In this week’s Disney Parks News Update, we have GUNS confiscated on Disney property, refurbishment updates, LOTS of food news, scary clowns and more!  Please watch this week’s Disney Parks News Update video below.

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For those of you that prefer reading your Disney Parks news Update to watching the video, please read on!

Disney Parks News Update

Refurbishments

We are starting this week’s news update with refurbishments.

EPCOT

EPCOT currently looks a little bit like a construction zone, as EPCOT Future World is in the midst of a major overhaul.  There are a number of projects in progress around EPCOT’s Entrance and throughout Future World.  Among these projects is the Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, scheduled to open sometime next year.  We are happy to report that construction appears to be moving ahead on all these projects.  We don’t have completion dates or opening dates for any of the work going on, but we are hopeful that Disney is on track with their plans to have this work complete in time for Walt Disney World’s 50^th Anniversary next October.

Frozen Ever After

A VERY popular attraction, Frozen Ever After, is closing for refurbishment in a couple of weeks.  Don’t worry—it’s only for a few days.  The attraction will be closed from November 2 – 6, 2020.  This is likely just for cleaning and general maintenance; this is not enough time for Disney to do any major overhauls.  Not to mention, this is still a fairly new attraction.  It really shouldn’t need any major refurbishment yet.

We’ll be in the park the following week, and will let you know how the attraction looks when it reopens!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is reopening at long last on November 1, 2020.  If you aren’t familiar with the Art of Animation resort, it is a very popular Value Resort, and one of our favorites.  Check out our blog post about this resort here.

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During the shutdown, Art of Animation got some minor refurbishments, including new flooring and updates in the lobby area.  The rooms themselves got minor updates to furnishings and room details.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Art of Animation, it is located on the Skyliner line, and it’s a worthwhile stop to check it out.  All the themed icons from Cars, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and the Little Mermaid make terrific backdrops and props for unique family pictures.

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The Big Blue Pool, Art of Animation’s largest pool, did not get it’s refurbishment done during the closure, however.  As a result, the Big Blue Pool will be closed for refurbishment from January 1, 2021 through early April 2021.

Guests are encouraged to use the Flippin’ Fins Pool (Little mermaid area) or the Cozy cone Pool (in the Cars area) during the closure.  The Schoolyard Sprayground play area is NOT being affected by the closure.

Guests staying at Art of Animation during this time should expect to see or hear construction during their stay; however, construction does not occur between dusk and 9 am, so your rest time should not be impacted.

If you have a reservation during this time and are concerned about this refurbishment, please reach out to your travel agent (or me!).

Boardwalk Inn: Luna Pool

A highlight for me personally in this week’s Disney Parks News Update is about the CLOWN over at the Luna Pool at the Boardwalk Inn.

The pool at the Boardwalk Inn, the Luna Pool is currently being refurbished while the Boardwalk Inn is closed.  The pool area at the Boardwalk Inn is themed to the turn of the 20^th century Coney island.   The area has a sort of “Circus-y/Old timey amusement park” vibe.

The centerpiece of the pool area has always been a giant clown face.  The mouth of the clown is a waterslide.  I’m not a giant fan of clowns to begin with but this clown?  Totally creeps me out.  In fact, I’ve avoided booking there for my family because of the creepy clown.

I mean, look at that thing.  Don’t you think it’s a little creepy? (OR A LOT CREEPY???!!!)

Here’s the big news:  locals have reported that the giant clown head has been REMOVED as part of the Luna Pool refurbishment!!!  It has been seen being taken away from the pool area (although no one actually saw it dismantled, thrown in the trash or burned in a ceremonial cleansing so we do not know for sure it is not coming back).  The area where the clowns head WAS is still covered with tarps, but work is continuing.

Dare we hope that the clown is gone for good?  Could the Imagineers have something new and creative for that area that doesn’t terrorize small children (or ME)???  I do not know, unfortunately.  We will definitely scope out the pool area when we visit next month; hopefully we will be able to give you a more definitive update then.  But for now?  I’m happily booking a reservation for my mom and I at Boardwalk for May, assuming the clown will be GONE.

