DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Flower & Garden Review; New Roller Coaster Sneak Peek; Free AP Car Magnets; New Restaurant & Food Offerings; DCL Face Covering Rule Change & More
A lot of news out of Disney this week! Spring has officially started at Disney World with the kick-off of the Flower & Garden Festival and the release of special spring treats at Hollywood Studios. We also got a look at the new roller coaster at Epcot, and the daytime Magic Kingdom stage show is back. Don’t miss the free Passholder magnets or the new Disney Springs restaurant just announced. Disney Cruise Line also just made a BIG change to the face-covering rules. All this and more are below in this week’s news roundup.
1 – 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Now Open at EPCOT
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is now open. It runs through July 4, 2022, cultivating fresh experiences for the entire family as part of the “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” honoring the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary. We’ve got all the details on this amazing festival, including what you don’t want to miss! Learn more at the link below.
Click here for photos of the menu boards with pricing for easy planning!
2 – A Look at the Loading Area of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is opening this summer, and we’re so excited. Walt Disney World Imagineering has released a video showing the loading area and the ride vehicles. Watch the video by clicking here.
3 – New Limited-Time Spring Treats at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Spring is in the air, and limited-time treats are now available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’ve got the details on what’s available and where to find it at the link below.
Click here for photos and details on the new limited-time treats at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
4 – New Restaurant Coming to Disney Springs in March
A new healthy eating option (that actually looks really good) is coming to Disney Springs this month! Learn more at the link below.
Click here to learn about the new restaurant coming to Disney Springs.
5 – Complimentary Annual Passholder Magnet Now at Disney Springs
A new 50th-anniversary annual passholder magnet is now available at Disney Springs! However, instead of being able to just drop by and pick it up, passholders need to enter a Virtual Queue and be assigned a time, making it more challenging to secure a magnet. Cindy wasn’t thrilled with the process since you are assigned a return time you have no control over, and if you are in a park, it means you need to drop everything and rush to Disney Springs to pick it up within the one-hour allotted time. Considering we’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to get any of the dozens of Passholder magnets on our fridge even on the first day we aren’t quite sure why there is any need for a virtual queue in the first place. Check out our Instagram post below with photos of the magnet and experience. And seriously Disney, a lot of these ideas to make things “easier” are making it harder for guests. Please stop.
6 – Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire Castle Show Debuted at Magic Kingdom
“Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” made its debut last week on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage at Magic Kingdom Park. The show, newly enhanced for the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, incorporates favorite scenes inspired by “Frozen,” “Tangled,” and “The Princess and the Frog” – including favorite characters such as Tiana, Rapunzel, Flynn, Olaf, Anna and Elsa. This popular stage show also features a new opening and a new finale with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy and Goofy in their sparkling, EARidescent fashions. Presented multiple times a day, the show also includes an all-new, original song entitled “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.” Check your My Disney Experience app for daily showtimes.
7 – EPCOT Hours Extended for Most of March
EPCOT has altered its operating hours and will open at 8:30 am for all guests, and 8:00 am for Walt Disney Resort hotel guests. The 8:30 am opening time is currently scheduled through March 19, after which the park opening reverts back to 10:00 am. But, of course, that may change, so check the My Disney Experience app for up-to-date park hours.
8 – Disney Cruise Line to Relax Indoor Mask Requirements on Cruises Beginning March 11
Disney Cruise Line has announced that they will relax face cover requirements for sailings originating from a U.S. port departure.
Here is the updated policy from Disney Cruise Line:
Following recently updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have updated our face-covering requirements for sailings originating from a U.S. port of departure. Beginning March 11, face coverings on Disney Cruise Line will become optional in most indoor locations throughout our ships.
Guests ages 2 and up, including those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will still be required to wear face coverings in the Walt Disney Theatre. Guests under 5 years of age who are currently ineligible to be vaccinated will be required to wear face coverings in Youth Activities spaces and in the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique; and, while not required, we continue to strongly recommend these Guests wear a face covering in all other indoor locations.
Face coverings may be required in ports of call based on local government requirements, including in some areas at Disney Castaway Cay. Masks should also be worn in the cruise terminal during the boarding and screening process, as well as during disembarkation.
