Last summer, we shared the exciting news that Miss Adventure Falls, a new family-style raft attraction, is coming to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon® Water Park this spring. Construction is almost complete and we’re excited to announce that the attraction will open March 12!
Here’s a sneak peek at Captain Mary Oceaneer’s dive bell, just one of the many items from her journeys around the world.
The Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival begins today at Walt Disney World® Resort. And, in celebration, we wanted to share some great news …
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts will return to Epcot in early 2018!
With nearly 150 retail, dining, and entertainment locations now open, Disney Springs™ at Walt Disney World® Resort allows guests to explore unique boutiques and enjoy waterfront dining and live entertainment. The four neighborhoods of Disney Springs – The Landing, Town Center, Marketplace, and West Side – include a high-quality mix of retailers and sophisticated restaurants as diverse as the neighborhoods themselves.
From big-name brands to rare finds, guests will find this playful promenade to be the perfect place to shop with nearly 100 stores including the hottest brand names in shopping like Zara, Anthropologie, kate spade new York, Vera Bradley, MAC and Vince Camuto. Plus, the biggest and best selection of Disney merchandise at World of Disney, Marketplace Co-op, TrenD and more!
Get a closer look at Disney Springs in this stop motion video!
| Magic Kingdom® Park | |
| Monorail The Walt Disney World® Resort Monorail System is undergoing refurbishment and may be on modified service and/or routes. If Guests plan to use this form or transportation during their visit they should check to be sure of the best option available on their day of travel, as alternatve transportation options will be available. |
Through February 28, 2017 |
| The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour Walt Disney World Railroad Hall of Presidents |
Jan. 1 – Feb. 28, 2017 Jan. 9 – Mar. 2, 2017 Jan. 17 – Jun. 29, 2017 |
| Epcot® | |
| None | |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios® | |
| Cover Story | Jan. 9 – Mar. 23, 2017 |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park | |
| None | |
| Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park | |
| Annual Refurbishment | Dec. 25, 2016 – Mar. 11, 2017 |
| Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park | |
| None | |
| Disney’s Beach Club Resort | |
| Tidal Pool | Feb. 20 – 22, 2017 |
| Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas | |
| Exterior Maintenance and Painting All work with the highest potential for noise will be limited between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. |
Through April 2017 |
| Luna Park Slide | Feb. 6 – Mar. 3, 2017 |
| Community Hall Pool | Feb. 27 – Mar. 1, 2017 |
| Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort | |
| Trinidad South Village Pool | Jan. 6 – Mar. 16, 2017 |
| General Resort Refurbishments – Trinidad South Region Due to several refurbishment projects, Guests may see and hear construction in progress specifically around the pirate-themed rooms in the Trinidad South region of the Resort. Any work most likely to cause a noise impact will not begin until 9:00 a.m. |
Jan. 9 – Mar. 16, 2017 |
| Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters at Old Port Royale, Cabana Pool Bar and Calypso Trading Post There will be a variety of dining options available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Centertown will serve breakfast and dinner and a selection of grab-and-go meals will be conveniently available for purchase in three island markets located in the Aruba, Jamaica and Martinique regions of the Resort. |
Beginning May 2017 through 2018 |
| Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort | |
| Hard Goods Refurbishment Guests may see or hear construction taking place, or encounter alternative paths of travel throughout the Resort hotel. To minimize disruptions, we will attempt to limit all work until after 9:00 a.m. daily. |
Beginning Fall 2016 |
| Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort | |
| Broad Creek Merchantile Merchantile will remain open, but noise and visual impacts are expected. |
Jan. 2 – Feb. 28, 2017 |
| Disney’s Beach House The Beach House Pool, Signals (the quick service restaurant), Surfmen’s Station, and the restrooms will be unavailable. |
Jan. 2 – Feb. 28, 2017 |
| Live Oak Lodge Elevator | Jan. 30 – Feb. 26, 2017 |
| Room Refurbishment This will not impact any of the Resort activities or amenities available to Guests. |
