Categories
Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Can You Conquer These 5 Disney World CHALLENGES?

We all have a little bit of a competitive streak (Disney board games are the bomb.)!

Cinderella Castle and Main Street, U.S.A. in Disney World

That’s why conquering Disney World challenges is so satisfying. These are some of the BIGGEST challenges out there that we dare you to complete during your next Disney vacation!

If you can complete them all, you can officially be deemed a seasoned Disney World pro! ?

Mickey Bar

Let’s take a look at what you’re in for!

All 4 Parks in One Day

Visiting all four theme parks in a day? Seems like a piece of cake, right?? Well… we’re making this a CHALLENGE for a reason!

Once you go to a park, you have to do four things: ride an attraction, watch a show or film, take a photo with a character, and get something to eat or drink before moving on to the next park.

Does Everyone Want To Ride Splash Mountain??

You could even make it MORE of a challenge by having to use a different form of transportation every time you go to a new park (and you can’t reuse the ones from before)! HINT: Start in Magic Kingdom and take the monorail to Epcot, before moving on from there. ?

Every “Mountain” in Disney World

Ain’t no mountain high enough, friends! So, that means it’s time to conquer ALL the attractions with mountains in Disney World. This challenge is especially fun since you’ll even get to visit both waterparks for a day of splashing around and soaking in some good ol’ Vitamin D!

While you’re in Magic Kingdom, you’re going to want to hop onto Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

Big Thunder Mountain

After you’ve made your way to Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’ll want to hop on over to the waterparks.

First on the agenda, you’ll want to take a wicked ride on Mount Gushmore at Blizzard Beach and then visit Mount Mayday at Typhoon Lagoon.

Typhoon Lagoon

Seven mountain rides in one day is daunting but totally doable (if you’re up for the challenge!).

The BIGGEST Snacks on Property

You guys know that some of the portions are HUGE in Disney World (best bang for your buck, though!).
And, while we’re big fans of snack crawls, we think the biggest food challenge is trying to finish all of these MASSIVE sized snacks at the parks and resorts!

Samantha Sterling Punch Bowl

We’re talkin’ about The Edison Punch Bowl, Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream, Buttermilk Pancake Tower at STK Orlando, Gibson S’mores Baked Alaska at The Boathouse, and ALL the specialty Dole Whips on property (ok, these aren’t massive sized but there are massive amounts OF them!). Yeah, we’re totally drooling just thinking about them… .

Visit EVERY Country in the World Showcase

The World Showcase in Epcot is one of our FAVORITE places to stroll around when we’re in the parks. Each country has something special to offer, even if it’s just admiring the buildings (that architecture is so detailed!!).

The next time you’re in Epcot, spend some time at each of the 11 World Showcase Pavilions to say you’ve conquered them all. 

Mexico Pavilion

But, like all good challenges, there’s a rule! You have to either visit an attraction or show, take a photo with a character, or grab a snack or a drink once you visit a pavilion. You never know — you might find some hidden spot or details along the way (have you been lucky enough to spot the Viking sword in Norway??).

Eating ALL the Mickey Treats

There are SO many different Mickey treats on property (it IS Disney World after all. ?)! And, if you’re up to one of the ULTIMATE challenges, you can bring your friends and family members along with you to try them. Oh, did we mention there’s 19 of them?! PHEW. Keep in mind Disney is ALWAYS coming up with new Mickey-fied treats, so the list could keep growing!

Mickey Candy Apple

On top of the classics — Mickey Premium Bars, Mickey Candy Apples, Mickey Rice Krispies, and Mickey Waffles — you can also get unique treats like the Mickey House-made Pecan Praline and Mickey Chili Pepper Chocolates.

Pecan Praline

Since there are so many, you could spread the Mickey snacks over the course of your trip (instead of having to get them all at once). Plus, there are enough goodies to go around so you can share them and save some for later.

Think you can tackle any of those challenges? Believe it or not, we’ve done them ALL, so we believe in you! The best part about these challenges is that you can not only challenge yourself, but make a little competition with your friends! Drinks at La Cava del Tequila on whoever loses?? ? For even MORE ideas, check out our DFB Video on ride challenges below!

And, if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel!

Have you done any of these Disney World challenges? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney dining tips, Disney Entertainment, disney parks, disney’s hollywood studios, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, Walt Disney World, big thunder mountain railroad, Blizzard Beach, Disney, disney attractions, disney challenges, disney dessert, disney dining, disney food, disney mountains, disney news, disney rides, disney snacks, disney treats, Disney World, disney world challenges, Hollywood Studios, House-made Pecan Praline, Mickey Bars, mickey candy apples, mickey chili pepper chocolate, mickey rice krispies, mickey snacks, Mickey Treats, Mickey waffles, mount gushmore, mount mayday, seven dwarfs, seven dwarfs mine train, space mountain, splash mountain, typhoon lagoon, World Showcase, world showcase pavilions

Categories
Disney Food Disney Parks Disney Vacations Other

Don’t Listen To This BAD Advice: 8 Disney World Planning Tips That Are WAY Wrong!

Everyone seems to have an opinion when it comes to planning that PERFECT Disney vacation. And while we know that our friends and relatives have best of intentions, they could actually be passing along tips that are not only unhelpful, but simply WRONG.

Mickey Mouse

Today, we’re sharing eight tips that we hare ALL. THE. TIME. that are flat out wrong! There is certainly a reason why some of this advice is given, but we’re going to break each one down and explain why you should throw these tips out the window — or at least think long and hard before following them — when you’re planning your next Disney World vacation!

“You HAVE to do X, Y, or Z.”

You may hear your enthusiastic neighbor or aunt tell you ALL about the absolute best ride, resort, or restaurant that you MUST do in order to have a perfect vacation. Simply put, no one HAS to do the same exact things on their trip as someone else! Vacations should be a personalized adventure that works for THAT vacationer and their party.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Can’t afford to stay at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for an entire week, but Aunt Suzie is insisting it’s the ONLY hotel worth staying at? Don’t try to stretch your personal budget to make it work, and don’t beat yourself up over it if the numbers just don’t add up. 

You can have a WONDERFUL vacation at any resort, plus you can still visit the Polynesian (or any resort for that matter) for a meal or just to walk around and explore!

Mickey at ‘Ohana’s character breakfast!

