This is the weekly news, rumors and refurbishments update for Walt Disney World for the week of September 7, 2014.
Here are the three biggest updates from around the resort for the past seven days…
1. All things Frozen, all the time
I’m sure you’ve heard by now about the Frozenpocalypse coming to Walt Disney World in the near future. You can read about all the details in this article. Here’s a recap:
- Maelstrom, in Epcot’s Norway Pavilion, is closing after October 5, 2014 to make way for a “new” Frozen attraction opening early 2016
- There will be a meet-and-greet somewhere in the Norway Pavilion.
- “For the First Time in Forever a Frozen Sing Along” is extended indefinitely at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Oaken’s Frozen Funland will be moving locations (more on possibly why next) and will feature real snow, ohhhh.
Based on the feedback from Disney fans, this is probably what Elsa is thinking right about now.
2. Is an expansion to Toy Story Midway Mania on its way?
Toy Story Midway Mania is currently adjacent to Soundstage 1 (current location of Oaken’s Frozen Funland). Rumors have swirled for the past couple of weeks about an expansion of Toy Story Mania into Soundstage 1, but I never gave it much credit until now.
Disney will be moving Oaken’s Frozen Funland (possibly to the former AFI Showcase), but the exact reason is unknown. With more details surfacing, the possibility of a higher capacity Toy Story Mania is growing. Currently, the attraction consists of two tracks after splitting up at the load station and they eventually meet again right before the unload station. The plan is to create a third track in Soundstage 1 with its own load, unload station to expand capacity.
You might be thinking, why would Disney spend money to expand a current attraction in a park that desperately needs new attractions, and that’s a valid question. Although I do not have an official answer, my thoughts are that the added capacity is going to be needed when the “rebuilding” of the park begins.
Yes, it is almost a certainty that a Star Wars-themed land will be headed to the Studios, but that may not be all. Details are sparse at the moment about future expansions for Hollywood Studios (as they may always change), but more than just Star Wars is definitely in the works for that park.
With much of the park expected to close, it is no surprise that Disney would want to increase capacity in its most popular attraction. Of course none of this is official, and any expansion or new attraction will be several years down the road with Star Wars leading the way.
3. Take a look at the construction around Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
If you are staying or planning to stay at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, I highly recommend you visit Tikiman Pages. That site is the mecca for all things Polynesian. Today I would like to share a few behind the scenes photos of the Polynesian refurbishment from Tikiman’s site.
This is inside the lobby (the former water feature).
Here’s a hallway for one the the new DVC long houses.
Here’s a shower in one of the new DVC units.
Moving on to the bungalows. The green building is for utilities and will be hidden from view.
Inside the bungalows, you can see the vaulted ceilings.
Great view from the bungalow.
Are you excited about the changes to the Polynesian, or would you rather Disney had left it alone? Let us know in the comments section below.