For more information, please visit the Disney Cruise Line Know Before You Go page.
9 – Raglan Road’s Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival to Return to Disney Springs in March
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and you can celebrate at Raglan Road. The Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival is back (after being canceled in 2020 and 2021)! Visit the link below for all of the details.
Click here for details on the Raglan Road’s Might St. Patrick’s Day Festival coming to Disney Springs this March.
10 – Disney Conservation Efforts Help with Rehabilitation and Release of Manatees
Disney Conservation has been working to help with conservation efforts with Manatees. Disney Cast Member Scott Terrell has all the details below.
The level of passion and teamwork our cast members dedicate to all animals is inspiring, even for those only temporarily in our care like rescued manatees which are an iconic species around Florida. This dedication was fully displayed recently when we collaborated with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership in the release of a 680-pound manatee named Plantaina to a freshwater spring on the St. Johns River, about 50 miles northeast of Walt Disney World Resort.
Plantaina is a young female manatee who was rescued as a baby near Fort Lauderdale, Florida when she was found abandoned at less than a week old. She was just 28 pounds at the time, making her the smallest manatee ever rescued. After a successful initial rehab, Plantaina was released back into the wild (Feb. 2021). However, she was soon discovered to be losing weight which required another rescue and rehabilitation before coming to The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. After increasing her weight to a healthy 680 pounds, she was able to be released back to her natural habitat.
Unfortunately, manatee rescues and rehabilitations are becoming a lot more common. A severe lack of food is causing concern as runoff and pollution continue to threaten their main food source. Each of these large herbivores can eat up to 300 pounds of seagrass a day, and many are beginning to starve from the lack of aquatic plants, further impacting this endangered species.
Collaborating with other rehabilitation facilities in Florida, our animal care experts at Disney provide ill and injured manatees with the stable, controlled environment they need to make a recovery and prepare for release. The manatees receive exceptional veterinary care including preventive health exams, a calorie-rich diet and around-the-clock monitoring to help them return to the wild when they are deemed fit. Once released, some manatees like Plantaina are assigned a satellite tracker that enables experts to continue to monitor the animal’s health, migration and socialization with other manatees. These satellite trackers are designed to break away if they become entangled to prioritize the health of the manatee.
Plantaina is one of six manatees to complete rehabilitation at Disney over the last year. To date, we have had the opportunity to assist in the successful rehabilitation and release of 25 Florida manatees. When in our care, manatees may receive up to 150 heads of romaine lettuce each day depending on their individual needs, along with the occasional treat of apples, carrots and sweet potatoes, to help them return to their natural weight before they are able to be released.
In addition to the releases, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided grants to more than 15 nonprofit organizations to better understand manatee populations, biology and habitat use, aid in the restoration of seagrass, and provide care for manatees. It is very rewarding to see these funds helping animals right here in our own backyard.
I am so proud to work with a team of animal care experts who are passionately committed to the protection of manatees and their natural habitats. With each successful release, we continue to work towards a brighter, more sustainable future where people, plants and animals all have a thriving place to call home.
11 – Celebrate Her Story at Disney Springs in March
March is Women’s History Month, and Disney Springs is celebrating. Disney Cast Member Sarah Domenech has all the details below.
At Walt Disney World Resort, women have been a driving force behind many of our most treasured theme park experiences. That’s why Women’s History Month is so important to us – it’s a time to honor women throughout history, share their stories and celebrate their achievements.
All month long, “Celebrate HER Story” will put the spotlight on cherished Disney character heroines and our talented female cast members who are making positive impacts. From engineers, magic makers, and chefs to talented female-led entertainment and unique offerings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
“Celebrate HER Story” is one of the ways Walt Disney World is reimagining tomorrow.
Art and Music
Throughout Walt Disney World Resort: Unique photo-silhouette backdrops are one of the ways we’re celebrating women. Showcasing strong female Disney characters, these fun photo locations can be found across property – from Disney Springs to more than 20 Disney Resort hotels. Find them, snap a selfie with your favorite heroine, and share on social media using the tag #CelebrateHERStory.
At Disney Springs: On Friday and Saturday evenings a female DJ will lead a Disney sing-along for families on the AdventHealth Waterside Stage. The playlist will feature songs by some of Disney’s most beloved and inspirational female characters. In addition, a variety of female performers will be featured most nights throughout the month of March.
