DISNEY NEWS ROUNDUP: Long Running Restaurant Closes Permanently; New Details Revealed for Flower & Garden Festival; Opening Day Attraction Closes at Magic Kingdom; New Passholder Magnet & More
We’ve got more news out of Disney as we move towards February. A long-time restaurant has closed on Disney’s BoardWalk, we’ve got new details about the upcoming 2024 Flower and Garden Festival, a fan-favorite show at Magic Kingdom is closed for a lengthy refurbishment and update, and Disney is gearing up to celebrate Black History Month. Catch all this and more in this week’s news roundup.
1 – Long-time Restaurant Now Permanently Closed at Walt Disney World
One of Disney’s BoardWalk restaurants is now closed. Big River Grille & Brewery was once one of our go-to restaurants many years ago. But after years of decline, we stopped going. So, it wasn’t a surprise to us to learn that the restaurant would be closing. Learn more at the link below.
Click here for more on the closing of Big River Grille & Brewery at Disney’s BoardWalk.
2 – New Details Revealed for 2024 Flower & Garden Festival at EPCOT
The 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is just around the corner. Disney has released new details and information about the festival, including its end date. The festival will end on May 27, 2024, ending the three yearlong streak of the festival running until the July 4 holiday. We always felt like having the festival in June and the first week of July was too long (and way too hot). We’re glad to see the festival ending back to its normal end date of late May. Learn more about what’s coming to this year’s festival below.
Click here for more details on the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival.
3 – Fan-Favorite Attraction Now Closed at Magic Kingdom for Update
In September 2023, Disney Announced that Country Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom would be getting an updated show in 2024. Disney announced that the final day of the current version of the show would be January 26, 2024, so they could begin the refurbishment. Learn more at the link below.
Click here to learn more about what’s coming to Country Bear Jamboree at Magic Kingdom.
4 – Disney Adds More Nights to Spring 2024 Disney After Hours Events
Disney After Hours events are a popular way to experience the parks with fewer crowds and low wait times. Recently, Disney added more springtime dates, and even some summer dates to these popular special events at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Learn more at the link below.
Click here for the new dates for the spring 2024 Disney After Hour events.
5 – New Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Magnet Available Soon at EPCOT
The newest annual passholder magnet will be available at the Creations Shop at EPCOT during normal park operating hours from January 29-February 23 while supplies last. The new magnet features Hei Hei from Moana. Passholders need to have ID and their passholder card, link MagicBand, or Disney MagicMobile pass to receive the magnet.
6 – Opening Date for New Fort Wilderness Cabins Announced
In 2023, Disney announced that the cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground would be refurbished to become a new Disney Vacation Club resort. The refurbishments have been underway, and recently, Disney announced the opening dates of the new cabins, as well as booking information. Learn more at the link below.
7 – Disney Adds Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Page to its Walt Disney World and Disneyland Websites
Disney has added the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to the Walt Disney World and Disneyland websites with a “Coming in 2024” notice. It gives a short description of the new attraction. We also learned the height requirement is 40 inches or taller. There is no update on when in 2024 the attraction will open, though we expect it will open sometime in the latter half of the year.
8 – Disney Reveals Special Eats & Treats for Valentine’s Day at Disney Parks
Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and at Disney Parks, you can celebrate with exclusive food and beverage items that are available for a limited time, many beginning February 1. Learn what you can get and where at the link below.
Click here for the special Valentine’s Day eats and treats available at Disney Parks.
9 – 8 Ways to “Celebrate Soulfully” During Black History Month at Walt Disney World
Black History Month is only a few days, and if you’re visiting Walt Disney World, you’ll want to check out the eight ways you can “Celebrate Soulfully” during your visit. Learn more at the link below.
Click here for the eight ways to “Celebrate Soulfully” at Disney Parks.
10 – Foodie Guide to Celebrate Soulfully at Disney Parks
One of the ways Disney Parks is celebrating Black History Month is offering limited-time food and beverage items throughout the parks. Learn about what you can get and where at the link below.
Click here for the Foodie Guide to “Celebrate Soulfully” at Disney Parks.
11 – New Disney Cruise Private Island to Feature Mickey & Minnie in New Bahamian-Inspired Outfits
This week, Disney Cruise Line unveiled new looks for Mickey and Minnie Mouse for their visits to Disney Cruise Line’s newest island destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera. The garments will have a distinct Bahamian flair, specially designed by acclaimed Bahamian fashion designer Theodore Elyett. Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point opens in June of 2024. Learn more at the link below.
12 – Disney Imagineer First Since Walt to Receive This Honor
Recently, a Disney Imagineer received an honor, the first to do so since Walt Disney. Disney Cast Member Frank Reifsnyder, Sr. has all the details below.
We’re excited to share that Lanny Smoot, the Disney Research Fellow and Imagineer behind mind-blowing special effects like making Madame Leota float inside the Haunted Mansion and our state-of-the art Star Wars lightsabers, is being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame! Lanny is the first Disney Imagineer to receive this prestigious recognition and only the second individual from The Walt Disney Company to be inducted — the first being Walt Disney, honored posthumously for the multiplane camera.
For over 45 years, Lanny has worked as a theatrical technology creator, inventor, electrical engineer, scientist and researcher, resulting in an impressive collection of over 100 patents, a milestone not often achieved by many inventors. Seventy-four of his patents were created during his 25 years at The Walt Disney Company.
“At Disney Experiences, we’re committed to world-class storytelling, creativity and innovation in everything we do, and Lanny Smoot embodies every one of those ideals,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “As Disney’s most prolific inventor, Lanny continues to amaze all of us with his artistic ingenuity, technical expertise and endless imagination.”
Lanny has been instrumental in crafting iconic special effects and technical achievements at our theme parks and experiences around the world. Among these special effects includes Madame Leota’s ability to float in the Séance Room at the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, the state-of-the-art extendable lightsaber used by Disney Live Entertainment, the Magic Playfloor interactive game experience on the Disney Cruise Line, and the immersive Fortress Explorations adventure at Tokyo DisneySea — Lanny’s groundbreaking inventions have been a source of boundless joy for our guests.
When deciding which of his patents to list for his National Inventors Hall of Fame induction, Lanny chose to highlight “Where’s the Fire?” at Innoventions, previously featured at EPCOT. This interactive exhibit aimed to educate guests on fire safety and the importance of fire prevention through engaging challenges. Guests were able to “shine” a special flashlight device on the walls of a house and through the magic of Lanny’s technology, they were able to spot fire dangers and learn to prevent these from happening in the future.
“As a life-long inventor, I am excited, delighted, and humbled to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame,” Lanny shared. “To be included alongside my childhood hero, Thomas Edison, and my lifelong role model, Jim West — the inventor of the electret microphone, is both exciting and humbling. And as someone who’s had the privilege of working at The Walt Disney Company, it’s especially meaningful to know that Walt Disney himself is also an inductee.”
Lanny is the recipient of many awards and honors, including three Thea Awards from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) for his work on attractions like Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Kim Possible: World Showcase Adventure and the Ghost Post experience. His expertise in theatrical technology also earned him the esteemed title of TEA Master in 2020.
Prior to joining Disney, Lanny completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at Columbia University. He then worked at Bell Labs and later at Bell Communications Research, where he was a pioneering force in the early development of video-on-demand technology, video conferencing and specialized television systems for remote locations, among other notable patents.
Lanny’s forward-thinking inventions have not only shaped Disney’s entertainment landscape but have also empowered the broader theatrical community to create new magic, illusions, and entertainment. Currently, he is working on the HoloTile floor, the world’s first, and only, multi-person, omni-directional, modular, expandable, treadmill floor, where any number of people can have a shared virtual reality experience, walk an unlimited distance in any direction, but never collide or walk off its surface. Besides the immediate VR and gaming applications and potential theme park uses, the HoloTile floor can be an insert in a theatrical stage, allowing performers to move and dance in new ways, or stage props and structures could move around or appear to set themselves up.
