A familiar restaurant along Disney’s BoardWalk will be permanently closing this week.
Big River Grille & Brewing Works at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn will close permanently at the end of the day (10:00 pm) on Sunday, January 21, 2024. The restaurant, which has operated in the space since 1996, offered American grille favorites along with popular beers. Disney has not announced a replacement for the space.
Typically, Florida’s weather in January is known for its mild temperatures and sunny days. For many tourists, it’s a great time to escape the harsh cold of winter in other parts of the country and enjoy the pleasant climate that the Sunshine State has to offer.
However, for the past couple of weeks, Florida has seen unprecedented cold temperatures alongside aggressive wind and rain. Now, a new forecast has arrived, one that is even more shocking.
In a surprising turn of events, meteorologists in Florida have issued a rather unusual weather forecast – an Iguana Watch.
Florida hurricane specialist, Zack Covey, has alerted residents of South Florida to be prepared for temperatures dropping below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period. While this might seem like a typical weather advisory for some, the intriguing aspect of this watch is the expected result – lethargic iguanas falling from trees and other elevated areas.
An Iguana Watch, as named by Covey, is a phenomenon unique to Florida. Due to the cold temperatures, iguanas, which are cold-blooded reptiles, experience a decrease in their body temperature, leading to a state of tranquility and lethargy. This causes them to lose their grip on tree branches, resulting in an unusual sight of falling iguanas throughout the region.
The reason behind this peculiar behavior lies in the biology of these cold-blooded creatures. As the temperatures drop, iguanas are incapable of generating enough body heat to function normally. Consequently, their muscles become stiff, rendering them unable to maintain a strong hold on their perches.
While this might sound alarming, it is important to note that the iguanas are not harmed by this involuntary “plunge” as long as where they land is safe.
If you are planning to visit the region for Walt Disney World Resort or any other activity, it is advisable that you look out for these creatures. The Iguana Watch is an essential precautionary measure by the National Weather Service, aiming to alert residents about this climate-induced phenomenon.
Not only does it help ensure public safety, but it also presents an opportunity for Floridians to witness a natural phenomenon that occurs relatively rarely in other parts of the United States.
For residents and visitors alike, the falling iguanas can create quite a spectacle. It is advisable to exercise caution during an Iguana Watch, particularly when walking or parking beneath trees commonly inhabited by these reptiles. It’s not uncommon for unsuspecting passersby to find themselves in close proximity to a sleepy iguana that has taken a tumble.
As Florida embraces this unique weather forecast, it serves as a reminder of the diverse weather patterns and remarkable wildlife that make the state so fascinating. Whether it’s hurricanes, intense heat, or unexpected drops in temperature, Florida weather never fails to captivate residents and pique the interest of meteorologists and nature enthusiasts across the nation.
So, if you happen to be in Florida during an Iguana Watch, keep your eyes peeled for these curious creatures descending from above. It’s not every day that you get to witness such a whimsical event brought upon by the ever-changing and unpredictable nature of this beautiful state’s climate.
Via DisneyLists.com
Since 2019, EPCOT has been undergoing a historical transformation; thankfully, it is almost complete. On December 5, 2023, World Celebration Gardens, including the sure-to-be popular Dreamers Point, opened to guests. The new area is a gorgeous spot to sit, relax, and enjoy the views of Spaceship Earth.
In the middle of EPCOT, you’ll now find World Celebration Gardens. This area features beautiful greenspaces for guests to explore. In the center, there is a large planter based on the five rings of the iconic EPCOT logo.
The gardens feature ample seating and shade. Guests are invited to connect with one another and the nature around them in this lush new area. When we visited, we found lots of different kinds of seating areas. From tables and chairs, benches, and Adirondack-type chairs. This area will be a fantastic spot to take a rest or eat a meal.
The area also includes many different charging stations where guests can charge their devices while sitting there.
Found within World Celebration Gardens is Dreamers Point, where guests can visit the new “Walt the Dreamer” statue. The statue shows Walt later in his life when he was dreaming up the initial concepts for the park and the overall Florida Project. His relaxed and reflective demeanor was important to the design of this statue, a nod to the pure optimism he felt for the future and the magic of possibility that was the basis for the dream he never saw come to life.
