MickeyBlog News for October 21st, 2024

This week, Disney announced a new kind of Lightning Lane option, announced several attractions, and confirmed the beginning of the end at DinoLand USA.

So, yeah, this was a big week. I’ll bring you up to speed in MickeyBlog News.

DinoLand Partially Closes Soon

Let’s start with the news that many of you have been dreading.

I realize that the subject of theme park changes often stirs strong feelings, even when the improvements are obvious.

We know that the Tropical Americas are coming soon and that we’ll get an Encanto village.

Before that can happen, DinoLand USA must close. Disney had previously indicated a phased closure starting in the fall.

Well, we just got a reprieve, as everything will remain open through the end of 2024.

Then, on January 12^th, 2025, some of the oldest experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close for good.

DinoLand USA

The attractions that will become extinct on January 13^th are Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Fossil Fun Games, and TriceraTop Spin.

So, you have less than three months to enjoy them one last time before they become part of Disney theme park lore.

Note that everything else at DinoLand USA will remain open for the time being. So, it’s just those three attractions for now.

That means you’ve still got plenty of time to ride DINOSAUR, just as Disney promised at D23. 

In a weird twist, that attraction originally opened as Countdown to Extinction, and now the entire themed land is on a real countdown to extinction.

Disney Provides Other Park Opening/Closing Updates

This week really was one of THOSE weeks when it came to Disney news. So, I’m about to throw a lot at you in a short period.

The parks are undergoing numerous changes right now, and we just learned about several of them.

Let’s start with a predictable delay. The upcoming Little Mermaid show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios isn’t ready, something we’d guessed.

Disney had listed a Fall 2024 opening, and we’re running out of days for that to happen.

Sure enough, Disney has delayed The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure until Summer 2025.

Park officials have promised a cutting-edge show. So, the delay simply provides more runway to get everything right.

On the bright side, two other attractions are coming back much sooner. In fact, one is already here!

Jungle Cruise Refurbishment

Jungle Cruise has officially reopened after two months of refurbishments. And that’s not all!

Disney has provided the timeline for the holiday conversion, too.

Jingle Cruise will debut on November 2^nd. That’s right, folks. One of your favorite seasonal overlays arrives in less than two weeks.

That’s the good news at Magic Kingdom. The bad news is that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close on January 6^th, 2025.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Disney needs to work on the grounds in preparation for What Lies Beyond Big Thunder.

Basically, this needs to happen for Villains Land construction to begin.

Photo: Disney

The other big opening is the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree, which will debut at Disneyland this week.

This restaurant will open on October 25^th, and Disney just revealed the menu.

Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree in Disneyland

Meet Lightning Lane Premier Pass

The other massive news this week is the introduction of the Lightning Lane Premier Pass (LLPP).

This new service will debut on October 23^rd at Disneyland Resort and October 30^th at Walt Disney World.

Photo: Disney

So, we’ll be covering this story more over the next two weeks since it starts on Wednesday (and next Wednesday).

In the interim, MickeyBlog’s incredible staff already covered all the bases to bring you up to speed.

Photo: Disney

Here’s Jess Landers discussing pricing, Justin Hermes listing the participating hotels, and Madison Owens revealing all the attractions.

Justin also provided an extraordinarily helpful Q&A, and I offered initial thoughts and value critiques as well.

Photo: Disney

Here are the basics. At Disneyland Resort, anyone can purchase LLPP, which will cost $300-$400…but $400 for the rest of 2024.

The price fluctuates just like everything else at Disney, and we’ve now entered the park’s busy season.

AARONP/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES

At Walt Disney World, you must stay at a Deluxe Tier resort to purchase LLPP, which Disney will offer in extremely limited quantities.

This version of Lightning Lane provides you with immediate Lightning Lane access at any attraction with a Lightning Lane.

Frozen Ever After

Yes, that statement applies to Lightning Lane Single Pass as well as Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Even better, you don’t need to schedule a return time for your Lightning Lane.

Lightning Lane

This pass provides you with Lightning Lane access once for every attraction. So, it’s not unlimited, but it is powerful.

With this purchase, you can assure yourself of experiencing everything you want at the park on a given day.

Lightning Lane

However, you will pay for the privilege. The price range at Disney World is $129-$449.

As such, this is likely a special occasions-only Lightning Lane for the overwhelming majority of park guests. Even then, it’s pricey.

Lightning Lane

More about Lightning Lane Premier Pass

I discussed this possibility in this month’s Disney Rumors. So, it’s not a surprise, but it is a massive change.

Also, Disney has acknowledged that the program may require tweaking after its opening.

For this reason, I’m viewing it as a work in progress, and I’d strongly recommend two things.

The first is that you keep checking MickeyBlog to learn about the latest LLPP adjustments.

Test Track signage

We covered a similar situation with the Boarding Groups for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which updated half a dozen times.

Finally, you should speak with a MickeyTravels agent if you’re thinking about booking this.

MickeyTravels

We’re talking about a lot of money, and you don’t want to make a mistake with your purchase.

The Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at MickeyTravels are the best in the business at maximizing the value of your vacation budget.

Their Diamond Earmarked status shows that they’re at the top of the industry, and their services are free to you.

Frankly, it’d be foolish not to use them on a purchase like this.

Disney Miscellany

Ordinarily, I would have spent part of this week’s headlines discussing the holiday preparations already underway at Disney World.

At Hollywood Studios, Disney Jollywood Nights already has lights and displays posted, presuming you know where to look.

Photo: Disney

We also learned about all the characters who will appear this year and got a glimpse at some of their outfits.

In fact, we tracked plenty more happening at Hollywood Studios right now in anticipation of the holidays.

Halloween is still ten days away, yet Disney already has plenty of yuletide decorations ready to go.

That will help with the annual October 31^st/November 1^st magical overnight transformation of the parks from Halloween to Christmas.

Holidays in Magic Kingdom

Speaking of which, here is our complete holiday guide at Disney World.

This year’s events include a new Santa Claus character greeting at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Also, Disney just announced the list of celebrity narrators for 2024’s Candlelight Processional. And yes, the dining packages are back!

Disney Cruise Line also revealed new details about its Asian flagship, the Disney Adventure.

Photo: Disney

Oh, and if you’re into Universal Studios, Epic Universe is officially opening over Memorial Day Weekend.

You can learn more about the new park on our sister site, UniversalParksBlog News.

Photo: Universal

Finally, just because it’ll make you happy, look at these pictures of the latest furry baby born at Animal Kingdom. *swoon*

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