Food News

We have lots of FOOD NEWS in this week’s Disney Parks News Update!

ABC Commissary

Over at Hollywood Studios, the ABC Commissary has reopened with a brand new menu.  Some old favorites are still there, but the menu has had a major overhaul.  Tacos and curry rice bowls have taken center stage.  New items include Pork carnitas tacos, Shrimp tacos, curry rice bowl with shrimp and a plant based curry rice bowl with tofu.  Two new chicken sandwiches also join the lineup.  Kids can choose from a Pork taco, grilled cheese sandwich, a turkey sandwich or their old favorite, uncrustables.

Minnie’s Halloween Dine

Also at Hollywood Studios, we have a new menu for Minnie’s Halloween Dine over at Hollywood and Vine.

This meal does feature character appearances.  The characters will parade through the dining area and wave and let you take pictures.  However, they won’t be stopping at your table for individual pictures as you are probably used to from character meals pre Covid.

This is a fixed price, three course meal, featuring a salad, entrée and dessert.

Entrée choices include prime rib, roasted turkey breast, macaroni and cheese with shrimp, Salmon, Pork osso bucco and plant based pan seared king trumpet mushrooms.

Desserts include your choice of apple blueberry pie, banana crème pie, chocolate smores pie, vanilla crème brulee and a plant based cherry lemon pie.

Cocktails, wine and beer are available for an additional price. Beer starts at $7.50, Wine by the glass starts at $10, and cocktails start at $13.

In the past I have NOT enjoyed Hollywood & Vine, however, I have to admit this sounds pretty good.  We may have to check this out for ourselves!

Chef Mickey’s

Next up in Food news: Chef Mickey’s Character Dining is coming back!  One of the most popular character meals on property, Chef Mickey’s will soon be visited by Chef Mickey himself (and a few of his friends!).

Starting on December 16, 2020, Mickey and Minnie and their friends will be back at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.  It’s not quite the same—this is NOT a buffet at the moment, and the characters will not be coming to your table.  However, the characters will “pop up” at surprise intervals and parade through the dining rooms, waving at guests for pictures.  Reservations for Chef mickey’s character dining open up October 17.

Its important to note that Chef Mickey’s IS currently open.  Right now, it’s an all you care to eat family feast WITHOUT characters.  Pricing for adults is $25 and kids are $14 (plus tax).  However, once the characters return, pricing will jump to $42 for adults and $27 for kids (plus tax).

In addition to the characters joining diners, there are three new entrees being added to the menu.  Mickey’s celebration pancakes, a loaded potato cheese casserole with smoked bacon crumbles and chives and finally, Goofy’s Banana Bread French Toast—which looks and sounds like a heart attack on a plate.

It will probably taste AMAZING though.  If you plan to check out this very popular character dining experience, reservations are HIGHLY recommended (really, required).

Updated Mask Warnings

New mask warning signs appeared throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks last week.  These signs more specifically state that guests must wear their masks properly, at all times, and further state that guests who do not wear their masks will be asked to leave the parks.

In addition to the new signs located throughout the parks, Disney has added an audio announcement about the mask policy that plays in the parks several times each day.  Finally, they’ve added the message to the My Disney Experience phone app.  Disney is very serious that guests understand this policy.

I know there has been some confusion on this: Florida was recently moved to Phase 3, which means the Florida state government is no longer requiring masks in all public places, and the state has rescinded the fines for not wearing a mask.  HOWEVER, it is important to recognize that each business has the right to establish and follow their own protocols, based on what they believe is safest for their guests or customers.

Disney is SERIOUS about their Mask Policy

Completely separate from what the state dictates, Disney has their OWN policies.  Disney has determined, based on their research and advice from scientific advisors and guidelines from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) that masks help prevent the spread of Covid-19 (and other airborne spread diseases).  Disney is requiring all guests over the age of 2 to wear masks at all times while in the theme parks, and while in public areas of Disney resorts.

I understand this is a hot button topic for some people.  Bottom line: If you aren’t willing to wear a mask during your Disney visit, do not visit Disney.

