This week at Walt Disney World, Disney announces a new free admission deal for 2021, more hotels are set to reopen in 2021, EPCOT announces new dates for a longer Flower and Garden festival, plus a cute new addition officially comes to Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Programming note: Though we normally devote some time to Orlando-area parks outside Lake Buena Vista, there has been so much going on at Walt Disney World over the past seven days that we decided to forgo the “beyond” for just one week. You’ll hear about all the news from Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando in next week’s update!
1. Goats added to Kilimanjaro Safaris
Over the past few months, guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom have noticed construction on the Kilimajaro Safaris attraction that have hinted that a new animal exhibit was coming soon, and now it has been officially announced that Nigerian dwarf goats have been added to the attraction experience. These new additions can now be seen towards the end of the ride in a warden’s outpost where these miniature West African goats chase, climb and play.
2. New EPCOT entrance almost finished
EPCOT’s new main entrance area is almost finished, with work on the fountain finished, and some final details being added before this refreshed area debuts. Imagineer Zach Riddley posted a couple of close-ups on Instagram, including the above image of the new fountain in action!
3. Dates announced for 2021 Taste of EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
Though capacity at Walt Disney World will continue to be limited into the new year, EPCOT’s festival schedule rolls on with Disney confirming that a scaled down “Taste of” EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will kick off next spring on March 3 and run through July 5. Longtime fans of this event will no doubt notice that the 2021 festival is almost a month longer than the 2020 festival and will take place over a record 125 days in 2021.
4. New Year’s weekend hours extended
Disney has announced that they will be extending hours at all Walt Disney World theme parks except EPCOT for the rest of the holiday weekend, with the following hours now posted for January 1 & 2
- Magic Kingdom: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Previously 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM)
- Hollywood Studios: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Previously 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM)
- Animal Kingdom: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Previously 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
As a reminder, Disney has confirmed that there will be no special evening entertainment (countdowns, fireworks, etc.) at any park on New Year’s Eve due to health and safety procedures.
5. Luna Park Pool slide debuts its redesign
Luna Park Pool went down for refurbishment back in October, and it seems as part of this refurbishment the infamous clown face that was part of the Keister Coaster pool slide has been removed, and will not be returning. And now the new look featuring Mickey and his pals “clowning” around at Luna Park Pool has debuted, featuring the popular Mickey shorts character design.
6. Disney announces new free admission deal for 2021 visitors
Disney has announced that they are launching a new offer in 2021 that includes two additional days of theme park access for no extra charge when guests purchase a non-discounted four-night/three-day room and ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels for arrivals most nights January 8 through September 25, 2021. You can learn more here.
7. Electrical Water Pageant returning “soon” to Walt Disney World
Though it has not been performed since the initial theme park shutdown back in March 2020, Disney has confirmed that the Electrical Water Pageant will “soon” be returning to Walt Disney World! No exact time frame has been announced for the return of this guest favorite attraction, but some eagle-eyed visitors have been able to catch glimpses of the pageant’s floats in testing around the Seven Seas Lagoon over the past few weeks, which seems to imply that it won’t be too long before this dazzling display is once again delighting Disney fans at the resort.
8. Package Pickup now available at Walt Disney World theme parks
Disney has announced that they have brought back the formerly discontinued package pickup service in a very limited fashion for the holiday season from now through to January 2 2021. Guests can now choose to have items purchased in all four of the Walt Disney World theme parks can be delivered to the front of the park for pickup later for no additional fee at the following in-park locations:
- Chamber of Commerce in the Magic Kingdom
- Gateway Gifts at EPCOT
- Oscar’s Super Service at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Guest Relations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Unfortunately delivery to Walt Disney World Resort hotels will remain unavailable.
9. Additional hotel reopenings announced for 2021
Disney has confirmed that three more hotels will be reopening during the first half of next year, including the following:
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort reopening for arrivals beginning March 22
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort reopening for arrivals beginning May 30
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge reopening for arrivals beginning June 6.
Of note is the All-Star Movies reopening date, as this hotel had previously set a February 9, 2021 reopening date earlier this year, but it looks like that has been pushed back.
Absent from the reopening list is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, which is currently closed for refurbishment, and is targeting a “Summer 2021” reopening. Also missing are several still resorts, including the Port Orleans Resort (both French Quarter and Riverside), Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and both the Music and Sports sections of the All-Star value resorts.
