I am so, so happy to say that June was an awesome month! If you follow my blog regularly you know that I wasn’t saying that for most of the months this year. There had been some rough times earlier in 2017, but things finally feel like they’ve totally turned around. This month I’ve been happy, beyond happy, and life is good! I performed in an amazing run of the musical Chicago. It was not only a great theater experience, I also met some incredible people who will hopefully be in my life for a long time to come. And in the next three months I have three Disney trips coming up!
In two weeks I will be in California for D23. It will be my first time attending the Expo and I’m both excited and nervous. Then we have a quick weekend trip to Disney World in August. The two main goals of that trip are to see Pandora and the new Happily Ever After fireworks in the Magic Kingdom (though we also have a reservation for brunch at California Grill that I’m pretty excited about!). And finally, we are taking a week long trip in September for our anniversary. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent a full week at Disney and not just 3-4 days, so I’m looking forward to relaxing and doing some different things that we don’t always have time for. Plus Food and Wine Festival!
Disney News
- Disney World packages are now available for booking for 2018, and one of the biggest changes for next year is with the dining plan – the beverage now included with your meal can be an alcoholic beverage for those ages 21 and up.
- Mobile ordering at counter service restaurants has been available at Satu’li Canteen in the Animal Kingdom, but starting soon it will also be available at the Magic Kingdom at Columbia Harbour House, Tomorrowland Terrace, Cosmic Ray’s, Pinocchio Village Haus, and Pecos Bill’s.
- Instead of the Illuminations dessert party, you can now do a Frozen dessert party in Epcot that includes a ride on Frozen Ever After.
- Disney has announced the the Donald Trump animatronic coming to the Hall of Presidents will indeed have a speaking role.
- The Eat to the Beat concerts have been announced for the fall in Epcot – you can find the full schedule here.
- In Disney World, Disney has added another “on ride” photo opp – they will now take your picture on Pirates of the Caribbean!
- A couple of attractions at Disneyland which had been closed for a little while are now reopening, including Fantasmic, the Rivers of America, and the Disneyland Railroad.
Disney Rumors
Epcot // Tons of Epcot rumors have been floating around, as it is now the park that has not gotten a major update recently. One of these includes an Inside Out attraction replacing Figment at the Imagination Pavilion.
Epcot // Other rumors affect the World Showcase, including a rumored Ratatouille ride or restaurant in France and even the addition of a new country or two (Puerto Rico, Spain, and Brazil have all been mentioned).
Magic Kingdom // Regarding the Donald Trump animatronic mentioned above, there have been rumors flying about the drama involved with the creation of his speech in the Hall of Presidents. Apparently there were some disagreements on whether Disney would write the speech or Trump’s team.
Other Disney Blogs
Over at Second Star Siren, Abby shares tips for how you can live your life like Elsa and learn how to “Let it Go”.
I don’t know if it was a glitch or a photopass photographer with a great sense of humor, but I love this magic shot that Jenn got over at The Fairest Run of All.
Rachel from the Random Writings shares her experience taking a solo trip to Disneyland. I love solo trips!
My lovely friend Sue has just revived her blog with a great new title – it’s now called Postcards from Paradise Falls! Go check it out now!
What latest Disney news are you most excited about?
How do you feel about the planned changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride getting rid of the whole bride auctioning scene and everything?
Yeah, I just saw that after I published it. I don’t have super strong feelings about it, but it does strike me as rather funny that Disney is trying to make pirates politically correct… I mean, they’re pirates. Pretty much everything they did was the opposite of PC, and I didn’t think that scene was overly offensive.
Grad school has been kicking my butt so I haven’t been keeping up with your blog as much as I’d like to! Hopefully I can make it to D23 and we can meet up!
I remember the grad school days so I know how that is! It would be really cool to meet up with you!
Also, I think we are having a blogger meet-up on Saturday evening after the expo (around 7:30?) so I’ll keep you updated and maybe you can join!!
I think it would be so fun if Epcot got a new country!! You have such awesome Disney plans coming up in the new few months!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing my post!
Of course, I loved reading your post!
Disney is so much fun! I want to go back soon 🙂 I was there when I was 12 but I think it would be a lot of fun to go now that I’m older!
Oh yes, it’s like a totally different experience as an adult – but still tons of fun!
Jealous that you’re going to D23! Can’t wait to hear more about it! And thrilled that the concert series lineup is already posted! They’re always so much fun to go to!
Yeah, I was excited to see which bands will be there the week I’m there – I think I’m going to try and catch Starship!
I saw them during Flower & Garden – SO good! I was thinking about going back again, haha. Would love to meet up if we’re there at the same time!
These sound awesome! I am trying to do as much planning and research as possible so when we take my daughter we know how to make the most of our time. I always love reading your Disney updates and rumors! 🙂
I think it will definitely pay off if you do some research – if you have any questions about anything let me know!
I would love to see a new country display in Epcot. I’m surprised they don’e already have a Spain display.
I know what you mean. I’d also really like to see Australia!
I’d really like to see epcot updated. I love visiting that park but I feel like each time I go it’s more of the same (though the restaurants are SENSATIONAL and I have a secret passion for the Maelstrom which I think most people don’t even realize is there)
I’m hoping to get to Disney this fall when we go to Naples for visit… even if it is a RIDICULOUS drive! Pandora is up on the LIST
xxox
Laura @ http://www.cookwineandthinker.com
I do agree, I think Epcot has closed a lot of things and not really replaced them. There’s a lot they could do there. I hope you get a chance to go in the fall!
I am also sooo excited for the D23 announcements and hopeful improvements to my favorite park!
Laura, do you mean the ride Maelstrom? It’s been closed for years, as it was rethemed to Frozen. Or is “the Maelstrom” code for something else??
I definitely mean that ride and I’m bummed… The last time I was at the park was in the pre-frozen era and…. It’s not my favourite