This week at Walt Disney World, more Cast Members are called back to work, a hot new eatery opens at Disney Springs, plus a target opening date for the new high-speed Brightline train is shared!
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. Gideon’s Bakehouse opens at Disney Springs
Gideon’s Bakehouse is now open in The Landing at Disney Springs. This local favorite is best known for small-batch, handmade, almost half-pound cookies with unique flavors like Peanut Butter Crisp, Cookies & Cream and my absolute favorite, Pistachio Toffee Dark Chocolate. This new location will bring an expanded menu of cookie and cake slices to Disney Springs, plus add its own line of unique iced coffees, like the Original Peanut Butter Iced Coffee. On opening day this location was very popular, with a line extending all the way to the parking garage and some guests waiting several hours to be among the first to check out this new establishment!
2. New EPCOT entrance debuts
This week Walt Disney World finally took down all of the construction walls around EPCOT’s newly redesigned entrance plaza featuring the new fountain and acrylic pylon centerpiece, along with planters, pathways, lush landscaping and a vibrant new color palette that will eventually tie the park’s new image together. According to Disney, the idea behind this new entrance for EPCOT was to design a “welcoming area that brings people together” with “the greenery and use of water to celebrate a harmony between humanity and the natural world”.
3. Blizzard Beach Water Park Reopening next spring
Disney has confirmed that it will be reopening its Blizzard Beach water park on March 7, 2021 and that Cast Members who work at this park will be returning “soon” to help get it ready to welcome guests this spring to help the park kick off its 25th season in grand fashion.
Single day water park tickets and annual passes that include the water park option are not on sale yet, but hopefully will be soon. In the meantime, guests can still purchase the “Water parks and Sports” add on to theme park tickets for visits in 2021. You can check out admission options here.
the station at Disney Springs will include a lobby on the ground level, passenger facilities and an upper-level train platform, giving guests an easy connection to Walt Disney World from several points around the state. An exact location for the station within the existing Disney Springs facility has not been confirmed just yet.
4. Disney confirms CP program still suspended
Disney has confirmed that they have not recruited participants for the upcoming semesters as part of their ongoing College Program and have said that they are still uncertain about when we will be able to resume this popular option for young adults.
5. More Cast Members being called back to work
With Disney recently confirming an increase in bookings of 77% and holiday crowds reaching capacity it looks like Disney is reaching out to many furloughed Cast Members and recalling them to work in 2021. No hard numbers have been released about the number of Cast Members being recalled, but several unions have confirmed that they have been contacted about getting many Cast Members back to work in the months ahead.
6. Warrior Games coming to ESPN Wide World of Sports
The United States Army Training and Doctrine Command announced this week that the annual Department of Defense Warrior Games will be coming to the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World late next year in September 2021. This annual event has been held since 2010 and celebrates the resiliency and dedication of wounded, ill, and injured active duty and veteran U.S. military service members.
7. Brightline stop at Disney Springs could open in 2023
The high-speed Brightline train that was announced last month now has an opening target, with the company behind the construction of this project anticipating opening the Disney Springs in the second half of 2023.
Once open, the station at Disney Springs will include a lobby on the ground level, passenger facilities and an upper-level train platform, giving guests an easy connection to Walt Disney World from several points around the state. An exact location for the station within the existing Disney Springs facility has not been confirmed just yet.
