Disney World News: Returning Shows, Earth Day Efforts, Famous People Do WDW
It’s time for another Walt Disney World news & rumor roundup! This one covers a new show debuting at Disney Springs, modified/returning entertainment at Animal Kingdom, restaurant updates at Magic Kingdom, beloved/hated famous people visiting WDW, and more.
This week, Cirque du Soleil announced reopening dates for several shows, ranging from its Las Vegas residencies “Mystere” on June 28 and “O” on July 1 to touring productions “Kooza” on November 25, 2021 in the Dominican Republic and “Luzia” on January 12, 2022 in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
However, there was one conspicuous omission (well, at least for Walt Disney World fans): “Drawn to Life,” which was previously expected to debut at Disney Springs over a year ago. For those who forgot or are new to this, “Drawn to Life” tells the story of a young girl sent on a quest by her late father, with the 90-minute show being a tribute to Disney animation and filled with standard Cirque du Soleil acrobatics.
Cirque du Soleil’s “Drawn to Life” is the successor to “La Nouba,” which ran for almost two decades in the iconic white circus tent on the Westside of Disney Springs. That show has now been closed for over 3 years. The good news is that “Drawn to Life” is still planned to open at Walt Disney World despite the lack of official announcement.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Cirque du Soleil President and CEO Daniel Lamarre said of Drawn to Life, that “it’s a tribute to Disney Animation and we felt honored to have the opportunity to do a show with the IP [intellectual property] of Disney…We should be able to open sometime in the fall.”
Don’t be surprised if Cirque du Soleil’s “Drawn to Life” is yet another addition debuting at Walt Disney World on or around October 1, 2021. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Disney is comfortable treading water until then, with that date being a milestone not just because it’s the 50th Anniversary, but also a significant return to normalcy.
Honestly, how Cirque du Soleil handled the last year left a really bad taste with us. The debut of “Drawn to Life” was cancelled at the absolute last minute, well after Walt Disney World announced the closure of the parks, and travel came to a screeching halt. Even after cancelling all other shows around the United States and Disney Springs’ closure was announced, Cirque du Soleil maintained that the show would somehow go on.
Even more frustrating, Cirque du Soleil denied refunds on “Drawn to Life” tickets well beyond the point it was patently obvious to literally everyone that the show wasn’t happening. This was such a problem that we recommended readers just initiate a chargeback with their credit cards. We feel this is worth mentioning because there are businesses that did the right thing at the start when times got tough (like Jaleo!) whereas others did not. Consumers are free to vote with their wallets and support whichever they feel are deserving of their business.
To be fair, it was also a rough year for the company, with Cirque du Soleil laying off almost the entirety of its workforce, filing for bankruptcy, and subsequently reorganizing under new ownership. However, much of the same executive leadership that would’ve made those decisions remains in place.
Another show is returning to Walt Disney World in the more immediate future: “A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King” will debut in mid-May 2021. Rehearsals are now underway for that. Judging by the photo above and the “Celebration of” preface, it will be a scaled-back version of the normal show. What will be missing is unclear, but we’re guessing it’ll be physically distanced, meaning no tumble monkeys.
On the one hand, more returning is good news. Mid-May is also earlier than the nebulous “summer” return timeline previously promised. On the other hand, Walt Disney World announced this back in January, and a lot has changed since then. Travel has come roaring back, the parks are booking up with regularity, and highly efficacious vaccines are now widely available to anyone of performer age.
Don’t get me wrong, normalcy being restored is great news. However, this feels like the type of thing to get excited about if it were happening in October of last year, not May of this year. At this point, it feels like a very conservative move that’s out of step with where the United States, travel industry, and consumers are at this point. Here’s hoping more announcements are on the horizon for this summer, but at this point, I’m not holding my breath. Like I said before, it feels like Disney is content treading water until October. Then again, perhaps I’m just bitter about the prospect of being denied monkeys.
On an unequivocally positive note for Earth Day, the Walt Disney Company continues to make tremendous steps towards reducing its carbon footprint at the global parks and resorts with new solar facilities coming online around the world. Steps include installing solar panels atop the roofs of attractions at Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, and a solar farm in the shape of Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World.
Coming soon are solar canopies in the parking lot at Disneyland Paris that will provide shelter for 9,500 guest vehicles, a facility that will power ~70% of Castaway Cay, and two colossal solar facilities coming to Central Florida. To put all of this into perspective the Disney Parks solar portfolio around the world can produce enough energy to power eight Magic Kingdoms! Disney Parks Blog has much more thorough info and cool photos of these initiatives–that story is worth checking out.
In other very important news, Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers vacationed at Walt Disney World, doing Star Wars stuff and staying at the Grand Floridian. Probably a total coincidence that those are two things Disney wants to market right now. This celebrity news is supposed to be a big deal to you, for reasons unclear to me. All I know is that I’ve received multiple “updates” on it and keep seeing it on social media.
Now, some might say Aaron Rodgers sucks. Not in the traditional sense of the term, but by virtue of being so dominant and playing for Green Bay. However, I can’t find it in my heart to hate him. While it’s true that he’s no Jared Goff (coolest dude ever), Rodgers just seems so likable and down to earth in those State Farm ads. Shailene Woodley, on the other hand, is universally beloved (although admittedly I did not know her name) from her work in Big Little Lies and the Spectacular Now. Not that you care, but we highly recommend both. Then again, you probably didn’t care about this story at all, and if you did, were already aware of it.
I don’t know how we’ll top that colossal and consequential news, but we’ll try with an update on Mobile Order. The service has been expanded in Magic Kingdom to Friar’s Nook, Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, and Sunshine Tree Terrace.
This may seem insignificant…and it is. Unless you’ve baked in the sun in the overflow queue at Sleepy Hollow for those glorious waffle sandwiches. I don’t know what proprietary technology Imagineering developed to make that new walkway pavement extra reflective and hot, but kudos on a job well done if that was the goal. Joking aside, this actually is great news for both Sleepy Hollow and Sunshine Tree Terrace, and we’ll be eating more waffles and Citrus Swirls as a result.
Continuing with dining at Walt Disney World, there have been competing rumors and statements about Beatrix, the replacement for Bongos Cuban Cafe at Disney Springs. Beatrix was/is a neighborhood restaurant, coffeehouse, and grab-and-go market featuring healthy food options including vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan along with fresh-squeezed juice cocktails.
Multiple independent reports indicated Beatrix was cancelled. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago-based restaurant group that is behind Beatrix claimed that “Disney and Beatrix agreed to delay the start of construction on the project as a result of the pandemic, and that a restart date has not been determined.”
I’m filing this one under I’ll believe it when I see it. Even before the closure, this seemed like a project that had a good chance of not happening due to its remote timeline and lethargic pace. The company’s statement is, at best, a soft denial. Crazier things have happened, but I do not expect Beatrix to be built.
Finally, several new locations have been revealed for the upcoming C Terminal expansion at Orlando International Airport. This project was delayed and scaled back due to events of the last year, but is now powering ahead at full steam, presumably in large part because traffic is up dramatically at MCO.
Above is a look at the 70% completion video from a couple months ago. The latest development is that we’ve learned that this is basically going to be Disney Springs 2.0 (move over, Flamingo Crossings!) with a second Wine Bar George location, Provisions by Cask & Larder from the Polite Pig owners, Sunshine Diner by Chef Art Smith, plus gift shops for Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, and a Shake Shack. Okay, those last three locations have nothing to do with Walt Disney World, they’re just generally good news! This terminal is expected to open in 2022, with the Brightline rail station opening in 2023. Here’s more info and renderings from MCO.
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 of this Walt Disney World news? Thoughts on “Drawn to Life” debuting or “Festival of the Lion King” returning in modified form? Excited for more Mobile Order or an expansion of MCO? Love or hate Aaron Rodgers? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? 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 news about when the Beauty and the Beast show will reopen at Hollywood Studios?
None whatsoever.
Any scoop on if parades or fireworks will be back in September? What about Mickey’s Halloween Party. Reserving or parks but it is hard since we don’t want to have to leave MK early if the Halloween party is on. Celebrating my grandson’s birthday and would like to do it at MK
Here’s our expectation with MSSNHP: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-review-tips/
Tom, at first glance the guy at the Lion King rehearsal on the left side of the front row looked a little like you, and I was hoping for some really big news from you! Oh, well, ’twas not to be.
Well, they did offer me a role in the production, but I said “NO MONKEYS, NO ME!” and stormed off.
Tom, do you happen to know if Sleepy Hollow will be doing the breakfast menu until 11 am as in the past? The grandkids love the Mickey Waffles (and so do I)!
Jeanette
I think it’s until 11 am, but don’t quote me on it. About 80% sure that’s currently the case.
Hi Tom – Any news if the private Wild Africa Trek tours will return this summer to Animal Kingdom? Thank you!
No news, but I assume not.
LeVar all the way! And, not just because Dick Van Dyke said so!
While I don’t have any specific knowledge with regards to Disney, I have a lot of actor friends and I am almost positive that Actors Equity Association (the stage performers’ union) is contributing to the slow resumption of entertainment. Prior to closure all the Disney Parks stage shows were on Equity contracts, and the union has come up with nebulous and hard to satisfy requirements for approving their members going back to work. (A lot of the actors I know are extremely frustrated by this.) My *guess* is the reason Universal has been able to bring back so much live entertainment is that those performers are not on union contracts.
As for the “well shouldn’t the actors all be vaccinated” part, I think that runs into the same issues/objections the idea of a vaccine passport has. Some people are going to feel that information is private and others are going to feel their employer has no right to dictate health decisions, so I don’t see Disney demanding the actors show proof of vaccination so they can stage the shows like they did before. I don’t want to get into a debate about this, wherever you fall on this issue the fact is that is how COVID vaccination is being treated in other areas of life and I don’t see any incentive for Disney to court controversy by treating it differently with regards to performers.
Thanks for the feedback about AEA. Your comments last summer/fall were very insightful and appreciated, so I’ll trust your expertise on that.
I don’t think there’s any chance Disney requires any employees to get vaccinated. However, at some point it does become reasonable to eliminate physical distancing in certain positions because the opportunity for full vaccination has existed for a sufficient period of time.
In my view, mid-May is a reasonable timeline for that given ample availability in Central Florida and Disney being very accommodating with time off.
The hardest part of accomplishing anything is taking the first step. The shortened version of Lion King is a great sign because once it’s up and running it will be easy to expand it to a longer version.
We too had a problem with our Cirque Disney tickets. At one point they were saying they would do the shows with Disney closed and if you didn’t show up you’d lose your money. Well we weren’t driving down from NY for just that and FL wasn’t letting us in and NY wasn’t letting us back and you’d have to quarantine 2 weeks before and after the show….GOOD TIMES!
But my fondest memories from then are of the many times I called Cirque. As nice as all the people I spoke to were, they had the worst phone reception, which when added to the thick French accents and my hearing loss made for some wonderfully magical times.
It’s a funny story now (well, to me at least), but I’m sure that was incredibly frustrating at the time.
Anything at all on Space 220?! I really thought it would be open by our December 2019 trip; now I’m feeling like I’ll be surprised if they are open by our December 2021 trip. Do you expect most restaurants to be open by October? Do you think the ADR system will go back to a 180 day booking window? I’m afraid they will expand their booking window toward the end of the summer and we’ll lose our advantage of booking ahead for the length of our trip. Thanks for all the great content!
Is there any word on the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas to Magic Kingdom? I have been waiting to pounce as soon as dates and tickets are announced.