The same philosophy applies to rides. Do you absolutely despise roller coasters? Then don’t force yourself to ride them! One bad ride experience can really bring down your whole day.

Same thing goes with kiddos — if they’re too scared to ride, don’t force them to ride! Finding what works for YOUR family — not your neighbor, cousin, or mailman’s family — is going to be the best bet.

Tower of Terror might be TOO scary for some in your party!

FYI — that’s why we’re here. We’ve done it ALL…and our team has over 20 people on it who have been to Disney World in hundreds of circumstances. Keep an eye on the DFB YouTube channel and here on the blog. We won’t tell you what you HAVE to do. We’ll share our experiences with you so that you can figure out what you WANT to do with your family. 

“Kids don’t like Epcot — just skip that park.”

Epcot is often INCORRECTLY touted as the “adult park” with nothing to offer little kids. Epcot is really no different than any of the other parks in that there is something to do for EVERYONE. In fact, some kids enjoy Epcot more than any other park! (80’s Epcot Kids Stand UP!)

Even during popular “grown-up” events like the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, there is plenty to keep young ones entertained.

Walt Disney World’s Epcot

Many of the popular attractions in Epcot DO have a height requirement, like Soarin’ Over the World or Test Track, but we find most kids love these attractions when they’re tall enough to ride (which may be younger than you think!).

Test Track

Elsewhere in the park, kids can meet Nemo, Crush, and the gang over at the Seas with Nemo and Friends, go on a fun boat ride through the Land Pavilion on Living with the Land, and more.

And we can’t forget Frozen Ever After is located in the Norway Pavilion in World Showcase and is still INCREDIBLY popular with kids — plus it has no height requirement!

Frozen Ever After Ride

Epcot is about to become even MORE popular with the kids when the all-new ride, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, opens this summer in the France Pavilion.

New Remy Topiary

Epcot is also a great park to do some character meet and greets. In World Showcase, you can meet LOADS of characters in their native countries, including Mulan, Belle, and Snow White.

Snow White in the Germany Pavilion

If character dining is more your jam, Epcot has two excellent options: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion for those looking to meet the princesses, and Garden Grill in The Land Pavilion, where you’ll meet Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale!

“You can’t do a spontaneous trip anymore.”

We think half of the fun of any Disney World vacation is the planning! People love to start planning their Disney trips as early as possible, sometimes before their current trip is even over! This can lead many to believe that a spontaneous, last-minute trip is impossible to achieve.

Cinderella Castle

Between making advance dining reservations, FastPass+ reservations, and making sure you get the best resort hotel room possible, there’s certainly a lot to think about before you ever make it to the Most Magical Place on Earth!

Slinky Dog in Toy Story Land

But the idea that you can’t do a GREAT spontaneous trip is just not true! You can get really good last-minute dining and same-day FastPass+ reservations if you’re willing to hunt for them!

We don’t recommend you solely rely on booking everything day-of as this doesn’t necessarily work out every time, but you don’t have to have everything planned 180 days out if you don’t want to!

Haunted Mansion

If you missed that hard-to-get dining reservation, keep checking! Often, a dining reservation will pop up last minute as folks are always changing and adjusting their plans. That means if you’re refreshing the My Disney Experience app throughout the day, you could possibly snag a great table! There are also some great restaurants where you can usually get a table without a reservation.

Via Napoli

Same applies to FastPasses. Keep checking the My Disney Experience app for last-minute awesome FastPasses — you never know what you’ll find! Even if you can’t manage to snag those popular FastPass+ reservations, it doesn’t mean you can’t ride!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom

You can always strategize to get a shorter standby experience, whether that’s by riding first thing in the morning or last thing at night, waiting in a Single Rider queue if that’s available, or even looking into the possibility of a ticketed after-hour event where the crowds are typically lower.

“Don’t go during the busy season or the holidays!”

One of the most popular WRONG pieces of advice we hear is to never go during the holiday season, or to never go when the parks are “crowded.” For starters, some people simply CAN’T go any other time of the year due to school or work schedules, hence the crowds! If that’s the only time your family can find to visit, you can still have a great time!

Magic Kingdom at Christmas!

The important thing here is to manage your expectations and plan ahead. Setting your priorities for what is MOST important to get done will make all the difference on your trip. We aren’t saying it won’t be crowded — it WILL likely be crowded, and depending on when you visit, you may not be able to do EVERYTHING on your wish list…

Holiday Crowds at Magic Kingdom

…but there ARE some unique pros of going specifically during the holiday season. If you go in November and December, the weather will be much less rainy and hot than in the summer months, and the decorations are beautiful! There are a lot of limited-time events and happenings throughout Walt Disney World at this time of year, like the Gingerbread displays at many resorts, that are truly special to witness. 

Disney’s Grand Floridian Christmas Tree

Another perk of visiting in the “busy season” — there’s MORE time to do it all. The parks can often stay open till 11PM or later (Magic Kingdom often stays open till 1AM or later many nights during the summer!) so you’ll have more time to check off your to-do list!

Even with heavier crowds, if you don’t mind a late evening you can cover a ton of ground.

You Can Stay in Magic Kingdom LATE During the Busy Summers!

Perhaps most importantly, don’t assume that if you DON’T go during those “busy seasons” that you’ll avoid crowds altogether. There can be crowds almost year-round these days, so don’t stress on finding that ‘magic’ low-crowd week. Pick what time works for your family and plan accordingly. 

You HAVE to get the Disney Dining Plan; it’s a great value!”

Harkening back to our first incorrect yet often heard tip, lots of folks insist everyone should get the Disney Dining Plan. While the Dining Plan is right for some people, it can be very wrong for others.

When you crunch the numbers you might find that it is actually harder than you think to save money on the Dining Plan unless you’re maxing it out everywhere you go.

Ribeye Steak from California Grill

Back in the day, it may have been easier to score a great deal with the Dining Plan, but now you can only really save money if you dine at the most expensive restaurants, AND order the most expensive meals on the menu, AND take advantage of the one alcoholic beverage that comes with your meal, AND get the most expensive snacks you can.

Cocktails at Topolino’s Terrace

This can be extra problematic if you have a kiddo that’s old enough to be considered an “adult” by Disney’s pricing standards but isn’t quite big enough to scoff down an adult-sized meal. It also is hard to get the best value if you have a picky eater in your party or a vegan or vegetarian diner — simple entrees like chicken nuggets or meat-free options are typically some of the cheaper items in restaurants.

