Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent

This week has been flooded with rumors with a new one popping up every few minutes it seems! There were a couple that I wasn’t going to report on because they just seemed outrageous or without any oomph, but I’d hate to have our readers miss out.

1. Muppet’s Courtyard coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (WDWMagic)

This is one rumor I can get behind! Much of the current “Streets of America” will be closed on April 3, 2016 including Lights, Motor, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground, Studios Catering Co. and many more minor attractions and shops. I have been following rumors about Pizza Planet becoming Muppet themed, so this seems to tie everything together! The new Muppet’s Courtyard would include Muppet Vision 3D, Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano and the Muppet themed “Pizza Planet”.

Make sure you check out Caroline’s weekly Walt Disney World Refurbishment Update to see which attractions are unavailable.

2. Disney secretly releases Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates for 2016 (Chip & Co.)

No. All Disney did was release the September and October calendars. Since most of us know that on party days the Magic Kingdom closes at 7:00 P.M. we can look at the current calendar and estimate when Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates are. Disney is known for changing the calendar and schedule, so these dates are still subject to change but here are the dates that Magic Kingdom closes at 7:00 P.M.:

September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29 & 30

October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30 & 31

Make note that Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party started on September 15 last year (2015), so if these dates hold true they are expanding the Halloween Party once again. Also, November hours have not been released so we don’t know how far into November the party will extend. It is usually only by one day (November 1).

*UPDATE: As I was writing this post Disney officially announced the dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the above dates are the winners!

Tower of Terror – HS

3. Guardians of the Galaxy take over Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (WDWMagic Forums)

This one is a little out there… I wasn’t even planning on spreading this rumor, but it has somehow taken off and flooded the internet. We all know that Disney owns Marvel, but Universal Resort Orlando has the rights to most Marvel characters. There are apparently a few exceptions to this which includes Guardian of the Galaxy and this of course has fueled this rumor. Disneyland Resort would be the first park to get this overlay/refurbishment mainly due to the fact that Disney doesn’t have to worry about Universal Studios or any contract issues. (For those that don’t know, Universal Studios Hollywood does not use Marvel Characters in park, so Disneyland has a lot more freedom when it comes to Marvel.) The Guardians would make their debut at Disneyland Resort sometime in 2017 which coincides with the Guardian of the Galaxy 2 movie release. Walt Disney World Resort would follow at a later date.

4. FastPass+ no longer available for Parades and Fireworks at Magic Kingdom

Courtesy of Patrick Murtagh

According to many reports Fastpasses are no longer for Disney Festival of Fantasy parade, Main Street Electrical parade and Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks show. I had a few of the Magical DIStractions staff check it out and it appears that the parades are still showing up until roughly May 22, 2016, but are not available to choose. Whether this is because all Fastpasses are taken or because they’ve taken away the option is unknown. Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks shows are no longer showing up after April 20, 2016. Again, where it is showing up it is not available. We do not know if this is a glitch in the system or if they truly are removing them from the FastPass+ options, but we are monitoring it closely.

5. New events coming to Magic Kingdom AND Animal Kingdom Park

I reported this interesting tidbit yesterday after seeing a new event listed under dining on the Walt Disney World Resort website.  Disney Early Morning Magic looks like it may be along the same lines at the newly announced “Disney After Hours” event that is scheduled to start in April. We will keep you all updated once we have more information.

While on the Disney World website I also found an event listed for Animal Kingdom Park. Again, no news about Animal Kingdom Special Activities and the link does not open so we are left in the dark. But it is listed as a table-service like the Disney Early Morning Magic, so I am assuming it will be something similar to that or even the Disney After Hours. We know Disney is wanting to make Animal Kingdom an all day park and they are enhancing their evening offerings to keep Guests there through the day and into the evenings.

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