Hiyah Folks! Guru Joey, back with a little taste of the future for you Disney World fans! Click on the links below to read up on what is in the works at Disney World over the next few years.
Restaurants/Snack Depots
Hollywood Studios
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
When: 29 Aug 2019
What: Counter Service Restaurant
Maz Kanata’s old Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs has converted an old docking and storage bay into a quaszi reputable eating establishment on Batuu. Here you can enjoy counter service meals with highly immersive indoor/outdoor seating. Below are some of the menu items you may find.
- Batuu-bon: Chocolate cake with coffee custard and white chocolate mousse
- Braised Shaak Roast: A beef pot roast with kale and mushrooms in a cavatelli pasta
- Felucian Garden Spread: Meatball type dish on pita bread with hummus and tomato-cucumber relish
- Fried Endorian Tip-Yip: Fried chicken with vegetable mash and gravy
- Ithorian Garden Loaf: Plant based meatloaf with vegetable mash, seasonal vegetables, and mushroom sauce
- Oi-Oi Puff: Raspberry cream puff with passion fruit mousse
- Oven-roasted Burra Fish: Dijon Fish with roasted vegetables, quinoa, pumpkin seeds and a green curry ranch dressing
- Oven-roasted Tip-Yip: Roasted Chicken, roasted vegetables, quinoa, pumpkin seeds and a green curry ranch dressing
- Yobshrimp Noodle Salad: Noodle Salad with Shrimp (Cold)
Kat Saka’s Kettle
When: 29 Aug 2019
What: Snack Vendor
Kat Saka is a grain merchant in Black Spire Outpost. He has created a colorful and flavorful snack for the outpost’s visitors.
Specialty Popcorn
Milk Stand
When: 29 Aug 2019
What: Beverage Station
You know that blue milk in A New Hope? How about that green milk from the slightly awkward scenes in The Last Jedi? Well you can get both at the Milk Stand in Black Spire Outpost. Brought to you by the Bubo Wamba Family Farms. These drinks are served frozen. Think ice cream.
Olga’s Cantina
When: 29 Aug 2019
What: Beverage Station and Bar
Inspired by the Cantina in A New Hope, Oga’s Cantina is the place to go for interesting drinks for both adults and children. There will be a droid DJ from Star Tours providing music as you quench your thirst after a long day at the Outpost.
Some of the drinks offered:
Alcoholic:
- Bespin Fizz
- Bloody Rancor
- Dagobah Slug Slinger
- Fuzzy Tauntaun
- Jedi Mind Trick
- Jet Juice
- The Outer Rim
- Spriran Caf
- T-16
- Skyhopper
- Yub Nub
Non Alcoholic:
- Black Spire Brew
- Blue Bantha
- Carbon Freeze
- Cliff Dweller
- Hyperdrive Punch It
- Jabba Juice
- Moogan Tea
- Tarine Tea
Ronto Roasters
When: 29 Aug 2019
What: Quick Service Meals
A former smelter droid has repurposed and old pod-racing engine as a BBQ pit where he makes seasoned meats, wraps and Sandwiches.
Menu items include
- Meiloorun Juice
- Turkey Jerkey
- Ronto Wraps (Grilled Sausage and Roasted Pork)
Drinks:
- Sour Sarlacc
- Tatooine Sunset
Round-up Rodeo BBQ
When: 2020
What: Table Service Restaurant
Nestled within a rodeo play area this restaurant will have multiple dining rooms and will be filled with Toy Story characters. Dine in an immersive child-created atmosphere filled with games, playsets, toys and other familiar Toy Story objects.
Epcot
Creperie Hybrid Restaurant
When: 2020
What: Quick/Table service restaurant
This restaurant in the France Pavillion will feature flavors from the Brittany Region of France, imagined by celebrity chef Jerome Bocuse. Offered items include savory and sweet crepes. And given the sheer number of other eating establishments in the area it should have a relatively simple menu.
Space Themed restaurant in Future World
When: 2020
What: Upscale Table Service Restaurant
Ok, now this is the restaurant I am most excited about. It will be nestled between Mission: Space and Test Track and seeks to transport guests to a space station high above the earth, where they can enjoy a view of earth from the outer observation windows as they dine. No menu yet but rumors are that it will have an international cuisine.
Takumi – Tei
When: 2020
What: Table Service Japanese Restaurant
Signature dining experience in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot. Takumi means Artisan and the restaurant should pull from both nature and Japanese craftmanship for the atmosphere.
Shows
Magic Kingdom:
Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Celebration
When: Now – September 2019
This is the new daytime show at Magic Kingdom. Starting at Celebration Central in Town Square Theater, you can sign their guest book and there is a checklist with a few ways to join the celebration throughout the park.
Hollywood Studios:
Wonderful World of Animation
When: Now – Indefinite Period
This show will be located at the Chinese Theater and will include a montage of animated films from both Pixar and Disney spanning a 90-year period. Join your host Mickey for a fun light show and projected animated clips at the Hollywood Studios!
Animated Kingdom:
Rivers of Light “We Are One”
When: Now
One of the best shows to come to Disney, and a great addition to Animal Kingdom, has been the Rivers of Light show. We are One, which is the newest modification, is no exception. Relying on animal characters from the Lion King, Disney will take guests on an adventure through the Circle of Life.
Epcot:
Awesome Planet
When: October 2019
This new film in the Land Pavillion will take the place of its Lion King predecessor and offer updated visual effects as well as stunning views of the wonders of the natural world.
