Walt Disney World Theme Parks
Magic Kingdom Park
New! Flag Flying at Half-Staff for U.S. Military Losses in Tennessee: The American flag at the Magic Kingdom will be flown at half-staff to honor the U.S. military members who lost their lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of the final military member’s date of interment.
New! MyMagic+ Service Center Closed July 21: The MyMagic+ service center located in Town Square Theater has closed. If you need assistance with your My Disney Experience accounts or FastPass+ selections, visit City Hall or the closest Disney FastPass+ kiosk.
Reminder! Adjusted times for Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party: Due to work on Main Street, U.S.A, Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! will be presented at 12:30 and 5:40 p.m. on July 22. Also during these dates, the Main Street Trolley Show will use the Main Street Fire Truck.
Epcot
New! Bookings for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Open July 30: Get ready to book your reservations when the phone lines open at 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 30: 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378). And while some favorites fill up fast, there are lots of new events to celebrate the festival’s 20 years at Walt Disney World Resort. Some events can be booked at epcotfoodfestival.com: culinary demos, beverage seminars, mixology seminars, general admission for Party for the Senses and general admission for the Rockin’ Burger Block Party. Check out all the events at the website, then get set to dial or book online!
New! “Colortopia” Exhibit Coming to Innoventions: Glidden will be a new Innovations presenter starting late fall 2015. The Colortopia exhibit who will encourage unique interactions through fun hands-on activities. Park visitors will be able to extend the Colortopia exhibit experience throughout Epcot and continue it in their own homes with a mobile application and website which will launch later this year.
Reminder! Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Under Way: Enjoy the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot through July 25. Every night, hear talented tribute bands bring top rock n’ roll hits to the America Gardens Theatre stage. Showtimes for the concert series are 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m., and on July 4, 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.
- Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles – July 19-25
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New! Ice Palace Boutique Opens July 26: The Ice Palace Boutique will join Frozen Summer Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting July 26. This winter-themed salon gives guests ages 3-12 a magical transformation in a flurry of “Frozen” fun. The Ice Palace Boutique will be located on Commissary Lane across from ABC Commissary in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In this location, guests can purchase select packages where families can also join in the “Frozen” fun. Additional party members can enjoy the exclusive Ice Palace Café, an immersive “Frozen”-themed café with included snacks while they wait for their Anna or Elsa to undergo the frosty makeover. The party will also get reserved seating at one show of “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” at Hyperion Theater. There are 3 different Anna or Elsa-inspired packages ranging from $75 to $240 per child. Plus, there’s an Olaf-inspired package for with a glitter hairstyle and tee shirt for $19.99.
Reminder! ‘Frozen Summer Fun’ Cupcakes Still Available: On Wednesday, June 17, Disney’s Hollywood Studios debuted three Frozen-themed specialty cupcakes! Anna’s cupcake is made out of chocolate buttercream, Elsa’s cupcake is made out of vanilla buttercream and Olaf’s cupcake is made out of carrot cake with cream cheese icing. These treats will be available at the following locations: ABC Commissary, FairFax Fare, Backlot Express, Studio Catering Co., Pizza Planet, Starring Rolls, Rosie’s All American Café, and The Trolley Car Café. The cupcakes are included in Disney Dining Plan, and all “Frozen” specialty cupcakes will be available through Sept. 7.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
New! Bats Back On Stage: The Bats on the Maharajah Jungle Trek are back onstage. These animals have recently been offstage while the exhibit was refurbished.
New! New Menu Items at Kiosks: Per the Disney Parks Blog: The newly revamped Gardens Kiosk, located on Discovery Island, features a Trek Power Salad with quinoa, beets, edamame and citrus as well as a Farmer’s Salad with blueberries, goat cheese and candied pecans. Both salads are eligible as a snack entitlement on the Disney Dining Plan. Also new to the menu is a chilled green tea infused with orange blossom honey, cucumber-mint-pomegranate lemonade, and raspberry lemonade sweetened with stevia. For a hearty snack, check out the baked lobster mac and cheese and baked pasta marinara with mozzarella at Beastly Kiosk. Both pasta dishes are packed with cheesy goodness and count as snack entitlements on the Disney Dining Plan. You’ll find Mr. Kamal’s while trekking between Africa and Asia, the vegan menu reflecting both cultures. Here, you’ll find samosas served with mango salsa, hummus served with vegetables and pita, and delicious falafel. Across the path at Bradley Falls, look for a new Asian beef slider, edamame, and Asian noodles.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
New! MagicBand Opt-Out Now Available: This week, new functionality appeared on Disneyworld.com which allows guests to opt-out of recieving new MagicBands for resort reservations. Guests may choose to opt-out (decline) MagicBands for resort reservations if they already have a MagicBand assigned to them in My Disney Experience and that band is less than one year old. Passholders will not be given this option.
