Happy New Year! Here’s to hoping 2021 is full of good health and magical memories! To get those magical memories off to a great start, Disney recently shared 21 reasons to visit The Most Magical Place on Earth in 2021.
1. Explore the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
Beginning January 8 through Feb. 22, you are invited to an expansive collection of visual, performance, and culinary arts throughout the park.
2. Gaze Upon the Reimagined Entrance Fountain at EPCOT
The new water feature in front of Spaceship Earth takes us back to the park’s origins and highlights a greener, more open, and welcoming experience as you enter the park. The fountain is the most recent milestone in the historic transformation of EPCOT now underway.
3. Step Inside the Cartoon World of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This attraction gets my vote as the top family attraction at Walt Disney World! In this unique attraction, you go through the movie screen as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Engineer Goofy, and Pluto take you on a trip through Runnamuck Park … where anything can happen!
4. Embark on a Star Wars Adventure in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the immersive, award-winning land featuring two thrilling attractions: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. (Be sure to check out my tips for securing a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance).
5. Check Out Cinderella Castle’s Royal Makeover
The treasured icon at the heart of Magic Kingdom Park now features bold, shimmering, and regal enhancements befitting its royal status, making for a great photo with family and friends.
7. Watch for New Residents on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Nigerian dwarf goats now play like kids at the warden’s outpost near the end of Kilimanjaro Safaris.
8. Bask in the Cuteness of Baby Animals
In addition to the Nigerian dwarf goats, you may catch a glimpse of some of the animals born in 2020 at Walt Disney World while at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Aboard Kilimanjaro Safaris, for example, you may spot a young Masai giraffe now out on the savanna.
9. Celebrate the Magic of Nature in Pandora – The World of Avatar
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can travel to the Valley of Mo’ara to hike among the floating mountains of Pandora and experience two awe-inspiring attractions: Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.
10. Find Disney Characters in New Places
From cavalcades to caravans to flotillas and even special “pop-up” appearances, you can discover favorite friends at all four theme parks and the occasional special surprise at Disney Resort hotels.
11. Hop from Park to Park
Guests who purchase a ticket or annual pass with Park Hopper benefits will now be able to visit more than one park per day. Park hopping can begin at 2:00pm each day.
12. Indulge in Sweet New Treats at Disney Springs
When visiting the shopping, dining, and entertainment district of Walt Disney World, you have plenty of new options to satisfy your sweet tooth, including some upcoming new locations including Gideon’s Bakehouse, the M&M’S store, and Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew.
13. Pick Out the Perfect Post-Holiday Gift
Disney Springs is also the place where you will find a little something you may have missed on your holiday shopping list. From the massive World of Disney store to quaint boutiques and just about everything in between, Disney Springs is home to the latest Disney merchandise as well as on-trend accessories, apparel, and gear from other top brands.
14. Return to Favorite Disney Restaurants
As part of the phased reopening of Walt Disney World, restaurants continue to return to operation across The Most Magical Place on Earth. Recent reopenings include The Crystal Palace inside Magic Kingdom and the character breakfast at Chef Mickey’s inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
15. Make Some Time to Relax Outdoors
Central Florida weather is often gorgeous in the early months of the year, and Walt Disney World offers special ways to enjoy some outdoor recreation, including golf and miniature golf, fishing expeditions, horseback riding, and more.
16. Buzz Through the Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, Blooming in March
Beginning March 3, you will find fresh cuisine, creative gardens, and unforgettable topiaries as part of this annual festival.
17. Soak Up the Sun at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
After remaining closed for all of 2020 due to the pandemic, this wintry-themed water park is planning to reopen in March and celebrate its 25th season in splashy style.
18. Look for Some Fresh Pixie Dust at the Entrances to Walt Disney World
You can make some new memories as you pass these iconic gateways to The Most Magical Place on Earth, which are receiving a refreshed color palette complementing the recent Cinderella Castle makeover.
19. Add Extra Theme Park Magic to Vacations
Available to book beginning Jan. 5, 2021, Guests buying non-discounted four-night/three-day room and ticket packages at select Disney Resort hotels for arrivals most nights Jan. 8, 2021, through Sept. 25, 2021, will receive an additional two days of theme park tickets.
20. Florida Residents Can Take Advantage of a Special Ticket Offer
Beginning Jan. 4, 2021, the four-day Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket invites Floridians to visit any of the four Disney parks through June 18, 2021 (subject to blockout dates), for $199 (plus tax).
21. Get Excited for Even More Magic Later this Year
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the new family-friendly attraction coming to the France pavilion in EPCOT, will debut in 2021. And the new Cirque du Soleil show “Drawn to Life,” coming to Disney Springs, will be a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering.
Ready to add a little magic to 2021 for your family? Reach out to us today to start planning your family’s vacation. https://castleandcruiseadventures.com/RequestQuote/