We always try keep you posted with the latest construction and attraction refurbishments here at Operation Dole Whip. Knowing about opening dates and upcoming closures around WDW can help you plan your park days and avoid delays. There is a lot of construction going on at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, as well as several smaller projects throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Many of these have met with delays and even cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Ever wonder what happened to some of the new projects set to open in 2020 or 2021? Here’s a current WDW construction and refurbishment update, as well as new project information.
New Construction
Reflections- A Disney Lakeside Lodge
How did we forget that a new Disney World Resort was planned? Reflections- A Disney Lakeside Lodge was announced back in 2019. The upcoming Disney Vacation Club resort with more than 900 rooms was originally set to open in 2022. It was to be built on the former home of Disney’s River Country water park on Bay Lake. When the 2020 global pandemic hit, Disney closed down and so did construction. When the parks reopened in July 2020, construction on this new project did not. It’s been a while since we heard any official word from Disney on this upcoming resort, but delivery of materials have been canceled and some completed concrete work has been removed. This leads us to conclude that construction has been permanently halted and Reflections may have been canceled. At this time, all Cast Members will say is “Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge is a unique resort proposed Disney Vacation Club, drawing inspiration from the wonders of nature and the artistry of Walt Disney!” Of course, you can stay tuned to ODW for the latest updates about Reflections.
TRON Lightcycle Power Run
TRON Lightcyle Power Run was originally slated to open in time for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 2021. However, because Walt Disney World was closed for several months in 2020, the project has met with delays and may not open in 2021. The TRON Coaster coming to Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom, “isn’t expected to open during the park’s 50th birthday year,” according to USA Today. In December 2020, we noticed some of those white canopy pieces in the front, waiting to be installed. You can see that most of the paneling is up on the show building that will house the indoor portion of the ride, although work does appear to be continuing there. It is likely that TRON Lightcycle Run will not debut until a year later in Summer or Fall 2022. While this attraction is an expansion to the park outside its existing edge, its construction will cause closures to the Walt Disney World Railroad through at least 2021.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
We first learned about the new “Star Wars hotel” at the 2017 D23 expo, followed by details about the proposed location and some concept art. In 2019, the name of the hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, as well as the name of the ship itself, the Halcyon, were revealed. Disney shared details on dining and transportation, giving us more insight into what guests would experience aboard the Halcyon. We learned that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser would not be like any other Disney resort. Instead, it’s more of an immersive experience similar to that of a cruise ship. Eventually we were given an opening timeframe for the hotel in 2021. Since the hotel is scheduled to open this year, the reservations were supposed to open up in 2020, but did not. Last September, Disney shared that this project is being prioritized by the company and construction will continue. Disney’s website lists the hotel as “Coming to Walt Disney World Resort in 2021″.
Disney isn’t too far off track with their progress on this hotel. In fact, we’ve been receiving a lot of new details about it recently! We got our first glimpse inside the Halcyon when Disney shared photos from the cabins. We hope that means the construction progress is moving along at a steady pace. You can be first to know all the updates from Disney and be notified through email when more information becomes available here. Also, make sure you are following us on Facebook or Instagram, as we will bring you all the latest news as soon as it comes out!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be one of the longest indoor roller coasters ever built and it’s part of the huge transformation happening in EPCOT! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the biggest-budget project currently being built at Walt Disney World. Located in Future World, the attraction will feature the first-ever “reverse launch into space” aboard the ride vehicles with 360-degree movement. Officially, Cosmic Rewind was also slated to debut “in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.” However, it’s unlikely that target can still be met due to construction work halting during the closure. We believe Summer 2022 is the most plausible opening timeframe for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, but that’s not official.
