This week at Walt Disney World, The EPCOT Festival of the Arts returns, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom gets a closing date, plus a new limited time amenity returns to EPCOT for guests who spend $150 or more.
Outside Walt Disney World, SeaWorld’s inside look weekend returns, plus Universal Orlando Resort offers free tickets and extensions for guests who buy tickets and annual passes this spring!
1. Taste of EPCOT Festival of the Arts kicks off
Though it will be a scaled down affair in 2021, this year’s “Taste of” EPCOT Festival of the Arts kicked off this week. This year’s event will run until February 22 2021, and attendees will be able to enjoy some of the highlights of the annual festival, including 15 food “studios” featuring artful dishes, collaborative art projects, and plenty of photo spots! Here’s the full rundown of activities:
- Voices of Liberty will take to the stage at America Gardens Theatre with a brand-new showcase—the Disney Songbook. From “When You Wish Upon a Star” to “Let It Go,” the Voices of Liberty will perform favorite Disney songs and celebrate the artistry of Disney composers and lyricists.
- Over 15 Food Studios serving culinary art all around World Showcase
- Diverse work of Disney and other invited artists on display in marketplaces encircling World Showcase Lagoon
- Special photo locations scattered around the park
- Paint-by-number mural that serves as a collaborative art project for all
- Performances by favorite EPCOT musical artists Mariachi Cobre and the JAMMitors.
- Scavenger hunt as you search for Figment around World Showcase
- Festival-exclusive merchandise
2. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom closes permanently later this month
It has been confirmed this week that Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom interactive card game experience at the Magic Kingdom will close permanently on Sunday, January 24, 2021 after eight years in operation. Disney has announced that this closure is due to decreased demand for this experience.
3. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster returns to operation following almost weeklong downtime
After five days of unexpected and unannounced downtime, The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopened on January 6, 2021. This attraction has been running normally since then, so hopefully whatever caused this ride to go down temporarily has been fixed!
4. Liberty Square Market closing for refurbishment next week
Beginning January 11, 2021, Magic Kingdom grab-and-go eatery Liberty Square Market will be closed for refurbishment. This offering is expected to reopen in February 2021. Right now it is unknown if the seating area around this outdoor location will also be closed during this time.
5. Package pickup for large purchases now being offered at EPCOT only
Last week the modified package pickup that was available during the holiday season was discontinued, but it looks like Disney has brought back a modified version of this popular guest option for the Taste of EPCOT Festival of the Arts. From now through the end of the festival guests who make purchases of $150 or more can have their purchases sent to Gateway Gifts at the front of EPCOT or the International Gateway entrance. Resort Hotel Delivery continues to not be available.
6. New discounts now available
Earlier this week Disney officially brought back their popular Florida Resident Discover Disney ticket, which allows purchasers to visit the park for deeply discounted admission prices, as low as $50 per day when you purchase a 4-day ticket. And now it looks like Disney is rolling out some exciting additional deals for hotel stays and admission tickets, and more for guests visiting the resort this spring. You can click here for details on specific deals and availability dates.
7. Universal Orlando Resort brings back three months free annual pass deal
One of Universal Orlando Resort’s most popular deals is its three months free annual pass deal which allows any guest who purchases a 2-Park Annual or Seasonal Pass to receive three extra months (in addition to the standard 12) for free! This offer is available for purchase from now through March 31.
8. Universal Orlando Florida three days free deal announced for Florida Residents
Universal Orlando Resort also announced a special ticket deal this week especially for Florida residents who are now able to purchase a 1-Day, 2-Park ticket (as low as $181 per adult, plus tax) and receive three extra days free to experience both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Guests who purchase these special tickets can visit any four days through April 30 with no blockout dates
9. SeaWorld’s inside look weekends kicks off
This week SeaWorld kicked off its annual Inside Look weekends event, which allow guests to take a look behind the scenes at the park at five special inside look locations, accessible to small groups to limit capacity and maintain physical distancing. Guests can also attend socially-distanced Trainer Talks with one of the park’s animal care specialists. This event takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from now through January 17.
- SeaWorld Rescue Center – Visit the home base of the SeaWorld Rescue Team and meet and hear from the dedicated veterinarians, animal care personnel, lab technicians, and filtration experts who work around the clock to deliver life-saving care to animals in need.
- Dive Operations at Manatee Underwater Viewing – Meet the divers, learn more about the basics of diving, and find out about some of the secrets of what it takes to be a part of SeaWorld’s dive team.
- Beluga & Seal Primary Housing – Step behind-the-scenes into the maze of back hallways that provide service access to the beluga whales and harbor seals that call Wild Arctic home. Plus, meet the team that spend their days caring for these incredible animals.
- Shark Encounter – Get a topside view at Shark Encounter and unlock the mysteries of caring for the sharks and sawfish in SeaWorld’s 700,000-gallon shark habitat. Visit the medical pool and learn how a shark receives its an annual physical, or observe the moving walkway used to temporarily divide the exhibit for cleaning and understand how the sharks are fed. This location is not ADA accessible.
- Manta Aquarium – Go above the surface, literally, and discover what it looks like towering over the depths of Manta’s main aquarium to learn what goes into caring for the wide array of fish, rays, sea dragons, live corals, and giant Pacific octopus that call Manta home. This location is not ADA accessible.
