Couponing to Disney

There are new things popping up every day at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Join us every week to read about “What’s New” in Walt Disney World! This week features a new after-hours event at Epcot, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train news, Polynesian Construction update and Easter activities.

New! Epcot After Hours Wind Down Events: You are invited to relax, unwind and enjoy exclusive access to one of four favorite lounges around World Showcase during the new Epcot After Hours Wind Down, beginning April 17 through Sept. 15. This celebration takes place Thursday through Sunday evenings beginning after IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and continuing until 11 p.m. Following IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, take your pick from four select locations and enjoy cuisine created from award winning Epcot Chefs and Sommeliers. Tickets can be reserved for the Epcot After Hours Wind Down in advance for one of the following locations around World Showcase:
▪ La Cava del Tequila – Mexico
▪ Rose & Crown Pub – United Kingdom
▪ Spice Road Table – Morocco
▪ Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar – Italy

New! Seven Dwarfs Mine Train News: On April 12, 2014, vehicles were spotted on the tracks in test runs of The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Disney has described this attraction as having an innovative new ride system that causes cars to swing back and forth while they travel down the track. In most cases, the construction walls have already been removed, but the scene of the vehicles going up a lift is taken from a distance and viewed over the walls on the Tomorrowland Speedway side of the mountain. The official dedication of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is scheduled for May 2. We hope to see soft openings very soon!

New! Voices of Liberty Sing New Tunes: Voices of Liberty, the amazing a capella group performing at The American Adventure pavilion at Epcot, occasionally expanded their repertoire of treasured favorites from the American songbook with new tunes. Recently, the group has added arrangements of four new songs to the lineup. Two of the new songs, Josh Groban’s inspirational “You Raise Me Up” and Academy Award winner “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen, were debuted in March when Voices of Liberty performed at the Disney Grants presentation for the Central Florida community. The other new tunes are “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

New! Peter Pan and Wendy’s Temporary Meet and Greet Location: April 12-20, Peter Pan and Wendy will be meeting Guests near the Adventureland bridge. On April 21, they will return back to their usual meeting spot in Fantasyland.

New! Pin Trading Night at ESPN Wide World of Sports: Calling all Traders! Join us for a Frozen evening of pin trading at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex this Tuesday, April 22, from 6-9 p.m. The event will take place in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill and adjacent lobby area. Space will be extremely limited at this event so it is asked that our traders please limit the amount of items they bring. Come meet avid and novice traders, make friends and share stories about your collections!

New! Animal Kingdom Annual Party for the Planet April 22: With April being Earth month, it’s a special time for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Throughout the month, the park will be celebrating with special merchandise and events in the park. Guests can find out what they can do to make their backyards wildlife friendly and discover other ways to connect with, and conserve, wildlife in nature. Though some offerings have started, the event culminates on April 22 with our annual Party for the Planet Activities at Rafiki’s Planet Watch. The party starts in the main entrance, where Guests can pick up a special Party for the Planet postcard and stop by a display of wildlife friendly backyard habitats. The fun continues on to Rafiki’s Planet Watch where families can play interactive games, do special activities, and learn how their purchases can make a big difference for wildlife and wild places. Guests can also talk to Cast Members who have worked on conservation projects around the world. Special activities and merchandise will be sticking around Animal Kingdom longer to celebrate Earth Day. Through April 26, face painters and caricature artists will be extending into Rafiki’s Planet Watch from park open close. These Operating Participants will be featuring bearthemed designs in celebration of Disneynature’s “Bears”. April 21 – 23, vendors will be positioned throughout the park selling “green” merchandise. Two special plush will be sold throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom with proceeds going to the National Park Foundation through Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund. One dollar from each sale of the Safari costumed Duffy the Disney Bear and Amber from Disneynature’s “Bears” will be donated to the National Park Foundation.

New! Visit VISION House at Innoventions to Help Environment: On Earth Day, April 22, VISION House is the place to be! This 5-7 minute Earth Day activity at VISION House encourages Guests ages 6-10 to learn about environmentally friendly products to help save the environment and wildlife. This great activity helps kids realize small choices can help the environment. Learn how to be a “smart” shopper when it comes to protecting the environment and wildlife. The Green Shopping Spree activity will run from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. with the last activity beginning at 3:30 p.m. Just by visiting VISION House in Innoventions East,
Guests can plant a tree! April 2026,  Green Builder Media will donate $1 for every Guest who visits the VISION House exhibit to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to plant a tree.

New! Celebrate Earth Day at The Seas with Nemo and Friends: At Epcot, Earth Day will be celebrated at The Seas with Nemo & Friends, where children can find out (by trying it!) how turtle excluder devices protect sea turtles, and learn about conservation efforts to protect coral reefs, manatees, sharks and the many other amazing creatures that inhabit our oceans.

New! “Maleficent” Sneak Peek Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios April 18, 2014: The thrilling final trailer for “Maleficent” has just been released, and starting April 18, 2014 a special extended sneak peek will be playing daily at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the ABC Sound Studio through mid June.

New! Kona Island Sushi Bar New Menu Options: The little Kona Island sushi bar in the upstairs lobby of Disney’s Polynesian Resort is now an extension of the restaurant, and the sushi is crafted in the dining room in the former dessert show kitchen, giving chefs plenty of room to create specialties from sashimi and simple rolls to more elaborate combos. If you enjoyed the Kona Island sushi bar before, you can still grab a seat there, no reservations required, and the entire restaurant menu is also now available. But now you can start with a little sake and more than a dozen choices on the sushi menu.

