MickeyBlog News for January 22nd, 2024
What’s happening at Disney right now? We’ve got festival news, updates on after-hours events, refurbishment dates, and more.
You’re gonna need this week’s MickeyBlog News to get you caught up to speed on a busy Disney week.
2023 Flower & Garden Festival
Flower & Garden Festival Updates
We’re plenty used to Disney throwing us curveballs, but this week’s announcements left us scratching our collective heads.
Remember when Disney announced the 2024 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival?
EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival
For whatever reason, management listed a start date but not an end date.
Now, Disney has filled in the blank, but that declaration raises even more questions.
Tinker Bell Topiary
According to Disney, the festival will start on February 28th, which is just five weeks from now.
Then, EPCOT festival fanatics will have until May 27th to enjoy the festivities.
Lady and the Tramp Topiaries
That May date might surprise you, and it should. In 2023, the Flower & Garden Festival lasted until July 5th.
Disney has shortened the 2024 version of the event by five full weeks.
MickeyBlog’s Madison Owens wondered about this decision, and I was right there with her.
This briefer timeline indicates that we’ll either have a June gap for EPCOT festivals, or a stunning announcement is in the offing.
Belle and the Beast Topiaries
This is MickeyBlog News, and that’s sheer speculation.
I’m directing you toward Madison’s piece because I know others are thinking about it.
Photo: Disney
As for confirmed news, we’ve covered all the new intel about the Flower & Garden Festival.
Here are pictures of the merchandise, here’s the list for the Garden Rocks concert series, and here are its dining packages.
Garden Rocks in 2023
Unlike in recent years, Disney has already filled out most of the Garden Rocks lineup.
Notably, local Central Florida talent plays a key factor in filling in the blanks.
Photo: Disney
Disney tried something during the pandemic, and it worked well enough that EPCOT is keeping it.
Finally, we shouldn’t forget the core concept of this festival. So, here are the 15+ new topiaries you can expect next month!
Photo: Disney
The Disney Closures and Reopenings
We’ve officially reached the time of year when Disney performs its annual attraction maintenance.
During the slower, colder season of mid-January, Imagineers take some rides offline to get them back in tip-top shape.
Photo: @michael.e.moriarty via Instagram
Disney will cycle through several attractions, with some closing just as others open.
By taking this approach, park officials guarantee that winter visitors will still have a magical time during their visit.
Photo: Disney
The 2024 renovations are a bit more extensive than usual, but that’s a good thing. Disney is finally fully staffed again.
Still, if you’re at the parks right now, you may suffer a touch of inconvenience.
Photo: @bioreconstruct on Twitter/X
That’s primarily because part of the Disney Skyliner is down.
Well, one portion reopened this morning, but other lines won’t return until January 27th.
I’ll add that the reopenings on Sunday happened ahead of schedule. So, keep checking MyDisneyExperience for Disney Skyliner info!
Many of these closures are notably brief. In fact, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed earlier this week…and is already back!
Other attractions will take longer. For instance, Disney recently announced that Kali River Rapids won’t return until mid-March.
Photo: Disney
You definitely won’t miss it right now, as Disney’s Blizzard Beach cannot even open this week due to the cold weather.
Disney doesn’t always reserve its refurbishments for the winter, either.
Photo: Disney
EPCOT already announced that Frozen Ever After will close from November 2nd through November 6th.
At Disneyland Resort, the current renovations are so extensive that Disney has taken a surprisingly controversial step.
(Renie Bardeau / Associated Press)
Pirates of the Caribbean is currently available on Disney Genie+, which at least two people on social media don’t like. It was a thing.
That’s the smaller outcry, though. Disneyland fans have saved their outrage for the announcement of an impending closure.
Radiator Spring Racers
Radiator Springs Racers, arguably the most popular ride on-site, will close from February 26th through March 2nd. Please be aware of this fact.
Walt Disney World Miscellany
We’ve got a lot to cover, and my internet and power are spotty at the moment due to Snowstorm 2024. So, let’s go fast.
Photo: Disney/Jeff Haslam
Disney has confirmed that The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort will start hosting guests on July 1st.
The various Walt Disney World parks also added a slew of new Disney After Hours dates.
Photo:visitorlando.com
You’ll have options from now through the end of June!
In further excellent news, we discovered a new song is playing at the historic Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue!
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
We also learned new details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the ride of the year for Disney fans.
One of our wonderful reporters noticed a Stitch photo op at Disney Springs as well.
Sadly, we also learned that Big River Grille and Brewing Works is closing forever…and not just at Walt Disney World!
In happier news, we’ve got the new times for the Adventure Friends Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom.
shopDisney
And here are some Valentine’s Day treats to get you in the mood for next month! PS: If you haven’t started shopping yet, get to it!
Disneyland Miscellany
At Disneyland, preparations are underway for the Lunar New Year. The celebration starts on Tuesday.
Photo: Disney
Turning Red fans are in for a real treat this year, too!
Next month, Disney California Adventure will host a different kind of celebration.
Photo: Also Disney
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks turn 30 this year, and Disney is throwing a party!
Unless you’re a hockey fan, you may not know this, but Disney actually owned the Mighty Ducks until 2005.
Credit: Disney Archives
New ownership came in and changed the name to the simpler Anaheim Ducks, but old-school Disney fans don’t accept that.
On February 22nd and 23rd, you can break out your retro 1990s hockey gear and bask in the toothless glory of Anaheim Duck Days.
Never forget that ducks fly together.
Photo: Disney
Okay, that’s everything for this week. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to jump back under my electric blanket.
Some people just can’t handle a foot of snow, and I’m definitely one of them.
Have a great week and stay warm, my many loves!
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Feature Photo: Joshua Sudock, Disneyland Resort
