Walt Disney World Resort Update for March 12-18, 2019

Writer's note: Did anyone have August 29, 2019, in the pool for when Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge would have its public debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World? No? Neither did we.

As we reported last May, Disney originally announced that the “opening season” for the land in Florida would be “Late Fall 2019.” (In more recent ads and promotional materials for Galaxy's Edge, we did notice that “late” no longer appeared, but fall was omnipresent.) Though Magic Kingdom will already have been celebrating Halloween for two weeks when August 29 rolls around, that's still before both the Autumnal Equinox and the meteorological start of fall! In fact, it is only four days after the end of D23 Expo 2019 in Anaheim.

More about those details in a moment, but first, remember what we have been saying about “Spring Break” being a whole season here? Well, according to the Crowd Forecast from our friends at Touring Plans, this week that season really kicks into high gear. This spring's edition of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is already in full bloom, and while folks fill the World Showcase Promenade exploring the Outdoor Kitchens and admiring the topiaries and gardens, the standby times for attractions over in Disney's Animal Kingdom's Pandora-The World of Avatar often still hover around the two to three hour range. While I have heard folks joke that Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge may finally bring those times back to Earth (or the ground of Pandora, at least), I am not so sure.

Let's get on to the news and views.

News and Views

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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge to Open “Phase One” on August 29

By now you probably know that Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced during the Annual Shareholder Meeting last week that the Star Wars-themed 14-acre expansions at both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World are running ahead of schedule. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland was always scheduled to open before the Hollywood Studios version, but now we know that each of those openings will happen in two phases. The California version will premiere first, on May 31, 2019, with its shops and restaurants open, as well as the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction. The similar “Phase One” in Florida will open on August 29, 2019. Phase Two, the opening of the highly anticipated Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction, will occur “later” in 2019, at each park (and, yes, while it has not been announced, it is possible that Phase Two will open at Disneyland before Florida's Phase One even opens).

Phase One of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will include the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction. Concept Art ©Disney.

As Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix wrote yesterday in the Disneyland Resort Update:

If this is the first you've heard of a phased opening, you're not alone. While it was rumored that the opening dates would be announced during the shareholder meeting, the fact that the whole land would not open at once was a surprise to most watchers, and seems to contradict the message that the project is ahead of schedule.

Our theory is that the Rise of the Resistance is on schedule for the original opening date, but the rest of Galaxy's Edge can be ready to open earlier. Disney decided on a phased opening as a way to start generating revenue from the new land as soon as possible. The company knows die-hard fans will still pay full price to walk the Black Spire Outpost, even with one ride not yet open. And those same fans will come back for a second visit during Phase 2, generating more revenue for the company.

Disney describes Rise of the Resistance as “the most ambitious, immersive, and advanced attraction ever imagined.” Guests will be in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance, and Disney says the attraction will “blur the lines between fantasy and reality.” The best part of a phased opening for Florida visitors may very well be that Disney Parks operations will have some opportunity to test and adjust based on real world conditions including Disneyland guest behavior, before each phase opens at Hollywood Studios.

While Disneyland guests between May 31 and June 23 will require no-cost reservations as well as a valid theme park ticket to even enter Galaxy's Edge (with designated reservations provided to guests staying in one of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels), right now, similar restrictions are not planned for the August 29 Phase One opening in Florida. However, of course, capacity of the new land will be limited, just as Pandora-The World of Avatar was when it opened (and, occasionally still is). Disney is already making clear in advertising that access to Disneyland Park, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and its experiences may be restricted or unavailable depending on guest demand and other factors, and it likely will do the same type of advertising for Florida. If conditions warrant, Walt Disney World could introduce new plans for the opening of Florida's Phase One too.

Having said that, Disney has said that guests staying in Walt Disney World Resort Hotels with Extra Magic Hours privileges and a valid theme park ticket will be able to attempt to visit the new land during Extra Magic Hours. FastPass+ reservations, however, will not be offered at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (and nothing has yet been announced for Rise of the Resistance so far, but it likely will not be offered there either initially). While the fact that FastPass+ will not be offered with the opening of Galaxy's Edge may be disappointing, it is not particularly surprising in light of recent experiences with the openings of Pandora-The World of Avatar in 2017, and Toy Story Land last summer.

