MickeyBlog News for February 12th, 2024
This week, we learned that a popular restaurant will return, and we also got an update on a potential fifth gate at Disney World.
Oh yes, you’ll need to read the latest edition of MickeyBlog News!
1900 Park Fare Returns
This was a good week for me personally. Please allow me to direct you to a couple of articles I’ve written.
Here’s a list of the restaurants I adore – spoiler: I’m updating this by individual park soon – with a casual mention of 1900 Park Fare.
Then, we have this debate on whether Disney should bring back some restaurants.
In it, I describe 1900 Park Fare as having arguably the best character interactions.
If you search the archive, you’ll find plenty more examples of my gushing over 1900 Park Fare, one of my absolute favorites.
We expected this place to open in early 2022. In fact, a Cast Member point-blank told me it would, and they had worked there.
For whatever reason, Disney delayed the return of 1900 Park Fare…until now.
On March 5th, 2024, Disney will open Advanced Dining Reservations for the restaurant’s grand reopening on April 10, 2024.
That’s just under two months from today! And the best news is that Disney has updated the look, feel, and experiences.
Well, I think it’s the best news. I’m not gonna lie to you about the fact that I’m a bit concerned.
Disney has revealed new character encounters coming to this breakfast/dinner character meal.
Specifically, we’ll get Aladdin with his Prince Ali outfit, Tiana in her new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure garb, and Mirabel from Encanto.
None of those characters had previously appeared.
Instead, 1900 Park Fare hosted the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and Hundred Acre Wood characters.
What We Know about 1900 Park Fare
Disney didn’t clarify which of those characters will/will not return nor was there any mention of the Mary Poppins theme.
Similarly, the update didn’t discuss Lady Tremaine and the evil Stepsisters for the dinner version of this meal.
1900 Park Fare without Anastasia and Drizella simply wouldn’t be the same for me and mine.
If you’re unfamiliar with them, these characters talk smack, creating a different kind of dining experience. I love it so!
Thankfully, Disney did provide updates about other new elements of the 1900 Park Fare meal, and they sound amazing.
Illustrators have created a dozen new paintings that will appear throughout the restaurant.
Also, Disney has added a signature mural at the restaurant’s entrance.
This mural displays the core of 1900 Park Fare’s theming, its carousel.
Of course, not everything is changing. Big Bertha, the beloved antique organ, will remain an integral part of a meal here.
So, Disney has apparently future-proofed 1900 Park Fare while maintaining much of what’s made it great.
Hopefully, an announcement about Lady Tremaine and her daughters is in the offing, though.
Otherwise, 1900 Park Fare won’t be the same for diehards like me.
Bob Iger Talks Park Expansion
During the fiscal earnings call this past week, an analyst pressed Bob Iger on Disney’s expansion plans.
The investor understandably wondered aloud how Disney planned to distribute $60 billion in theme park investments.
Earlier in the call, Disney had casually mentioned that 70 percent of that money would go toward “incremental capacity.”
That’s an industry term that acknowledges the best way to increase revenue is via expansion.
So, Disney had already admitted that more than $40 billion of its announced revenue would directly toward the parks.
The analyst asked whether Disney would confirm plans for a fifth gate at Walt Disney World.
Since Iger is an old pro at this, he declined. Still, what he said was quite interesting. Here’s the quote:
“You can conclude that they’ll be all over, meaning every single one of our locations will be the beneficiary of increased investment and, thus, increased capacity.”
In other words, Disney just acknowledged that every theme park will expand over the next few years.
Iger even started the clock on the timeline, suggesting that yearly enhancements will begin in 2025.
So, many of those projects we’ve discussed are about to get the official greenlight soon.
Disney Miscellaneous News
Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and you’ve got Taylor Swift…err, football to watch.
So, let’s quickly discuss the other news this past week.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach closed due to cold weather yet again, but you should enjoy it while you can.
The water park will close on March 17th, as part of Disney’s frequent swap method.
You can probably guess what I’m about to say next, as anytime Blizzard Beach closes, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon opens.
That’s true once again as the water park returns on March 17th.
Once again, Disney has chosen not to operate both water parks simultaneously. Will that change this summer? We’ll find out soon.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new Little Mermaid show is apparently opening sooner than we’d expected.
Disney has started casting for the roles of Ariel and Prince Eric. Also, we’ve got new concept art for the upcoming show.
We also just learned that booking will open next month for The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge.
Disney Vacation Club members can reserve Cabins starting on March 19th, annual passholders take their turn on March 20th, and everyone else can book on March 21st.
Disneyland Resort experienced some torrential weather this past week, too.
The parks closed for two consecutive days due to rainfall and even some flooding.
Have a great week, everybody! And remember that if the Chiefs win, Taylor Swift is probably gonna be at Disneyland on Monday!
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Feature photo: Disney