Walt Disney World News Round-Up

There are many exciting things happening at Walt Disney World, including news of an exciting, immersive experience that will take Star Wars to another level.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser to Debut in 2021 at Walt Disney World Resort

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will begin transporting Guests from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to a galaxy far, far away beginning in 2021, Walt Disney Imagineering announced yesterday. This is a new type of immersive vacation that only Disney could create – a two-night, cruise-style itinerary where you become the hero of your own adventure in an experience that surrounds you 24/7 in Star Wars storytelling.

In a new artist concept rendering just released (above), you get a first look at what you will see when you arrive for your Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser vacation. The Galactic Starcruiser Terminal is where you will begin you Star Wars experience!

Whether you show up via personal vehicle, Disney transportation or by landspeeder, curb-side check-in prepares you to leave Earth behind, jump to lightspeed and begin your Star Wars story. From the Starcruiser Terminal, Guests will enter an exclusive launch pod for travel up to the Halcyon, the starcruiser in a galaxy far, far away. Through the pod’s viewports, it looks as though Guests are traveling through space to approach the massive ship that is much too large to land on any planet.

A “spaceport of call” to Black Spire Outpost is included in the itinerary, where special passenger transports take you to the planet Batuu (also known as the destination for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios).

To get from Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and back, you will remain fully in-story as you step aboard the transport ships designed specifically for this new immersive experience. It will connect you directly to a spaceport at Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, where the story you began in the starcruiser will continue and evolve while exploring the 14-acre land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

More details to come.

‘Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along’ & Other New Films Debut at Epcot January 17

Earlier this year, details on new film experiences coming to Epcot were unveiled at the D23 Expo.

Today we’re happy to share that three new films will debut Jan. 17, 2020, at Epcot, on the same day the Epcot International Festival of the Arts begins!

“Awesome Planet” in The Land pavilion showcases the Earth’s beauty and diversity in a 10-minute film featuring spectacular imagery, in-theater effects and an original musical score from Academy Award-winning® composer Steven Price.

“Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in the France pavilion is directed and produced by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films, and invites Guests to participate in a twist on a tale as old as time. It also features narration from Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts in the original film. The new sing-along will run in rotation with “Impressions de France,” which will receive an upgrade to 4K projection.

And “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion is an update to the previous “O Canada!” film with new scenes, a new musical score by Canadian composer Andrew Lockington and new narration by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Set to Open March 4, 2020 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

In a special presentation yesterday at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek announced Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open March 4, 2020, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

This will be the first Disney ride-through attraction featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, that will draw you inside a Mickey cartoon for a fun-filled adventure where “Mouse rules apply” and anything can happen!

First Look: Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot

Chef Remy is cooking up something special at Epcot, and we have a first look inside to share with you today!

Walt Disney Imagineering is hard at work developing a new attraction for the park’s France pavilion, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, planned to open in summer 2020. Based on Disney and Pixar’s hit film, “Ratatouille,” this family-friendly attraction will invite you to shrink down to the scale of a rat for a culinary adventure with Chef Remy.

Guests will race across Gusteau’s kitchen floor aboard special trackless ride vehicles, which you can see in the image at the top of this post – just released today – as Disney Imagineers work on bringing this attraction to life.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is one of several new experiences coming to Epcot as part of the park’s historic transformation already underway.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Mickey Shorts Theater Debuts March 2020 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

We’re excited to share that the new Mickey Shorts Theater is on its way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios – opening in March 2020!

As you can see from the new artist concept rendering above, the interior of the theater will evoke the same wacky fun of the Disney Channel cartoon series. You will see an original short in this same style, plus have the chance to take your picture in special photo locations.

Next year is going to be a big one for Mickey Mouse at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as in addition to this new theater experience, the park will unveil Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (see article above), the first ride-through attraction in Disney history featuring those true originals!

Stay tooned for more on these new experiences in the weeks and months ahead.