How Disney World is Distracting You From Construction Walls at Every Corner

Right now, it seems like you can’t sneeze without hitting a construction wall in Disney World.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Multiple rides are under refurbishment, like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. On top of that, entire lands (or sections of them) are closed in Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. Walls EVERYWHERE! But Disney World has been employing a sneaky tactic to stop us from noticing those pesky walls.

One of the biggest ways that Disney distracts from major construction projects is by adding more pop-up entertainment offerings into the parks. In particular, this includes streetmosphere like bands and roaming characters. So where can you find some of these things right now? Let’s take a look!

Animal Kingdom

At Animal Kingdom, DinoLand, U.S.A. is going through a pretty major overhaul to become Pueblo Esperanza, so most of the land is shut down right now. To help alleviate some of those crowds and provide an alternate source of entertainment, we noticed a new addition — Eco-Rhythmics.

Eco-Rhythmics

This group of percussionists has a recycling-inspired setup with bright drum sets made of reusable materials. During the DinoLand construction, we’ve seen their floats parked in a few different areas, usually in front of one of the construction walls. They’re a really upbeat addition to a land that’s missing quite a bit right now.

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Hollywood Studios

At Hollywood Studios, the latest addition is the Hollygrooves Swingin’ Band, which you can find in the area near Center Stage or Dockside Diner. We’ve seen them joined by Disney characters occasionally! They’re a brass-forward band that plays a wide variety of tunes.

Hollygrooves Swingin’ Band

Sometimes they’re performing old-school Hollywood songs, while other times they’re mixing things up with pop or R&B. You can see these guys swapping sets back and forth with The Record Setters, a group of performers who juggle and do physical stunts mixed with comedy. These acts help fill the gap left by the closures in Muppets Courtyard and Animation Courtyard.

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Magic Kingdom

In Magic Kingdom, a new streetmosphere act was added shortly after the closure of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat to help fill out Frontierland. Nola’s 8th Note now performs throughout the land, from the area near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad all the way to The Diamond Horseshoe.

Nola’s 8th Note

This act plays some New Orleans favorites with a brass band and live singer. Along the way, you may even hear some fun tales from the Grand Marshal. An excellent complement to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, if you ask us!

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As you see, Disney is the master of redirection. You’re not paying attention to the big khaki construction wall if there’s a fun and lively entertainment option standing in front of it!

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Have you witnessed any of these performers in the parks? Tell us in the comments!