Walt Disney World Resort Update for February 19-25, 2019

Walt Disney World Resort Update for February 19-25, 2019

 

Writer's note: While the Walt Disney World Resort's theme parks were very crowded over the Presidents Day weekend, it has been an otherwise quiet week for news. With the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend starting February 21, Atlanta Braves Spring Training Baseball is underway for the final time at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the third annual Epcot International Festival of the Arts concluding on Monday, February 25, and temperatures reaching the mid-80s all week, it is not surprising that the crowds forecast predicts another fairly busy week around the resort. Having again seen very long lines at ticket booths outside the parks this past Saturday afternoon, I remind you that buying park tickets in advance online lets you skip at least one queue during your visit. As always, we share links to official sources for tickets below.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Of course, Spring Break "season" is just ahead and its dates vary quite a bit depending on where you live; those of us that live near warm weather tourist destinations get to experience a meandering "season" of visitors. For those readers who are Disney Vacation Club Members now looking to plan for vacations beyond Walt Disney World Resort later this year, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney have announced a few new offers we have added to the DVC section of Discounts below. So, with that, let's get on with the Update.

Some Spring Break 2019 t-shirts are already in stock at MouseGear at Epcot. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

News and Views

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Ralph and Vanellope Now Appear at Epcot Via "The Link"

Wreck-It-Ralph and Vanellope have a new meet and greet location in the ImageWorks area of the Imagination pavilion. The new meet and greet area is adjacent to the Imagination Institute's "new experiment," a portal into other dimensions named "The Link." The portal "opened a window on the internet for Ralph and Vanellope to step through," according to Disney Parks Blog.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Ralph and Vanellope appear in the ImageWorks area at Imagination pavilion in Epcot. Photo ©Disney.

Cast Members only allow Ralph and Vanellope to use The Link. When taking or returning from their break, Ralph and Vanellope enter The Link accompanied by sounds and lighting that transports them across the internet. Unlike the meet and greet location where the pair began appearing last fall in a no longer used area of Innoventions West which included only a temporary backdrop, the new meet and greet location appears to have had a significantly better set design budget. Given the box office success of Disney's recent animated feature Ralph Breaks the Internet (and its availability on digital and upcoming availability on Blu-ray on February 26), this new meet and greet location appears to be a permanent addition.

Ralph and Vanellope arrive for their meet and greet through The Link as well. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Atlanta Braves Spring Training Baseball is Underway

For many folks that reside in North America at this time of year, the start of baseball's spring training brings that glimmer of hope that winter will soon come to an end. In Central Florida, of course, as February moves beyond its midpoint, Walt Disney World begins celebrating spring in many ways and, as mentioned in the Writer's Note, the weather forecast calls for mid 80s all week. At ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in particular, Atlanta Braves Spring Training kicked off on Friday with the arrival of pitchers and catchers.

Baseball Mickey greets guests outside Champion Stadium (also known as Disney Field). File photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This is the Braves 22nd and final spring training season at Walt Disney World, as they are moving to a new facility in Sarasota County (North Port), Florida in 2020. This year's final Champion Stadium home opener game is Monday, February 25, when the Washington Nationals come. Also on the spring training schedule are the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, and Miami Marlins. The final game at Walt Disney World will be the Braves against the New York Mets on March 23.

For games at Champion Stadium, tickets are available at Braves.com/springtraining, at Ticketmaster outlets including by phone (800) 745-3000, and at the box office at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Epcot Concerts News & Calendar

The Disney on Broadway Concert Series runs every night this week and will conclude at the end of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts next Monday, with two pairs of performers—Ashley Brown & Josh Strickland and Kissy Simmons & Alton Fitzgerald White—joining together for the final three concerts. There may still be dining packages available; check at ArtfulEpcot.com or by calling (407) WDW-DINE. Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members can receive a 10% discount for dining packages throughout the Festival during lunch and dinner (excludes alcohol, tax and gratuity).

