News

Sam’s Disney News July 2021

What’s Happening at Walt Disney World?   Here is your update for July 2021!
Fireworks are Back!!!   Both Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Epcot have restored the nighttime fireworks, with Happily Ever After returning to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot forever returning to Walt Disney World Epcot!  Covid-19 social distancing precautions have been relaxed, with attractions returning to full capacity – and Pre-Shows returning. Including Dinosaur, Mickey, and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, The Haunted Mansion and more! 
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Sam’s Disney News July 2021
Fireworks are Back!!!   Both Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Epcot have restored the nighttime fireworks, with Happily Ever After returning to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot forever returning to Walt Disney World Epcot!  Covid-19 social distancing precautions have been relaxed, with attractions returning to full capacity – and Pre-Shows returning. Including Dinosaur, Mickey, and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, The Haunted Mansion and more!    In California, Mickey’s Mix Magic returns to Disneyland to light up the night, celebrating Mickey and Minnie.
Additional dining offerings have opened at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It’s a long list at Disneyland, including Tiki Juice Bar, Alien Pizza Planet, Ogas Cantina, Docking Bay 7,  The hungry Bear, Refreshment Corner, Corn Dog Castle, and Trader Sams at the Disneyland Hotel.  Disney World Offerings include Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean beach, Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village, The Tusker House at Animal Kingdom, and the New BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop on the boardwalk.  Starting July 15th, guests can dine “underneath the lovely London Sky” in the newly reimagined Citricos at Disney Grand Floridian  Resort & Spa. The garden setting, inspired by Mary Poppins Returns, will be surrounded by the glow of decorative lamps and chandeliers.  Booking is available NOW! Trail’s end is reopening at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, and at Magic Kingdom, Casey’s Corner and the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor are set to open on July 7.  Along with Dino Diner and Eight Spoon Café at Animal Kingdom.  Disney Springs also announced that Salt & Straw, a popular location at Downtown Disney in California, is coming to Disney Springs next year.  Stay Tuned for more on that.
Sam’s Disney News July 2021
Disney announced additional details for the World’s Most Magical Celebration. The 18-month long event Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort starts on October, 1 2021. “Disney Enchantment,” a new nighttime spectacular, will kick off the celebration at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, Taking us on an adventure of wonder and empowerment, inspiring everyone to believe in magic.  The new show will bring immersive projections effects that extend from cinderellas castle down Mainstreet USA.  Over at Epcot, HarmonioUS will take center stage, the largest nighttime speculator ever created for a Disney park.  The show will bring the globe together at World Showcase Lagoon with a celebration of Disney Music.  A tribute to the stories and songs that unite us, embracing new technical magic that incorporates pyrotechnics, choreographed moving fountains, lighting and media in new ways. “HarmonioUS” will invite you to travel the globe through new interpretations of classic Disney songs as you’ve never heard them before, reimagined in more than a dozen languages by a diverse group of 240 artists from around the world.
October, 1st will also see new daytime entertainment at Animal Kingdom. “Disney KiteTails,” at the Discovery River Amphitheater.  Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, with elaborate three-dimensional kites along the water depicting Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie.  The Kites will dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family.
Sam’s Disney News July 2021
Mickey and Minnie, our hosts for the 50th Anniversary celebratioin, will be joined by their pals Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, along with Chip ‘n’ Dale, all sporting their own custom-made EARidescent looks beginning October 1.  They will also be taking part in an all new “Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade” several times a day.
The celebration will also feature Disney Fab 50, 50 characters sculptures that will be displayed across all four theme parks along with surprising ways you’ll be able to interact with these beautiful sculptures as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
The end of the 2021 Epcot Flower and Garden festival, July 7, brings the opening of the 2021 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival just a few days later.  Beginning July 15 and lasting a incredible 129 days.  The Food and Wine Festival will feature Global Marketplaces with international flavors, including dishes from Hawai’i, Australia, Germany, Canada and Greece, along with some new spicy, savory and sweet plates.  Additional marketplaces will be added to Morocco and the American Adventure in July with even more added this Fall.
Over at the Magic Kingdom, Un Poco Loco a new musical number based on Disney and Pixar’s Coco will be added the Mickey’s Philharmagic.  The new addition will make its debut at Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Paris on July 17.  The new scene will be part of the 50th anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World.
Sam’s Disney News July 2021
We got a first look at the redesigned guest rooms at Disney’s Contempary Resort. All nine floors in the main building are being refurbished with a “dash” of the incrediables.  The new rooms blend a monorail motif with some favorite characters from the Incredibles, including Jack-Jack, Frozone, and Edna Mode. The resort’s lobby restaurant, The Wave… of American Flavors, is also scheduled to be refurbished before the 50th anniversary.  While Disney hasn’t confirmed anything just yet, it feels like the perfect place for an “Incrediable Steakhouse”
A new Baby Giraffe joins last month’s baby zebra on the Killamingello Safair over at Animal Kingdom.
Not to be left out, Disney Cruise Lines announced more Holiday Cheer than ever coming in the Fall of 2022.  The all-new “Halloween on the High Seas” and the “Very Merrytime Cruise” along with the first fall sailing on the all-new Disney-wish.
If you’re an attraction fan like me, don’t miss the premier of the New Original Disney+ Series Behind the Attraction.  The 10 part series dives into the amazing history of our favorate Disney attractions with never before seen footage and photographs directly form the Disney archives, including interviews with Walt.  Speaking of imagination, this month Disney introduced the Disney Imagination Campus designed to inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and doers  for more details visit disneycampus.com
Oh and Happy Birthday Donald Duck!!!  Who celebrated his 86th birthday with Make-A-wish Kid Sasha – You’re the best, Donald.
All that and more, this time on Sam’s Disney News