Disney News | Sam’s Disney News | August 2021 | Sam’s Disney Diary

Disney News | Sam’s Disney News | August 2021 | Sam’s Disney Diary

What’s Happening at Walt Disney World?   Here is your update for August 2021!
What’s Happening at Walt Disney World?   Here is your update for August 2021!
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runDisney races will return to Walt Disney World Resort this fall, kicking off the runDisney 2021-2022 race season! The season will include four events:  Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon in November, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 2022, Disney Princess Half Marathon in February, and the runDisney Springtime Surprise in late March 2022. Visit rundisney.com for more.
The Time-honored flag retreat ceremonies returned to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, just in time for the 4th of July festivities. The flag retreat ceremony occurs daily at both iconic Disney parks, so please check with Guide for event timing
Disney News | Sam’s Disney News | August 2021 | Sam’s Disney Diary
Through August 12, the Disney Springs Flavors of Florida festival brings together over 30 restaurants and shops to celebrate the sunshine state. Disney shared a foodie guide that included Amorette’s Florida Sunset Éclair, Chef Art Smith’s Tender Fired gator bites, and Floradora cocktail. The city works pour hours has grouper tacos and a golden honey margarita.  The Coca-Cola rooftop bar has a Coca-Cola orange cream float, Everglazed donuts, and cold brew has a keyline pie donut.  How about Water Mellon Dole Whip, on a watermelon at marketplace snacks.  Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar has Florida shrimp tacos, with watermelon salsa. Morimoto Asia, Paddlefish, Paradiso 37, and Raglan road are all in on the festival.   And that’s just scratching the surface; check the Disney Parks Blog for more details.
In other foodie news, Disney Hollywood Studios expanded offerings at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, with new offerings at Docking Bay 7, including Batuuan beef & crispy stir fry, a roasted Endorian chicken salad, Hot Chicken Tip Yip, and Peka Tuna Poke.   And for dessert, check out the Outpost Puff.  A chocolate pastry filled with chocolate mousse and green milk sauce finished with Panna Cota and spiced pineapple.
Back on sunset blvd at Fairfax fare, some new over the top hot dogs have appeared including the Truffle Bacon Mac & Cheese Dog, Pretzel Dog, California BLTA Dog, and a Chicago “Hot Dog” salad.  And right next door at Hollywood scoops, check out the chocolate peanut butter explosion shake!!
The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has presented the Disney Vacation Club with its ACE Project of Excellence Award for Disney’s Riviera Resort. One of ARDA’s most prestigious recognitions, this award recognizes the highest levels of excellence in the resort industry, considering the resort’s design and day-to-day operations.
Expanded to 129 days this years, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, running NOW through November 20, features more than 20 festival-exclusive global marketplaces, with more coming later this fall.   This year seven new market places will premier, including the Noodle exchange with a traditional spicy Vietnamese beef pho and shrimp and coconut curry rice noodles with shiitake mushrooms.  The Refreshment Port near Canada will feature braised beef poutine and maple boursin cheesecake.  Canada will feature the famous Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup and Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with truffle-butter sauce.  Brazil will feature Brazilian Seafood stew and fantastic cheese bread.  The Donut Box near test track with the Candy jar donut, siracha glazed donut, the Crispy chicken donut, or take a box of four.   With Even more marketplaces coming October 1 including the Lobster Landing with lobster dips or lobster chowder. So much happening at the annual epcot food and wine festival, a Sam’s Disney News dedicated to the festival is on the way.
Disney News | Sam’s Disney News | August 2021 | Sam’s Disney Diary
The Avengers Quantum Encounter is coming to the Disney Wish, part of the World of Marvel on the latest Disney Cruise lines ship.   It’s more than a meal and more than a show: It’s something that has never been done before in a restaurant on land or at sea!
Speaking of the Disney wish, The Marceline Market is one of two quick-and-casual dining options. Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods will be the perfect place to grab a quick bite for lunch, dinner or anytime in between with Minnie’s ice cream, Daisy’s Pizza Pies, Mickey’s Smokestack BBQ, Donald’s Cantina and Goofy’s Grill, you’ll find something for everyone.
Alberta Falls, the proprietor of the Jungle Navigation Company Limited, is preparing for explorers at Disneyland Park and Walt Disney World.  Disney imaginers collaborated on this bicoastal project to create new characters who come from around the world, with an expanded storyline and some fun surprises for you to discover.   The enhancements include several new scenes and new characters from around the world – beginning with a trapped safari party that finds itself up a tree after their journey goes awry.
Behind the attraction premiered on Disney+, don’t miss our coverage of the event and press conference. https://youtu.be/Pi8FQ9zwx2g
At Animal Kingdom, a Baby Hippo and Gorilla were born just a day apart. You can spot the Gorilla on the Gorilla falls exploration trail, and the Hippo has joined the bloat in the Safi river on Kilimanjaro Safaris
More entertainment returns to Walt Disney World.  Wonderful world of animation returns to Hollywood Studios, and on August 15, Beauty and the Beast live on stage return, At magic kingdom monsters Inc. laugh floor returns August 8, and turtle talk with crush returns to epoch on august 21.
Walt Disney world shared a first look at the poster for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Opening in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will invite you into a new kind of “storyliving” as you travel the galaxy in a finely appointed starship the  Halcyon Starcruiser
Disney News | Sam’s Disney News | August 2021 | Sam’s Disney Diary
On August 5, the Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort opens as does Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort opens, and inside the Magic Kingdom, the Columbia harbor house reopens..
As we get closer to the 50th-anniversary celebration, we learned more about HarmonioUS. Epcot’s new nighttime spectacular will move through three distinct chapters, inviting us to gather, celebrate the world’s countries and cultures, and create a bright tomorrow. “Harmonious” begins with a sunrise, and as the world awakens around us, we set out on a journey that takes us across the globe. It’s a dazzling and diverse feast for the eyes and ears, from the South Pacific home of “Moana” and a Middle-Eastern interpretation of “Aladdin” to “The Jungle Book” in India, China’s legend of “Mulan,” the European nations that inspired “Brave” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and so much more.

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Sam’s Disney News July 2021

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

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