It’s the beginning of a new year, and that means a lot of exciting things for Disney World!
Magic Kingdom
Later this year, we’ve got a new hotel opening, a brand-new ride, and some fan-favorite entertainment coming back. But what’s going on in January? Today, we’re sharing a list of 7 things that you need to know about!
Disney’s Magical Express is Officially Gone
It has been coming for a long time (it was announced in January of last year) but Disney’s Magical Express is officially done. The free perk used to be offered to guests of Disney World resorts, transporting you from the airport directly to your hotel. But now, airport transportation is up to you.
Goodbye, Magical Express!
There are a few options available now, but you’ll have to pay for them. You’ll also have to schedule and plan them yourself — so make sure to do your research ahead of time!
Click Here to Learn More About the Replacement Services!
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is Back!
Starting on January 14th, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is coming back again. We can’t wait to stroll through World Showcase checking out all the beautiful artwork and merchandise from talented artists, not to mention the stellar performers of the Disney on Broadway concert series.
EPCOT Festival of the Arts
And as usual, the food studios will be back again with some fan-favorite returning dishes and some new offerings. We’re excited to try it all and explore the festival on its first day, so stay tuned to DFB for all the coverage!
Click here to see the FULL list of Festival of the Arts BOOTHS!
Some Thrill Rides Are Having Big Refurbishments
For starters, Expedition Everest is having a huge closure in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The ride will go under refurbishment on January 4th and remain closed through mid-April. That’s quite a long time for a ride closure!
Expedition Everest
Splash Mountain will close on January 10th and remain that way for a whole month, until February 10th. If either of these rides is on your must-do list, you may want to rearrange your plans accordingly. So far, Disney hasn’t released any information on what’s happening during the Expedition Everest refurb, but they have noted that Splash Mountain’s closure is for general maintenance.
Click Here for a Full List of Refurbishments You Need to Know About!
One Water Park Closes, Another Reopens
On January 2nd, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park closed for refurbishment.
Blizzard Beach
We don’t currently know how long it will be closed, but don’t worry — Typhoon Lagoon reopened that same day after being closed for nearly two years!
Read MORE about the reopening of Typhoon Lagoon here!
The Disney Skyliner Will Be Closed for a Week
It seems like January is the month of refurbishments because there will also be a short closure for the Disney Skyliner. Parts of the transportation service will be unavailable from January 23rd through January 28th.
Walt Disney World Skyliner
At this time, it’s unclear if it will be the entire Skyliner or just a section. When chatting with a Cast Member, we were told the closure would affect all resorts on the Skyliner pathway, but the website only notes a refurb for the line that runs from Caribbean Beach to Riviera to EPCOT.
Click Here to Read About a Problem We Had on the Disney World Monorail!
Disney World Marathon Weekend
The Festival of the Arts isn’t the only big event happening in January — we’ll also get the incredibly popular Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend! This runDisney event invites runners to participate in races around Disney World property in the early morning over the course of a few days, and it will take place in 2022 from January 5th-9th.
©Disney
During that time, expect higher crowds in the parks, as many runners bring their families on vacation during that time. The races shouldn’t affect too much since they’re early in the morning, although they may mess up traffic patterns around the property if you’re driving during that time.
Club Level Returns to More Locations
When the Disney World Resort hotels first reopened in the summer of 2020, there were some perks and offerings that weren’t available. But one of those, Club Level, has been slowly returning over the past few months.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
In January, Club Level lounges are reopening at Yacht Club on January 20th and at Beach Club the following week on January 27th. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will have Club Level service return in early February, on the 3rd.
Click Here to Check Out a Club Level Room Tour!
Those are some of the top things that you need to know about Disney World in January 2022! We’ll keep you covered with all the news as it happens in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned to DFB!
30 Things That Are STILL Free in Disney World — Click Here!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Are you going to Disney World this month? Tell us in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Does genie plus work along with park hopper?
Is it free to attend the Festival of the Arts Disney on Broadway concerts?
Kristy, Disney on Broadway performances are included in your EPCOT admission during Festival of the Arts! You can pay extra for a dining package that includes a guaranteed seat for the show, but there’s also a standby line if you don’t want to pay extra.
John, it does. You just pay your daily rate for Genie+, and you can use it across all the Parks.