DisWorldGuide

We, and many others, are looking forward to the reopening of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster! This popular attraction at Hollywood Studios has been closed for refurbishment since January 8, 2024. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is set to reopen this summer, and we think we know when it will happen!

Apart from Disney saying “summer 2024,” we haven’t been entirely sure when it would reopen. And while Disney has yet to make an official announcement, there is something in the Disney World app that might hint at when we can experience this attraction again!

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When we look at the calendar with opening hours, it also shows which attractions are closed on a given day. Here we can see that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is still listed as closed on July 26. But when we look at the calendar for July 27, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is suddenly no longer listed as closed! So it is possible that this is the date when the attraction will reopen!

As mentioned, this is not an official confirmation that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be open from July 27, but we can hope.

Disney Springs is known for its shops, restaurants, and live entertainment, but beyond that, there isn’t much to do there in the evening. However, a new spectacular evening show is now coming to Disney Springs.

Disney Springs is a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in Disney World. With a range of shops from world-renowned brands, a variety of restaurants and entertainment venues, Disney Springs is a popular place for visitors of all ages.

A new evening show with drones is now on its way to Disney Springs, and it’s completely free. The show is called “Disney Dreams That Soar” and will feature Disney stories, characters, music, and quotes. You can see Dumbo, the Death Star from Star Wars, Peter Pan, and much more!

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The show, which will run from May 24th to September 2nd, is the first of its kind in Disney World, even though Disneyland Paris has already had its own drone show. It costs nothing to enter Disney Springs and the show is therefore completely free! There are two performances every evening, at 9:00 PM and 10:45 PM.

This probably also means that there will be quite a few more people in Disney Springs in the evening this summer. So remember to pre-book if there are special restaurants you want to visit.

Each show lasts about 10 minutes. So head to Disney Springs, maybe grab a bite to eat, and then find a spot near the water to watch this new show.

Get ready for an enchanting journey through the bayou with Princess Tiana and her jazz-loving alligator friend, Louis. The much-anticipated attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, is set to open its doors on June 28th at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Now we have even more news from the Bayou.

This new addition to the park is a log flume ride that promises an exciting 52.5-foot drop and a magical tour of the bayou, inspired by the beloved 2009 Disney Animation film, The Princess and the Frog. The adventure continues after the film’s storyline, as guests join Tiana and Louis in preparing for a festive Mardi Gras and New Orleans celebration. Expect to see familiar characters, meet new ones, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Louisiana, all accompanied by a captivating musical score.

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Previews

Disney has announced that there will be special preview opportunities for Florida-based Cast Members, Annual Passholders, eligible Disney Vacation Club Members, and D23 Gold Members before the grand opening.

Annual Passholders can look forward to exclusive previews on June 13th to 18th and 20th. To participate, passholders will need to secure a park reservation at Magic Kingdom on one of the preview dates.

Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members are also in for a treat with special previews scheduled on June 12th from 1 PM to 4 PM Eastern Time and June 19th from 9 AM to 12 PM Eastern Time.

D23 Gold Members will have the unique opportunity to be among the first to experience Tiana’s Bayou Adventure during a separately ticketed event on June 22nd.

On-ride photo

In addition to the immersive ride experience, guests can look forward to a special on-ride photo opportunity. This exclusive photo will be taken during the ride’s drop, capturing the excitement amidst the vibrant bayou backdrop. This keepsake will be available through Disney PhotoPass and included in Memory Maker packages. Plus, if you purchase Disney Genie+, you’ll receive free downloads of your on-ride photos for the day.

So, mark your calendars and get ready to embark on a magical bayou adventure with Princess Tiana and friends at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

Genie+

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be included in the Disney Genie+ service. This implies that there won’t be an Individual Lightning Lane for this ride. To enjoy this attraction, you can acquire Genie+ for Magic Kingdom or opt for the multi-park Genie+ option and secure a Lightning Lane for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

For those who prefer not to pay for priority access, virtual queue will be an alternative. Given the expected popularity of the ride in its initial months, a virtual queue will be in operation. However, Disney anticipates that as the demand decreases over time, they will transition to a standby line.

