Walt Disney World Resort Update for May 9-15, 2017

Walt Disney World Resort Update for May 9–15, 2017

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News and Views

“Happily Ever After” debuts Friday, May 12 | Save room for dessert – Disney cooking up the biggest Food & Wine Festival to date | Extra, Extra Magic Hours planned for Pandora – The World of Avatar | Disney Springs update | Caribbean Beach Resort refurbishment underway | This and That | Crowd Forecast

“Happily Ever After” debuts Friday, May 12

After nearly 14 years as the signature fireworks show of the Walt Disney World Resort, “Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams” will glow away forever with a final performance this Thursday, May 11.

The very next night, the Magic Kingdom will debut “Happily Ever After,” a new brand-new pyrotechnic and projection show centered on Cinderella Castle. Disney last week released a preview of the new show, with footage taken during projection and pyrotechnic testing at the Magic Kingdom.

Creators Ready 'Happily Ever After' for Debut at Magic Kingdom Park. YouTube video © Disney

The first performance of “Happily Ever After” is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Friday night. MousePlanet's Bonnie and Alan Fink will be there, and we look forward to sharing photos with you in next week's Update.

Save room for dessert – Disney cooking up the biggest Food & Wine Festival to date

Disney had already announced that the 2017 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival would be the longest to date, running a whopping 75 days from Aug. 31 through Nov. 13. Last week came the announcement that there will be a record 35 Marketplaces in the 2017 event, encircling the World Showcase lagoon and extending into Future World.

Extra, Extra Magic Hours planned for Pandora – The World of Avatar

Visitors staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel early this summer can take advantage of an “Extra, Extra Magic Hours” promotion for Pandora – The World of Avatar. The new land at Disney's Animal Kingdom will remain open for three extra hours each night May 27 – July 4, exclusively for visitors with Extra Magic Hours benefit. The experience runs from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Disney Springs update

The floral team from Disney Floral and Gifts will be at the Marketplace Coop building at Disney Springs until May 16. A cast member told us this was a test, and if successful, they would be there longer. Guests can order various themed bouquets and other gifts either directly from cast members at the Marketplace Coop, or online through the Disney Floral and Gifts website.

Disney Floral and Gifts has a display inside the Marketplace Coop building at Disney Springs until May 16th. Photo by Donald Fink.

Until May 16, you can see a small sampling of the gift packages offered by Disney Floral and Gifts by visiting Disney Springs, marketplace Coop. They have a small area located in the Centerpiece section of the Coop building Photo by Bonnie Fink

Senses – A Disney Spa is also showcasing their services at The Marketplace Coop in Disney Springs until May 14. With this first come, first served service, you can get chair massages, nail polish applications, eye shadow art, and more. The offerings at Disney Springs are scaled back from the services at the Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian or Saratoga Springs. They appear to be more of an introduction to the pampering you can get if you visit them at the hotels.

Disney Springs shoppers can experience various mini-treatments from Senses – A Disney Spa now through May 14. Photo by Donald Fink.

The Edison is coming along nicely. You may remember one of the Disney backstories where the Pleasure family built a power station on Pleasure to help with their sail factory. Apparently the old power plant is now going to be an up-scaled restaurant. Photo by Donald Fink.

If you were planning to buy your next earphones from the Sound Lion at Disney Springs, across from Paridiso 37 in the Landing, you're too late. It closed recently. From the signage in the window, it looks like the Savannah Bee Company is taking its place. You may have seen the Savannah Bee Company near the water fountain across from Paddlefish, as shown in the insert in the upper left corner of this image. It's not clear if they will be opening a second store or simply moving their existing business to the new location.

Signage for the Savannah Bee Company covers the windows of the former Sound Lion location in Disney Springs. Photo by Donald and Bonnie Fink.

D Living closed on Sunday, May 7 so the merchandise team can install a new display. The store is scheduled to reopen on May 10, but Disney has not disclosed the theme of the next merchandise assortment. Most recently, the store offered a selection of home decor, fashion, and accessories tied to The Beauty and the Beast.

D Living is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, May 10 with a new themed merchandise collection. Photo by Donald Fink.

If you've been waiting for that Amphicar ride, now might be the time. If you make a reservation between May 12 and May 15, you'll get $25.00 off the regular price, and get a free family photo of the experience. Another way to enjoy the $25.00 discount is to simply have lunch at the Boathouse between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Just bring your lunch receipt to the Ship's Store by 3:00 pm. More details at: 407-939-2628.

Discounts are available for the Amphicars at The Boathouse. Photo by Bonnie Fink.

Caribbean Beach Resort refurbishment underway

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is beginning a refurbishment and expansion project of Old Port Royal Centertown, the resort's marketplace. Centertown will be expanded with new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas. The project is expected to be completed 2019-20.

This temporary building located behind the Old Port Royal pool at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort serves as the main food court during the refurbishment of the hotel's Old Port Royal Centertown. Photo by Donald Fink

As construction gets underway, the following food service and retail locations are closed:

• Old Port Royale Food Court
• Shutters at Old Port Royale
• Banana Cabana Pool Bar
• Calypso Trading Post

A peek through the bushes shows the entrance to the temporary food court at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. The food will be buffet style and will be mostly prepared at the kitchens at Pop Century and transported over. Photo by Donald Fink.

To compensate for the closure of the food court, Disney will operate a variety of temporary food service locations. The main offering is the new Centertown Buffet, open during breakfast and dinner. According to cast members, most of the food is prepared in the kitchens of the nearby Pop Century Resort, and transported over. Food for guests with allergies and other special needs is prepared in a smaller portable kitchen adjacent to the new Centertown Buffet.

