21 Amazing Ways To Celebrate The Year Ahead At Disney World
Happy New Year Disney Friends! As we officially welcome the New Year, there is a whole lot for Disney fans to be excited about. Nowhere is this more evident than at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando! Over the twelve months ahead, visitors will be able to enjoy an incredible array of new and recently reopened attractions, celebrate the Season at one of EPCOT’s four amazing festivals, experience new culinary delights and so much more!
As a matter of fact, there’s so much to get excited about at Disney World this year that we here at MickeyBlog, with a little help from our friends at Disney, thought we’d rustle up 21 noteworthy experiences you’ll want to try in the year ahead!
1. A Taste of The Epcot International Festival of the Arts
EPCOT’s annual celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts kicks off in just a few days! Though scaled back a bit this year, guests will still be able to enjoy entertainment, art exhibits, and colorful cuisine from the incredible Food Studios around the World showcase!
- For a sample of the delicious goodies on offer this year check out this article
- Participate in Festival of the Arts special Walk of Colorful Cuisine where you sample five dishes and you’ll get a very special treat. Find out more here.
Festival of the arts will run at EPCOT from January 8 – February 22nd.
2. Have Your Picture Taken In Front of EPCOT’s Stunning New Entrance Fountain
2021 is going to be a year of HUGE transformation at EPCOT. The park will be opening new attractions, dining locations and so much more. For those visiting in Early 2021 there’s already one change in place that is not only a delight but serves as a precursor of magic to come. Be sure to check out the new water feature in front of Spaceship Earth. This newly reimagined area features a greener more open and welcoming experience for visitors.
3. Experience Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
It’s easy to forget in and amongst the chaos of 2021 that Mickey Mouse got his very own attraction! The Great Movie Ride at the heart of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and housed in the magnificent Grauman’s Chinese Theater was changed to this delightful romp through the cartoon world of Mickey’s award winning shorts! Go through the screen as Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Mouse, Goofy and Engineer Pluto take you through Runnamuck Park where the name say’s it all!
Image Credit: Disney
4. Have Your Very Own Adventure in a Galaxy Far, Far Way
If you’ve yet to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios then make 2021 the year that your intergalactic dreams come true. This out-of-this-world new land is a haven for Star Wars fans of all ages and features two of Disney World’s most state-of-the-art attractions: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. In addition you’ll find shops brimming with incredible artifacts from around the galaxy, you’ll get to sample some unusual eats and watch the stories come to life with unique character encounters. Oh and did we mention you can build your own droid and lightsaber!?
5. Check Out Cinderella Castle’s Stunning Makeover!
Isn’t she lovely? In 2020 the iconic Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom theme park was given a dazzling makeover fitting for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebrate which kicks off this year. The castle now features stunning golden towers and turrets radiant blue roofs and a stunning rose gold hue that adds and extra bit of majesty to your visit!
6. Say “Hello!” To Animal Kingdom’s Newest Inhabitants!
If you’ve been following along with MickeyBlog you’ll know that Animal Kingdom theme park welcomed some brand new residents this past December in the form of these positively adorable Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Rumor has it that you’ll find this frolicsome friends near the exist of Kilimanjaro Safaris! Be sure to pop by and say “Hello!”
7. Take Time To Enjoy “The Classics”
All these new Disney World attractions are great and all but don’t forget about the Disney classic rides which are as timeless and wonderful in 2021 as ever! Our favorites include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, “it’s a small world” and Pirates of the Caribbean. There’s a reason why these classics are loved by millions the world over. So make 2021 the year you experience them again for the first time!
8. It’s All About the Baby Animals
Some of our best performing new stories each year are the one’s introducing you to the new baby animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks and it’s easy to understand why – they are just so gosh darn cute! Climb aboard the Kilimanjaro Safaris and be on the lookout for some of these new arrivals! Rumor has it there’s now a new Masai giraffe out on the savanna! Readers are also encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog where we promise to keep you updated throughout the year of any new births!
9. Celebrate the Bioluminescent Grandeur of Pandora – The World of Avatar
If you’ve yet to visit the positively stunning recreation of Pandora from James Cameron’s Avatar films, it should be top of your 2021 priority list. There is no feeling quite like traveling through the Valley of Mo’ara for the first time and strolling beneath the float mountains. Visitors can also enjoy two of Disney World’s finest attractions – Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey as well as browse in the incredible shops and indulge in some delicious dishes native to the Na’vi that call Pandora home!
