Disney Discussions Weekly Recap for the Week of 12/08/24
This week, Disney announces Flower & Garden dates and some refurbishments and receives many Golden Globe nominations.
Welcome to the 17th edition of our Disney Discussions Weekly Recap.
This week, Disney announces Flower & Garden dates and some refurbishments and receives many Golden Globe nominations.
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This Week’s Disney News 🐭
Walt Disney World News 🏰:
🌲 Tree of Life Awakenings Adds Mufasa Segment for a Limited Time at Disney's Animal Kingdom - WDWMAGIC
A new segment has been added to the Tree of Life Awakenings at Disney's Animal Kingdom, featuring the story of Mufasa from The Lion King.
🌐 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Dates and Concert Lineup Announced - WDWNT
The festival will again bloom throughout EPCOT from March 5 to June 2, 2025. The upcoming festival will celebrate 30 years of Flower & Garden.
Disney also shared a partial lineup for the Garden Rocks Concert Series during the festival at the America Gardens Theatre.
March 7, 8 – Tommy DeCarlo, former lead singer of Boston
March 9, 10 – Air Supply – 50th Anniversary Celebration
March 14, 15 – Blue October
March 16, 17 – Rick Springfield
March 21, 22 – Herman’s Hermits, starring Peter Noone
March 23, 24 – 38 Special
March 28, 29 – Jason Scheff, Longtime singer of Chicago
🇲🇽 Gran Fiesta Tour Closing for Refurbishment at EPCOT in Early 2025 - WDWMAGIC
Gran Fiesta Tour, Featuring The Three Caballeros at EPCOT, will temporarily close on January 6, 2025, and reopens on March 15, 2025.
🗻 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Prepares for Overhaul at Magic Kingdom - WDWMAGIC
🎄 Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade 2024: Performer Lineup Announced - WDWNT
Here is when and where the special will air on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2025:
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EST/9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. CST/5:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m. MST/PST on ABC
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. CST on Disney+ as part of “Spend Christmas Day with Disney+”
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. CST on YouTube
🏎️ Test Track Transformation Continues at EPCOT - WDWMAGIC
🌺 Final Preparations Underway for Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort - WDWMAGIC
The Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows will officially open on December 17, 2024, and final preparations are underway.
🌊 Kali River Rapids at Disney's Animal Kingdom Closing for Refurbishment - WDWMAGIC
Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will temporarily close on January 6, 2025, for its regular refurbishment. While Disney has not provided a specific reopening date, it indicates that it should reopen in March 2025. In 2024, the attraction reopened around mid-March after its refurbishment.
Wailulu Bar and Grill: Full Menu and Prices Revealed at Disney's Polynesian Resort - WDWMAGIC
This walk-up bar and grill will serve Polynesian-inspired dishes, desserts, and beverages while offering views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom fireworks.
📺 Disney+ Is Now Rolling Out to Walt Disney World Resort Hotel TVs - WDWMAGIC
To access the service, you must log in with your Disney+ account details.
Disney+ on hotel TVs isn't included with your stay. You'll need an active subscription and your login information. Your account will be signed out automatically at the end of your stay, but you can also log out manually before you leave. This feature is being added across resort hotels, but availability may vary depending on the property.
🚦 EPCOT World Celebration Light-Up Pavement Restored - WDWNT
The lighting creates the EPCOT logo around the central planter of World Celebration Gardens. World Celebration officially opened on December 5, 2023, but the lights were experiencing issues by the next day. Broken lighting continued into the summer of 2024. In mid-November, the pavement lights were completely turned off.
🚘 Disney Gains Extension for Cars-Themed Land Permit Review Until January 2025 - WDWMAGIC
Disney Imagineering Files Notice of Commencement for Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom - WDWMAGIC
WDI has submitted a Notice of Commencement for the location once home to Primeval Whirl, indicating a step forward in the eagerly awaited Tropical Americas expansion of the park. This filing implies that preparations for redevelopment will commence shortly, in line with Disney's vision to transform Dinoland U.S.A. into a themed area reflecting Central and South American cultures and ecosystems.
Disneyland News:
🕯️ Kathryn Hahn Provides Animated Narration for Christmas Story During Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional - DAPSMAGIC
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to Begin Using Standby Queue at Disneyland - DAPSMAGIC
Disney Entertainment News 🎬:
🏮 ‘Tangled’ to Get Live-Action Treatment with ‘The Greatest Showman’ Director - DAPSMagic
🎬 ‘Moana 2’ Continues to Sail to Success at the Box Office - DAPSMAGIC
Another solid weekend took the top spot with $52 million at the domestic box office. This makes it the record holder for the second weekend after Thanksgiving. Previously, Frozen II held that title for the weekend after Thanksgiving with $32.5 million.
Moana 2 earned $300 million domestically during its theatrical run, surpassing the original film’s total box office earnings of $248.7 million. The sequel surpassed the original in just 10 days. Moana 2 has earned $600 million globally, surpassing the original's total of $582 million.
🇺🇸 Chris Evans Returning to the MCU in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ - WDWNT
The exact nature of Evans’ return has not been revealed. I guess he’ll appear as Hydra-Cap, an evil version of Cap from the comics.
🏆 The Walt Disney Company Earns 35 Golden Globe® Award Nominations Across its Film and Television Studios, Streaming Services and Broadcast - The Walt Disney Company
Disney’s streaming platforms, Disney+ and Hulu, are home to 23 combined nominations. Hulu garnered 19 nominations, including nods for Hulu Original Only Murders in the Building, FX series Shōgun, and The Bear, leading all television series with five nominations, as well as ABC’s Abbott Elementary. Disney+ received four nominations for titles, including Marvel Television’s Agatha All Along.
Disney Business News 📈:
Disney Supports the Gary Sinise Foundation and Families of Fallen Heroes - Disney Parks Blog
Muppets News 🐸 :
Disney Discussions Recent Archive:
🧚 Pixie Dust ✨
Fun Facts: 📬
Did You Know There are 22 Mailboxes in the Parks at the Disneyland Resort?
This fun fact comes from DAPSMAGIC. You can mail postcards, letters, and even Christmas cards from Disneyland.
📸 Magic Shots of the Week:
These windows on Magic Kingdom's Main Street at Christmas are amazing. I have fond childhood memories of watching this special on TV.
We all have those photos we love from a Disney vacation. Every week, I’ll share one. They will be my photos, but I’d love for you to share yours so I can include them. Email me your Disney photo to photos@disneydiscussions.com, and it’ll go in a future weekly recap.
🌟 Disney Tip of the Week:
Use Mobile Ordering to Save Time at Quick-Service Restaurants
Avoid long lines by using the My Disney Experience app to mobile order food at quick-service restaurants across Walt Disney World. Select your meal, choose a pickup window, and pay directly in the app. Once you arrive, tap "I'm Here, Prepare My Order," and your food will be ready shortly. This is a huge time-saver, especially during peak dining hours.
Bonus Tip: Mobile ordering also lets you browse menus in advance, so you can plan meals around your day and accommodate dietary preferences!