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Walt Disney World News
- Coming later this fall to the Walt Disney World Resort will be Disney Genie. This will be a complimentary and convenient new digital service that is designed to create the best Disney day. But that’s not all! There will actually be two paid options that will be available for Guests allowing them to utilize the Lightning Lane entrance. (The former FastPass+ entrance.) The first of the paid options is called Disney Genie+ service. For the price of $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World Resort, Guests can choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences. The second paid option is individual attraction access for high demand attractions. These will not be the same attractions available with Disney Genie+. With this option, Guests can schedule a time to arrive at up to two highly demanded attractions each day using the Lightning Lane entrance and skip the standby line. You’ll pay for this service for each individual ride separately. More information about all of these services can be found here. In addition, we break down everything in an uncomplicated way here.
- Are you ready for the newest Walt Disney World fireworks show, Disney Enchantment to debut? This Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular will tell stories of incredible Disney dreamers. It will include Disney music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks, and immersive projection effects that extend down Main Street, U.S.A., and an original song called “You Are the Magic.” Disney Enchantment will share the stories of favorite Disney characters like Tiana, Miguel, Rapunzel, Ian & Barley from Onward, Moana, Raya, Judy Hopps, Joe Gardner from Soul. There will also be characters from Luca and Wreck-It Ralph. Other beloved characters from Beauty and the Beast and Alice in Wonderland will be part of the show too. And Tinker Bell will still take flight in an epic moment at the end of the show. More details about Disney Enchantment can be found here.
- Buffets have returned to the Walt Disney World Resort! Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is now open, Biergarten at EPCOT will reopen on August 29, and The Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom will once again be serving their buffet for lunch and dinner starting September 12. More details about these changes can be found here.
- More dining options are now available at the Walt Disney World Resort. Nine Dragons Restaurant in the China pavilion at EPCOT is now open for dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Cinderella’s Royal Table will begin offering breakfast again starting August 27, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery will reopen on August 29 with a new menu, and Dockside Diner at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has also reopened with new menu offerings. More details can be found here.
- We now know what will be replacing The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. We knew that it would be seeing a new concept and that new dining concept is called Steakhouse 71. The restaurant will open later this fall and it will be a casual dining experience. More details can be found here.
- There has been another big change to the face covering at the Walt Disney World Resort. Now, face masks will also be optional for Guests in outdoor attractions, outdoor queues and outdoor theaters at the Walt Disney World Resort. More details can be found here about this change.
- After a very lengthy delay due to the pandemic, the new Cirque du Soleil show will finally debut. The show will be called Drawn to Life. It was supposed to start previews in March of last year. Drawn to Life will now officially debut on November 18. Guests will find it at the theater found on the West Side of Disney Springs at Walt Disney World. More details about what this new show will be like can be found here.
- The NBA Experience at Disney Springs has closed permanently. This move does not come as much of a surprise to many, as the location struggled to get off the ground prior to the pandemic. More details about its closure can be found here.