Disney World is still phasing out a lot of their previous health and safety guidelines, and we’re seeing more and more attractions and pre-shows return.
Disney World
This week we saw Disney announce return dates for several attractions, closing dates for two shows, and a surprise reopening. Shall we review?
Opening Dates
This week, Disney announced the dates of four returning attractions to Disney Parks and a return date for the Disney Cruise Line throughout August 2021!
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
According to Disney, Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage will be returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on August 15th. The show has remained closed since Disney World reopened in July 2020.
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage ©Disney
As of August 15th, guests can once again enjoy the Broadway-caliber Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage at the  Theater of the Stars on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood Studios!
Click here to read more about Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage returning!
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Monster’s, Inc. Laugh Floor received a reopening date of August 8th, which is coming up soon! The Laugh Floor is located in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom, and it’s a fun way to enjoy some monster comedy with audience interaction.
Laugh Floor
You can text your favorite joke to Mike Wazowski before the show begins and it could even be featured during the performance!
Read more about Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor reopening here!
Turtle Talk with Crush
Over in EPCOT, Turtle Talk With Crush is scheduled to reopen on August 21st. Turtle Talk is located in The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion and features an improvised question-and-answer session with the 150-year-old sea turtle himself, Crush.
Turtle Talk with Crush
If you have a burning question for Crush, you can ask him on August 21st!
Learn more about the reopening of Turtle Talk with Crush here!
Wonderful World of Animation
Disney announced that the Wonderful World of Animation show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be returning on August 1st. This show includes projections of Disney animations on the Chinese Theater along with fireworks!
Wonderful World of Animation
The Wonderful World of Animation Show stars Mickey amid scenes from over 90 years of Disney animated films and is a must-see if you love Disney World nighttime shows.
Click here to learn more about the return of fireworks to Hollywood Studios!
Disney Cruise Line
Disney announced that the Disney Dream will resume sailings to the Bahamas on August 9, 2021. The cruise line industry has experienced a lot of difficulties in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is a big step for Disney Cruise Line.
©Disney
Although the first test cruise for Disney Cruise Line was delayed, another test cruise set sail on July 17th out of Port Canaveral, and now the official return of the Disney Dream is set for sail on August 9th.
Read more about the return of Disney Cruise Line here!
Closing Dates
Among all the returning Disney World attractions, we also learned about the closures of two fireworks shows.
Happily Ever After
Just as soon as fireworks returned to Disney World, it seems like we’re already saying goodbye to these two shows. The Magic Kingdom Happily Ever After fireworks show returned on July 1, 2021, and this week Disney announced that it will officially close on September 29, 2021.
Cinderella Castle!
Disney indicated that Happily Ever After will not be returning to Disney World, and as of October 1st it will be replaced by Disney Enchantment.Â
Read more about the Disney Enchantment show here!
EPCOT Forever
The EPCOT Forever fireworks show reopened on July 1st, and according to Disney, it will officially close on September 28th. EPCOT Forever will be replaced by Harmonious — A Nighttime Spectacular.Â
EPCOT Forever Fireworks
Harmonious will debut on October 1st, and it will have fireworks, floating set pieces, lights, lasers, pyrotechnics, and more!
Read more about Harmonious here!
Reopening
As a surprise alongside the reopening of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, we discovered Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto also reopened! Based on the character of Trader Sam from the Jungle Cruise, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto serves an extensive list of cocktails amid artifacts “collected” by Trader Sam himself.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
There was a virtual line system to enter Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and we also discovered three secret drinks! If you like a unique bar atmosphere and a selection of fourteen different specialty cocktails, you need to visit!
Read our review of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto here!
Those are the unexpected and surprising things to happen in Disney World this week! Looking for more updates? We’ve got lots of photos of the new 50th anniversary sign that has been added to Cinderella Castle and news about a Magic Kingdom icon that is undergoing refurbishment. We’ve also got updates about the airport train to Disney World, the 2022 Walt Disney World Marathon weekend, and more!
Check out our video below of the latest Disney news.
What will next week bring? Check back with DFB for all your breaking Disney news!
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Having just returned from my annual visit to WDW in Orlando – even last year. This site is becoming less useful and clear this is just a RAH-RAH page for Disney. The visit last week at Hollywood Studios was HORRID. How can you let tens of thousands of people into a park – and have attractions that only take hundreds. Star Wars land was VERY BADLY imagined and with shows closed, stores closed and limited access no single person at the park Saturday could visit each major attraction. The wait times for majority of tracked items at one point exceeded 90 minutes and all the Star War things were blocked out. Come on guys stop the cheerleading for Disney here and tell the facts – good and in this case bad. Worst Disney visit in over 30 years.
Is it possible to get a PAPER (hard copy) book of the DFB dining information ? The Ebook doesn’t work for us ? Just wondered ? AJ you are the best with ALL the info video’s !!
Hi, Karen. The DFB Guides only come in ebook format, unfortunately.
I love the Monster’s Inc comedy club. It’s so funny and a pure joy. I don’t think I’d do well to have a visit with the Confectionary closed. I’d probably leave nose prints on the windows dreaming of what’s inside. I think DFB does a good job giving both positive and negative reports. Keep up the good work, AJ and crew. 😊