This week at Walt Disney World, a new character comes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, more details are revealed about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, plus Disney announced plans to open a new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique location!
Outside Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort announces a new “Dark Arts” castle show for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, and Busch Gardens announces a thrilling new record-breaking roller coaster that is set to open next year!
1. New details revealed about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Image: Disney
2. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique expanding at the Magic Kingdom and adding a new location at the Grand Floridian
Image: Disney
The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at the Magic Kingdom continues to be a hugely popular destination for younf guests, and in an effort to increase capacity Disney is beginning work in a few weeks that will add more chairs to this location, as well as a very special magic mirror, and a transformation experience that will help guests choose the perfect outfits and accessories. The Magic Kingdom location will remain open during these enhancements and existing reservations will not be affected.
In addition, a whole new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique location is being added at Disney’s Grand Floridian resort and will be constructed where the current Ivy Trellis Salon (which itself will relocate into Senses – A Disney Spa). No opening date for this addiitonal location has been announced but we’d guess this third Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will likely be open before the end of the year.
3. A new show debuts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Image: Disney
The brand new Bollywood Beats show, which brings traditional Indian dance together with the fire of Hindi film has opened this week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in the Asia area of the park. This show will be performed several times daily at the stage across from the Anandapur Theater, and is expected to stick around for awhile.
4. Fancy Nancy replaces Sofia the First meet and greet
Image: Disney
Disney Junior character Fancy Nancy will be coming soon to an all-new character greeting location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Animation Courtyard, where she’ll be meeting in front of her backyard playhouse. Nancy will also soon be part of breakfast at Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood & Vine – alongside Vampirina, Doc McStuffins and Roadster Racer Goofy. This new character experience will replace Sofia the First, who will no longer be meeting guests in this area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
5. FastPass+ early booking window extended to new non-Disney hotels
Image: Hilton
Back in 2017, Disney expanded its 60-day extended FastPass+ reservation benefit to all seven of the non-Disney owned Disney Springs area hotels, and now it looks like Disney is opening up this benefit to even more non-Disney properties as the 1000 room Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and 500 room Waldorf Astoria hotels can now make FastPass+ reservations using this extended booking window.
In addition to the extra FastPass+ booking time, guests staying at these two hotels will also be able to visit Disney theme parks during Extra Magic Hours, and will be issued special vouchers at check-in that will allow them to take advantage of this additional perk as well.
6. Preview of Dumbo now open at Walt Disney Presents
Image: Disney
This week a sneak peek of Disney’s new live-action version of Dumbo debuted at the Walt Disney Presents attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This preview will likely be staying all month long, as the film is set to release on March 29, 2019 and Disney’s film previews typically stick around until a week or two after the film comes out.
7. New Hogwarts Castle Show coming soon to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
Image: Universal
Universal Orlando Resort has announced that an all-new Hogwarts projection show will be debuting soon at Islands of Adventure, and this time the show will feature the Dark Arts, with eerie creatures and villains being featured during this new show. Here’s how Universal is describing the show:
As darkness falls on Hogwarts castle, Dementors, Death Eaters and other unspeakable creatures including Acromantula, Mountain Trolls, and Thestrals will cloak the castle in with their great presence. Eventually, the chilling visage of the Dark Lord, Voldemort, appears to close the castle’s takeover… until one of the wizarding world’s most famous defensive charms is cast.
No release date has been given yet, but considering Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is coming this summer, we’d imagine this new show will probably debut around the same time.
8. Busch Gardens announces new record-breaking roller coaster project
Image: Busch Gardens
Gwazi, which closed at Busch Gardens in 2015 and has sat abandoned ever since, is finally being replaced as part of a new project that will see parts of this classic ride used to create a new hybrid coaster that will become the tallest, fastest, and steepest hybrid coaster in the world, when it opens next year in 2020.
This new addition will be a wood and steel hybrid coaster manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, and will feature a maximum height of more than 200 feet tall.
