This week at Walt Disney World, we get new sneak peeks at Harmonious, Cirque du Soleil, and even the EPCOT Beacons of Light! This week also saw the announcement of the end of the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue and the announcement that the EPCOT Candlelight Processional is returning in 2021.
Outside Walt Disney World, SeaWorld kicks off its Passport to Thrills program and Universal announces the return of the Rock the Universe event.
1. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance going standby only next week
Disney has announced that starting Sept. 23, they will be “pausing” the use of virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, with guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios now able to experience this incredible attraction using a traditional standby queue for the first time since it opened in 2019. When it becomes available, guests who want to skip the line can use a single-use Lightning Lane purchase to bypass what is sure to be a lengthy queue.
2. New look at EPCOT Beacons of Light
Imagineer Zach Riddley has posted a new look at EPCOT’s new Beacons of Magic lighting system on Instagram, with a caption that reads in part:
Inspired by past and future, the classic Spaceship Earth color gradients will be rendered richer by our new lighting fixtures, evoking twinkling starlight in an evening sky
You can see more on Riddley’s Instagram here.
3. New sneak peek released for Harmonious
We’re only a few weeks away from the October 1, 2021 debut of Harmonious at EPCOT and Disney has released a new sneak peek of this upcoming show focusing on its international soundtrack. You can check it out above, along with new clips featuring the moving barges in the center of the World Showcase lagoon.
4. Candlelight Processional returning to EPCOT this holiday season
It has been confirmed that after a year away due to COVID-19 EPCOT will be bringing back its fan-favorite Candlelight Processional event from November 26 through December 30, as part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Additional details, including the schedule for celebrity narrators and information about Candlelight Processional Dining Packages will be released at a later date.
5. New behind the scenes look at Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life released
A new preview was released this week for Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life featuring rehearsal footage showcasing the Disney-inspired story as well as some of the awesome acrobatics that guests will be able to see when this new show opens this fall on November 18, 2021.
6.Creations Shop and new location for Club Cool now open
The brand new Creations Shop as well as the updated Club Cool opened this week on September 15, 2021 with guests now able to check out both of these new guest areas in the World Celebration area of EPCOT. As a result of this new shop’s opening, the temporary MouseGears location has now closed permanently.
7. Rock the Universe returns to Universal Orlando Resort in 2022
Universal Orlando Resort’s Rock the Universe Christian music festival will return in 2022 from January 28-30. Next year’s event will feature performances by for KING & COUNTRY, Matthew West, Casting Crowns, Zach Williams, Big Daddy Weave, and more. You can learn more at the official event website here.
8. SeaWorld Orlando annual passholders can visit the theme park now to secure spot on Ice Breaker in 2022
SeaWorld Orlando announced its new Passport to Thrills several weeks ago, which will give pass members a chance to be among the first to ride its newest attraction, Ice Breaker, in February 2022. Pass members who visit the park at least three times between now and the end of the year, will be invited to a VIP Ice Breaker preview night next year with entertainment, refreshments, and of course rides on the attraction!
