There are new things popping up every day at the Walt Disney World Resort and . Join us every week to read about “What’s New” in Walt Disney World! This week features a several new Disney stores and kiosks at Downtown Disney, live entertainment offerings, and big celebrity guests at Star Wars Weekend.
New! Another Starbucks
Opened at Downtown Disney: Starbucks West Side opened on Downtown Disney West Side on Friday, May 30, 2014. IT is a full-sized store featuring the complete line of Starbucks offerings as well as a Clover Bar with special reserve coffees brewed to order. There’s lots of inside and outside seating including a covered patio overlooking Village Lake and an outside fireplace.
New! Anna and Elsa Meet and Greets Extended: Great news for fans of Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen! As of June 1, Anna & Elsa will greet Guests at Princess Fairytale Hall from park open to 30 min prior to close. Additional Fastpass+ reservations have been made available for the additional hours they are expected to be greeting guests.
New! Typhoon Lagoon Bus Operations Changes: Beginning June 10, service to and from Typhoon Lagoon will be adjusted to the following: Prior to 2 p.m. – Guests will continue traveling to and from Typhoon Lagoon via the Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon bus. After 2 p.m. – Guests traveling to and from Typhoon Lagoon will take a bus or monorail to Epcot and will transfer to another bus to get to their destination.
New! Marketplace co-op Opens June 6: Marketplace Co-Op, a new testing ground for specialty merchandise located at Downtown Disney Marketplace, opens June 6, 2014 at Downtown Disney. Inspired by urban shopping centers like Seattle’s Pike Place Market and New York City’s Chelsea Market, the Marketplace Co-Op will house six experimental mini-stores in an open environment. Disney Vacation Club Members may preview the store before its grand opening on June 6, 2014 7-8:30am (with a valid Member ID and photo ID). The mini stores are:
Beautifully Disney – A beauty destination for women featuring make-up, fragrance and beauty accessories.
Cherry Tree Lane – Accessories for the sophisticated woman with a passion for scarves, shoes, bags and jewelry.
D-Tech on Demand – A place to personalize and customize your own electronic accessories.
The Trophy Room – Vintage-inspired lifestyle sports apparel and collectibles.
Disney Centerpiece – Home products for Guests that want a splash of Disney in their room furnishings, textiles and everyday ware.
Zoey and Pickles – A girls’ destination containing the latest trends and glamour for the up-and-coming fashionista.
New! United World Soccer Opens: The space that formerly was BLINK by Wet Seal has re-opened as United World Soccer. Just in time for the 2014 World Cup, it offers soccer fans their favorite team jerseys, as well as sports gear, cleats, World Cup apparel and accessories.
New! New Pedestrian Walkway to and from Downtown Disney Marketplace: Construction continues at Downtown Disney as it is transformed into Disney Springs. Beginning June 3, the promenade in front of LEGO Imagination Center will be temporarily closed. Guests traveling to and from Downtown Disney Marketplace will venture through a new pedestrian walkway behind LEGO Imagination Center. Directional signs will indicate route options leading out of and into the walkway to and from Downtown Disney Pleasure Island and West Side.
Reminder! Kiosks Now Open at Downtown Disney: Wetzel’s Pretzels and Häagen-Dazs kiosks are now open between DisneyQuest and Cirque du Soleil. Wetzel’s Pretzels and Häagen-Dazs are open: Monday-Friday: 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m, and Saturday-Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – midnight Over in the Marketplace, you can grab a cup of your favorite coffee – with a brand-new Starbucks kiosk open now and everyday 8 a.m. – midnight.
New! Festival of the Lion King Returns to Disney’s Animal Kingdom: “Festival of the Lion King,” the popular musical stage show that originated at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998, debuted at the brand-new Harambe Theatre in the Africa section of the park on June 1. While the theater is new, the show remains otherwise unchanged. The show is a daily park offering and is performed multiple times a day (check your My Disney Experience App or the park’s Times Guide for show times).
Reminder! Harambe Nights Premieres June 7: In celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Lion King, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park will host Harambe Nights every Saturday evening June 7-August 9. The event will kick off at 7:00pm with a welcome reception followed by a 7:30pm concert in the new Harambe Theater where iconic scenes from the film will be recreated while a celebrity narrator and a live orchestra, choir and dancers provide a never-before-seen take on The Lion King tale. The celebration will continue after the concert on the streets of Harambe with food, exclusive merchandise and an opportunity to “Go Wild” and dance and interact with live performers. You can purchase tickets at Disneyworld.com/HarambeNights or by calling 407-939-1319 for $119 for adults and $79 for children, plus tax. Premium seating is available for $134 for adults and $94 for children, plus tax. The celebrity narrator for the premiere is Viola Davis, known for her roles in “The Help” and “Ender’s Game.
New! Richard Petty Debuts Piston Cup Junior Ride-Along Cars June 14: Two vehicles from the “Cars” franchise, Aiken Axler and Sage VanDerSpin, are about to make their debut at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Resort as a part of the new Junior Ride-Along program. In it, children ages 6 to 13 (and at least 48 inches tall) will have the chance to experience real-life racing excitement as they ride shotgun with a professional driving instructor for three thrilling laps in a specially equipped Piston Cup race car. Junior Ride-Alongs do not require reservations and are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Find more, visitDrivepetty.com or call 800-237-3889.
New! Some Performances of Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Cancelled: Due to upcoming concrete work on Main Street, U.S.A., there will not be morning performances of the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party on the following dates: June 3, June 6 and June 13. The parade will only perform at 5:40 and 7 p.m. on these dates.
New! Changes to Tusker House Dining Hours: Beginning Sunday, June 8, Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park will be extending their lunch meal period. The new hours align with the typical lunch and dinner meal period across Walt Disney World Resort. Lunch will be offered 11:00am – 3:30pm and dinner beginning at 4:30pm. Breakfast will continue to be offered 8:00am – 10:55am.Character dining with Donald Duck and his friends will continue to be offered at breakfast and lunch only. Additionally, for the evenings this summer when Harambe Nights will be hosted at Animal Kingdom (every Saturday, June 7-August 9) dinner meal periods will not be available at Tusker House due to the early closure of the land.
New! Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Returns to Epcot June 8: Rock out to the sound of stadium-style shows amidst an old-fashioned American backdrop. From renditions of songs from U2 and the Eagles to covers of classics by Bon Jovi and the Bee Gees, you’re invited to enjoy all the hits flying forth from America Gardens Theatre. It’s a blast by yourself or fun for the whole family! All performances take place at America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. – except on July 4 (when show times are 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.). Concerts are included with park admission and entertainment is subject to change.
This year’s concert lineup includes:
June 8-14: Hotel California ~ A Salute to the Eagles
June 15-21: Don’t Stop Believin’ ~ Journey Tribute Band
June 22-28: Good Vibrations ~ A Tribute to The Beach Boys
June 29-July 5: Don’t Look Back ~ Boston Tribute Band
July 6-12: Stayin’ Alive ~ A Tribute to the Bee Gees
July 13-19: Slippery When Wet ~ The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
July 20-26: 2U ~ A Tribute to U2
Reminder! Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) to Appear at Star Wars Weekends: For the first time in the history of Star Wars Weekends, Mark Hamill, the actor who played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga, will appear at Star Wars Weekends. Hamill will be one of the celebrity guests for Weekend IV, June 6-8, 2014. You can see him in the “Legends of the Force” Star Wars-themed motorcade and in a featured talk show. Hamill’s appearances will most likely be very popular, so be sure to arrive very early. Another very popular guest, Billie Dee Williams, also appears this weekend!
New! Merchandise Events:
June 4 – 8: Artist Greg McCullough returns June 4 – 8 to Animation Gallery in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and will appear later in the month from June 18 – 22 at Art of Disney in Epcot.
June 5 – 8: Look for special appearances by artist Larry Dotson throughout the day at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace.
June 12 – 22: Find the latest releases from Precious Moments doll designer and artist Linda Rick at Once Upon A Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Add to your collection and meet representatives June 12 – 22 and June 26 – July 7. Look for a special appearance by Linda throughout the day, each day, June 12 – 15 and July 3 – 6.
June 12 – 15: Look for special appearances by artist Larry Dotson throughout the day at Main Street Cinema in Magic Kingdom Park
June 14: World-renowned Celebrity DJ Pauly D will appear in the Downtown Disney Marketplace from Noon to 1 p.m. to sign his recently released line of DJ Pauly D headphones from SMS Audio.
June 14 – 15: It is Car Masters Weekend at Downtown Disney. Special merchandise will be available at various locations.
June 18 – 22: Artist Greg McCullough returns to Art of Disney in Epcot.
June 20 – July 3: Artist David E. Doss will be appearing daily at Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Stop in and find a new piece of art to add to your collection!
June 21: Stop by Animation Gallery inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the limited edition release of “Studio Flashback,” featuring Oswald, and meet the artists from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.. Can’t make it to the event? Order yours now!
June 26 – 29: Look for special appearances by artist Larry Dotson throughout the day at Main Street Cinema in Magic Kingdom Park
June 28: Now, all the world is Figment’s stage! To celebrate the launch of the new, limited edition figurine, Figment Actor, sculptor Jacqueline Perrault will be on hand for a special appearance and signing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3 to 4 p.m. at Art of Disney in Epcot. Unable to make it? Take advantage of a special pre-purchase opportunity now through June 27. Also appearing for a special artist signing will be Kevin-John from 1 – 3 p.m.
Written by Lori Wall: Lori is a lifelong fan and visitor of Walt Disney World! Her love of Disney World has grown through visits with her own family as well as through planning magical vacations for others! Lori is an expert in maximizing vacations while sticking to a travel budget. Contact her about saving an extra 5% off your Disney vacation with an insider tip! Book your vacation with Lori at (845) 698- 0102 or request a price online.
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