Greetings fellow Rope Droppers,
And happy first day of EPCOT Food & Wine to all who celebrate. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, and I can’t wait to make the World Showcase rounds during my Disney trip next month.
If you’re new here (welcome!), we recapped all of this year’s festival eats and new offerings in this issue!
Are you down at Disney World for Labor Day weekend? Hit reply and let us know how your trip goes. We’d love to hear what you’re loving, and how you’re doing with the holiday weekend crowds.
We sifted through 491 stories this week to bring you this 4-minute read.
Gabe
Parade Playbook: Showtimes for the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom are shifting a bit starting on Sunday. As BlogMickey notes, Disney Starlight will step off 30 minutes earlier for both showings, now at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.
Additionally, the calendar for the parade hasn’t been published past September 14, whereas dates into early October were previously available.
So what does this mean for your next trip?
When can I see Disney Starlight? Times might not be posted to the official schedule until a few weeks out. But we do know there aren’t showings during special events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - so if you’re going in the next few months, check those dates and rule them out.
Be flexible: Booked dinner around the parade? Recheck and shift if you can; otherwise plan for the other showing. (I know I just tried to for my September trip). The good news? At least it’s looking to be earlier than before!
Bottom line: No need to stress, just keep an eye on the official calendar; nighttime entertainment shifts with party nights and sunset (what fun is a nighttime parade during the day, anyway?). Just don’t count on the original times as… forever.
Are you trying to work Disney Starlight Parade into your next visit?
Thank the Phoenicians: Spaceship Earth is now officially closed for a regular planned refurbishment (not a major overhaul). It’s expected to reopen by the end of the year. (WDW Magic)
Make it a Venti: The Starbucks location at Disney Springs West Side reopened this week following a remodel, months later than expected. Just in time for PSL season! (Laughing Place)
Refurb Radar: The main feature pool at Saratoga Springs and the attached quick service restaurant will be closing October 13 for about two months. The resort’s other leisure pools as well as the High Rock Spring feature pool will still be open. (DVC News)
Treat Tracker: There’s a new menu item at the BoardWalk that we realllyyyyy want to try. Fried Hawaiian Rolls from Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs? Yes, please. (AllEars)
Save your Treasure: Disney Cruise Line always has sailing-specific special offers. But for the first time this week, the Disney Treasure made an appearance with a few Military rate sailings. (Disney Cruise Line Blog)
ICYMI: Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, the show that replaces It’s Tough to be A Bug at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, will open on November 5. (BlogMickey) And we also got a first peek at concept art for the Muppets takeover of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster next year. (BlogMickey)
As if there wasn’t enough happening this weekend in Orlando, throw in Destination 23 as well, the D23 fan event that’s packed with two days of panels. Will there be announcements? No doubt. We’ll have to see just what.
What is for sure… It's exciting to see some of my favorite off-the-beaten-path IP getting a nod in the sessions, like Kuzco! I won’t be there in person, but if I was you can bet I’d be at Kuzcotopia night at Typhoon Lagoon.
We like to end with something delightful, and what’s better than animals?
Keep your eye out on your next trip on Kilimanjaro Safaris for two new additions - two female African wild dogs. What’s really exciting is they come to Disney as part of the Species Survival Program, with only thousands left in the wild.
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