Kissy Simmons and Alton Fitzgerald White performed "Under the Sea" last night during their Disney on Broadway Concert Series show. Watch for Music Director Jim Abbott dancing along. Video by Alan S. Dalinka.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Also expanded to seven days a week, beginning on March 6, the Garden Rocks Concert Series takes the stage three times nightly through June 3. With this week's announcement of Wang Chung, Peabo Bryson and Eddie Palmieri, all of the scheduled performers are now known. Other recent additions included Tony Orlando, Jon Anderson of YES, Ambrosia, Magic Giant and Dennis DeYoung, original member of STYX, Steve Auger (Journey former lead vocalist), Air Supply, Rick Springfield, Richard Marx and Starship, starring Mickey Thomas. Returning performers also include The Spinners and Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, and new to the Festival performers include TobyMac, Steven Curtis Chapman, Sister Sledge, and Colin Hay of Men at Work. For more information or reservations, call (407) WDW-DINE or visit FreshEpcot.com.

Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone has performed many times at the America Gardens Theatre and is scheduled to return again this spring for the Garden Rocks Concert Series. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

This summer, Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! will return from June 14 through August 18. Star-Lord and Gamora (along with an "alien" band) will take a "musical journey" that showcases hits from Star-Lord's Awesome Mix tapes with multiple performances daily.

With Groot remotely patching "Awesome Mix" music into the headphones of of an alien band, Star-Lord tried to teach them how to become the "Galaxy's greatest cover band" during last summer's edition of the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! Concerts. Gamora seemed unimpressed. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

For the convenience of our readers, all of the scheduled Disney on Broadway Concert Series performances at America Gardens Theatre are shown in our Google Calendar of Epcot Events. All of the scheduled performers for the Garden Rocks Concert Series also been added to the calendar, and the Guardians of the Galaxy-Awesome Mix Live! dates are included as well. While our Google Calendar of Epcot Events includes a list of the scheduled performers, it is always best to check the My Disney Experience app, Times Guide, and, yes, sometimes even signs posted at the park entrances and at the theater noting last minute changes. You can add the whole Event calendar to any calendar that supports the iCal format (like iPhone and Mac) by copying this link and, indeed, if when we get additional information and update the calendar, the calendar will update on your subscribed device as well. The calendar is provided as a courtesy "as is, where is" without any guarantees. Given the effort it took to create it and keep it updated, we do respectfully request that you do not post our entire calendar on another site without first asking our permission. Walt Disney World Resort does provide schedules in the My Disney Experience app, but does not allow you to add dates to calendars outside the app itself.

Views Around the World

We have Views Around the World this week mostly from Epcot and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Like last week, we have a bunch of animal photos from Disney's Animal Kingdom, but this week, there is a photographic theme that should be pretty easy to guess.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Epcot

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Construction Progress

The current state of construction progress of Batuu in the future Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge area of Disney's Hollywood Studios are in plain view from World Drive these days. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney Skyliner Construction

The Disney Skyliner towers head in the distance toward the turn station near Disney's BoardWalk after the cables pass over Buena Vista Drive. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

Photos by Alan S. Dalinka.

This and That…

…February 17 marked the two year anniversary of the official debut of Disney's Animal Kingdom's nighttime show, Rivers of Light. Friends of MousePlanet have recently noticed that the show no longer includes live performers. My Disney Experience still categorizes the show under "Stage Shows, Live Entertainment," but the description reads: "Embrace the magic of nature during a nighttime scene awash with captivating special effects, music and animal folklore."

When the show debuted in February 2017, live performers were aboard two Asian junk-style boats in the "celebration" of animals and nature. File photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

…REMINDER: Until February 24 at 11:49 p.m. Pacific Time, you can enter the Disney Junior "Discover the Magic Sweepstakes" at disney.com/DiscovertheMagicSweeps for a chance for your family of four to win a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. See the site for all the rules and details. MousePlanet is not affiliated with the sweepstakes in any way.

