DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Fan-Favorite Buffet Coming Back; Huge Summer Crowds Force Park Hours Extensions; Animal Kingdom Character News; Harmonious Live Steam; Special 4th of July Entertainment & More
This week in Disney news we have lots of food updates including the return of a very popular character buffet along with a bunch of other food news. Fans of Disney fireworks and nighttime spectacular got some good news this week as well. All this and more below in this week’s news roundup.
1 – Fan-Favorite Buffet Coming Back & More Foodie News at Disney Parks
One of our favorite spots to pig out in the parks and meet characters will once again be offering a buffet for its meals later this summer. Plus, there’s a ton of other food news and great menu updates happening at across the Disney Parks. Learn more at the link below.
Click here for full details on all this week’s foodie news from Disney Parks.
2 – July Park Hours Update – Walt Disney World as Crowded as Ever – All Parks See More Hours Added
With massive crowds continuing to descend upon Disney World this summer, Disney has extended park hours again for all of its four theme parks in July. This is the second time summer hours have been extended this year indicating a very busy summer season.
- Hollywood Studios will be open from 8:30 am – 9:00 pm with Early Entry for resort guests at 8:00 am from July 3-30.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 8:00 am but will stay open for another hour until 8:00 pm from July 10-30.
- Magic Kingdom will open at 9:00 am daily during the month of July. However, it will now close at 11:00 pm (an hour later) on July 5-18, 20-25, and 27-30. It will close at 10:00 pm on July 19, 21, and 26.
- EPCOT will now open at 8:30 am – 9:00 pm with Early Entry for resort guests at 8:00 am from July 3-30.
3 – Mickey and Minnie Return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to the Adventurers Outpost
This week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Mickey and Minnie returned to the Adventurers Outpost. While scheduled to reopen on June 19, they returned a few days early for a soft opening. The app had said that “favorite Disney pals” would return, and we’re very glad that it is Mickey and Minnie back together again. This greeting location is the only place to greet Mickey and Minnie together. The attraction is also now included with Disney Genie+.
4 – Special Harmonious Livestream from EPCOT Coming to Disney+
A special livestream of “Harmonious” is coming to Disney+ this June! Learn more at the link below.
Click here for details on a special livestream of “Harmonious” coming to Disney+.
5 – July 4th Fireworks Returning to EPCOT and Magic Kingdom
We’re happy to report that the 4th of July fireworks are returning to EPCOT and Magic Kingdom this year after a two-year absence. Catch all the details at the link below.
Click here for details on the July 4 fireworks shows at EPCOT and Magic Kingdom.
6 – Marvel’s Newest Hero Joins the Avengers in Spectacular Battle Aboard the Disney Wish
Fans of Ms. Marvel will soon be able to see their new hero. Disney Cast Member Danny Handke shares more below:
With less than two weeks until the incredible debut and christening of our newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish, I am thrilled to share a cosmic new detail about one of my favorite experiences on board …
Actress Iman Vellani — who stars as Ms. Marvel, the newest Super Hero to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in a new series on Disney+ — is joining the star-studded line-up in “Avengers: Quantum Encounter,” an all-new interactive show premiering exclusively at Worlds of Marvel restaurant on board the Disney Wish!
She joins other world-renowned Marvel actors in this first-of-its-kind cinematic dining adventure, including Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as The Wasp, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, and Brie Larson as Captain Marvel.
“Avengers: Quantum Encounter” is Disney Cruise Line’s most ambitious dining experience ever. It’s like dining inside an epic Marvel movie! Throughout dinner, guests take part in a hands-on demonstration of the latest and greatest Pym Tech, the Quantum Core, hosted by Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne (Ant-Man and The Wasp). But this tech is so advanced that it attracts a very unwelcome visitor to the Disney Wish: Ultron, voiced by actor Ross Marquand, eager to get his hands on this powerful quantum technology.
Captain America and Captain Marvel arrive just in time to take on an army of Ultron’s sentries in an Avengers-level battle on the upper decks of the ship. With them is hero-in-training Ms. Marvel, who puts her cosmic powers to the test alongside some of her favorite Avengers … while totally fangirling the whole time.
We are so excited to be the first Disney vacation experience to feature Iman Vellani in this groundbreaking role. Ms. Marvel adds even more humor, heart and heroics to our already action-packed show, and we can’t wait for guests to experience it for themselves in just a few short weeks when the Disney Wish officially sets sail!
Follow @DisneyParks and @DisneyCrusieLine on social media for more sneak peeks, and don’t forget to tune into the livestream of our spectacular christening event on June 29 at 11 a.m. ET on the Disney Parks Blog.
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 Open – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Now Through Spring 2023 – The Most Magical Celebration – 50 Years of Walt Disney World
Click here for Disney World 50th Anniversary Merchandise – What’s New & What You Need to Know
Now Through August 28, 2022, on Select Nights – Disney H2O Glow After Hours
Click here for our review of H2O Glow After Hours and Why You Don’t Want to Miss It!
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!
Click here for photos of all of the topiaries at the 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival!
Click here for photos of the 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden merchandise!
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
July 14-November 19, 2022 – 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Click here for dates and details of the 2022 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival.
August 12-October 31, Select Nights – Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom
Click here for details on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party returning in 2022.
Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
The Disney Wish
Click here for more information on new dining experiences on the Disney Wish.
Click here for — Disney Cruise Line Reveals New Indulgences for Adults Aboard the Disney Wish
Itineraries in 2022 and 2023
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.
Click here for information about Disney Cruise Line’s Summer 2023 Itineraries.
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