Space 220
Some day interspace travel will be possible. Until then, Space 220 might be as close as we’ll get to dining in a galaxy far, far away. The new dining establishment is part of EPCOT’s massive reimagining, and will be located in Future World near the Mission: SPACE attraction. Space 220 originally had a 2020 opening date, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the debut of the galactic-themed restaurant has been pushed back indefinitely. For now, it’s “coming soon” without an exact opening date announced. Construction seems to continue on the project with the restaurant still mostly behind construction walls
Play Pavilion
Continuing with new projects in EPCOTs Future World, the Play Pavilion will replace Wonders of Life. At one point, this was intended to open “in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.” An official date has not been announced for this, but we’d anticipate this new pavilion will open at some point in late 2021 or early 2022. It would make sense for the new park entrance and Play Pavilion to debut as ‘phase one’ of the Epcot reimagining. It would also be logical for another bypass corridor to connect from the new front entrance to this area, which will include Play Pavilion and the next attraction.
Moana: Journey of Water
Moana’s Journey of Water will be part of the new World Nature neighborhood. (As a reminder, Walt Disney World is eliminating Epcot’s Future World and replacing it with 3 new neighborhoods.) World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance of the natural world. In addition to Journey of Water, it will include The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilions. Moana’s Journey of Water will be located between Spaceship Earth and the Seas with Nemo & Friends. The water maze will more or less replace half of Innoventions West, which was demolished as part of Epcot’s central spine redesign. We originally anticipated that Moana: Journey of Water would debut in 2022. Although we feared it had been cancelled, Walt Disney World has offered updates on Moana: Journey of Water recently, suggesting that the project is still moving forward. It has a good shot of making that 2022 target date.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Previously, we brought you the complete details on the upcoming Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure as well as La Creperie de Paris and more. All will be coming to EPCOT’s France pavilion through a new, expanded area. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure was originally slated to open in the summer of 2020. However, in November 2020, an update to the timeline was announced by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro. The attraction is now planned to open sometime in 2021, since construction on the attraction was delayed due to the recent closures of the Walt Disney World theme parks. Though we don’t have an exact opening date for the new ride quite yet, we spotted a lot of new merchandise themed after the ride in the France Pavilion. Most of it sold out quickly, proving there is quite an appetite for this attraction. Last month, all of the bushes blocking the entrance were removed and guests were finally able to check out the expanded area and new rest rooms in the Ratatouille area! We’ll let you know as soon as the official opening date is announced.
Harmonious
Prior to the closure of Walt Disney World, Epcot Forever was the temporary nighttime spectacular. It was slated to be replaced by a new nighttime spectacular called Harmonious. Fireworks shows have been temporarily cancelled, but work has resumed and is moving at a fast pace. You can see the ongoing construction and progress on Harmonious at EPCOT. Harmonious is now one of the high-priority projects for Walt Disney World. While no debut date has been set for the show, the expectation is Memorial Day 2021 at the earliest, and October 1, 2021 at the latest. Look for an upcoming post that deep dives into the details of Harmonious.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
With only one dining location currently in Toy Story Land, it was clear additional dining was needed. Meet the Roundup Rodeo BBQ, a new table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! When you enter Toy Story Land there is some space along the right side near the Woody statue. That’s exactly where the Roundup Rodeo BBQ is going. Originally Disney had plans for shops in that area so I’m happy they are putting it to use. Construction was on schedule before the closure and the building has been closed up while work is proceeding on the interior. It was originally scheduled for a 2020 opening, but late 2021 is now more realistic.
Attraction Refurbishments
Spaceship Earth
During the 2019 D23 Expo, Disney announced a massive renovation coming to Spaceship Earth as part of EPCOT’s transformation. The refurbishment, which included reimagining several scenes within the ride, would mean a temporary closure of the park’s flagship attraction. Spaceship Earth was scheduled to begin its temporary closure on May 26th, 2020. Disney said the “new Spaceship Earth will still feature great moments in history, but focus on something that binds us all together — storytelling.” In addition, the renovation was said to include a fresh narration and some new scenes! Disney World began its temporary closure in March of 2020. It was announced during the closure that Spaceship Earth’s renovation was delayed and the current version of the attraction would reopen with the parks! After EPCOT reopened, we learned that Spaceship Earth’s renovation was being shelved. Disney has since been pretty quiet on their future plans for updating the ride.