…Tonight, February 19, Give Kids The World Village, the non profit resort in Central Florida that provides dream vacations to critically ill children and their families is holding its next speaker series event, An Evening with Ron Logan, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Give Kids The World Village Resort, 210 S. Bass Rd., Kissimmee, FL 34746. Ron Logan was Executive Vice President and Executive Producer for Walt Disney Entertainment, responsible for creating, casting, and producing live entertainment for Disney Parks worldwide and was the first President of Disney Theatrical Productions (which produced Disney's Beauty and the Beast-A New Musical on Broadway and around the world.). Tickets may still be available on this EventBrite page starting at $35 (plus fees). GKTW has invited us to attend, and we will report on the event on social media and in a future Update.

…The MousePlanet Newsletter is here! The newsletter contains a recap of the week's articles (in case you miss a day), news that may have developed since the weekly Updates were published, and tips about what's happening at the Disney theme parks for the coming weekend. We'll also include a fun bonus, such as an Eye Spy or a trivia question. To subscribe to our free newsletter, just enter your email in the box below.

New & Coming Soon at Disney Springs

This section collects all of the Disney Springs retail and dining events we are aware of in one place along with our most recent views of the area. Event items NEW to the Update are marked accordingly.

NEW The Art Corner by Artistic Talent Group

The newest pop-up store at Disney Springs Marketplace (near Goofy's Candy Co.) is The Art Corner by Artistic Talent Group. Among the offerings here is, as previously seen at the 2018 edition of the Epcot International Festival of Arts and at other Epcot festivals, Artistic Marbling using the ancient art form of Suminigashi to create custom silk scarfs. Florida artist Steven Mikel also presents "Coffee & Canvas" paintings in the shop. They are also joined by caricature artists and Name Works, the provider of personalized artwork featuring hand-drawn names with personalized illustrations.

Artistic Marbling has had an interactive kiosk at this year's Epcot International Festival of the Arts in World Showcase Plaza. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Name Works has had a kiosk at this year's Epcot International Festival of the Arts along World Showcase Lagoon near the Germany pavilion. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

NEW Ron Jon Surf Shop

Disney Parks Blog announced that Ron jon Surf Shop plans to open a 10,000 square foot store later this year in the Town Center area near the entrance to the Lime Garage and The Polite Pig (most recently the Kingdom Hearts III pop up shop and The Disney Corner temporary retail store). Ron Jon also has a store at The Florida Mall in Orlando. Its headquarters is Cocoa Beach, Florida, to the east of Orlando International Airport.

The Raglan Road Mighty St. Patrick's Festival

Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant has announced the lineup for its 2019 Mighty St. Patrick's Festival, March 15-17. Headlined by the Young Dubliners, nine bands join Raglan Road's troupe of Irish dancers for entertainment from morning into late night. On March 17, St. Patrick's Day, guests will be seated on a first-come, first served basis with a $10 cover charge for each guest age 18 and over. Reservations for March 15-16 can be made without cover charge by calling (407)938-0300. Festival hours: March 15–3 p.m. until 1:30 a.m.; March 16-17–11 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. (Pub opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday). Complimentary face painting available March 15 from 3-9 p.m. and March 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The full entertainment schedule will be available at RaglanRoad.com. Published highlights include:

• Young Dubliners – One of Celtic rock's hardest working bands, the Young Dubliners play hundreds of shows to thousands of fans across the United States and Europe every year. Young Dubliners are known for their hearty rock and Irish-infused live performances.
• Ben Gunnery – Irish music superstar and multi-instrumentalist Ben Gunnery, who studied at prestigious music conservatories, has toured since age 14. Now 39, he has been soloist for high-profile productions like Riverdance and films including "Lord of the Rings" and Harry Potter movies. Ben will appear on Raglan Road stages for his first Mighty Festival.
• Briste - This inspiring all-female duo includes Emma Robinson (flute, whistle) and Joanna Boyle (banjo, vocals). Blending their rich musical backgrounds, Briste creates a fresh and exciting mix of country, folk and Irish traditional music.
• The Byrne Brothers - An exceptionally talented traditional Irish music family from Donegal. They are Luca, 14 (button accordion); Finn, 12 (banjo, mandolin and whistle); Dempsey, 9, (whistle and bodhran); and father, Tommy (guitar, Uilleann pipes, fiddle, whistles, bagpipes and bodhran). Their show combines exciting Irish tunes with modern dance beats, and they love to interact with every audience.
• The Raglan Roots Coalition – This edgy house band is known for its soul-rockin' Celtic bluegrass with hip-swingin', knee-shakin' funky roots beats. Emily Furlong (guitar, vocals, banjo); Blain Curtis (guitar, vocals); Ben Roe (percussion); Keelan Kelly (bass); and Ellen Daly (fiddle) will get everyone in the St. Paddy's spirit.
• Reel Republic – Hailing from the four corners of Ireland, Aisling Egan-Sage (fiddle); Liam O'Keefe (box, vocals); Niall McIlroy (guitar, flute); and Eleanor Roe (keyboard, vocals, bodhran) are Reel Republic 2.0, seriously talented musicians always pushing to make the next gig better than the last.
• Trad Gad – Three talented musicians from Kerry, Dublin, Colin Foley (guitar, vocals); Fionn Morrison (Uilleann pipes, whistles); and Ciara Ni Bhrian (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, banjo and bazouki, charm Raglan Road audiences with their vibrant performances.
• Maca – Three Irish sister-musician-songwriters dubbed "Ireland's next big thing" are rocking Raglan Road Pub stages with their extraordinary talent. Saoise Carty (guitar,vocals); Naoise Carty (Fiddle, vocals); and Ciara Carty (Bodhran) are from Wexford, Ireland.
• High Road - Three talented musicians hailing from Galway, Kilkenny and Glasgow meet in the middle to play a crowd-pleasing symphony of traditional Irish tunes and songs. Hannah NcNeil (fiddle, banjo, vocals); Aidan Byrne (guitar, vocals); and Roisin Broderick (concertina) rock the stage.
• The Raglan Road Irish Dancers – Plucked from the cast and stages of the world's greatest Irish dance shows, the Raglan Road Irish Dancers perform throughout the Mighty Festival. You can even learn some traditional Irish dance steps – no experience necessary!

While Raglan Road's brunch, lunch, dinner and bar menus will be available, including its new Guinness-infused Bangin' Bangers and Mighty Mash, Raglan Road does not serve green beer because it says its an American invention. Raglan Road also asks that you not call the holiday "St. Patty's" – it's either "St. Patrick's Day" or "St. Paddy's" – and to remember that a shamrock has three leaves not four!

Jaleo & Pepe by José Andrés

Chef José Andrés' ThinkFoodGroup has not yet announced an opening date for its table service restaurant and first-ever "brick-and-mortar location" of its Spanish food truck grab-and-go concept restaurant. Opening is expected soon.

Paddlefish

Paddlefish is continuing its "Rooftop Wine Experiences" the 2nd Tuesday of every month. February's event will be dedicated to wines of Napa and March's event will explore wines of Burgundy. For more information and $40/person (plus EventBrite fee) tickets, visit this EventBrite page.

Paddlefish is still offering its "Buzz Pop Cocktails" - "a nostalgic push pop with a twist for adults 21 and over." They can be purchased anywhere within the restaurant and come in an assortment of flavors.

The Edison

The Edison's February Burger of the Month is its Mozzarella Madness Burger, a beef blend of sirloin, short rib and brisket topped with fried mozzarella and marina sauce. It is served with tater tots for $24.

Mozzarella Madness Burger is The Edison's February Burger of the Month. Image courtesy Patina Restaurant Group.

