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DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Multiple Entertainment Options Reopening; Castle Upgrade; DCL Returns to Cruising – New Health Protocols; Poly Reopens & More

Disney continues its return to normal with news out of Disney World regarding the return of several entertainment experiences as well as the return to sailing by Disney Cruise Line with new health and safety protocols. Another resort has reopened along with one of our favorite on property lounges. Cinderella Castle gets more decorations for the 50th Anniversary Celebration and confirms the future of Happily Ever After fireworks show. All this and more in this week’s news roundup.





 

1 – Disney World Announces Return of Multiple Entertainment Experiences

Disney has announced several entertainment experiences coming back to Walt Disney World! Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Turtle Talk with Crush, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and “The Wonderful World of Animation” are all returning in August. Learn more at the link below.

Click here for details and reopening dates on multiple entertainment experiences at Walt Disney World.

2 – Disney Installs 50th Anniversary Crest on Cinderella Castle

This week Imagineers installed a new crest honoring the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort onto Cinderella Castle. The crest completes the castle’s royal, EARidescent makeover, joining gold bunting, sparkling embellishments, and other new enhancements leading up to “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” beginning October 1, 2021.

Credit: Disney/Kent Phillips

3 – Disney Confirms Happily Ever After Will Not Return After 18 Month 50th Anniversary Celebration

This month, Disney announced a new fireworks show, “Disney Enchantment,” coming to Magic Kingdom for the 50th Anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World. After the announcement, there was speculation about the future of “Happily Ever After.” Would it return? Disney has now confirmed that the show will not return, and the final performance will be in September 2021. Learn more at the link below.

Click here for details on the final performance of “Happily Ever After.”





 

4 – Disney Cruise Line Confirms Return to Sailing in August – Announces New Safety Protocols

Great news for Disney Cruise Line fans! Disney has confirmed that sailings will begin on the Disney Dream on August 9, 2021. Disney also released details on new safety protocols guests will need to follow on their cruise, including testing, face coverings, and travel insurance. Learn more at the link below.

Click here for details on Disney Cruise Line’s return to sailing and the new safety protocols that will be in place.





 

5 – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Trader Sam’s Reopen

This week Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Trader Sam’s reopened to guests. The resort had been closed since March 2020. Rooms received a Moana-themed reimagining. Learn more at the link below.

Click here for details on Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Trader Sam’s reopening.

6 – Disney World’s Character Cavalcade Showtimes are Now Listed in My Disney Experience

Now that physical distancing measures have been removed from Walt Disney World, Disney has added the character cavalcade showtimes in the My Disney Experience App. Previously guests had to wait around and guess when they might be able to spot their favorite character. Thankfully, now guests can use the app to catch the cavalcades. You can find the information on showtimes in the “Entertainment” category of the app.

7 – Walt Disney World Resort to Immerse Air Travelers in 50th Anniversary Celebration at Orlando International Airport

The 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World is extending to Orlando International Airport! Disney Cast Member Thomas Smith shares more below.

Anticipation fills the air as we near “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” and prepare for this milestone moment at Walt Disney World Resort … and beyond.

With so much excitement ahead, we want you to feel immersed in the magic as soon as you arrive in Central Florida, which is why a talented group of cast members is hard at work transforming the arrival experience at Orlando International Airport (MCO) with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA).

Credit: Disney

Coming just in time for the 50th anniversary celebration this fall, airport passengers will discover many exciting Disney touches, including a wide-spanning art installation in the terminal train stations featuring favorite Disney characters, new magic engaging passengers as they walk through a glistening glow of projected EARidescent light patterns, and an immersive photo opportunity with a re-creation of a Disney ride vehicle to capture special memories as they make their way through the airport.

As part of this special transformation at the airport, we’re excited to also be working with GOAA on a new Magic of Disney store location opening with the South Terminal Complex in 2022.

“Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World share a commitment to the Central Florida community. We proudly recognize the outstanding accomplishment of our longtime partner as they celebrate this impressive 50th Anniversary milestone,” said Phil Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Collaborating on a commemorative presence at Florida’s busiest airport means we get to be the first moment of celebration for guests flying into Orlando to be part of the spectacular fanfare.”

No matter how you’re traveling to Walt Disney World Resort for the 50th anniversary celebration, an experience like no other awaits you…because when you celebrate with us, nothing could be more magical.





 

8 – Take a First Look at the Poster for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the Star Wars-themed hotel coming to Walt Disney World, has a poster! Disney Cast Member Jeremy Schoolfield has a first look below.

Are you ready for an all-immersive adventure in a galaxy far, far away aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser? Well then take a glimpse at what you can expect during your two-night journey in this new promotional poster we’re sharing today for the first time.

Opening in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will invite you into a new kind of “storyliving” as you travel the galaxy in a finely appointed starship. So far, many details about this new experience have been as cryptic as a Bothan spy, so it’s exciting to get another peek at what we have in store. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Credit: Disney
    • The Halcyon starcruiser, in the upper-left corner, is your home for this two-night adventure. The sleek ship is known for its impeccable service, fabulous entertainment and exquisite dining, all of which you’ll get to enjoy during your vacation. (Side note: You can see a model of the ship right now in Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.)
    • There are four people at the center of the poster – a youngling wearing Jedi robes and wielding a lightsaber, an adult dressed in the uniform of a First Order officer, a Twi’lek adult, and another youngling who appears to be holding a piece of technology of some sort. These figures are meant to represent you, the travelers, because Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is about your choices and how you live your personal Star Wars stories. Do you want to support the First Order? Live like a Jedi in training? Or perhaps become a member of high galactic society? It’s all waiting there for you to discover and decide.
    • In front of those central figures is an R-series astromech droid – but one that seems to have a few extra bells and whistles. Hmm … I bet there’s a story there, too.
    • In the lower left, you see passengers enjoying the remarkable cuisine offered in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room, the starcruiser’s enticing supper club. The food and drink certainly seem otherworldly …
    • The image in the lower right is something I’m incredibly excited for – lightsaber training! That’s right, as part of your experience, you’ll face off with a training remote similar to how Luke Skywalker once did and learn the lightsaber’s ancient ways.
    • Looming above all this is the intimidating visage of Kylo Ren. Couple him with those First Order stormtroopers charging into the scene on the left-hand side and … I have a bad feeling about this. The Halcyon starcruiser does have a storied past, after all, and a reputation for finding itself in the middle of galactic conflicts. Luckily Chewbacca and his trusty bowcaster are there in the upper-right corner. Remember, it’s not wise to upset a Wookiee!
    • And don’t miss what’s happening at the very bottom of the poster. There’s something very familiar about those spires – especially to anyone who’s traveled to Batuu. I’ve heard the Halcyon starcruiser is adding that far-flung planet to its itinerary starting next year …

So my guess is this poster leaves you with as many questions as answers. Well, I have good news: We’ll soon be sitting down with Disney Imagineers to discuss all things Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and will share that conversation with you here on the Disney Parks Blog and other Disney social channels. It will be the most in-depth discussion of this incredible new experience Walt Disney Imagineering has ever given publicly, so make sure you keep following us to find out more.

You can also visit starwarsgalacticstarcruiser.com and sign up to receive updates as they’re released.

9 – NFL Players and Walt Disney World Team Up to Provide Back-to-School Backpacks to Orlando Boys & Girls Club

When Buffalo Bills and former UCF wide receiver Gabriel Davis was a child, he didn’t always have the clothes or supplies he needed when heading back to school each fall. Now that he is a top-flight NFL player, Davis is partnering with other NFL players and Walt Disney World Resort to provide back-to-school backpacks for local at-risk children.