Feb. 19 – Apr. 9, 2017 |
| Disney’s Old Key West Resort | |
| Sandcastle Pool The leisure pools located at Old Turtle Pond, South Point and Miller’s Road will remain available |
Jan. 2 – Mar. 3, 2017 |
| Exterior Maintenance and Painting To minimize disruptions, we will attempt to limit all work until after 9:00 a.m. daily. |
Jan. 3 – Jul. 27, 2017 |
| Disney’s Pop Century Resort | |
| Room Refurbishments During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. To minimize disruptions, we will attempt to limit all work until after 9:00 a.m. daily. |
Feb. 4, 2017 – May 7, 2018 |
| Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside | |
| Alligator Bayou North Pool | Feb. 13 – Apr. 7, 2017 |
| Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort | |
| Paddock Pool Water Play Area | Jan. 16 – Feb. 24, 2017 |
| Disney’s Vero Beach Resort | |
| General Resort Refurbishments Due to several refurbishment projects, Guests will very likely see and hear construction work throughout the villas, spa and dining areas. We will attempt to limit any work most likely to cause a noise impact to the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. |
Through March 2017 |
| Disney’s Wilderness Lodge & Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | |
| General Resort Refurbishments Due to extensive refurbishment projects, Guests will very likely see and hear construction work in various areas throughout their stay. To minimize disruptions, we will attempt to limit work until after 9:00 a.m. At this time, many popular areas will remained closed – including the Hidden Springs Pool (the leisure pool at Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge), marina, playground and more. In addition, certain pathways, like our nature trail, will be unavailable, and surrounding views may be altered. However, the recently renovated Silver Creek Springs Pool will remain open and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom park will continue to be offered. |
Through 2017 |
| Cub’s Den (Children’s Activity Center) – unavailable | Through 2017 |
| Roaring Fork and Trout Pass Pool Bar During this time our latest addition, Geyser Point Pool Bar & Grill will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Territory Lounge will also offer a continental-style breakfast featuring gourmet coffees, pastries and a yogurt parfait. |
Feb. 13 – Summer 2017 |
| Disney’s Yacht Club Resort | |
| Room Refurbishments During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. To minimize any disruptions, we will attempt to limit work to 9:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. |
Beginning in January 2017 |
| Admiral Pool | Feb. 22 – 24, 2017 |
| Captain’s Grille During refurbishments, the Captain’s Grille is relocating to the oceanic-themed Ariel’s. |
May 15 – Sep. 30, 2017 |
| Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center | |
| Expansion Work During this time, Guests may see or hear work in progress and certain pathways may be unavailable. To minimize any disruptions, we will attempt to limit work to 9:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m. |
Aug. 4, 2016 – Feb. 1, 2018 |
| Disney Springs™ | |
| DisneyQuest – Closing Permanently | Jul. 3, 2017 |
| Golf Courses/Miniature Golf | |
| None | |
Information and dates subject to change without notice.
Now guests can get a closer look at the majestic African elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and learn what it takes to care for them. Caring for Giants is a unique, family-friendly backstage viewing experience of our African elephants.
During this 60-minute tour, guests can meet with dedicated animal care specialists who provide for the care and wellness of our elephant herd. African cultural representatives will also be on hand to share stories of Disney’s conservation efforts dedicated to the preservation of wild populations throughout their homeland. Throughout this experience, guests will be able to observe the elephants from approximately 80 to 100 feet away – so they’ll enjoy a closer encounter with the elephants than they would during other in-park experiences.
Caring for Giants will be offered several times daily beginning March 12, 2017. Groups depart throughout the day between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and each experience lasts approximately one hour. Guests must be 4 years of age or older to participate. Reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-PLAY (939-7529). Cost is $30 per person (tax included). Admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is required and is not included with the cost of Caring for Giants.