Dr Falls Signature Grilled Steak from Skipper Canteen

One big benefit of the Disney Dining Plan is the added convenience of essentially “pre-paying” for all of your meals. However, keep in mind that you will still need to take care of tips out-of-pocket, as this does NOT come included on the Dining Plan.

Now, we’ve got you covered here, too! Our DFB Guide has TONS of additional information on the Disney Dining Plan, including the pros and cons in determining whether or not it’s right for your family! We break down the numbers FOR you, so you can figure out easily whether the dining plan is the right choice for you.

Stuff your kid’s shoes to make them taller so they can get on a ride.”

You may be surprised at how often we hear this next tip in passing (even celebrities are guilty of doing it!). The height requirements for each attraction are there for your child’s safety. Stuffing their shoes to give them that extra inch so they can ride could put them in harm’s way, as the seating restraints are not designed for people under that height.

Rise of the Resistance Height Requirement

We shouldn’t have to explain this much further — please keep your child safe! Cast Members will measure how tall your kiddo is, but if they aren’t tall enough, the Cast Member will put safety first and won’t allow them to ride.

Star Tours

Keep in mind that if you run into this issue, you can take advantage of Disney’s Rider Switch program so everyone else in your party can still experience the attraction while one adult waits outside with the child(then they get a chance to ride without waiting in the full line!).

FYI, let us suggest from experience a very GOOD piece of advice — check out the ride height requirements BEFORE you go to Disney World. That way, nobody ends up waiting hours for a ride just to find out they’re too small to experience it. Many tears could ensue… .

“[Fill in the blank] restaurant is a must-do or a must-skip.”

Those well-meaning friends and relatives really want to make sure you have the best Disney World vacation possible (or is it THEIR best Disney vacation possible? ?). Unfortunately, that could result in some unhelpful advice like this gem we hear alllll the time!

Tomahawk Veal Chop

If your Uncle Mike HATES Mexican food, chances are he’s gonna tell you to avoid La Cantina de San Angel in Epcot at all costs. But what if you LOVE Mexican food (like SO MANY of our readers who almost crowned this spot their favorite fast food spot in Disney World!)? Who do you trust?

La Cantina de San Angel

Ultimately, no one can determine what restaurant is a must-do for your family EXCEPT FOR YOU! Experience the restaurant for yourself and give a try before you pass judgment! There’s so much more that goes into picking the perfect restaurant besides just the menu!

Le Cellier Steakhouse

Everyone’s tastes and preferences are different (that’s why Disney has such a wide variety of options to choose from!). Here at DFB, it is our goal to share what the restaurant is like instead of whether it’s “good” or “bad.” So, read our reviews to get a good understanding of what’s available at each restaurant and what the atmosphere is like. Then decide for YOURSELF if your family might like to try it.

Wait until your kids are X years old or they won’t enjoy it.”

Some folks may recommend you wait until your kids reach a certain age or a certain height to even bother considering a trip to Disney World. But we all know that every family is different and every kid ‘ages’ differently! There are pros and cons for just about every age, so consider when YOU want your kids to visit, and don’t worry about what others say! Only you can know what’s best for your family.

Even Babies Are Enchanted by Snow White!

Even if they won’t remember it as clearly as you will, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go! If you want to (and are able to) go — GO! You can make some incredible memories with your littlest ones if you take them early (plus, under three, they get in for FREE!).

At the end of the day, you might have to crunch numbers, talk to your family, or do some research when you get advice on how to best plan your Disney World vacation! We have tons of additional articles and videos all about making sure your next Disney trip is the best for YOU! To learn more about how to work around bad advice (and what to do instead!), check out our video below!

What is the most overheard bit of Disney World advice that you don’t follow because you know it’s not true for your family? Share with us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Character Dining, Counter-Service, disney dining tips, disney parks, disney resorts, Featured, Hard to Get Reservations, Table-Service, Walt Disney World, advance dining reservation, disney dining plan, Disney With Kids, Disney World, disney world dining, disney world planning, FastPass+, FastPass+ Reservations, peak season, Rider Switch

Categories
Disney Business Disney Cruises Disney Movies Disney Parks Other

Nevermind, J/K! 14 Times Disney Promised Us Stuff That Didn’t Happen!

Welcome in, friends! Gather around and listen to a tale of the cool things Disney had planned for us but for one reason or another just weren’t meant to be!

We know what you might be thinking, “Disney? Overly ambitious? Noooo way!” Ahh, but it’s true — although it’s often “fun to do the impossible,” sometimes the impossible isn’t very easy to do!

Let’s explore a few failed projects from Disney’s past. Keep in mind, ALL of these things were officially announced by Disney and many were being worked on at various stages before their plans fell through!

Disney’s America

A third U.S. Disney park???

That’s right — in 1993 Disney announced plans to build a 3,000-acre history-themed park — but only the American parts — right outside of Washington, D.C. in Prince William County, Virginia. The response was generally positive…until a press conference in Disney World less than 2 weeks after the park was announced.

©Disney

Creative Director of the America project and then Senior Vice President of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Weis said, “How can you do a park on America and not talk about slavery? This park will deal with the highs and lows…We want to make you feel what it was like to be a slave, and what it was like to escape through the Underground Railroad.”

Disney America Concept Art ©Disney

That statement started the downfall of the park. It led then-CEO, Michael Eisner, to dismiss the critical public response to the slavery comment by Weis. He said people couldn’t possibly expect they were going to whip guests like slaves. He stated further, “We’re not going to put people in chains.”

Michael Eisner (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

Not surprisingly, the idea of “Disneyfying” some of America’s historical lows didn’t sit well with many. This led to growing concerns that Disney could do more damage to American history than good.

The head organizer for the Black History Action Organization called for a boycott of the proposed park. She felt that slavery was not suitable content for a theme park setting and she feared it would result in, “little souvenir slave ships” sold in the gift shops, among other things.

Disney America Concept Art ©Disney

There was fear that the lure of a flashy theme park would take visitors away from the tourist sites in D.C. Even the land they selected was brought into question — it was steps away from some of the largest battles of the Civil War. Many thought it was in bad taste to have the next Disneyland adjacent to where hundreds of thousands had died. There was fear the historical land in the area could be destroyed over time by increased visitors.

