From Epcot to the Studios, from Animal to Magic Kingdom: News of What’s Coming, Leaving & Happening in All Four Walt Disney World Parks
With one week to go prior to Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, we talk about what’s new as the resort prepares ahead. We begin at Epcot with a look at the new Club Cool and Celebrations Shop. The Space 220 Restaurant has also opened. Should you go see it? We see statues at all four parks, and in the case of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it may suggest the future of Voyage of the Little Mermaid. All this happens as Rise of the Resistance moves from a virtual queue to a standby queue in advance of Genie+. Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Primeval Whirl faces its own extinction while Finding Nemo the Musical is delayed for a remodeling. Finally, good news as “Let the Magic Begin” park opening ceremony at Cinderella Castle returns on October 1st, along with a new float to the Electrical Water Pageant.
Photos and video are shown below but our podcast carries narrative of the entire experience. You can find the podcast here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, and ListenNotes.
Epcot
Club Cool
Club Cool reopens and we have footage to prove it:
Creations Shop
What was formerly MouseGears (and Centorium before that) is now reborn into an impressive retail environment called Creations Shop.
Space 220
Should you go or not? Is it worth the price when you can see real things for half the cost at the Coral Reef?
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Rise of the Resistance Removes the Virtual Queue
A standby line started this week. Is it all that bad?
Statues
I love these statues, but do they tell us something about where this park is and where it’s going.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
No official announcements, but attraction wait signage is down, and tables/chairs are now sitting in the queue. This next month marks a year since Leanza Cornett passed away. She was the first actor to play Ariel, and not long afterwards became Miss America.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Finding Nemo The Musical
What has been announced is this other show you must “sea”. It’s coming! But not without a remodeling job? What kind of job? We’ll discuss on the podcast.
Primeval Whirl Heading for Extinction
If you love good Disney Imagineering, you should be cheering this moment! Grass replacing this attraction is better.
Magic Kingdom
Let the Magic Return for “Let the Magic Begin”
Starting October 1st, this popular show will return to opening at the Magic Kingdom. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, as guests staying on property will likely already be in the park and able to go on rides in the lands prior to show time. Or not? We’ll soon see. There are a lot of guests who still wish it were at the Train Station. You remember the Walt Disney World Railroad? It used to run around the park. Now it’s reopening seems to be the one with the runaround.
50th Comes to the Electrical Water Pageant
It’s not a new parade, but given all things COVID, this is a really nice touch to a little gem that has been with us for 50 years. Both of these Magic Kingdom offerings provide nice bookends to the experience.
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