Okay, Disney World. We Need Answers!
We have a lot of questions for Disney World right now.
Mickey Mouse
With potentially delayed attractions, health modifications, and mystery projects; a lot of things are BIG mysteries in the Most Magical Place on Earth. Well, Disney, we need answers to these HUGE questions!
When is entertainment coming back fully?
Since the reopening of Disney World, we’ve been missing character meet and greets, stage shows, and streetmosphere entertainment. In fact, there were even significant lay-offs when it comes to the Disney entertainment cast.
Festival of the Lion King
We’ve seen Character Cavalcades and distanced character encounters, and Disney has even announced the modified return of the Festival of the Lion King show. But we would LOVE a timeline on the full return of entertainment — when and if it happens. We’d love to see a lot of our favorite shows and performers back in the parks, but understand the timing to safely do so is in Disney’s hands.
Click here to learn more about the return of Festival of the Lion King!
When will Harmonious debut and other fireworks and parades return?
Other big offerings that have been temporarily unavailable are firework nighttime spectaculars and parades. Character Cavalcades do help to fill the parade void, but we’re certainly missing largescale, tear-jerker shows. Plus, when will we see EPCOT’s NEW show, Harmonious, debut?
Harmonious Concept Art
We’ve seen pretty much no activity when it comes to the full return of parades. As for fireworks, testing has occurred a few times in both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT and limited projections have been used in several parks. Plus, it seems like Harmonious is closer to completion every day. But WHEN will we get to see these spectacles again?
Want to learn more about fireworks testing in Disney World? Click here!
Are FastPasses returning?
This next one is a BIG question for many. Disney paused the use of the FastPass+ system (which allows guests to essentially skip certain stand-by lines by pre-booking three FastPasses per day) when the parks reopened.
Jungle Cruise FastPass Entrance
Now, it’s been over a year since we used a FastPass in the Disney World parks. Could Disney be leaving the service behind for good? Such a major pause would certainly give them room to rework the system — and it wouldn’t be the first time this system has gotten an overhaul. Remember (or maybe not!) when paper FastPasses were distributed by kiosks at each ride? Yeah, that wasn’t too long ago! So it’s possible the FastPass+ we’ve known pre-closure could be modified as well when it returns. And if it is coming back, when? All of this is up in the air and we need the answers!
To learn what we know about Fastpass+ currently, click here!
Will the Disney Dining Plan return?
Similar to the FastPass+ question, the Disney Dining Plan has been a mystery as well. The option was suspended with the reopening of the parks and has yet to return, despite the reminder of the Disney Dining Plan logo seen on new menus since the parks reopened.
Disney Dining Plan Shirt
When will we be able to opt into the Dining Plan option to help with our meal budgeting? Will we even be able to again? We suspect the reason we still haven’t heard much about the Dining Plan is simply that restaurants are still at limited capacity and some are still closed. This means fewer guests can be accommodated, possibly limiting the value of the plan for some guests at this time. And what about the amazing special offers — like the Disney World Free Dining offer where you eat FREE?
Click here to learn more about the potential for a Free Dining offer this year!
Will we get Disney holiday parties this year?
Halloween and Christmas of 2020 didn’t come with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, respectively. But will these parties return in 2021?
Halloween in Magic Kingdom
We haven’t heard! In ‘normal” years, we get information about Mickey’s Not So Scary in mid-February and it’s mid-April without even a whisper. It’s possible that Disney is holding off until they know more about health concerns later in the year, but we’re SO curious as to whether after-hour parties will return! Remember, a huge highlight of these events is even MORE limited capacity and exclusive fireworks and parades. If all of those aren’t able to happen, that makes throwing successful ticketed parties challenging.
Want to know more about whether or not Mickey’s Not So Scary will return? Click here!
When can we buy Annual Passes again?
Yet ANOTHER suspended offering are new Annual Pass sales. Disney paused the sale of Annual Passes when the parks reopened. Existing Annual Passholders have been able to renew, but those who don’t already have a Pass have been out of luck.
Annual Passholder Pop-Up Shop
We’ve seen no indication as to whether Annual Pass sales will return anytime soon. And Disneyland got rid of its Annual Passholder program completely! Disney seems to be focusing on regular ticket sales, which in the long run is likely more profitable for them right now than selling passes again. So we’re wondering, Disney, when will we be able to snag Annual Passes again?
To learn more about why Annual Passes aren’t on sale, click here!
What’s going on with the Peoplemover?
Alright, now one big question we have that doesn’t have much to do with the Disney World closure at all. It’s been over a year since we were able to cruise through Tomorrowland on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. The iconic attraction has been closed for refurbishment for a looooong time.
PeopleMover
Recently, we’ve spotted more and more testing on the attraction, but its reopening keeps getting delayed. So, Disney, what’s going on with the PeopleMover?!
Click here to see what’s going on with the PeopleMover!
Is Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge still happening?
A few years ago, Disney announced a brand-new Disney Vacation Club resort hotel with Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge on the site of the former River Country water park. Construction suddenly paused with the halt on work during the closures, and there have been signs that it’s been stopped altogether.
Reflections Concept Art © Disney
Still, we’ve reached out to Cast Members who have confirmed that there have been no updates from Disney on the status of this hotel, meaning it’s not officially canceled. So, will we be staying in a brand-new Disney resort? Or has Reflections been scrapped completely?
Want to learn more about the status of Reflections? Click here!
Will Space 220 EVER open?
Alright, this one has been driving us absolutely bonkers for the last few years. Yes, YEARS. Space 220, a space-themed restaurant coming to EPCOT, was announced way back in 2017 and has been delayed over and over again ever since.
Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney
We don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we STILL don’t have a Space 220 opening date. When will we be eating in space? Due to the secluded nature of the location adjacent to Mission:SPACE, we haven’t seen much of anything happening (well, we did see some lights on outside. Oooooo, exciting! 
). We just want to know what’s going on with this looooooong anticipated spot!
To check out more info on the status of Space 220, click here!
When will all the hotels be reopened?
Slowly but surely more and more Disney World Resort hotels are reopening, but many of our favorites remain closed. Of course, their reopening depends on staffing and demand — but we’d REALLY love an idea of when they’ll all be open again.
Remember the Good Ol’ Days When Port Orleans Riverside Was Open?
Currently, we have the reopening dates for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort this summer.But a number of other hotels — lookin’ at you, Port Orleans, BoardWalk Inn, and All-Star Sports and Music, have been noticeably quiet.
Click here for an updated list of ALL the open and closed Disney World Resort hotels!
Are Disney Park Passes here to stay?
The Disney Park Pass theme park reservation system has certainly served an important function as Disney World remains at limited capacity. Currently, though, these reservations are available into 2022!
Partners Statue
Will they stick around permanently? Disney executives haven’t said how long the reservation system might be in use, but they have mentioned that social distancing and capacity limits may be greatly reduced next year — even as the Disney Park Passes stick around.
Want to learn more about the Disney Park Pass system? Click here!
When will MAJOR ride refurbishments happen (Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, Spaceship Earth)?
Disney has announced several major refurbishments in the past year, most notably on the Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom. Plus, the refurbishment on Spaceship Earth in EPCOT has been delayed indefinitely.
Concept Art ©Disney
We know some about these refurbishments from a design perspective, but we’ve got very little information on when they’ll occur. At least with the Jungle Cruise, we know they’re aiming to complete work this year and we’ve seen permits filed for the attraction. We know the ride will remain operational while scenes are updated. We even spotted our favorite “head” salesman, Trader Sam, removed from the ride recently. But what about the other attractions?
To learn more about the Jungle Cruise work, click here!
All in all, the last year has been a weird one and it can feel like we’ve been left with more questions than answers. As we learn more, we’ll be keeping you in the loop on ALL of these big questions. So, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates!
Click here to learn more about entertainment suspensions due to the park closures.
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs!With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!
What big questions do YOU have? Tell us in the comments!
The post Okay, Disney World. We Need Answers! first appeared on the disney food blog.
from the disney food blog https://ift.tt/3agH2QR
Post a Comment