Update for March 9 – 16, 2015
Go directly to: News & Views | Join our Networks | Resort Events | Refurbishments and Attraction Closures | Discounts and Promotions
News and Views
Two major attractions to get expansions | Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace to switch locations | Magic Kingdom Express Monorail to reduce hours through summer | Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid reopens | Galactic Gathering to open Star Wars Weekends on May 14 | Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Guide: March 13-17 | Views around the World | This and That | Crowd update
Two major attractions to get expansions
Disney has confirmed that two of its Walt Disney World theme park attractions—Epcot's Soarin' and Disney's Hollywood Studios' Toy Story Midway Mania—are undergoing a major expansion to help alleviate the crowds at these two popular rides.
Soarin' is seeing two major upgrades: a new theater to hold more riders, as well as updated screens and projection system to improve the visitors' experience, according to a post on Disney Parks Blog.
Toy Story Midway Mania is getting additional track , also making it easier to get more people through the ride faster.
At this time, “no immediate impact” is expected during the construction project, according to Thomas Smith, Disney Parks Blog's Social Media Director. Both projects have a scheduled late 2016 completion deadline.
Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace to switch locations
Magic Kingdom visitors looking for a refreshing Dole Whip or Citrus Swirl may notice a change in Adventureland starting next week. This Thursday (March 12), Aloha Isle—home of the famous Dole Whip and other pineapple treats—switches locations with Sunshine Tree Terrace, which serves the Citrus Swirl, the Dole Whip's orange counterpart. Visitors can still find their favorite snack on the menu; the change is simply location-based.
Disney has not given a reason for the switch, according to a post by Rikki Niblett of our sponsor TouringPlans.com. However, Niblett said rumors suggest that the Adventureland Veranda may be refurbished into a restaurant, which would affect the current Aloha Isle location.
Magic Kingdom Express Monorail to reduce hours through summer
In another of a series of changes to the Walt Disney World monorail schedule, Disney announced last week that the Magic Kingdom Express Line is the next route affected by infrastructure updates and constructions.
Starting tomorrow (March 10), the monorail line starts reduced hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. According to a post from our sponsor TouringPlans.com, anyone needing to get to the Magic Kingdom should use the resort monorail or take a watercraft to the park.
Work performed over the resort monorail beam in the Contemporary means that the Express monorail stops at the Contemporary to pick up guests on the way to the Magic Kingdom. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
The Epcot monorail is unaffected. Disney did not provide a completion date for this stage of the project, but should likely last through the summer.
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid reopens
As MousePlanet readers may recall, our refurbishment schedule recently listed the Magic Kingdom's Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid as being closed for some upgrades. Last week, the New Fantasyland attraction reopened early for visitors and there are noticeable changes to the ride.
On March 5, Seth Kubersky of our sponsor TouringPlans.com, had the chance to ride the upgraded attraction and outlined the important improvements he saw along the way in a blog post:
- The biggest improvement is the “Under the Sea' scene, which designers re-imagined with blacklights. This change helps make the under sea creatures' color really “pop” while hiding the background area, which visitors noted had been a distraction pre-refurbishment.
- More fish have been added to the ride track. While they may not move, it is better than looking simply at rocks along the way.
- Ariel's red hair has changed to look less wet and more soft during the above the sea scenes.
Galactic Gathering to open Star Wars Weekends on May 14
Star Wars fans looking for exclusive merchandise from the annual Disney's Hollywood Studios' Star Wars Weekends are invited to a special, hard-ticket event on Thursday, May 14.
Galactic Gathering, which runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., gives visitors the chance to buy new merchandise made exclusively for the 2015 Star Wars Weekends, according to a Disney Parks Blog announcement. The Galactic Gathering packages include:
- A “Rebel” or “Empire” retail MagicBand. Visitors can choose which side they want when they register online.
- A commemorative trading pin.
- Darth's Mall Light Speed Pass, which provides expedited entry to Darth's Mall for all five weekends.
- First chance to buy Star Wars-themed Disney gift cards.
- First chance to pre-purchase select merchandise including personalized Aurebesh nametags, D-Tech phone cases, Dooney & Bourke handbags, and limited edition pins and Vinylmation.
