Disney Theme Park News

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Epcot

Club Cool- Newly opened on September 15th, Club Cool has returned reimagined and features different flavors of Coca-Cola from around the world to taste. Beverly, a fan favorite, has returned and new experiences have been added.

Creations Shop- Also opened on September 15th, Creations Shop, is a new flagship merchandise store that is located in the former Mouse Gear building and features a sleek design that uses huge glass walls to allow sunlight to come in.

Space 220 Restaurant- Newly opened on September 20th, Space 220 is an out-of-this-world experience with upscale, contemporary fare and is located near the Mission: SPACE attraction. It is meant to feel as if you are dining amongst the stars, 220 miles above Earth, and can see panoramic views of Earth as well as a variety of leisure activities and work taking place beyond the windows of the space station.

Lunch has a two-course prix fixe menu including lift-off appetizers and star-course main entrees and dinner includes a three-course prix fixe menu with supernova sweets for dessert. With the purchase of a children's meal or non-alcoholic cocktail, you will receive a pack of space 220 collectible limited edition trading cards exclusively designed that features original artwork and trivia facts about food in space, space exploration, and sky-high innovations.

La Creperie de Paris- Opened October 1st in the France pavilion, this all-new restaurant offers both a quick-service counter outside as well as table service inside. It features a menu from celebrity chef Jerome Bocuse and everything is made to order. It draws inspiration from the Brittany region of France and you can expect savory crepes called "galettes" as well as sweet crepes.

The table service option will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

50th Anniversary Makeover

Transportation- Walt Disney World buses, the monorail, and the Disney Skyliner have new 50th anniversary-themed wraps that feature Mickey and Minnie in their EARidescent costumes as well as Chip and Dale.

Banners- 50th-anniversary banners have been decorated across all four theme parks with an EARidescent rainbow pattern to celebrate "The World's Most Magical Celebration." Each park has a unique feature to the banner as well.

Lightning Lane- Signage for the new Lightning Lane has been added across all four theme parks' attractions as FastPass+ has ended. This will be a part of Genie+, a new service that will be an upcharge to allow guests to skip the line at select attractions.

Cast Members- In honor of the 50th anniversary, cast members have received new commemorative name tags to wear throughout the 18th-month celebration. It has an EARidescent shimmer with Cinderella castle and the number 50 on it.

Golden Fab 50 Character Statues- Mickey and Minnie Mouse, located in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, have been dedicated to past, present, and future cast members who help make the dream a reality. Pluto, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy Duck, and Chip and Dale can be found in front of Cinderella Castle in the hub at Magic Kingdom. They each have a gold 50th medallion on the EARidescent platform or statue itself. Pooh and Piglet are near the Crystal Palace restaurant, Jaq and Gus are on a castle wall, Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse are near the bridge leading into Fantasyland, Tinker Bell is on a treetop near the Liberty Square Bridge, and Lady and the Tramp are outside Tony's Town Square restaurant. The Mad Hatter and Chesire Cat can be found in the gardens next to the Mad Tea Party, Stitch on the purple wall in Tomorrowland carrying a chewed up 50th medallion in his mouth, Abu on the Adventureland sign, Orange Bird on a perch in Adventureland, Lumiere and Cogsworth near Enchanted Tales with Belle and Pinocchio near Pinocchio Village Haus.

At Disney's Animal Kingdom, you can find Thumper and Bambi towards the front of the Tree of Life as well as Simba, Timon, Pumba, Dory, and Nemo.

At Epcot, you can find towards the world showcase Miguel and Dante from Coco, Pua and Hei Hei from Moana, Rocket, and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, Olaf and Bruni, and Figment.

At Hollywood Studios, you can find around Echo lake and towards the Chinese theater, Edna Mode and Frozone from The Incredibles, Joe Gardner from Soul, R2D2 and BB8, Woody and Bo Peep, and Flounder and Sebastian.

Electrical Water Pageant- The show, which takes place nightly across the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay lake, features new scenes and music to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. A castle with the 50th logo is one of the new additions and the scene will be set to a version of the 50th anthem "The Magic is Calling."

Merchandise- The Castle, The Vault, and Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration Collections have been released. You can get these items at the Emporium at the Magic Kingdom or the World of Disney at Disney Springs as well as Marketplace Co-Op or the Creations Shop at Epcot.

Scavenger Hunt- Around the Walt Disney World Resort hotels' gift shops, you can pick up a 50th-anniversary scavenger hunt and learn more about the history of the Magic Kingdom's original attractions that opened on October 1st, 1971.

50 Years of Magical Learnings from Walt Disney World Resort- A new online course about the creation of Walt Disney World where you can take virtual lessons and get a behind-the-scenes look at the last five decades of Walt Disney World in honor of the 50th anniversary. You will also gain access to exclusive downloads, videos, and activities as well as hear from opening day and current cast members, Disney executives, Imagineers, and operations leaders, and even get a look at Disney University. The first 20 lessons are available.

Returning to Walt Disney World

Returned on October 1st, Casey's Corner pianist at the Magic Kingdom is now performing an arrangement of "The Magic is Calling", the anthem for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary. Sergio the Italian Mime returned to the Italy pavilion in Epcot as well as the Matsuriza Taiko drummers in the Japan pavilion.

A Pirate's Adventure-Treasures of the Seven Seas reopened at the Magic Kingdom. It is an interactive experience where guests travel around Adventureland for collectible cards themed to the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Indoor character meet and greets will return in November where guests can enjoy one-on-one time with the characters and take photos. Hugs and autographs will still not be permitted. The locations include Disney Princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom and Mickey Mouse in his 50th Anniversary EARidescent outfit at Town Square Theater, Minnie Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams in Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney Junior stars in the Animation Courtyard.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios is returning on December 19th.

Disney Movie Magic Nighttime show is returning to Disney's Hollywood Studios on November 7th with new scenes from "Mulan".

Starting the week of October 11th, Chakranadi and Kora Tinga Tinga will be returning to Dinsey's Animal Kingdom and the Tam Tam Drummers in early November.

New Experiences

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, MuppetVision 3D debuted a new pre-show with content from the upcoming "Muppets Haunted Mansion" special on Disney+. Banners are also hanging in the courtyard outside the attraction to promote the release on October 8th.

At Disney's Contemporary Resort, Steakhouse 71 opened as part of "The World's Most Magical Celebration". The restaurant is themed to 1971, the year the Magic Kingdom opened and you can find details in the decor, art, and architectural style.

Ride Closures

October 11th- Mickey's PhilarMagic at Magic Kingdom for refurbishment. Will reopen on November 12th with a new "Coco" scene.

November 1st- Kali River Rapids at Disney's Animal Kingdom for refurbishment.

January 4, 2022- Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal kingdom for refurbishment. Will reopen in mid-April.