Walt Disney World Park Hours Released Through July 3

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

The Walt Disney World website now shows parks hours have been released through July 3! As you plan your vacation to the most magic place on earth, here are the current posted park hours for April 18 – July 3, 2021.

Magic Kingdom:

  • April 18 – 30: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • May 1 – 31: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • June 1 – 26: 8:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • June 27 – 30: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • July 1 – 3: 9:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)

EPCOT:

  • April 18 – 24: 11:00am to 11:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 11pm)
  • April 25 – 30: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
  • May 1 – 8: 11:00am to 10:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 10pm)
  • May 9 – 31: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • June 1 – 30: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)
  • July 1 – 3: 11:00am to 9:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 9pm)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

  • April 18 – 30: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • May 1 – 31: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • June 1 – 18: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • June 19: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
  • June 20 – 26: 9:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • June 27 – 30: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
  • July 1 – 3: 9:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

  • April 18 – 30: 8:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • May 1: 8:00am to 8:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 8pm)
  • May 2 – 31: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
  • June 1 – 26: 8:00am to 7:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 7pm)
  • June 27: 8:00am to 5:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 5pm)
  • June 28 – 30: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
  • July 1 – 3: 8:00am to 6:00pm (Park Hop: 2pm to 6pm)
pandora _ tree of life _ animal kingdom _ disney fanatic

More Park Pass Availability Added for Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

We recently reported that park reservations for Disney’s Hollywood Studios were booked through July 1st for resort guests and regular ticket holders.

Now, Disney has updated their reservation availability calendar and added openings for select dates

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April now has availability on Saturday the 17th for all guests.

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Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also now available for reservation on May 30th and 31st.

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The biggest change is June, which previously had no dates available for Hollywood Studios. However, there is now only one date that does not show all parks available. The 22nd is unavailable for Animal Kingdom only.

It’s unknown how many additional reservations are available, so guests with pre-purchased tickets may want to move quickly.

Walt Disney World Bringing Back Cast Members in Preparation of Eventual Increased Capacity

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Around the Walt Disney World Resort, “Earning My Ears” nametag adornments have started to pop up along with groups of cast members returning to work and training after being furloughed or displaced last year.

Because the parks are not running their normal operating hours and there are still resorts, shops, and restaurants that are still closed, these cast members have stayed displaced or furloughed until things could start to open back up. The theme park operating hours were recently extended through June 2021 in anticipation of larger crowds and expanded capacity.

As of the first week of April, cast members who decided to return to work in a new area are starting to be recalled to their home location.

Those who have been sitting on furlough are now being recalled to come back to work to help as the parks and resorts start to extend their hours and reopen some locations that have remained closed. Some of those areas include merchandise, food, and possibly entertainment for increased guest capacity this summer.

This week, DisneyCareers.com posted they are hiring some housekeeping and lifeguard roles.

Baby Mandrill Ivy Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Now On View at Kilimanjaro Safaris

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

There’s a new addition to the Kilimanjaro Safaris family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: a baby mandrill named Ivy!

From Disney Parks Blog:

A baby mandrill has joined the family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. And what better time than during Earth Month?

In the spirit of the mystical mandrill Rafiki, join us in honoring the circle of life as we celebrate the arrival of this adorable newborn. The little girl was born on Saturday, April 10, to first-time mom Hazel and dad Linus. Cast members named the infant Ivy to fit in with the rest of her colorful family – Olive, Scarlett, Snow and Hazel.

We’re so excited to share this news and report that mom and newborn are healthy and bonding. Be on the lookout, because both have already been spotted by guests on Kilimanjaro Safaris. You might see the shy baby clinging to Hazel’s stomach, a natural bonding behavior. But this will change soon as the baby begins to walk within weeks of being born, spending most of the time walking underneath mom. The baby joins the troop of seven other mandrills that call Disney’s Animal Kingdom home.

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Here are some interesting facts about one of the most colorful mammals found in nature. Mandrills typically have a six-month gestation period. In the mandrill social structure, females take on the majority of parental responsibilities, including grooming, nursing, and carrying the young.  When you spot the mandrills, you may see them grooming one another, a behavior that promotes social bonding. 

While our new arrival weighed in between 1-2 pounds, mandrills are actually the largest species of monkey. They’re also a vulnerable species found in African rainforests along the equator where their habitat is disappearing because of deforestation and poaching. 

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This birth is an example of how our dedicated and highly trained team of Disney animal care experts works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Species Survival Plans.  With this birth, the troop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom now includes four generations of mandrills from the same family, mirroring the social system of mandrills found in the wild.

Can’t get enough of Ivy? Be sure to check her out in the video below! And if you want even more baby animals, be sure to check out our look at the white rhinoceros calf Ranger who also calls Kilimanjaro Safaris home!

Inclement Weather Rips Through Disney’s Animal Kingdom Knocking Down Trees, Guests Stuck on Kilimanjaro Safaris

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Via wdwnt.com

Inclement weather yesterday in the Orlando area brought heavy winds to Walt Disney World. Guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom were in for a surprise when the gusts caused trees around the theme park to fall, even causing some guests to become stuck on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

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Katie Alvarez (@thetinydisneydetails) sent an image of a large downed tree due to the severe weather at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Given a closer look, it’s very fortunate that the tree did not fall the opposite way onto the pathway on which guests walk.

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The DAK Guy (@thedakguy) on Instagram sent a photo of bamboo fallen over a walkway.

Luckily, it didn’t seem as though guests were in the area at this time.

Chelsea Angelis (@chelsea_angelis) sent video that she and other guests were stuck on Kilimanjaro Safaris for 35 minutes due to bamboo falling on top of the safari truck.

Though inclement weather roughed up Walt Disney World today, we’re glad that we haven’t heard reports of guests who had been injured.