WDW In the Parks Update

Big update with lots of photos across property. Let’s take a look!

Magic Kingdom

Parking and getting to Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) when visiting the Magic Kingdom is a pain. It’s really an effort, and I’ve ended up having to walk to the back of the parking lot several times. I think it’s going to dissuade locals from visiting the park for the next several months. I don’t like to be critical up front, but I’m not sure these changes shouldn’t have been considered and factored when Security was being moved from the front of MK to TTC. This is about ops planning and thinking things through in the first place.

Note also that as promised the personalized bricks are being removed.

Inside the Magic Kingdom we see that a new paint job continues around Tomorrowland. I’m going to assume that it’s still a work in progress, so I’ll avoid judging prematurely.

That said, Tomorrowland Speedway is open and is sporting a strong teal paint job on its cinder block wall. I’m not sure you wanted to draw attention to cinder block.

Much more exciting is the work being done on the new Tron coaster. We reported on this last week, but even the video there didn’t capture how far out of the ground things were moving. This is very exciting!

Casey jr. looks better than ever having been updated. Know that the author got wet trying to capture this photo. There’s a big new pop splash that comes out of the train’s funnel. Very fun, and very needed in the upcoming heat and humidity.

Banners are also being changed out. The clever thing about Storybook Circus’s design is that there’s a sort of aging to it. It’s more the circus in Kansas look than the circus in Oz look—if we were to reference the recent Dumbo film. Still, it’s good that they are updating these posters.

We have a wonderful look at Dumbo in parks around the world. Check it out here.

Pluto was moved from Town Square to fill Minnie’s slot as she joined Mickey at Town Square Theater. Curiously, the poodle backdrop works for Pluto.

At the Liberty Square bridge we see construction happening along the path leading to Cinderella Castle. So needed!

In the interim, there’s some impact on Sleepy Hollow’s seating area. But the counter service facility is still very much opened.

Epcot

Time to move on to Epcot, which is also revising its entrance area. That means the tram doesn’t go all the way to the station. Still, what’s not shown is how many Cast Members they have positioned along the long path to the entrance to help out guests. This remodel is really needed.

Nearby the show building for the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction is now sealed up.

The Epcot Skyliner station is really coming along.

The entire area is being remodeled and opened up. We have exclusive footage of what it’s like to ride these gondola cars. Check it out!

Looking across the waterway we see the construction on Ratatouille.

Japan announced the name of its new restaurant, which we showcase here. Know that they announced an August 2019 opening, but it’s confusing as it doesn’t look quite like anything’s different than before a fence was put up.

A beyond-the-fence view of where the restaurant is going to be located. This building behind Mitsukoshi was utilized as retail space when the main area of the store was being remodeled. I wonder if they aren’t using that same space to create this new restaurant. In that case, maybe with remodeling, this will open fairly quickly.

Love the little train passing by the Flower & Garden banners shown in miniature through the town. There was conjecture several years ago that this was going away as a new country was being put into Epcot. Perhaps we’ll have an announcement at D23. This would be a great way to celebrate Epcot’s 40^th.

Beyond the Parks

Just a few more images. Look beyond the trees in this image. You’ll see the new Star Wars hotel is coming along. Notice the absence of windows. It’s a very different hotel experience.

If you want to know more about either the new Star Wars Hotel or the Galaxy’s Edge coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we can’t emphasize enough the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Complete Guide. It has hundreds of photos and videos, plus one-of-a-kind interactive maps outlining where everything is going.