Hang on to your hats and glasses, this is a wild Walt Disney World update! Before taking a stroll through Disney Springs to see the newest holiday delights, let’s take a look at the latest news, including more details on the changes coming to EPCOT (or perhaps not happening). But first, some heartbreaking news for those of us who love Disney’s Animal Kingdom . . .
See Ya Real Soon
After 40 years with the Disney company, legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde is retiring from Walt Disney Imagineering.
Joe is best known for his work on Animal Kingdom, where he was the lead creative. But he also shepherded Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii, and was in charge of Marvel attractions in the Disney parks. Joe is also one of the “old-timers” who knows Disney’s legacy and history. His loss comes after months of layoffs which have severed more than 400 of Disney’s Imagineers from the company.
In his own words, Joe expresses a wish to slip away without disruption to find new adventures. But we can’t help but wonder if he’d still be with the company if it weren’t for the pandemic and this “quiet time” in Imagineering.
Joe posted to social media:
I’m sure by now many of you have come across the news that I am retiring from Walt Disney Imagineering. It has been 40 years since I stepped foot in the door at age 25, not knowing anything about theme parks, Disney, or what it meant to work for a big company. Every day of my life since then has been a learning experience. I’m very glad to have had that opportunity, and proud of the work that has been done, not just by me, but by all my fellow Imagineers, and especially those who worked by my side over the decades.
But 40 years is a long time, and this strange quiet time seems like a great opportunity to slip away without too much disruption. If I wait, I will once again be in the middle of another huge project and by the time that is done, I would be truly old. I’m not that old yet and there are things I want to do that cannot be done here.
We encourage a culture of storytellers, not just amongst ourselves but among our guests and our fans, and because of this, there is a strong temptation to take this moment and turn it into a story. But what story? I think it’s a coming of age story. I started at Disney as a child, and I learned almost all my life lessons there, developed my confidence, recognized my skills and weaknesses, and went on to work with both… and do what could be done.
I could stay forever, but that is like remaining in another kind of womb. I want to see what a grown man might be able to do on his own. This site here is not really for Disney. It’s for us. I imagine that there are many of you who I will be sad that I will no longer be a daily part of the Disney company, and there will be some of you who will drift away and no longer follow my ruminations because they feel they aren’t relevant. But I will still be here. And I will still be thinking about things, and doing things, and talking about things… Because that’s kind of what I do. I mentioned in my departure note and I will mention here again the tremendous debt that I owe to our guests and our fans who have been so generous. Working as an Imagineer has made me a good designer, but it is all of you who have made me a better person.
We’ll miss you Joe. May adventure take you far and wide and may you return with stories to last a lifetime.
High-Speed Rail to Walt Disney World
Brightline high-speed rail and Walt Disney World have entered into an agreement to add a train station at Disney Springs. The Brightline currently runs from Miami to West Palm Beach. The expansion from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
No word yet on when the station at Disney Springs will open. The expansion from the airport’s new Terminal C will continue from Walt Disney World to Tampa.
With a stop at Disney Springs, the Brightline will open up additional transportation options for Disney guests.
Increased Dining Options
Florida has entered Phase 3 on its pandemic reopeing roadmap, removing all restrictions and allowing dining locations to return to normal capacities. Disney has taken a more cautious approach, continuing to limited capacity in dining areas for both inside and outside seating.
Mobile ordering is still a requirement for Quick Service dining options, reservations for table service restaurants can be difficult to obtain, and quick service locations are frequently crowded and difficult to navigate.
The good news it that it appears Disney is working to alleviate some of these concerns by opening three new dining options in the near future.
Hollywood Studios – Andy’s Lunch Box
Andy’s Lunch Box a Quick Service dining option in Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios will be reopening on November 25. It’s great to see another option opening here, but the seating area is small, and with limited seating, it will be even harder to find a place to enjoy your meal.
Magic Kingdom – Crystal Palace & Tomorrowland Terrace
Crystal Palace on Main Street USA will be reopening on December 13 with some changes in operation. Winnie the Pooh and friends will no longer be making an appearance. Additionally, the experience will feature family-style dining with plated options including crispy fried chicken, prime rib, and fried cauliflower among others. Reservations will be available beginning December 1.
Tomorrowland Terrace a Quick Service in Tomorrowland, will be reopening on December 17. This is a great option for those looking for outdoor dining options.
Park Hopping is Back!
The Park Hopper pass is returning on January 1, 2021! I am very excited to see this option returning. The parks have been slower in the evenings, even when the parks are closing earlier. Hopefully, with the return of Park Hoppers, more guests will remain in the parks later making evening park hours more sustainable and allowing even later park closing times.
But park hopping won’t be exactly as it was pre-pandemic. Guests will still need to make advance reservations, but only to reserve their first park of the day. And hopping won’t be available until the afternoon. Full details in the article below:
An Epcot Holiday Makeover
The Food and Wine Festival officially ended on Sunday, and it’s already beginning to look a lot like the Holidays around the World Showcase. Beautiful trees are up, and the decorations are in place.
The Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays opens on November 27 with the return of the Voices of Liberty at the America Gardens Theater. There will also be a Holiday Cookie Stroll and an all-new Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition.