On the respective day that each of the other new Florida park's lands opened (and, particularly for Pandora, for some time thereafter), it was necessary to queue just to enter the new land. When Pandora opened, the process for those with FastPass+ reservations to enter the land was not communicated during the Media Events preceding the land's opening and were not particularly well-communicated on opening day. It was left to social media to communicate where to go to bypass the “enter the land” queue to redeem a FastPass+ reservation. Even those “bypass” procedures also were not known by every crowd-control cast member you might encounter, resulting in further confusion and frustrated guests.

Disney does learn from its own experiences, though. When Toy Story Land opened last year, more signage was posted (sometimes on signs held by cast members), and cast members were better informed about directing guests with FastPass+ to bypass one of the “enter the land” queues. Nevertheless, there was still a lengthy (but separate) queue throughout much of opening day for FastPass+ holders to enter the land. Once successfully entering the land, FastPass+ holders were then often greeted with lengthy waits to get in the FastPass+ queues themselves and, eventually, ride (which, in Toy Story Land, was further delayed by thunderstorms which happen in the rainy season that lasts pretty much all summer; hopefully, weather will not result in ride downtime for the indoor attractions of Galaxy's Edge).

In other words, it would not be surprising for FastPass+ reservations to remain unavailable in Galaxy's Edge until guest flow into and out of the new land becomes “normalized” or at least predictable enough for operations that the FastPass+ experience for the attractions is similar to other popular attractions around the Resort. We expect that, like Pandora during its first several months of operation, Galaxy's Edge likely will offer lots of Extra Magic Hours to Resort Guests to make up for the lack of FastPass+ availability. In any event, everyone likely will have to wait to experience the attractions. The good news will be the queues will be significantly shorter than the 42 years those of us that are old enough to have seen Star Wars during its original 1977 theatrical run have been waiting for the fully-immersive Star Wars experience.

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The Shaman of Songs probably won’t be holding the title of most advanced AudioAnimatronic much longer. If you don’t know why, see the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news. She is still impressive. #visitpandora #animalkingdom #waltdisneyworld #videobyasd

A post shared by MousePlanet (@mouseplanet) on Mar 7, 2019 at 4:24pm PST

Nearly two years after its opening, it is sometimes possible to get a FastPass+ reservation to see the Shaman of Songs on Na'Vi River Journey in Pandora-The World of Avatar, even on a busy day. It is up for debate whether she will keep the title of most advanced AudioAnimatronic after Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is entirely up and running. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

New Experiences Offered at Resort Hotels

Beyond visiting the theme parks and water parks, guests staying at official Walt Disney World Resort hotels can find numerous other experiences to enjoy. In addition to swimming, tennis, and similar recreation, many smaller offerings get listed on boards in a hotel lobby, poolside or in a flier that may get overlooked by hurried theme park-goers. Last week, Disney Parks Blog profiled a spate of new premium (extra charge) offerings at Resort Hotels. To get the hours and other operational details of each, call the Disney reservation line shown with the descriptions below.

Captain Hook's Pirate Crew at Disney's Beach Club Resort

Starting April 28, kids ages 4-12 can learn “pirate ways” while following clues leading to hidden treasure before being named to Captain Hook's Pirate Crew. Young recruits signed up for this $55/child (plus tax) adventure, will follow clues around Disney's Beach Club Resort and then sail on a pontoon boat around Crescent Lake. The adventure will also include a “Pirate feast” featuring “Cannon Meatballs” with marinara or macaroni and “gold” sauce, plus a “treasure chest treat” or fruit for dessert. Reservations and information are available at (407)824-KIDS.

Mermaid School

Starting later this month, guests ages 4 and older can sign up ($50/person plus tax) for an hour-long class to learn to swim in a pool like a mermaid after being fitted with a swimmable “tail.” Mermaid School will be offered on select dates at at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Reservations open mid-March by calling (407)WDW-PLAY.

Poolside Cabanas at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts

New poolside cabanas at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are now available for half and full-day reservations beginning March 17. Cabanas include: padded furniture, plush towels, a lockable cabinet, charging outlets for mobile devices, a mounted television with cable service, complimentary sunscreen and other skincare products, complimentary fruit tray, a mini-fridge with complimentary stocked soda and water, and dedicated Disney cast member service with cocktail service available. Cabanas are only available to guests staying at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Call (407) WDW-PLAY for rates and reservations.

