Lion King Show Returning: In some of the best news of the week, Disney announced the upcoming return of the Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom. The show will be back sometime this summer with some modifications. There will be adjustments to the show on stage and backstage, including updates to choreography to allow for appropriate physical distancing. The audience seating will also be adjusted in the theater similar to what they've done with the other shows that have been able to return.

Even more exciting though, is that this indicates they are starting to gradually bring back some of the talented performers from the Equity Actors Union. With all the layoffs that have happened (and are still happening) it's so good to see a little movement in the right direction here. Disney said in their statement "We are thrilled to be starting the process of bringing back to work more singers, dancers, technicians and other cast members" showing this is not the only thing they are hoping to be able to bring back just as soon as they can.   

I cannot wait to see this amazing show return in whatever capacity it can, and I feel like all of us as guests will truly appreciate these shows even more once we have them back. Let's hope this is just the first of many positive things we see happening for Disney parks in 2021. 

Jungle Cruise Update: The Jungle Cruise is a classic attraction at both Disney World and Disneyland, and we just found out that there will be some updates and additions in store for this year. Disney has a video in their article here, but basically, they plan to include new adventures with some of the skippers we know and love- adding them straight into the story while updating a few key scenes in the attraction.  The OC Register has more details but they keep them all behind a sign-in so it makes them hard to read. Here the link and the highlights in their article add that Walt Disney Imagineering will update Jungle Cruise scenes featuring shrunken head dealer Trader Sam and a rhino chasing a safari group up a tree while adding a new scene with a half-sunken boat overrun by chimps.

This latest update to the Jungle Cruise attractions will address how Trader Sam and other native people and their culture are represented in the classic boat ride. Imagineers were clear to state that "this is not a re-envisioning of the entire attraction. It’s the Jungle Cruise you know and love, with the skippers still leading the way, and at the same time, we’re addressing the negative depictions of ‘natives’” No specific timeline is given on any of these except sometime later this year. 

Epcot Poster collection: The new style of attraction posters will be sold at ShopDisney and they are super cool- these are the new ones that debuted at D23 in 2019 when Disney first announced all the changes coming to Epcot. You can see the article with details here, and the shop here. 

Muppet Show coming to DisneyPlus: Not park news but still pretty cool to me. I'm excited about the potential of unlocking a whole new generation of Muppets fans with these episodes now streaming. Details here. 

New additions to Disney Springs: With Gideons Bakehouse and Everglazed donuts now open and the new giant M&M store set to open very soon there will be lots of ways to get your sugar fix at Springs. Gideons should always be top of your list though- the virtual queue system works great- just go there first and they'll text you when you can shop. Gideons is near Wine Bar George and Boathouse area, and both Everglazed and M&M are down near Splitsville Bowling. 


In case you missed it: 

New Jazz Exhibit Comes to Epcot:  “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure,” is a new exhibit coming to the American Adventure pavilion in World Showcase. Debuting sometime this February, it will feature Joe Gardner from Disney and Pixar’s “Soul”, who will take you on a musical tour of America to learn about this inspiring genre of music. More details here.  

Early Theme park Entry: Extra Magic Hours didn't come back when the parks reopened but Disney has announced that soon they will start Early Theme Park Entry for resort guests. Anyone staying at a Disney resort (or a partner resort) will get 30-minute early entry t ANY theme park EVERY day. This will be part of the 50th celebration and will be coming later this year so stay tuned for specific dates. 

Jan.8th-Feb. 22nd: Epcot's Festival of the Arts

Mar. 3rd- July 5th: Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival

Mar. 7th: Blizzard Beach Reopens

Mar. 22nd:: All Star Movies Resort reopens

May 30th: Beach Club Resort reopens

June 6th: Wilderness Lodge reopens

Oct. 1st, 2021: Disney World's official 50th Anniversary

Serena 

✨🏰✨

PS: Archive of past emails is here