We’re approaching the hottest time of the year at Walt Disney World Resort. Wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated are super important for summer visits! Especially with all of the time you spend outside at Disney World. This summer there are limited time offerings at Disney including the Encanto show at Epcot, the drone show at Disney Springs and more! We’ve got all the details here for you here in our Disney World News July 2024 update. Whether you’re planning your next vacation or hoping to be inspired to book one, we hope this Walt Disney World news and updates roundup helps to keep you in the know.
A reminder for Members with a December Use Year to bank points by July 31st!
Disney World News July 2024 and Beyond Dates to Remember
Here we have some dates related to Disney World news July 2024 and beyond.
May 24 – September 2 | Dreams That Soar drone show at to Disney Springs
June 2 – July 13 | Epcot DVC lounge closed for refurbishment, alternate open at The Odyssey
June 10 – September 6 | ¡Celebración Encanto! show at Epcot
June 10 – September 6 | Animal Kingdom celebrates 30 years of The Lion King
July 1 | Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith reopens
July 8 – August 20 | Peter Pan’s Flight closed for refurbishment
July 17 | Country Bear Musical Jamboree opens at Magic Kingdom
July 17 | Resort guests can buy and book using new Lightning Lane services
July 21 | All guests can buy and book using new Lightning Lane services
July 24th | Disney World Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass debut
August 9 | First Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
August 29 – November 3 | EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
November 8 | First Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
November 9 | First Disney Jollywood Nights event
November 29 – December 30 | EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays
What’s not back at Disney World?
- The tea room at the Grand Floridian is still closed but resort construction has reached the lobby.
- The Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage has not returned to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
- The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at the Grand Floridian and Disney Springs are still not open.
- It’s A Wonderful Shop, Stage 1 Company Store, In Character and Disney Studio Store are still closed at Hollywood Studios.
- Disney says DVC pool hopping is still suspended.
- Saratoga Springs Senses Spa and Beach Club’s Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness are still closed.
- Services like having your purchases delivered to the front of the park or to your room are paused.
- Disney Annual Passholders still need park reservations to visit parks for a full day.
- Many shows have not reopened like: Citizens of Hollywood, Jedi Training, Citizens of Main Street, Main Street Trolley Show, Move It! Shake It! Street Party, Once Upon a Time, The Jeweled Dragon Acrobats, Serveur Amusant, Swotu Waya Pandora Drummers, Pandora Utility Suit Pilot and more.
We do our best to continue to share things as they come back.
Disney World news July 2024 updates bring some fun returns.
Seating Returns to Tune-In Lounge
Many pandemic updates included additions, or removing things, that would move people along faster to stop them from gathering in crowds. As we continue to see Disney World get back to normal more than four years later, another small but exciting change has taken place. On your next visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can expect to take a seat at the Tune-In Lounge again. Seating was removed during the pandemic and recently returned. This highly themed spot offers the best of Disney’s abilities to take you to another place in time. Tune-In Lounge is a walk in bar and lounge space connected to the 50’s Prime Time Cafe restaurant. The PBJ shake is a unique offering here. You may also be able to order from the full 50’s Prime Time Cafe menu at Tune-In.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
We have more information about the revamped Ariel show coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios later this year. This show is in the same theater as Voyage of The Little Mermaid in the Animation Courtyard which has been unused since the park closed in 2020. Ursula will appear live and in animated form. This experience is set to open later this year in the fall.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure is different than Voyage of The Little Mermaid but features many of the same elements. If you loved the iconic and colorful puppet scene from Under the Sea, you’ll be able to see what looks like an updated version in the new production.
We’ll be sure to update when The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure has an opening date at Hollywood Studios this fall.
Adventureland Space Reopening
The former Agrabah Bazaar merchandise location in Adventureland is now a snack stand and seating area. Before the pandemic, Agrabah Bazaar was a shop next to the Aladdin meet and greet. Now guests will find a small counter that sells popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream treats like Mickey bars and Mickey ice cream sandwiches and drinks like Coca Cola and Sprite. This is located right across from the magic carpet spinning attraction and a welcome shaded spot to sit. Find tables and chairs and take a break on your next stop in Adventureland.
What’s New at Disney World July 2024
Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes Change to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass July 24th
Later this month, Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes will change to a new service called Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass at Disney World. Some of the exciting changes include that Lightning Lanes can now be booked in advance and three selections can be booked initially. The attraction tiers are back with this system but only for advanced bookings. Once the park is open and you’ve used your first Lightning Lane, you can book anything that’s available. It’s a use one, book one system again. Resort guests can purchase Lightning Lanes and book selections 7 days in advance and everyone else can 3 days in advance.
We have a detailed overview and guide with tips, strategy and frequently asked questions about the new Disney World Lightning Lane service.
Disney World’s Summer 2024 Drone Show is a Hit
It’s always fun to include something new on your Disney World trip. The Disney Dreams That Soar show has been well received for its great musical score and creative Disney visuals in the sky. We answer many questions and provide tips for optimal viewing in our Disney Springs drone show Dreams That Soar FAQs.