To reserve the Lightning Lane for this ride, it’s necessary to have the My Disney Experience app installed on your phone, be signed into your account, and have your park tickets connected.

Disney caused a stir when they mistakenly announced the opening date for their upcoming attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom. The news came early in the morning on May 12th, and before they released the press release, Disney hinted at a “special announcement as we gear up to celebrate the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World!”

At the same time, a press release with the opening date was posted, but shortly after, Disney removed it again. This led to speculation that Disney had mistakenly revealed the opening date early.

Later, Disney officially posted it, thus confirming that what was stated in the mistakenly posted press release was indeed correct.

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Here is a brief summary of the press release:

Disney announces that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open in Magic Kingdom on June 28th. The attraction invites guests to join beloved characters such as Princess Tiana, Mama Odie, Louis, and all-new friends on an exciting adventure, all set against the music and excitement of a New Orleans celebration.

“Music is the heart of New Orleans, and guests will be tapping their toes throughout the entire attraction thanks to cute critters, who play instruments made of natural materials found in the bayou.” says Disney in the press release.

“As guests float through cypress trees and Spanish moss in a beautiful Louisiana bayou, they may see some familiar faces as part of dozens of entirely new Audio-Animatronics figures. Along with Princess Tiana, Louis, and Mama Odie, you may also spot Eudora, Charlotte, Prince Ralphie, Prince Naveen, and others.”

The eerie season is a favorite at Disney World, with Halloween decorations, unique snacks, and the much-anticipated Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. If you’ve been contemplating attending a Halloween Party this year, we have exciting news — the initial dates have been announced!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary is a family-oriented event that occurs on chosen nights throughout the season. Attendees who buy tickets for this after-hours event can look forward to exclusive goodies, reduced attraction wait times, special Halloween entertainment, and more!

Disney has just unveiled the dates for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! The inaugural Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will commence on Friday, August 9th, 2024. Additional parties will be held on select nights through October 31st, 2024, offering exclusive food, merchandise, entertainment, and more.

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Here are the 2024 dates:

August – 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, and 30th
September – 2nd, 6th, 8th, 10th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 27th, and 29th
October – 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 24th, 25th, 27th, 29th, and 31st

Disney has announced that tickets for the event will be available for purchase on May 15th. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can purchase these special event tickets starting May 8th, 2024!

Disney has confirmed that some of the popular entertainment from previous years will be returning. Mickey and Minnie will be sporting new costumes for the occasion. A new DescenDANCE Party, inspired by the upcoming Disney+ movie “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” is also confirmed. The party is known for its rare character meet-and-greets, and this year, Mirabel and Bruno will be joining the lineup in the Fantasy Garden.

A must-see at the Halloween festivity is Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade! This procession is a spectacle of villains, Haunted Mansion inhabitants such as the gravediggers, hitchhiking phantoms, and the ghostly Bride, and even Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow, and Daisy Duck appearing as the Sanderson Sisters! The parade is initiated by the Headless Horseman, a sight that is truly a marvel at the event.

This year, the Boo-To-You procession will be held every party night at 8:15PM and again at 11:15PM.

Disney has also revealed the schedule for the Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks display! This show, hosted by Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, includes pyrotechnics, lasers, and more. The fireworks will light up the sky each night at 10PM.

Another crowd-pleaser at the party is the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, taking place on the Cinderella Castle Stage and hosted by the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus. This year, villains such as Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, and Maleficent will be making an appearance!