Behold a captivating show that artfully blends vibrant music and whimsical characters with daring acrobatics and dazzling choreography at La Nouba™ by Cirque du Soleil® at the Disney Springs™ West Side.
Guests can marvel at a stunning international cast as they perform glorious feats of incredible strength and breathtaking beauty. Acrobats, aerialists, break dancers, singers, trapeze artists, jugglers and clowns—more than 65 artists representing 15 countries—entertain and mystify with daring acts of grace. A stream of color washes over every scene with the imaginative costumes, out-of-this-world makeup and dynamic sets. As the performers weave dreams onstage, the live music—symphonic, rock or some unique fusion—is always evocative, emotional and inspiring.
When guests visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at Walt Disney World® Resort this spring, they will have more Star Wars fun to look forward to as BB-8, the loyal droid from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, begins character greetings at the park’s Star Wars Launch Bay.
BB-8 will appear in addition to Kylo Ren and Chewbacca, two characters from the Star Wars galaxy who Guests can regularly encounter at Star Wars Launch Bay. In addition to character greetings, the location also offers guests the chance to explore galleries full of treasured memorabilia and authentic replicas of large-scale Star Wars artifacts, including some from the latest film in the franchise, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Miss Adventure Falls, the newest family attraction at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, splashes onto the scene this spring. Aboard this family-style raft adventure, guests will be immersed in the story of Captain Mary Oceaneer. Legend holds that this treasure hunter roamed the seven seas in search of undersea artifacts – until a rogue storm marooned her at Typhoon Lagoon.
Guests gently ascend to the top of the attraction in treasure rafts, only to plunge into a whitewater adventure where they will encounter some of Mary’s deep-sea treasures.
When it opens, Miss Adventure Falls will be one of the longest attractions (2 minutes) at Disney’s Water Parks.
Celebrating 24 years when it kicks off March 1, 2017, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will jump-start spring with blooms aplenty and gardens of edibles including toothsome morsels from the new Northern Bloom and The Berry Basket Outdoor Kitchens. A new, next-generation Belle topiary from “Beauty and the Beast” will debut in France, and a redesigned “Cars” play garden will introduce a colorful new character topiary sure to capture children’s imaginations.
The 90-day festival, open March 1-May 29, will feature an irresistible array of new gardens and character topiaries, popular entertainers and tasty food and drink offerings:
One of the popular Outdoor Kitchen gardens, Urban Farm Eats, will return with savory bites, sweet treats and ideas for planting produce that can inspire growing numbers of guests who want to learn to grow their own edibles.
“A lot of people, including young children, are serious foodies now, and they have lots of questions about gardening,” says Eric Darden, festival horticulture manager. “We’re getting more and more people in their 20s and 30s asking, ‘How can I grow this?’ I think we’ll be creating more gardeners because people can see what’s possible.”
The 2017 festival forecast will be sunny with colorful floral bursts by day and a nighttime landscape aglow with twinkling lights:
Dozens of Disney-crafted “flower towers” and beds of multi-colored blooms will transform the park’s landscape. At least 70,000 bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west lakes alone; on the water, 220 mini-gardens will be set afloat.
The festival, including all gardening programs, exhibits, concerts, complimentary English Tea Garden tours and special appearances, is included in regular Epcot admission.
For more information about the 24th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or visit www.epcotinspring.com.
Epcot
Epcot celebrates 24 years of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this spring, kicking off March 1 and running through May 29. Guests can sip and savor their way around Epcot enjoying new Outdoor Kitchens while taking in the sights of phenomenal topiaries designed after Disney characters.
Anna and Elsa topiaries will enchant the landscape at the Norway Pavilion in celebration of the new Frozen Ever After attraction, while colorful gardens will line the path to The Land Pavilion where guests can discover Soarin’ Around the World. The favorite attraction now takes guests to new heights with scenes from Sydney, Australia, the Great Wall of China and other destinations around the globe.
