MickeyBlog News for October 31st, 2022
This past week, Disney announced new festival dates and provided an update on its water parks.
Happy Halloween, y’all! Let’s talk MickeyBlog News!
Credit: Disney
The Water Park Shuffle Continues
Weird fact: Since March of 2020, Disney has shuffled the operating schedule of its Orlando water parks.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon was undergoing renovations when COVID-19 happened.
Credit: Disney
Once Walt Disney World reopened, there wasn’t a need for a second water park for a long time.
In early January, Typhoon Lagoon returned after nearly two years. Immediately afterward, Disney’s Blizzard Beach closed for renovations.
Disney hosted only one water park this entire spring, summer, and fall, as people wondered what was happening with Blizzard Beach.
I’m happy to report that we now know about the renovations occurring behind the scenes.
Credit: Disney
Blizzard Beach will reopen on November 13th…with Frozen enhancements!
Yes, the Parks Blog has revealed that the water park has added new theming.
Disney hasn’t gone crazy with its updates here. Instead, we’re talking about modest but charming changes.
Credit: Disney
Pictures show Olaf and the mini-snowpeople playing in the water at Tike’s Peak. So, it’s an attempt to add more charm to a family-friendly part of the water park.
Now that normalcy has returned at Walt Disney World, park officials are apparently returning to the previous tactics.
Credit: Disney
When Blizzard Beach reopens, Typhoon Lagoon will close for refurbishment. That’s right, folks. Disney still won’t operate both parks daily.
Obviously, that strategy makes perfect sense during the winter. However, once spring arrives, I suspect that we’ll return to 2019 norms.
Photo: Disney
By that point, Disney won’t have operated both parks simultaneously for more than three years!
Festival of the Arts Returning Soon
Okay, this announcement isn’t a surprise. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has quickly evolved from a weekend thing into a wildly popular exhibition.
Credit: Disney
Next year’s event will operate on basically the same schedule as 2022. The most recent Festival of the Arts ran from January 14th through February 21st.
For 2023, the Festival of the Arts starts on January 13th and lasts until February 20th.
As a reminder, this event celebrates all forms of the arts. In addition, pop-up kiosks sell dazzling paintings of Disney characters, a reason to spend extra time shopping while you’re at EPCOT.
You’ll also discover festival-exclusive foods and beverages, each of which ties back to the concept of beauty in some way.
My annual favorite is the artist’s palette cookie, but Disney usually invents some new showstopper for each event.
Of course, the real stars of the Festival of the Arts are the performers. You’ll notice artists throughout the park.
Photo :Disney
Some of them dance or sing or entertain via other methods. The frozen statues that come to life unexpectedly are always good for a laugh.
The most popular concerts at the Festival of the Arts are the DISNEY ON BROADWAY performances.
Photo: Disney
Disney hires cast members of some of its most successful Broadway musicals to perform at EPCOT.
You’ll find them at America Gardens Theatre at The American Adventure pavilion.
Tickets for these events WILL sell out, but Disney usually offers dining packages that ensure seating.
You should speak with a MickeyTravels agent to discover what’s available and what your best options are.
Disney News and Notes
I’m actually at Disney right now, and it’s remarkable watching the parks plan for the next thing.
For starters, MickeyBlog tracked the start of Christmas decorations on Thursday! Folks, I’ll save you a quick glance at your smartphone. It’s not Halloween yet!
Yes, you probably knew that, but you also may have briefly wondered whether you Rip Van Winkle’d a few days away. Nope, Disney’s just getting started earlier than ever!
Even I, someone who owns many Hallmark Christmas movies, think this is too soon.
I mean, MickeyBlog staffers are attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tonight and tomorrow! At least do the decent thing and wait on Christmas until November 1st, Disney!
Photo: Walt Disney World
Speaking of which, you should expect several pictures of resort and park decorations on the site this week.
We’ll also probably have one of those timelapse videos of the park conversions from Halloween to Christmas decorations.
Also, three other significant returns occur this week. First, Kona Café reopens on November 1st, followed by Fantasmic! on November 3rd and Akershus on November 4th.
On November 23rd, Takumi-Tei at the Japan pavilion reopens as well. So, it’s gonna be a huge month at Walt Disney World.
Photo: Disney
The other great story this week involves Extended Evening Hours. Guests staying at Deluxe Disney resorts will maintain this amenity through 2023!
Trust me when I say that this is a massive benefit. Coincidentally, barring something unforeseen, I’m attending one tomorrow and will post an article with photos as proof.
Photo: CNET.com
Finally, you may have missed it because James Gunn has had some other stuff happening, what with him the new Kevin Feige of DC Films and all.
Well, we have a new trailer for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special!
That’s the best use of Kevin Bacon ever, isn’t it? NOW it’s beginning to feel like the holidays!
