It’s time to take a look at recent changes at Walt Disney World. Today we’re stopping by Magic Kingdom and EPCOT to check in on some of the recent changes to some classic attractions. Plus, with the upcoming International Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT, there’s also a mini-festival over at Disney Springs. Changes are afoot around Disney World, and we’re glad to see it! Let’s take a trip together and get caught up on the latest WDW news…
Magic Kingdom Meanderings
We recently spent some time at Magic Kingdom. Summertime crowds have been busy but not as bad as in years past, especially since July 4th. Most popular attractions host 50-70 minute standby waits… but the heat and afternoon rain showers may trim your Kingdom visit short! (This is the perfect time to hit a park in the early morning, head back to your resort mid-day for a nap or pool time, before returning to a park in the early evening when it’s cooler).
We caught the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade rolling through Frontierland, where Encanto‘s Mirabel has recently joined the lineup:
We’re Almost There?
On July 1st, at the ESSENCE Festival, we finally received an update on the Princess & the Frog retheme for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Splash Mountain. The reimagined attraction will be named Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and will open in late 2024!
While we may be losing one of the Kingdom’s mountains (in name), Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will deliver similar dark ride sets, catchy songs, and thrills we’ve come to love. Plus, new character animatronics from Princess and the Frog.
No closing date or construction start date has yet been announced. What do you think of the attraction’s new name and development time?
You can read more about the Princess & the Frog re-theme HERE
Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow…
Making our way over to Tomorrowland, two classic attractions here have quietly received some updates.
Just in time for its 47th anniversary, new dialogue can be heard aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover with a new ORAC narrator, the return of the classic chime, and audio filled with Easter eggs from early Tomorrowland.
There are new safety spiels, where guests and non-human lifeforms are told to keep their hands, arms, feet, legs, and “other appendages” inside the vehicle. The narrator introduces themselves as ORAC-5, and welcomes everyone to the PeopleMover “presented by Enterprise”. (Enterprise became the attraction’s sponsor late last year, which could be why these updates happened!). Throughout the narration, you’ll hear early Tomorrowland attraction references, such as from “If You Have Wings” and “The Timekeeper”.
Among new and returning favorite dialogue bits, the sweet little TTA PeopleMover chime is back! The chime used to play before various points of interest between 1994-2009. This is such a small change, but so appreciated by fans.
Here’s a brief clip of the new dialogue, including a few chimes for a little serotonin boost, and the reference “now is the time, now is the best time” is from the original Magic Kingdom version of the Carousel of Progress. The song, The Best Time of Your Life, was written by the legendary Sherman Brothers for Walt Disney World. The attraction now uses the “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” song which it debuted with at the 1964 New York World’s Fair (and later at Disneyland).
And while passing the Progress City model, we also noticed the Ferris wheel is finally spinning again:
What do you think of the Peoplemover’s new dialogue and narration?
While we’re aboard the Peoplemover, here’s a look at how TRON Lightcycle Run is coming along. While coaster trains can occasionally be seen testing the track, and the canopy has lit up at night, there’s still no word on when WDW’s newest coaster opens. We’ll have to maintain our patience a little while longer…
And in preparation of TRON’s imminent opening, construction to widen the pathway outside the Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. gift shop continues:
Grab yourself a cold sasparilla, it’s a hot one! One of the best places to catch an A/C break is Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
Also debuting on July 1st was a new wardrobe for the progress family in the “Future” finale scene. Each animatronic has received a modernized makeover, including some new hair coloring and cuts!
For comparison, here’s a look at the family’s previous wardrobe:
What do you think of the changes? That’s progress for you!
On our way out of Tomorrowland, we noticed the Pride wall is still set up for photos:
As is the golden Stitch, of course…
Now, let’s make the jump over to the Springs…
Flavors of Florida at Disney Springs
There’s a mini festival of sorts currently going on at Disney Springs. Flavors of Florida celebrates the Sunshine State and offers up fresh summertime flavors with limited-time beverages and food items. Over 30 of the restaurants and shops in Disney Springs will be participating from July 5th through August 14th.
Among the more popular limited-time offerings is an orange Dole whip, found at the Swirls on the Water kiosk. The little Orange Bird is a nice added touch!
And Gideon’s is offering a new cookie for the celebration— with the perfect character to go along with it, “Stuart Valencia.” Stuart’s Cookie is a vanilla bean base with candied orange peel, pecan pralines, and chocolate chips.
View the full Disney Springs Flavors of Florida lineup here.
EPCO(nstruction)T
Over at EPCOT, the park is still undergoing its big transformation. Construction continues on the heart of World Celebration (still getting used to no Future World).
From what we can see from the EPCOT monorail, more and more concrete is being added to the rockwork structures for the Journey of Water attraction:
The 2022 Flower & Garden Festival came to an end on July 4th, but the next EPCOT fest is just days away! The 2022 International Food & Wine Festival kicks off on July 14th, and runs through November 19th.
There is an array of returning favorites and new items. Here’s a quick sample of some of the food we’re looking forward to at the 2022 Food & Wine Festival:
And that’s not all— there are plenty more tasty options to choose from, with additional marketplaces opening later in the festival’s run (August 11). Take a look HERE for our guide to EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival 2022!
(We’ll update you on more festival offerings soon!)
Top of the World Lounge: Villains Lair Opens for DVC Members
The Top of the World Lounge, exclusive to Disney Vacation Club members, reopened at Bay Lake Tower on Monday. Though you should be warned… villains have taken over!
The fan-favorite chandelier and monorail motif behind the bar remain, and there are a few light touches of Disney villain decor found throughout, along with a slightly reimagined menu.
The lounge is now open daily from 6pm to 12am, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The space is exclusively reserved for DVC members with access to Membership Extras, and who are staying onsite.
Come for the sinfully good beverages and appetizers, stay for one of the best views of Magic Kingdom fireworks!
Even More Magic Returns
Across the Walt Disney World resort, an array of character and character dining experiences are returning in the coming months – including DHS’ Star Wars Launch Bay next week. While some characters will return sooner than others (Disney Hollywood Studios’ Star Wars Launch Bay is set to return next week!), many of the character dining options aren’t set to take effect until later this fall.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s the character dining returning:
The Crystal Palace Buffet (September 20)
‘Ohana Best Friends Breakfast (September 27)
Cape May Café Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast (October 4)
For more about the return of characters and character dining at Walt Disney World, read HERE.
And that’s not all that’s coming back with some extra magic in store. Starting August 25, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom will be returning to transform young guests into princesses and princes once again. This will be the first day for the domestic Disney Parks (Disneyland’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opens the same day as well!) to have a functioning Boutique for makeovers.
(Disney Wish)ing I was Back!
It’s been a busy few weeks for me with all sorts of Disney content. Between visiting Walt Disney World multiple times for today’s roundup of news, I also got to set sail on the brand new Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish! Dusty Sage invited me to attend the christening sailing with him, and how could I turn that opportunity down?! I wrote up some of my thoughts including a deck-by-deck tour of the ship (HERE).
For more about the Disney Wish, be sure to check out our coverage HERE!
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Let’s Hear From You
That was a lot of info to cover! What do you think about all the updates around Magic Kingdom? Are you happy with the new narration for the PeopleMover? Are you looking forward to EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival this year? Will you be trying anything from the mini festival at Disney Springs? What do you think of the name selected for the Princess and the Frog ride? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