10. Interact With Characters In New Ways!
In 2020 Disney World got innovative when it came to character interactions adding in a whole host of new ways to interact with your favorite Disney friends. Be on the lookout for spontaneous appearances throughout your Disney visit. Our favorites are in the form of Disney’s new character cavalcades which happen at major theme park thoroughfares! You never know who might turn up!
11. Hop from Park to Park
If you’ve been following along with us here at MickeyBlog you’ll know that Park Hopping has officially made a comeback starting today (January 1st.) However, with social distancing requirements in place Disney has a new approach to park hopping so make sure to get up to speed on the new policies and procedures before you go. You can find out more here and happy hopping!
12. Indulge in Sweet New Treats at Disney Springs
Things are getting pretty sweet over at Disney Springs! Disney World’s downtown shopping district has some noteworthy new arrivals. Gideon’s Bakehouse is now opening and hypnotizing visitors with there picture perfect 1/2 cookies. A New M&M store will be opening soon as will Everglazed Donuts and Cold Brew!
13. Pick Out the Perfect Post-Holiday Gift
Disney Springs continues to be an absolutely treasure trove when it comes to Disney merchandise. Make your first stop the massive World of Disney store where you’ll find a wide array of new apparel, toys, housewares and more! You’ll definitely want to check out the new 2021 collection which features big bold pops of color and some of your favorite Disney friends! Visitors will also want to take time to explore the quaint boutiques where you’ll find Disney collectibles you won’t find anywhere else. Many top brands also have shops at Disney Springs including COACH, Kate Spade, Sephora, Tommy Bahama, Pandora, Uniqlo and so much more!
14. Return to Favorite Disney Restaurants
Though Disney World has put the halt on some character dining experiences, that shouldn’t stop you from sampling some of the incredible cuisine at these family favorite eateries. A great example is the newly reopened Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom where a new Prix Fixe Menu is sure to dazzle! Or you can also enjoy some socially distanced character interactions over at Chef Mickey’s inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort!
Image Credit: Disney
15. Enjoy the Great Outdoors!
Orlando weather tends to be pretty gorgeous anytime of year. Luckily for families visiting Walt Disney World there are plenty of ways to get some sun! Next time you visit be sure to check out of of Disney’s miniature golf courses, go on a fishing expedition, try out horseback riding and more!
16. Buzz Through the Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, Blooming in March
Spring will be springing up all over the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival which will kick off on March 3rd. During this stunning festival guests can check out the beautiful blooms, character topiaries and enjoy springtime dishes at the incredible outdoor kitchens!
Image Credit: Disney
17. Soak Up the Sun at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
Take the plunge! Just last month we reported that Blizzard Beach will be reopening on March 25th where guests can once again take the plunge down the incredible wintry themed water slides! One of two of Disney World’s beloved water parks, Blizzard Beach will be celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary so we expect Disney will have some extra special fun in the works!
18. Look for Some Fresh Pixie Dust at the Entrances to Walt Disney World
Its amazing what a clean lick of paint can do! Case in point is the colorful new facelift that the entrance signs to the theme parks received in 2020! It will be love at first sight when you set your eyes on these vibrant beacons of fun now featuring refreshed color palettes which were designed to compliment the Cinderella Castle makeover!
19. Add Extra Theme Park Magic to Vacations
We’ve got an awesome Disney World discount just around the corner! Starting on January 5, 2021, guests buying non-discounted four-night/three-day room and ticket packages at select Disney Resort hotels can get an additional two days of theme park tickets at no extra charge! This offer is good for most stays between January 8 – September 25, 2021. Fill out my form below to get your FREE quote today!
20. Florida Residents Can Take Advantage of a Special Ticket Offer
Beginning Jan. 4, 2021, the four-day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket invites Floridians to visit any of the four Disney parks through June 18, 2021 (subject to blockout dates), for a special price of $199 (plus tax). More information is available at Disneyworld.com.
Image Credit: Disney
21. Looking Forward To An Awesome Year Ahead
There’s a whole host of new offerings coming your way in 2021 starting with the hotly anticipated Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This new family-friend attraction at EPCOT’s France pavilion will be opening later this year! Families will also soon be able to enjoy an awe-inspiring night out when Cirque du Soleil’s incredible new Disney-themed show “Drawn to Life” makes its Disney Springs debut. For a closer look at some of the other new arrivals we’re expecting in 2021 you can check out my article here.
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