Welcome back to another weekly round up of the latest Disney theme park news! If you’ve been paying attention for the past few months, you’ll know that this week’s recap has been highly anticipated. We finally know the opening date of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom!
That’s not the only bit of exciting Disney theme park news from this week. We also learned more about the upcoming drone show, Disney Dreams That Soar, as well as some news out of Disneyland Resort. Let’s dive right in!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening Date Revealed at Disney World
At long last, we have an official opening date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! The flume ride will open at Walt Disney World on June 28.
When it opens, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be a part of Disney World’s virtual queue system, with no standby option available. However, it sounds like this won’t be around for too long, as Disney notes that a standby option would be available “soon after the attraction’s opening.” Virtual queues are made available at 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM daily.
Upon opening, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also be INCLUDED with your Genie+ purchase for Magic Kingdom (or the multi-park option). This is a huge shift from Disney – new attractions have been categorized as Individual Lightning Lanes, where you had to make a separate purchase in order to gain access to return times. The fact that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be included as one of the available Lightning Lanes when you purchase Genie+ is a move in the right direction, in my opinion!
Disneyland’s version of the ride will open later in 2024 – no opening date has been announced at this time.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE.
Cast Member, Annual Passholder, and Disney Vacation Club Preview Information Announced For Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Soon after the opening date announcement for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney revealed more information on how select guests can experience the attraction before its June 28 opening.
- Florida-based Cast Members: June 3-7 and June 23-26
- Disney Vacation Club Members: June 12 and 19
- Disney World Annual Passholders: June 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, and 20
Eligible guests have been contacted with relevant information on how to sign up for these previews. Annual Passholders can experience their Tiana’s Bayou Adventure preview via Disney’s virtual queue system.
To grab a virtual queue at 7:00 AM on any of the preview dates, you must have a Magic Kingdom Park Reservation. To grab a virtual queue at 1:00 PM on any of the preview dates, you must have a Park Reservation for any of the four theme parks (reminder that all-day Park Hopping is now permitted). You can also grab any remaining virtual queues by entering Magic Kingdom after 2:00 PM (when Park Reservations are no longer required).
CLICK HERE TO START PLANNING YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION.
New Details Revealed For “Disney Dreams That Soar” Drone Show
We’re anxiously awaiting the debut of Disney World’s new nighttime show, Disney Dreams That Soar. This show will be unlike anything we’ve seen before at a domestic Disney park – it’s a 9-minute-long show featuring 800 drones!
The show, which will perform nightly at Disney Springs, debuts on May 24 and runs through September 2. Showtimes will be 9:00 PM and 10:45 PM. Guests can look forward to seeing classic Disney characters take flight (inspired by characters that fly or have dreamed of flight).
From Peter Pan to Dumbo to Wall-E to even Figment, this will be an incredible addition to Disney World’s lineup of nighttime shows. It’s only running this summer, so make sure you get down there to see it!
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF PARK BAG ESSENTIALS TO BRING WITH YOU ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION.
Dining Packages Announced for the Return of Fantasmic at Disneyland
Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland Park on May 24 after a brief hiatus that involved an incident with the Maleficent dragon malfunctioning and catching on fire in 2023. As is the history with Fantasmic, Disney is offering a number of dining packages that include reserved viewing areas with your meal.
Participating restaurants and package details can be found below!
Blue Bayou
- Premium Package: Available for lunch or dinner
- Includes a 4-course lunch or dinner and a voucher admitting you to a separate reserved viewing location for your choice of one of the 2 Fantasmic! performances that evening.
- Lunch: $89 per Guest (ages 10+); $35 per Guest (ages 3-9), tax and gratuity not included.
- Dinner: $89 per Guest (ages 10+); $35 per Guest (ages 3-9), tax and gratuity not included.
River Belle Terrace
- Premium Package: Available for dinner only
- Includes a 3-course dinner and the evening’s first performance of Fantasmic! right from your table on the outdoor terrace.
- Dinner: $89 per adult; $45 per child (ages 3 to 9); tax and gratuity not included.
- Standard Package: Available for brunch or dinner
- Includes a 3-course “Southern-style meal” for brunch or dinner with a voucher admitting you to a separate reserved viewing location for one of the 2 Fantasmic! performances that evening.
- Brunch: $55 per Guest (ages 10+); $30 per Guest (ages 3-9), tax and gratuity not included.
- Dinner: $55 per Guest (ages 10+); $30 per Guest (ages 3-9), tax and gratuity not included.
Rancho del Zocalo
- Standard Package: Available for lunch only
- Includes a 3-course “Mexican-Korean fusion style meal” for lunch or dinner with a voucher admitting you to a separate reserved viewing location for one of the 2 Fantasmic! performances that evening.
- Lunch: $35 per Guest (ages 10+); $25 per Guest (ages 3-9), tax and gratuity not included.
- Dinner: $35 per Guest (ages 10+); $25 per Guest (ages 3-9), tax and gratuity not included.
Visit Disneyland’s website for menu details.
CLICK HERE TO START PLANNING YOUR NEXT DISNEYLAND VACATION.
New Offerings Coming To Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort
Creators Club, a concierge lounge at Pixar Place Hotel, will open on May 24. The space will provide continental breakfast along with wine and cheese, beer, sparkling wine, hot bites and desserts in the evening. A dedicated concierge Cast Member will also be on hand to assist guests staying on the concierge level.
Also coming to Pixar Place Hotel is a new speaker series provided in conjunction with Pixar Fest, which runs at Disneyland Resort now through August 4. The speaker series will be offered to guests staying at the hotel and will feature Peter Sohn on May 25, Maurissa Horwitz (Inside Out 2) on June 20, and Roger Gould (creative director, theme parks/Pixar) on July 13. The speaker series is included with your stay at Pixar Place Hotel and reservations can be made at the front desk.
