Walt Disney World Resort Update for May 24-30, 2016

Walt Disney World Resort Update for May 24–30, 2016

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News and Views

Save the Dates for summer debuts | Jungle Book dining packages | Disney's Hollywood Studios introduces new dining options| Views From Around the World | This and That | Crowd Forecast

Save the Dates for summer debuts

Disney fans overwhelmed the My Disney Experience system this weekend as they attempted to book FastPass+ reservations for shows and attractions, including the limited-time return engagement of the original Soarin' Over California film at Epcot. Here's a rundown of what opens when:

Kilimanjaro Nighttime Safaris – May 27

Travelers can experience sunset on the savanna starting Friday, May 27, when the ride extends its operating hours until 11:00 p.m. The Walt Disney World website currently lists the extended evening hours as offered nightly through Monday, September 5.

Tree of Life Awakens – May 27

Be prepared for a traffic jam starting this Friday, May 27 when the new Tree of Life Awakens effects begin at Disney's Animal Kingdom park. The best viewing location for this magical transformation of the park's icon happens to be from the only pathway into or out of the park, and we expect that bridge to be difficult to navigate as people stop to watch the show.

Soarin' returns – May 27

Soarin' will reopen at Epcot this Friday, May 27 to show the Soarin' Over California film ahead of the debut of Soarin' Over the World on Friday, June 17. Fastpass+ is now available, and the attraction is still a Tier 1 Fastpass. The Soarin' Over California film will play at Epcot through June 16.

The Jungle Book: Alive With Magic – May 28

The new show begins its “limited engagement” on Saturday, May 28. The show uses the seating area built for Rivers of Light, and is scheduled twice each night – 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular – June 17

The new fireworks display at Disney's Hollywood Studios opens Friday, June 17. Disney is continuing the Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party once the new show debuts.

The raised areas of the Cinderella Castle stage have been rebuilt for the new “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” show debuting next month. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire – June 17

Cinderella's Castle forecourt is the stage for this new character show, which debuts Friday, June 17.

As the opening of the new “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” show approaches next month, renovations to the stage in front of Cinderella's Castle continue. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Frozen Ever After – June 21

The sisters from Arendelle will receive visitors starting Tuesday, June 21 when their new ride opens in Epcot. Frozen Ever After and the Royal Sommerhus meet-and-greet are located in the Norway pavilion, and the ride replaces the Maelstrom attraction.

FastPass+ reservations are now open for Frozen Ever After, and the ride is a Tier 1 attraction. There is no FastPass+ option for the Royal Sommerhus meet-and-greet, which seems a grave oversight given the long lines Anna and Elsa have been known to draw.

Disney has announced that the Norway pavilion will open at 9:00 a.m. each morning, at the same time Future World opens. The rest of the World Showcase will continue to open at 11:00 a.m. each day.

Jungle Book dining packages

In announcing the debut date of The Jungle Book: Alive With Magic, Disney also announced new dining packages that include a meal at a select Animal Kingdom restaurant, and reserved seating for the new show.

The less-expensive option is to dine at Tusker House Restaurant, which offers buffet-style meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Per Disney, “Breakfast is $37, $23 ages 3 to 9, plus tax and gratuity; lunch and dinner, $49, $30 ages 3 to 9, plus tax and gratuity. Tusker House Restaurant is on the Disney Dining Plan and counts as one table-service meal.”

With Disney characters roaming the halls during the meals, Tusker House is a good choice for families. It's also a good place to bring picky eaters, who can make a meal of macaroni and cheese and apple sauce while those with a more-adventurous palate dine on Peri-Peri marinated baked salmon, seafood stew and curry chicken.

If you're looking for something new, Tiffins restaurant opens this Friday, May 27, and offers an upscale option for the dining package. Per Disney, “the Dining Package is $67 for adults, $32 ages 3 to 9, plus tax and gratuity. Tiffins is on the Disney Dining Plan and counts as two table-service meal credits.” You can see the new Tiffins menu at the Walt Disney World website.

Regardless of which restaurant you choose, you must make your reservation for no later than 2.5 hours before the first show, currently scheduled for 9:00 p.m. nightly. There are no dining packages offered for the second show, but you can always make a FastPass+ reservation for the 10:30 p.m. performance if you want.

