DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Festival of the Arts Menus Released; Garden Rocks Concert Lineup Unveiled; Another Character Greet Returning; Voices of Liberty News; Marathon Weekend Coverage & More
Since our last news roundup, we got details on two different Epcot festivals. We also got word of another fan-favorite character meet and greet coming back. There is a new discounted ticket offer just announced, and it was a busy weekend around property with tens of thousands of runners lacing up the shoes and sweating it out at runDisney’s annual marathon weekend, including an insane accomplishment by one runner that hardly seems possible. All this and more are below in this week’s news roundup.
1 – Disney Releases Menus for EPCOT International Festival of the Arts – Opens Friday, January 14!
The 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts opens Friday, January 14, and runs through February 21. The festival runs for thirty-nine days and features dishes inspired by art movements, visual masterpieces come to life, and Broadway stars sing beloved show tunes in a celebration of performance art. This week Disney released the menus for the fifteen Food Studios. Check out the menus at the link below.
Cindy will be visiting EPCOT on Friday, January 14, to check out opening day. Follow us on Instagram for photos and videos that will be added to our Instagram Story, including menu boards that include pricing.
2 – Garden Rocks Lineup for EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival Announced
The upcoming EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is coming up right behind the Festival of the Arts. This festival will run from March 2-July 4, 2022. Returning this year is the very popular Garden Rocks Concert Series. This week, Disney released the schedule for most of the festival. More acts will be announced at a later date. Visit the link below to check out who will be performing this year.
3 – Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight Reopening January 15
Olaf is coming back! The Walt Disney World website now shows that greetings with Olaf at the Celebrity Spotlight will resume on January 15. Olaf will greet guests from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. As with other recent character meet and greet reopenings, physical distancing measures will be in place, and no autographs will be available. Instead, this is a chance for guests to have “individual time” and catch a distanced selfie with Olaf. You can find Celebrity Spotlight next to the Mickey Shorts Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
4 – Voices of Liberty Return to the American Adventure Rotunda at EPCOT
After performing at the American Gardens Theater for most of 2021, the popular Voices of Liberty are back in the Rotunda at the American Adventure Pavilion. Showtimes are available in the My Disney Experience app for their fifteen-minute performances.
5 – New Florida Resident Weekday Ticket Offer
Florida residents can now take advantage of a special weekday ticket for Walt Disney World this spring. Disney Cast Member Eric Scott has all the details below.
The new year is off and running and Florida Residents can experience an EARidescent start at the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks with the new Disney Weekday Magic Ticket. Florida residents [are now] able to purchase a 2-day ticket for $149 (plus tax)*, valid Monday through Friday until April 7, 2022; subject to blockout dates March 14-18, 2022.
Florida residents can enjoy an enchanting escape during The World’s Most Magical Celebration – the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. With new offerings and classic fun throughout all four theme parks, a Disney visit will add an extra magical start to the year.
Through the beginning of spring, Florida residents can enjoy a world of magic across each of the four theme parks – from Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts (Jan. 14-Feb. 21) to our newest nighttime spectaculars – “Harmonious” at EPCOT and “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park – and fan favorites like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
To learn additional details, including information on 3-day and 4-day Disney Weekday Magic tickets, visit DisneyWorld.com.
To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for guests ages 3 and up. As a reminder, reservations are required with admission for each day of your visit.
Florida residents can take advantage of other special offerings, including savings on select Disney Resort hotel stays and the first-ever Walt Disney World Resort specialty license plate supporting Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida. Keep checking back with us here at the Disney Parks Blog for more news and updates for Florida residents!
*One theme park per day. Proof of Florida residency required.
6 – Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa to Reopen in Late January
The Grand Floridian Spa is set to reopen in late January. Spas have been closed at Walt Disney World since its reopening in July 2020. Spa services will be slightly modified due to health and safety regulations. Learn more at the link below.
Click here to learn about Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa opening in late January.
7 – 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Includes Amazing Dopey Winner
This past weekend, thousands of runners raced at Walt Disney World through all the parks during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. The race weekend was the second race weekend in the runDisney race season and the signature event in the series, which is one of the largest and most popular in the nation. On Sunday, Brittany Charboneau of Denver, Colorado, had the ultimate “Dopey” day at the Walt Disney World Marathon. Completing runDisney’s popular but grueling Dopey Challenge – running the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon (48.6 miles total) on consecutive days – is an amazing feat. But Charboneau took it one step further, winning the women’s division of all four races to become the first person in the event’s 29-year history to pull off that sweep. Learn more about her historic race weekend at the link below.
Click here for details on the 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort
The New Normal – Visiting Walt Disney World During the Current Covid Restrictions
Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane – New Planning Tools & Paid Access to Lighting Lane
Now Through Spring 2023 – The Most Magical Celebration – 50 Years of Walt Disney World
Click here for our thoughts and review of Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom.
New Openings at EPCOT – As Part of the Historic Transformation of EPCOT
Click here for what’s new and coming to EPCOT as the Historic Transformation Continues.
Click here for our review and what you need to know about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Now Open – Drawn to Life
Click here for our review of Drawn to Life the new Cirque du Soleil show now open at Disney Springs.
Coming Soon to Walt Disney World
What’s New & Coming Back to Walt Disney World in 2022!
Click here for the 15 things we’re looking forward to at Walt Disney World in 2022.
January 14-February 21, 2022 – EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
Click here for details about the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
March 1, 2022 – Star Wars Hotel
March 2-July 4, 2022 – EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
Click here for dates and details for the 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
New and Coming Soon to Disneyland Resort
Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure – Now Open
Click here for more on the Avengers Campus! Now open at Disney California Adventure!
Click here for details on food and beverage offerings inside Avengers Campus.
Click here for information on merchandise available inside Avengers Campus.
Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
The Disney Wish
Click here for information on bookings for the inaugural season in summer 2022.
Click here for more information on new dining experiences on the Disney Wish.
Itineraries in 2022
Click here to learn about Early 2022 Itineraries on the Disney Cruise Line
Click here to learn about Marvel Day at Sea and Star Wars Day at Sea in Early 2022
Click here to learn about Summer 2022 Itineraries on the Disney Cruise Line
Click here to learn about Halloween and Holiday Themed Cruises in fall 2022
Click here to learn about early 2023 itineraries on Disney Cruise Line
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