What's New at Walt Disney World?

[blackcauldron85]

D23's Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products presentation:

*Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening late 2024

*New Epcot nighttime spectacular (debuting later in 2023)

*Epcot: Moana: Journey of Water and World Nature Neighborhood opening late 2024

*Epcot: Figment is coming back to meet

*Magic Kingdom: Haunted Mansion is getting the Hatbox Ghost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Magic Kingdom: Tron: Lightcycle Run currently testing, opening Spring 2023

*Animal Kingdom: Imagineering Blue Sky ideas (so who knows how these plans will change): sounds like replacing Dinoland USA is ZOOTOPIA! (including districts and characters we haven't seen before), and MOANA!

*Magic Kingdom: Imagineering Blue Sky ideas (so who knows how these plans will change): (all beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad) COCO! ENCANTO! (Casita, walk to to a door and see your gift). VILLAINS! (Josh D'Amaro said not planned anytime soon, that it's a "thought-starter")

So excited!!!

[singerguy04]

All I really have to say is that if they walk back on having a Villains Land, I WILL RIOT!!!

I mean, I know it's Blue Sky. I know there have been plans much farther in development (Mary Poppins in Epcot) that have been tabled. I just don't think Disney really understands the kind of fans (like me) that they were messing with when this came up. I've been 100% forgiving towards this company through all the disadvantageous changes they've made towards me my whole fandom, but I swear if this one project gets shelved I will start to boycott until construction starts.

(... of course I'm kidding, but I will be very emotionally unstable for a while.)

[blackcauldron85]

More Details Released About New Scene Coming to Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Featuring ‘Frozen,’ ‘Mulan,’ and ‘Aladdin’
https://wdwnt.com/?p=795286

[blackcauldron85]

Overflowing trash cans at Animal Kingdom. Comments say this is common at Magic and Animal Kingdoms these days. Comments saying Chapek's Genie+ = having the least amount of cast members working.

https://mobile.twitter.com/WDWNT/status ... 6639393795

[blackcauldron85]

New Fantasmic! scenes!!
https://youtu.be/OmDYwnDaO1I

[blackcauldron85]

New Avatar: The Way of Water Tree of Life projection show:
https://youtu.be/sqdRKMWQQy4

[blackcauldron85]

Disney Confirms Walt Disney World Railroad Will Reopen With New Voiceover This Holiday Season After 4-Year Closure
https://wdwnt.com/?p=774605

[blackcauldron85]

First Look at the Moana Attraction
https://youtu.be/2UZLvtEDqj0

[blackcauldron85]

Walt Disney World Will Soon Allow Annual Passholders Park Access Without Reservation Most Afternoons
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/20 ... fternoons/

TRON Lightcycle / Run Set to Officially Open April 4 at Magic Kingdom
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/20 ... n-april-4/

[blackcauldron85]

Disney World union members reject contract offer
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/03/business ... index.html

I absolutely hope they're able to negotiate to get higher pay. It's ridiculous how much housing and groceries and everything costs.

Cast Members Report Issues With Fitting in TRON Lightcycle Run Vehicles at Magic Kingdom
https://wdwnt.com/2023/02/cast-members- ... c-kingdom/

[blackcauldron85]

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Reducing to Two Voyages a Week Beginning This October
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/20 ... reduction/

“We’ve been learning a lot during our first year of operation and have adjusted voyage dates to meet the needs of our guests.”

The article mentions the rough time the hotel has been having, and that some of the things announced with Galaxy's Edge ended up being a part of the expensive hotel experience instead.

[UmbrellaFish]

https://wdwnt.com/2023/03/breaking-moan ... ney-world/

Moana and Mirabel will be meeting at WDW now!

Mirabel will be replacing Merida’s meet and greet at MK. Moana will be coming to Discovery Island which is where Pocahontas currently meets (I think?). I hope they don’t get rid of Pocahontas! Her area is much less themed than Merida’s so hopefully both Moana and Pocahontas can share the space or alternate meet and greet time slots.

I hope they find a new place for Merida. Maybe somewhere else in MK or maybe in the UK pavilion at Epcot? Mary Poppins and Alice meet there already but it would be nice to have a Scottish character to represent that part of the UK.

[blackcauldron85]

Is this Moana's first meet + greet? If so, I wonder what took so long. Poor Merida, but it makes sense to have Mirabel doing meet + greets too.

[UmbrellaFish]

It’s her first permanent meet and greet in Orlando. She met at the Christmas and/or Halloween parties but that was it.

[UmbrellaFish]

Concept art of the cancelled Mary Poppins Epcot attraction has leaked!- https://twitter.com/DSNYNewscast/status ... 99520?s=20

To be honest, seeing this takes the sting out of this project being cancelled. The art makes it clear the attraction would have been based on the 2018 sequel, not the 1964 original. Mary still deserves an attraction, but it should be based on the classic film.

[blackcauldron85]

Very neat to see, though. I think a carousel would be an easy, if uninspired idea (I mean, like the teacups) for an original Mary ride if nothing else.

[blackcauldron85]

BREAKING: Walt Disney World Cast Members Win Negotiations for $18 Per Hour
https://wdwnt.com/?p=894756

Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle Issues Statement on Cast Member Wage Increase
https://wdwnt.com/?p=895528

[blackcauldron85]

Contract raising wages of Disney cast members gets approved
https://wesh.com/article/contract-appro ... y/43459791

[UmbrellaFish]

I’m very happy for the cast members. More than deserved.

[blackcauldron85]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/exper ... ervations/

Theme park reservations are required to enter a park through January 8, 2024. Beginning January 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. For other admission types, theme park reservations may be required.

More info is at the link.