4 springtime activities we love at Walt Disney World
The resort is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary celebration, and now is the perfect time to celebrate the season and upcoming Easter holiday. If you plan on visiting, we have uncovered a number of fun activities for families to experience while out exploring the theme parks and nearby resort hotels.
Ready to take on this record-setting roller coaster?
Imagine going 180 feet in the air, then a 95-degree plummet, five airtime hills, two inversions, and four launches. That describes the new record-breaking rollercoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It is called Pantheon, and it is the worldโs fastest multi-launch roller coaster.
Whatโs that delicious juice concoction Walt Disney World serves?
Stitch juice, jungle juice, POG juice -- the names go on and on. Rumor has it, there is a popcorn stand in Animal Kingdom called Mahindi that even serves up a Jungle Juice Slushy. Combine 21 ounces passion fruit juice, 21 ounces guava juice and 14 ounces orange juice (pulp-free). If following a recipe isnโt your forte, Welchโs Guava Pineapple juice is the closest thing to POG juice in a carton. Whether you make it, buy it, or order it, be sure to have yourself a glass of POG juice the next time you sit down for breakfast.
What could Disney crowds look like when the park reopens? We take a guess at the numbers
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Walt Disney World is set to once again open its gates to the Magic Kingdom following a lengthy closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. But with most families staying inside and not traveling, how crowded will the theme parks really be when they reopen? Park Capacity Capacity at 25% Magic Kingdom 57,000 people 14,250 people Epcot 34,093 people 8,523 people Hollywood Studios 30,843 people 7,710 people Animal Kingdom 37,671 people 9,417 peopleA park at 25% capacity would mean very minimal wait times. As we can all imagine, visiting a Disney theme park when it reopens will be a new experience for all -- no matter how many times youโve visited. The Magic Kingdom and Disneyโs Animal Kingdom parks will open first July 11, with Epcot and Disneyโs Hollywood Studios reopening July 15.
In case you missed it: Disneyโs Splash Mountain to be re-themed to โPrincess and the Frogโ
Itโs transformation central at Disney Parks in the U.S., as Disney officially announced that it has big plans for Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. MORE: Petition calls for Disney Parks to change theme of Splash MountainIf you havenโt heard of the film, youโre not alone. If youโre unfamiliar with Splash Mountain, hereโs a little background. Splash Mountain follows happy-go-lucky Brโer Rabbit as he looks for his โlaughing place.โ All the while, Brโer Bear and Brโer Fox are in hot pursuit of Brโer Rabbit. โMany adults and children ride this attraction because it brings back childhood memories,โ the โKeep Splash Mountainโ petition said.
Disney fans get creative, make homemade magic during coronavirus pandemic
This meant that families were unable to experience the magic or thrill of the Disney theme parks, however, that didnโt stop families and friends from making the best of a bad situation. Since the closures, Disney fans from around the globe have been posting videos of their DIY Disney attractions. From nighttime fireworks to swashbuckling pirates, it's clear that when Disney fans are bored, something good is sure to come out of it. Once Upon a TimeWho needs to go back to the parks when you can have this at home? Pirates of the CaribbeanWhen will they ever learn that the dog is never going to give them the key?
Watch Walt Disney World cast members create magic from their homes during COVID-19 closure
Disney cast members have officially been away from their jobs for about two months now -- and some are taking their skills and talents to social media to give those bored at home a taste of the Disney magic everyone has been missing. Walt Disney World furloughed its approximately 43,000 workers in April after the theme park closed in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Only about 200 workers remain on the job performing โessential duties" during the closure, officials said. For the cast members not working, the only way they have been able to โmake magicโ is from inside their own homes. If youโre missing your favorite attractions, you might want to check out how these Disney fans created their favorite rides at home.
You can fly: Get a birdโs eye view into a deserted Walt Disney World
But one Central Florida pilot was given the opportunity to fly over the happiest place on earth and give us the view weโve been waiting on. Disney parks have a temporary flight restriction that limits pilots from flying within 3,000 feet of any of the parks. But with Disney parks in the U.S. closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, some pilots have been granted permission by local air traffic control to fly over the deserted theme parks. โI hope this will bring some joy to everyone currently in quarantine and missing the beloved parks.โSeeing an empty Disney World has become a common sight to most of us during quarantine. [MORE: Helicopter pilot shares breathtaking view of Disneyland during coronavirus closure]Walt Disney World has been closed since March 15 after rising concerns about spreading COVID-19.
Dreaming of a theme park Christmas? This advice will help you plan your whole trip
Eat Christmas cookies until you feel like youโre going to burst, see a special Christmas parade roll down Main Street U.S.A. -- and did we mention there will be tons of cookies? Visit Disneyโs website for more info. Insider tip: Want to catch the Christmas parade but avoid paying for a special ticket? Some resorts also will have special holiday presentations, such as a walk-through gingerbread house at Disneyโs Grand Floridian. Other festivities include the Sea of Trees, which is a show filled with synchronized Christmas trees shimmering and twinkling set to holiday music.
Walt Disney World resorts that won't break the bank
With 18 hotels and 23,000 hotel rooms, families swarm to Florida to enjoy the heat and take in the magic of Disney. Looking to spend more money in the parks and less on a hotel? Let us show you the value resorts Disney offers and some insider tips we've picked up along the way.