- A Han Solo-inspired bucket of popcorn
- An opportunity to meet Disney characters, Disney Design Group Artists, and Ashley Eckstein for Her Universe.
Tickets are limited and cost $250, but does not include park admission, which is required to attend the event. Interested visitors can register online now. The tickets are non-refundable, and photo ID is required for anyone age 18 or older.
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Guide: March 13-17
The 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival completed its first full week, and the sights and smells around the park are fantastic.
For the first time ever, Chip 'n' Dale appear as topiaries with the rest of the Disney gang. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The annual event showcases incredible topiary creations sculpted to look like classic Disney characters, and gardens filled with flowers of every color of the rainbow. Guests can also attend live demonstrations on how to grow their own gardens and sample a variety of international cuisine to throughout the 75-day festival.
Each weekend, Epcot presents special events that include music, seminars, tours and more. Make sure to check the guide below and/or pick one up at the parks to get information on how to make reservations. We'll have an event guide updated each week for MousePlanet readers.
Here's what you can expect for Week #2 of the 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival:
| Friday, March 13 | ||
| Gardens of the World Tour: A three-hour tour of special displays and international Gardens. | 9:00 – noon | Epcot |
| Connect with Disney's Horticulture: Tips from Disney Horticulturists abut growing and maintaining the gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort. | 10:00 – 4:00 | Festival Center |
| Jaret Daniels, Ph.D – Tips on how to plant your own garden | 11:00, 2:00 | Greenhouse Stage |
| Steve Nordmeyer, Garden Gate Magazine | Noon, 3:00 | Fresh Epcot Stage |
| “Planting Pointers” | 1:00, 4:00 | University of Florida Stage |
| English Tea Garden Tour | 1:00, 3:45, 6:15 | Tea Caddy |
| Chef Demo | 3:00 | Port of Entry, Showcase Plaza |
| Garden Rocks Concert Series: Pablo Cruise | 5:30, 6:45, 8:00 | American Gardens Theater |
| Saturday, March 14 | ||
| Gardens of the World Tour: A three-hour tour of special displays and international Gardens. | 9:00 – noon | Epcot |
| Connect with Disney's Horticulture: Tips from Disney Horticulturists abut growing and maintaining the gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort | 10:00 – 4:00 | Festival Center |
| Ask an Expert: Master Gardeners from IFAS at the University of Florida. | 10:00 – 4:00 | Festival Center |
| Jaret Daniels, Ph.D, Tips on how to plant your own garden | 11:00, 2:00 | Greenhouse Stage |
| Steven Nordmeyer, Garden Gate Magazine | Noon, 3:00 | Fresh Epcot Stage |
| “Planting Pointers” | 1:00, 4:00 | University of Florida Stage |
| English Tea Garden Tour | 1:00, 3:45, 6:15 | Tea Caddy |
| Chef Demo | 3:00 | Port of Entry, Showcase Plaza |
| Garden Rocks Concert Series: Pablo Cruise | 5:30, 6:45, 8:00 | American Gardens Theater |
| Sunday, March 15 | ||
| Gardens of the World Tour: A three-hour tour of special displays and international Gardens. | 9:00 – noon | Epcot |
| Connect with Disney's Horticulture: Tips from Disney Horticulturists abut growing and maintaining the gardens of the Walt Disney World Resort | 10:00 – 4:00 | Festival Center |
| Ask an Expert: Master Gardeners from IFAS at the University of Florida | 10:00 – 4:00 | Festival Center |
| Jaret Daniels, Ph.D, Tips on how to plant your own garden | 11:00, 2:00 | Greenhouse Stage |
| Steven Nordmeyer, Garden Gate Magazine | Noon, 3:00 | Fresh Epcot Stage |
| “Planting Pointers” | 1:00, 4:00 | University of Florida Stage |
| English Tea Garden Tour | 1:00, 3:45, 6:15 | Tea Caddy |
| Chef Demo | 3:00 | Port of Entry, Showcase Plaza |
| Garden Rocks Concert Series: Pablo Cruise | 5:30, 6:45, 8:00 | American Gardens Theater |
| Monday, March 16 | ||
| Gardens of the World Tour: A three-hour tour of special displays and international Gardens. | 9:00 – noon | Epcot |
| St. Patrick's Day Celebration | See Times Guide at park | American Adventure, World Showcase |
| English Tea Garden Tour | 3:45, 6:15 | Tea Caddy |
| Tuesday, March 17 | ||
| Gardens of the World Tour | 9:00 – noon | Epcot |
| St. Patrick's Day Celebration | See Times Guide | American Adventure, World Showcase |
| English Tea Garden Tour | 3:45, 6:15 | Tea Caddy |
Views around the World
Our photographers captured some big construction reveals this past week, as well as lots of colorful displays from the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival for those of us who need a shot of spring.