Reminder! Magic Kingdom to Easter Enhancements: From April 13 through April 20, the Magic Kingdom will have Easter activities, mainly an opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny. In recent years, both Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny will be available daily at Bunny Lane Garden (between City Hall and Chamber of Commerce) to meet & greet with guests. PhotoPass photographers are expected to be on hand to take pictures. In addition, Mr. Bunny will also make a special preparade appearance on April 19 and 20, along with other springtime characters and dancers, and the Azalea Trail Maids. Also, to accommodate peak attendance, from April 13-19, the ‘Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade’ will step off twice daily at Noon and 3:30 p.m. The Main Street Trolley Show performers will be sporting their spring attire, singing and dancing as they welcome Guests to the most magical place on earth!

Reminder! Anna and Elsa from ‘Frozen’ Heading to Magic Kingdom Park: We’re excited to share that Anna and Elsa, from Disney’s Academy Award winning film “Frozen,” will soon move from Epcot to Magic Kingdom Park. Starting April 20, they’ll join some of their fellow Disney Royals at Princess Fairytale Hall, where Disney FastPass+ service will be available for this character greeting experience.

Reminder! Participate in a Special Muppet Mission in Epcot World Showcase: You are invited to take part in a Muppet scavenger hunt to celebrate the new film, “Muppets Most Wanted,” in theaters now. In the Great Constantine Caper, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel World Showcase in search of Muppets related items to track down and capture the evil villain from the film, Constantine. The journey starts at Showcase Plaza, where you can pickup a clue packet (great, free souvenir!) and begin your trip through two separate missions: one through German and Italy, concluding in the America
Adventure pavilion, or the other through the United Kingdom, France, and concluding in the American Adventure pavilion. Find fun gags typical of the Muppets and capture Constantine before being inducted as an official agent of the Muppet Bureau of Investigation (MBI).

Reminder: Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Continues: This fantastic and colorful festival continues. Here are some of the highlights this week: Flower Power Concert Series performances by The Grass Roots April 18-20 at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 pm.; Designers’ Stage weekdays, noon and 3 pm will host Janit Calvo, Gardening in Miniature Small trees and plants that work (12 p.m.) Gardening in Miniature How to build a garden that lasts (3 p.m.) April 15-17; and Designers’ Stage Presented by HGTV Friday-Sunday, noon and 3 pm will host John Gidding, Curb Appeal April 18-20. Numerous presentations take place daily through the day during the entire festival which runs through May 18.

Reminder / Update! Polynesian Construction & Refurbishment Schedule: Disney’s Polynesian Resort has many areas currently under refurbishment including the parking lot, the Great Ceremonial Hall, Sunset Pointe, The Never Land Club, portions of the beach and Capt. Cook’s. On March 31, Moana Mickey’s Arcade permanently closed. On April 9, Capt. Cook’s temporarily relocated to a location formerly used for cast dining. The entrance is located under the stairwell below ‘Ohana. The temporary location will have modified operating hours and menu item. There will be no Dole Whip soft serve machine at the temporary location. The newly refurbished Capt. Cook’s location is expected to reopen this summer. On the beach area, you can see new DVC overwater bungalows being constructed. No completion date has been announced yet.

Update! Castle Painting Complete: Back in January, we informed you Cinderella’s Castle would have a crane in view through the end of March for removal of the Dream Lights as well as routine painting. Painting was taking place on the castle turrets from mid March through early April, which included a “new” silver color. There was some concern among fans if this silver color is a permanent change, but it was more or less a “primer.” The turrets have all returned to their usual blue hue and the fresh paint looks great!

Update! Changes in Progress Around Iconic Magic Kingdom “Hub”: According to the Disney Parks Blog, “We’re adding several new elements to the area, including sculpted gardens, additional pathways, expanded restaurant seating and even a special viewing area for fireworks and other performances.” Other enhancements will include new trees and more landscaping in the Central Plaza area. To make it easier to move around, two additional pathways will be built around the plaza. Also, seating outside of Casey’s Corner and The Plaza restaurant will nearly double in size. This multiphase enhancement project has already begun and it’ll be completed in 2015. Casey’s Corner seating has already been increased. The castle moats were drained in preparation for construction but they have been refilled with dyed bluegreen waters. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe’s formerly outdoor seating is now enclosed and Swan Boat Landing has been removed. Also, The Hub popcorn cart has been relocated near the entrance of Adventureland while work takes place.

New! Merchandise Events:
▪ Now – May 18: Representatives from Rinse Bath and Body Co. will be on hand throughout the day to
help you select the product that is right for your skin. My favorite? Definitely, the lip balms. You should
check them out, they’re amazing!
▪ April 7 – 20: Renowned artist David E. Doss will be appearing daily on the promenade around World
Showcase in Epcot. Stop in and find a new piece of art to add to your collection! Learn more.
▪ April 21 – May 4: Meet representatives from Kumquat Growers and Tropical Blossom Honey Co. who
will be on hand from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., each day on the promenade around World Showcase in
Epcot.

Written by Lori Wall:  Lori is a lifelong fan and visitor of Walt Disney World! Her love of Disney World has grown through visits with her own family as well as through planning magical vacations for others! Lori is an expert in maximizing vacations while sticking to a travel budget. Contact her about saving an extra 5% off your Disney vacation with an insider tip!  Book your vacation with Lori at (845) 698- 0102 or request a price online.