Disney America Concept Art ©Disney

In response, a large group of American historians publicly opposed the project. As public approval of the project grew, protests began to take place in the nation’s capitol demanding Disney be stopped. With growing public disapproval, Eisner informed the public they were backing out of the project one year after it was announced.

But Disney didn’t scrap this project entirely. Bob Weis’ next project was Disney California Adventure. A few rides proposed for the America project were worked into this new park. Soarin’ Over California and the Condor Flats section of the park were pulled from ideas for the America park. Grizzly River Run came from an idea for a Lewis and Clark expedition-themed white water rafting ride.

Lewis and Clark Expedition Ride Concept Art ©Disney

Next time you’re walking around Disney Califonia Adventure in Disneyland, keep an eye out for carryovers from this failed America park!

Hyperion Wharf

Remember when Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs) had a whole section called “Pleasure Island?” Back in 1989 the section that sits between the Marketplace and the West Side was opened as Pleasure Island, a diverse warehouse district loaded with unique clubs open each evening. It was branded as an escape for adults and for a number of years it was quite popular.

Pleasure Island Logo

After the turn of the century, though, interest started to wane and Disney began looking for ways to inject life into the space. In 2005, Disney leased a large portion of the land to what would later become Raglan Road Irish Pub but was having trouble finding other tenants in such an “adult-oriented” space.

The clubs that inhabited Pleasure Island began to close their doors due to lowered interest and the ongoing recession, and in 2008 the last clubs there closed their doors.

Raglan Road Was the First Resident Post-Pleasure Island

Desperate for a way to fill the gap between the marketplace and the West Side, in 2010 Disney announced construction on a new project to fill the space called Hyperion Wharf.

©Disney

Disney called Hyperion Wharf, “a nostalgic yet modern take on an early 20th-century port city and amusement pier…by day, the bustling port district will draw guests in with its stylish boutiques and innovative restaurants and by night, thousands of lights will transform the area into an electric wonderland.”

©Disney

Demolition even began on the site, but stopped almost as abruptly as it began in February of 2011. The Pleasure Island signs remained up, but construction walls surrounded the now-demolished site. And it sat that way for 2 years. 

Disney Springs

In March of 2013, plans for Disney Springs were announced. They promised to completely rebrand the entirety of Downtown Disney into one coherent themed shopping district.

The Marketplace and West Side sections remained but the area that Pleasure Island resided in was rebranded as The Landing, better blending in with its surrounding areas. By 2015 the majority of work was completed on Disney Springs and the area was officially rebranded to what we know today.

Main Street Theater

If you’ve been to Disneyland’s Disney Califonia Adventure, you may be familiar with the Hyperion Theater. This is California Adventure’s large, dedicated theater that shows broadway-quality versions of some of Disney’s biggest stage shows to guests daily. But did you know Disney World was supposed to receive its own live-stage venue at one time!

©Disney

The massive indoor theater (which was to be called Main Street Theater) was announced in 2017 and would have been built at Magic Kingdom behind Main Street U.S.A. Guests would have accessed the theater near Tony’s Town Square. Permits were filed and artists’ concepts of the building were even released. But the project never broke ground. In 2018 Disney removed it from their page of projects coming soon.

Muppet Studios

Ever wonder why Muppets Courtyard at Hollywood Studios even EXISTS? Don’t get us wrong — we totally LOVE this part of the park, but did you ever wonder how it came to be?

Muppet Vision 3-D

Muppets Courtyard was originally a small piece of a much bigger idea! Disney had conceived of a Muppets Studio land concept which would have included The Great Muppet Movie Ride that Muppets creator Jim Henson described as, “a backstage ride explaining how movies were shot…and all the information is wrong.” There was also a Swedish Chef cooking school, and a pizza joint run by Gonzo!

Muppet Studios Concept Art ©Disney

Then-Disney CEO, Michael Eisner, wanted to outright own the Muppets brand and was in deep talks with Jim Henson to make that happen when Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then Disney MGM Studios) opened. Henson was even on hand at the dedication of the park.

Things took a turn though in 1990 when Jim Henson passed away. The first portion of the new Muppet Studios had already been completed at this time but had not opened — Muppet*Vision 3D. Henson’s children decided that they needed to hold on to their father’s legacy and decided to stop all work with Disney on the proposed land or selling of the Muppets brand.

The Muppets

Frank Oz, who voiced a number of the Muppet characters alongside Henson (you might know him better as the voice of Yoda in Star Wars!), spoke to the Henson family pleading with them to let their father’s work on Muppet*Vison 3D be shared with the world. The family agreed and only allowed Disney to open the Muppets Courtyard area with the attraction. The rest of the plans were put to rest.

PizzeRizzo

We may not get the Muppet themed land that Jim Henson had envisioned in Hollywood Studios, but the legacy of the characters still lives on in the park. We’ve even seen a slight expansion of the Muppets in the area a few years back when the Pizza Planet restaurant located in the Muppets Courtyard was re-themed as PizzeRizzo, a fast-food pizza joint run by none other than Rizzo the Rat from The Muppets!

Discovery Bay

In the 1970s when Disney was working on adapting Jules Verne’s novel Island at the Top of the World into a movie, Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter developed a steampunk paradise called Discovery Bay.

With Victorian-era architecture fused with technological marvels, the land was going to be inserted into Disneyland where Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge currently resides. In 1976, a scale model of the land was put on display in Disneyland’s preview center on Main Street, U.S.A. to excite guests about the new land. 

Discovery Bay Concept Art ©Disney

Numerous attractions including a Nautilus simulator and restaurant (both based on Jules Verne’s book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea), along with a magnetic roller coaster, a river rapids ride, and hot air balloon attraction were in the works for Discovery Bay.

Discovery Bay 20,000 Leagues Restaurant Concept Art ©Disney

Island at the Top of the World, the movie that the land would be framed around, was a box office flop. As Tony Baxter put it, “People are so skittish that instead of saying ‘We did a bad Jules Verne movie,’ they go ‘Well, people don’t want to see Jules Verne movies.’” Executives were scared that if the film had flopped, the idea of a steampunk fantasy world built around the same ideas wouldn’t catch guests’ favor either.

