Just imagine how much cooler Walt Disney World Resort will be this summer! Today Disney Parks Blog released information on several,  highly anticipated attractions and shows coming this June at Walt Disney World Resort’s theme parks.

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will continue to ramp up the excitement of Star Wars with an all new fireworks show, “Star Wars:  A Galactic Spectacular.”  This show, which will be the most elaborate fireworks display that Disney’s Hollywood Studios has ever seen, will include stunning fireworks displays, pyrotechnics, special effects, and video projections onto the Chinese Theater and surrounding buildings.  Guests will be transported to several destinations featured throughout the Star Wars films during the spectacular–the twin suns of Tatooine, a field of battle droids, and the trench of the Death Star, just to name a few.  The show will feature a tower of fire and spotlight beams that will create two light sabers in the night sky.  Star Wars:  A Galactic Spectacular will take over for the current Star Wars inspired fireworks display in June, but a specific date has not been announced.  Several Star Wars-themed experiences have already opened to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, like the new live stage show “Star Wars:  A Galaxy Far, Far Away” which opened April 4th, and the Star Wars Launch Bay where guests can meet characters from the movies.

Epcot’s World Showcase will no longer be the only place where guests can travel the world without ever leaving the park.  The very popular Soarin’ attraction closed earlier this year to make way for the highly anticipated “Soarin’ Around the World.”  This new, updated version will now take guests soaring over famous sights and landmarks from around the entire world.  Famous sights include The Great Wall of China, Sydney Harbor in Australia, and the Matterhorn in Switzerland.  Guests will not only be able to see the sights from high above, but the experience will also engage their sense of smell as well!  Because of it’s popularity, wait times for Soarin’ were always one of the longest at Walt Disney World Resort’s theme parks; hopefully the newly added third theater in the attraction will cut down on the wait times, or at least make the line move more quickly.  Even if you do have to spend time in line waiting, Imagineers have redesigned the interactive queue so that at least you will be entertained while you wait.

Image courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Also beginning in June at Epcot, the Norway Pavilion in World Showcase will take Guests on a boat tour through the beautiful land of Arendelle.  Guests will be a part of Arendelle’s “Winter In Summer Celebration.”  The boat ride will sail through Troll Valley, up the North Mountain to Queen Elsa’s Ice Palace, and back to the Bay of Arendelle.  And don’t worry parents, Bobby and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the original composers of Frozen, have created new dialogue and songs for the ride, so you can expect more than the classic “Let It Go.”

Image Courtesy of Disney

After taking your trip through Arendelle, Anna and Elsa have graciously invited you to visit them in their summer home, their Royal Summerhus.  Guests will be able to meet with the Princess and the Queen in person there.  Their Norwegian style cabin was constructed after Imagineers spent time visiting Norway to put the perfect touches on the design.  Inspiration was drawn specifically from the Delti House in Sverresborg and from the Open Air Museum of Cultural History in Trondheim.

At Magic Kingdom, Mickey and his Merry Makers will begin entertaining guests with Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire.  The new live show will take place on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage.  The show will feature some favorite characters from some of Walt Disney Company’s newer films.  The show will be filled with beautiful costumes, dancing, and special effects as Mickey and his Merry Makers make new friends and invite them to the Faire.  From the Land of the Bewitching Bayous, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and Louis add some spice to the party.  Rapunzel and Flynn are joined by the lively characters from the Snuggly Duckling from the Land of the Enchanted Woods.  Olaf, Princess Anna and Queen Elsa come from the Land of the Mystic Mountains and bring some icy magic.  The fun culminates with an all new, original song “On This Day” from Brandon Milburn and Valeria Vigoda who composed Toy Story: The Musical and Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings.  It is for sure to be an entertaining show full of fun and friendship.

Image courtesy of Disney Parks Blog

Starting in May, Disney Springs’ Town Center area will begin to open and by the end of summer the shopping and dining district will have doubled its size in shops and restaurants!  For more information about the up and coming new additions, you can check out fellow Magical DIStractions author Caroline’s article.

I am SO EXCITED for all of these new additions to the Walt Disney World Resort!  I can’t wait for June!  The sky will be blue, hopefully you will be there too, when we finally see what Walt Disney World adds this summer…….THIS SUMMER!!

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