Disney World News: Returning Entertainment, 50th Statues, More Mobile Order
We’re back with a weekend Walt Disney World news roundup. This update shares the latest look at newly-installed 50th Anniversary statues in Magic Kingdom, returning entertainment at the resorts, more Mobile Order locations coming to the parks, added hours, and much more!
As always, we’ll start with the latest release of new operating hours. All four theme parks have had hours for another week added to the DisneyWorld.com park hours calendar. The current calendar now runs through November 22, 2021. Here are the hours for most dates within the months of October and November 2021:
- Magic Kingdom: 9 am to 9 pm
- EPCOT: 10 am to 10 pm
- Hollywood Studios: 9 am to 9 pm
- Animal Kingdom: 8 am to 7 pm
- Blizzard Beach: 11 am to 6 pm
- Disney Springs: 10 am to 11 pm (11:30 pm on Fridays & Saturdays)
Note that Magic Kingdom closes at 8:30 pm on Disney After Hours Boo Bash nights going forward. That event runs from 9 pm until midnight for the remainder of its run. Additionally, we have the first Disney Very Merriest After Hours dates now on the calendar, and Magic Kingdom closes at 8 pm on those evenings, with that Christmas party running from 9 pm until 1 am.
There’s good and bad news with the newly-released hours. The bad is that Epcot’s opening time continues to be 11 am in mid to late November 2021. This started with the update last week and is truly perplexing given the debuts of both Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Harmonious. As previously noted, our expectation was that Epcot’s opening time would move to 9 am beginning in October.
The good news is that this is exactly what’s happening for the kickoff weekend of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary festivities. On October 1-2, Epcot will now open at 9 am. Additionally, Animal Kingdom’s closing time for those dates has been extended from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. (That’s a bit puzzling–I’m guessing Animal Kingdom will be a ghost town beginning in the afternoon since the new nighttime spectaculars are at Magic Kingdom and Epcot.)
Finally, Magic Kingdom’s closing time has been extended to 10 pm on October 1-2, plus September 29. The park will also now open at 8 am on its 50th Anniversary. These added hours are a step in the right direction, but they’re still bit restrained given attendance forecasts. That weekend seems like a good time for midnight Magic Kingdom closures.
Next, we have more dates for the Extended Evening Theme Park Hours that will allow eligible guests to experience select attractions, shops, and dining after regular park hours–in select theme parks on select nights. As a reminder, we shared Attraction Lists for Early Entry & Extended Evening Hours at Disney World, and that post also has more info about this upcoming guest perk.
Below is the current Extended Evening Theme Park Hours schedule:
Date | Theme Park | Extended Hours |
Monday, Oct 4 | Epcot | 10:00 PM to midnight |
Wednesday, Oct 6 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
Monday, Oct 11 | Epcot | 10:00 PM to midnight |
Wednesday, Oct 13 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
Monday, Oct 18 | Epcot | 10:00 PM to midnight |
Wednesday, Oct 20 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
Monday, Oct 25 | Epcot | 10:00 PM to midnight |
Wednesday, Oct 27 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
Monday, Nov 1 | Epcot | 10:00 PM to midnight |
Wednesday, Nov 3 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
Monday, Nov 8 | Epcot | 10:00 PM – midnight |
Wednesday, Nov 10 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
Monday, Nov 15 | Epcot | 10:00 PM – midnight |
Wednesday, Nov 17 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
Monday, Nov 22 | Epcot | 10:00 PM – midnight |
Wednesday, Nov 24 | Magic Kingdom | 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
This now runs through Thanksgiving week with that holiday causing no changes to the schedule. It’s probably safe to assume that this is the pattern Extended Evening Theme Park Hours will follow going forward.
Next, another schedule-related update that’s not specifically Walt Disney World news–although hopefully we get some announcements for the Florida parks out of it.
D23 has announced that tickets for the 2022 D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center near Disneyland will go on sale January 20, 2022. Originally to be held this year, the D23 Expo was delayed until September 9-11, 2022.
It promises a weekend of news on Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel including a first look at plans for the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. We’ve done all of the last several D23 Expos and will almost certainly be attending this one, too. It’s definitely a “taste specific” type of thing, though, and not for anyone averse to lines or crowds. (That weekend will also see elevated crowds at Disneyland due to the event.)
As a reminder, Creations Shop and Club Cool at Epcot open this coming week!
Imagineering commissioned a collection of 10 new sculptures titled “Mouse as Muse” for Creations Shop. Each sculpture is 26 inches tall and was painted by an Imagineer. The first of these is inspired by Herb Ryman’s “Progress City” painting. This reminds me of “Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations,” which was a set of 75 statues commissioned for Mickey Mouse’s 75th birthday/anniversary in the early 2000s.
Speaking of statues, the first of the new Disney Fab 50 Character Collection of sculptures has been installed in Magic Kingdom for the World’s Most Magical Celebration. Walt Disney World shared the above first look video of the additions.
