Disney’s reusable shopping bags are just about everywhere: the parks and the resorts. They were brought to Disney World in January and the goal of these bags was to limit plastic bag use. They currently still give you plastic bags with the purchase unless you ask for a reusable bag.
Now here is the unfortunate part. The price to buy a reusable bag was raised a dollar. At first the prices were $1.00 for a small bag, $1.50 for a medium bag, and $2.00 for a large bag. Now the prices are $2.00 for small, $2.50 for medium, and $3.00 for large.
Disney has also increased the rates to buy a Disney World Annual Pass and for overnight parking for Disney World resort guests. I will post articles on those topics later.
Disney World has announced holiday overlays and entertainment will be coming to Animal Kingdom during Christmas. I think it is exciting that Animal Kingdom will have decorations in every land.
Discovery Island will be filled with holiday decorations and luminaries on the roof, wire frame bird-shaped lanterns, and themed garland. Also, there will be festivities for the daytime and nighttime.
During the night the bird lanterns and rooftop luminaries make a glow through Discovery Island. The iconic Tree of Life will have winter tales. During the day Discovery Island will have sculpted puppets.
In Dinoland your favorite Disney characters will be playing Donald’s Dino-Bash. You will also be able to ‘Round the Truck-O-Saurus.”
In Animal Kingdom’s Asia, the theater district has been decorated for Diwali. Diwali is the holiday festival of lights in India.
The village Harambe in Animal Kingdom’s Africa will have western traditions with the colors and textiles of African celebrations. At Tusker House, Mickey and his friends will have a holiday overlay.
Finally, let’s head over to Pandora. There will be decorations at Pongu Pongu with pieces made from the Earth. It will begin November 8, 2019.
This news is exciting and puts you in the mood for Christmas!
Mickey Mouse’s 90th Birthday brought some delicious treats to Magic Kingdom. Some of the treats will start to be available this month while others will be available later this month. Here is a list of the treats.
First let’s talk about donuts! The Wish Granted Donut is a donut with white icing, gold sugar, a chocolate lamp piece, and blue cotton candy. It is available from May 1 to June 30 at Sunshine Tree Terrace. The Mickey Celebration Donut is a yeast donut with either chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla frosting topped with sprinkles. This sweet treat will be available only on May 9 at The Lunching Pad.
Minnie’s Cookie Dough Sundae is ice cream with whipped cream, hot fudge, delicious cookie dough, and a chocolate Minnie Mouse bow. This is available only on May 9 at Storybook Treats.
Mickey’s Push Pop is a birthday cake with confetti sprinkles as well as buttercream. This is available from May 1 to June 30 at Friar’s Nook, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café , Columbia Harbour House, and Golden Oak Outpost.
You won’t have to travel to the Tangled Tower to get a Tangled Eclair!
The Tangled Eclair is filled with dulce de leche and white chocolate cream, sugar flowers, and chocolate. It is available only on May 9 at Pinocchio Village Haus. Yum!
The Mickey Milkshake is a strawberry milkshake with yellow cotton candy. This milkshake is available from May 1 to June 30 at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies.
Celebration Brownies are brownies with buttercream icing and chocolate. It is available from May 1 to June 30 at Casey’s Corner.
Every year Disney World changes something about their parks. Here is a list of some of the changes happening to Epcot.
So many new surprises at Epcot!
Now let’s talk about the pavilions. Over in the France Pavilion, Disney is building Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, but it won’t be open until the spring of 2020. This ride is actually open in Disneyland Paris already. Also in the France Pavilion there is going to be a Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-long. It will alternate with Impressions de France, the show that is currently in the France Pavilion. In Canada, the show “O’ Canada” is going to be getting a makeover. In the Japan Pavilion, Disney is opening another table service restaurant.
First of all, the Disney Skyliner will open in the Fall of 2019. It will be a transportation network high in the sky that will take you from Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach and the upcoming Disney Riviera resort to the International Gateway at Epcot and Hollywood Studios. I’m excited! Illuminations unfortunately is being replaced by Epcot Forever, a new night time show that will be playing 80’s music.
Calling all Mission Space fans! A space themed restaurant is opening near Mission Space in 2020.
Mission Space!
I am really excited about these updates and am looking
forward to seeing the rides, restaurants, skyliners and Epcot Forever this year
and 2020!
Last year was a great year at Disney World but 2019 is going to be even better. Here are some things that I am looking forward to at Hollywood Studios in 2019.
The new location for Mickey and Minnie’s Railway Runaway is behind us!
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be opening in the fall of 2019, though there are some rumors that it might be opening in the summer (now there is a rumor that this will not be ready until 2020!). The ride will be in the same location that used to have The Great Movie Ride. The ride will have a new technology called 2 and a half D, that is supposed to be like 3D but without the glasses, and you will be riding in an animated scene. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will also be opening. It will open near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and will be a show starring your favorite Cars characters in a big race. Wonderful World of Animations will open in the May of 2019 and will be a night show that is for Hollywood Studios 30th Anniversary.
And of course, the biggest new thing at Hollywood Studios will be Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For more information on this new land, check out our prior blogs here and here.
The Jungle Cruise in Adventureland is a lot of fun!