Below, you can see the entire area. Guests can sit on either side of Walt for a special photo. So far, we’ve seen a Disney PhotoPass photographer posted there regularly.
As you can see from the photos, guests will need to step up to sit next to Walt. One criticism we’ve heard is that guests who cannot transfer from a mobility device will have trouble getting close to Walt. However, as seen below, there is a spot to the left of Walt where a wheelchair could be backed in for a photo.
We’ve visited both during the day and at night. Do note that the lightning is quite blinding in the evening, and you’ll need to be extra careful stepping down after your photo.
Overall, we’re very pleased with the statue. We’ve seen some really tender moments from guests. We’ve seen children hug Walt and some adults getting a bit teary. Like Roy Disney’s statue with Minnie at Magic Kingdom, the ability to sit next to Walt and have some interaction makes the experience more meaningful.
Also, in the new gardens are a few new character greeting spaces. We’ve seen Pluto and Daisy greeting guests. Check the My Disney Experience app for greeting times.
The last section still yet to be completed is Communicore Plaza, which was also supposed to open in December 2023. However, Disney pushed back the opening until sometime in 2024. Communicore Hall will be a place to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
Communicore Plaza will be the new home for festivals. See the concept art below for an idea of what it will be like inside.
World Celebration Gardens is a fantastic new addition to EPCOT. The beautiful gardens offer guests a great place to rest and meet. Guests will also not want to miss the Walt the Dreamer statue. Be sure to check out the gardens on your next visit to EPCOT.
The Disney Parks Blog has released the full guide of food and beverages coming to Walt Disney World Resort for Valentine’s Day 2024.
Amorette’s Patisserie (Available Feb. 1 through 17; mobile order available)
The Ganachery
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar (Available Feb. 1 through 17)
Vivoli il Gelato (Currently available through Feb. 29)
Outdoor Vending at West Side – Landing (Available Feb. 1 through 17)
The Mara (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available)
Beach Club Marketplace and The Market at Ale & Compass (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available)
BoardWalk Deli (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available)
Contempo Café (Available Feb. 4 through 29; mobile order available)
Gasparilla Island Grill (Available Feb. 1 through 29; mobile order available)
Good’s Food to Go and The Artist’s Palette (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available at The Artist’s Palette only)
Kona Island (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Pineapple Lanai (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Le Petit Café (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Roaring Fork (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available)
Sunshine Tree Terrace (Currently available; mobile order available)
The Hollywood Brown Derby (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
The Trolley Car Café (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Connections Café (Available Feb. 14 only)
Connections Eatery (Available Feb. 9 through 14; mobile order available)
Le Cellier Steakhouse (Available Feb. 14 only)
Walt Disney Imagineering has revealed an exciting new piece of technology called the “HoloTile floor” in a video celebrating Disney Research Fellow and Imagineer Lanny Smoot’s induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
In the video, Smoot gives a quick demonstration of the new tech. The floor is made up of small circular pieces that shift and rotate as the user walks upon it, allowing for omnidirectional movement.
Smoot’s induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame marks the second person from The Walt Disney Company to receive the prestigious honor, with the first being Walt Disney himself.
According to Smoot, the HoloTile will automatically adjust in order to keep the user on the floor, and can even accommodate multiple people independently.
The floor can be used to traverse through virtual reality (VR) spaces, allow users (and potentially guests) to move around in the same space collaboratively, and Smoot also suggests its use in theatrical productions for dancers onstage. In one section of the video, Smoot and another user are walking on the HoloTile floor to get BB-8 from the “Star Wars” sequels through what appears to be a maze, with both on-screen visuals and projections on the tile.
Another short clip shows someone who, to us, appears to be using “The Force” to move a box around the section of HoloTile.
Ultimately, Smoot says that while there are “so many applications for this type of technology,” Walt Disney Imagineering doesn’t know yet where it will be used.
It gives me an amazing opportunity to use these inventions that I’ve made in service of people having fun.Lanny Smoot, Disney Research Fellow and Walt Disney Imagineer
See this exciting new technology in action in the video below: