Plus…. Doctor Strange coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Shark Reef closing at Typhoon Lagoon, and more!
We begin the October Edition of the WDW Radio Newswire with some big news out of Magic Kingdom Park. Let’s take a stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. and follow the hub over to Tomorrowland, where Stitch’s Great Escape! has just switched over its operating status to a Seasonal basis. The attraction ceased daily operations Saturday, October 1st, with the next opening scheduled to run from Wednesday, November 19th to Sunday, November 27th. The attraction will re-open yet again on Saturday, December 17th to accommodate the bustling Christmas/New Year’s crowds. So what does this mean for the future of Stitch’s Great Escape? Looking at the track record, Seasonal Operation has been a certain death sentence in years past, with Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress being the lone exception to that rule. The rumor mill has been red hot the past few weeks, with several different scenarios being tossed around. The one with the most traction is the possibility of a Wreck-It Ralph attraction taking up residence in the space currently occupied by Stitch. This is far from confirmed, but all indications seem to be pointing to a big change for that area of Tomorrowland, and Ralph & Venellope von Schweets seem poised to become the newest tenants on the Avenue of the Planets!
For more MK news let’s venture over to Liberty Square, where The Hall of Presidents is set to see some downtime. The closure will begin on Tuesday, January 17th, with a reopening date scheduled for Friday, June 30th. The closure (which will be nearly six months in length) is necessary, as during this time the new President of the United States will be added into the fold.
There’s more news on the refurbishment front, as the Walt Disney World Railroad will be shutting down service this winter. The closure is scheduled to run from Monday, January 9th to Friday, February 17th.
Time to park-hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios now for news on Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream. A new film has recently debuted in the post-show theater, as a 10-minute snippet of Doctor Strange is now playing. The full length version of the film hits theaters everywhere Friday, November 4th.
There’s more news to report on Doctor Strange, as Disney recently sent out a casting call for auditions for a Doctor Strange character at the parks. No official word yet on which park/parks he’ll be appearing at, but the most likely scenario would be a character addition to one of the parades, stage shows, or special events at Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There’s also a possibility of a Meet and Greet at one of those two parks as well. Stay tuned to the Newswire for further updates as they develop.
Time to shift gears and splash down at Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, as Shark Reef is now permanently closed. Rumors of a permanent closure for Shark Reef have been circulating for quite some time, however the closure still came somewhat abruptly, as it was announced on Thursday, September 15th and took effect Sunday, October 2nd. A new family raft ride, Miss Fortune Falls, is taking shape near Crush n’ Gusher, so it’ll be interesting to see what they do with the open space freed up by Shark Reef’s closure.
Time to venture over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, as Sanaa is now offering up quick-service breakfast. Breakfast hours run daily from 7am to 10am, with a wide variety of delicious choices on the menu. You’ll find the Savanna Platter, which includes two eggs any style, Tanzanian hash browns, tomato chutney, and bacon. There’s also the Boere Breakfast, which includes everything found in the Savanna Platter, as well as a nice portion of Boerewors sausage. Also on the menu is the Safari Waffle and Sunrise Sandwich, and there’s several kids options available as well. In addition, you’ll also find a full selection of Grab-N-Go items to choose from. Up until now, Sanaa had been a table service restaurant exclusively, and had only been open for lunch and dinner hours.
For more news out of the Resorts, let’s hop aboard the Monorail and stop by Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Back by popular demand, 1900 Park Fare will once again be offering a Holiday Brunch. The first go-round will run from Sunday, November 20th through Saturday, November 26th, with the second booking period running from Sunday, December 18th through Sunday, January 1st. The meal runs from 12:45pm to 2:10pm, and will include characters from Alice In Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh. Last year, the lineup included Pooh, Tigger, Alice, and The Mad Hatter. The buffet meal includes all-you-care-to-enjoy portions of breakfast favorites like Mickey Waffles, hash browns, sausage, bacon, and eggs. In addition you’ll also find a build your own omelette station. But a Brunch wouldn’t be a Brunch without carved meats, soups, salads, and hot & cold pastas. Costs for the Holiday Brunch run at a set price of $37 for adults, and $22 for kids ages 3 to 9.
Well, that’s gonna do it for the October Edition of the WDW Radio Newswire. But I’ll be back again next month with lots more news, notes, and happenings from Walt’s beloved Florida Project!
(Photos ©Disney)
If Stitch’s Great Escape were to close permanently, what would you like to see take its place? Let us know in the comments section below.
Don Myers has covered Walt Disney World news and recent/upcoming events for the WDW Radio Blog since 2011. He has loved “all things Disney” since his first family trip to WDW in 1986. As they say, the rest is history! Don was also a contributing writer for Celebrations Magazine, penning over 30 articles and 7 cover stories for the publication from 2009 to 2012.