Maria & Enzo's Ristorante

Carnevale, the traditional winter festival famous in Venice and known as Mardi Gras in many places outside of Italy, is a spectacle of glamorous costumes, culinary delicacies, and riotous celebration. February 22 through March 5, guests who visit Maria & Enzo's Ristorante at Disney Springs will get a front-row seat to nightly live entertainment including singers, stilt walkers, jugglers, mimes, face painters and folkdancers, while indulging in the restaurant's signature Italian cuisine. As the Italians say, "a Carnevale ogni scherzo vale!" (Anything goes at Carnevale!) Reservations are recommended. Visit MariaAndEnzos.com or call (407) 560-8466 for reservations and more information. Note: Patina Restaurant Group has invited us to experience the Carnevale celebration on February 25, and we will share the details of the experience on social media and in the February 26 Walt Disney World Resort Update here on MousePlanet.com

Maria & Enzo's Ristorante celebrates Carnevale from February 22 to March 5 with live music, singers, jugglers and, of course, its authentic Italian cuisine. Image courtesy Patina Restaurant Group.

Status of Parking Availability at Disney Springs

Those who visit Disney Springs during the weekends or during busy times of the year at the Resort know that the two parking structures often fill to capacity during those peak times. Even the flat lot on the West Side can fill up during very busy times! Construction continues across Buena Vista Drive at the site of the new garage that will connect to Disney Springs by a series of pedestrian bridges. We have not yet heard when the new structure will be open, but the trend of the name discussion for it has shifted from "Lemon" to "Grapefruit," and you can keep an eye on the overhead signs along Buena Vista Drive directing cars to the garages and lots with availability.

Although it increasingly looks closer to completed, construction continues at the new garage along Buena Vista Drive next to the Speedway gas station. Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

At the existing garages, there is still on-going work underway to upgrade the electronic system that indicates parking space availability. File Photo by Alan S. Dalinka.

Crowd Forecast

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Resort Events

Check here to see if a park event might fall during your next trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you know of any in-park events, official or unofficial, that should be listed here, please send us an email. More runDisney event information

Just click the year you want to expand (or close).

2019 Resort Events

2020 Resort Events

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Refurbishments and Attraction Closures

Note: Not all attraction closures have been officially confirmed by Disney, and are all subject to change at any time. All refurbishment schedules are estimates only. We recommend checking for updates as you plan your visit. All information is subject to change without notice. To get the most recent updates, visit DisneyWorld.com or use the MyDisneyExperience App on your iOS or Android device.

View the different areas of the Resort by scrolling horizontally and selecting the one you want to read about. If the menu bar does not work on your screen, please let us know by email (include which Browser and Operating System you are using)!

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Current Discounts and Promotions

Note: MousePlanet does not edit past Updates to reflect price increases; for up-to-date prices, check the most recent Walt Disney World Resort Update. For your convenience, we have grouped the discount offers based on the intended audience. Check out the category that best matches you, and pick the offer that works best for you. And keep those tips coming—let us know if you find a better or different offer, so we can share it with other readers.

Walt Disney World Resort theme park tickets are rarely offered at deep discounts unless you are a resident of Florida or eligible for U.S. Military Personnel benefits. It is increasingly true that non-Florida residents tend to benefit the most by purchasing tickets in advance (and, of course, being mindful of the rules relevant to those tickets). As prices go up, it becomes even more important to pay heed: Don't get scammed! Never buy tickets from an unofficial or secondary outlet, such as through eBay or Craigslist. Never rent or purchase tickets from people approaching you outside Disney property stating they have remaining days or leftover tickets. This practice is against the terms of use for Walt Disney World Theme Park admissions, and may result in denial of entry. There is no way to determine if these tickets are valid until you try to use them to enter the parks. Only purchase Disney theme park tickets directly from Disney, an authorized seller, or a travel agency like MousePlanet travel partner Get Away Today.

 

 

Be sure to move the calendar to at least seven (7) days out, to see what ticket options and discounts are available for your planned visit.

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For Everyone

For Annual Passholders

For Disney Rewards VISA Credit Card Holders

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For Florida Residents

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