We don’t know about you, but we were SICK of winter — springtime really came to the rescue this March! In Disney World, spring is a pretty busy time of year. Spring break crowds took OVER the parks and resorts, and for now, high wait times and large crowds are fairly common in Disney World. Now that Disney is relaxing its health and safety guidelines, more and more people are flocking to the parks for a little vacation.

With all the hustle and bustle happening around Disney, there’s been a lot of news in a short amount of time. If you need a little refresher, you’ve come to the right place! Come with us as we discuss FOURTEEN new things we learned in Disney World in March.

1. Genie+ Changes

This month, we saw more BIG changes to Disney’s new FastPass+ replacement known as Disney Genie+. First, now that the Festival of Fantasy Parade returned to Magic Kingdom, it has joined the list of available Disney Genie+ attractions!

Disney also added another entertainment option to the list of Genie+ attractions! Now, you can make a Genie+ reservation to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at the Red Carpet Dreams character meet and greet.

Click here to learn more about these changes

2. Character Meet and Greet Updates

Speaking of meet and greets, Christine McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of the Walt Disney Company, announced that face-to-face meet-and-greets should be returning to Disney Parks “soon.”

We’re already able to meet some of our favorite Disney friends back in their designated indoor locations, like Anna and Elsa in the Norway pavilion and the Disney princesses in Fantasyland. We’ll keep our eyes out as more characters to return to the parks, so be on the lookout for updates!

Click HERE to read more about what Christine McCarthy had to say!

3. Health and Safety Update

Starting on March 16th, face coverings became optional for fully vaccinated guests on the Disney World Skyliner. Masks are also optional for fully vaccinated guests on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser transport vehicle while traveling to and from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Keep in mind that face coverings are currently still required on monorails and Disney buses for all guests (ages 2 and up), though the guidelines are subject to change.

Click HERE to learn more about this important change

4. Local Green Orlando Update

Back in February, Disney shared that a new food truck was coming to Disney Springs! In the blink of an eye, Local Green Orlando appeared in Disney World, serving a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian options.

Of course, we had to go and visit the new food truck and check out the menu, and we were BLOWN AWAY by the Air Fries (plus a few other snacks). If you’re looking for a healthier, but still tasty place to eat in Disney World, check out Local Green Orlando!

Click HERE to see our full review of Local Green Orlando

5. Starlight Safari Tour Update

Disney’s Starlight Safari Tour is FINALLY returning to Disney World! This special nighttime tour takes place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge every night at 8:30PM and 10PM. During the tour, guests can expect to see a variety of wildlife including zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and antelopes with night-vision goggles!

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World later this year, mark your calendars! The tour is currently bookable for tours beginning on April 22nd, 2022. A tour lasts for one hour, and tickets are $89 per person.

Click HERE to learn more about the return of the Starlight Safari Tour

6. EPCOT World Showcase Update

Disney’s Cultural Representative Program is returning soon! If you’re unfamiliar, the Cultural Representative Program hires Cast Members from around the world to work in the EPCOT World Showcase pavilions.

Remember how each EPCOT pavilion used to have Cast Members that represented their home country? It was thanks to the Cultural Representative Program!

Click HERE to learn more about this update

7. Minnie Van Update

A few years ago, Disney introduced Minnie Vans to the Disney World parks. This service was similar to ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft (in fact, you use the Lyft app to reserve a Minni Van), but provided a little extra Disney magic (plus guaranteed child safety seats in every car).

After being unavailable for a long period of time, Disney shared that Minnie Vans will be returning to Disney World this summer!

Click HERE to learn more about the return of Minnie Vans

8. Typhoon Lagoon Update

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is currently the one and only Disney water park open for guests looking to splash around and escape the heat! (Blizzard Beach is closed for refurbishment right now.) This water park is known for some FUN water rides and slides, like the  Crush N’ Gusher water coaster and America’s largest wave pool! If you don’t want the fun to end when the sun goes down, Disney’s newly returning H20 Glow Nights might be the perfect After Hours event for you and your family! 

Disney’s H2O Glow After Hours events will happen at Typhoon Lagoon from 8PM to 11PM every Saturday night from May 28th through August 27th. The event will include special lighting and decorations, DJ dance parties, exclusive menu items, glowing wristbands, snacks, and more!

Click here to learn more about the return of H20 Glow Nights

9. Polynesian Village Resort Update

Disney Vacation Club members may soon have a NEW reason to visit Disney World! According to Disney, brand new villas are coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! These new rooms are projected to open in late 2024 and will be “inspired by the early concepts for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort,” according to Disney.

Not only that, but Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will also receive new recreation offerings and dining options. While we’re on the subject, though, we should also point out that the Spirit of Aloha dining experience is closing permanently.

Click here for more information on the new villas coming soon

10. Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant Update

If you’re looking for a fine dining experience in Disney World, look no further than Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. 

Although this award-winning restaurant has been closed for a while now, Disney shared an update that the restaurant is reopening soon! We’ll keep our eyes out for more information, so stay tuned for an update!

Click here to learn more about this dining update

11. Disney’s Boardwalk Resort Updates

Disney’s Boardwalk Resort has some BIG plans in the works! There’s a new table-service restaurant called The Cake Bake Shop coming in 2023, a sandwich shop set to replace the Boardwalk Bakery, and a new coffee bar!

Look out for new “light and airy touches” proposed to “reinvigorate” the hotel’s lobby, lounge, and guest rooms, too! As you can see, this resort is getting a TON of upgrades!

Click here to learn more about all FOUR big changes

12. Connections Restaurant Update

Disney shared some exciting news on the future of EPCOT! The park’s new quick-service spot, Connections Cafe & Eatery, is set to open in spring 2022!

We also found out that the restaurant will have an adjoining cafe that will serve Starbucks coffee. This little quick-service spot has been making a TON of progress lately and we can’t wait for it to open!

Click here to learn more about the proposed opening timeline

13. EPCOT Update

Speaking of EPCOT, the EPCOT Experience is now permanently closed. This area was basically a little preview/ interactive exhibit that highlighted Disney’s future plans for the massive EPCOT transformation.

Although the exhibit is closed, we recently got an update (of sorts) on the future of the EPCOT transformation. Disney CEO Bob Chapek made the comment that the U.K. pavilion’s proposed Mary Poppins attraction is on pause. Not SCRAPPED, but PAUSED!

For a while, we were worried that Disney had forgotten about that attraction, so it was pretty exciting to hear that the idea isn’t totally dead.

Click here to see the closure

14. Hoop-Dee-Doo Update

The wildly popular Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is RETURNING! Mark your calendar and practice your best napkin twirl, reservations will open up starting May 26th for showtimes starting June 23rd. That’s THIS SUMMER, people!  Disney explained that there will be some updates to the script and scenery, so we’ll keep our eyes out for updates! 

That wraps up ALL the changes and updates in Disney World from March! Be sure to stay tuned as we continue to share more Disney news!

Meet the Woman Who Is Bringing a NEW Restaurant to Disney World!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

What are you looking forward to the most in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post 14 CHANGES That Hit Disney World This March first appeared on the disney food blog.