This evening, Disney dropped some major news, and we’ve got it covered for you in this quick overview.
As part of the re-imagining at Epcot, three new films will premiere on January 17th of next year, the same day as the launch of the park’s annual Festival of the Arts. “Awesome Planet” in The Land pavilion, home of Soarin’ and Living with the Land, 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, our favorites from the indie TV favorite, Schitt’s Creek.
Also at Epcot, millennial and Gen X parents everywhere are thrilled that Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure is being updated to a scavenger hunt with a DuckTales theme! Kids will have fun learning about the countries featured at World Showcase with the help of Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews. And finally, Disney released new details on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, planned to open in summer 2020 in the France pavilion. 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.
New details were revealed for restaurant concepts at Epcot and Hollywood Studios previously announced at this fall’s D23 Expo. Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue at The American Adventure in Epcot will serve classic barbecue from different U.S. BBQ regions as well as home-style craft brews. In the World Showcase, Space 220 is a new table-service restaurant debuting later this year at Epcot next to Mission: SPACE. When guests enter the restaurant, they’ll step into a special space elevator that will take them 220 miles above the earth’s surface and offer incredible celestial views. Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant at Hollywood Studios will be the newest table-service restaurant in the park, which will offer a rootin’, tootin’ rodeo right in Andy’s back yard!
At Hollywood Studios, the new Mickey Shorts Theater will open in March 2020. The interior of the theater will evoke the same wacky fun of the Disney Channel cartoon series - which our kids fell in love with during their first trip to Walt Disney World Resort. Visitors will see an original short in this same style, plus have the chance to take their picture in special photo locations. In addition, Hollywood Studios will unveil Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway on March 4, the first ride-through attraction in Disney history featuring those true originals!
And perhaps the biggest news of all, Disney announced that its immersive Star Wars hotel and experience will open in 2021. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will offer a two-night, cruise-style itinerary where guests become the hero of their own adventure in an experience that surrounds them 24/7 in Star Wars storytelling.