Tuesday morning at the Walt Disney World Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida in the Pine Hills area, Davis was joined by Nate Evans (Seattle Seahawks), Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles), Tre’Quan Smith (New Orleans Saints) and Martez Ivey (Carolina Panthers), as well as a Walt Disney World Ambassador and Mickey Mouse, to surprise the children, share their stories and hand out the backpacks. Davis’ teammates with the Bills – Matt Milano, Cole Beasley and Dion Dawkins – also donated items, but they were not in attendance Tuesday.

Credit: Disney

Walt Disney World Resort, which has a long-standing relationship with both the NFL and the local Boys & Girls Club, provided Mickey ear hats and Walt Disney World lunch bags for the backpacks and brought a little magic to the moment with an appearance by Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney World aims to inspire a world of difference through the power of stories, especially those like Davis’s and his mission to set kids up for success.

10 – The Magic of Mentorship: Disneyland Resort Provides Mentorship to Anaheim High School Students

A lucky group of high school students is getting an amazing mentorship program with Disneyland Resort! Disney Cast Member Kyleigh Johnson has the details below.

High school is the perfect time for students to develop soft skills, build a resume and explore career options through real-life experience.

For the second year, Disneyland Resort partnered with Anaheim Union High School District to support Anaheim’s Innovative Mentoring Experience (AIME). Through the AIME internship program, high school students are paired with mentors to learn the ins and outs of an organization, prepare for the demands of college and career life, and make lasting personal and professional connections.

Credit: Disney

This year, six students were selected as mentees of Disneyland Resort professionals in the areas of experience integration, industrial engineering, finance, marketing, human resources and public affairs.

“Disney’s mentorship program helped give me great insight into the opportunities and jobs in the workplace,” said Hannah Jang, an incoming senior at Oxford Academy in Anaheim. “Besides the overviews Disney organized for us, my personal mentor helped arrange meet and greets for me with other professionals at Disney so that I was able to better narrow down what career I would like to explore in the next stage of my life journey in college.”

By the end of the six-week internship, the students accomplished creating an integrated business plan and presentation for a hypothetical theme park event. Meanwhile, their mentors felt a great sense of pride after witnessing how much the students had developed and learned during their time together.

“I know I speak for everyone around the resort who had time with these students when I say how impressed we were by them,” said Corporate Citizenship Manager Katie Marquez, who helped facilitate the internship experience. “Because this year’s format was virtual, we thought we might lose some of the magic we are known for, but these students and their mentors created a type of magic we never expected. This is an incredibly rewarding program for all of us at the Disneyland Resort and we hope the students found it equally as rewarding. We can’t wait to see where these students go next in their educations and careers.”

Supporting the AIME internship program is part of the resort’s workforce development initiative to provide mentorship and career readiness opportunities to Anaheim students and residents. Through these efforts, the resort also offers funding to help support nonprofit workforce programming in Anaheim and career development workshops to hundreds of local students and job seekers.

11 – The Hall of Presidents: Sharing the Story of Liberty’s Leaders for 50 Years

This week Walt Disney World updated guests on The Hall of Presidents. Disney Cast Member Thomas Smith has the details below.

Since opening day of Magic Kingdom Park in 1971, The Hall of Presidents has brought to life the heritage of the United States and shared the symbolic importance and uniqueness of the office of the President. Almost 50 years later, the story of liberty’s leaders continues to be told and retold to new generations as Walt Disney originally envisioned.

For the past few months, work has been underway to add President Joe Biden to the stage as the 46th President of the United States. As Disney Imagineers are putting the final touches on the show, which will debut to guests in August, we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the latest update.

Credit: Disney

Just as Walt envisioned, creative teams have been busy programming an Audio-Animatronics replica of the President, pairing it with a delivery of the presidential oath of office recorded at the White House by President Biden himself just for the attraction. Every detail comes together to create a realistic and symbolic glimpse into the office of the President through the years, from the carefully tailored clothing to the props, documents and furniture placed throughout the stage. Next time you visit, you may notice the table next to President Biden is adorned with a few special items, each with their own significance to the President—including peach blossoms to represent his home state of Delaware and a pair of aviators as a nod to his proclivity for the sunglasses.

Credit: Disney

And for those who are curious about what happens to presidents at The Hall of Presidents after their term has ended, the Audio-Animatronics figure of former President Donald J. Trump will take its place on stage among those who have previously served.

So take your seat in our stately theater beginning next month as we share the incredible story of the American presidency, and watch as the curtain rises to welcome back all the Presidents.

What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort

2021 Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival – Now Through November 20, 2021

Click here for the seven reasons you don’t want to miss the 2021 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

Click here for photos of the menu boards with pricing for easy planning.

Click here for full menus and lots of photos of items available.

Click here for our Instagram Story with photos of food and beverage items, merchandise, and more.

Coming Soon to Walt Disney World

Upcoming Resort Reopenings

  • August 26 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • August 26 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House
  • September 16 – All-Star Sports Music Resort
  • October 14 – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – River Side
  • October 28 – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
  • December 9 – All-Star Sports Resort

August 10 – October 31, 2021 – Disney After Hours Boo Bash

Click here to learn about the all-new Disney After Hours Boo Bash coming in fall 2021 at Magic Kingdom.

October 1, 2021 – The Most Magical Celebration – 50 Years of Walt Disney World

Click here for details on “The Most Magical Celebration,” which begins on October 1, 2021, on the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World and runs for 18 months.

October 1, 2021 – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure & France Pavilion Expansion Opens

Click here for more on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure & France Pavilion Expansion – What We Know So Far

November 12 – December 30, 2021 – Holiday Season at Walt Disney World

Click here for details on the 2021 holiday offerings at Walt Disney World.

Jungle Cruise – Updated in Phases, while remaining open to guests in 2021

Click here to learn about the updates coming to The Jungle Cruise at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park.

Star Wars Hotel – 2022

Click here for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser-What We Know So Far About the Upcoming Star Wars Themed Hotel Coming to Disney World

EPCOT Reimagined – Now Through 2022 and Beyond

Click here for what we know about the New EPCOT and what’s coming!





 

New and Coming Soon to Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort – Now Open

Click here for details on the reimagined Snow White’s Enchanted Wish – now open!

Halloween Time is Back This Fall at Disneyland Resort

Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure – Now Open

Click here for more on the Avengers Campus! Now open at Disney California Adventure!

Click here for details on food and beverage offerings inside Avengers Campus.

Click here for information on merchandise available inside Avengers Campus.

Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line

Return to Cruising

Click here for details on Disney Cruise Line’s return to sailing and the new safety protocols that will be in place.

The Disney Wish

Click here for an overview of the next Disney Cruise Line Ship – The Disney Wish – Coming Summer 2022

Click here for information on bookings for the inaugural season in summer 2022.

Click here for more information on new dining experiences on the Disney Wish.

Itineraries in 2022

Click here to learn about Summer 2022 Itineraries on the Disney Cruise Line

Click here to learn about Early 2022 Itineraries on the Disney Cruise Line

Click here to learn about Marvel Day at Sea and Star Wars Day at Sea in Early 2022

Click here to learn about Halloween and Holiday Themed Cruises in fall 2022

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.



Chad & Cindy Nykamp

After years of multiple Walt Disney World vacations, Cindy and Chad's dream of living in Orlando came true in 2010. After friends and family made them their go-to-people for Walt Disney World advice, Cindy and Chad launched DisneyLists.com in August 2015 to share their knowledge and love of Disney. Chad and Cindy have been Disney World Annual Passholders for years, DVC members, together have raced more than 70 runDisney races, and particularly love cruising on the Disney Cruise Line. Chad and Cindy also regularly represent DisneyLists.com at Walt Disney World media events. While attending these events, they get an insiders view of all the new things that have come to Walt Disney World. These experiences have helped them gain knowledge and expertise they happily pass on to their followers. They still can't believe how lucky they are to have such an amazing opportunity and will continue to share Disney with anyone who will listen!
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