Shortly after, funds and efforts were channeled towards the construction of Epcot and Tokyo Disneyland, and the project was shelved. Some elements of the rides were later applied at other parks such as Tokyo DisneySea’s Mysterious Island and its attractions (also Jules Verne-inspired), and the Dreamfinder’s ship from the original Journey into Imagination attraction at Epcot.

Beastly Kingdom 

Have you ever looked at a lamp post or a bench as you enter Animal Kingdom and noticed that a dragon is displayed at the center of the designs?? There’s a reason for it — original designs for the theme park called for a fantasy land that was never built. It was called Beastly Kingdom and it’s where guests could’ve met some very unusual creatures! We’re talkin’ mythological beasts such as dragons and unicorns!

©Disney

The land would have been divided into “Nice, Beautiful, and Dangerous” territories while an attraction called “Quest of the Unicorn” would have taken guests on a maze-like adventure! Beastly Kingdom would have also featured a Fantasia-inspired boat ride with music and characters from the classic film.

Quest of the Unicorn Concept Art ©Disney

Budget cuts are the reason why Beastly Kingdom never came to be. As Animal Kingdom developed, they realized that caring for so many animals was going to be much more costly than originally anticipated. This led CEO Michael Eisner to have to choose which section of the new park would be cut: Beastly Kingdom or the Dinoland, U.S.A. section of the park. He chose to save Dinoland.

Dinoland, U.S.A. Won Out Over Beastly Kingdom

Pandora: The World of AVATAR currently sits right where Beastly Kingdom was supposed to be. Hey, we didn’t get dragons and forest sprites, but we DID get banshees and the Shaman of Songs!

Disney World’s Phase 2 Resorts

When Magic Kingdom first opened its gates in 1971, two resorts opened with it: Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Disney World’s Phase 2 plans included Asian, Venetian, and Persian-themed hotels built along Seven Seas Lagoon.

Asian Resort Concept Art ©Disney

The main reason these resorts never saw the light of day was the 1973 oil embargo. Tourism dropped off significantly causing Disney to divert funds to the construction of a new park to lure in guests — Epcot.

Venetian Resort Concept Art ©Disney

The other reason that construction never took off was that the shores that the resorts were planned to reside on were too unstable to build on. When workers initially hammered pylons into the swampy earth to test out the sites, the pylons were swallowed up by the soft ground beneath them. Construction costs would have had to rise significantly to offset the issues with the terrain.

Persian Resort Artwork ©Disney

Eventually, work on resorts resumed, but CEO Michael Eisner decided that guests would rather not visit heavily culturally themed resorts and instead focused on a seaside hotel inspired by the lavish resorts on the Floridian beaches — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. 

Epcot’s Unbuilt Pavilions

When Epcot opened in 1982, there were a total of nine pavilions in the World Showcase; there are now 11. But did you know there’s actually space for a LOT more pavilions to come to World Showcase? Disney announced plans for Phase 2 pavilions which include the countries of Equatorial Africa, Israel, Spain, and Venezuela back in the early 80s.

Canda Far and Wide

Plans for most of these never-built pavilions were halted over financial troubles. In some cases like Spain, deals were negotiated to begin construction, but changes in the leadership of the country caused plans to fall through. And over the years, it seemed like Italy and Germany might be getting a new neighbor when Puerto Rico, Iran, Soviet Union, and Switzerland were in talks to fill in the empty space. As you can see, none of these plans were successful either.

The Legendary Years

Ever wonder why Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation Resorts almost have an identical layout? It’s because they were originally part of the same project! While one-half of Disney’s Pop Century Resort called “The Classic Years” opened in 2003, Disney’s Art of Animation was supposed to be the other half of the SAME resort! It was going to be called “The Legendary Years” and its buildings were going to be themed after the 1900s-1940s!

©Google

In 2001, before Pop Century even opened, The Legendary Years section was abandoned to cut costs during a recession. For years, guests could see the clearly abandoned hotel just across the bridge from Pop Century.

Disney World Legendary Years Hotel

Construction did eventually resume and the build-out was completed in 2012 as Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Instead of getting a Roaring 20’s theme (maybe not as…um…kid-friendly as once believed?), the resort now features themed rooms and family suites based on The Lion King, Cars, The Little Mermaid, and Finding Nemo. 

Disney’s River Country

While you might know all about Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, Disney World’s very first water park is long gone! Disney’s River Country was originally located on the shores of Bay Lake near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and had a similar rustic vibe. The water used in the park was even sourced directly from Bay Lake and a number of slides allowed visitors to slide into the open waters of the lake!

©Disney

Although the water park had been there since 1976 and was only supposed to close down temporarily for a scheduled winter refurb in 2001, it never reopened. This was around the same time that the Legendary Years hotel was abandoned for a similar reason — the 9/11 recession. To cut costs, Disney just never reopened the park. It sat abandoned for years until very recently when it was demolished to make way for Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge

Disneyland’s Luxury Hotel

In March of 2018, Disneyland announced plans for a new luxury hotel near Downtown Disney. Disney planned to build a 4-Diamond resort after the City of Anaheim introduced a tax break geared specifically at this level of luxury resort being built in city limits.

Disney shifted the location of the resort slightly after the initial specifics were agreed upon between Disney and the city, which resulted in a number of Downtown Disney businesses closing to make way for the project including Rainforest Cafe and Earl of Sandwich.

©Disney

The city of Anaheim decided that moving the site of the hotel and the resulting closure of other businesses because of it changed the terms of the project too much, so they put the project on hold. This led Disney to outright cancel plans for the resort. Shortly after the project was canceled it was revealed construction would begin instead on a new Disney Vacation Club 12-story tower adjacent to the Disneyland Hotel.

Port Disney

A planned resort area in Long Beach, CA called Port Disney was announced in 1990. It would have featured a marine-themed amusement park called DisneySea along with a marina, and a cruise ship port! In fact, the RMS Queen Mary would have served as a focal point of the resort! The idea for the park revolved around a heavy focus on conservation and marine life.

©Disney

Additions to Disneyland in Anaheim required just the city’s approval, but to build in Long Beach required approval of state and local governments, making it much harder for Disney to do as they liked. The project never had a coordinated effort from everyone involved at Disney, so much so that some believed Disney never had a true interest in constructing the park, though millions were spent in the early stages of planning.