We were able to take an inside look at the HoloTile, plus a tour of Lanny’s lab by the inductee himself!
The National Inventors Hall of Fame announced their Class of 2024 inductees at a ceremony held at Walt Disney Imagineering’s Glendale, California campus on Wednesday. Among those in attendance were kids who participate in Camp Invention (run by National Inventors Hall of Fame) and participants of one of the local FIRST Robotics teams mentored by Disney Imagineers. Wednesday was also National Kid Inventors’ Day, and a special opportunity to continue to inspire the next generation of inventors.
Congratulations to Lanny Smoot on this remarkable achievement and to all of this year’s National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees!
What’s New and Happening Now at Walt Disney World Resort
Now Through February 19, 204 – EPCOT Festival of the Arts
Click here for the 10 things you don’t want to miss at the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts.
Click here for photos and video from our visit to the festival on opening day!
Now Open – Walt the Dream Statue & World Celebration Gardens
Click here for “New! World Celebration Gardens at EPCOT – 4 Reasons Not to Miss It!”
Now Open – ‘Luminous The Symphony of Us’ – New Nighttime Spectacular at EPCOT
Now Open – Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana – EPCOT
Click here for what you need to know about Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
Now Open – Tron Lightcycle Run – Magic Kingdom
Click here for our review and what you need to know about TRON Lightcycle / Run.
Click here for everything you need to know about the story behind TRON Lightcycle / Run.
Click here for the first look at TRON Lightcycle / Run merchandise.
Coming to Walt Disney World
2024 and Beyond
Click here for the 18 changes coming to Disney World in 2024 and beyond that you need to know about.
2024 – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Click here for storyline details of the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
2024 – Reimagined ‘The Little Mermaid’ Live Show Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
New & Coming Soon to Disney Cruise Line
Itineraries in 2024-2025
Click here for details on Disney Cruise Line’s Early 2024 Itineraries.
Click here for details on Pixar Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea, Coming in the Spring of 2024.
Click here to learn more about 2024 Halloween and Holiday Cruises on Disney Cruise Line.
Click here to learn about Disney Cruise Line’s Early 2025 Itineraries.
The Disney Treasure – Sailing December 2024
Click here to learn about the new Haunted Mansion-themed lounge coming to the Disney Treasure!
Click here to learn about the new and exclusive Broadway-style show coming to the Disney Treasure!
Click here for more details about “Disney The Tale of Moana,” coming to the Disney Treasure.
The Disney Wish
Click here to learn about staterooms and our room review on the Disney Wish.
Click here to learn about upper deck fun and the AquaMouse – the first Disney attraction at sea!
Click here for an overview of family dining on the Disney Wish!
Click here to learn more about stage show entertainment on the Disney Wish!
Pixar Day at Sea on the Disney Fantasy – Early 2024
TRAVEL LOG: Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy – Day 3 – Part 1
TRAVEL LOG: Our Pixar Day at Sea Cruise on the Disney Fantasy – Day 3 – Part 2
Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream
Learn about Very Merrytime Cruises and learn cruise tips and advice in our travel logs below!
Follow us on Instagram, where we continue to share more about our cruise!
Follow Along on Our Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 1 – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Getting Ready to Sail-Part 2 – Packing for a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 1-Part 1 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL DAY: Day 1-Part 2 of Embarkation Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 2-Port Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 3-Castaway Cay & Pirate Night – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVEL LOG: Day 4-Sea Day – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
TRAVE LOG: Day 5-Debarkation – Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Dream!
Our Review & 13 Tips & Tricks for the Best Very Merrytime Cruise on Disney Cruise Line!
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