The Summer may be slowing down, but its been another busy news week over at Walt Disney World with a few noteworthy items that guests visiting the parks in the weeks and months ahead may want to be aware of. To give you a quick recap, here’s our list of the Top 6 Disney happenings of the past week.
1. Changes coming to One Man’s Dream at Hollywood Studios – The announcement was made that the One’s Man Dream attraction is undergoing some changes and will be re-branded as Walt Disney Presents. The area will continue to showcase historic items from Walt Disney’s past but will also fulfill another exciting role for Hollywood Studios visitors. It will serve as a preview center where guests will be able to view concept art, ride vehicle maquettes as well as models for Toy Story Land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as well as Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction. Walt Disney Presents is slated to open in mid-September.
2. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Dessert Party will be back this holiday season – Those looking for a special way to ring in the holiday at Walt Disney World will be pleased to know that the “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” Holiday Dessert Party will be back again this holiday season. The event will be held in the courtyard of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre where guests can enjoy special holiday-themed food stations featuring both sweet and savory dishes. Some culinary highlights will be the warm cheese fondue with pretzel bread and flat bread, warm pumpkin pie and spiced-bread pudding with hand-dipped vanilla ice cream. There will also be a Liquid Nitro Station this year which will feature chocolate mousse with a variety of delectable toppings. Beer, wine and cocktails will also be available to guests 21 and older. After the party, guests will be escorted to a VIP viewing area to check out “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!”. The event will run from November 9 – December 15 and the cost is $79 per adult and $45 for children 3-9. Reservations can be made via My Disney Experience or by calling 407.WDW.DINE.
3. Visitors Say Good-bye to The Great Movie Ride and Ellen’s Energy Adventure – As we announced just after this year’s D23 convention, this is a time for massive change at Walt Disney World with new rides, attractions and experiences slated to open in the years ahead. Sadly, Disney’s upcoming projects mean that we must say good-bye to two Disney classic attractions. On August 13, 2017 both the Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well as Epcot’s Universe of Energy and with it Ellen’s Energy Adventure, have closed for good. In the case of the Great Movie Ride, it is making way for the new Mickey Mouse-themed attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Over in Epcot, the area of the park that previously housed Universe of Energy is going to be re-imagined as a Guardians of the Galaxy-inspired attraction.
4. Mission:Space Re-launches – Since it first opened in 2003, Mission: Space has been a must do for many Epcot visitors. It was announced at D23 earlier this year that Mission: Space would re-open from a brief hiatus with new experiences and now guests can try these out for themselves. On the new Orange Mission: Space mission, guests are en-route to Mars and will dodge meteoroids, slingshot around the moon and attempt a landing on Mars. Orange is not for the faint of heart and features that same centrifugal force that astronauts experience. The Green Mission is a gentler version of the ride and takes visitors on an orbit around Earth. Guess will be able to take in beautiful sights like the Hawaiian Islands, the “boot” of Italy and the Northern Lights before landing at Kennedy Space Center. Fans of Gary Sinise will be disappointed to know that he no longer appears during the rides opening narration. It should also be noted that the ride has become more family friendly as Green Mission can now be ridden by children 40″ and up.
5. Festival of Fantasy Parade gets a new time – If Magic Kingdom’s afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade is not one your “must-do” list then it definitely should be. The parade represents the best of Disney with singing, dancing, many of your favorite Disney friends and a fire-breathing dragon! But for those hoping to check out this afternoon offering, you should take note of an upcoming time-change starting on August 20th. The parade which previously happened daily at 3:00pm will now take place daily at 2:00pm. Guests looking to take part in Tiana’s Riverboat Party should also note that this will affect the parties start time. It is suggested that guests for the party arrive 45 minutes before parade start time.
6. Food & Wine Merchandise revealed! – This year Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival runs for an epic 75 days. Not only does this mean more food, more wine and more amazing workshops and seminars, it also means more merchandise! Disney Parks Blog has revealed an enviable collection of Food & Wine goodies that we just can’t wait to get our hands on. There are more than 74 items celebrating the Festival including merchandise featuring much-loved characters like Figment and Remy, the Passport collection featuring vintage Food & Wine artwork, and a Brews Around the World collection. There’s also an “Eat to the Beat” concert T-shirt, and Dooney & Bourke has unveiled a fantastic new line of handbags featuring Figment and the World Showcase So be sure to save a little bit in your souvenir budget for some of the fantastic Festival-inspired goodies coming your way.
Keep following along with Disney Addicts for the latest info designed to help you get the most out of your Disney Vacation as well as our sister site Chip and Co. for the latest in Disney news and updates.
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