Although plans were scrapped for this project in favor of a new project called westCOT (which we’ll get to next),  the name DisneySea and some of the ideas for this theme park were taken over to Japan and used for Tokyo DisneySea which opened in 2001.

westCOT

Oh, but things get ever WEIRDER from there for Californians! Similar to Florida’s Epcot, Disney conceived westCOT! It’s basically exactly what you’re thinking! The blueprint even called for replicas of classic Epcot attractions such as Journey into Imagination and an even BIGGER Spaceship Earth! Budget restraints kept westCOT from becoming a beautiful reality.

©Disney

Instead of ending up with a bizarro-version of Epcot (and its famous World Showcase BUT with different countries!), we got Disney California Adventure Park instead.

S.S. Disney

Last but not least, let’s discuss one of Disney’s most ambitious ideas — the S.S. Disney. The S.S. Disney wasn’t going to be a cruise ship like you’d find with Disney Cruise Line — it was a full-fledged floating theme park.

©Disney Magic

16 to 18 classic Disney attractions such as it’s a small world, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, and Roger Rabbit’s Toontown Spin were all planned to be aboard! There were also plans for 6 restaurants, gift shops, and more. Guests would board the ship in the morning and have 8 hours at sea to ride rides and explore.

S.S. Disney Model ©Disney

Eisner was on board with the idea (get it?) until his partner and President of the company, Frank Wells, passed away in 1994. The planning group at corporate didn’t want to do a floating theme park any more with Wells out — they wanted to do a cruise ship instead. This began Disney’s foray into cruise lines and in 1998, the Disney Cruise Line set sail.

For all of the incredible lands, theme parks, and more that the Disney Company has created over the years, it’s interesting to take a look back at the projects that didn’t get off the ground.

What do you think of these plans that Disney told us about but never finished? Which ideas would you like to see them revisit someday? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Animal Kingdom, disney california adventure, disney merchandise, Disney Springs, disney’s hollywood studios, Disneyland, Downtown Disney Anaheim, Epcot, Featured, magic kingdom, News, Tokyo Disney Sea, Tokyo Disneyland, beastly kingdom, broken promises, didn’t deliver, disney california adventure park, disney cruise line, disney world phase 2, disney world’s asian resort, disney’s america, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, disney’s luxury hotel, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, disney’s river country, disney’s venetian resort, disneysea, epcot phase 2, Epcot World Showcase, hyperion wharf, main street theater, muppets studio, Pandora, phase 2, port disney, ss disney, the legendary years, unbuilt pavilions, westcot

Categories
Disney Parks Other

10 Things That Are Surprisingly SCARY in Disney World…

Disney World is the Most Magical Place on Earth! But, did you know that it can be one of the Scariest Places on Earth, too?? (Dun dun DUN!)

Cinderella Castle at Night

Although Disney creates SO much magic for guests of all ages, there are a few things in the parks that might creep you out when you’re visiting.

It doesn’t matter how old you are — these 10 things could scare anybody that dares to visit Disney World.

Meeting Kylo Ren

The moment you get to hug a Disney character and say hello is SO magical (and we miss it a LOT). And although many of the meet-and-greets in the park are super friendly, Kylo Ren is basically…the exact opposite.

Kylo Ren and Stormtroopers

Yeah, we get it — he’s a Dark Side villain and all. But, he’s a little terrifying since he just circles around you and gets up in your face. His voice is modulated and ominous, and he’s not exactly “huggable.” Plus, you can’t see anybody underneath all the black capes and Kylo’s iconic mask (so don’t expect any smiles, folks!).

Kylo Ren

Although he may look sinister, the actual dialogue he says is also pretty unnerving, too, like, he “will be the cause of destruction,” and he “senses the Dark Side within you.” YIKES.

However, while Kylo Ren can totally give you the creeps, he’s surprisingly sweet with your little ones.

A little Stormtrooper meets his character counterpart!

So, don’t be too afraid to bring them to meet one of the big baddies from Star Wars! But don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Navigating Your Way Through Crowds After Fireworks

Whether you’ve experienced this or not, trust us — the moment everyone is trying to exit the park after fireworks is one of the scariest parts of your Disney vacation. Especially on those crazy busy days!

While you’re hanging onto your party members’ backpacks, trying to see the exit over the sea of people, keeping your hands on any of your kids trying to go rogue in the crowds, and making sure you don’t trip over anyone, it can feel like you’re in an actual nightmare.

Fireworks Crowds

However, if you’re not in a rush to get back to your resort or leave Magic Kingdom at the end of the night, we recommend swinging back in the gift shops to wait for the streets to clear a bit. Or, you can even skip the fireworks and hop on some rides with shorter wait times instead (if you catch them before the park closes for the night!).

Magic Kingdom Crowds

We promise, waiting a bit for the sea of humanity to thin out will mean a more stress-free escape, less waiting for transportation, and an overall better experience (plus you can grab some pics of a near-empty Main Street, U.S.A.!).

No matter what you choose to do, we can still say that the relief of finally exiting the parks and being free of all that uncomfortable squished person-to-person contact is REAL.

Losing Members in Your Party

It can also be a pretty scary moment if you lose someone in the parks. While we are luckily living in the age of technology, sometimes your phone runs out of battery from all those snack photos, and you can’t contact your family or friends (we recommend grabbing a FuelRod for these times!). Or even worse — maybe you lost your child!

The Fountain is a Great Meeting Spot!

In a place as big as Disney World, it’s full-on freak-out time when you lose your kid. However, if you let a Cast Member know what happened, they are well-versed in finding little ones.

Walt Disney World Cast Members

Since it’s hard to set a meeting spot with young kiddos, let your children know to go to a Cast Member if they get lost. Tell them to look for the nice people with oval name tags and inform them that they’re lost.

Cast Member

We promise if this happens it’s WAY more nerve-wracking for you than it is for your kid (we’ve BEEN THERE! Cast Members are incredible at keeping your kiddos calm!), but trust that this happens more than you might realize and Disney World has a system in place to deal with it.

Your child will be taken to the Baby Care Center in the park if they’re under 10, and if older, they’ll be taken to Guest Relations to wait for you. You should be reunited with your child in no time. That said, keep an eye on those kids, Mom and Dad. You’ll be surprised how easily they can get away from you in Disney World!

Claustrophobia, Anxiety, and a Fear of Heights

While Disney World might be the Most Magical Place on Earth, it can also be stressful in certain situations for people who struggle with severe anxiety, get claustrophobic, or even have a fear of heights. Since there are constantly crowds around you, it might be difficult to really get a “breather” in the parks.