We learned last fall that the exterior of the attraction would be getting a new, programmable lighting design that would “activate this area of the park like never before” and “perfectly encapsulate the park transformation.” Last fall, Walt Disney Imagineers filed for an “installation of source power and control equipment” with the address linked back to Spaceship Earth. We also saw a couple of permits for that lighting design. The star-like projections coming to Spaceship Earth will stay after the celebration is done to be a permanent display at Epcot. Imagineer Zach Riddley shared more details about this permanent programmable light system on his Instagram. Imagineers have created custom lighting features that literally emerge from Spaceship Earth’s unique architecture. These features will shine across the silver panels and “connect” with one another, resembling shimmering stars in a nighttime sky.
TTA- The PeopleMover
The saga of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover refurbishment continues. This underrated ride with a cult following has been down for refurbishment for months. It was scheduled to reopen on January 30th, but that date was extended through February 28th. In early February, we saw the PeopleMover being tested and even saw people riding on it. We were counting down the days to the PeopleMover’s previously scheduled reopening on March 1st. But now, sadly things have changed. If you check the Disney World calendar now, you’ll see that the PeopleMover refurbishment is currently listed through April 3rd, 2021.
Cinderella Castle
The stage in front of Cinderella Castle has been blocked off with a row of bushes and gray scrim in front of it. From in front of the Castle, you can see the parts of the scrim that are wrapped around the railings on the lower part of the stage. For now, it seems that just some standard stage maintenance is taking place. If you’re heading to Disney World, just be aware that your Castle photos might look different. You can still take photos from the back of the Castle for a view without any scrim, or try to place yourself in a spot that might avoid some of the scrim depending on the angle.
Other Scheduled Refurbishments
Disney recently added the Mad Tea Party to the refurbishment calendar. The Fantasyland attraction will be closed from February 22nd through March 4th. This is a pretty short refurbishment closure and Disney has not detailed what work will be done. Still, it seems like we won’t be hurtling in circles in a giant teacup for a little over a week.
Peter Pan’s Flight has had construction walls and scrim added recently and we saw that more of the building is covered today.
The Swiss Family Treehouse is currently scheduled for refurbishment from March 12th through March 25th, 2021. Disney does not list it on the refurbishment calendar starting March 26th, so we’re expecting it to open back up then.
It’s Tough to Be a Bug at Animal Kingdom will close for refurbishment on March 8th.. This refurbishment is very short and the ride will reopen to guests on March 12th, 2021. If you’re headed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in March, keep in mind that this attraction will be down during that time. Also, be aware that refurbishment schedules can change, so be sure to check for more updates as your trip gets closer. Just a reminder that also at Animal Kingdom, Kali River Rapids is already down for refurbishment and is not set to reopen until April.
What About???
Did you notice a couple of upcoming projects are still without a timeline? In July 2020 we shared the news of a Splash Mountain Re-theme to Princess and the Frog. There has been a lot of speculation, but still no official announcement from Disney as to when we can expect this project to start. We also reported in January 2021 of a Jungle Cruise update coming to Disney Parks on both coasts. Permits have been filed to modify several scenes in the attraction. The small refreshes to the attraction will be temporarily blocked while under construction by scrims to help enclose the workspace and block the view until the new scenes are complete. The permits are to allow for these scrims to be built. Construction is expected to begin very soon. These updates should be finished in time for the 50th Anniversary in October, 2021.
As you can see, there is a lot going on in the Disney Parks. With so many different construction projects going, it’s difficult to keep up on the latest news. The events following the pandemic have caused delays and cancellations of many planned projects. We didn’t even get into Resort refurbishments and construction. There is enough information to feature it in it’s own post so look for that to come. Follow along here on the blog or on Facebook and/or Instagram. We will do our best to keep you informed and excited about all the great things happening around the world!