These statues are a neat touch, but I also feel like they’re receiving way too much fanfare. These should be one minor component of a blockbuster anniversary, featuring characters who are significant to Walt Disney World’s historic legacy.
Next, Mobile Order is expanding to several new locations at Walt Disney World. Coming soon, you can use the Mobile Order service for confections from select merchandise locations with candy kitchens:
- Candy Cauldron, located at Disney Springs — available Sept. 14
- Karamell-Küche featuring Werther’s Original Caramel, located at EPCOT — available Sept. 16
- Zuri’s Sweets Shop, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — available Sept. 21
- Goofy’s Candy Company, located at Disney Springs — available Sept. 23
Main Street Confectionery at Magic Kingdom also plans to offer mobile order service after it reopens from its current refurbishment.
I’m a huge fan of Mobile Order and used it almost exclusively even pre-closure, but this seems a bit excessive even to me. Part of the fun in buying sweets is browsing the physical display cases, seeing what looks good, and ordering from a person. Those little human interactions might not seem like much on paper, but they play a significant role in the overall park experience.
Moreover, it doesn’t seem like a great time to be pushing even more screen time after just announcing Genie+ and Lightning Lanes–based on the response to that, it’s safe to say “more time with my face glued to my phone” is clearly not something guests want.
Mobile Order for candy shops might streamline the process slightly, but it’s not like a counter service meal that has to be prepared, plated up, and assembled on a tray. To me at least, it seems like there’s more to be lost from the overall “experience” here than there is to be gained in terms of time-savings and convenience.
The simple response is “just don’t use it,” but Walt Disney World is already pushing Mobile Order to such a degree that it’s a significant inconvenience and there’s so much friction to the process for anyone who opts to stand in line and pay. Some of these locations are so small that it’s hard to imagine Mobile Order and the regular line coexisting harmoniously. I guess we shall see, though.
Another week, another update that not a single night has sold out for Disney Very Merriest After Hours. You love to see it.
As a reminder, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party normally sees higher demand than its Halloween counterpart with tickets selling faster for the holiday event. Hopefully Disney has finally pushed the limit of price increases too far, and guests are voting with their wallets.
There’s still a lot of time between now and when that event begins, so it’s premature to declare “victory” or start questioning what Walt Disney World will do if few dates sell out. Even so, it’s a small step in the right direction that this has already sold much slower than Boo Bash. It’ll be interesting to see what happens going forward, and we will continue providing updates.
Next, another venue reopening update, this time from Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. That resort’s dueling piano bar, Jellyrolls, will reportedly reopen in mid-October 2021. This news comes via a Facebook stream by Jellyrolls’ pianist Scotty Kilwein who announced that he’d be returning.
Based on attendance and occupancy trends, it’s safe to assume that October 2021 will be the next “big” month for Walt Disney World’s phased reopening progress. On a related note, we recently visited Atlantic Dance Hall and were literally the only ones in that entire venue. Granted, it was early, but I’m still somewhat surprised Atlantic Dance Hall returned before Jellyrolls. (Honestly, I’m surprised Atlantic Dance Hall still exists at all and isn’t just a special events venue.)
Finally, some good news. You all probably remember the extensive entertainment cuts and layoffs that occured last fall at Walt Disney World.
That followed similarly significant cuts in March that happened right as the parks closed and largely went under the radar because it was such a busy news cycle (although anyone who has visited Epcot in the last year-plus undoubtedly has noticed the lack of entertainment and atmospheric performers).
Well, a small step in the right direction as Yehaa Bob Jackson announced on his Facebook page that he will be performing again at River Roost Lounge when Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside reopens on October 14, 2021. Per Yehaa Bob, he will return for opening night and likely perform his regular hours with limited exceptions (Disney has not yet released an official schedule).
This is significant not just for Yehaa Bob fans, but for anyone who enjoys live entertainment at Walt Disney World. While some shows have started to return, the parks and resorts are still really light on streetmosphere and individual performers. In our view, the return of these acts is overdue. Even if you don’t stop to watch, they give the parks a lived in quality that improves the ambiance.
Entertainment is also one thing that helps justify the astronomical costs of Walt Disney World hotels. Right now, there are plenty of bookings for October through December (and at rack rate since no discounts have been released), so it only seems reasonable for Walt Disney World to bring back more performers. Here’s hoping that happens!
That’s a wrap on this weekend’s Walt Disney World news roundup. We’ll be back with another crowd update, additional posts on Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and more news in the coming week. Stay tuned!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about all this Walt Disney World news? Happy to hear that Jellyrolls and its dueling pianos are returning to BoardWalk? Excited to see Yehaa Bob back at Port Orleans Riverside? Hopeful that this means more entertainment will be brought back to the parks and resorts in the coming months? Thoughts on the 50th Anniversary character statues? What about the expansion of Mobile Order to candy shops? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Any word on the return of Hoop de Doo Revue?
thanks Tracy for update on processional..fingers crossed!
