This week at Walt Disney World, a long-closed attraction finally reopens, Disney ends its flexible cancellation policy, plus a new green energy project is announced!
Outside Walt Disney World, Universal announced passholder preview days for the Jurassic World: VelociCoaster and a youth favorite event returns in 2022.
1. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover reopens
After over a year of being closed, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover has finally reopened at Walt Disney World this weekend, just in time for summer!
2. Flexible cancellation policy ending at Walt Disney World
When Walt Disney World reopened in 2020, it tried to boost initial bookings and reservations by implementing a “Book with Confidence” flexible cancellation policy that allowed guests to change or cancel their reservations with no fees. However, that policy is expiring next week on May 1, 2021, with the former fees now being assessed.
3. New solar farms coming to Walt Disney World
It was announced this week that Walt Disney World and Reedy Creek Improvement District will be adding two new 75MW solar facilities to the resort in the next couple of years. Combined with Walt Disney World’s existing facilities, these two new additions will produce enough renewable energy to power up to 40% of the resort’s total annual energy consumption.
4. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn reopens this summer
As more and more guests make reservations to visit Walt Disney World this summer, Disney is finalizing its reopening schedule for its resorts, which now includes the BoardWalk Inn. This popular Deluxe resort will now be welcoming guests once again beginning July 2, 2021.
5. Cirque du Soleil now on track to bring “Drawn to Life” to Disney Springs this fall
Though we haven’t had an official update on the status of Cirque du Soleil: Drawn a recent interview with Cirque du Soleil Chief Executive Daniel Lamarre in the LA Times included details on the opening of this show, with Lamarre saying that this show “should be able to open sometime in the fall.”
6. New snack locations join Mobile Order
Mobile Order is now the preferred way to order quick service food at Walt Disney World and it looks like additional snack locations have joined this service at the Magic Kingdom this week, including the Sunshine Tree Terrace, The Friar’s Nook and Sleepy Hollow.
7. Jurassic World: VelociCoaster to have passholder previews next month
Anticipation is high for the grand opening of Jurassic World: VelociCoaster on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at Universal Orlando Resort’s Islands of Adventure, but if you are a Universal Orlando Annual Passholder, you may be able to check out this attraction a month early as part of a new annual passholder preview next month. Previews will be on select times from Sunday, May 2 through Wednesday, May 5 and advance registration is required. Reservations are currently sold out, but some may free up if there are any cancellations so keep checking back here and register ASAP!
8. Graduation events to resume at Universal in 2022
Universal Orlando Resort’s Grad Bash and Gradventure events were unfortunately cancelled in 2021 and 2022, but the resort has announced that these graduation events for high school and middle school students will return in spring 2022. The events will take place across both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure on the following dates next year:
2022 Grad Bash: April 1, 2, 8, 29, 30
2022 Gradventure: May 6, 13, 20
