food IS a theme park
There are always new things coming to Disney World and old things being refurbished! Disney World is constantly changing, and that is part of what makes it magical, but it isn’t so magical when you don’t realize something is scheduled to be closed.
Test Track is undergoing refurbishment
If you are heading to Disney World this week, there are a few closures you will want to know about. We don’t want to be caught by surprise when something you wanted to visit isn’t open.
It is no secret that you do a lot of walking when visiting Disney World.
Walking through EPCOT
While it is good to get those steps in, we like to take shortcuts around the parks to help us save a few steps and also take a break. If you are visiting EPCOT, it can be a long walk to get from Spaceship Earth to the World Showcase, especially if you are visiting a country in the middle like the American Adventure. There is actually a way that you can save some steps between World Showcase, and we feel that not many people realize that they can take this shortcut!
We’ve been waiting for YEARS for Disney World to do SOMETHING with an abandoned building at Hollywood Studios.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
The Voyage of the Little Mermaid closed with the rest of the parks during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it did not reopen when everything else became available again. Then, earlier in 2024, Disney announced that a new The Little Mermaid show would be taking its place in the fall of 2024. However, that timeline has now recently been changed! This show will continue to be closed with several other Disney World attractions this coming week.
Sometimes all you need to turn your mundane day around at EPCOT is an ice-cold beverage and a staple Disney World snack. Luckily, we know just where you should head next!
Our whole meal to review
We already know you’re busy hitting up the many booths for everything you can snack on in one day at EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival but if you find yourself a little tired of repeats and are ready to rediscover a timeless kiosk that will be there year-round for you, we can’t recommend this place enough!
We’re looking forward to the coming week in Magic Kingdom!
Magic Kingdom
One of Magic Kingdom’s most popular and iconic rides will FINALLY be reopening. Get ready for tons of puns, the back side of water, and loads of jungle animals on a cruise down the Nile and other famous rivers of the world. Other than this reopening, though, Disney World still has several closures. Take a peek at what will be closed during your vacation on the week of October 12th through October 19th.
Four years ago, Disney World closed and then later reopened due to the global pandemic. After four years, some things still have not returned to normal in Disney World.
Japan Pavilion in EPCOT
For example, much of Disney World’s streetmosphere entertainment, like the Citizens of Main Street, have never returned. Some restaurant offerings (like afternoon tea at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort) never returned. Although a lot of things are now back to normal, even some restaurant hours haven’t been the same since 2020. One EPCOT restaurant, though, has finally returned to being open seven days a week, for the first time since 2020.
One of the best souvenirs at Disney has nothing to do with Disney at all…
Spaceship Earth
As anyone who’s been to Walt Disney World knows, there are literally thousands of souvenirs you can bring back from the resort on any given visit. Some of the most interesting can be found in EPCOT’s World Showcase, where each of the international pavilions features goods from the country they represent.
Who’s ready to eat around the World? Well, that’s actually who’s ready to eat around the World Showcase in EPCOT?
World Showcase at EPCOT
Okay, so we know that World Showcase has some AMAZING restaurants, and we’ll always sing the praises of our favorites, like Spice Road Table, Le Cellier, and Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room. But we’ve also got some favorite snacks ALL around the world that we love (and get often). So let’s just SNACK our way around World Showcase for a change and eat ALL the DFB faves, shall we?
Last week, on September 29th, Everything Pop Food Court at Disney’s Pop Century Resort was supposed to end its refurbishment.
Everything Pop
However, Disney has delayed this food court reopening until later this year. This is not the only hotel food court that has had its refurbishment delayed. So, these two quick service restaurants will continue to be closed along with several other attractions, restaurants, and more around Disney World the week of October 5th through October 12th.
So, yes, we love going to Disney World to ride attractions, see parades and fireworks, and eat ALL the food (okay, mostly the latter because THAT’S OUR THING).
Mitsukoshi
But we also love to SHOP in Disney World, especially in EPCOT’s World Showcase, where you can find so many unique items. Now, we absolutely have a favorite store in EPCOT, and it can be found in the Japan Pavilion. Yes, we’re talking about Mitsukoshi because the store is SO huge, and we always find the best Japanese souvenirs there. Well, NOW is the time to visit Mitsukoshi because the store is having a MASSIVE sale.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
