Walt Disney World Resort Update for November 17-23, 2015

Update for November 17–23, 2015

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News and Views

The Force comes early to Star Tours | Captain EO to close | Colortopia opens in Epcot | Views Around the World | This and That | Crowd Forecast

The Force comes early to Star Tours

Even though Disney previously announced that the new Star Wars experiences would begin December 1, Monday morning brought an early surprise to Walt Disney World visitors. As the Season of the Force officially kicked off at Disneyland, the Star Tours attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios also debuted a new ride scene based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Everyone who rides Star Tours during the opening months will see the new scene, after which it will be part of the ride's randomized sequence.

The Star Wars Launch Bay, new “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi” featurette, and the revamped Jedi Training Academy show are still slated to debut December 1.

Disney announced Monday that more Season of the Force elements are arriving to Disney's Hollywood Studios on January 5, 2016. These include in-park appearances by First Order stormtroopers, the debut of the “Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks show, and the addition of Star Wars-themed food and beverages. These new offerings may somewhat soften the blow of the cancellation of the Star Wars Weekends, and help keep guests engaged until the new Star Wars Land opens.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue preview with Imagineer Kathy Rogers. MousePlanet video.

Captain EO to close

In another “Friday night at 5 p.m.” announcement, Disney confirmed last week that Captain EO is ending its run in Epcot's Magic Eye Theater on December 6. The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival debuts in its place, showing three animated shorts in 3-D format.

Captain EO is slated to close at Epcot in December. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney has not provided a list of the animated shorts or announced an opening date for the new film festival. There also was no reason given for the decision to replace an attraction created for the Disney theme parks with a “film festival” that anyone with a decent DVD collection or a Netflix account could stage in their own living room.

Colortopia opens in Epcot

A new Innoventions exhibit opened last week at Epcot. Colortopia, sponsored by Glidden, offers participants various ways to experiment with color using a variety of interactive tools. Possibly the most compelling is an area where visitors can use digital brushes to “paint” a display wall. Contributing photographer Alan Dalinka visited during the opening weekend, and shares these photos.

The new Colortopia attraction, sponsored by Glidden, opened on Friday at Epcot's Innoventions East. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Guests visiting the new Colortopia Innoventions attraction are encouraged to download the Colortopia app, which can be used in the attraction and in World Showcase. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The new Colortopia Innoventions attraction includes three areas for guests to visit. Ty Burrell of the TV sitcom “Modern Family” narrates the “Power of Color,” a three-minute light show, and introduces the Color our World experience. This photo shows the interactive area in between the other two rooms. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The new Colortopia Innoventions attraction includes the Color Our World experience, which allows guests to virtually paint scenes on a wall with digital paint brushes. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

When guests dip their digital paintbrushes in color buckets at the new Colortopia Innoventions attraction, the brush tip changes color and can be used to paint (and bring to life) images on the walls of the Color Our World experience. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Views Around the World

Contributing photographer Alan Dalinka shares more images from around Walt Disney World, including the grand opening of the new pedestrian bridge connecting Disney Springs to the nearby hotels.

Magic Kingdom

Filming of the ABC-TV Disney Parks Christmas show last week at Magic Kingdom was responsible for a unique twilight viewing of the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The exterior refurbishment of the Country Bear Jamboree has wrapped up in Frontierland. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Springs

“Holidays at Disney Springs” began over this past weekend. The new Santa meet-and-greet is located adjacent to Village Lake in the Marketplace near the World of Disney Store. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The view of Village Lake from the photo spot (in the Marketplace area) for Santa is very nice. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The Disney Springs West Side Starbucks is decorated for the holiday season. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

STK Steakhouse at Disney Springs in The Landing area is expected to open before the end of this year. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Kermit and Miss Piggy topiaries promoting the ABC-TV series “The Muppets” are located near the World of Disney Store in the Marketplace area of Disney Springs. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Now open is the new pedestrian bridge next to Once Upon a Toy over Buena Vista Drive connecting Disney Springs with the area hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The new Disney Springs pedestrian bridge next to Once Upon a Toy is now open. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The map shows the location of the new pedestrian bridge from Disney Springs to the area hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

The new Disney Springs pedestrian bridge provides a good view of the new parking structure being built on the former Marketplace surface parking lot. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That

…Disney is live streaming from the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights tonight, November 18, at 10:30 p.m. EST. Visit the Disney Parks Blog main page at broadcast time to view the live stream.

…Victoria & Alberts at the Grand Floridian Resort Hotel has claimed the AAA Five Diamond Award for the 16th consecutive year. Earlier this year, TripAdvisor named the restaurant one of the top restaurants in the United States in their 2015 Travelers’ Choice awards.

…In advance of its upcoming six-month exterior and interior renovation, Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs has filed a notice with the State of Florida for 468 employee layoffs to occur by January 19, 2016.

Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs closes in January for a 6-month refurbishment. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…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 MouseAdventure 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

2015

• 2015 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party – November 17, 19, 20, and 29; December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 18. As of publication, all nights are still available.
• 2015 Epcot Candlelight Processional – November 27 to December 30
• Holidays Around the World at Epcot – November 27 to December 30
• DVC Merry Member Mixers – November 24; December 1, 8, 14, 22. DVC members and their guests can attend special holiday mixers in Epcot throughout the season. The free events include character meet-and-greets, live entertainment, crafts, and refreshments. They are hosted from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the World Showcase at Epcot (entrance is between the Canada and United Kingdom Pavilions). Members do not need tickets or advance reservations, and can bring up to 6 guests per membership card.
• 2015 Candlelight Processional at Epcot – Performances are at 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. nightly, with the exception of December 6.

2016

• Season of the Force – January 8 to March 20, 2016

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

• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 6–10, 2016. Most events are sold out. Registration is still open for the runDisney Kids Races. The deadline to submit proof of time for these events has passed.
• Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 18–21, 2016. All races are sold out. The deadline to submit Proof of Time for these events is November 17, 2015.
• Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side Weekend – April 14–17, 2016. The 10K and Dark Side Challenge are sold out. Registration is still open for the half marathon, 5K and runDisney Kids Races. Proof of Time must be provided between October 27, 2015, and January 19, 2016.
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 3–4, 2016. Pre-sale begins March 8, 2016. General registration opens March 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.

Merchandise Events

Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Magic Kingdom

• Diamond Horseshoe – closed through November 19 for refurbishment
• Liberty Tree Tavern – closed through November 19 for refurbishment
• Walt Disney World Frontierland station – closed October 12 to November 21 for refurbishment.
• Walt Disney World Main Street U.S.A station – closed October 12 to November 21 for refurbishment.
• Walt Disney World Fantasyland station – closed October 12 to November 21 for refurbishment.
• The Magic Behind the Our Steam Trains Guided Tour – not offered during Walt Disney World Railroad refurbishment.
• Peter Pan's Flight – closed November 2–9 for refurbishment.
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover – closed December 7–10 for refurbishment

2016

• Splash Mountain – closed January 10–15 for refurbishment.
• Space Mountain – closed January 11–15 for refurbishment.
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin – closed January 15 to February 11 for refurbishment.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – closed January 18–22 for refurbishment.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – closed April 4 to July 15 for refurbishment.
• Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse – closed July 7 to September 24 for refurbishment.
• Liberty Square Riverboat – closed August 15–21 for refurbishment.
• “it's a small world” – closed August 22 to September 15 for refurbishment.

Epcot

• Soarin' – additional screen under construction. Work has no impact on the existing theaters.
• Innoventions West – Think, presented by IBM; The Great Piggy Bank Adventure; and Where's the Fire? closed. The Disney Visa character experience remains open.
• Maelstrom – ride permanently closed for construction of Frozen Ever After attraction. New ride expected to open May, 2016.

2016

• Soarin' will halt service as of January 4, 2016. The ride will reopen sometime in “summer of 2016” as Soarin' Around the World, with a new ride film

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Catalina Eddie's – closed October 11 to November 19 for refurbishment.
• Rosie's All-American Cafe – closed October 11 to November 19 for refurbishment.
• Walt Disney: One Man's Dream – closed October 16 to December 5 due to The Good Dinosaur sneak peek.
• Jedi Training Academy – on hiatus until the Star Wars Launch Bay opens, expected to be in December. The new show is titled Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.
• Toy Story Midway Mania – second ride track is under construction. Work has no impact on the existing ride.
• Magic of Disney Animation – building permanently closed for future expansion. The space will be used for the Star Wars Launch Bay.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Blizzard Beach

• Entire park closed from October 25, 2015 to January 3, 2016 for refurbishment

Typhoon Lagoon

• Entire park closed from January 3 to March 13 for refurbishment.

Disney Springs

• Fulton's Crab House – closed January 1 to April 1, 2016 for refurbishment.
• Planet Hollywood – closed January 1 to June 1, 2016 for refurbishment and transformation into a Planet Hollywood Observatory.
• Disney Springs Bridge 4 and restrooms on Pleasure Island – temporarily closed for ongoing construction work.
• Disney Springs Lots A-G – closed through August 1, 2016.
• Disney Springs Lots H, I, J, and K (in Westside area) – closed until further notice for construction.
• Cirque du Soleil La Nouba – performs Tuesdays through Saturdays.
• Disney Quest – scheduled to close sometime in 2016. Will be replaced with an NBA Experience venue.

Resorts

• Disney's Boardwalk Inn – Exterior painting and repair during daylight hours, through May 5, 2016
• Disney's Boardwalk Inn – Flying Fish Cafe closed February 1 to September 30, 2016 for refurbishment.
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Villas – Hidden Springs pool, resort beach, playground, and Recreation fire pit close October 26, 2015. 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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