Welcome to the June issue of Disney Rumor Round Up! You can check the May 2020 delivery here. Much has changed and has happened since the last installment. I hope everyone stays safe and healthy during all of this. Now, let’s dive in! Disclaimer: Disney does not confirm the rumors mentioned in this article and they may never happen.
Disney parks
Currently, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland are open to guests in China with many requirements and guidelines to keep guests safe. Tokyo Disneyland is next, opening July 1 for guests. Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World will reopen shortly thereafter in mid-July. Disneyland, the park that started it all, is the only one that does not currently have an opening date as it has not yet received government approval. Aulani in Hawaii does not currently have an opening date either. Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney continue to cancel trips as well.
Magic Kingdom
Let’s go back to our normal park-by-park format and start with some great news at Magic Kingdom. Disney recently announced that Splash Mountain would be redesigned for Princess and the frog. No deadline or start date has been given yet, but they said that when Magic Kingdom (and Disneyland) opens, the attraction will open as is. According to Walt Disney Imagineering President Bob Weis, this project has been in process for some time. He also mentioned on Instagram that they have had several ideas to repeat the theme of Splash Mountain over the years. Of course, this decision was not a light one for Disney fans, like many other changes in the past. With several high-level Imagineers in the project, including Disney legend Tony Baxter, I have great faith that they will create something amazing for us to enjoy.
Other attractions may also be considered in the not-too-distant future for changes. Country Bear Jamboree, Jungle Cruise, and Peter Pan, just to name a few, were able to see scene changes for more appropriate stories.
Outside of that, some projects at Magic Kingdom have been resumed as the park prepares for its opening on July 11. The trail from the Grand Floridian, the park entrance, security updates, and the castle painting project have been resumed and are nearing completion. Larger projects like Tron have not been resumed and, according to Bob Weis in an article D23, they will be in stages.
Epcot
Epcot is the forgotten boy he seems at the moment. Maybe it is not forgotten, but it is not getting love either. Currently, no major project at Epcot has been largely resumed. The entry project, which was getting closer to completion before closing, has yet to restart. The walls of Future World remain without work done since, too. Bob Weis did not mention Epcot in his D23 interview, but said several projects are being re-evaluated, the Mary Poppins attraction is likely to be one of those, along with possible aspects of Future World as well.
Hollywood Studios / Animal Kingdom
Neither park has anything major currently going on. The element of greatest journalistic interest is the resumption of construction in the new security area and the entrance to Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom will open alongside Magic Kingdom on July 11 with what is said to be new entertainment. Characters will travel in river boats and entertain guests from a distance. None of the parks will have their big shows like the Lion King Festival or Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.
Disney also confirmed that they would not use virtual queues or boarding groups when the parks reopen. There was a lot of speculation and rumors that Disney was going to expand this feature. However, due to the decrease in crowds and the use of queues, they will not use the virtual queuing system, even for Rise of the Resistance, which made such features famous.
The Walt Disney World
So much is happening in the complex overall. Disney Vacation Club resorts have reopened to guests with specific set requirements. Disney’s upcoming DVC project seems to have stopped. Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge has reportedly been canceled. According to various sources, the project has been canceled or at least long-term delayed. In recent aerial imagery, we can see very little construction equipment at the site and what appear to be large grass-strewn areas. While Disney hasn’t commented, it’s also not unexpected. Disney rarely confirms project cancellations. Disney is also looking for all kinds of ways to save money in the short term due to the closure.
The MLS and NBA continue to function as planned to use Walt Disney World as their place to play. MLS starts relatively soon and will use Swan and Dolphin as its base of operations. The NBA will use Coronado Springs (Grand Destination Tower), Grand Floridian and Yacht Club for its players. As teams are phased out, they will consolidate only in Coronado Springs. NBA players will receive MagicBands, have very specific rules on the site, and even receive a health follow-up ring to give them data on whether they may have virus symptoms. Guests will certainly not be able to interact with players, but Grand Floridian skins will be open to guests, such as DVC villas and select restaurants while players are there. Fencing is already being installed to keep NBA players and guests separate. Yacht Club and Coronado Springs will remain completely closed to guests. Disney has said they will have many ways to entertain players while they are guests of the resort. Images will also be taken of this monumental event at Walt Disney World, giving fans a glimpse of how it was done.
Disneyland
Disneyland, as I mentioned earlier, no longer has an opening date. Due to government approval after July 4, that doesn’t give Disney enough time to prepare to open. There was also a lot of backlash to delay the opening of the cast members and others based on trends the state of California is seeing with the virus. Disneyland will also receive the new Splash Mountain theme discussed earlier. And finally, Bob Weis confirmed that construction on Avengers Campus will continue at Disney California Adventure and that construction on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will continue at Disneyland Park.
New rumors and information will surely appear in the coming days. For more discussion on all this and more, visit the Rumors and News board on Disboards.com
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