WDW Refurbs: Starbucks Opening Delayed; Tomorrowland and Fantasyland Closures
We received a few new updates from Walt Disney World over the past week or so regarding upcoming refurbishments and have new additions as well as several date revisions. While we recommend verifying all of the changes by visiting our ReSearch page, here are some of the highlights:
- Main Street Bakery — which is being converted over to the Magic Kingdom’s Starbucks location — is now slated to open on June 19, 2013. This is actually the second delay we have seen before (it was initially slated to open on May 18, then was pushed back to May 28).
- Mad Tea Party is currently expected to close on April 10 and is expected to re-open on May 22, 2013.
- Carousel of Progress is currently expected to close on May 13 and is expected to re-open on May 16, 2013.
- Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel is currently expected to close on May 28 and is expected to re-open on June 11, 2013.
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Carousel of Progress, Closures, CoP, Disney World, fantasyland, Magic Kingdom, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, Starbucks, Tomorrowland, Walt Disney World, WDW
Starbucks Slated for May Opening at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
According to internal documents dating various refurbishments around the Walt Disney World, we can currently expect Walt Disney World’s first in-park Starbucks to open at the Magic Kingdom theme park on May 18, 2012.
The restaurant will be located at the Main Street Bakery which is scheduled for closure between January 6, 2013 and May 17, indicating it will emerge as a Starbucks-branded location on May 18, 2013. As with its west coast counterpart, the Main Street, USA location Starbucks will remain themed to its location with cast members donning costumes that lend themselves to the theme park’s land.
This will be the second of six announced in-park locations, one at each theme park between the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. The first opened earlier this year at Disney California Adventure as part of the new Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café in the Buena Vista Street area of the park. A location at Epcot’s Fountain View has also been announced, though it will close for its changeover at some point in March, re-opening in late summer.
Another recently announced upcoming closures at the Walt Disney World resort include: Liberty Belle (February 1 – 7), Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage (January 7 – 12), Disney Junior: Live on Stage (January 14 – February 13) and Kali River Rapids (January 6 – February 15).
Categories: Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Closures, Coffee, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, Starbucks
WDW Refurb Update: Mad Tea Party, Blizzard Beach Extension, Other Date Changes
We received a new update from Walt Disney World regarding upcoming refurbishments and have new additions as well as several date revisions. While we recommend verifying all of the changes by visiting our ReSearch page, here are some of the highlights:
- Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom is scheduled to close on January 7, 2013 and re-open on February 19.
- Splash Mountain dates revised to close on January 2 and re-open on March 20, 2013.
- The Boneyard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will have another 2-day closure, closing October 24, 2012 and re-opening on October 26.
- Blizzard Beach refurbishment has been extended until May 17, 2013. It will also start on January 6, 2013, meaning Typhoon Lagoon will now re-open that same day, which is a little earlier than originally slated.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
Categories: Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Blizzard Beach, Closures, Disney World, Mad Tea Party, Magic Kingdom, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, Splash Mountain, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World, WDW
WDW Refurb Update: Splash Mountain Closure in 2013
It should come as no surprise, but now the official Walt Disney World Resort website has been updated to advise that Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland will be closing for its nearly-annual slow season refurbishment beginning on February 3, 2013 January 4, 2013 and re-opening on March 21.
In other news, while the official site still shows a tentative re-opening date for Test Track at Epcot, the Disney Parks blog has reported that it will re-open on December 6, 2012, the same day that New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom will have its grand opening.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
UPDATE #2: 10/12/12 The official website has been updated to now show a closure date of January 4. Please be advised that the hub (for cast members) reflects slightly different dates.
UPDATE #3: 10/15/12 We have been given another set of dates from another source of January 2 and re-opening March 20, 2013.
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Closures, Disney World, Frontierland, Magic Kingdom, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, Splash Mountain, Walt Disney World, WDW
WDW Refurb Update: Studio Backlot Tour, HISTK Playground Extension
The official Walt Disney World Resort website has been updated to advise that the existing ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set’ play area refurbishment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been extended through November 16, 2012. It is also listing the Studio Backlot Tour (and subsequently the AFI Showcase exhibit) as being closed from November 1, 2012 through November 16, however it is being reported elsewhere that the closure will actually begin in October, likely on the 8th.
We will update with official dates as they become available to us. The official website calendar has been updated to reflect the October 8 closure date.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
Categories: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Closures, Refurbs, Rehabs
Walt Disney Imagineering Suggests ‘Country Bear Jamboree’ Show Changes A Comin’
Ever since its refurbishment was announced back in May, speculations have run rampant about changes being made to ‘Country Bear Jamboree,’ located in Frontierland of the Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. Initial rumors had the show being cut in length and have since grown to include cutting out peripheral characters out completely to the return of the holiday overlay and more. The only certain element regarding the rumors was that for every rumor proposed, there was at least another that contradicted it and proposed something else.
While it’s not 100% confirmation, paperwork filed today at the Orange County Comptroller’s office by Walt Disney Imagineering show intentions of modifying both the lighting and the show control, which is a strong indication that there will in fact be modifications to the show, although how exactly will remain to be seen when the attraction re-opens on October 17, 2012.
Prior to these filings, the only related paperwork has been in regards to general refurbishment and construction as well as electrical work supplied by Ermco of Florida.
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Closures, CMJ, Country Bear Jamboree, Disney World, Frontierland, Imagineering, Magic Kingdom, Refurbs, walt disney imagineering, Walt Disney World, WDI, WDW
WDW Refurb Update: Pirates of the Caribbean Closed for One Day in October
Apparently the long term effects of One More Disney Day have caught up to the Magic Kingdom classic attraction as the official Walt Disney World Resort website has begun listing Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland as experiencing a one day closure on October 9, 2012.
With the timing of the closure, it’s possible that it may be related to the park’s NextGen technology. Not necessarily directly in terms of installing FASTPASS+ or other interactive capabilities, but more in lines with demonstrating and training.
If we learn of an extension of dates, we will update as necessary.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Closures, Pirates of the Caribbean, POTC, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, Rides, Theme Parks
WDW Refurb Update: Country Bear Jamboree in Hibernation for Fall
The official Walt Disney World Resort website has been updated to advise that Country Bear Jamboree located at the Magic Kingdom will be closed for refurbishment beginning September 1, 2012 and lasting through October 17. It should be noted that when the notice was first posted, it began on October 1, so there is a small chance that the start date may actually precede September.
Additionally, a brief closure for American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was recently announced for June 14 and 15.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: CBJ, Closures, Country Bear Jamboree, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs
WDW Refurb Update: Monorail Service to be Disrupted Daily in March
Walt Disney World Cast Member Dave provided confirmation via Twitter this evening that beginning March 2, 2012 and through March 17, 2012, all Magic Kingdom monorail service will be suspended daily from 11:30 am through 6 pm. This is being done primarily so that construction work related to the Grand Floridian DVC expansion can be completed, although ‘planned maintenance’ is also mentioned in the notice.
In response to the reduction of service, more buses and water transportation will be put on line to accommodate guests traveling between the Magic Kingdom and the TTC and area resorts. Monorail service between the TTC and Epcot will not be affected by this change.
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs
WDW Refurb Update: Liberty Belle Extended Through May
With what was initially slated to be a week-or-so closure for the Liberty Square riverboat at the Magic Kingdom is now turning into a multi-month closure. The official Walt Disney World website is now reporting that the Liberty Belle attraction will now re-open on May 21, 2012. The announcement comes a day after the attraction had closed for its refurbishment.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Closures, Liberty Belle, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs



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