Disney's Hollywood Studios introduces new dining options

With Pizza Planet and Studio Catering Co. now closed at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the park has introduced three new quick-service kiosks in an effort to provide more dining options over the summer. The new kiosks and menus were announced on the Disney Parks Blog last week:

Bocados del Lago Nachos y Empanadas

• Loaded [vegetarian] Chili Cheese Nachos with Guacamole
• Beef Empanadas, roasted corn and black bean salsa, Queso Fresco with cilantro sour cream
• Dulce de Leche Cookie

Sliders to the Stars

• Pulled Beef Brisket Sliders with arugula, pickled onions and horseradish aioli on sesame bun served with chips
• Pulled Barbecued Chicken Sliders with coleslaw and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun served with chips
• Mickey Brownie

Hollywood Waffles of Fame

• Shaved Turkey and Gouda Waffle Sandwich with mixed greens, bacon, tomato and herb-cheese pesto served with chips
• Shaved Ham and Cheddar Focaccia with water cress and spicy mustard served with chips
• Freshly-baked Chocolate Chip Cookie

The menu at Oasis Canteen has also been updated to offer:

• Chicken Breast Nuggets served with celery and carrots with a Ranch dipper and chips
• Sweet Chili-glazed Chicken Breast Nuggets served with celery and carrots with a Ranch dipper and chips
• Kid’s Breast Nuggets
• Mickey Brownie

When Pizza Planet reopens, it will have a brand-new name and theme, in keeping with the rebranding of the surrounding area. According to permits filed by Disney, the restaurant will reopen as Rizzo's Pizza, named for the Muppet rat.

Views from around the World

Contributing photographer Alan Dalinka shares his photos from Magic Kingdom this week.

The “Heroes” and “Villains” assigned to areas of the Magic Kingdom parking lot at the Transportation & Ticket Center remain unchanged, but the rows now have new 3-digit numbers. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Note that the rows of the Magic Kingdom parking lot at the Transportation & Ticket Center have been completely renumbered with 3 digit numbers. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The exterior of the Carousel of Progress is receiving a new paint design. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

In preparation of the new paint design, the exterior of the Carousel of Progress is being painted white. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

An “it's a small world” customized Magic Band is now available for purchase. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

A plush toy of the character Destiny the whale shark from the upcoming Disney/Pixar film “Finding Dory” is now sold in the Main Street Emporium. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney-Lucasfilm merchandise synergy can be seen in these new t-shirts available at the Main Street Emporium. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The original Star Wars film (Episode IV: A New Hope) is merged with an Autopia (or Tomorrowland Speedway) motif on this t-shirt available at the Main Street Emporium. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That

…If you're planning to spend Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World, now is the time to start thinking about your dinner reservations. Reservations for Thanksgiving day open on Monday, May 30.

…The third track at Toy Story Midway Mania opened this week, a welcome addition that should help lower wait times for the popular ride.

…Disney Vacation Club has announced a name change for its property at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. The existing property will now be known as “Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge,” which Disney says, “gives that rustic community a more distinctive identity,” and just so happens to also distinguish the “Resort’s condominium association from any proposed new Disney Vacation Club developments at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.”

Regular readers will know that the “proposed new developments” are already under construction. The new development, which includes 26 water-side cabins, will be known as “Copper Creek Villas & Cabins.” This move allows Disney to create an entirely new points structure for the new development without impacting the schedule under which the older units were sold.

…Flying Fish Cafe will lose the word “Cafe” from its name when it reopens on September 30, following an extensive renovation. The next-door Seashore Sweets shop is permanently closed, and will be transformed into “AbracadaBar” lounge, a new themed watering hole for Boardwalk visitors.

…The final of the six Disney After Hours events took place last week on May 19, and Disney has not announced any additional dates for the offering.

…The 2016 Gay Days at Walt Disney World, an annual unofficial event, take place June 2–5. You can find information on the event website, and download a schedule of events. To whatever degree there are “organized” events, the schedule calls for attendees to visit the parks on these days:

• Thursday, June 2 – Animal Kingdom
• Friday, June 3 – Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Saturday, June 4 – Magic Kingdom (the busiest day of the event)
• Sunday, June 5 – Epcot

…While not affiliated with the Gay Days event, another group hosts One Magical Weekend June 3 – 5, with three after-hours events at Disney theme parks. Tickets for the events are available from the promoter's website. All events are 18 and over.

• Friday, June 3 – Riptide at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, 7 p.m. – 2 a.m.
• Saturday, June 4 – Saturday Main Event, featuring Kesha at Disney's Hollywood Studios. 9 p.m. – 3 a.m.
• Sunday, June 5 – Deep at Epcot, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.

