This week at Walt Disney World, new discounts and perks for Florida residents, annual passholders and DVC Members are announced, a new nighttime spectacular is confirmed, plus several construction projects get underway at Epcot.
Outside Walt Disney World, Universal announces plans for the opening of Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure, plus single day tickets and packages are now on sale for Halloween Horror Nights.
1. Work begins on new Epcot Experience Center
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
And now that the 2019 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, work is now underway on this new Experience Center has begun in the Odyssey Events Pavilion.
2. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks show announced for this holiday season
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. Though it is a little sad to be losing the last seasonal version of the Wishes show, we’ve known for some time that Holiday Wishes was on borrowed time, and hopefully this new show can live up to the legacy of its predecessor.
3. Another Discount Ticket announced for Florida Residents
Image: Disney
Just weeks after announcing a discounted 6-park ticket deal Disney has announced another summer discount, this time just for Florida residents. The new Get Your Ears On Ticket is available now through August 25, 2019, and can be used any three or four days, depending on ticket purchased, through Aug. 28, 2019 … with no block out dates.However, the one catch here is this ticket does not have the park hopper option. Here’s the cost breakdown:
3-Day Get Your Ears On Ticket $199 (plus tax) – Less than $67 per day
4-Day Get Your Ears On Ticket $219 (plus tax) – Less than $55 per day
4. First narrators for Candlelight processional announced
One of the most popular holiday offerings at Walt Disney World is Epcot’s Candlelight processional, and Disney has gone ahead and made the candlelight dinner package available for booking beginning in just a few weeks on July 3. And though the list is far from complete, here is the line-up for celebrity narrators so far:
- Whoopi Goldberg – 12/6-12/7
- Pat Sajak – 12/16-12/18
- Steven Curtis Chapman – 12/22-12/24
- Edward James Olmos – 12/25-12/26
5. New annual passholder and DVC tasting event to be offered this summer
Image: Disney
6. Epcot “Shortcut” now closed for refurbishment
Now that the Epcot International Flower and Garden festival has concluded, the “shortcut” pathway that connects Future World and World Showcase (on the side of the park where the Imagination pavilion is) has been closed so work can begin on widening this alternative guest pathway. No official end date for this refurbishment project has been announced, but we anticipate work to be completed before the start of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival on August 29th (which also just so happens to be the opening date for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!)
7. Virtual queue to be used for Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure
Image: Universal
With just a few days to go before the opening of Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure Universal has announced how they will be dealing with guests coming to the park to experience this attraction once it opens.
On June 13th, Universal’s Islands of Adventure may open earlier than scheduled to accomodate queued guests and team members will stationed throughout the line to keep things moving.
Beginning June 14, a physical line will be available, but if things get too busy Team Members may close the line to new guests and ask guests to use the Virtual Line feature on The Official Universal Orlando Resort App.
8. Single tickets and hotel packages now on sale for Halloween Horror Nights
Image: Universal
Single-night tickets and hotel packages are now on sale for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, which kicks off September 6 at Universal Studios Florida, running 41 nights through November 2. It was also announced this year that 2019’s event will revive last year’s 1980s theme, which doesn’t seem surprising considering Stranger Things is once again headlining the event.
