A lot of magical things are happening at Disney World, and we are so excited to share it all with you. Put on your Magic Ears, and get ready to grab some Pixie Dust!
Meet and Greets at Disney World ARE BACK!!! Since March 2020, when the world was shut down for Covid 19, we haven’t been able to enjoy our favorite Disney Characters in a way that we always had in the past. On April 18th, guests were able to hug the characters and get their autographs once again. It makes my heart so happy to see pictures and Vlogs of guests hugging Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and all the rest of the Disney characters. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to return this fall to grab a quick hug and autograph with one of my favorite Disney characters.
In addition to Character Meet & Greets returning, the partners of Disney characters are now being seen together again. Mickey and Minnie were spotted together on a float in the parade. Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana were spotted side-by-side on their float. This makes me smile!
Traveler’s Cafe, or as we all know it, the Epcot Starbucks, closed on April 18th. We knew that Connections Cafe & Eatery would soon be opening when it closed. As Disney likes to do, they kept us guessing when it would be. Well, Thursday, April 21st, Connections Cafe & Eatery had a soft opening. If you haven’t had an opportunity to see a Vlog or pictures of it, this new Starbucks location is humongous. This was smart because Starbucks has a lot of business each day, and people always want their caffeine fix. If you are interested in the Connections Cafe, there are many youtube videos out sharing the different types of foods if you want to know more. The menu is very diverse, and it has things like fancy burgers, pizza, salads, and a plethora of yummy desserts.
Expedition Everest closed for refurbishment in January. Disney didn’t reveal why, but the refurbishment was extended, and the reopening date was not posted. On April 16th, guests were surprised to learn that Expedition Everest was again up and running. This ride was also added to the Genie + until August 7th, which is nice for guests to have the opportunity to ride this coaster.
Salt & Straw opened at Disney Springs on April 20th. This ice cream business is known for its imaginative gourmet flavors. On opening day, they allowed guests to taste multiple flavors of their ice cream, so they knew exactly what they wanted. They have “Limited Edition” Flavors, “Classic” Flavors, and “Last Chance” Flavors. Some of their flavors are Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, the Salty Donut Guava & Cheese, Double Fold Vanilla, Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Rosie the Pink Flamingo, and more. They even have an ice cream flight where you can choose four flavors of their ice cream to enjoy. Here is a tip: you probably want to share unless The Flight is going to be your meal. If you are in the Orlando area in the future, be sure to stop by and check Salt & Straw out.
Masks are a thing of the past at Disney World. In mid-April, it was announced that masks would no longer be mandated on airplanes. We knew that this would mean it wouldn’t be long until Disney discarded the face coverings as well. Disney no longer requires masks on their transportation. If you still wish to wear your mask, you are more than welcome to do that for your safety, but we wanted you to know that you can be mask-free at Disney!
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By: Vickie Black
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