Celebrate the New Year in style with Disney’s new 2020 Alex and Ani bracelet. Released just in time for the holidays, this latest addition will make a great gift or brighten up any festive outfit. The front of the charm features a black backdrop with Mickey and Minnie Mouse enjoying colorful New Years fireworks and the year 2020 prominently displayed.
Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be closing for refurbishment in early 2020. This typically occurs annually, as temperatures drop in Florida.
Kali River Rapids is scheduled to be down from January 6, 2020 until March 20, 2020. It will reopen to guests on March 21, 2020, just in time for the busier spring season.
Change is in the air at Walt Disney World’s Epcot! While much of the refurbishment focus is on Epcot’s Future World, the World Showcase has some exciting things on the horizon as well. Three new films will make their debut on January 17 and we are having a difficult time choosing which one we are most excited about! Check out the details from DisneyParksBlog below:
“We’re happy to share that three new films will debut January 17, 2020, at Epcot, on the same day the Epcot International Festival of the Arts begins!
“Awesome Planet” in The Land pavilion showcases the Earth’s beauty and diversity in a 10-minute film featuring spectacular imagery, in-theater effects and an original musical score from Academy Award-winning® composer Steven Price.
“Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in the France pavilion is directed and produced by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films, and invites guests to participate in a twist on a tale as old as time. It also features narration from Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts in the original film. The new sing-along will run in rotation with “Impressions de France,” which will receive an upgrade to 4K projection.
And “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion is an update to the previous “O Canada!” film with new scenes, a new musical score by Canadian composer Andrew Lockington and new narration by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy.”
While the new tram loop leading up to the front of Walt Disney World’s EPCOT park has been completed, work continues beyond some green construction walls nearby.
The work is visible from the monorail and the monorail platforms. At the moment, what can be seen is mostly just large patches of flattened dirt behind the green walls with materials and pieces scattered about.
To one side, pieces of a new sidewalk are visible and it looks like the sidewalk will continue on up to the entrance of the park, through a new security checkpoint for this side.
Stay tuned for continuing updates on this project at EPCOT.
After months behind construction walls, the stage for the Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes Flight bird show has finally debuted a new, permanent space. For months now during its refurbishment, the show has taken place over by the rocks surrounding the edge of the overlook for the Tree of Life, but now the stage is set for a magnificent return to its former location.
Winged Encounters used to have a series of temporary poles with rings at the top for the birds to perch and fly off from, but now it seems a series of branches will form their new playground. While at the base, this is the same stage that was there before, much more has been added to it throughout its refurbishment.
The stage area features carved wood chameleons, otters, and a ram, among other animals. A series of branches jut out over the top to act as perches for the birds when they are on stage.
Warm, recessed lighting is tucked away along the bottom of the stage for nighttime illumination. From this angle, it practically looks like an extension of the Tree of Life itself, with similar carved animal motifs. This is the perfect example of how to properly enhance a space during refurbishment, tying in to the themed elements in the space seamlessly.
If you’re looking to catch a showing of Winged Encounters, morning shows take place daily at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11:30 AM, and afternoon encounters take place at 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.