New Canada Film
When: 2019
An updated version of O’ Canada which currently plays in the Canada Pavillion.
New China Film
When: 2019
New film replacing the Reflections of China (Circle Vision) in the China Pavillion.
Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-long
When: 2019
A brand-new show in the France Pavilion featuring music from both the animated and live-action Beauty and the Beast films.
A Celebration of Disney Music
When: 2020
Replacing the Illuminations: Reflections of Earth show in Epcot will be A Celebration of Disney Music. This show seeks to do exactly what it says and take you through a theatrical presentation celebrating the vast library of Disney-made songs and scores. Be prepared for typical Disney flare with moving water fountains, pyrotechnics and laser light displays.
Disney Springs:
Cirque De Soleil Show
When: TBD
Meant to replace the “La Nouba” show the venue is being revamped and a new show is in the works. Should be fun!
Rides
Magic Kingdom:
Tron Light Cycle
When: 2021
Yep! You heard that right! The Tron Light Cycle ride from Disneyland in Shanghai is coming to Florida, and we could not be more excited. I have to say I was pretty jealous that China had this ride and we didn’t. Well… now we do. It will be located in a currently unused area next to Space Mountain. Can’t wait!
Hollywood Studios:
Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run
When: 29 August 2019
Get ready for a ride like you have not yet seen. Smugglers Run is a flight simulator type ride where you and your friends will be able to pilot the Millennium Falcon. Yes! You heard that right. Pilot! Guests will be able to maneuver the ship and even fire its weapons!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
When: 2020
This ride has been rumored to have over 300 animatronic additions including droids. Plus, Disney has said that the ride may be around 30 minutes long, including the three pre-ride segments that are under 10 minutes each.
The ride will take you through the world of the First Order and should present some stunning visual effects. Needless to say, a lot of work is going into it, which is why the opening date was pushed back. Either way, it should be pretty sweet!
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
When: February 2020
This ride will be inside the Chinese theater where the Great Movie Ride used to be. It has been described as a 2½D ride, which means it will be close to 3D without the use of glasses. Be prepared for typical Disney innovation when it comes to the animation as you ride with Mickey and Minnie on an out of control train piloted by our pal Goofy. Unfortunately, you will have to wait a bit longer than previously planned, but hey, just another reason to go back to Disney World.
Epcot:
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
When: 2020
The Ratatouille ride from Disneyland Paris is coming to Disney World. This will be a 3D dark ride where you will shrink down to the size of a rat for an adventure in Paris. It, of course, will be in the Paris Pavilion, and I, for one, am quite pleased Disney has been adding rides to their world showcase.
Guardians of the Galaxy Nova Corps Ride
When: 2021
Epcot’s Future world is about to gain a Guardians of the Galaxy ride! This is an indoor roller coaster inside the Universe of Energy building and will also incorporate new construction directly behind it. The ride is expected to be massive and will be a great addition to the faster thrill rides like Rockin’ Roller Coaster and Exhibition Everest!
Other
Disney Skyliner
When: Fall of 2019
A new form of transportation is on the horizon. Disney’s Skyliner will connect Epcot and Hollywood Studios with the Caribbean Beach Resort, Art of Animation, Pop Century and the new Riviera Resort. This should allow for decreased crowds on the Disney bus transportation and should also be a fun addition to your travel in the parks. Disney actually had a Skyliner type travel mode in Disneyland in the past, but it was plagued with malfunctions and problems. Hopefully, this time will be different.
The Odyssey Experience Center
When: Fall of 2019
Due to the amount of change Epcot will undergo in the coming years, Disney has decided to open a semi-permanent “Experience Center” where you will be able to see the future planned changes to the park. It will include interactive exhibits and seek to convey the innovation and excitement behind the future projects for Epcot. This exhibit will be located in the former Odyssey restaurant.
Play Pavilion
When: 2021
Replacing the exhibits in the Wonders of Life Pavilion, the Play Pavilion will be an innovative, completely interactive city where you can interact with Disney characters in a vast variety of activities. With this attraction and the others planned for Epcot, this park should begin to draw larger crowds and become a must-see when visiting Disney World.
NBA Experience
When: : 12 August 2019
This experience will open just ahead of Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. It incorporates real time data gathering and keeping its statistics on NBA and WNBA players and teams up to date in real time. It is not clear if the attraction will be an added cost, but will include activities such as:
- Slam dunk challenge (hoop height can be changed for the vertically challenged).
- Shooting activity where spots on the court will light up as the guests attempts to make as many baskets as possible in 15 seconds.
- A comparative section where guests can see how they stack up against the NBA greats.
- A career simulation where guests can create a player in their name and associate themselves with their favorite NBA or WNBA teams.
Star Wars Themed Immersive Resort
When: TBD but construction has already begun
This hotel deserves a post all to itself, and it will get it. For now, we just want to wet your appetite. According to news we have so far, this hotel will consist of a 2-night interactive story stay where you and your guests will embark on a Star Wars story that does not stop until your stay is complete.
Every window in the resort will have a view of space. That includes your “cabin.” You will be able to take your family on missions from your room, dress in costumes throughout your stay, and just embed yourself in the Star Wars universe.
The staff of the hotel will also be characters from Star Wars and will be in character from start to finish. We gurus are excited to see how this plays out. And, while the price of a stay there is not yet nailed down, we imagine it will be hefty.