April 3, 2017

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Magic Kingdom Park

New! Happily Ever After Coming to Magic Kingdom: In just about six weeks, the new nighttime fireworks spectacular “Happily Ever After” will replace Wishes Nighttime Spectacular at Magic Kingdom Park. Disney Parks Blog shared a behind the scenes video with a sneak peek at the new show.

(Video: Disney Parks Blog)

Epcot

Reminder! Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Continues: The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is an annual spring event taking place from March 1 to May 29, 2017 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The festival features an irresistible array of new gardens and character topiaries, popular entertainers and tasty food and drink offerings. Fresh, farm-market food and beverage flavors will debut at the new Northern Bloom and The Berry Basket Outdoor Kitchens that will join 13 returning Outdoor Kitchens. The new generation of princess topiaries (Snow White, Anna and Elsa – the first to be designed and created with topiary facial features) will welcome a brand-new Belle topiary. This year’s Epcot front-entrance topiary garden, “Welcome Spring Fun, Food and Flowers,” inspired by a vintage Walt Disney short film will spring to life with a floral-festooned maypole featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy and Pluto. The popular Garden Rocks concert takes place four days each week, with three concerts each Friday through Monday presenting pop musicians that span multiple genres over five decades. Redesigned interactive play gardens will include the new “Cars”-themed Road to Florida 500 garden introducing the new “Cruz” character topiary from the June

2017 release of Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3.” Music Garden Melodies play area will return with a new garden design, musical note topiary elements and climbing nets. The Festival Center will showcase an entertaining mix of gardening seminars and DIY workshops.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

New! ‘The Music of Pixar Live!’ Will Debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios This Summer: This summer, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will present “The Music of Pixar LIVE! A Symphony of Characters.” This limited-time concert event will showcase memorable music from Pixar Animation Studios films, complete with a live orchestra and appearances by beloved Disney•Pixar characters Starting May 26, “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” will be presented three times nightly at Theater of the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (following the regular daily performances of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage”). The show will also feature highlights from some of Pixar’s greatest scores, from films like “Toy Story” to “Cars 3.” Guests can also expect appearances by Woody, Jessie, Mike and Sulley, the Incredibles and more.

(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)

New! Beauty and the Beast Preview Extended: The sneak preview of the "Beauty and the Beast" live-action film at One Man’s Dream has been extended until April 2.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

New! FastPass+ for Pandora – The World of Avatar Open to Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Guests, Special Extra Magic Hours to be Offered: FastPass+ reservations are now open to experience the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on May 27 for guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Guests at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can reserve FastPass+ selections for the two attractions up to 60 days prior to check in, beginning today. For all other guests who have pre-purchased valid park admission, reservations will be available starting 30 days prior to their visit, beginning May 27, 2017. You may select one of these two attractions in your first set of Disney FastPass+ selections, depending on availability. And beginning May 27 (through July 4), guests staying in select Walt Disney World Resort hotels will have the opportunity to experience Pandora — The World of Avatar with special nighttime Extra Magic Hours. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels with a valid theme park admission can fly on the back of a banshee, navigate a mystical river and walk under floating mountains beyond regular park hours – from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. This benefit is in addition to the Extra Magic Hours already available to you at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)

Disney Springs New! See the Radio Disney Arch: A wide range of celebrities have walked under the Radio Disney arch over the years, and now, it’s your turn! You can get a photo with this iconic structure, which is currently on display at Disney Springs through April 30th. The “ARDY Arch” has graced the Radio Disney Music Awards red carpet since 2014; it represents the coveted “ARDY,” an award presented to artists by fan vote annually. Don’t forget to tag your photos with #RDMA and #DisneySprings!

If you can’t make it to Disney Springs to see the arch for yourself, you can still participate in the fun by voting for your favorite artists until April 9, 2017 on the official RDMA site, accessible here: www.Disney.com/RDMA. The live RDMA show will take place on April 29th in Los Angeles, CA, with winners announced via social media in real time. The following day, April 30th, “Disney Channel Presents the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards” will air on the Disney Channel at 7 p.m. so make plans to tune-in.

(Photo: Disney Parks Blog)

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels New! Grand Floridian Easter Egg Display Returns: The Grand Floridian main lobby will once again host a magnificent display of hand-decorated, edible Easter Eggs created by their talented team of pastry chefs. Easter Eggs will be placed throughout the lobby April 11-19.

ESPN Wide World of Sports

New! Celebrating 20 years of Sports at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex: On March 28, 1997, the gates opened for the first time at Walt Disney World’s new sports complex. Now, 20 years later, that sports venue, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, continues to attract youth, college and professional athletes from around the world to a magical place where sports dreams come true almost every day. With more than 100 sports events held there annually, the sports complex stands as the preeminent venue for youth and professional sports in the nation. Disney celebrated the 20th anniversary of the sports complex with commemorative 20th anniversary merchandise, nostalgic entertainment from 1997 and a special moment during the Braves-Orioles spring training baseball game when we recognized the 18 cast members who’ve been a part of the venue since it opened.

(Photos: Disney Parks Blog)

Walt Disney World Resort – Merchandise New! Force for Change with Star Wars Products: Per the Disney Parks Blog, for the past two years, Disney Parks has partnered with Lucasfilm to offer unique opportunities for guests visiting Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Through the purchase of specially designed products created for Disney Parks, guests have supported the U.S. Fund for UNICEF on behalf of Star Wars: Force for Change. Star Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and Disney, harnesses the strength of Star Wars to empower and improve the lives of children around the world. The partnership will return this spring with new items inspired by Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

This year, guests will find T-shirts for adults and youth, as well as a pin that includes the logo and select characters from the upcoming film Star Wars: The Last Jedi. These items are some of the first retail products for the new film which releases December 15, 2017.

Twenty-five percent of the retail sale price from each of these products will be donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. These items will debut at Star Wars Celebration, a Star Wars fan event coming to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from April 13-16, 2017. Following the event, select locations at Disney Parks will carry these items through the summer. These products will not be available on DisneyStore.com or the Shop Disney Parks app.

Closures and Refurbishments Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort.