This past week was huge for news and updates at Walt Disney World Resort! Disney shared a first glimpse into EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival, restaurants and resorts reopening, mask and social distancing changes, and more. We have all the top stories from this past week and we’re sharing them with you so you know what to expect and how to prepare for your next trip!
Health and Safety Requirements
There have been a lot of changes recently regarding masks and social distancing in Disney World. This past week brought even more changes when Disney changed their mask policy to note that masks are only required in indoor theaters (such as Festival of the Lion King). But soon, the mask policy will change again.
Starting June 15th, masks will be optional for fully vaccinated guests in most areas throughout Disney World. Masks will continue to be required on Disney transportation for all guests. We’ve also seen changes to social distancing policies at the resort pools. Disney also updated their physical distancing guidelines in restaurants and shops, with more changes set start June 15th. With so many changes being made in Disney World, be sure to watch for updated signs throughout the parks and resorts to make sure you’re following the most current guidelines.
EPCOT Food & Wine Festival
This past week was a big one for Food and Wine Festival news! The 2021 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will kick off in a month on July 15th, and last through November 20th, 2021. We got a list of all the food booths that will be available this year. Many of the booths are returning from the previous Food & Wine Festival. But, you’ll also have 8 NEW booths to check out this year including Kenya, Lobster Landing, and Mac & Eats. Nine of the booths will not be open until October 1st, 2021, which marks the start of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration. There are also 8 booths that are NOT returning to this year’s Food and Wine Festival.
We also got a first look at some of the special merchandise for the festival. There will be a Be Our Guest, Remy, and Apple Orchard collection as well as the returning Figment Passholder collection. Disney shared details about a live concert series that includes returning favorites as well as local bands from Central Florida. We will bring you a complete overview on the festival once it is officially announced.
Boo Bash
Disney After Hours BOO BASH is a new After Hours event coming to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for Fall 2021! This Magic Kingdom event will require a separate ticket for entry, and will run select nights starting August 10, 2021 through October 31, 2021. This 3-hour event starts at 9-9:30 PM. A frightfully fun event featuring Halloween-themed cavalcades, character appearances, trick or treating, and more. Disney After Hours events are limited capacity events that take place after normal park operating hours, so guests also enjoy low wait times for park attractions. Guests of all ages are welcome to wear costumes. Tickets for this special event go on sale June 15. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can now purchase tickets during the advance purchase window, which continues through June 14.
Restaurant Openings
Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will open June 24th with nightly walk-in availability through July 4. Bookings are available June 10 for reservations starting July 5. Disney Skyliner conveniently stops at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, making it an easy trip to dine at Sebastian’s Bistro, which will reopen with delicious tastes of the Caribbean and a new family-style meal at dinner. The entire table will enjoy the Taste of the Caribbean platter featuring oven-roasted citrus chicken, slow-cooked mojo pork with mango sambal, and grilled flank steak with mojito relish. This hearty platter comes with sides of cilantro rice and beans, vegetable curry, and grilled broccolini. Coconut shrimp can also be ordered as an add-on to your meal. The best part? You finish with the ultimate sweet treat – the popular coconut-pineapple bread pudding!
‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will reopen July 9th (bookings open June 10th). ‘Ohana will again offer their fabulous all-you-care-to-enjoy breakfast and dinner offerings when they reopen. Although Disney characters will not be hosting breakfast, a strolling musician will entertain guests for dinner. For breakfast, start with pineapple-coconut breakfast bread, move on to Stitch and Mickey Mouse waffles, then dig into “eggs”cellent breakfast skillets with ham, sausage, and breakfast potatoes. The ’Ohana dinner features all-you-care-to-enjoy platters of grilled beef steak, roasted chicken, sausage, and island shrimp casserole served with roasted broccolini. And yes, ’Ohana noodles, ’Ohana pot stickers, crispy soy chicken wings, and the signature ’Ohana bread pudding served warm with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream are back! The “Poly” is only open to DVC guests right now, but will reopen for all resort guests on July 19th following a complete refurbishment of the rooms.
Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom reopens June 20th. Donald Duck and his Disney friends are welcoming you back to this lively Harambe marketplace. Graze on a bountiful family-style menu brimming with African-inspired flavors while you dine and snap photos of your favorite Disney characters. For breakfast, start your adventure with Mickey and Simba waffles, Durban chicken and egg curry with jasmine rice, and much more. Lunch and dinner offerings include Moroccan-spiced beef, Berber-marinated pork, spit-roasted herb chicken, and Cape Malay green curry shrimp.
Additional quick-service locations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park are now open:
- Terra Treats (serving pizza slices)
- Isle of Java (serving fresh-brewed espresso, cappuccino, and sweet treats)
- Trilo-Bites (serving DOLE Whip orange)
- Drinkwallah Snacks & Frozen Beverages
BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is now open. It replaced the former Ample Hills Creamery. Craving a frozen sweet treat? Take a stroll around Crescent Lake on Disney’s BoardWalk and visit BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop. Featuring scoops and sundaes to go, satisfy your craving with a good old-fashioned sundae plus brownie and strawberry splash shortcake a la modes, and of course, the kid-favorite, Mickey Mouse Sundaes!
Resort Openings
Another Disney resort finally reopened this week and we are so happy to see its return! Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has fully reopened to guests following some room refurbishments. The Vacation Club Villas reopened back in 2020 along with some shopping and dining options. Now the resort has completely reopened its rooms, pools, dining and shopping……minus one. Storybook Dining at Artist Point still remains closed at this time.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is now completely reopened. The Disney Vacation Club Villas at the Beach Club reopened last year, and now non-DVC rooms are also available to resort guests. The recently-reopened Cape May Cafe serves up breakfast and New England-inspired dinner. Character dining at Cape May is unavailable for now. You can also stop by Beaches & Cream, the ice cream shop out by the Stormalong Bay pool area. Martha’s Vineyard offers a relaxing lounge environment. The highly sought after Stormalong Bay is open to guests of Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, as well as the quiet pools.
Coming Soon
Space 220 restaurant is located in EPCOT’s Future World near Mission: Space. Guests will board an elevator that will “transport” them 220 miles above Earth to the Centauri Space Station. Once inside, you’ll get to enjoy unique views of space as you eat! The menu is set to include modern American cuisine as well as fine wines and a wide selection of craft beer. Recently, we’ve seen various job positions for the restaurant posted online and anyone interested can apply. But now Patina Restaurant Group, the organization that will be running Space 220, has indicated that the restaurant is preparing for a Fall 2021 opening. An exact opening date has not been announced.
Recently we shared the re-theme and reopening of the “Creepy Clown Waterslide” to a more family friendly version. Meanwhile, the resort was undergoing a soft-refurbish in the guest rooms. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas were open for Disney Vacation Club guests only, but will reopen for all guest reservations as of July 2nd. Reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Atlantic City, this Coney Island style boardwalk is a nighttime favorite among many guests.
There has been a huge refurbishment going on at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, including changes to the main entrance, lobby, and monorail station. Earlier this year we shared the Moana-inspired makeover to the guest rooms and they look amazing! Those reimagined rooms are available for booking for stays beginning July 19th. As stated above, ‘Ohana is reopening on July 9th and the remaining construction should finish up in late summer. Our beloved Poly will finally be ready for guests to enjoy in all its tropical glory!
We think it’s safe to say that BIG things are happening throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. As we near the 50th Anniversary celebration, Disney is pulling out all the stops to make it an event to remember. We’ll bring you all the latest announcements and updates as Disney releases them. Stay tuned by checking back here often or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.