We purchased tickets for the Christmas Party. They definitely were expensive but this is a late honeymoon for my hubby and I so we decided to splurge. Hoping they don’t cancel due to low sales!
Linda – I saw on Twitter last night that the Candlelight Processional was very likely coming back, that they were just probably getting all the details in order. I sure hope so because I will be there in early Dec. and would love to go.
I wonder what we might have gotten to mark this golden anniversary, if not for the financial losses of the past year and a half. The fact that there aren’t even 50 statues, since a number of them are doubled up (Chip and Dale, Pooh and Piglet, etc.), really underscores the cost-cutting. In a normal year, these would be simply minor bonuses, taking a backseat to the debut of TRON Lightcycle Run, a new parade, perhaps even plussing of the rides themselves. Instead all we get is a fireworks show in the original park. BOO!
Happy to see the slow sales for the Christmas event. As they have already shown, Disney will keep raising prices until they meet resistance.
I have them marked on Oct 1 in my experience. It is showing at 9pm
We are going right after Thanksgiving and intended to go to the nighttime Christmas event at the Magic Kingdom, until we saw the prices. Yes, Disney priced us out. I probably could afford it if I really wanted, but I will not pay those prices. Actually, the tickets are close to
pricing us out of going, and we have been regulars since 1983.
Agreed on the 50th statues – it’s a cool idea (reminds me of the 50 “hidden 50” logos installed around Disneyland resort back in 2005), but the amount of online hype being focused on them is turning me against the idea. It also doesn’t help that the vast majority of characters chosen for the sculptures have zero connection to WDW itself. Statues for Frozone and Bruni, but NOT for the Pirates Auctioneer, a Country Bear, or a Hitchhiking Ghost? Stupid.
I’m calling it now, though: in 2023, they will add 50 more statues to the existing ones and rebrand them as celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Disney company.
Does Sleepy Hollow have Mobile Order? Of all the locations in the MK that could use Mobile Order, I’d put that one at the top.
Hoping my Trip in December works out!!! Waiting for the Return of the DINING PLAN.
It would b Cool to attend Holiday party in December especially since there is one on my Birthday which is Dec 12. It would b a Special date for me and my hubby.
Thank you for the updates! Any idea why Hollywood Studios closes at 7pm on November 18th? I have an uncanny ability of always planning park days at parks that close early
Thanks for the info as always Tom! I saw another comment about mobile ordering … I’m definitely interested in learning more about how it works / best practices. I haven’t visited in awhile either and I’m worried I won’t use it in its most effective form. Also, any idea if/when breakfast and character dining will return at MK like the crystal palace breakfast? Thanks!
Excellent updates. Thanks for all you do. One question, when time do they have fireworks at Magic Kingdom. Had reservations to eat delicious turkey at Liberty Tree Tavern at 7:40 pm. Canceled because of concern of missing fireworks. I did read someplace they go off at 8:30 or so. If they went off at 11:00 pm then having dinner at 8:30 wouldn’t be a problem. Just need to know fireworks schedule at Magic Kingdom Thank you Henry.
We purchased tickets for the Very Merriest on December 14th because we almost never get to visit during the Christmas season. Here’s hoping that sales continue to be slow, especially on that night. haha
as some entertainment returns others are apparently going. I still don’t see anything on the Hollywood Studio Parks Wonderful World of Animation after Sept. I have been trying to put a schedule together for each park on the Anniversary weekend and I have nothing for the my end of day at DHS. I haven’t been to DW since the 90’s so I’m already missing out on the fabulous Magic Kingdom show that closed in Sept. Now I have to miss this one too?
Luckily, You Tube has a wonderful showing of the entire MK show. It must be incredible to see in person.
If anyone knows about the DHS show please let me know.
Tom,
With the genie+ (and das+?), do you have any idea when it will be released? We were there this weekend and the crowds were absolutely horrible. The wait times were 40 minutes plus for most of the bigger rides. NO one was happy sitting in 85 degree heat with 95 percent humidity with no possibility out of it. That was HORRIBLE. They better release something really soon. Even with not going for over a year and just getting our ap back, I don’t see going back for a long while. Don’t go now all! We spent all this money for a horrible experience…. Disney wins again…..
Thanks as always Tom! Can you direct me to a post that explains mobile orders? We haven’t visited since 2017 and I fear this means we’re being told we can’t/shouldn’t stand in line and order our food at quick service places like Columbia Harbour House. Do they give ppl a hard time or make them wait a super long time for their food if they choose to order normally? I don’t think I understand the process.
Lots of good info! Still nothing on Candlelight Processional?
I don’t usually correct spelling but I think it’s streetmousephere.
Thanks for all the heads up in your weekly reports.