If you have a trip to Walt Disney World resorts planned for the Spring or Summer there are some exciting new attractions and experiences that have recently opened or launching very soon!
From the unveiling of a whole new land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to an awe-inspiring fireworks show at Magic Kingdom Park, there is more to see and do at Walt Disney World Resort than ever before.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Avatar fans! May 27th is your day you will finally get to experience The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This incredible immersive world will transport guests to a mystical world of bioluminescent rainforests, floating mountains and soaring Banshees.
Guests will discover two main adventures in this new land. Avatar Flight of Passage, sending guests flying above the jungles of Pandora on a Mountain Banshee. Na’vi River Journey is a family-friendly boat ride that sails down a sacred river hidden within a glowing rainforest for an unforgettable encounter with a Na’vi Shaman.
Park goers can recharge at Satu’li Canteen, the main dining location, or Pongu Pongu, a drink kiosk with a design as eclectic as its expat owner.
Plan to stay at the park after the sun goes down because Rivers of Light is now open and it is something you don’t want to miss. While visiting the park in February we had the opportunity to preview the show before it opened to the public and we enjoyed every minute. As always, Disney has brought the magic, excitement, and beauty together to wow fans with a show that is perfect for visitors of all ages.
Rivers of Light takes guests on a journey with a mix of water, fire, nature, and light choreographed to an original musical score. Continuing the park’s transformation from a day-into-nighttime experience, the amazing after-dark experience on the banks of Discovery River celebrates the majesty of nature and the connection between animals and humans in the world.
Magic Kingdom Park
Starting May 12, guests visiting Magic Kingdom Park will be treated to their new spectacular fireworks display called “Happily Ever After.” Featuring more lasers, lights and projections than any Magic Kingdom Park show before, “Happily Ever After” takes guests on an inspiring journey filled with heart and humor. Cinderella Castle itself will become part of the story, with dazzling projections bringing more than 25 heartfelt Disney stories to life on and around the iconic castle.
The 18-minute spectacle will feature moments from beloved Disney films such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin,” as well as modern blockbusters “Moana” and “Zootopia.”
“Happily Ever After” will be presented nightly. Show times vary based on park hours.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A new, limited-time concert event, “The Music of Pixar LIVE! A Symphony of Characters,” is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting May 26. It will showcase memorable music from Pixar Animation Studios films, complete with a live orchestra and appearances by beloved Disney•Pixar characters.
“The Music of Pixar LIVE!” will be presented three times nightly at Theater of the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (following the regular daily performances of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage”). The show will also feature highlights from some of Pixar’s greatest scores, from films like “Toy Story” to “Cars 3.” Guests can also expect appearances by Woody, Jessie, Mike and Sulley, the Incredibles and more.
Several new Star Wars additions have recently taken center stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, starting with new displays inside Star Wars Launch Bay that feature authentic replicas from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The new AWR Troopers from “Rogue One” are also now appearing in the daytime stage show “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away.”
Offered for an additional fee, the all-new Star Wars Guided Tour treats guests to a seven-hour immersion with character greetings, themed dining, attraction experiences, insider’s tours, a dessert party and VIP viewing of Star Wars: a Galactic Spectacular. Tours are available Mondays and Saturdays and can be booked at DisneyWorld.com.
And coming later this year, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests will be immersed in new scenes from “Star Wars: Episode VIII” while onboard the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction.
Epcot
Celebrating its 24th year, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off March 1 and runs 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.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
This Spring, Miss Adventure Falls, the newest family attraction at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, will take guests on a family-style raft adventure, where they 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!
