Got big doings this week. Adventure, fun, music, cartoons, news. Everybody ready? Then on with the show! – Mickey Mouse, The Mickey Mouse Club
There are big doings afoot at Walt Disney World this summer and through the rest of the year. As we approach the summer season, lots of changes and new openings are on the horizon.
Magic Kingdom
Most immediately is tomorrow night, when the summer edition of The Magic, The Memories, and You debuts at the Magic Kingdom. The popular projection show on Cinderella Castle takes on a fun summer theme featuring Phineas and Ferb, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid, as well as the beach and other summer themes (think Cinderella Sand Castle).
While nothing has been announced yet, it's reasonable to assume that there will be a Halloween-themed version of The Magic, The Memories and You, as well as the return of the Christmas version.
July will see the opening of the second spinner and the enclosed interactive queue for Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station, and the two tent buildings in Storybook Circus. Guests will be able to wait indoors in air conditioning while waiting for their turn to fly with an elephant on one of two spinners at the only double-Dumbo attraction in the world.
Finally, at some time before the holidays, the bulk of New Fantasyland will open. Beyond the new castle courtyard wall, the terrain will change as guests enter the Fantasyland Forest. To the west of the expansion will be the Beauty and the Beast-themed section, including Maurice's Cottage (home of the Enchanted Tales with Belle meet-and-greet attraction), Beast's Castle (home of the Be Our Guest Restaurant), Gaston's Tavern, and Bonjour Village Gifts. To the east will be the Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction (copied from Disney California Adventure park, but with an entirely new, enhanced queue) and Ariel's Grotto.
Despite the proximity of these two areas, as well as the Storybook Circus area, sightlines will be protected by the giant complex still under construction in the center of the Fantasyland Forest region, that will be the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction when it opens in 2014. The immense mountain and foothills will provide new views around every corner as park guests work their way around the expanded Fantasyland. You can learn more about the expansion on Episode 447 of the MouseStation podcast.
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Disney's Art of Animation Resort opens one week from today, on May 31. When construction is completed later this year, this Value-category resort will house 1,120 family suites and 864 standard rooms. On May 31, the first 320 suites comprising the Finding Nemo-themed section welcomes guests to the resort for the first time. The two buildings are located directly behind Animation Hall, surrounding the Big Blue pool. At 11,859 square feet, it's the largest resort pool at Walt Disney World. In addition to highly themed decor surrounding the pool, underwater swimmers will be able to listen to conversations between characters from the movie. Along with the first guest rooms, also opening are the Animation Hall commercial complex, including the check-in area, the Ink & Paint Shop merchandise location and the Landscape of Flavors food court. Learn more about the resort on Episode 447 of the MouseStation podcast.
On Monday, June 18, the first two buildings are joined by the 480 rooms of the Cars-themed section. With a central courtyard designed to resemble downtown Radiator Springs, the three buildings are adjacent to the Finding Nemo section. The semicircular Cozy Cone Pool sits across from the facade of the Cozy Cone Motel. Family suites at Art of Animation include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six, and start at $248 per night.
The third and final suites section of Disney's Art of Animation Resort opens August 10. The Lion King-themed decor transports you to the jungle, where Simba, Pumbaa, Timon, and many other creatures await. There are two Lion King buildings, containing a total of 320 suites. This section is located on the opposite side of the Finding Nemo section from the Cars section.
September 15 will mark the opening date of the fourth and final courtyard section of the Art of Animation Resort. These three buildings will be themed to The Little Mermaid. These 864 standard rooms are the only standard rooms at the Resort. The Little Mermaid section is located beyond the Lion King section and is the furthest from the central Animation Hall and Nemo pool complex. The Flippin Fins pool will allow guests to enjoy a dip without having to walk all the way to the Big Blue pool at the resort's center.
Epcot
Later in June, the Disney Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure opens in Epcot. Replacing the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, which closed last Friday, the interactive attraction allows guests to help Agent P (the secret identity of Perry the Platypus) stop the evil Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz at seven international pavilions around World Showcase Lagoon. A number of the payoffs and other gags from the Kim Possible version will remain and possibly be rethemed, while plenty of new material will also be added. You can learn more about the retheming of the game on Episode 448 of the MouseStation podcast.
The re-imagined Test Track, now presented by Chevrolet, reopens late this fall. The redone attraction will provide park guests with a look inside the automotive design process and will allow them to design their own car. You can learn more about the reimainging of Test Track on Episode 448 of the MouseStation podcast.
In addition…
At Downtown Disney, the Splitsville bowling alley and nighttime hotspot opens this fall for family and adult enjoyment.
This fall, the new zebra savanna section will open on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom, replacing the “rescue of Little Red” section.
The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow open at Disney's Hollywood Studios late this year. The interactive experience will be located in Soundstage 4, most recently host of the Journey to Narnia attraction.
Of course, all of this is in addition to the annual events such as the Sounds Like Summer concert series at Epcot, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival this fall, and the Night of Joy, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party events at the Magic Kingdom this fall and winter, and the other holiday celebrations around the resort. And let's not forget that Starbucks is coming to each Walt Disney World theme park, though there is no current public schedule.
There's also all of the recently-opened attractions and other locations like the first of the new Dumbo the Flying Elephant spinners, the Exotic Driving Experience at the Walt Disney World Speedway, the interactive Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game, Epcot's new Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar at the Italy pavilion, and the Royal Rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort.
In addition, don't forget that MousePlanet's own MouseAdventure: World Explorers IV will be coming to the Magic Kingdom this fall! The date was just announced yesterday. The game will be held on Saturday, November 3. Registration opens in two weeks!
So there are plenty of big doings coming up at Walt Disney World. Which are you most looking forward to? Post a comment below and share your thoughts!
