This was written in 2013. Even more has changed since then!
Wondering what’s changed at Walt Disney World since 2009? That was the first trip we took and since then, there have been a ton of changes. Here’s what you can expect the next time you visit:
Magic Kingdom
- Snow White’s Scary Adventures has been replaced with Princess Fairytale Hall.
- Cinderella’s Golden Carousel was renamed Prince Charming Regal Carousel.
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is set to open in Fantasyland in 2014.
- Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid in Fantasyland is a new attraction.
- Be Our Guest is a new restaurant in Fantasyland.
- Gaston’s Tavern is a new snack and beverage restaurant in Fantasyland.
- Belle’s Enchanted Tales is a new interactive show with Belle in Fantasyland.
- The original Ariel’s Grotto with the splash pad was leveled and the new Ariel’s Grotto opened next to the new Ariel ride.
- Storytime with Belle was replaced with a Merida Meet and Greet.
- Mickey’s Toontown Fair was leveled to make way for the Fantasyland Expansion. Mickey and Minnie’s house and Donald’s Boat did not return with the opening of the new Storybook Circus.
- Goofy’s Barnstormer – Rethemed as The Great Goofini. The ride remained essentially the same.
- Dumbo was relocated to Storybook Circus and an additional set of Dumbo elephants was added. Now it has 2 sets of spinning Dumbos. There is also a new play area inside for kids. Fastpass is available or kids can play in the play area and parents will be given a beeper and can sit in the air conditioning until it is your turn to ride.
- Storybook Circus is build where Mickey’s Toontown Fair used to reside. It has the Great Goofini, the newly re-imagined Dumbo, Big Top Treats, Casey Jr Splash and Soak Station and Pete’s Silly Sideshow where you can meet Minnie, Daisy, Goofy and Donald in the air conditioning.
- Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) – Returned to the original version.
- Spectromagic was replaced with Main Street Electrical Parade.
- Haunted Mansion was updated with new affects at the end of the ride.
- Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game was launched in February of 2012.
- Mickey Mouse was moved to Town Square Theater. You can now get a Fastpass for your meet and greet time.
- Tinker Bell and friends were moved to Adventureland to Tinker Bell’s Magical Nook.
- Main Street Bakery was re-imagined and now serves Starbucks coffee.
- Celebrate the Magic show is a new addition to the evening entertainment.
- A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas game was launched in Adventureland in 2013.
- The tower from Tangled was built in Fantasyland and hosts bathrooms. The bathrooms beside Peter Pan’s Flight were closed.
- The playground near Winnie the Pooh was closed. The Winnie the Pooh queue has been reimagined and now has a play area and some interactive features.
Epcot
- Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure was replaced with Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure
- Honey I Shrunk the Audience – Replaced with Captain EO after Michael Jackson’s Deal
- Test Track was rethemed and the testing of vehicles was removed. Now you design your own futuristic vehicle and test it on the track.
- Fountain View was re-imagined and now serves Starbucks coffee.
- Innovetions is always changing.
- Segway Tour was cancelled.
- Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeriaopened in Italy Pavilion in 2010.
- Tutto Gusto opened in Italy. It is a wine cellar with a small-plate menu.
- Katsura Grill replaced Yakitori House in Japan in December of 2011.
- La Hacienda de San Angel and La Cantina de San Angel opened in 2010 in Mexico Pavilion.
- Monsieur Paul opened in France Pavilion.
- Duffy the Disney Bear now meets in Epcot.
Hollywood Studios
- Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian was replaced with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow
- Playhouse Disney: Live on Stage replaced with Disney Junior: Live on Stage.
- You can now meet Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Sofia from Sofia the First. This replaced the meet and greets with Handy Manny, Agent Oso and the Einstein characters.
- Phineas and Ferb now meet in Hollywood Studios.
- Wreck It Ralph now meets in the Animation Building. This replaced the Winnie the Pooh/Lotso meet and greet area. It seems that Disney changes this yearly and features characters from their big movie of the year.
- Star Tours was re-imagined with new tours and 3-D effects.
- Lightning McQueen replaced Herbie the Love Bug in Lights, Motors, Action!
- Sounds Dangerous was closed and the building was renamed ABC Sound Studio.
- High School Musical was replaced with Disney Channel Rocks.
- The daily parade was cancelled.
- The opening show was cancelled.
Animal Kingdom
- Introduced Wild Africa Trek.
- New Mickey and Minnie meet and greet location was opened at Adventurer’s Outpost. It is air conditioned.
- The closing show was cancelled.
- Avatar is coming to Animal Kingdom in 2015 and there will be lots more changes to come.
- The Kids Discovery Club was replaced with Wilderness Explorer. It features a lot more things for the kids to do.
Other Changes
- Art of Animation Resort opened. It is a value resort that features regular rooms and suites that sleep up to 6.
- Royal Guest Rooms were added to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside.
- A new Disney Vacation Club property is set to pen at the Grand Floridian.
- California Grill was re-imagined.
- FREE WiFi is now available in all the parks and resorts.
- Most turnstiles have been replaced with new RFID readers.
- Disney is getting ready to launch Fastpass+ and Magic Bands.
- The refillable mugs now have RFID chips that know how long your stay is good for.
- Best Friends Pet Care was re-imagined.
- A new 100 lane bowling center named Splitsville opened at Downtown Disney.
- AMC Dine-In Theaters opened in Downtown Disney in 2011.
- Apricot Lane Boutique opened in 2011.
- Pollo Campero replaced McDonalds.
- D Street opened in 2010.
- RIDEMAKERZ opened in Downtown Disney.
Learn more about the Walt Disney World Parks including attractions, secrets, tips and more. Plus my friends at Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect Walt Disney World vacation.
Emily says
Cool website with lots of cool facts and tips.