This week at Walt Disney World, a new dining package is announced for Epcot, an opening target is set for the new garage at Disney Springs, plus Star Wars theming begins
Outside Walt Disney World, Universal announces the first Mardi Gras concerts of 2019 plus SeaWorld offers a free ticket deal until the end of the month!
1. New IllumiNations dining package now available for farewell year
Image: Disney
Though there are plenty of new attractions coming to Walt Disney World in 2019, there will be one big closure this year: IllumiNations. However, though 2019 will be the final year for this iconic show, Disney is introducing a new IllumiNations Dining Package, which will be available beginning January 18 2019. For $85 for adults (including tax and gratuity), and $35 for children, guests can enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu at the Rose and Crown and a view of IllumiNations from the patio seating next to the lagoon. .
2. DVC Members can now book special Epcot Festival of the Arts Dessert Party
Disney Vacation Club members can now book a special Disney on Broadway Dessert Party at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts on February 25th. Event attendees will enjoy guaranteed seating at one of the evening’s Disney on Broadway concerts and an 8:30-9:30 PM fireworks dessert party before getting the chance to meet Disney on Broadway stars during cocktail hour from 9:30-10:30 PM in the DVC Member Lounge.
Performers will include Ashley Brown (Broadway’s original Mary Poppins), Josh Strickland (Broadway’s original Tarzan), Alton Fitzgerald White (Broadway’s record-breaking Lion King, with 4,308 performances as Mufasa) and Kissy Simmons (Nala in “The Lion King.”)
The cost to book this experience is $77 for adults and $52 for children. DVC Members will need to call Member Services beginning today for details and reservations.
3. Orange County Sheriffs Department to set up permanent office at Disney Springs
Though the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has a strong presence at Walt Disney World, it was announced this week that Disney Springs will play host to an office for the OCSD that will open in the first half of 2019 in the Town Center area of Disney Springs, next to a new ticket sales office that will open in the space between Blaze Pizza and Zara. No specific opening date for this law enforcement location (or the adjoining ticket office) have been announced yet.
4. Opening date set for Grapefruit garage
Image: Disney
In just a few weeks Disney Springs will officially open the new Grapefruit Parking Garage, which will provide additional parking for guests visiting the shopping district. The $58 million project will support parking for an additional 3,000 vehicles, and will feature the same space tracking technology that makes finding a space in the Lime and Orange garages so easy. And though this new garage will be on the other side of Buena Vista Drive, there will be an elevated crosswalk that will provide guests with direct walking access to the shopping district.
5. Star Wars theming removed from Backlot Express menu items
Now that we are just months away from the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it looks like Disney is pulling back some of the Star Wars theming in other areas of the park, starting with the Backlot Express restaurant, which no longer has Star Wars-themed menu items. The Royal Guard Burger is now just the Backlot Burger, and the Galactic Salad with Chicken is now the Southwest Salad with Chicken.
6. Peter Pan’s Flight now closed for refurbishment
Image: Disney
Peter Pan’s Flight at the Magic Kingdom is currently closed for the rest of the month for a brief refurbishment that will last until the beginning of February. This refurbishment is likely just for regular maintenance to be performed on this attraction, and no big changes to the ride experience are expected to be made during this short closure.
7. Universal Mardi Gras concert lineup announced
Image: Universal
Universal’s Mardi Gras is kicking off in just a few weeks on February 3, bringing nightly parades, live concerts on select nights, Cajun food and drinks and more to Universal Studios Florida. Universal recently released the Concert Lineup fpr this popular event, which features the following new and returning acts:
February 9 – BUSH
February 16 – Gavin DeGraw
February 17 – Dan + Shay
February 23 – Macklemore
March 2 – TBA
March 9 – Becky G
March 10 – Sean Paul
March 16 – Steve Miller Band
March 17 – Ziggy Marley
March 23 – NF
March 24 – Pitbull
March 30 – TBA
March 31 – TBA
8. SeaWorld Orlando annual passholders can now bring a friend for free
Image: SeaWorld
From now until January 31st, SeaWorld Silver, Gold, and Platinum Annual Pass Members can bring a friend to the park for free.In order to redeem their free ticket, Pass Members must visit Zone A, self-service kiosk at the park and scan their Pass. Pass Member must be present at the park for the free ticket holder to get admittance, and the free ticket is only valid only on day printed.