If you don’t wear a mask, you will not be permitted entry to the theme parks.  If you remove your mask (other than while dining), you will be asked to leave the theme park.  It’s very simple.  If your aren’t comfortable wearing a mask during your Disney theme park visit, do not visit Disney until masks are no longer required.  Hopefully, sometime next year.  Disney has a very good refund policy right now, due to the challenges raised by Covid-19, and I am confident they will work with you to cancel or reschedule your trip.

Walt Disney World Theme Parks Capacity

In last week’s Disney Parks News Update, we talked about capacity at the theme parks.  We expressed our belief that Disney has been quietly increasing capacity at the theme parks.  This belief is based on anecdotal and observational evidence.  The theme parks are feeling more crowded.  We are seeing much longer lines for attractions.  It’s getting more difficult to social distance in main traffic areas throughout the parks.  Park reservations are fully booked up, and then Disney releases more availability for certain days, especially weekends.  In general, it just “feels” like the parks are getting more crowded every week.

Bob Chapek, Disney CEO

However, Bob Chapek, Disney’s CEO told CNBC this week that Walt Disney World theme parks are still capped at 25% capacity.  He also stated that the parks will remain capped at 25% capacity until the CDC guidelines change.

We have to assume that Bob Chapek knows what he’s talking about.  He’s the boss of all the bosses, and while he’s not in the trenches admitting guests into the park, we figure he’s heavily involved with the decisions related to capacity.  Especially as those decisions will affect the overall profitability of the theme parks dramatically, right?

We’re NOT at 25% Capacity?

So what could explain the discrepancy between what we (and many others who have visited over the last few weeks) are feeling and what Bob Chapek tells us must be true?

1) It’s likely that when the parks first opened, they were not any where near 25% capacity.  Perhaps they opened at 5 or 10% and hovered there for a while.  We saw lots of pictures and comments that the parks were like ghost towns, and all the attractions were walk-ons during the first couple of months.  That has certainly changed.  So perhaps what we are seeing now is truly 25% capacity?

2) Another factor in longer lines could be staffing related.  If Disney is staffing fewer cast members on attractions, perhaps some “lanes” are closed in attractions?  This could slow down the movement of guests through those rides, resulting in longer lines and more congestion?

I’m not sure.  It sure seems like the crowds we are seeing, especially in Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom, are higher than 25% capacity.  But we don’t work at the parks, and Disney is fairly tightlipped about what they consider FULL capacity to be.  So the short answer right now?  We don’t know.  We will update you next month with our perspective when we are actually there ourselves.

Assault Weapons at Disney World?

Our final story this week is a troubling one.  We have learned, courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel as well as several other news outlets, that a Disney guest brought an AR-15 rifle and 9 mm handgun with him on his Disney vacation!

The guest, a 43 year old man from Palm Beach Gardens, checked into the Polynesian Villages Resort over Labor Day Weekend.  When the guns were discovered in his luggage, Disney contacted the local sheriff.  The man had a concealed weapons permit, and therefore was not arrested.

However, Disney does not allow weapons of any kind on property, so Disney confiscated and held the man’s arsenal for him until the end of his vacation.  He stated he brought the weapons because he was worried about his family’s safety during the social justice protests in the Orlando area last month.

Personally, I think if you are worried enough about the safety of your family that you need to bring an assault rifle, a hand gun and more than 100 rounds of ammunition with you to DISNEY WORLD where there are THOUSANDS of unarmed adults and children, perhaps you should postpone your vacation until a time when it feels safer for you to visit.

Again, Disney is being extremely flexible with cancellations, refunds and rescheduling.  I would never want anyone to feel unsafe, but we can’t have assault rifles and other deadly weapons making their way onto Disney property.

To be clear: Disney does not allow guests to bring weapons of any kind onto its property.  If you have issues with this policy, please contact Disney directly.

Disney Parks News Update: Final Thoughts

That’s it for this week’s Disney Parks News Update.  It’s good to see that in some ways, things at the parks are starting to look a little more normal.  However, it is a sign of the times that we are seeing stronger mask warnings from Disney, and that we had a story this week that included the word “assault rifle”.  I’m hopeful that we will have more stories about things getting back to normal as time goes on.

Thank you for reading!

Happy dreaming!

Brooke