
Coriander chutney roasted potatoes
Line-caught corvina filet with goan curry sauce
On-stage-seared lamb chops with tamarind pomegranate sauce
Slow-cook Action Stations
Fork-tender peri barbecued pork
Vegetarian eggplant tikka masala curry served over creamy goat cheese pap
Butter chicken thighs
Vegetarian legume wat served over basmati rice

Sweets

Golden pineapple with toasted voconut
Apple slices with Amarula caramel sauce
Ripe melon with minted lime yogurt dip
Rice pudding, dried fruit compote and pistachio gremolata
Caramel salted Tanzania chocolate Kenya coffee bite
Chai cream with zebra stripes
Ice cream bars

For pricing and availability, visit DisneyWorld.com/HarambeNights. Space is limited and seating for several dates is already filled.

3. A MAJOR overhaul of Disney’s Polynesian (Village) Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Resort is undergoing a massive refurbishment. Nothing around the resort is going to remain the same. Beginning with the addition of Disney Vacation Club, three of the twelve long houses are currently being converted into Disney Vacation Club rooms. The three long houses are Rapa Nui, Tahiti, and just last month Tokelau was added to the list. This brings the size of the resort for “regular guests” back to its original size in 1971. The addition of twenty bungalows over the Seven Seas Lagoon is also ongoing.

The next project is a complete refurbishment of the current Great Ceremonial House (lobby). This will begin with the removal of the large fountain in the center. It will be replaced with a smaller water feature that will allow for more space and a larger feel.

The rest of the lobby will also be refurbished from the check-in desk to the gift shops. No space is likely to remain the same.

The opening of a new bar called Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is also planned and will open in 2015. It will take the place of the former arcade that recently closed.

Finally, the resort’s Nanea Volcano Pool will be refurbished by removing the volcano structure for a smaller rock formation. Disney will also be expanding the deck and adding a new water playground for kids.

When the entire process is completed at the end of 2015, The Polynesian will be renamed as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort as it was back in 1971. The Polynesian is my favorite resort for it’s tropical atmosphere and great food, Tonga Toast comes to mind, and it’s refreshing to see life being brought into the resort. The end result should be impressive, 2015 can’t come soon enough.

Editor’s note: Of course, we know that not everyone is happy about the Polynesian Resort’s overhaul – particularly the lobby! We covered those complaints in this article.