New! Escape to Walt’s Wilderness Tour at Disney World Resorts: The new Escape to Walt’s Wilderness offers an off-the-beaten-path experience ideal for the whole family. The journey begins with a pontoon boat tour from Disney’s Contemporary Resort marina with a Disney guide who shares stories about Walt’s love of the outdoors and nature. He tells us we are about to “walk in Walt’s footsteps and see why he was determined to choose this place for his next Disneyland.” Next, guests explore Bay Lake and seek out Florida wildlife. Once the boat is beached, the group is welcomed by a giant bonfire and camp-style breakfast. Locally sourced citrus salad, egg frittata, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, granola, coffee and juice make for a nice feast. And marshmallows for roasting are not forgotten. Next, a pair of horses pulling a wagon transport guests to an archery lesson in a woodsy field at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The group will take a short hike in the woods past the train tracks from the former Fort Wilderness Railroad. Next stop is Tri-Circle-D Ranch where “ranch hands” will share stories about how horses have been incorporated into Disney theme parks since the very beginning of Disneyland. The program is typically offered two days a week from 8 a.m.– 1 p.m. on select days. The cost is $109, plus tax for ages 7 and older. Complimentary transportation to and from the experience is provided for guests staying at Disney owned and operated resort hotels.
New! East Pool Closed at Disney’s Polynesian Resort: The East Pool has recently closed in light of a new construction project. The pool is expected to reopen in early 2016. Some walkways near the construction may also be unavailable. Alternate paths will be clearly marked. Guests may enjoy the Lava Pool and Kiki Tikis Splash Play area as an alternative to the East Pool.
New! Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Refurbed This Fall: Crews are scheduled to continue enhancing accommodations at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas in phases through the fall, replacing bedding and draperies; reupholstering seating; updating tile backsplashes in kitchens; hanging new artwork; adding new bunk-size, pull-down beds; installing new laminate flooring and more.
Reminder! Wilderness Lodge Refurbishments: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will be undergoing multiple refurbishment projects through 2017. Work will begin in October, with the Hidden Springs leisure pool area, resort beach, playground and Recreation fire pit closing for renovation as early as Oct. 26. Guests with existing reservations between Oct. 26, 2015 and Jan. 31, 2016 will be proactively contacted and advised of the work taking place. As a follow-up to those conversations, Guests will also receive a pre-arrival letter.
Walt Disney World Resort – General
New! Starbucks Summer Products Launch July 23: The Starbucks locations around Walt Disney World will soon have their new summer drink available. The Mocha Coconut Frappuccino® will launch on July 23 for a limited time only.
New! United World Soccer Opens at Downtown Disney: United World Soccer at Downtown Disney celebrated the grand opening of its new store on the West Side. Growing from a kiosk into a new full-service store, United World Soccer features soccer gear for the entire family and carries a collection of soccer balls, footwear, accessories and more. Dedicated soccer fans can celebrate their team spirit by customizing jerseys from around the world with their favorite player’s name and number, while Lions fans can score a wide range of Orlando City Soccer Club gear. United World Soccer is located on the West Side between Sosa Family Cigars and Sunglass Icon, across from Food Trucks at Exposition Park in Downtown Disney.
Reminder! Package Storage Test at Downtown Disney: Now through Aug. 9, Downtown Disney will offer complimentary package storage, allowing Guests carrying large merchandise bags to continue their day at Downtown Disney hands-free. Greeters and Guest Relations Cast Members will assist Guests carrying large purchases, storing them at the Marketplace and West Side Guest Relations locations during regular operating hours. During this test, package storage will be available Fridays-Sundays from 2-6 p.m.
Merchandise Update
New! Experience Gentlemen Only by Givenchy: “Gentlemen Only is a fragrance designed for the modern gentlemen with a natural individualistic character and an effortless sense of style.” Guests who visit the Givenchy Boutique in Epcot July 22 – July 26 and purchase $100 or more of Givenchy merchandise will receive a Givenchy umbrella.
New! New Tower of Terror Merchandise In Stock: Check out some of the latest arrivals from the Hollywood Tower Hotel Authentic collection, which include a a luxurious black bathrobe, women’s shirt, a sweatshirt with an iconic front desk bell, and a Raglan T-shirt with a bellhop silhouette, a notepad and a nice packaged pen and a new open edition pin.
Merchandise Events
July 23 – 26: Meet artist William Silvers who will be on hand for a special appearance and signing of his newest releases from 1 – 9p.m., each day, at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Not able to make it? William will return for additional signing opportunities July 30 – August 1 from 12 Noon – 8 p.m., each day, at Main Street Cinema in Magic Kingdom Park.
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.