…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 e-mail in the box below.

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Crowd Forecast

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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 e-mail (link).

2016 Resort events

• Star Wars Experiences – Opened December 1, 2015
• 2016 Flower & Garden Festival – Through May 30
• Gay Days at Walt Disney World (annual unofficial event) – June 2–5. More information on the event website. To whatever degree there are “organized” events, the schedule calls for attendees to visit the parks on these days:
  • Thursday, June 2 – Animal Kingdom
  • Friday, June 3 – Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Saturday, June 4 – Magic Kingdom (the busiest day of the event)
  • Sunday, June 5 – Epcot
• Night of Joy – September 9 & 10
• 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival –September 14 – November 14, 2016.
• Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – dates to be announced.
• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party –September – 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30; October – 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31
• “Jersey Week” – November 6 – 13. Expect larger crowds this week as New Jersey students and families take advantage of a Fall Break created by their school's participation in the New Jersey Teachers Convention.
• Dapper Day at Epcot (unofficial event) – Saturday, November 12, 2016. More information at the event website.
• Holidays at Walt Disney World – dates to be announced.
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, 29; December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 22
• Holidays Around the World at Epcot – dates to be announced.
• Candlelight Processional at Epcot – dates to be announced.

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.

2016

• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 3–5. All races are sold out, with the exception of the runDisney Kids races. Proof of time must be submitted by August 2, 2016

2017

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 4–8, 2017. Registration opens at Noon (Eastern) on Tuesday, April 26. Proof of time must be submitted by October 4, 2016.
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 24–26, 2017. Registration date has not been announced. Proof of time must be submitted by November 15, 2016.

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.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Events

Check here to see if a sporting competition might fall during your next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. We don't list all events here, but focus on the larger sport and cheer events that might result in extra visitors to the theme parks, and make it harder to secure a hotel room. The All-Star and moderate resort hotels are often the home base for these larger events, so it's worth avoiding those properties if possible.

2016 ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex events

• AAU National Club Championship – June 30 – July 3.
• Special Olympics Florida Fall Classic – November 11–12.
• 2016 Pop Warner Super Bowl –December 3–10.

Merchandise Events

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

2016

• Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse – closed July 7 – September 24 for refurbishment.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed August 8 – November 18 for refurbishment.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – closed August 15–21 for refurbishment.
• “it's a small world” – closed August 22 – September 15 for refurbishment.

Epcot

2016

• Soarin' – closed January 4, 2016. Reopens June 17 as Soarin' Around the World, with a new ride film. The ride will reopen with the original film May 27 – June 16, giving fans one last chance to see the original attraction.
• Maelstrom – permanently closed for construction of Frozen Ever After attraction. New ride expected to open June 21.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

2016

• Magic of Disney Animation – building permanently closed for future expansion. Part of the space has been converted to the Star Wars Launch Bay.
• One Man's Dream theater – an expanded sneak peek at Alice Through the Looking Glass began May 6.
• Pizza Planet restaurant – closed for refurbishment. Reopening date TBD.
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show – permanently closed to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure – permanently closed to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.
• Studio Catering Co. – closed to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.
• Meet & Greet: Mike and Sulley at Streets of America – closed to make way for the Star Wars Land expansion.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• Tiffins – the park's new table-service restaurant will open Memorial Day weekend for lunch and dinner.

Blizzard Beach

• None scheduled

Typhoon Lagoon

• None scheduled

Disney Springs

• Fulton's Crab House – closed for refurbishment. Scheduled to reopen in Fall 2016 as Paddlefish
• Planet Hollywood – closed through June 1, 2016 for refurbishment and transformation into a Planet Hollywood Observatory.
• Disney Quest – scheduled to close sometime in 2016.

Resorts

• Boardwalk Inn
  • Flying Fish Cafe closed through September 30 for refurbishment. Will reopen simply as “Flying Fish.”
  • Seashore Sweets – closed permanently. Will reopen as the “AbracadaBar” later this year.
• Wilderness Lodge and Villas – Hidden Springs pool, resort beach, playground, and Recreation fire pit closed. No opening date provided, but the pool is expected to be closed through 2017. Expect construction-related closures and noise due to construction of the as-yet-unannounced Disney Vacation Club cabins.

Elsewhere

• Disney Osprey Ridge Golf Course – permanently closed.

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.

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