This week at Walt Disney World, another dance party is announced for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a new show is confirmed for Epcot, plus a big refurbishment is set for the Grand Floridian!
Outside Walt Disney World, SeaWorld prepares to open a brand new land this week and Universal Orlando Resort extends one of its newest annual passholder benefits!
1. New dance party announced for Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Image: Disney
Though Disney’s Hollywood Studios already has an Incredibles-themed dance party happening every day in the former Pixar Studios area of the park, it looks like they are going to be adding another Pixar-themed dance party to the roster when Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy opens. Beginning next week DJ’s Ready! Set! Party Time! dance party will be held several times a day and will feature Lightning McQueen’s Pit Crew getting everyone around DJ engaged in entertaining “Cars”-inspired dances and games.
2. Mizner’s Lounge to be expanded at Grand Floridian Resort
Image: Disney
Mizner’s Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is going to be expanded during an upcoming refurbishment that will kick off next month. To make room, Commander Porter’s will close on April 4, and merchandise from this location will be moved to Summer Lace on the ground floor. During the closure of Mizner’s, a temporary lounge will be set up by the Garden View Tea Room, with the The Grand Floridian Orchestra performing here during this time. This project is expected to be completed later this fall.
3. Magic Kingdom Guest Experience Team now permanent
Image: Disney
Last year, a special Guest Experience Team was deployed at the Magic Kingdom Park during the holiday season to help Guests make the most of their day by proactively assisting guests with booking, modifying and recovering FastPass+ selections, navigating the My Disney Experience app, and using MagicBands. And now it has been confirmed that these special Cast Members, who can be found wearing blue shirts, and in Main Street USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Adventureland, will be sticking around for the foreseeable future.
4. Awesome Planet coming soon to Epcot
Image: Disney
Earlier this week Disney announced Awesome Planet, a brand new original film especially designed for Epcot, which is officially described like this:
An on-screen exploration of the realm we call home, showcases the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic story of our earth with all the grandeur guests have come to expect.
With spectacular nature photography, immersive in-theater effects, and space sequences created by none other than Industrial Light & Magic (which provided the cinematic foundation for the Star Wars franchise), “Awesome Planet” will stir Epcot guests and deliver an environmental message that will resonate far beyond its final scenes.
Of course, this description is fairly general and vague, but the concept behind this new film still sounds really interesting and the ecologically-friendly message in Awesome Planet is definitely something that will align with the overall theme of the Land Pavilion, but will hopefully feel more up-to-date than its Lion King-themed predecessor. We’re also excited about the prospect of the Harvest Theater being upgraded to facilitate the special effects detailed above in the description of the new show.
5. Rafiki’s Planet Watch is officially going to be open once again this summer
Last fall, Disney announced that Rafiki’s Planet Watch (and the connected Wildlife Express train) would not be available to guests for an indeterminate amount of time, releasing a statement that said they “anticipated” reopening this attraction in Spring 2019. However, though it looks like Disney will miss that original Spring opening date, they have now confirmed that this attraction will once again welcome guests this summer, with some special additions to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Lion King.
6. New quick/table service Crêperie hybrid restaurant
Image: Disney
This week Disney announced a new unnamed hybrid quick/table service restaurant coming to the France pavilion that will feature the cuisine of celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse, the mastermind behind the pavilion’s Chefs de France brasserie and its celebration of gourmet cuisine, Monsieur Paul. This new location will feature a menu inspired by the Brittany region of France, and will have savory crepes called galettes and sweet crepes. And though the France pavilion already has plenty of places to eat (this will be the fifth dining location in this pavilion), this new hybrid restaurant should be a nice addition to the lineup with a simple menu with familiar options.
7. Universal Studios Florida annual passholder lounge to stay open for all of 2019
Image: Universal Orlando Resort
Universal opened a “limited time” annual passholder lounge a few months ago, and though this location near Schwab’s Pharmacy was only supposed to be open for a few weeks, Universal has decided to keep it open until the end of the year. Annual passholders who walk inside can sit on comfy couches, charge their phones, and purchase Coca Cola drinks from 11AM – 4PM daily. Annual passholder magnets, select merchandise for sale (lanyards, etc.) and other unique items will also be available for purchase at this location.
8. Sesame Street Land to open this week at SeaWorld Orlando
On March 27 Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando will officially open, with plenty of Sesame Street kiddie rides, plus the famous stoop at 123, Hooper’s Store, and even Big Bird’s Nest.
After its grand opening next week Sesame Street will open a full hour early, just for SeaWorld Orlando Pass Members and accompanying 2019 SeaWorld Orlando Preschool Card holders, on Thursday, April 11 at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday, April 14 at 9:00 a.m.