New Art Programs

Master classes led by professional artists will be offered at several resorts. Prices range from $30/person (plus tax) for children's classes designed for age 6 and up at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter, to $35-50/person for adult classes at Disney's Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Yacht & Beach Club, and BoardWalk Inn Resorts. Dates vary by resort. Information and reservations are available at (407)WDW-PLAY.

Fishing Excursions

Several different fishing excursions have been offered around the Resort for decades. The fleet of boats used for these recently has added a new NITRO ZV21 which operates out of the Magic Kingdom marinas. The fleet also includes a 21-foot SunTracker pontoon for up to five guests and a tournament-style NITRO bass fishing boat (for one or two). Outings are either two or four hours; all are catch-and-release expeditions. Call (407) WDW-BASS for information and booking.

Epcot Concerts News & Calendar

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is underway featuring the Garden Rocks Concert Series on the America Gardens stage three times nightly through June 3. This is the first time the concerts run seven nights a week for the length of the festival. Performers scheduled this year include Wang Chung, Peabo Bryson, Eddie Palmieri, Tony Orlando, Jon Anderson of YES, Ambrosia, Magic Giant, Dennis DeYoung, original member of STYX, Steve Auger (Journey former lead vocalist), Air Supply, Rick Springfield, Richard Marx and Starship, starring Mickey Thomas. Returning performers also include The Spinners and Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, and new to the Festival performers include TobyMac, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sister Sledge, and Colin Hay of Men at Work. For more information or for reserving dining packages with guaranteed concert seating, call (407) WDW-DINE or visit FreshEpcot.com. Passholders can save 10% on food and beverages (except alcohol and excluding tax and gratuity) on dining packages for themselves and up to three guests.

Eddie Palmieri, Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician and composer, entertained during the Media Preview last week and will close out the Garden Rocks Concert Series on June 2 and 3, 2019. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

America Gardens Theatre is located on World Showcase Lagoon across from the entrance to The American Adventure. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This summer, Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! will return from June 14 through August 18. Star-Lord and Gamora (along with an “alien” band) will take a “musical journey” that showcases hits from Star-Lord's Awesome Mix tapes with multiple performances daily.

With Groot remotely patching “Awesome Mix” music into the headphones of of an alien band, Star-Lord tried to teach them how to become the “Galaxy's greatest cover band” during last summer's edition of the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! Concerts. Gamora seemed unimpressed. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

For the convenience of our readers, all of the scheduled Garden Rocks Concert Series performers at America Gardens Theatre are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. All of the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! dates are included as well. While our Google Calendar of Epcot Events includes a list of the scheduled performers, it is always best to check the My Disney Experience app, Times Guide, and, yes, sometimes even signs posted at the park entrances and at the theater noting last minute changes. You can add the whole Event calendar to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link and, indeed, if when we get additional information and update the calendar, the calendar will update on your subscribed device as well. The calendar is provided as a courtesy “as is, where is” without any guarantees. Given the effort it took to create it and keep it updated, we do respectfully request that you do not post our entire calendar on another site without first asking our permission. Walt Disney World Resort does provide schedules in the My Disney Experience app, but does not allow you to add dates to calendars outside the app itself.

Views Around the World

We have new views this week of Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom Celebrated International Women's Day with the Sister Soiree in Tomorrowland on Friday, March 8. Each of the four theme parks had some special in-park celebrations to mark the day. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Citizens of Main Street perform several times each day with Dapper Dans as part of Mickey & Minnie's Surprise Celebration.

Abby Mallard from Disney's “Chicken Little” appeared in Town Square. Rare character appearances are part of Mickey & Minnie's Surprise Celebration in the park.

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover continues to operate over the closed Tomorrowland Speedway as track changes below continue to accomodate the TRON-themed coaster expected to be completed in 2021.

With concrete in place for the TRON-themed coaster, we expect to see vertical construction near Space Mountain soon.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs through June 3. The Pluto Passholder magnet is available until April 10 (or supplies run out). Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Cloudless blue skies greeted the opening of the 26th Flower & Garden Festival on March 6. The entry topiary theme this year: a butterfly garden.

The life-sized butterfly garden, The Goodness Garden Butterfly House, is again located in Future World West. A demonstration garden nearby explains the sort of plantings that may attract and help butterflies and other pollinators thrive.