Magic Kingdom Disney Vacation Club Lounge Announced
Earlier this year, Disney announced construction would start for a new Disney Vacation Club lounge in 2024. We now have confirmation that that venue will be in Magic Kingdom and take the place of the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. That’s all Disney has shared at this time.
This area of the park has quite a bit going on with the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride open now and the updated Country Bear attraction opening on July 17th.
Want to know more about DVC lounges? See lots of details, including frequently asked questions, in our Disney Vacation Club Lounge Guide.
New Membership Extras Welcome Home Weeks Announced
Disney Vacation Club has added an additional Membership Extras offering this summer. The Welcome Home Weeks lineup includes lots of different surprises Members might be able to look forward to on an upcoming trip. There’s a little bit of everything from coffee and treats at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to complimentary Mickey bars in the parks. Also, there are character meet and greets just for Members.
Welcome Home Weeks is only for Members eligible for Membership Extras. Caring about offerings like this is one of the reasons not to buy DVC by resale. There are some additional eligibility requirements for some of the perks like having a resort reservation at the time of the event.
See the entire lineup and how to partake in our DVC Welcome Home Weeks post.
2024 Disney World Christmas News, Dates & More
Disney has announced dates and details for the holiday season! It all kicks off with the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on November 8th.
Disney Jollywood Nights returns this year with the first night being November 9. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays starts November 29th this year and ends on December 30th as we’ve come to expect.
What’s new this year is an ice skating spectacular in the center of the park at Jollywood Nights. There are also some new characters in that event lineup including Bo Peep, Lotso, Baloo and King Louie.
Guests can also expect to enjoy the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll. Grand Floridian gingerbread house and other resort decorations, and Santa at every Walt Disney World Resort park including the waterpark that’s open.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Remember this is part of the top tier in the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass that debuts on Jul 24th. The new skip the line service will launch without this attraction. Based on these dates from the Walt Disney World calendar, Peter Pan’s Flight will also be closed for the first few Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party events too.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Open July 1st
You can have fun racing along in a super-stretch limo again at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After a refurbishment closure, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
The menu at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square has changed. Instead of the regular waffles, large Mickey waffles are now on the menu. This makes it a little trickier to enjoy chicken and waffles or the nutella option as a sandwich. Grab a fork and knife on your next stop there.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade Closed Permanently
Speaking of this attraction located in Frontierland, it’s now closed. This gives the hint that construction could be starting soon on the DVC lounge coming to Magic Kingdom Park.
This longstanding walk-up attraction invited guests to, “Take aim at nearly 100 targets in an Old West-themed shooting gallery.” Based on the Disney World calendar, the last day for the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade was Sunday, June 23, 2024. See more of what’s coming to Disney World this year and beyond.
Dug Now Talking at Animal Kingdom
Adventure is out there at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Dug from Up recently started talking to guests. He uses his high tech talking dog collar like he does in the 2009 Pixar film.
You can find both Dug and the bird Kevin roaming around the walkway and bridge between Yak and Yeti Restaurant and Flame Tree Barbecue intermittently. You can still meet Russell at Dug and Russell’s Wilderness Explorers Club House which is in the same area near It’s Tough to Be a Bug.
This change comes around the same time as the characters returning to meeting guests in this park. While many have had meet and greets again for a while, lots of characters just disembarked their flotillas to spend time face to face with guests again.
Encanto Show at Epcot: July 2024 News at Disney World
The new Encanto show at Epcot is open. This outdoor, singalong style experience has an appearance from both Mirabel and Bruno at the end of the show. This is one of a few places you can see Encanto at Disney World this summer. Show times are in the late morning through the early afternoon. The audience is in the direct sun for this but there are some small umbrellas in the area. You may want plan ahead to get a cooler spot. Guests are invited to sing and dance so consider that and hydrating around your visit.
Plan for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Now
July is the time when certain nights usually start to sell out for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Halloween night sold out in June this year.
As a reminder, the dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2024 are:
- August 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30
- September 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29
- October 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31
ROFR Buyback June 2024
Disney’s Old Key West Resort continues to be a popular buyback for DVC in June. See the full month of Disney ROFR DVC June 2024 data.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Now Open
You can now ride a new attraction at Magic Kingdom. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened June 28th at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort! This replaced Splash Mountain with a story that takes place after the The Princess and the Frog film. Princess Tiana voice actor Anika Noni Rose worked on the project, singing an original song for the finale of the ride.
A new wrapped bus recently debuted featuring Princess Tiana and her friends from the animated 2009 film. You may also see water art on the ground featuring characters from The Princess and The Frog. We have more information, including how to ride, in our post about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Recent Disney World News to Remember
Test Track is down for refurbishment.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is now open at Magic Kingdom, using a virtual queue and Disney Genie+.
New Star Tours sequences debuted in April with the Mandalorian, Ahsoka and more.
1900 Park Fare has reopened with new characters: Aladdin, Tiana, Mirabel and Cinderella.
DVC Resale Experts Makes Magic
Does this Disney World news July 2024 edition leave you needing more Disney trips?
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