This week at Walt Disney World, Capacity is increased again, a recent Epcot addition is scheduled to close, plus Disney’s Animal Kingdom sets a reopening date for its Tusker House character dining experience!
Outside Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando gets in on the spooky Halloween fun with its own Howl-O-Scream event, Universal relaxes mask requirements for employees, plus a new pre-show is added to Universal Studios Florida’s nighttime Cinematic Spectacular!
1. After Hours Boo Bash ticket prices revealed
Though this fall’s Disney After Hours Boo Bash will have fewer activities than the former Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party it looks like Disney will still be treating this event as a premium experience with ticket prices starting at $129 – $139, plus tax for August and September nights, $159 – $169, plus tax for October nights, and $199, plus tax for Halloween. This price includes complimentary snacks and ice cream novelties, as well as after hours access to the Magic Kingdom. You can read more about this event here.
2. Parks pass availability refreshed due to increased capacity
While Walt Disney World has not confirmed specific numbers, we do know that the resort has been raising capacity as the effects from the COVID-19 Pandemic ease in the United States. And now it looks like those who have been unable to score a Disney Parks Pass for their park of choice may finally be able to get into their park of choice as Parks Pass availability has once again been refreshed for the summer. You can check out the latest here.
3. Canada Far and Wide closing in June
Though it has only been open since early 2020, it looks like Canada Far and Wide at Epcot will be closed indefinitely beginning June 27 2021. Some have speculated that this circle-vision film is being closed to potentially make space for the upcoming EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, but nothing has been confirmed yet about why this closure is happening, and when (or if) this attraction might return.
4. New show scene debuts at the Jungle Cruise
Though Disney has been quietly removing certain scenes from the Jungle Cruise in the past few weeks in preparation for this attraction’s updated story and look, earlier this week they debuted the first new scene for this attraction with some newly-added “up the pole” characters you can see above.
Of course, this new addition is one of many for the Magic Kingdom version of this attraction, which will continue to have scenes added and changes made in the months ahead as it works towards a refurbishment completion date later this summer. The attraction is not expected to close at all while these changes are made.
5. Tusker House reopening later this month
It has been announced that the popular Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will reopen to guests later this month on June 20, 2021. Like other reopened character dining restaurants, Tusker House will feature a modified experience, with guests served family-style entrees inspired by the flavors of Africa while being able to snap photos of Donald Duck and friends, dressed in their safari best as they promenade through the restaurant.
6. The Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King adds new showtimes
The Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King has been immensely popular at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since it reopened last year, and in response to guest demand there are now 6 shows per day, with showtimes now at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm.
7. Howl-O-Scream Halloween event coming to SeaWorld Orlando this fall
SeaWorld Orlando announced this week that for the first time this fall the park will play host to the Howl-O-Scream event on select nights Friday, September 10 through Sunday, October 31. This year’s inaugural event will feature haunted houses, scarezones and roaming haunts across the entire park, spooky shows, and even some scary twists on some of the park’s thrill rides. You can read more about this exciting upcoming event here.
8. Universal Orlando Resort drops mask requirement for vaccinated Team Members in outdoor areas
Though guests have been able to go unmasked at Universal Orlando Resort for the past week, this week it was announced that fully vaccinated employees can go without masks in all outdoor and indoor backstage settings. All Team Members in indoor onstage settings must continue to wear a mask for the time being.
9. Universal adds new Olympics-themed pre-show to nighttime spectacular
It’s hard to believe but we’re only a few weeks away from the rescheduled 2020 summer Olympic games and to celebrate Universal has debuted a new preshow to its Cinematic Celebration lagoon show called “Celebration of the Olympics,” which features scenes of past and present Olympic athletes projected onto water screens. In addition, the park has added new signage promoting the Olympics around the parks and has also opened new food booths serving Japanese dishes and beverages to Universal Orlando Resort’s Music Plaza in celebration.
