Welcome back to another weekly roundup of Disney parks news! Our Disney parks news for this week comes entirely from Walt Disney World, and we have updates to share from each of the four theme parks.
As we head into summer, a lot of new activities are kicking off at the Most Magical Place on Earth. Expect high temperatures, but also expect lots to see and do that was not available during your last Disney World vacation. Let’s catch up now on the latest news from EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and beyond.
EPCOT’s Multi-Year Transformation Comes to an End
At long last, EPCOT’s multi-year transformation is over with the opening of CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, which took place this week!
With the opening of these two spaces comes new entertainment and meet-and-greet opportunities. CommuniCore Hall is now where you will meet Mickey Mouse and his friends throughout the day. Outside in CommuniCore Plaza, families can enjoy the limited-run show ¡Celebración Encanto!, which performs throughout the day this summer.
CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza will both serve as flex spaces throughout the year, capable of transforming into various dining, performance, and overall laid-back locations as the seasons and festivals change in EPCOT. A new Quick Service dining location, Festival Favorites, also opened this week. It currently features a menu of Encanto-inspired dishes, and I would expect this menu to stick around until the Food and Wine Festival begins on August 29.
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Opening Date Revealed for Country Bear Musical Jamboree
At a media event this week, it was revealed that Country Bear Musical Jamboree will open in Magic Kingdom on July 17. The show will open in Grizzly Hall, the same space as the former version of the show, Country Bear Jamboree.
Country Bear Musical Jamboree will feature the same cast of Audio-Animatronic bears, but with a new setlist that includes songs from classic and newer Disney films. Expect a Nashville-style twist to the songs as the bears put on a brand-new show for audiences starting later this summer.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE OPENING OF COUNTRY BEAR MUSICAL JAMBOREE
New Details Revealed For Little Mermaid Stage Show Coming to Hollywood Studios
This fall, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” will open at the Animation Courtyard Theatre in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, taking the place of the stage show inspired by The Little Mermaid that ran previously. This new stage show will be a newly re-imagined version of the show.
This week, we got a sneak peek at what the new show will look like. Disney will use all different kinds of media and art forms, from puppetry to motion-capture technology, to bring the story of The Little Mermaid to life. Be on the lookout for an opening date announcement in the coming weeks!
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‘The Lion King’ 30th Anniversary Celebration Kicks Off at Animal Kingdom
There’s something exciting happening in all four corners of Walt Disney World this summer! Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can now celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Lion King with limited-edition treats, merchandise, and more.
The festivities officially kicked off this week and will run through September 6.
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New Disney Vacation Club Lounge Coming to Magic Kingdom
This final bit of news is about another change coming to Magic Kingdom. A new Disney Vacation Club Lounge is coming to Frontierland, which means we will soon bid adieu to the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. It was confirmed by theme park journalist Scott Gustin that the final day of operation for the shooting arcade will be June 23.
Construction on the DVC Lounge will begin “later this year,” with an opening timeline yet to be announced. Once open, there will be three DVC Lounges available for Members in Walt Disney World: Frontierland, the Imagination Pavilion in EPCOT, and Top of the World Lounge — A Villain’s Lair at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
