Disney has added even more Disney After Hours event dates starting in April, giving guests more time to experience their favorite attractions, meet iconic characters, and enjoy complimentary snacks.
Here are the updated dates and prices for Magic Kingdom:
Tickets are currently available online for events taking place from January 11 to April 8, 2024.
Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green looking to purchase tickets early for events from April 22 to June 27, 2024, must call (407) 934-7639 beginning January 24, 2024. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
All other Guests may purchase tickets for events from April 22 to June 27, 2024, online beginning January 31, 2024.
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.
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.
World Celebration Gardens
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.
Dreamer’s Point
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.
New Character Greeting Spaces
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.
Communicore Plaza
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.
Valentine’s Day 2024 at Walt Disney World
Disney Springs
Amorette’s Patisserie (Available Feb. 1 through 17; mobile order available)
Chocolate-covered Strawberries
Strawberry Cheesecake
The Ganachery
Puppy Love Chocolate Piñata filled with hazelnut truffle treats and crisp pearls (New) (Available Feb. 1 through 15)
Mickey Chocolate Bites: Milk chocolate with caramel crisp pearls, solid 65% dark chocolate custom blend, and solid milk chocolate (New) (Currently available through Feb. 29)
Champagne-Strawberry Ganache Square: Strawberry ganache blended with champagne enrobed in dark 65% chocolate (Available Feb. 1 through 18)
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar (Available Feb. 1 through 17)
Berry Lovely: Bacardí Dragonberry Rum with orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, watermelon syrup, and splash of soda garnished with a strawberry (New)
Vivoli il Gelato (Currently available through Feb. 29)
Love Potion: Vanilla gelato, Fanta Strawberry, and whipped cream
Cupid’s Bombashake: Strawberry cheesecake shake topped with a cheesecake-filled Bomboloni
Outdoor Vending at West Side – Landing (Available Feb. 1 through 17)
Beautiful Rose: Herradura Silver Tequila, Cointreau liqueur, rose syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, and red cranberry juice garnished with a lime wedge (New)
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
The Mara (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available)
Zebra Mousse Cake: Amarula mousse and chocolate sponge inspired by the iconic Zebra Domes
DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB RESORT AND DISNEY’S YACHT CLUB RESORT
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)
Strawberry Cheesecake Brownie: Rich brownie topped with strawberry cheesecake garnished with chocolate whipped cream, pink crisp pearls, and pink chocolate hearts
DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT
Contempo Café (Available Feb. 4 through 29; mobile order available)
Sweet Heart Cookie: Sugar cookie with heart sprinkles topped with cream cheese buttercream, red velvet cake pieces and heart, and a drizzle of dark chocolate (New)
DISNEY’S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA
Gasparilla Island Grill (Available Feb. 1 through 29; mobile order available)
Raspberry Macaron Heart: Macaron filled with raspberry cream and a passion fruit curd (New)
DISNEY’S OLD KEY WEST RESORT AND DISNEY’S SARATOGA SPRINGS RESORT & SPA
Good’s Food to Go and The Artist’s Palette (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available at The Artist’s Palette only)
Love Letter Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with strawberry pastry cream, white chocolate mousse, and buttercream flowers
DISNEY’S POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT
Kona Island (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Stitch and Angel Date Night Cupcakes: Vanilla cupcakes with fillings inspired by classic pairings: chocolate and peanut butter mousse filling and peanut butter mousse and jelly filling
Pineapple Lanai (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Valentine Float: DOLE Whip Raspberry with Rosa Regale Sparkling Red topped with raspberries and strawberries
DISNEY’S RIVIERA RESORT
Le Petit Café (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Trois Macarons: Raspberry ganache, strawberry jam, and milk chocolate ganache
DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE
Roaring Fork (Available Feb. 1 through 14; mobile order available)
Love Bug Marshmallow: Strawberry marshmallow with a ganache center on a graham cracker cookie
Available at Various Disney Resort Hotel Quick-Service Restaurants (Available Feb. 1 through 29; mobile order available)
My (Plant-based) Sweetheart Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with a love-ly swirl of vanilla buttercream and heart sprinkles (Plant-based); Available at the following locations:
World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
End Zone Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Spyglass Grill at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Magic Kingdom
Sunshine Tree Terrace (Currently available; mobile order available)
I Lava You Float: Fanta Strawberry and passion fruit flavor served with DOLE Whip Orange and topped with popping candy (Plant-based)
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Hollywood Brown Derby (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Red Velvet-White Chocolate Mousse atop a chocolate cookie
The Trolley Car Café (Available Feb. 1 through 14)
Strawberry-Red Velvet Whoopie Pie: Red velvet cake filled with cream cheese buttercream topped with strawberry buttercream
EPCOT
Connections Café (Available Feb. 14 only)
Valentine’s Day Baumkuchen with chocolate and strawberry layers (New)
Connections Eatery(Available Feb. 9 through 14; mobile order available)
Valentine’s Day Milkshake: Vanilla milkshake with strawberry sauce, whipped cream, and chocolate garnish (New)
New details about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure have been revealed by NOLA.com, including information about the advanced audio-animatronics that will be used on the ride. A NOLA.com reporter toured the attraction at Magic Kingdom in early January with Imagineering executive creative director Ted Robledo.
Robledo began his tour on the queue courtyard for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, where there are new flagstone pathways and a mural by Louisiana artist Malaika Favorite. The mural is on a two-story barn that remains from Splash Mountain but was repainted yellow before the mural was added.
Robledo said the courtyard will set the scene for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. “Like a movie, this is the setting. We’ve got to know where we’re at,” he said.
The first floor of the barn, which guests enter as part of the queue, will house the offices of Tiana’s Foods. The backstory of the attraction explains that Tiana founded the co-op after the events of “The Princess and the Frog.”
Poles outside the barn will support loudspeakers broadcasting a 1920s radio show. Reimagined classic New Orleans songs will play, performed by local musicians assembled by New Orleans musician and Grammy winner Terence Blanchard.
In addition to Favorite and Blanchard, Disney has recruited Maroon 5 keyboardist P.J. Morton, another New Orleans native, and the family of the late Queen of Creole Cuisine, Leah Chase, who served as inspiration for Tiana.
“This is our love letter to New Orleans, and in that spirit, art is everywhere,” Robledo said. “The city as a place is as important as a character. The story reacts to the place. We’re starting to hint at that in the queue, to try to craft that love letter to New Orleans in every way possible.”
At the ride’s loading area, NOLA.com noted there were cranes hoisting pallets of Tiana’s Foods crates. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will use the same ride vehicles and track as Splash Mountain. The NOLA reporter got to walk some of the track and stated all of Splash Mountain’s fake vegetation has been replaced with plants native to Louisiana, including cypress trees, marsh grasses, and Spanish moss.
“This will be where we first see ‘the critters,’ as we’re calling them,” Robledo said, referring to the ride’s new animal band seen in the above concept art.
Two-dimensional cutouts of Louis and Tiana currently represent their future animatronics. We previously saw a preview of a Louis animatronic. The cutouts help designers see how the characters fit into the scenes.
There will be several Tiana animatronics that will speak directly to guests. The animatronics, NOLA.com stated, will be the same high-tech versions recently used for World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland. The animatronics are notable for having advanced physical faces instead of projected screen faces, which were popular for Disney a few years ago.
The Audio-Animatronics will be the same at the Disneyland Park version of the attraction, as will most aspects of the experience.
Other new elements inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure included a pair of stone arches over the ride flume. But some of the Splash Mountain architecture like rocks and boulders will remain.
We saw a glimpse inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure during “A Special Edition of 20/20 – Disney 100: A Century of Dreams.”
Robledo said of the removal of the tree from the top of Splash Mountain, “We needed some real estate there to fit the added show magic.”
The tour stopped before the ride’s climactic scene, which was previously the Laughin’ Place. Robledo said of the surprise scene, “I’ll just say it’s got a lot to do with magic. It’s a magical moment that happens down there.”
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open this year at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