Rides: On the Jungle Cruise you ride on a boat on the Amazon River and see some awesome fake animals. If you have a tour guide that is friendly and fun you will have an amazing experience. I love this ride because it’s fun and relaxing. The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are based on the Pirates of Caribbean ride. Jack Sparrow makes a surprise appearance at least three times. During the beginning of the ride there is a drop. (It’s a small drop.) Basically, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride shows a pirates life style.
The backside of water! (once you go on the ride, you’ll get the joke)
The Enchanted Tiki Room is a show with audio-animation birds. It’s almost never crowded so if you want to escape from the crowd this is your place! In The Magic Carpets of Aladdin you get to fly on a magic carpet and chose if you want to get up or down. This ride may be for little kids but it’s really fun! Here’s a little tip while you’re on the ride: the camels that surround the ride actually squirt water! This overall is a very relaxing ride! I have never done the Swiss Family Treehouse but I do know that you have to walk the entire time. I do not have any interest in trying it because it’s just MORE WALKING and you will be doing enough walking at Disney World.
Jack Sparrow!!!!!
Entertainment: In Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial, Captain Jack Sparrow and Mack his shipmate will teach you how to become a pirate on his crew. Last time we went Disney World my brother Al did it and he loved it.
Al’s scroll!
Food: The Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen has many different themed rooms. A hidden secret meeting room, a dining room, and a crew mess room. The food their is really good! Tortuga Tavern is a pirate themed restaurant and a counter service dining. Sunshine Tree Terrace has many snacks such as chocolate chip cookies, chocolate or vanilla ice cream, orange slush, juice, and raspberry lemonade slush. Aloha Isle has the one and only DOLE WHIP!! A dole whip is a pineapple soft-serve ice cream that you can get as ice cream or in a float.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Shopping: Agrabah Bazaar is great if you like the movie Aladdin. You will find Aladdin merchandise. Bwana Bob’s is located just when you enter adventureland. It has hats and Minnie ears. Island Supply by Sunglass Hut is just sunglasses. Pirate’s Bazaar has Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise and accessories. Zanzibar Trading Company has safari hats and plush animals.
Recently the Walt Disney Company announced the opening dates for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Hollywood Studios! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open in Disney World’s Hollywood Studios on August 29 and in Disneyland on May 21. I can’t wait for it to open!
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will be open on August 29 in Hollywood Studios but Rise of the Resistance will not and will open later this year. In Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run you will get to be the pilot of the Millennium Falcon! The height restriction for this ride is 38 inches. When Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens, the height restriction will be 40 inches.
If you’re going to Disney World between these dates then you will see the beautiful Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. The Flower and Garden Festival shows some outstanding garden work that makes the plants look like Disney characters: Lightning McQueen, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Pluto are all found at the entrance, Buzz Lightyear is at Mission Space and The Three Caballeros are at the Mexico pavilion.
Woody…
The Garden Passport is free and helps you find the Outdoor Kitchens and has scavenger hunts. It’s really cool! The Outdoor Kitchens are all around the World Showcase Lagoon. They have food for you while you’re at the Flower and Garden Festival.
… and Buzz Lightyear (in front of Mission Space)!
The Garden Rocks Concert now performs nightly! Best part? It’s free with Epcot admission!
Scenes from The Lion King!
The Egg-stravaganza Scavenger Hunt takes place April 5-April 21. You can buy a map and stickers and look for Disney character eggs.
Bambi and friends!
The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is definitely something worth seeing. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures!
The United States of America pavilion is a very interesting pavilion since it has two shows.
Food: The USA pavilion does not have any table service restaurants, but it does have a counter service restaurant. Liberty Inn has chicken tenders, fruit, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, and for dessert apple pie or ice cream. Fife & Drum Tavern has hot dogs, smoothies and turkey legs. Funnel Cake stand literally has funnel cakes. Delicious!!!!!
Shopping: The Heritage Manor Gift Shop has pins, toys and art. Hint! Outside of the shop is the Kidcot Fun Stop.
Voices of Liberty
Entertainment: The USA pavilion has a show called The American Adventure. Before the show starts, stop by early and hear the Voices of Liberty. They perform patriotic songs inside in the air conditioning. At The American Adventure, Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain tell you about American History. At the end, they play a catchy song! Also inside the USA pavilion building is the American Heritage Gallery, with American Indian art. Across from The American Adventure show is the America Gardens Theater. It performs different shows and concerts.
Who knew that Norway could be so warm? Norway is a popular destination since you can meet and greet Princess Anna and Queen Elsa from the movie Frozen. Norway looks just like a Norwegian town square.
Food: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is the perfect place for princesses! Here you can meet princesses for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You should probably have a dining reservation because it gets crowded here so don’t be surprised to be waiting for a while. You can also find sandwiches and pastries at Kringla Bakeri og Kafe. I would recommend trying the School Bread from here.
Entertainment: The Norway Pavilion has a popular ride called Frozen Ever After. This line is REALLY LONG!! First, you will see Olaf and Sven decorating for the Winter Festivals. The grandfather troll tells the tale of how Anna and Kristoff meet. Towards the end of the ride Elsa is singing Let It Go, then the ride starts going backwards! What a pleasant surprise! Afterwards, you can go meet Princess Anna and Queen Elsa at the Royal Sommerhus.
Shopping: The Wandering Reindeer has Frozen toys, clothes and much more! Curious and Collectibles has interesting books on trolls, Vikings and much more such as clothes and toys.
