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Year in Review: 21 Biggest Happenings of 2021 at Walt Disney World – Part 1

2021 was a big year in Walt Disney World history with a lot happening from huge anniversary celebrations to steady progress back toward normal, to some big policy changes that proved to be incredibly unpopular. While it wasn’t exactly the year we thought it might be heading into the year, and some of the biggest news stories were pretty negative, many great things did take place this year. We’re looking back at the top 21 most significant happenings of the year. Catch part one below.





 

21 – NBA Experience Permanently Closed

To the shock and astonishment of absolutely no one, we learned this year that the NBA Experience at Disney Springs, which has been closed since March 2020 because of the pandemic, will remain closed and not reopen. The NBA Experience opened to guests in 2019. It was a one-of-a-kind environment in collaboration with the NBA, where guests entered the world of professional basketball. The high-energy, family-friendly venue was packed with 13 different basketball-related activities across 44,000 square feet and two floors. Unfortunately, during its short seven-month run, it struggled to get guests in the door. As a result, signage has been removed, and Disney has said that an announcement about the future of the location will be released at a further date.

20 – New Daytime Entertainment – “Disney KiteTails” Open at Disney’ Animal Kingdom

As part of the 50th-anniversary celebration, there’s a new daytime entertainment option at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park! “Disney KiteTails” comes alive several times daily at the Discovery River Theater. Performers fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes while out on the water, elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 30 feet long – depict Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo, and King Louie. These colorful creations dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family. Check the MyDisney Experience app for showtimes!

 

19 – Primeval Whirl Demolished at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Last summer, Disney announced the permanent closure of Primeval Whirl at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The attraction has sat almost untouched for almost a year and a half. Unfortunately, the attraction has been demolished and is gone from Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama. No announcement has been made on the future of this space in DinoLand USA.

18 – Polynesian and Contemporary Resorts Receive Refresh and Updates

As Walt Disney World celebrates its 50th anniversary, Walt Disney Imagineering continues to enhance the storytelling at its resorts. Guest rooms were reimagined at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort with a color palette inspired by the Pacific Ocean and its necklace of islands. The resort reopened to guests in July 2021. Their fresh new look draws on the details, textures, and patterns found in Disney’s “Moana,” with characters and references to the film’s rich storytelling. The resort also boasts a dramatic new porte cochere to enhance the arrival experience as guests pull up to its Great Ceremonial House.

At Disney’s Contemporary Resort, all the guest rooms in the iconic A-frame tower are being completely refurbished, blending a sleek Monorail motif evoking Tomorrowland with some favorite characters from Pixar Animation Studios’ Incredibles films. In the lobby, guests see a collection of modern art pieces and historical, behind-the-scenes photographs of Disney’s Contemporary Resort in development and under construction. In addition, the resort’s lobby restaurant is aptly renamed Steakhouse 71, offering a reimagined dining opened on October 1, just in time for the 50th-anniversary celebration.

 

17 – Tram Service Returns to Magic Kingdom

One of the most missed services at Walt Disney World returned to the Magic Kingdom parking lots in late December 2021! Parking trams had not operated since the parks have reopened in July 2020. However, the other parks will see tram service return sometime in 2022.

 16 – In-Person runDisney Races Returned in November

After almost two years, the 11th annual Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend powered by AfterShokz marked the return of an on-site event to Walt Disney World Resort since the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February 2020. More than 26,000 runners were on hand that weekend, November 4-7, to participate in this weekend’s festivities.

The race weekend, which involved more than 30,000 runners competing in the 5K, 10K, and the Two Course Challenge (running the 10K and the half marathon), was runDisney’s first race at Walt Disney World Resort since the pandemic began in early 2020. It also kicked off the 2021-2022 runDisney race season, which encompasses the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (Jan. 5-9, 2022), the Princess Half Marathon Weekend (Feb. 24-27, 2022), and the Springtime Surprise Weekend (March 31-April 3).

15 – Technology Advances – MagicMobile Launches

This year we saw some technological advances with the MyDisney Experience app and a new service Disney MagicMobile. Disney MagicMobile service, an alternative to MagicBands, is a convenient and contactless way to access MagicBand features like theme park entry through the power of your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Google Pay enabled Android phones. Of course, MagicBands are still being sold, and guests will be able to use them. We love MagicMobile and rarely ever wear our MagicBands.





 

14 – Drawn to Life – New Cirque Du Soleil Show Now Open at Disney Springs

Drawn to Life, a first-of-its-kind creative collaboration between iconic memory-makers Cirque du Soleil and Disney, premiered on November 18. Drawn to Life, written and directed by Michel Laprise with Fabrice Becker as Director of Creation, is a live acrobatic journey telling the story of Julie, a determined girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her Disney Animator father: an unfinished animation. As she dives into the inner world of animation guided by a surprising pencil, Julie embarks on an inspiring quest filled with her childhood Disney memories. We were there for the Grand Opening performance and were absolutely blown away. The show is fantastic and is an excellent option for families looking for some fantastic Disney-inspired entertainment from Cirque du Soleil. For our full review, click here.

13 – Blizzard Beach Reopened in March

After being closed for nearly a year, Blizzard Beach reopened on March 7, 2021. Physical distancing measures were in place for a few months; however, those have since been lifted. Blizzard Beach was the only water park to be open in 2021, with Typhoon Lagoon remaining closed. However, Typhoon Lagoon will open on January 2, 2022, and Blizzard Beach will close for refurbishment on the same day.

12 – Creations Shop and Club Cool Open at EPCOT

In September 2019, Club Cool closed as part of the historic transformation of EPCOT, which is well underway. However, in mid-September, Club Cool Hosted by Coca-Cola, reopened. Celebrating Coca-Cola in a fresh new way, Club Cool invites guests to explore tasty drinks from around the world, bringing the global experience of Coca-Cola to life through new magic and classic flavor. Learn more at the link below.

Click here for details on the all-new Club Cool at EPCOT.

The replacement for Mouse Gear also opened mid-September 2021. The new Creations Shop invites guests to explore and celebrate Disney creativity, inspired by Mickey Mouse. The merchandise location features a bold, sleek design for an open, bright, welcoming environment with large glass walls allowing sunlight to pour in. Artistic homages to Mickey are throughout the shop, including large, dynamic murals that tap into the park’s original artistic spirit.

11 – Space 220 Opens at EPCOT

In an expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion at EPCOT, the new Space 220 Restaurant is a fantastic and unique spaced-themed dining experience that offers guests delicious food and beverage options. After boarding a space elevator for a simulated journey to the Centauri Space Station, guests can enjoy a fantastic panorama of a space station, including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles above the planet’s surface. We’ve eaten here twice and have thoroughly enjoyed our time there and can’t wait to go back! Read our full review below!

Click here for our review of Space 220 at EPCOT and what you need to know!

 

Click here for Part 2 of our Top 21 Big Happenings at Walt Disney World in 2021!

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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