Magic Kingdom
The iconic Partners statue in front of Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle can be enjoyed by fans once again after being crated during construction. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
Construction walls are down and guests can now enjoy the east side of the hub expansion at Magic Kingdom. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
Work continues on the northern part of the hub at Magic Kingdom. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
Epcot
Flowers blanket the shore of Future World, with Journey Into Your Imagination in the background. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Anna and Elsa of Frozen make their premiere at this year's Flower and Garden Festival. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Disney Pixar's new film Inside Out showcases and Emotion Garden. From Anger to Joy each spread has its own floral look and feel. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Bambi and friends look right at home in the outdoor setting of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
China celebrates the Year of the Sheep, which includes goats. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Snow White shows off her finest greenery at the 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival which runs through May 17. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
Even the small German town in this railroad garden celebrates their own spring festival. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Animal Kingdom
A new retail location greets guests approach the front gates of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Detail work continues on the new African Marketplace. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
This and That
Sonny Eclipse is out from under the refurbishment tarps and is entertaining guests again in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.
…Sonny Eclipse is back performing at Magic Kingdom's Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe after a little refurbishment.
…As the world premiere of the new live-action Cinderella quickly approaches (Friday, March 13), the Contempo Cafe at Disney's Contemporary Resort created a cupcake in its honor. The sweet treat is only available until the stroke of Midnight on March 31.
…Michael and Diane Greening, a couple celebrating their Valentine's Day anniversary decided to visit three Disney Parks in one day: Tokyo Disneyland at 9:30 a.m., then Disneyland in Anaheim, California at 11:00 a.m. local time, and, finally, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom at 11:00 p.m. local time. Michael said they couldn't decide where to go to celebrate their special day, so they settled on all three for a trip totalling 27 hours and 50 minutes, according to a WESH-2 news report. The cost of their anniversary trip was somewhere between $13,000 and $15,000.
…In honor of the upcoming release of the live-action Cinderella movie on March 13, Disney is offering a special sweepstakes with a grand prize that gives one lucky family a taste of what “happily ever after” is about. Cinderella's Perfect Fit sweepstakes awards one grand prize, consisting of:
- A one-night stay inside the Cinderella Castle suite
- Three nights at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel
- Four 5-day Magic Your Way tickets with Park Hopper and Water Parks and More options
- A Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover for one child ages 3 to 12.
- A $500 gift card
Entries can be submitted online through the sweepstakes' official Web page until March 29.
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Seeking ShutterbugsAre you a frequent visitor to the WDW theme parks? Do you love taking and sharing photos of the lastest happenings around the World? Would you like to be paid for your work? MousePlanet is seeking Orlando-based photographers to share their theme park observations and photos with our readers. If you're an excellent photographer with strong communication skills, please contact us—we'd love to hear from you! |
Crowd Forecast
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Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Stephanie here.
Talk about these stories and more on our Walt Disney World discussion forum here.
Resort Events
2015
- 2015 Atlanta Braves Spring Training – March 4 to April 14.
- 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Show – March 4 to May 17.
- 2015 Epcot Garden Rocks Concert Series – March 6 to May 17.
- 2015 Mickey's Not So Scary Hallowen Party – September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25 and 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31; November 1
- 2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival – September 26 to November 16.
runDisney events
If you participate in (or are considering signing up for) runDisney events, visit our Team MousePlanet forum on the MousePad discussion board, where you can join our community of health-minded readers and staff.
2015
- Expedition Everest Challenge – May 1–2. The event, which was announced as being the final time it was being offered, sold out within minutes of registration opening.
