This week at Walt Disney World, Disney’s Magical Express gets ready to shut down permanently, Genie+ Lightning Lane gets another attraction plus Expedition Everest’s refurbishment is just about ready to begin!
Outside Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort brings back its mandatory mask policy plus The Mummy’s 2022 refurbishment is almost ready to begin!
1. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade joins Disney Genie+ Lighting Lane
This week, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade returned to Walt Disney World, and those who purchased the Genie+ add on are now able to reserve seating for the parade in advance. This parade will only be running until December 29th, but its not unreasonable to assume that Disney may have some kind of reserved seating for Genie+ for the Festival of Fantasy parade when it comes back in 2022.
2. All-Star Sports resort to reopen March 2022
Walt Disney World has announced that Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will reopen on March 31, 2022. This will mark the first time since March 2022 all Walt Disney World resort hotels will once again be open to guests.
3. Expedition Everest set to close for refurbishment in just a few days
Disney’s Animal Kingdom favorite Expedition Everest will close in just a few days on January 4 2022 with the attraction currently schedued to be down until mid-April 2022 for an equipment refurbishment. No major changes to the actual ride experience are expected, so if you’ve got your hopes up for a repair for the Yeti, unfortunately, it looks like that won’t be happening this time around.
4. The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade is now streaming on Hulu
Christmas may be over but you can relive the holidays again and again now that The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade is streaming on Hulu. This special includes musical performances and scenes from Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort as well as a peek at the Disney Wish, Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship.
5. Parking trams officially return to the Magic Kingdom
Parking trams have officially returned to the Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center as of this week. Service will resume at the other parks in 2022, but Disney has not announced any specific dates for this return.
6. Disney’s Magical Express officially shuts down this week
Disney’s Magical Express Service will officially be discontinued after this week, and will be permanently unavailable as of January 1st, 2022, meaning guests will need to find their own transportation between their hotel and the Orlando International Airport after this date. Mears will continue to offer a paid shuttle service to the resort, which you can read more about here.
7. Masks once again required indoors at Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort has reinstated its mandatory indoor mask policy, likely responding to the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the state of Florida due to the Omicron variant. This policy will be enforced at the resort until further notice.
8. Revenge of the Mummy to close in just a few days
Revenge of the Mummy will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment beginning in just a few days on January 7 and will remain closed for most of next year, with a reopening currently projected to happen in late summer 2022.