Tom, all of the Jeopardy guest hosts so far have been adequate, but the one I really like (this week) is Anderson Cooper. It’s literally a one day job since they tape all episodes in one day. So whoever they select probably won’t have to give up their day job.
Also, I felt the same about the way Cirque handled the refunds. I said at the time that I wouldn’t purchase tickets again, but who knows. I could change my mind on that because I really wanted to see the show. I just may cave and buy tickets when it reopens. I don’t trust myself on that decision. It comes and goes.
Any insight if and when Disney will open more hotel discounts for the rest of summer 2021?
Any chance more park reservations will open up for May?
I read somewhere that Beatrix was required to turn their construction site back into green space. Have you heard the same, Tom?
I didn’t hear the “required” part of that, but I heard that was the plan. If that plot isn’t going to be used anytime soon, I hope that’s true. That area can be miserable during the day–a little less concrete and construction walls would be nice!
Is there any news when U.K. can visit Florida yet?
There were news reels saying USA and U.K. were trying to sort travel corridor out!
No news in terms of anything official, but the governments are still discussing it. Sounds like they need to get the vaccine passport and testing infrastructure squared away.
I’d expect it by late May or June.
Hey Tom any insight into what park hopper availability has been like with more people in the parks? How often are parks not available to hop to?
To my knowledge, it has never not been an option. We have had zero issues hopping, and I didn’t hear of any even during peak spring break.
Scaled Back FOTLK — You are correct:
“However, this feels like the type of thing to get excited about if it were happening in October of last year, not May of this year.”
There is no reason to be putting big energy into a “scaled back” show returning for mid May. By then, there is no reason the cast wouldn’t be fully vaccinated. Even if you need to socially distance the audience, you don’t need to socially distance the cast from each other if they are all socially distanced.
And you wouldn’t be putting all this energy into a “scaled back” version if you expected that version only to run for a few weeks.
Launch of a “scaled back” version suggests they intend to run this version for the foreseeable future — at least many months.
So it’s hard to get excited here. I see more like Disney saying, “we still aren’t going to offer full shows for at least several more months!”
Understandable if they said this 6 months ago. At this point, one would hope they actually were starting to gear up for a fuller return to normalcy.
And I wonder how much of this is really using Covid as an excuse for budget cutting. Undoubtedly, the “scaled back” show will utilize a smaller cast, thereby saving money.
Broadway is planning on returning in September. How odd would it be if full Broadway productions are running by September, while Disney is still doing “scaled down” entertainment?
I think it either illustrates that Disney intends to scale back the show in the long-term for budgetary purposes or is just really slow to do anything and unable to dynamically respond to changes in the market or real-world.
In following the events of the past year-plus, either or both seem equally likely to me.
Plus come on Tom, you know Aaron Rodgers did a pretty decent job as a Jeopardy guest host. No one could fill Alex’s shoes (OBVIOUSLY), but Rodgers was positive, humble, and pretty funny, even if he did obviously feel out of place wearing a suit.
I know it’s different for everyone, but when I watch Jeopardy, I want to feel dumb. Not because the host is condescending, but because he or she and the guests are all clearly smarter than me. Alex had a disarming quality to him and was one of a kind, but I’d prefer someone like him.
That’s no offense to Rodgers. He crushed it and definitely has a future in broadcasting at some point, but he’s a Michael Stahan or Tony Romo type (which is high praise!) not Trebek.
as a bears fan, it’s required i loathe aaron rodgers on the football field. but as a jeopardy fan, he is currently in my 1st place slot to take the permanent host gig (until levar burton, that is). he was really, really good in his guest host role.
LeVar Burton is such an obvious choice that it’s shocking it took Jeopardy so long to include him. Almost like the producers have an axe to grind or have already made their choice, and don’t want him coming in and making that decision look foolish.
Ken Jennings made sense at one point, but he’s simply too controversial and polarizing at this point. Picking him would alienate a large segment of the audience.