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 6–7. Registration opens March 17.
2016
- Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 6–10, 2016. Registration opens April 28.
- Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 18–21, 2016. Registration opens July 14.
For current information on registration dates and capacity, see Lorree Tachell's runDisney Race Capacity Updates in the Team MousePlanet forum on our MousePad discussion board.
Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Magic Kingdom
- “it's a small world” – closed March 10–15 for refurbishment
- Harmony Barber Shop – closed through March 30 (dates subject to change).
- Jungle Cruise – closed April 13 through May 8 for refurbishment
- Dream Along with Mickey – closed April 13 through May 20 for refurbishment
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed April 27–30 for refurbishment.
- Pirates of the Caribbean – closed May 11–September 25 for refurbishment.
- Liberty Tree Tavern – closed July 6 through November 20 for refurbishment
- Liberty Square Riverboat – closed August 4–10 for refurbishment.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Kali River Rapids – closed March 10–13
- Flame Tree Barbecue – closed through March 31.
- Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – closed March 14–15
- Lights, Motor, Action Extreme Stunt Show – closed April 20 – 25
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid – closed September 7– 10
Resorts
- Polynesian – refurbishment of the lobby and pool area ongoing.
Water Parks
- Blizzard Beach – the the entire park closed through March 3.
Elsewhere
- Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed.
- Downtown Disney Lots H, I, J, and K (in Westside area) closed until further notice for Disney Springs construction.
- Downtown Disney Bridge 4 and restrooms on Pleasure Island are temporarily closed for ongoing construction work.
- Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Current Discounts & Promotions
Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers!
Discounts for Everyone |
Memory Maker pre-arrival discount Disney's PhotoPass service provides a discount on Disney Memory Maker pre-arrival packages. For $199 plus tax, Walt Disney World guests can digitally download any photos associated with their Memory Maker account, including photos taken on attractions. The advanced purchase price is $169, a $30 savings. Applicable taxes are charged to all orders. Purchase must be made more than three days prior to arrival at the Walt Disney World Resort. All sales are final, and not eligible for an exchange or refund. |
|---|---|
Discounts for Annual Passholders |
None at this time. |
Discounts for Disney Rewards VISA & Debit Card Holders |
15 percent off select guided tours Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of selected guided tours for up to 10 people. The cardholder must participate in the tour, and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card. Tours included:
10 percent off select restaurants Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off the check when you pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Discount excludes alcohol. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas:
Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas:
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort:
Disney's Contemporary Resort:
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground:
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:
Disney's Old Key West Resort:
Disney's Port Orleans Resort:
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa:
Disney's Wilderness Lodge:
Disney's Yacht Club Resort:
Disney's Hollywood Studios:
Epcot:
10 percent off merchandise Disney Visa cardholders receive 10 percent off at participating Disney-owned retail location when you spend a minimum of $50 and pay with a Disney's Visa Card and/or Disney Rewards Redemption Card (be sure to request the discount). Read all of the restrictions on the Disney Visa website. 15 percent off all Disney spa and salon services Disney Visa cardholders receive 15 percent off the non-discounted price of any salon treatment valued at $45 or greater or any 50-minute or longer spa service at the spas and salons at Walt Disney World Resort listed below: Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
Free 5″ x 7″ character photo at a private meet and greet location at Epcot Present your Disney's Premier Visa Card or Disney Rewards Visa Card for access to a private character meet and greet at Epcot for the cardholder and up to five guests. The event is hosted daily from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. inside Innoventions West at Epcot. You'll receive one free 5″ x 7″ character photo per day. |
Discounts for Florida Residents |
None at this time. |
Discounts for U.K. Residents |
14 days for 7-day park tickets plus up to 4 nights free in 2015. Get up to 4 free nights when you book a 7-night or longer stay at a Disney hotel for select dates in 2015 and you can also get Disney’s Ultimate 14-Day ticket for the price of 7 offer. Applicable to arrivals between February 1 and December 6, subject to availability. Restrictions apply – see official website for details.
Book by March 31.
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Discounts for Canada Residents |
None at this time. |
Don't keep it to yourself! Send us your news tips, rumors, and comments. Email Marie here.
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