LAKE BUENA VISTA — Next year will be a magical one for Walt Disney World Resort, which will debut a host of new and limited-time attractions.
Starting Jan. 18 and continuing well into 2019, Walt Disney World will unveil a collection of shows, parties, Disney character interactions and more. All this will come in the midst of the company’s most significant growth of the past two decades, which includes the recent debuts of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Here are some highlights for 2019:
Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration
The fun begins Jan. 18 when Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration kicks off at Magic Kingdom Park with new entertainment, merchandise and specialty food and beverage. A highlight will be the new ‘Move It! Shake It Mouseke Dance It! Street Party’, which will take place several times daily up Main Street, U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle where guests will be invited to join in the dance party.
Pixar Fun
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will celebrate its 30th anniversary on May 1 following a reimagining of the park this year that included the debut of Toy Story Land, an 11-acre immersive land dedicated to Pixar Animation Studios’ ‘Toy Story’ films.
Beginning Jan. 18, Pixar Place will transform into a Municiberg city block from Pixar’s ‘Incredibles’ films, where guests will meet Edna Mode and see some of her greatest creations. They’ll also look for clues to the whereabouts of the youngest Incredible, Jack-Jack, and meet Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible and Frozone.
Also starting Jan. 18, Mike and Sulley from Pixar’s ‘Monsters, Inc.’ will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios as guest favourites. And then in spring 2019, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will roll into Disney’s Hollywood Studios as a new show experience themed around Pixar’s ‘Cars’ films.
Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Each day from Jan. 18 to Sept. 30, guests will feel the love during the ‘Hakuna Matata Dance Party’, where Timon and Rafiki will engage guests in entertaining dances and games inspired by ‘The Lion King’.
Also from Jan. 18 to Sept. 30, there’ll be new three-dimensional photo opps at the park that will allow guests to recreate iconic ‘Lion King’ moments for sharing on social media platforms.
More Live Music at Epcot
The Epcot International Festival of the Arts is set to take place from Jan. 18-Feb. 25 and will feature world-class cuisine, visual art and live entertainment.
This year, the Disney on Broadway Concert Series expands to seven days a week during the festival, with each week featuring different pairs of Disney on Broadway stars at the America Gardens Theatre stage.
Returning March 6-June 3, the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will feature yummy bites at outdoor kitchens, as well as dozens of Disney-themed topiaries. Plus, the Garden Rocks Concert Series will expand to seven days a week next year, offering three concerts per day of all 90 days of the festival for a total of 270 concerts at the America Gardens Theatre.
IllumiNations Says Goodbye:
After nearly 20 years of delighting guests, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will be ending in the second half of 2019 to make way for an all-new nighttime spectacular. Guests will want to spend another evening around World Showcase Lagoon to celebrate the classic show that has entertained millions of guests since its October 1999 debut.
The Disney Parks Live Entertainment team is already creating new thrills for World Showcase Lagoon. Details will be released at a later date.
