This week at Walt Disney World, a surprising new addition is announced for Disney Springs, a cut comes to Norway, plus a new character is introduced at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! A lengthy refurbishment for one of the most popular Walt Disney World attractions is also announced this week!
Programming note: Though we normally devote some time to Orlando-area parks outside Lake Buena Vista, there has been so much going on at Walt Disney World over the past seven days that we decided to forgo the “beyond” this week. You’ll hear about all the news from Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando in next week’s update!
1. Viking characters cut from Norway Pavilion
2. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror refurbishment starying soon
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of the most beloved rides in all of Walt Disney World, and has been thrilling guests since the mid-1990s. However, though this attraction has continued to wow guests for the last 25 years, like any other ride, it needs a little TLC from time to time. And it looks like Disney is finally ready to give this attraction the attention it deserves (it hasn’t had a major refurbishment since 2010!) in the very near future as a massive refurbishment is planned for this year that will be kicking off in just a few weeks. The refurbishment will be carried out in phases while the attraction remains open, so expect longer waits and limited FastPass+ availability while this refubishment is ongoing.
3. Ron Jon Surf Shop coming to Disney Springs
Image: Disney
The Ron Jon Surf Shop is a tourist mainstay, and now this iconic story is coming to Disney Springs. This 10,000-square-foot location will be in the Town Center area of Disney Springs, taking over the area that was most recently used to preview the new Kingdom Hearts game and the Disney Corner.
4. Grapefruit Garage to open next month
Image: Disney
In just a few weeks Disney Springs will officially open the new Grapefruit Parking Garage, which will provide additional parking for guests visiting the shopping district. The $58 million project will support parking for an additional 3,000 vehicles, and will feature the same space tracking technology that makes finding a space in the Lime and Orange garages so easy. And though this new garage will be on the other side of Buena Vista Drive, there will be an elevated crosswalk that will provide guests with direct walking access to the shopping district.
5. Kevin from UP! debuts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Image: Disney
Beginning this week, Kevin, the bird from from Up! will be appearing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the Discovery Island area of the park. Right now, this character simply wanders around the front area of the park, and guests can interact with Kevin by petting her, talking to her (she squaks back!) and taking photos with her. Right now Kevin is appearing randomly throughout the day, but eventually there will probably be times on the Disney’s Animal Kingdom times guide for this character as this character experience changes and evolves.
6. Ralph and Vanellope on the move at Epcot
Image: Disney
Beginning this week Wreck It Ralph and Vanellope Von Schweetz will move from their temporary meet and greet location in Innoventions West to a permanent location in the ImageWorks area of the Imagination Pavilion. This new space is intended to house several character meet and greets in the future, with Ralph and Vanellope being just the first permanent character experience to be housed here.
7. Early Morning Magic extended at the Magic Kingdom
Early Morning Magic will be continue to be available at the Magic Kingdom this year, with this upcharge experience now able to be booked for select dates through August 8th. This upcharge experience allows guests to enter the Magic Kingdom before rope drop to have breakfast and experience Fantasyland before the park opens, with attractions like Princess Fairytale Hall, “it’s a small world”, Mad Tea Party, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh available for guests to experience, along with a buffet breakfast at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, where cheese and cured meats, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, pancakes and more will be served.