Toy Story Land crowds

Plus, some of those rides have very narrow queue line areas or put you in confined spaces for a long timem– not to mention that some of the ride vehicles themselves are pretty tiny (Mission: SPACE, anyone??).

Mission: SPACE

A few rides like the Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest or even the Skyliner Gondolas can also be rough for guests who have a fear of heights. If a member of your party could possibly feel claustrophobic or anxious, make sure to let a Cast Member know and they will help escort you out of the ride.

Tower of Terror

While you’re planning, you may want to keep in mind that rides like the Haunted Mansion, Dinosaur, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Splash Mountain could cause some distress if you happen to have any of these fears as well. Look up what each ride entails, watch a youtube ride-through, and decide before you go if you feel up for riding so you’re not caught off guard in the moment.

DINOSAUR

Disney World was intended to be a happy, enjoyable place — NOT a cause for stress and strife! So if you run into any worries on your vacation just speak to a Cast Member and they’ll do all they can to help you feel comfortable.

Constance Hatchaway

Haunted Mansion is just one of those rides that COULD give you the creeps in general — I mean, it’s a haunted house with ghosts, after all! ? While jump scares in the graveyard and the “huuurrryyyy baaaackkk” dialogue can give you hot and cold running chills, Constance Hatchaway’s story is possibly the creepiest thing about the ride.

Haunted Mansion Graveyard

Once you make your way into the attic, Constance makes it very clear that she decapitated all of her husbands after she married them (anybody else a little surprised that nobody noticed she was a murderess IRL sooner??). And, when she lets you know that she’s looking for her next victim, we SWEAR she’s looking right at us when she says it. YIKES!

Haunted Mansion

This makes us think back to our childhood days of covering our eyes for any frightful scenes in rides. If you’re more than a little unnerved by the murderous bride in her attic, just close those peepers for the few seconds the ride traverses through that scene (but we promise, it isn’t THAT bad! The older bride with no face? THAT was really creepy! ? ).

A VERY Creepy Hidden Ventriloquist Doll

The Tower of Terror is another attraction that has terrifying twists, turns, and killer drops. Although the plot of the Disney themed The Twilight Zone episode is nothing less than eerie, it’s the exit of the ride that creeps us out the most.

Tower of Terror Sign

As you’re leaving the elevator, you can spot the Caesar ventriloquist doll from the show’s episode “Caesar and Me.” In case you haven’t watched it, Caesar is a demonic doll that convinces people to do harmful things. 

Demonic Dummy

Yeah, so it’s on THAT cheery note that you get to go explore the rest of Hollywood Studios after you “drop in” to the Tower of Terror and spot Caesar! ?

(Oh and here’s a fun little piece of info! Tower of Terror cast members believe that if you don’t say hello and goodnight to Caesar each day, bad things will happen!)

Disney Basically Knows Where You Are 24/7

My Disney Experience is a REALLY helpful tool when it comes to vacation planning. You can book FastPasses for rides, keep track of your Advance Dining Reservations, and even check the wait times in the park. But, My Disney Experience also is a teensy bit stalker-ish if you think about it.

Capacity Message pop-up on My Disney Experience

During the times we’ve been in the parks, we’ve received push notifications and pop-ups welcoming us and suggesting activities to do nearby.

Plus, in combination with your MagicBand, if you’ve made FastPass+, dining, or room reservations, Disney practically knows where you’re going to be at all times.

If that majorly creeps you out, you can choose not to share your location with the app or only share it when you’re using My Disney Experience!

My Disney Experience screenshot

While a MagicBand can be incredibly useful while at Disney World, you can also opt to receive a room card in lieu of a MagicBand if you don’t want that full “big brother” vibe while you’re there.

Villains Taking Over Space Mountain

Villains After Hours is a BLAST! It’s one of the few times you get to see all the villains out in the parks. This extra-ticketed event happens on select nights in Magic Kingdom once the park has closed for the night, giving you access to shorter lines, great photo ops, and exclusive treats.

Queen of Hearts Photo Op

But, it wouldn’t be a party without some of those Disney overlays on rides! Although there are some pretty cool spots to check out (we LOVED seeing all the REAL buccaneers out at Pirates of the Caribbean), there are a few that we found to be a little frightening for the villains themed event.

Pirates of the Caribbean

During Villains After Hours, the stars are shut off in Space Mountain and the attraction is in complete darkness. Oh, and did we mention that it comes with a soundtrack of villains laughing and screaming (Yeah, they’re the kind of sounds that keep you up at night.)?

So, if you’re with your kids, you might want to skip the Villains After Hours overlay of Space Mountain if your little ones get scared easily.

Space Mountain

We’ve got to admit, we’re grown-up (kind of) and we STILL found this super scary!!!

Nanny Chairs

If you try to think of the most terrifying thing on earth and then multiply it by two, you’ve got the Nanny Chairs at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. They’re based on real chairs from 19th-century carousels that nannies used so they could sit down while the kids they watched rode on the horses. But, they’re just terrifying looking with almost evil faces (look at that scary grin!!).

Boardwalk Nanny Chair

And, since Disney likes to pay attention to details, they’re VERY authentic to the original Nanny Chairs you could find on the carousels. You can spot four of the chairs, named Todd, Paul, Alix, and Carrie.

BUT, there are usually only two out by the fireplace in the lobby, so you never know where the other ones are lurking (AKA in our nightmares).

Boardwalk Inn Nanny Chair

In all truthfulness, these are really fun to watch “move” around the resort (Cast Members often move the chairs, so you never know where they’ll end up!). They’re pretty creepy to look at but they’re a fascinating piece of history!

Being Alone at Nighttime

It’s not a super common occurrence to be alone in a Disney Park — after all, there are usually crowds and Cast Members around! However, on an off chance you get to experience this, it can be kind of spooky. It’s that same feeling of “in space, no one can hear you scream,” but in a theme park.

Cinderella Castle

Plus, those moments where you’re waiting for one of the last Disney buses, walking to your car in a nearly empty parking lot, or making your way back to your resort room alone late in the evening can make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Like Peter Pan says, just think of the happiest things!! But remember to be safe. Just because it’s Disney World doesn’t mean nothing bad can happen. Stay aware.

