The new year is here, and we’re looking forward to all the new (and returning) offerings around Walt Disney World Resort.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Opening
For those ready to live their adventure in a galaxy far, far away, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser three-day immersive experience will welcome its first guests on March 1. Though the last few months have been fraught with cancellations in the wake of guest criticism, it does promise to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Over the past year and a half, Disney has slowly trickled out information about the new hotel experience, including a look inside staterooms, concept art of inside the table service restaurant and dinner theatre, other food experiences on board, and some of the new food served on board, lightsaber training, and tons of other little details about the Halcyon.
Enchanting Extras Tours
On February 6, guests will be able to book more Enchanting Extras as five tours return. At Magic Kingdom, guests will be able to take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can participate in Caring for Giants, Wild Africa Trek, Up Close with Rhinos, and Savor the Savanna.
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Reopening
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will reopen on March 31, 2022. It is the last Walt Disney World Resort hotel to reopen following the COVID-19 closures in March 2020, marking a major milestone in the two-year phased reopening.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is set to open this summer, although an exact date has not been announced. Work on the exterior façade of the attraction has been speeding along.
New and Refurbished Grand Floridian DVC Suites
Expanded and refreshed rooms will open at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa this summer.
Salt & Straw at Disney Springs
Salt & Straw is set to open a Disney Springs location in March. It opened at Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort in 2018, making this its second Disney outlet.
Fantasmic! Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Fantasmic! will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year after a two-year absence. The nighttime spectacular will include a new sequence featuring “Moana,” “Aladdin,” and “Frozen.” New artwork for the sequence was released (seen above). An exact return date was not announced.
Festival of Fantasy Parade Returns to the Magic Kingdom
The Festival of Fantasy Parade will return to Magic Kingdom after a two-year absence due to COVID-19. Smaller cavalcades have been performed during the day instead. The full parade may or may not return, and cavalcades are here to stay.
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond!
Following the permanent closure of “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” a new stage show based on “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory” will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond!” will take place in the same timeframe as “Finding Dory,” and guests will find themselves at the Marine Life Institute. Fan-favorite songs from “Finding Nemo: The Musical” will return as we reunite with the fish that escaped from P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney, as they arrive in California. It is set to debut this year.
MagicBand+
MagicBand+ is coming to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. The new MagicBands will come in a variety of styles and will feature interactive effects such as lights and sound.
New Magic Kingdom Castle Stage Show
“Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” will debut on the Cinderella Castle forecourt stage sometime this year. It replaces the former “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire.” The new show is rumored to utilize some of the same elements while introducing new segments in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. A new, original song, “Where the Magic Feels Like Home,” has been created for the new show.
New Magic Kingdom Cavalcade
The Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade will be joining the daytime parade entertainment. This new cavalcade will feature the most characters that any cavalcade at Walt Disney World has ever had. These characters include Moana, Miguel from “Coco,” Clarabelle Cow, Baloo and King Louie, Mulan, Elena, José Carioca and Panchito of The Three Caballeros, Stitch, and many more. It will be performing at Magic Kingdom multiple times per day starting in early 2022.
Parking Lot Trams Return to All Four Parks
Last year, Walt Disney World finally announced the return of parking lot trams to the Magic Kingdom/Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot in December 2021, with the other three parks following suit throughout this year. We can only hope that guests visiting EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom won’t have to trudge through the parking lots for too long in 2022.
Honorable Mention: The Disney Wish Sets Sail
While not technically part of the Walt Disney World Resort, the fifth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Wish, will launch on June 9, 2022. It will sail from Port Canaveral in Florida.
For more, check out all the upcoming Disney films slated for a 2022 release, including movies under Marvel and 20th Century.
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The post Coming to Walt Disney World in 2022: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Returning Fan-Favorite Entertainment, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and More appeared first on WDW News Today.