At EPCOT: As part of this year’s Garden Rock Concerts Series at EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, several female artists will take the stage of the America Gardens Theatre. March performers include:
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- Skillzmatic – March 2, 3, 29, 30, 31
- Melina León – March 11,12
- CeCe Winans – March 13, 14
- Hello Sister – March 15, 16, 17
- Glass Ceiling – March 22, 23, 24
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Food and Beverage
At Magic Kingdom Park: All month long, special sweet offerings will pay tribute to female Disney Imagineers whose work has greatly influenced and impacted Walt Disney World Resort:
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- At Liberty Square Market, discover the Madame Leota Cupcake inspired by Leota Toombs: Chocolate-cherry cake filled with black cherry-lime cream finished with blackberry buttercream
- At Friar’s Nook, enjoy the “it’s a small world” Cupcake inspired by Mary Blair: Lemon funfetti cake, blue raspberry buttercream, and vanilla-lemon buttercream
- And, at select outdoor food and beverage carts on Main Street, U.S.A., you will find the Cinderella Castle Mosaic Cupcake inspired by Dorothea Redmond: Champagne-flavored cake filled with fresh raspberry champagne compote, finished with gold champagne buttercream, mosaic tile sprinkles and chocolate garnish
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At Select Disney Resort Hotels: Kicking off International Women’s Day on March 8 and continuing through the month, two Disney Resort hotels will offer specialties inspired by the women of the Disney animated feature, “Encanto.”
At Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, discover:
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- Chorizo Arepas: Cheese arepas topped with chorizo, red pepper and onion-egg scramble, arugula, and sliced avocado
- Mirabel Cupcake: Cinnamon cupcake filled with custard and topped with coconut buttercream, toasted coconut, and Mirabel-inspired fondant garnishes
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Also at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, you can enjoy:
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- Luisa Push-Up Cake Pop: Layers of vanilla cake and tres leches pastry cream topped with a doughnut hole ‘boulder’
- Encanto Cholado: Crushed ice topped with sliced fresh fruit, sweetened condensed milk and shredded coconut
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At Disney Springs: Select locations will showcase signature food and drinks.
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar will showcase inspired dishes created by female chefs:
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- Nona’s Home-Style Meatballs presented by Sous Chef Lori Tiritilli: Italian meatballs with Sunday gravy, basil pesto, and scratch-made lemon ricotta, grilled focaccia crostini, grated pecorino cheese
- Carne Frita con Tostones presented by Sous Chef Natalie Floyd: Crispy pork shoulder tostones, pickled onions, citrus aioli
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Tempt your sweet tooth by heading over to Amorette’s Patisserie to enjoy:
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- “The Passion of My Life” Dessert presented by Pastry Chef Yoly Lazo Colon: Pineapple, mango and toasted coconut mousse, coconut chiffon cake, white chocolate crisp pearls and infused passion fruit glacage
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Or, visit The Ganachery to discover a treat inspired by a fierce female Padawan:
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- Lady Tano Pop, a concept by Chocolatier Katie Dodge presented by Chef Chocolatier Amanda Lauder: Plant-based coconut and blueberry swirled ganache topped with dark 65% chocolate
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All month long, the Play Disney Parks App will feature a special “Women of Imagineering” trivia game highlighting current and former female Disney Imagineers and the incredible contributions they have made to The Walt Disney Company. The celebration even extends to Disney MobileMagic Service, where passes featuring exclusive new designs showcase favorite female characters like Edna Mode, Mrs. Incredible, Minnie Mouse and more. These special passes will be available throughout March.
At EPCOT: Explore two exhibits spotlighting female trailblazers:
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- “Rally of the Gazelles (Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc)” is an immersive vignette found in the Morocco pavilion. It highlights the country’s all-female off-road race, where navigation skills, determination and teamwork mean the difference between getting ahead and going off-course.
- “Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art” is an exhibit found in the American Adventure pavilion. It showcases authentic, historical Native artifacts alongside contemporary works of American Indian art, demonstrating examples of cultural traditions which have been handed down through generations. Among the featured artists with works on display are fashion designer Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo), noted doll-maker Glenda McKay (Ingalik-Athabascan) and Juanita Growing Thunder (Assiniboine Sioux) from the Growing Thunder family of Montana.
