This week at Walt Disney World, Disney Genie+ gets ready to launch, a popular Magic Kingdom attraction closes for refurbishment, plus a brand new show is announced just in time for the holiday season!
Outside Walt Disney World, Peppa Pig theme park gets a grand opening date, a new attraction is announced for aquatic, plus SeaWorld releases a cute new video!
1. Disney Genie and Genie+ launching this week
Walt Disney World will be debuting its new paid-for skip-the-line service on October 19th. Prices for individual Lightning Lane service has also been announced as varying between $8 and $15 per attraction. We recently learned additional details about how Genie+ will work, including confirmation that there is no limit on how many guests can purchase Genie+ on a given day, and that guests will need to wait 120 minutes between attraction selections. You can get additional details here.
2. Living with the Land holiday overlay returning to EPCOT next month
Disney has confirmed that the “Merry and Bright Nights” holiday overlay for EPCOT’s Living with the Land attraction will be returning this year as part of the 2021 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, bringing festive lights and props to the attraction to celebrate the season.
3. Candlelight Processional celebrity narrators announced along with dining package options
And speaking of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays the first group of celebrity narrators has been released for this year’s Candlelight Processional:
- Chita Rivera – November 29 through December 1
- Jodi Benson – December 2 through December 4
- Alton Fitzgerald White – December 5 through December 7
- Lisa Ling – December 11 through December 13
- Steven Curtis Chapman – December 23 through December 25
- Blair Underwood – December 26 through December 28
- Pat Sajak – December 29 through December 30
Those who are looking to purchase a dining package that includes guaranteed seating for the evening’s show can now choose from the following four options:
- Biergarten Restaurant – $62 ages 10 and up, $35 ages 3 – 9
- Coral Reef – $74 ages 10 and up, $25 ages 3 – 9
- Garden Grill – $71 ages 10 and up, $46 ages 3 – 9
- Rose & Crown – $63 ages 10 and up, $25 ages 3 – 9
4. PhilharMagic now closed for refurbishment
The Magic Kingdom’s PhilharMagic attraction is now closed for refurbishment to install a new digital projection system and a new scene with an all-new score from film composer Germaine Franco as well as characters singing along to “Un Poco Loco” from the movie. The attraction is set to reopen on November 12, 2021.
5. Mickey and Minnie’s Very Merry Memories show announced
Mickey and Minnie’s Very Merry Memories will be a new show performed during Disney Very Merriest After Hours event nights on the Castle Forecourt Stage that will be inspired by beloved Magic Kingdom holiday shows of the past—including “Mickey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Celebrate the Season” and “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.” Throughout the show, guests will enjoy harmonious medleys of holiday songs both classic and contemporary and will be able to see classic characters including The Fab 5, Chip ‘n Dale, and more.
6. New 50th anniversary video released featuring original Main Street musician
Walt Disney World has released a special new video featuring musician Randy Morris playing “Maple Leaf Rag” right outside Casey’s Corner just as he did 50 years ago on opening day at Magic Kingdom Park as a special tribute to the park for its anniversary, You can check out the video above.
7. Peppa Pig Theme Park to open Febraury 24 2022
The all-new Peppa Pig theme park is now in the final phases of construction and will be officially opening on February 24, 2022. When it debuts, this new park, which will be located right next to LEGOLAND Florida will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and water play areas—complete with “muddy puddles” of course—and fun live shows daily.
Single- and multi-day tickets for Peppa Pig Theme Park are now available and start at just $30.99 for single-day admission to the park. Guests can add on admission to LEGOLAND Florida for additional cost. Annual passes, vacation packages and more are also on sale here.
8. SeaWorld Orlando releases cute video of Donna the cancer-surviving penguin
SeaWorld has released an adorable new video featuring Donna, a penguin who beat cancer not once, but twice. In May of 2019, Donna was diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma of the uropygial gland. He underwent many surgeries, as well as chemotherapy. You can see Donna’s story here.
9. New Reef Plunge attraction coming to Aquatica in 2022
Aquatica has announced their new Reef Plunge attraction which will allow guests to slide through eye-catching translucent cutouts and rings, and twist and turn though over 330 feet of fiberglass, zooming past a vibrant array of marine life in the new dynamic habitat. Commerson’s dolphins, leopard sharks, sardines, and a variety of other cold-water fish will call Reef Plunge home. Guests will dive into the fun of Reef Plunge launching Spring of 2022.