From August 9th through September 28th, the show will be performed each event night at 9:05PM, 10:40PM, and 12AM. From September 29th through October 31st, an additional show will be added at 7:40PM.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a specially ticketed event, so you must have a separate Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket to enter the Magic Kingdom. The party will occur on these select nights, beginning at 7PM and ending at midnight, with party guests permitted to enter the park as early as 4PM. Remember that the party does not occur every night—only select nights between August 9th and October 31st.

A distinctive experience has arrived at Magic Kingdom. The new attraction, known as “Smellephants on Parade,” is an interactive experience that takes visitors on a sensory journey through Storybook Circus.

Rather than a traditional attraction, Smellephants on Parade is an experience more akin to Journey of Water in EPCOT. The new attraction is a walkthrough in Storybook Circus, where you can experience a variety of scents reminiscent of a classic circus carnival.

Each elephant figure is uniquely designed and emits a distinct scent that visitors can enjoy. From sweet to salty and spicy aromas, each elephant provides a unique sensory experience. Although the concept may seem a bit unusual, it has piqued the curiosity of many visitors.

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The attraction had a soft opening on May 2nd, and visitors were invited to explore and experience the different scents. In addition, an entertaining scavenger hunt was organized where visitors could match stickers with the corresponding elephants.

The scents are released in small “puffs,” and to truly experience each scent, you may need to linger a bit longer at each elephant. The scents are strong, but they disperse in the air, so if you’re not catching the sweet scent of cotton candy, you may need to follow the wind.

The elephants are scattered around the Storybook Circus area, and it’s easy to find them all. While you’re there, you might also notice some new details added to match the attraction. So keep your eyes open.

Disney World has started an event for Annual Passholders called V.I.Passholder Days. The event runs from May 1st to June 26th and offers several benefits.

What’s New?

A new magnet featuring Stitch from Lilo and Stitch is available for passholders at the Creations Shop in EPCOT.

Passholder Lounge

A lounge for passholders is open at Restaurant Marrakesh in EPCOT’s Morocco Pavilion. It offers a cool place to rest with free snacks and water.

Special Treat

A special Stitch-themed treat is available at Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT.

Photo Opportunities

Passholders can get special photos taken at the World Celebration Gardens, near Dreamers Point.

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Online Discount

From May 5th to May 24th, passholders get a 20% discount on purchases from the Disney Store online. To get the discount, passholders need to link their Annual Pass to their My Disney Experience account and use the promo code WDW20 at checkout.

As the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival concludes on May 27th, Disney is already gearing up for the next grand event in the park – the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! This festival, featuring open-air culinary stations, the rhythm-filled Eat to the Beat Concert Series, and a plethora of other attractions, is arguably one of Disney World’s most anticipated annual events. We now have the official dates for this gastronomic adventure!

The 2024 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is set to kick off on August 29th and will continue until November 23rd, 2024! Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect:

Global Marketplaces: A smorgasbord of mouth-watering dishes awaits you. Look forward to indulging in Belgian waffles topped with berry sauce and whipped cream at the Belgium Global Marketplace, or savor an apple strudel served with vanilla sauce in Germany. Additionally, The Alps will be offering a dark chocolate fondue accompanied by berries, pound cake, and meringue.

Emile’s Fromage Montage: This fun-filled cheese crawl encourages guests to sample a variety of delicious cheeses served in innovative ways. Purchase five cheese dishes from the official Global Marketplaces list in the Festival Passport and collect a stamp for each dish. Once you’ve collected all five stamps, present your passport at a designated location for a special prize!

Merchandise: Bring a piece of the magic home with you with fantastic merchandise featuring beloved characters like Remy from “Ratatouille” and Mickey Mouse.

CommuniCore Hall: This new space, opening on June 10th in the heart of World Celebration, will add exciting fresh elements to the festival once the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival commences.

Eat to the Beat Concert Series: As night falls, top-rated musical acts and local talents will take the stage as part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series.