A quick sign change and the festival booths are now Holiday Kitchens.
The Holiday Kitchens are not open yet, but there are still some holiday treats to be found.
With the holidays also comes the holiday crowds. And since ride capacity is limited, the lines are long! The Frozen Ever After wait time was 80 minutes yesterday and stretched all the way into the China Pavilion!!!
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather just wander around enjoying the ambiance and lower-wait experiences than waiting in long lines like that.
More Details on the Changes Coming to Epcot
The D23 Fantastic Worlds celebration revealed some details on the changes coming to Epcot. But we learned almost as much from what they didn’t mention as what they did . . .
Epcot Entry
The park entrance has been undergoing a transformation which looks like it will be complete by the end of this year. That includes the new fountain with translucent pylons and lighting features that will also include Spaceship Earth.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Last week we saw a sneak peek of the ride vehicles for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This week we got the news that they are testing on the actual ride by pushing and pulling the ride vehicles through the track to check for any potential issues. The props and show scenes are also beginning to be installed.
Harmonious by Night and by Day
The new nighttime spectacular, Harmonious, is slated to be one of the largest shows ever created by Disney. We have learned that some of the barges holding the equipment for the show will be permanently placed in the World Showcase lagoon. They are adding a water feature to use the barges as a fountain during the day. I’m a little disappointed in this as the tallest of the barges is 60 feet high!!! It appears that they will block the view when looking across the World Showcase lagoon. But at least the fountains will mostly obscure the barges.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
As speculated, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure has been delayed until sometime in 2021 due to the pandemic. Those familiar with the Disneyland Paris version of the ride will find this one is almost identical.
What will be different is the area surrounding the ride. When the expanded France pavilion opens, be on the lookout for Ratatouille inspired decor. Some things will be easier to spot, like this fountain, others will blend into the landscape. I cannot wait to explore this new area and see how many movie references I can find.
Space 220
The Space 220 restaurant will open next year as well. We have heard that the restaurant is done, but due to intense interest and social distancing needs, the opening has been delayed.
What’s on the Chopping Block?
What was most conspicuous to us were the projects which were NOT mentioned. There was no mention of the Spaceship Earth redo.
Nor was the Mary Poppins attraction part of the discussion. Epcot’s United Kingdom pavilion was previously promised to welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins. They even created this cute attraction poster. But you don’t hear about this one anymore. Let’s hope it’s just on the back burner and not canceled. Of all the things in the original plan, this one was probably the one I was most excited about, what about you?
And we’re pretty sure the multi-story festival pavilion has been canceled. As the previous centerpiece of Epcot’s plans, its omission in current communications says it all.
A Walk Through Disney Springs
Disney Springs is aglow with the holidays. Things are a little different this year without the charming Christmas Tree Trail, usually located in the Marketplace. Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt is also missing this year. But there is still fun to be had and some decorated trees to be found. Let’s take a look . . .
The Atmosphere
Disney Springs is decorated in its usual decor. Added this year is snow near the main tree and the Welcome Center. This is right where the buses drop off resort guests which adds a bit of Holiday excitement as you enter.
There is always a touch of elegance to the decorations in Town Center.
While the Marketplace is more festive and fun.
Christmas Tree Stroll
New this year is the Christmas Tree Stroll. The trees are located throughout Disney Springs, with the majority of them in the Landing, Town Center and Westside.
There are fewer trees this year, but some new ones as well.
The Christmas Tree Stroll works well as it avoids the long line and virtual queue often required for the old “Trail”. The normal crowds around the trees were also missing, making it easier to take photos and enjoy the decorations.
Of course, that could change as the season comes into full swing. You can pick up a map at redemption locations and earn a prize for finding all the trees.
Holiday Sweets
My favorite dessert spot at Disney Springs is Amorette’s Patisserie. And this year they have some great Holiday offerings.
Candy Caldron and Goofy’s Candy also have a delicious selection of Holiday treats.
A Jock Lindsey Holiday
Jock Lindsey, proprietor of the Hangar Bar, has added some Holiday spirit to his eclectic collection. Currently dubbed the Holidays Bar, it’s a fitting name to be sure.
While the Holidays Bar doesn’t officially open until November 29, I stopped by to check out the decorations already in place.
It feels a bit like the old Adventurers Club (oh how I miss it).
Magic Kingdom Fireworks
We will end this week’s update with some exciting news. Last week the surrounding communities and Magic Kingdom resorts were notified of fireworks testing happing at Magic Kingdom. While the testing was not a complete show and they were sporadic, it was an encouraging sight to see. (don’t they look like holiday colors to you?). Does this mean the fireworks could be returning soon? Time will tell.
Our thanks to Jonathan Salazar (@TheDisneyPilot) for these fabulous photos taken from the Contemporary Hotel.
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Let’s Hear From You
That was quite the lineup of news and views. Are you as sad to see Joe Rohde go as we are? Do you find it interesting that Disney isn’t talking about Epcot’s Mary Poppins & Spaceship Earth attractions, or the lauded Festival Pavilion? Are you surprised by the massive holiday crowds which are starting to swell at the resort? Excited for Harmonious . . . or do those massive barges have you worried? Let us know in the comments below.
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