Disney Resort Hotels
While Walt Disney World resort hotels have been reopened, a select few have yet to open to guests. At this time, only three resorts have yet to reopen to guests, however, they will be opened in the next couple of months. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will open to guests on 6 June, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn will open on 2 July, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – which is currently under an extensive refurbishment, is scheduled to reopen in late July.
In addition, Disney has just announced that select club level rooms, suites, and lounges will begin reopening this September. At this time, the following resorts have reopening dates:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – Royal Palm Club – 16 September 2021
- Disney’s BoardWalk Resort – 23 September 2021
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort – 26 September 2021
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – 16 December 2021
Disney has yet to announce reopening dates for:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney’s Beach Club Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Sugar Loaf Club)
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
It should be noted, these dates may change in regards to other factors such as the status of the pandemic, staffing availability, etc.
“Each Club Level Lounge will follow physical distancing measures and indoor covering requirements,” stated Disney. “Our lounges will continue to provide a personalized experience for Guests, including exclusive food & beverage options throughout the day and special Disney touches for all ages.”
EPCOT Theme Park
EPCOT continues to transform the former Future World into “World” neighborhoods. One area that was put on hold due to the pandemic is the “Moana” inspired Journey of Water attraction. Work is now progressing on the area – which is located across from The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
Left and middle image/Bioreconstruct/Twitter, Right image: Blogmickey.com
According to Mike from Blogmickey.com, “Construction has gone vertical … Disney has not given an opening timeframe for the attraction yet. The new work comes after more than 20 months of demolition was required to remove the Innoventions West structure that used to sit in this area.”
The “points of light” construction on Spaceship Earth continues. Imagineers are now installing the lighting package on the underside of the attraction, the area closed to the ground. This new – permanent – addition to Spaceship Earth is for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Walt Disney World Resort beginning 1 October 2021.
Club Cool at EPCOT
This week Imagineer Zack Riddley recently shared a number of construction updates happening at Club Cool, a Coke Cola experience. The reimagined tasting station and shop will be returning to EPCOT this summer. Now he features the flooring that will be found at Creations Shop, the reimagined Mouse Gears shop.
In an Instagram post, Riddley said, “EPCOT is a unique park with a unique aesthetic. It’s not modern in the traditional architectural definition of that style, but it is abstract. It’s big, bold shapes, surfaces, colors, and details that define EPCOT. Those are the same techniques we are using in all the facets of Creations Shop, right down to the floor.
Similar to the design we recently revealed for the new floor at Club Cool, we have a completely custom surface that brings color and texture to life.
Our Imagineering team carefully selected binder colors and aggregates to create five unique terrazzo finishes. We’re also using golden yellow as our primary accent color throughout the space, inspired by one of the main colors of Mickey himself. This golden yellow terrazzo has a special tessellated pattern, reminiscent of Spaceship Earth. This integral pattern is created using 3D printing technology, in lieu of brass inlays used in more traditional terrazzo installations. This gives us greater precision to reflect shapes and motifs iconic to EPCOT.
This terrazzo is also distinctive in that it uses a natural binder, made up of biodegradable materials, which further supports Disney’s commitment to sustainable building practices.”
Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Earlier this week, Disney announced the popular Tusker House Restaurant will reopen on 20 June at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. At this time, the all-you-care-to-eat restaurant, along with other Disney buffets, has been modified due to the pandemic. It will still feature characters through the restaurant, however, the food will be served family-style.
Disney has now released pricing and the menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast: Adults – $42.00 and Children – $27.00. Offerings will include a pastries basket, fresh fruit, and a breakfast platter. Pastries Basket: Safari Bread, Multigrain Croissants and Cornbread served with Whipped Butter, Nutella, and Strawberry Preserves, Fresh Fruit with Honey Yogurt sauce, and the Breakfast Platter will consist of Potatoes, Scrambled Eggs, Mickey and Simba-shaped Waffles, Bacon, Sausage, Durban Chicken-Egg Curry with Jasmine Rice.
Lunch and Dinner: Adults – $55.00 and Children – $42.00. Lunch and Dinner starters will feature Assorted House-made Bread served with Hummus, Coriander and Mango Chutney, African Inspired Salads – Kachumbari and Arcadian Green Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Dressing, and entrees Moroccan Spiced Beef, Cape Malay Green Curry Shrimp, Spit-Roasted Herb Chicken, Berber Marinated Pork, Sides of Green Beans with Carrots and Corn, Roasted Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, House-made Macaroni and Cheese, and an assortment of desserts.
Jungle Cruise Attraction
Disney continues to make progress on the updating of the Jungle Cruise attraction at the Magic Kingdom. Disney is currently updating the story and some attraction scenes to make them more culturally appropriate.
Progression of work on Walt Disney World’s Jungle Cruise Attraction/Blogmickey.com
Recently, the tribal dancers and the tribal hut have been removed from the attraction. In its place will be a group of chimpanzees who have taken over an abandoned Jungle Cruise boat – the Congo Kate.
Walt Disney World’s version will be completed sometime this summer, while Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise will reopen on 16 July 2021 for guests.
Disney Cruise Line
The entire fleet of ships has been grounded since the coronavirus pandemic shut down last spring. Although many divisions of the Walt Disney Company have reopened – albeit in a modified version – one of those still not back in operation is the Disney Cruise Line.
The only upcoming sailings will be aboard the Disney Magic starting this July from the United Kingdom.
Now, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has given Disney the green light to begin test cruises out of Florida later this month.
Scott Gustin reports, “Disney Cruise Line officially confirms the CDC approved DCL’s application to conduct ‘a simulation cruise’ in advance of resuming normal operations.”
“We have reached an important next step toward our gradual and responsible resumption of service, and are grateful for the productive dialogue with state, local, and federal officials, the CDC, and others in our industry that has made this possible,” read a statement from the Disney Cruise Line.
The Disney Dream will conduct a test cruise from Port Canaveral on 29 June only for Disney Cruise Line employees.