Even during the cooler first days of the Festival, quite a few butterflies were active in the Butterfly House .

For perspective on the prior photo, the glass pyramids of Imagination pavilion can be seen beyond the Butterfly House.

A caterpillar munches on a favorite plant in the Butterfly House.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Flower towers dot the walkway from near the Fountain View Stage to the Odyssey Festival Center.

The Odyssey Festival Center is the Gardeners Terrace, which includes the Arbor Outdoor Kitchen (albeit indoors), merchandise and more.

Inside Odyssey is table seating and a video discussing horticultural aspects of the Festival.

A large selection of Festival merchandise is available inside Odyssey.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Topiary Figment, last seen at the end of this winter's Epcot International Festival of the Arts at the park entrance, is now installed near the ride that features him; the topiary is near Imagination! pavilion.

Topiaries of Mickey and Minnie stand in front of The Smokehouse outside The American Adventure.

Lady and The Tramp topiaries are at the Italy pavilion again this year, but in a new, more scenic location.

A refreshed version of Dopey stands with Snow White in a new spot at Germany pavilion. The other Dwarfs are not on display this year.

Topiary Donald Duck keeps an eye on the bee on his head rather than the Street Corn available at the nearby Trowel and Trellis Outdoor Kitchen.

The Three Caballeros topiaries are located in World Showcase Plaza on the Mexico pavilion side.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

The flower gardens in Future World are in full bloom.

In the greenhouses of Living with the Land, additional Festival displays have been installed, including a topiary resembling Mickey's head.

Signs along the boat's route through the Living with the Land greenhouses denote some of the edible flower gardens on display.

The Health Full Trail is located in Future World West between Imagination! pavilion and World Showcase Plaza, it includes an Outdoor Kitchen, a display garden and a play area.

The Tea Garden is at U.K. pavilion.

Bansai trees can be found along the shore of World Showcase Lagoon at Japan pavilion.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Mariachi Cobre Presents The Story of Coco along World Showcase Promenade several times each day (check the sign outside Mexico pavilion, the Times Guide or My Disney Experience app). Mariachi Cobre also performs sets of traditional mariachi music (which are noted separately, at least on the sign outside Mexico pavilion).

One highlight of the new “The Story of Coco” performances are the appearance of little Miguel.

Orchids are blooming outside Mexico pavilion, and are featured during this time of year during the Flower & Garden Festival.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Cable and other infrastructure work continues on the islands and in World Showcase Lagoon itself ahead of the expected debut next year of a new nighttime spectacular.

From inside Disney Vacation Member Lounge atop Imagination! pavilion, it is possible to see the ongoing work atop the new building enclosing the future Guardians of the Galaxy-themed attraction.

When directed to park in the far eastern portion of Epcot's parking area, it is possible to get a fairly close up look at the new building constructed for the Guardians of the Galaxy-themed coaster and the structure that attaches it to the former Universe of Energy pavilion (on the right in the photo).

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Even outside Pandora-The World of Avatar, Stand-By times during “Spring Break” can be quite high.

Stella the elephant calf is now nearly half as big as an adult in her herd.

On a cooler afternoon, the lioness got up from a nap to climb nearby rocks as the safari truck passed. (She woke the lion as she passed too.)

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…As we mentioned last week, earlier this month, Bollywood Beats, a new Indian dance experience show debuted at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The show combines traditional Indian dance “with the fire of Hindi film” with classical Indian rhythms of Kathak, to the folks style of Bhangra, and the modern Bollywood pop style. The performances will take place on the new stage across from the Anandapur Theater in Asia (formerly known as the Caravan Stage where UP! A Great Bird Adventure is now playing).

Check the Times Guide or My Disney Experience for performance times of Bollywood Beats at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…The latest official description of the new Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios on March 31 makes it sound like the experience will be a combination of a show and a meet and greet opportunity. The show portion will include Lightning showing off “his brand-new, state-of-the-art racing simulator and its wraparound screen.” Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez, and the rest of the gang from radiator Springs will appear too. After the show, guests will have a photo opportunity with Cruz Ramirez outside. Cruz Ramirez former meet-and-greet location was in Pixar Place before Toy Story Land opened last June.