Banana Cabana, the bar by the pool at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, is closed for refurbishment. A temporary bar trailer is now open to serve pool guests. Photo by Donald Fink.

Centertown will also offer a food truck for grab-and-go meals. Temporary “island markets” will open in the Aruba, Jamaica, and Martinique sections of the property to serve grab-and-go meals and snacks. Of course, the resort's pizza delivery service is also available for in-room dining.

With the closure of the Calypso Trading Post, Disney is also using mobile merchandise trucks to provide visitors with the chance to pick up souvenirs and sundries.

A mobile merchandise truck will cater to tourists during the refurbishment of the Calypso Trading Post at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Photo by Bonnie Fink.

Fortunately, the work seems to have no impact on the resort's pools, though you may need to take a detour around a construction site depending on your destination.

The Island of Barbados section of guest rooms at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is currently closed for refurbishment. This closure seems to have little impact on the rest of the hotel, other than the jogging trail is closed and the bus stop at Barbados is not available. Photo by Bonnie Fink.

This and That

…When you book a dining package that includes preferred seating at Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom, you'll receive this little trinket. It's a Lotus Blossom container for your popcorn. Of course, you still have to buy the popcorn to fill it, but you get it for $1.50. The Lotus Blossom is a central part of the Rivers of Light Show.

A lotus blossom popcorn bucket is included in a Rivers of Light dining package, but the popcorn is sold separately. Photo by Donald Fink.

…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).

2017 Resort Events

• Star Wars Experiences – Opened December 1, 2015 (ongoing)
• Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – March 1 – May 29, 2017.
• Dapper Day Outing (unofficial events)– November 18, 2017 at Magic Kingdom; November 19, 2017 at Epcot
• GayDays | #RedShirtDay (unofficial events) – June 1, 2017 at Disney's Animal Kingdom; June 2, 2017 at Disney's Hollywood Studios; June 3, 2017 at Magic Kingdom; June 4, 2017 at Epcot
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – August 31 – November 13, 2017.
• 35th Disney Night of Joy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – September 8 and 9, 2017
• Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic – October 27–28, 2017
• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party – August 25, 29; September 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29;
     October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31; November 1
• Holidays at Walt Disney World –Dates TBD
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26, 28;
     December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22
• Holidays Around the World at Epcot –Dates TBD
• Candlelight Processional at Epcot –Dates TBD

2018 Resort Events

• Epcot International Festival of the Arts – “Early” 2018
• 25th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – “Spring” 2018

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.

2017

• Virtual Running Shorts – June 1-August 31, 2017 (Virtual). Registration now open.
    No proof of time required.
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 2–5, 2017. Registration opens January 17, 2017.
     Proof of time must be submitted by August 1, 2017.

2018

• 25th Anniversary Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 3-7, 2018. Registration now open (some events sold out). Proof of time deadline October 3, 2017.
• 10th Anniversary Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 22–25, 2018. General Registration opens May 2, 2018. Proof of time deadline TBD.
• Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side Weekend – TBD.
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – TBD

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

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. 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.

Magic Kingdom

• Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams – has its final showing on May 11, 2017, to make way for the May 12 premier of the new fireworks show named Happily Ever After.
• Stitch's Great Escape – closed except for occasional “seasonal” openings.
• The Hall of Presidents – closed January 17, 2017, through June 29, 2017, to add an audio-animatronic figure of the 45th president of the United States.

Epcot

Scheduled closure:

• Mission:SPACE – June 5, 2017 through late July, 2017

Permanently closed:

• Innoventions West (except Character Meet and Greets)
• Innoventions East (except Colortopia and a Passholder shop)
  …including Sum of All Thrills and Storm Struck

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Permanently closed:

• Streets of America
• Premiere Theatre
• The Writer's Stop
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
• Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure
• Studio Catering Co.
• Meet & Greets: Mike and Sulley, Phineas and Ferb, Mater and Lightning McQueen
• Magic of Disney Animation
• Academy of Television Sciences Hall of Fame

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• No known closures at this time

Blizzard Beach

• Runoff Rapids. Expected completion: TBA.

Typhoon Lagoon

• No known closures at this time

Disney Springs

• Portobello Country Italian Trattoria – Closed April 24, 2017. Will reopen in Fall 2017 with a new concept from James Beard award-winner and Top Chef Master Tony Mantuano.
• Disney Quest – scheduled to close July 3, 2017 to make way for The NBA Experience.
• La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil – ends its run on December 31, 2017. Next use of the theater on the West Side TBA.

Resorts

• Caribbean Beach – Centertown, the resort's marketplace, will be expanded with new waterfront dining and retail shopping areas. The project is expected to be completed 2019-20. Due to the work, the following food service and retail locations are closed:
  • Old Port Royale Food Court
  • Shutters at Old Port Royale
  • Banana Cabana Pool Bar
  • Calypso Trading Post
• Coronado Springs – A new 15-story tower overlooking Lago Dorado, the resort's central lake, will add 500 rooms featuring suites and concierge level services, and a rooftop dining facility that will include panoramic views of nighttime fireworks shows at the Theme Parks. The resort also plans to refurbish current resort rooms and transform some of its landscape. The project is expected to be completed 2019-20.
• Wilderness Lodge and Villas – Hidden Springs pool, resort beach, and playground closed. The opening of Disney Vacation Club's Copper Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge is expected July 17. In the meantime, Roaring Fork is also closed.

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.