There are so many experiences in Disney World that might give you the heebie-jeebies. Disney tries its best to be full of magic and happiness at every turn but sometimes, it’s still easy to get spooked! If you or a party member gets frightened easily, keep these in mind before you plan your next trip!

What are some of the scariest things you’ve experienced in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Entertainment, disney parks, disney resorts, Featured, Walt Disney World, anxiety, caesar dummy, claustrophobia, Constance Hatchaway, Disney, disney crowds, Disney fireworks, disney news, Disney World, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, fear of heights, Galaxy’s Edge, Haunted Mansion, Kylo Ren, magic kingdom, My Disney Experience, nanny chairs, seasonal overlays, space mountain, space mountain overlay, Star Wars Land, Star Wars Launch Bay, tower of terror, villains after hours

Categories
Disney Parks Other

7 Disney Delays You Haven’t Even Thought Of Yet!

The global health crisis has had a big effect on the Walt Disney Company.

Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle

Lots of Disney projects have had to shift to a different timeline. We’ve seen delays in the opening of Disneyland’s Avengers Campus, a whole bunch of blockbuster films have been pushed back, and more. With all these high-profile changes, what are the delays you’re NOT thinking about? Here are the seven Disney delays that might have slipped your mind!

1. Three Upcoming Disney Cruise Line Ships

You might not have thought about the three upcoming Disney Cruise Line Ships that are currently under construction!

Last year, Disney announced that they would be almost doubling their cruise fleet with three new ships to be constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The first of these new ships is to be called the Disney Wish and was set to set sail in January 2022.

The Disney Wonder

Though an official delay has yet to be announced it is very possible that these ships will see some changes to their schedule. The global health crisis and resulting cancellations has resulted in a massive interruption to cruise demand as well as income for cruise lines. According to Disney executives, the cruise line will likely be the last to return in their tourism segment. It’s possible that we could see some delays on these massive new ships as well.

2. Food and Merchandise Supply Chains

We’ve noticed a variety of national shortages beginning to affect the United States. According to Fox News, meat shortages could last through the summer. Carbonation is scarce too, per Forbes. Plus, with the pressure on airlines and international routes, transporting goods from place to place isn’t quite as easy as it used to be.

Ribeye Steak from California Grill

It’s unclear at this time if or how these shortages will affect Disney. So far, Disney has been on the mark with releasing new merch on time, and though most reopened restaurants in Disney Springs have had limited menus, we haven’t noticed any foods being unavailable to restaurants yet.

3. Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge

We’ve all kept a super close eye on those big attractions projects in Disney World — we’re watching Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, TRON Lightcycle Run, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind very closely! Still, there is another major project that we’re worried about that might not be as top-of-mind as the rides.

Reflections Concept Art © Disney

Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge is the new Disney Vacation Club resort that is under construction in Disney World. The resort is still under construction, but it’s unclear how it has been affected by the construction halt or any supply chain issues. Right now the resort is set to open in 2022, so we’re keeping a close eye on what to expect.

4. Harmonious

Another Disney World project that should be on your radar is the upcoming Epcot show Harmonious. This show has a growing chance of being delayed since its previous opening date was Spring 2020.

Unfortunately, the Disney parks have remained closed for much of Spring 2020. Beyond that, it’s unknown how work on the show has been interrupted.

©Disney

A potential permit for the show WAS filed during the closure, but delays are not unlikely. Epcot Forever may need to run a little longer than expected — and that’s IF nighttime spectaculars can return initially. Despite the completion of work, the debut could be delayed further by health measures.

5. Disneyland Refurbishment Projects

There are a few iconic Disneyland attractions that are currently under refurbishment and these projects have been on pause since Disneyland instituted a construction halt with their closure. That could mean some serious delays until these attractions reopen.

Haunted Mansion Construction Tarps

Haunted Mansion, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and King Arthur Carrousel are all currently under refurbishment in Disneyland. Haunted Mansion was set to reopen this Spring, and the reopening dates for Snow White’s Scary Adventures and King Arthur’s Carrousel haven’t been announced yet, but with the construction halt, they could be closed for longer than they were originally intended.

6. Production on Upcoming Shows and Films

Like we mentioned, there are a LOT of films that have seen delayed release dates, but we haven’t really talked about the shows and films that have seen delays in their production. Many films and shows without release dates have seen production halts.

©Walt Disney Studios

These halted productions include (among others) the following:

  • The Little Mermaid from Walt Disney Studios,
  • Big ShotHome AlonePeter Pan and Wendy, and Shrunk from Disney+,
  • The Big Sky and Empire from 20th Century Studios,
  • Genius from National Geographic,
  • American Housewife and Grey’s Anatomy from ABC,
  • and Pose from FX.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on productions as they resume!

7. International Theme Park Expansions

Finally, it’s easy to focus on the domestic theme parks — but there are definitely some expansions at the international parks that are delayed at this time as well! According to Le Parisien, the Frozen-themed expansion coming to Disneyland Paris has been sitting stagnant since the closure began. The expansion is set to open in 2023 but may see delays from this pause.

©Disney

Similarly, Tokyo Disney Resort’s New Fantasyland (originally set to open April 28th) and Fantasy Springs (opening 2022) expansions have been halted for now as well, per Nikkei Asian Review.

For Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia expansion and Hong Kong Disneyland’s Frozen expansion, things are a little different. These projects haven’t been paused with the closure, so work was able to continue, according to Big News Network.

Zootopia Shanghai Concept Art ©Disney

That doesn’t mean that these to lands are exempt from delays though.

Overall, the global health crisis has a pretty far-reaching effect for the Disney company. We’ll be looking out for news on any of these projects so we can report back to you! In the meantime, you can check out our full coverage of the reopening of Disney Springs right here!

Did you let any of these delays slip your mind? Tell us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney cruise line, disney merchandise, Disney News, disney parks, Disney+, Featured, News, 20th century studios, abc, Big Shot, Disney, Disney cancellations, disney closures, Disney delays, Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Paris Expansion, Disneyland Refubishment, FX, Global health crisis, harmonioUS, Home Alone, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland Expansion, live-action little mermaid, National Geographic, Peter Pan and Wendy, reflections a disney lakeside lodge, shanghai disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland Expansion, Shrunk, The Little Mermaid, tokyo disney, Tokyo Disney Expansion, Walt Disney Studios