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| © Walt Disney World Resort (Photo courtesy Walt Disney World Resort) |
By Mia Taylor, TravelPulse
Walt Disney World Resort will debut a long list of new and limited-time programming and entertainment in 2019, including shows, parties and character interactions.
The new offerings will kick off on January 18 and continue well into the year, according to a statement issued by Walt Disney World Resort.
“All of these new experiences will happen while Walt Disney World is in the midst of its most significant growth of the past two decades, including the recent debuts of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” the company said.
Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration Arrives at Magic Kingdom Park
On January 18, Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration will launch at Magic Kingdom Park, featuring new entertainment, merchandise, and specialty food and beverage.
Among the highlights of the celebration will be the new “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party.” Several times daily, a colorful procession will head up Main Street, U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle, where guests will be invited to join in the dance party.
There will also be singing hosts performing modern remixes of favorite “Mickey Mouse Club” melodies and more.
Numerous beloved Disney characters, including Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Max, Chip ’n Dale and others, will join Mickey and Minnie in the fun.
What’s more, from January 18 through September 30, Dapper Dans, Casey’s Corner piano player and others along Main Street will honor Mickey and Minnie with special musical moments throughout the day.
There will be other surprises and limited-time magical experiences popping up around Magic Kingdom during the celebration.
Party with Pixar Pals and More as Disney’s Hollywood Studios Marks 30 Years
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will transform into a place where guests experience their own adventures in the immersive worlds of their cinematic imaginations.
This reimagining of the park came to life in 2018 with the debut of Toy Story Land, an 11-acre immersive land dedicated to Pixar Animation Studios’ Toy Story films. Beginning January 18, Pixar Place will transform into a Metroville city block from Pixar’s Incredibles films.
Guests will meet super suit designer Edna Mode and see some of her greatest creations. They will also be able to look for clues to the whereabouts of the youngest Incredible, the Jack-Jack.
And at the end of the block, guests can celebrate the heroic deeds of Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible and Frozone, who will make appearances throughout the day during a party featuring music, dancing and interactive games.
And still, there’s more.
Also starting January 18, two popular guest favorites return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios when a door to the monster world opens inside Walt Disney Presents, welcoming Mike and Sulley from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
In spring 2019, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will arrive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new show will welcome guests to the world of Pixar’s Cars films.
Honor 25 Years of ‘The Lion King’ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Twenty-five years ago Simba, Timon, Rafiki and the other characters from Walt Disney Pictures’ “The Lion King” were first introduced. In 2019, guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be able to celebrate the classic animated film.
Each day from January 18 to September 30, guests will feel the love during the “Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party,” a celebration during which young adventurers will be invited to let their inner animals roam free on the dance floor.
Timon and Rafiki will engage everyone in entertaining dances and games inspired by “The Lion King,” as wildly talented musicians provide the perfect soundtrack in a World Beat style.
Also, from January 18 through September 30, guests can imagine themselves in scenes from the film via new three- dimensional photo opportunities at the park. These backdrops will allow guests to re-create iconic “Lion King” moments ideal for sharing on social media platforms.
More Live Music Than Ever for Epcot Arts and Flower & Garden Festivals
Not to be left out, festive fun is returning to Epcot throughout 2019, beginning with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts from January 18 through February 25. This stirring extravaganza invites guests to indulge in world-class cuisine, remarkable visual art and an extraordinary lineup of live entertainment.
This year, the Disney on Broadway Concert Series expands to seven days a week during the festival, providing even more opportunities than ever before to bask in live Disney magic. Each week, different pairs of Disney on Broadway stars will take to the America Gardens Theatre stage to sing favorite songs from award-winning Disney on Broadway productions.
Spring, meanwhile, will bring the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, slated for March 6 through June 3.
This year’s event will feature delectable bites at outdoor kitchens, as well as dozens of world-renowned, Disney-themed topiaries. The Garden Rocks Concert Series will expand to seven days a week in 2019, offering a mixture of new artists and returning favorites. There will be three concerts per day for all 90 days of the festival,
A Fond Farewell for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
After nearly 20 years, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will be ending. The show will cease during the second half of 2019 to make way for a new nighttime presentation. Since its October 1999 debut, IllumiNations has entertained millions of guests.
The Disney Parks Live Entertainment team has already begun creating new entertainment for World Showcase Lagoon. Details will be released at a later date, but Disney has said that the new show will keep true to the original vision of the park and will be part of the park’s exciting evolution.
