MickeyBlog News for December 25th, 2023
Merry Christmas, everyone!
I realize that the holiday gatherings will consume most of your time this week.
So, I’ll be briefer than usual with MickeyBlog News.
Return of The Little Mermaid
For fans of the former Little Mermaid show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, today feels like a Christmas miracle!
Even before the pandemic, rumors swirled that park officials didn’t care much for the show, presumably due to the fact that it was often empty.
Realistically, one of the reasons people like me loved it was because you could usually walk right in on a hot day.
Not coincidentally, I have probably speculated on the impending doom of this presentation more than 20 times at MickeyBlog. It keeps coming up.
During the pandemic, even the diehard fans ceded the point, acknowledging The Little Mermaid was unlikely to return. Not so fast, my friends!
In a bit of an upset, Disney has revealed that The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will debut in the fall of 2024!
That’s right, fellow Ariel fans! Rather than kill the show forever, Disney has chosen the Finding Nemo approach instead.
That presentation appeared to be in similarly dire straits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Then, park officials chose to modernize it instead.
Similarly, Disney is promising a “fully reimagined theatrical production” for the new Little Mermaid show. I, for one, cannot wait!
Seriously, Animation Courtyard has never felt the same without The Little Mermaid show in the corner.
More New Shows
While we’re on the subject of shows, we’ve got four more to discuss, all of them at Disneyland.
In 2024, The Happiest Place on Earth welcomes Mickey’s Mix Magic, a nighttime dance party.
You’ll find Mickey’s Mix Magic performing from January 8th through March 21st and again from April 15th through April 25th.
On some nights, Disney will add fireworks to the party as well!
Starting on February 2nd, the Magic Happens Parade returns for an extended stay.
Similarly, Disney is bringing back Wondrous Journeys from March 22nd through April 14th.
Finally, we’ll get another run of Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular from April 26th through August 4th.
Disney has even promised new scenes for the 2024 version of this presentation!
I quite like Disney’s idea of cycling through popular shows and parades. It kinda feels like a Disney presentation shuffle play.
Disney Miscellany Part I
Let’s start with an international story that will matter to you soon enough.
Shanghai Disneyland has opened its new Zootopia themed land, a fully functional “biome” consisting of sights and sound consistent with the film.
Disney has done all but shout from the rooftops that an American version of this is coming one day.
That’s thrilling news since the new ride, Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, looks spectacular:
In other Chinese Disney park news, Hong Kong Disneyland recently watched its 100 millionth guest walk through the turnstiles! Pretty cool, huh?
Also, I’m not trying to make you jealous, but Zootopia and World of Arendelle have opened at Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland over the past six weeks.
That’s reason enough for Disney to spend most of the previously announced $60 billion on American theme park expansion.
Back in America, Disneyland After Dark has announced more details about the Sweethearts’ Nite dining package options and pricing.
Most of the other big stories involve Walt Disney World, though.
Disney World Miscellany
Here’s an exceptional sign at Magic Kingdom! Our park reporters noticed a new path in Frontierland. Yes, the Tiana walkway has opened!
Of course, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is more of a 2024 story. Right now, the more pressing matter involves holiday crowds at Disney. They’re…a lot.
In fact, I’m not one to tell you how to spend your park visit, but I’d personally skip Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Look at this line! YIKES!
We’re tracking several stories like this daily at MickeyBlog. The marvelous Kristin Sabol has updated Disney Genie+ pricing everyday this week.
One of our park reporters (thanks for the scoop, M!) also tracked the fastest Disney Genie+ sellout ever. The digital service was gone by 9 a.m.!
Magic Kingdom hadn’t even technically opened yet when the sellout occurred!
Of course, we’re in the final week of 2023. So, it’s time to look forward to the impending changes coming to Disney theme parks.
Disney has confirmed the start of Good-to-Go Days on January 11th. Those are the days when annual passholders no longer need Park Passes.
You can read more about the Good-to-Go system here. As part of the new system, Disney has slightly modified the virtual queue rules as well.
Guests may only join one virtual queue at a time, which is a perfectly reasonable request.
I’m not speaking for anyone else, but I’ve never even thought to try to put myself in multiple lines.
Disney has also revamped the Tron Lightcycle / Run attraction queue and announced a January refurbishment for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.
You can safely expect plenty of rumors about a re-theme, which happens seemingly every refurb.
Finally…
I’ve got just three more items to discuss.
First, MickeyBlog congratulates Disney for its two huge victories at the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.
Also, I warmly encourage people to read this because it’s so fun.
Finally and most importantly, please have the happiest of holidays, my many loves.
May you end this year with joy in your heart and brimming with hope for what the future holds for you and yours in 2024 and beyond.
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