Magic Kingdom at Disney World is a place filled with magic and adventure, but there’s a part of this magic that most visitors are unaware of – the tunnels beneath the park. These tunnels, known as “Utilidors” (a contraction of “utility” and “corridors”), are a fascinating underground network that extends under large parts of Magic Kingdom. Let’s dive into the history and secrets behind these mysterious tunnels.

When Walt Disney planned Magic Kingdom, he knew he wanted to create a world full of magic and fantasy. But he also wanted this world to be flawless, with as few visible signs as possible of what was going on “backstage.” The Utilidors were designed to keep the magical illusion intact. On the surface of the park, it’s important for guests to see Disney World without being disturbed by cars, renovation work, or other background activities. The Utilidors allow Cast Members to move around the park efficiently without disrupting the magical atmosphere. Additionally, the tunnels provide a place for storage, cooking, dressing rooms, and other necessary operations that keep the park running.

The Utilidors in Magic Kingdom are actually quite a unique construction phenomenon. The largest system of utilidors is located under Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, but there are also some underground tunnels at Epcot. Due to the high groundwater level in Florida, most of these tunnels were actually built at ground level, and Magic Kingdom was built over it. So what guests see in the park are streets that are elevated by one story. Parts of Fantasyland, including Cinderella Castle, are actually on a third-story level. The ground level changes so gradually that guests tend not to realize they are ascending to the second and third stories. Magic Kingdom is built on soil that was removed from what is now Seven Seas Lagoon, the lake that lies between the parking lot and the park itself. So, although it may seem like the utilidors are a basement, they are actually at ground level, and the rest of the park is built over them.

Utilidors house a variety of facilities and activities that are crucial for the park’s operation. Many of the restaurants in Magic Kingdom have their kitchens in the Utilidors, which makes it easier to deliver food to different areas of the park without disturbing the guests. With so many characters walking around the park, there’s a need for a place to store and distribute costumes. Utilidors provide a convenient location for this. When maintenance or repair of facilities is needed, much of this work can be done without disturbing the guests, thanks to access from the tunnels. Utilidors include conveyor belts and vehicles that help staff move quickly and efficiently under the park. The waste systems in Magic Kingdom are an integral part of the park’s unique infrastructure. A key component of the utilidor system is AVAC, the Automated Vacuum-Assisted Collection system. At 17 key locations throughout Magic Kingdom, custodians can discreetly empty the park’s many trash cans, and an underground system of vacuum tubes sucks the trash at a speed of 60 miles per hour to a compactor.

Although a large part of the Utilidors is closed to guests, there is actually a way to see this off-limits area, namely “The Keys to the Kingdom tour.” During this comprehensive guided tour of Walt Disney World, guests are taken backstage, among other things, to see a bit of how it all happens. This includes seeing parts of the Utilidors! However, no filming or photography is allowed backstage.

Despite the fact that the Utilidors are part of the hidden backstage of Disney magic, it’s fascinating to think about the extensive infrastructure needed to maintain the flawless illusion of a magical world. So when you walk around Magic Kingdom, you can now glance “underground” and think about the fact that you’re actually on the second or third floor, and about the busy corridors and secrets that lie beneath your feet.

EPCOT is on the brink of a transformation! Late in 2023, Disney announced a series of updates and changes coming to Disney World, including a revamp of Dinoland USA and an expansion of Magic Kingdom, to name a few. For EPCOT, the final phase of the major renovation will conclude with the grand opening of CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza on June 10, 2024! But just a week later, another change is set to take place.

Disney has officially released the closure date for the current version of Test Track! It seems the construction fences won’t be disappearing anytime soon. However, anticipation is high to see what this renovation will entail and how it will transform the attraction. While Disney has yet to release many details about the final look of the attraction, they have revealed that it will draw inspiration from World of Motion, the original attraction housed in the same building when the park opened in 1982!

Guests will have until June 17, 2024, to experience this attraction, create their own SIM vehicles, and ride the fastest attraction in Disney World. The attraction will continue to be sponsored by Chevrolet.