Welcome back to another roundup of Disney parks and cruise line news! We’re back from a week off for the holiday (holiday weeks tend to be slower news weeks, too), and we now have a double-header for all things Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line.
July has been off to a great start with some exciting news, all leading up to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, taking place next month at the Anaheim Convention Center! Let’s catch up on the latest and greatest from Disney Experiences from the first two weeks of July.
New Disney Vacation Club Cabins Open at Fort Wilderness
The month of July started with the grand opening of the new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort! These cabins are new additions to the DVC lineup of accommodation options for members, but non-members can book these as well.
The July 1 opening marks the first of several loops of cabins that will open throughout 2024. In total, there are 350 new cabins opening at Fort Wilderness.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DISNEY’S NEW CABINS AT FORT WILDERNESS RESORT.
Disney and Oriental Land Co., Ltd. Announce Plans to Bring Disney Cruise Line to Japan in 2029
You read that next headline correctly – ANOTHER new ship is officially in the works for Disney Cruise Line. Disney will have doubled its fleet by the end of 2025, but a ninth ship was announced in partnership with Oriental Land Co., Ltd. This ship will have a year-round home port in Japan.
Oriental Land Co. is the company that owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort. The new cruise ship is expected to be completed and set sail in Fiscal Year 2028 (early 2029).
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT WHAT’S COMING TO DISNEY CRUISE LINE IN 2024 AND 2025.
Full Event Schedule Released For D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event
August is going to be a big news month for the Walt Disney Company. That’s because D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center! The biennial convention brings together leaders from the Walt Disney Company to make the year’s biggest announcements, including news from the theme parks.
With the expo just a few weeks away, Disney has released the full event lineup for the weekend. You can check out the full list of panels and presentations on D23’s website. If you have tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, you can enter a randomized selection process next week for your preferred events.
We also learned this week the name of the Disney Experiences presentation, a.k.a. the presentation where we learn all of the big announcements from Disney parks and cruises. Set your alarm for 7:00 PM PST on Saturday August 10 for Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT D23: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup Announced for EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
EPCOT is taking the summer off from having a festival (as some say, we’re returning to the days of “Diet EPCOT”), but the Food and Wine Festival will be here before you know it! The flagship festival kicks off this year on August 29 and runs through November 23.
One of the highlights of the Food and Wine Festival is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. This lineup of musical acts can be enjoyed in the American Gardens Theater throughout the festival, and there are typically several exciting bands you’ll recognize as part of that lineup! The full schedule was recently announced. Head to my page that outlines EPCOT’s festival season for 2024 to learn more. The Eat to the Beat Dining Package is also available for booking, with packages available Friday through Monday during the festival.
CLICK HERE TO FIND THE FULL LINEUP FOR THIS YEAR’S EAT TO THE BEAT CONCERT SERIES
The Disney Dream To Be Updated This Fall
New cruise ships aren’t the only things in the works for Disney Cruise Line. Its legacy ships are also getting an upgrade, and the Disney Dream will be dry docked soon to receive a little facelift.
Upgrades coming to the Disney Dream include an updated Oceaneer Club, revamped youth spaces, a brand-new funnel suite themed to the Fantasia sequence “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” an expanded concierge lounge inspired by Hercules, and a new cantina quick service location on Deck 11.
According to DCL Blog, the first cruise after the renovations are complete will embark on October 20, 2024.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DISNEY CRUISE LINE’S NEXT SHIP, THE DISNEY TREASURE.
Disney Shares Sneak Peek of Country Bear Musical Jamboree
We’re just a few days away from the official reopening of Grizzly Hall in Magic Kingdom, welcoming Country Bear Musical Jamboree to the lineup of attractions. The newly reopened space will feature the same musical bears from the original Country Bear Jamboree, this time with a new set list and new costumes.
The attraction has been in previews this week, and Disney has released some sneak peek footage of the bears in action! Country Bear Musical Jamboree officially opens on July 17.
