Big Parks Update & Insights at Epcot, Studios and Animal Kingdom

It’s the middle of summer and it’s time for a big update on what’s going on with the parks. We take on three of them, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We check out what’s new in all three of these parks. We take a look at some things that really seem cool, and yet some things are very much out of order. From The Land to Pixar Plaza to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, we’ve got lots to cover. And we examine some really great details that speak to the quality of the Disney theme park experience such as German cuckoo clocks, Moroccan tiled fountains and musicians in Harmabe playing the Kora Tinga Tinga. Join us for this big parks update and insights at Walt Disney World.

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Epcot

The Land

Beginning scenes with water and rain. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

World Showcase

Earlier tile work at Epcot. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Portraits of Courage at Epcot. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Via Napoli Pizzeria Menu. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

A quiet corner of Epcot in Italy. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland

Zootopia models. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Zootopia vehicle and costume. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Retail for Zootopia. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

World Celebration

Musical Sounds of La Calle

1:1 Moment with Walt at Epcot. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

New character backdrop at Epcot. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Meet Pixar Pals at Pixar Plaza

Entrance to Pixar Plaza. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Inside Out 2 homage. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Pizza Pizza popcorn bucket. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

The Edna Mode Experience. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Animation Courtyard & Sunset Boulevard

Inside Out2 exhibit at One Man’s Dream. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

The Studio Store. Empty. As is the accompanying theater. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Empty Star Wars Launch Bay. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Lighting McQueen Spare Tire. Great taste. Strange concept. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Grand Avenue

Don’t miss this Disney+ documentary on Jim Henson. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Great theming. Strange setting. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Bouncin’ Mini Churros. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Wildlife Express Railway & Conservation Station & Rafiki’s Planet Watch

An amazing railway. A terrible journey. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Why isn’t National Geographic the destiny and not the sponsor. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Beautiful fencing. Wrong setting. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Entrance to Conservation Station or Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Empty seats at the Animation Experience. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Song of the Rainforest with Mother Willow is cut off from the animation queue. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

This entrance photo to Song of the Rainforest with Mother Willow was taken before the animation drawing class was installed. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

A lovely recognition of female animators Retta Scott & Mary Blair–but in the wrong location. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Moments like this when a lion is under anesthesia is the real show you can easily miss. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Harambe

Impressions of The Lion King. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

The hand crafted 21 strings of an African Harp, known here as Kora Tinga Tinga. Photo by J. Jeff Kober

Additional dining space at Tame Tamu Refreshments. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

“We eat the Rhino.” Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Festival of the Lion King

Mombassa Marketplace. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

Want to visit Walt Disney World?

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David & Leah Zanolla

ZanollaTravel.com
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(309) 863-5469

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

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Conservation Station Festival of the Lion King Ice Cold Hydraulics La Calle Launch Bay Pixar Place Rafiki's Planet Watch The Land The Lion King Wildlife Express Railway zootopia

Big Parks Update & Insights at Epcot, Studios and Animal Kingdom