…As it has every year since 2000, Victoria & Albert's restaurant at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has won the AAA Five Diamond award again this year. It has also again won the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award for the second year in a row, keeping it as the only restaurant in the state of Florida to win both awards, and as one of only 26 other restaurants in the United Staes to have both awards. The fine dining restaurant serves haute American cuisine in a Victorian setting that Disney describes as “an atmosphere of refined opulence.” AAA rates and approves nearly 32,000 restaurants throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean and awards the AAA Five Diamond rating to only 0.2% of those it reviews. Reviews are based on a combination of food, service, décor, and ambiance.

…For those that enjoy reading about the early days of Walt Disney World Resort's construction history, Disney Parks Blog this week published the first of what it promises will be several posts about the property. This one starts with the story of site preparations begun in October 1965, and led to the creation of the Seven Seas Lagoon and its islands, the preparation of Bay Lake for guest use, and the building of the ground floor of Magic Kingdom (also known as the “utilidors”). Fun trivia includes the fact that one of the Bay Lake Islands is named Castaway Cay, just like Disney's private Bahamian island that passengers of Disney Cruise Line often get to visit (like I did earlier this year and wrote about), and the history of the notorious wave machine across from the beaches of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

…Walt Disney World Golf now offers Seasonal Membership Options for its Players Club Program that include access to daily golf clinics, unlimited driving range access and discounted greens fees on the four golf courses. One, three, six and nine month options are now available to folks that visit Central Florida for part of the year, in addition to annual memberships for local-area residents. Read more on the GolfWDW.com Blog.

…Beyond Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida, Give Kids The World Village, the nonprofit resort serving critically ill children by assisting them and their families enjoy dream vacations at Walt Disney World and other Central Florida attractions, is offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 2020 and ride one of the celebration’s world-famous floats. With proceeds benefiting Give Kids The World Village, visit www.gktw.org/mardigras to purchase chances (starting at $10) to win a trip to New Orleans, LA, for Mardi Gras 2020 and two spots on Harry Connick Jr.’s “Krewe of Orpheus” float. The winner's package also includes a private Krewe of Orpheus luncheon, access to its black-tie ball – the Orpheuscapade – costumes to wear while on the float, a two-night stay for two in New Orleans, and airfare. The contest runs until March 31, 2019, with the winner to be announced in April. The parade is scheduled for February 24, 2020. Rules and further information on the Give Kids the World Village site, with the prize provided by that organization and New Orleans-based Kern Studios, one of the world's leading fabricators of floats, props and themed displays.

…Also beyond Walt Disney World, for those that have not read about my recent Disney-hosted voyage aboard Disney Magic for Captain Marvel's debut during a Marvel Day at Sea, but are interested in thinking about a 2020 Disney Cruise Line adventure, last week booking opened for Summer 2020 itineraries including the Greek Isles, Europe, Alaska, and, of course, the Caribbean and The Bahamas. Visit DisneyCruise.com for more information and booking or call your Travel Agent.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your email in the box below.



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New & Coming Soon at Disney Springs

This section collects all of the Disney Springs retail and dining events we are aware of in one place along with our most recent views of the area. Event items NEW to the Update are marked accordingly.

The Raglan Road Mighty St. Patrick's Festival

The Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant features its 2019 Mighty St. Patrick's Festival this weekend, March 15-17. Headlined by the Young Dubliners, nine bands join Raglan Road's troupe of Irish dancers for entertainment from morning into late night. On March 17, St. Patrick's Day, guests will be seated on a first-come, first served basis with a $10 cover charge for each guest age 18 and over. Reservations for March 15-16 can be made without cover charge by calling (407)938-0300. Festival hours: March 15–3 p.m. until 1:30 a.m.; March 16-17–11 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. (Pub opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday). Complimentary face painting available March 15 from 3-9 p.m. and March 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The full entertainment schedule will be available at RaglanRoad.com. Published highlights include:

Young Dubliners – One of Celtic rock's hardest working bands, the Young Dubliners play hundreds of shows to thousands of fans across the United States and Europe every year. Young Dubliners are known for their hearty rock and Irish-infused live performances.
Ben Gunnery – Irish music superstar and multi-instrumentalist Ben Gunnery, who studied at prestigious music conservatories, has toured since age 14. Now 39, he has been soloist for high-profile productions like Riverdance and films including “Lord of the Rings” and Harry Potter movies. Ben will appear on Raglan Road stages for his first Mighty Festival.
Briste – This inspiring all-female duo includes Emma Robinson (flute, whistle) and Joanna Boyle (banjo, vocals). Blending their rich musical backgrounds, Briste creates a fresh and exciting mix of country, folk and Irish traditional music.
The Byrne Brothers – An exceptionally talented traditional Irish music family from Donegal. They are Luca, 14 (button accordion); Finn, 12 (banjo, mandolin and whistle); Dempsey, 9, (whistle and bodhran); and father, Tommy (guitar, Uilleann pipes, fiddle, whistles, bagpipes and bodhran). Their show combines exciting Irish tunes with modern dance beats, and they love to interact with every audience.
The Raglan Roots Coalition – This edgy house band is known for its soul-rockin' Celtic bluegrass with hip-swingin', knee-shakin' funky roots beats. Emily Furlong (guitar, vocals, banjo); Blain Curtis (guitar, vocals); Ben Roe (percussion); Keelan Kelly (bass); and Ellen Daly (fiddle) will get everyone in the St. Paddy's spirit.
Reel Republic – Hailing from the four corners of Ireland, Aisling Egan-Sage (fiddle); Liam O'Keefe (box, vocals); Niall McIlroy (guitar, flute); and Eleanor Roe (keyboard, vocals, bodhran) are Reel Republic 2.0, seriously talented musicians always pushing to make the next gig better than the last.
Trad Gad – Three talented musicians from Kerry, Dublin, Colin Foley (guitar, vocals); Fionn Morrison (Uilleann pipes, whistles); and Ciara Ni Bhrian (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, banjo and bazouki, charm Raglan Road audiences with their vibrant performances.
Maca – Three Irish sister-musician-songwriters dubbed “Ireland's next big thing” are rocking Raglan Road Pub stages with their extraordinary talent. Saoise Carty (guitar,vocals); Naoise Carty (Fiddle, vocals); and Ciara Carty (Bodhran) are from Wexford, Ireland.
High Road – Three talented musicians hailing from Galway, Kilkenny and Glasgow meet in the middle to play a crowd-pleasing symphony of traditional Irish tunes and songs. Hannah NcNeil (fiddle, banjo, vocals); Aidan Byrne (guitar, vocals); and Roisin Broderick (concertina) rock the stage.
The Raglan Road Irish Dancers – Plucked from the cast and stages of the world's greatest Irish dance shows, the Raglan Road Irish Dancers perform throughout the Mighty Festival. You can even learn some traditional Irish dance steps – no experience necessary!

While Raglan Road's brunch, lunch, dinner and bar menus will be available, including its new Guinness-infused Bangin' Bangers and Mighty Mash, Raglan Road does not serve green beer because it says its an American invention. Raglan Road also asks that you not call the holiday “St. Patty's” – it's either “St. Patrick's Day” or “St. Paddy's” – and to remember that a shamrock has three leaves not four!

We have been invited to a Media Preview of the Mighty Festival. Watch our Social Media channels for highlights and more in the afternoon this Thursday, March 14.

Raglan Road is located in The Landing neighborhood of Disney Springs and is one of the few venues that has continued operating in the same place since the latter days of Pleasure Island.

Raglan Road's retail store is all decked out in Irish green.

It is also stocked with St. Patrick's Day merchandise.

File photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Terralina Crafted Italian

NEW On Saturday, March 23, from 2:30-4:30 p.m., a Terralina Crafted Italian Wine & Cheese Experience offers up four pairings to try for $45/person (tax and gratuity included but not EventBrite ticket fee). Full menu and tickets are available on this EventBrite page. All guests must be at least 21 years old to participate.

Meatball Monday continues this month with three dishes: a sandwich ($14), pizza ($15) or calzone ($14).

Happy Hour on the Patio is also available Sundays through Thursdays, from 4-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. It offers $15 Charcuterie Boards, half price wines by the glass, $5 beers and more.

Paddlefish

New Paddlefish restaurant is now selling “a boozy chocolate popsicle that's fat free and under 100 calories.” The new Chocolate Raspberry Sorbeto Buzz Pop is $14, infused with premium bourbon, and is also vegan, gluten-free and certified kosher.

