food IS a theme park
Disney World has certainly been pretty different over the past year.
Cinderella Castle
Still, there have been some signs that normalcy is returning including the announcement of returning entertainment, the removal of temperature checks at the parks, heavily-eased mask rules, and more. There’s also been a BIG behind-the-scenes sign that ‘normal’ is coming back — and it has to do with Disney World permits.
The Rivers of America and the surrounding area has been under a lengthy refurbishment!
Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom
The river was completely drained and construction work was happening on the guide rails for the Liberty Square Riverboat. We also saw work being done on Tom Sawyer Island and the dry riverbed. The river has recently been refilled and we were expecting the attractions to reopen on March 1st, 2021. It seems Disney is a little ahead of schedule and they may open a little early!
Analysts are taking another look at the projected future of the Disney theme parks.
Magic Kingdom
The last year has had a lot of ups and downs for the Disney theme parks around the globe. The worldwide pandemic forced every single park to close and the road to a full reopening has been rocky at times. Some parks, Disneyland included, remain closed. Now, Wall Street analysts are forecasting an optimistic outlook for 2022.
The last spell was cast yesterday at the Magic Kingdom as part of the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom experience.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom opened in 2012 and brought guests on a magic card game that allowed guests to interact with all kinds of special elements in the park. 9 years later, January 24th, 2021 marked the end of the Magic Kingdom game.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is a card game that allows guests to interact with elements around the theme park.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Recruitment Center
Guests can pick up a pack of cards (most of which are free) and use them to make “magical” images appear throughout the Magic Kingdom. The technology is similar to Agent Ps World Showcase Adventure in EPCOT, which was suspended in February 2020. We’ve now confirmed that Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom will also be suspended.
Disney World is constantly updating and improving attractions, resorts, and restaurants on property.
Drained Rivers of America
It takes a lot of effort to make the theme parks look fresh and new! The scheduled refurbishments can sometimes put a snag in your plans, however. We’re here to update you on all the scheduled weekly refurbs between December 6th through December 13, 2020. This way, you can plan around the closures on your trip!
Walt Disney World reopened with new health and safety guidelines in light of the global health crisis.
Together Again Face Mask
Some of the guidelines are encouraged, but wearing a proper face covering indoors is a required mandate. While guests can forgo masks outdoors, they must wear them while inside, in queues, or on attractions. We’ve shared OODLES of tips with you over the past few months but we’re back with tips we HAVEN’T told you a billion times!
Walt Disney World will schedule planned refurbishments for attractions throughout the year. It’s best to be aware of the schedule ahead of time so you can plan your vacation around the closures!
Liberty Belle Riverboat at Magic Kingdom
December draws in holiday crowds who flock to the theme parks for a chance to see the Christmas decorations and new entertainment. Disney World has planned a few scheduled refurbishments during the first week of December and beyond. To help you plan, let’s do a quick recap of all the attractions that will be closed due to refurbs next week!
Savi’s Workshop is an immersive experience in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s here that guests can build their very own custom lightsaber with hilts, kyber crystals, and other elements of their choice.
Savi’s Workshop — Handbuilt Lightsabers
When Walt Disney World reopened in July, some attractions remained closed. The Savi’s Workshop building reopened, but the immersive show qualities were removed from the attraction. Guests could buy a lightsaber then enter the workshop to take a look around. It was announced recently that Savi’s will officially reopen on September 20th with some of the immersive qualities we experienced prior to closing. Today, reservations for the Savi’s are available to book on the Disney World website!
Given the recent health and safety updates, some of the most well-known Walt Disney World planning tips have gone out the window.
Pandora — World of Avatar
For instance, arriving at least 45 minutes prior to park opening was highly recommended if you wanted to enjoy popular attractions without waiting too long. Now, given the shorter lines, we recommend coming in later because you can avoid the morning crowds and still enjoy many of the rides. On our recent trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we noticed another interesting post-reopening phenomenon.
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