As Walt Disney World gears up for their 50th Anniversary Celebration called, “The World’s Most Magical Celebration”, Disney Resort guests are learning new perks are arriving soon! While yes, Disney has confirmed the Disney Dining Plan will make a return – we are also learning early theme park entry and extended evening hours are coming soon for select Disney Resort guests.
As shared by Disney: “Just in time for the start of this magical celebration, on Oct. 1, we will be rolling out a new early theme park entry benefit for Disney Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels, giving them the first chance to enjoy select attractions at EVERY theme park, EVERY day. These guests will also be among the first each day to see the dazzling decorations and EARidescent excitement. Guests will need a valid ticket or pass and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same date for early theme park entry. In addition, with the kickoff of the 50th anniversary, guests staying at one of our Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotels will also be able to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks. Extended evening hours will begin in early October with specific dates and parks to be shared at a later time, so please be sure to check back on DisneyWorld.com for the latest.”
While many guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom rush off to ride Avatar Flight of Passage or take on the Yeti with Expedition Everest, there is one especially favorite place of ours that is often overlooked. If you haven’t before, you’ll want to take time to check out Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail located in the Africa portion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Well, now the gorilla residents of Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail are going viral… as a snake entered their yard.
In the first video, TikTok user Bearded Kraken (@silkystrokesurvivor) captures “Gorilla vs. Snake”, as the snake is first discovered by the gorillas. The video has gone viral with 10.5 million views:
The gorillas aren’t exactly sure what to do! In the second video @silkystrokesurvivor captures “Gorilla VS Snake Part 2!” which now has almost 780,000 views:
While we aren’t exactly sure what ended up happening to the snake, it was interesting watching the whole gorilla troop curiously check out the snake. And if you want to see that chest beat one more time, @silkystrokesurvivor put out a third TikTok video, “Chest Beat Alert!” which has almost 600,000 views:
The troop of western lowland gorillas are some of our favorite to watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! They seem like gentle giants and watching them inspect something like a snake entering their enclosure is interesting to see.
The Walt Disney World website now shows parks hours have been released through September 11! Plus, several previously posted hours have been changed to accommodate the return of fireworks, the arrival of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and Disney After Hours Boo Bash events. You’ll also see guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios in August and September now have an extra hour in the park. As you plan your vacation to the most magic place on earth, here are the current posted park hours for June 27 – September 11, 2021.
Magic Kingdom:
June 27 – 30: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
July 1 – 10: 9:00am to 11:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 11pm)
July 11 – 31: 9:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
August 1 – 13: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
August 14: 9:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
August 15 – 31: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 1 – 6: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 7: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 8 – 9: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 10: 9:00am to 8:30pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8:30pm)
September 11: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
EPCOT:
June 27 – 30: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
July 1 – 31: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
August 1 – 31: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
September 1 – 11: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
June 27 – 30: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
July 1 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
August 1 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm) *Previously park closed at 7pm
September 1 – 11: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm) *Previously park closed at 7pm
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
June 27: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 5pm)
June 28 – 30: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
July 1 – 31: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
August 1 – 31: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
September 1 – 11: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
Keep checking the My Disney Experience App before visiting as Disney has been known to add extra hours as dates draw nearer. Just be sure to snag your Park Pass reservations as soon as you know which date you are looking to experience a select parks.
A new set of Disney books will be coming later this year to celebrate the anniversary. Take a look below at what will be releasing.
A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth
This expansive, must-have coffee table book paints a robust portrait of the Walt Disney World Resort across 50 magical years, through diverse and vibrant voices. Disney fans will love the mostly unseen Disney theme park concept art and photographs in this beautiful and nostalgic collection. Written by Kevin Kern, Tim O’Day and Steven Vagnini, fans can bring home this treasure trove of Walt Disney World Resort history beginning September 28th, available for pre-order here.
Delicious Disney: Walt Disney World
Attention, foodies! Bring home the magic (and food) of Walt Disney World with the newest title in the Delicious Disney lineup! With beautiful photos and behind-the-scenes anecdotes told by authors Marcy Carriker Smothers and Pam Brandon, this cookbook-meets-coffee-table-book enchants with more than sixty recipes ranging from appetizers to desserts, main courses and libations. Disney foodie fans will love this collection of stories and recipes that goes all the way back to opening day in 1971, to current favorites from around the resort. This book will be exclusively available at Walt Disney World Resort and shopDisney beginning September 28th.
Art of Coloring: Walt Disney World: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity from The Most Magical Place on Earth
You’re never too old to experience the joy of coloring, right? Well, for the creative spirit, this brand new adult coloring book is ideal for taking pencil to paper and adding your own brand of color and style. Get your colored pencils ready! This book will be exclusively available at Walt Disney World Resort and shopDisney beginning September 28th.
Birnbaum’s 2022 Walt Disney World: The Official Vacation Guide
Walt Disney World will always be growing and evolving, just as Walt intended it. To keep up to date, you can trust Birnbaum as your 2021-2022 guide for insider tips on how to see and do it all! Get the scoop on what’s new for the 50th Anniversary, including insider updates on new attractions, resorts, and more. Available wherever books are sold beginning September 21st.
Birnbaum’s 2022 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide
Kids think they are the experts on all things Disney… and they might just be right! In this book, real kids give honest advice for the most awesome Walt Disney World Resort vacation possible, including insider tips for young readers, must-do attraction and dining recommendations, and a hunt for dozens of Hidden Mickeys throughout the theme parks! Available wherever books are sold beginning September 21st.
Disney announced a new daytime show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this morning set to debut on October 1 for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World.
Check out this artist rendering of “Disney KiteTails,” which will come alive several times daily at the Discovery River Amphitheater beginning Oct. 1. Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, while out on the water elaborate three-dimensional kites – some stretching to 30 feet long – will depict Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie. These colorful creations will dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family.