New On Thursday, March 28, Paddlefish is celebrating National Food-On-A-Stick Day with a reception-style rooftop party on the 3rd deck. For $80/guest (including tax and gratuity but not EventBrite ticket fee), from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. you can enjoy Lobster Corn Dogs, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, Lamb Shish Kabob with Tzatziki, Steak Brocheta with Salsa Roja, and Shrimp & Scallop Spiedino with Lemon & Olive Oil. Tickets are available on this EventBrite page and all guests must be at least 21 years old to attend.

Rooftop Late Night! continues with featured cocktails, craft beers and wines. On Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. until Midnight there is also live entertainment on the rooftop.

Happy Hour at the Bar (2-4 p.m.) and On the Rooftop (9-11 p.m.) includes $20 bottles of Rosé, $5 draft beers and $8 appetizers.

The Edison

The Edison burger of the month for March is “The Luck of The Irish Burger,” featuring the signature Edison blend of sirloin, short rib, and brisket topped with corned beef, coleslaw, crispy potatoes and whole grain mustard. The burger pairs with The Edison's March drink special, “Paddy’s Coffee,” a spiked coffee with Bushmill Black Bush Irish Whiskey, St. George Nola Coffee Liqueur and Agave, chilled over iced then strained, served with Peruvian coffee beans smothered with dark chocolate.

The Luck of The Irish Burger is The Edison's March Burger of the Month. Image courtesy Patina Restaurant Group.

Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar

NEW Dates and beverages for the Smuggler's Series at Enzo's Hideaway Tunnel Bar have been published through October, starting with the March 23 showcasing Ron Abuelo Rum featuring four varieties of rum served in various presentations paired with a multi-course menu created by Chef John Miele. Tickets and full menu for the $75/person (plus tax and gratuity) are available on this page of Patina Restaurant Group's website. The rest of the published series is:

Crooked Can Brewing Co.
Wednesday, April 17, 7 p.m.
$45 per person

Hendricks Gin
Saturday, May 4, 2 p.m.
$60 per person

Terrapin Brewing Company
Wednesday, June 19, 7 p.m.
$45 per person

Bourbon – Tim Hiesler, Bourbon ambassador for Jim Beam, Basil Hayden, Maker's Mark
Wednesday, July 17, 7 p.m.
$60 per person

Scotch, WM Grants – Balvenie & Glenfiddich
Wednesday, August 21, 7 p.m.
$60 per person

Crooked Stave
Wednesday, September 18, 7 p.m.
$45 per person

Tito’s Vodka
Wednesday, October 23, 7 p.m.
$60 per person

Morimoto Asia

Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs is hosting the Second Annual Sakura Festival through March 31, a celebration steeped in Japanese tradition and dedicated to the beauty of the cherry blossom. The restaurant is decorated with vibrant “Instagram-worthy” décor, showcasing the pink blooms of the Sakura. Similar to the festivals in Japan, guests can attend a series of ticketed events and enjoy menu specials inspired by the cherry blossom.

Status of Parking Availability at Disney Springs

Those who visit Disney Springs during the weekends or during busy times of the year at the Resort know that the two parking structures often fill to capacity during those peak times. Even the flat lot on the West Side can fill up during very busy times! Construction continues across Buena Vista Drive at the site of the new garage that will connect to Disney Springs by a series of pedestrian bridges. We have not yet heard when the new structure will be open, but the trend of the name discussion for it has shifted from “Lemon” to “Grapefruit,” and you can keep an eye on the overhead signs along Buena Vista Drive directing cars to the garages and lots with availability.

At the Orange garage, the electronic system that indicates parking space availability is being upgraded.

The system upgrades in the existing garages can result in sections of parking being unavailable to guests.

Construction continues at the new garage along Buena Vista Drive next to the Speedway gas station. (File)

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Ron Jon Surf Shop

Disney Parks Blog announced that Ron jon Surf Shop plans to open a 10,000 square foot store later this year in the Town Center area near the entrance to the Lime Garage and The Polite Pig (most recently the Kingdom Hearts III pop up shop and The Disney Corner temporary retail store). Ron Jon also has a store at The Florida Mall in Orlando. Its headquarters is Cocoa Beach, Florida, to the east of Orlando International Airport.

A sign is in the window of the future Disney Springs location of Ron Jon Surf Shop. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Crowd Forecast

“Do more. Wait less.”

Save time and money at Walt Disney World. TouringPlans.com can help you avoid falling into the typical tourist pitfalls.

Our Disney Crowd Calendar shows you the least crowded park to visit every day of the year, customized Touring Plans save you hours in line for Disney's best rides, honest restaurant reviews, how to save on Disney tickets, the best hotel rooms to ask for, and so much more. Everything can be accessed on our site or on Lines – Mobile Wait Times App which also shows to current and estimated wait times for attractions.

Below are the predicted resort-wide crowd numbers for select days generated by the TouringPlans professional statisticians as measured for the upcoming week. For the access to the full year and per-park crowd level predictions, visit our Disney Crowd Calendar.

Date	Overall
Tuesday, March 12, 2019	9 / 10
Wednesday, March 13, 2019	9 / 10
Thursday, March 14, 2019	9 / 10
Friday, March 15, 2019	9 / 10
Saturday, March 16, 2019	6 / 10

Check out the Disney World Park Crowd Levels page on TouringPlans.com for park-specific predictions and recommendations on which days to visit and avoid particular parks!

See Disney World crowds for the next 365 days.
Get Disney World wait times on your iPhone, Android or Smartphone.
Do more. Wait less.

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Resort Events

Check here to see if a park event might fall during your next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an email.

Just click the year you want to expand (or close).

2019 Resort Events

Disney After Hours:(hard ticket required)
…at Magic Kingdom (entry at 7 p.m.):
- March 21 & 28, April 4 & 11: event 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
…at Disney's Hollywood Studios (entry at 7 p.m.):
- March 16, 23 & 30: event 9 p.m. until midnight
- April 6 & 13: event 9 p.m. until midnight
…at Disney's Animal Kingdom (entry at 7 p.m.):
- March 20 & 27: event 8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- April 3: event 8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
V.I.Passholder Night (registration required)
…at Epcot: March 21: event 9 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic:(registration required)
…at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- March 20 & 27, 2019 (registration filled)
…at Epcot
- May 13 & 20, 2019
- Registration opens for Members with Resort Reservations: April 3, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern
- Registration opens for all Members: April 10, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern
…at Disney's Animal Kingdom
- July 18, August 8 & 22, 2019
- Registration opens for Members with Resort Reservations: June 5, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern
- Registration opens for all Members: June 12, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern
…at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
- September 18 & October 16, 2019
- Registration opens for Members with Resort Reservations: August 14, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern
- Registration opens for all Members: August 28, 2019 at 9 a.m. Eastern
Mickey & Minnie's Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom – January 18 – September 30, 2019
Party with Pixar Pals at Disney's Hollywood Studios – January 18 – September 30, 2019
25 Years of The Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom – January 18 – September 30, 2019
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – March 6 – June 3, 2019
Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine – March 21-24, 2019
Star Wars Rival Run Weekend – April 4–7, 2019
Dapper Days at Walt Disney World (Unofficial Events) – April 26-28 and November 16-17, 2019
April 26: Disney Springs; April 27: Magic Kingdom; April 28: Epcot
Disney's Hollywood Studios 30th anniversary – May 1, 2019.
Disney H2O Glow Nights at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon (hard ticket required)
Thursday & Saturday nights from May 30-August 24, 2019.
Gay Days at Walt Disney World (#RedShirtDays – unofficial events) – August 15-18, 2019
Disney's Animal Kingdom: August 15; Disney's Hollywood Studios: August 16;
Magic Kingdom: August 17; Epcot: August 18
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom (hard ticket required)
- August 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
- September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29
- October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31
- November 1
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – Late Summer/Fall 2019 (Dates to be announced)
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – October 31 – November 3, 2019
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays – Late Fall/Winter 2019 (Dates to be announced)
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom (hard ticket required) — Late Fall/Winter 2019
(Dates to be announced)

2020 Resort Events

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 8-12, 2020
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 20-23, 2020
MORE EVENTS COMING SOON!

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. All refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit DisneyWorld.com or use the MyDisneyExperience App on your iOS or Android device.

View the different areas of the Resort by scrolling horizontally and selecting the one you want to read about.

Magic Kingdom Epcot Disney's Hollywood Studios Disney's Animal Kingdom Disney Water Parks Disney Springs Resorts WDW Golf