Everything That Reopened at Disney in 2022
How strong was Disney’s theme park in 2022? You can take a look for yourself!
MickeyBlog tracked a comical number of park-related reopenings and return engagements this past year.
In fact, our staff attended many of them on the first days they returned!
Here’s a comprehensive list of everything that reopened/returned at Disney theme parks, resorts, and campuses in 2022.
Walt Disney World
At Walt Disney World, Disney started the year with only one water park in operation…and that stayed the same throughout the year.
When Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon came back after a two-year absence, Disney’s Blizzard Beach closed.
Then, when Disney revealed the new Frozen theming at Tike’s Peak, Typhoon Lagoon closed.
Meanwhile, some beloved attractions and amenities finally reopened.
School was even back in session as The Disney Institute restored in-person learning!
- Typhoon Lagoon
- Minnie Vans
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
- The Disney Institute In-Person Learning
- Blizzard Beach (with Frozen theme)
Animal Kingdom
The main things Disney restored here were a pair of popular character greetings.
However, the Finding Nemo show also returned in its new incarnation.
Also, Disney brought back the parking lot tram service we’d all missed!
- Kevin from Up
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond
- Trams
- Adventurers Outpost
EPCOT
You may have missed the news due to Hurricane Ian, but EPCOT turned 40 this year!
Along the way, the park reintroduced guests to its various backstage tours such as Behind the Seeds and Dolphins in Depth.
Importantly, Disney also hired a new batch of Cultural Representatives once pandemic-related visa issues subsided.
We even got the Talking Trash Cans back!
- Voices of Liberty
- Joy and Vanellope inside Image Works
- Donald Duck at Mexico
- Cultural Representative Program
- Talking Trash Cans
- Behind the Seeds
- EPCOT Seas Adventures — DiveQuest
- Dolphins In Depth
Hollywood Studios
One of these matters an outsized amount relative to the rest.
For the body of the pandemic, one of the questions I was asked the most was, “When is Fantasmic! coming back?”
Since Bob Chapek definitely wasn’t responding to my texts, I could never answer accurately. Thankfully, my favorite Disney show finally ran again.
Similarly, Disney brought back its various character greetings including the entertainment at Star Wars Launch Bay.
- Olaf Character Greeting
- Fantasmic!
- Star Wars Launch Bay
- Green Army Men
Magic Kingdom
The noteworthy returns at Magic Kingdom were the beloved holiday after-hours events, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
However, the biggest win for parents happened when The Sword in the Stone attraction returned at Fantasyland.
Kids could once again prove that they were the chosen!
- Festival of Fantasy Parade
- The Enchantment Fireworks Cruise
- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
- Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
- Peter Pan Meet and Greet
- The Sword in the Stone Attraction
Disney Resorts
We have three very different but equally significant comebacks here.
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort’s reopening matters due to what it represents. With this hotel’s return, all official resorts at Walt Disney World were back in business.
The other two amenities had become frequent requests of guests staying/visiting the monorail resorts.
- Senses Spa at the Grand Floridian
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Top of the World Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Restaurants
Yeah, there were tons of these in 2022. As attendance increased at the parks, Disney reopened many of its restaurants.
Along the way, some eateries also reintroduced buffets and character meals as part of the process. At this point, virtually everything of note is back to what it had been.
- Breakfast and Seafood Dinner Buffet at Cape May Cafe
- Flying Fish
- The Turf Club Bar and Grill
- Jiko: The Cooking Place
- Ale and Compass Breakfast Buffet and Lunch
- Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
- Victoria and Albert’s
- Tusker House Buffet
- Hollywood and Vine Buffet
- Crystal Palace Character Meal
- Monsieur Paul
- Akershus
- Takumi-Tei
Disneyland
Not to be outdone, Disneyland Resort restored many of its favorite offerings as well.
Fans cheered the returns of holiday favorites like Haunted Mansion Holiday and the nighttime presentations such as World of Color.
Perhaps the oddest return involved the Magic Key program, which briefly came back but has since sold out again.
- Trams
- Hyperspace Mountain
- Blue Bayou Restaurant
- Oogie Boogie Bash
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Lagoon
- .. in Holiday Magic
- World of Color — Season of Light
- Annual Passes* (Briefly)
Final Thoughts
By my count, Disney brought back more than 50 offerings that it had closed due to the pandemic. That’s legitimately an average of one a week!
Even more remarkably, I didn’t include any new attractions or restaurants here. Those technically didn’t reopen.
So, everything we’ve discussed here had gone away for a while but has since returned.
In short, Disney theme parks are back at full strength again! What a wonderful year 2022 was for park recovery.
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