Check out all the latest news from Walt Disney World, including special events, ride closures and more.
Welcome to another month of special events, closures and refurbishments at Walt Disney World Resort
We know it can be difficult to keep up to date with what's happening at the theme parks, and that's why we produce this monthly update, so you can enjoy all that's new and happening, together with letting you know what rides and attractions are scheduled for refurbishment.
Let's start with this months events, and we have the final days of the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, spectacular 4th of July celebrations at both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, plus the start of The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
Read on for all the details.
2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival
Now - Sunday, July 5, 2023
You only have a few more days in July to experience the popular and fragrant, 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival features fresh cuisine, colorful gardens, playful topiaries and vibrant entertainment.
The popular Garden Rocks Concert Series featuring favorite tunes at the America Gardens Theatre will host two more acts in July:
July 1
Living Colour
July 2-3
Wang Chung
And of course, fresh flavors are still on the menu at Outdoor Kitchens and other food and beverage locations throughout the park, among other delights.
Flavors Of Florida at Disney Springs
July 1- August 13, 2023
Foodies – are you ready? Flavors of Florida presented by CORKCICLE is set to turn up the heat this summer at Disney Springs.
Flavours of Florida will be serving up some mouthwatering and fresh flavors inspired by the Sunshine State. From July 1 through August 13, over 30 locations all throughout Disney Springs will be featuring a variety of dishes and sips you simply must try.
You’ll be able to embrace summer and delight in homegrown flavors from Florida, like the Lime Garage Burger from D-Luxe Burger or the Gambas Gabardina from Jaleo by José Andrés. And who can miss the Florida Shrimp Tacos available at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar? From the sweet to the savory, and everything in between, there are plenty of items you’ll want to come back for again and again.
Interested in seeing first-hand demonstrations from renowned chefs and restaurant owners? You’re in luck because this year Disney Springs will be featuring a new culinary series!
Check out the official site to get all the details and register for this exciting new offering.
4th of July Celebrations at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom
Monday, July 3 - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky, a spectacular 14-minute fireworks spectacular that will take place high above Cinderella Castle on Main Street U.S.A.
DJ dance parties will take place throughout Magic Kingdom to celebrate the 4th of July.
Walt Disney World - EPCOT
Monday, July 3 - Tuesday, July 4, 2023
A cappella vocal group Voices of Liberty will perform numbers from the American songbook beneath the rotunda in The American Adventure
Favorite Disney pals will don their "Spirit of '76" attire and meet with guests throughout the day at The American Adventure.
A Fourth of July fireworks tag, 'The Heartbeat of Freedom," will follow the regular nightly performance of "EPCOT Forever" at 9pm.
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
July 27 - November 18, 2023
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will begin dishing up delights at Walt Disney World Resort starting July 27 and continuing through November 18, 2023.
Get ready to sip and savor at more than 25 Global Marketplaces throughout EPCOT, including returning favorites such as The Fry Basket, Flavors from Fire, Canada, India and Spain. Several new Global Marketplaces will open later during the festival as summer turns to fall.
The festival will also welcome back the popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare at America Gardens Theatre.
And don’t forget to commemorate your EPCOT visit by bringing festival magic home with official event merchandise including apparel, home décor, trading pins and more.
Closures and Refurbishments
As we head into July and the weather heats up, the crowds are getting larger, and thankfully the closures and refurbishments are few and far between, with Disney preferring to have as many rides and attractions open as possible in the summer months.
Here we have listed all the latest closures and refurbishments at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, plus the resorts
Walt Disney World Refurbishment & Closures
Magic Kingdom
Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain is permanently closed, with the ride currently undergoing major refurbishment to be transformed into Tiana's Bayou Adventure, opening late 2024.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
The only entertainment currently closed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the long time shuttered Voyage of the Little Mermaid.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
The multi-month closure of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith ended early, and is back up and running.
Originally rumored to reopen between July and early fall, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster reopened ahead of schedule, right in time for the start of the summer season.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
No current closures, or refurbishments.
The Boneyard
The Boneyard was closed last month, but is now open following a general refresh.
EPCOT
Right now there is no current closures, but, if you visit EPCOT you are going to see quite a few construction walls, thankfully not as many as in recent years as the parks transformation hits the home stretch, but be aware you are still going to see lots of construction in the park.
Here's a look at what's coming soon to the park this Fall...
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana
Although not quite ready for Summer, this fall will bring even more exciting experiences as part of the multi-year transformation of EPCOT.
Guests will be able to explore the wonders of water when Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana opens.
This fun interactive outdoor trail offers a chance to play and interact with water as it travels from the sky to the oceans and back again. Along the way, guests learn about the importance of water and discover its playful personality – just as Moana did on her heroic voyage.
Fall will also see completion of the new World Celebration neighborhood. As the hub of the park, it will feature different gardens that change with the seasons.
Dreamers Point
It is also where guests will discover Dreamers Point, an inspiring overlook showcasing a statue of Walt Disney called “Walt the Dreamer.”
CommuniCore Hall
When CommuniCore Hall opens in World Celebration later this year, it will be the center of festival programming throughout the park.
In new renderings, you can see this will be home to a new character greeting location called Mickey & Friends. You’ll be able to meet Mickey Mouse and some of his best pals in this colorful space.
Also located in the World Celebration neighborhood, CommuniCore Hall will be the home of a dynamic exhibition space that will transform with each festival throughout the year, as you can see here in one possibility imagined for EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
Playing with light, shapes and reflections, the architecture of this building was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to celebrate the legacy of EPCOT and the original CommuniCore buildings.
New Nighttime Spectacular
Plus, a new nighttime spectacular will debut at EPCOT later this year, inviting everyone to gather around World Showcase Lagoon for a show that will unite us through commonalities of the heart in a dazzling display of music, pyrotechnics, lasers and lighting, the show will feature an original composition and evocative selections from the Disney songbook – all woven together to remind us that we are more alike than different
EPCOT is also hosting the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World Resort.
Enjoy all-new experiences as Walt Disney World celebrate this momentous anniversary and the culmination of the EPCOT transformation – from meeting Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their platinum attire to snapping a selfie with a platinum sculpture of Walt Disney, and watching Spaceship Earth illuminate the evenings with a special lighting design.
Blizzard Beach Water Park
Temporarily Closed
Hotel Construction & Refurbishments
Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village
Through September 2023, Kidani Village will be undergoing refurbishment.
BoardWalk Inn
Right now the new Cake Bake Shop Restaurant is currently under construction in the space that was the ESPN Club.
Caribbean Beach Resort
Guest rooms are currently being replaced by ‘Under the Sea’ Inspired Little Mermaid Rooms. The project will last through mid-2023.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Due to refurbishments of guest rooms and buildings at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, construction will be noticeable in the resort.
Polynesian Village Resort
Walt Disney World is building a new DVC tower at Polynesian Village Resort between the existing Polynesian longhouses and Wedding Pavilion, near the Grand Floridian.
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