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12 – Sales Begin for New Disney Vacation Club Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney Vacation Club® announced that the new villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort will go on sale to members beginning March 3 and to the public on March 31. The expansion of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa includes 200 proposed resort studios, a Disney Vacation Club room type unique to this property. The Victorian charm and elegance of The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, along with resort access to the monorail, has long made this a favorite home away from home among Disney Vacation Club members.
The proposed new resort studio accommodations, which are expected to open in late June 2022, rise in 1890s Victorian splendor on Seven Seas Lagoon, a scenic stroll away from Magic Kingdom Park in the heart of Walt Disney World Resort.
In addition to the new accommodations, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa also feature elegant and newly enhanced deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and spacious three-bedroom grand villas.
“Disney Vacation Club is pleased to offer a diverse inventory of accommodations at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – a spectacular location cherished by our members and their families,” said Bill Diercksen, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Vacation Club and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii. “To add to the magic, this enhancement comes at a very special time, during the 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort.”
At The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney Vacation Club members can look forward to warm, personalized service, plenty of charm and relaxing vacations filled with many of the comforts of home. The villas include:
- New resort studios featuring two queen-sized beds and a day bed, quartz countertops, luxury patterned tile, a beverage center with beverage cooler and coffee maker, and a gleaming bathroom with marble tile floors.
- Refurbished deluxe studios accommodating up to five guests and featuring a queen-sized bed, a new pull-down queen-sized bed which tucks away seamlessly into the wall, and a charming pull-down bunk-sized bed perfect for the little ones.
- Refurbished and spacious one- and two-bedroom villas including a full kitchen and large living areas, which feature a new pull-down queen-sized bed along with a pull-down bunk-sized bed that folds away to be hidden beneath the media center. A one-bedroom villa sleeps up to five while the two-bedroom villa can accommodate up to nine guests.
- New design touches greeting families and multi-generational guests in the three-bedroom grand villas. Up to 12 people can be accommodated in luxurious surroundings, including two bedrooms with two queen-sized beds, each and a primary bedroom featuring a king-sized bed. A spacious dining area adjoins an expansive living room, featuring an additional queen-sized sleeper sofa.
Charming accents include Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Victorian-themed silhouettes and other artwork featuring Mary Poppins and Dumbo. Most accommodations feature a porch or balcony where guests can relax and take in the magical Disney scenery that surrounds them.
Today, there are a total of 15 Disney Vacation Club properties across four states, including Disney’s Riviera Resort, the newest Disney Vacation Club property at Walt Disney World Resort, and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii. For information about Disney Vacation Club membership, member benefits, offers and resorts, visit DisneyVacationClub.com.
For more information on The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian visit VillasatGrandFloridian.com. Disney Vacation Club members can enjoy an exclusive introductory offer. To learn more Disney Vacation Club, members may also call their Disney Vacation Club Guide.
What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort
The New Normal – Visiting Walt Disney World During the Current Covid Restrictions
Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane – New Planning Tools & Paid Access to Lighting Lane
Now Through Spring 2023 – The Most Magical Celebration – 50 Years of Walt Disney World
Now Through July 4, 2022 – EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
Click here for the menus to the Outdoor Kitchens at the 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
Click here for photos of the menu boards with pricing for easy planning!
New Openings at EPCOT – As Part of the Historic Transformation of EPCOT
Click here for what’s new and coming to EPCOT as the Historic Transformation Continues.
Click here for our review and what you need to know about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Now Open – Drawn to Life
Click here for our review of Drawn to Life the new Cirque du Soleil show now open at Disney Springs.
Coming Soon to Walt Disney World
What’s New & Coming Back to Walt Disney World in 2022!
Click here for the 15 things we’re looking forward to at Walt Disney World in 2022.
Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
The Disney Wish
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 Halloween and Holiday Themed Cruises in fall 2022.
Click here to learn about early 2023 itineraries on Disney Cruise Line
Click here for information on Pixar Day at Sea coming in early 2023!
Click here for information on Marvel Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line in 2023.
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.