food IS a theme park
There’s a lot for guests to see at Walt Disney World this summer, including The Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, Bluey’s Wild World, and the revamped Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, just to name a few. That in turn means guests are flocking to Disney World’s hotels.
Pool Party!
Those throngs of guests will encounter a lot of changes, as there are a slew of hotel perks… and hotel closures to navigate this summer.
Poof! Something big has changed at Disney Springs, and it feels like a magic trick the way they just disappeared.
Disney Springs
There are SO many food options in Disney Springs that it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. Quick service? Full sit-down restaurant? Maybe just ice cream? It can be hard to choose, but now there are three fewer options.
This week was certainly a big one for Disneyland Resort, with tons of announcements around Oogie Boogie Bash, which kinda stuck Disney World in the backseat. Though after weeks in a row of TONS of news and changes, we think it deserves a little break.
©Disney
That’s not to say that things didn’t still HAPPEN in Disney World, because they absolutely did. Not only did one construction project FINALLY finish up after months, but we also got new sneak peeks of TWO of the new lands on their way!
When we say it’s been an eventful week in Disney World, we mean that we got close to lying down on a bench in the park and sleeping for approximately 14 hours, but we couldn’t, because in EVERY park, there was something new.
The Magic of Disney Animation in Walt Disney Studios
It was well worth it, though, in our opinion. Getting to be there for the opening day of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Bluey’s Wild World, as well as the official openings of Jessie’s Roundup, Soarin’ Across America, The Walt Disney Studios, and more? Yep, it was an unforgettable week. Now that things have slowed down a bit, though, if you’re visiting the parks this week, you need to know that there are, unfortunately, still many attractions around the parks that are closed and unavailable to experience.
It’s been one of those times in Disney World where, if you blink, you somehow miss five changes that all seemed to have happened in the past 24 hours. It’s a busy time to be in the parks, that’s for sure!
Pua and Thumper in Walt Disney Studios
This past week alone, Disney has opened multiple attractions early, such as FØØD by Swedish Chef and The Walt Disney Studios in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as Soarin’ Across America in EPCOT, all of which were originally set to open on May 26th. MORE closures are finally reopening this upcoming week, on time on May 26th (which is when Cool KIDS’ SUMMER is set to officially begin), so if you’re traveling to the parks, now is 100% the time to keep up with ALL the changes.
Whew! It’s been quite the busy week in Disney World, but we can say with certainty that a lot of them are really good updates that we love to see!
Typhoon Lagoon
The resort’s second water park has officially reopened to guests for the summer, and we’re thrilled that not one, but TWO locations opened earlier than originally scheduled, so guests can enjoy both of their offerings. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though, so let’s dive into ALL the construction changes that happened this week, and what you’ll want to watch out for on your vacation.
Magic Kingdom is a hotbed of activity right now — let’s just say, there’s a lot going on. For starters, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad just recently reopened with a ton of new changes, as did Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
Diamond Horseshoe
Meanwhile, an entire new Villains land is being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, while Frontierland is getting a Cars expansion. Well, now, a Magic Kingdom restaurant has closed to make way for something new. Yep, Diamond Horseshoe has officially closed.
After staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, we’ll admit that we were SPOILED when it came to options for dining. Not only do you have all the restaurants and lounges available at the resort itself, but you also have the WHOLE of restaurants nearby at other EPCOT-area resorts within walking distance.
The Crew’s Cup Lounge
However, one of our favorite spots to grab a quick bite to eat without needing a reservation is The Crew’s Cup Lounge, which you’ll find right next to Yachstman Steakhouse. Now, this lounge has been closed since February for a refresh and was supposed to be closed until June 1st. However, the lounge has officially reopened early!
It’s been quite the week in Disney World, with the reopening of a major ride over in Magic Kingdom (that’s had some rough days following — we hope it sorts itself out soon), but Disney Springs has also seen lots of changes this week.
Disney Springs
If you’re heading to Disney World soon and plan to do lots of shopping around Disney Springs, you may notice that some of your favorite stores have closed their doors, some of them a bit unexpectedly. In addition to all the other changes going on around the resort, we feel it’s important to keep up-to-date with it all!
There are a lot of unique things you can do in EPCOT that you can’t do in any other Disney World park. For starters, you can eat, drink, and shop around the World without ever leaving World Showcase. You can also visit an aquarium, go on an out-of-this-world adventure, explore the history of communication, and interact with water. There’s just so much to do!
A dragon made out of sugar
One of our favorite activities was buying sugar art in the China Pavilion, but that activity went away in 2020. However, it returned last month…but now, well, it’s gone away again! OH NO!!!!
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