Watch out! There are several ride, restaurant, and hotel pool CLOSURES happening next week in Disney World, and they might impact your upcoming vacation!

Let’s check out all the temporary closures and refurbishments that will affect Disney World from January 28th through February 3rd.

Magic Kingdom

Country Bear Jamboree

Country Bear Jamboree closed on January 27th, 2024, for refurbishment.

Disney announced that a NEW show is coming to Country Bear Jamboree, with the bears learning an all-new act. The new show should open THIS SUMMER.

Learn more about the changes coming to Country Bear Jamboree here!

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate this attraction as it’s closing down, check out these Country Bear Jamboree Collectible Plushes on Amazon!

The set comes with three collectible plushes: Teddi Barra, Big Al, and Henry.

View on Amazon

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Splash Mountain closed over a year ago for a long refurbishment. The ride is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with a Princess and the Frog theme.

The new ride will reopen sometime in 2024. Disney originally said “late 2024,” but in recent updates, they’ve removed the “late” and are just going with “2024” — does that mean it could open SOONER? We’ll be watching for more updates on the opening timeline.

Disney also just released lots of new information about this ride, including a hint that there will be Splash Mountain Easter Eggs throughout the attraction!

Learn more about the new details here.

If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt…

…and a Tiana tee as well!

You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store.

Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store.

Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island

The Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island is not only closed — it’s missing completely!

A Cast Member told us several months ago that it was removed for repairs, and we haven’t seen it back since. We’ll be keeping an eye out for its return.

Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant

Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick service restaurant that’s remained closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open.

Once in a while, you’ll see the dining rooms open as a rest area, but it’s usually all roped off and empty. Disney hasn’t announced when this spot could finally reopen, but we’ll be watching for updates!

Some Restrooms in Magic Kingdom Have Been Temporarily CLOSED

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster closed on January 8th, it won’t reopen until the summer of this year.

Although we don’t have an exact reopening date yet, we know that it’ll be at least a few months before the ride reopens. Last year, when the ride closed around this time (on February 20th, to be exact), it reopened on May 26th.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

Well, it’s official — Voyage of the Little Mermaid is permanently closed in Disney World. We had suspected this was the case for some time (as it hasn’t actually been open for a few years now), but now the permanent closure has finally been confirmed.

Disney is going to introduce a NEW show in this spot, though it will still be themed to the animated movie The Little Mermaid! The new show will be called “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” and is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024.

It will be a “fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic.”

A popular menu item has DISAPPEARED from one of our favorite restaurants in Hollywood Studios!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids usually closes in January for refurbishment since water rides like this tend to be less popular during the winter months when it’s chilly outside. In 2024, it closed on January 8th.

Disney has announced that Kali River Rapids will be closed through mid-March. Right now, Disney’s calendar shows that this ride should reopen on March 16th, but Disney hasn’t officially confirmed this as the reopening date.

Disney’s dropped some major hints about the Animal Kingdom Encanto expansion!

EPCOT

Restaurant Marrakesh

Restaurant Marrakesh is still closed in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, and there’s no word yet on when it might reopen.

The restaurant is kind of open right now — it’s functioning as a lounge with just a couple of drink options. However, we’re still waiting for the full restaurant to reopen!

No One’s Talking About This Major EPCOT Festival PROBLEM

Disney World Hotels

1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, 1900 Park Fare is a table service restaurant where you could meet characters like Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland at their Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Cinderella and her Prince Charming during the Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner.

They also had a special event for younger children called the Wonderland Tea Party. It’s sad to see a spot closed that had so much character interaction! Disney hasn’t announced a permanent closure, so there is hope for 1900 Park Fare. Recently, we’ve even heard construction going on behind those doors, so it’s possible this spot will reopen soon!

With 1900 Park Fare closed…you’ll need this SECRET spot to get afternoon tea in Disney World!

Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

The Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is going to be closed from January 2024 to late March 2024.

During this time, Disney says that “guests are welcome to swim in any of the five leisure pools” at Caribbean Beach Resort.

Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter

The Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter will be closed from January 2024 to April 2024.

If you’re staying at this hotel during the pool’s closure, you can still go swimming at the Ol’ Man Island Pool at Port Orleans Riverside.

Check out this full tour of some of the newest Disney World hotel rooms!

Disney World Water Parks

Typhoon Lagoon

Typhoon Lagoon is currently closed in Disney World, and the website does not yet list a reopening date.

Disney World’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, however, is usually open! The water park may close when it’s especially cold outside, so keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app to double check that it’s open before you go.

Check Out the Best Rides at Blizzard Beach, Ranked

Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides:

• 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness
• What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride
• 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU!
• A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World!
• The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride

We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB.

Click here to check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World.

 

Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments!

The post 3 Rides and 2 Hotel Pools Will Be CLOSED Next Week in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

Well, it’s official, a classic Disney World attraction has closed to get a revamp.

The Country Bears held their last jamboree until they come back with a brand new act this summer, and things are already changing in Magic Kingdom now that the attraction has temporarily closed. So let’s take a look at how the attraction’s closure has affected Magic Kingdom.

Well, here’s the thing: Magic Kingdom is about the same and there’s a whole lot of nothing going on over at Frontierland. Splash Mountain has been closed for a while as it becomes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, so the only ride that’s still open in the area is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We thought maybe the Country Bear Jamboree closure might have impacted wait times, especially in Frontierland, but Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was at 45 minutes when we checked, which is about what it was the day before.

We DID notice that Frontierland is a lot more relaxed right now. Since there is only one official ride open in that land, there aren’t as many people around, and it’s become mostly a hangout spot or a way to get somewhere else in the park. The vibes in Frontierland are very chill now.

We did happen upon the Frontierland Hoedown that happens a few times a day with the characters, including the Country Bears, who are SUPPOSED to be rehearsing for a new act, but we guess they have to let off steam sometimes. Chip and Dale were also around to get in on the Hoedown fun. We wonder if we might see more of these each day now that the Jamboree is temporarily closed.

The Country Bear Jamboree itself is now completely roped off and locked up.

We also noticed some new signs in front of the attraction that say “Bear With Us.” Get it? BEAR?

A stage has also been set up in front of the attraction, but it’s not part of the new attraction. It’s there for a Cast Member event that’s happening later in the week. However, we loved looking at all the fun country and western details on the stage.

When the attraction reopens this summer, the Country Bears will be performing some new songs, this time from the Disney catalog, with country arrangements created by actual Nashville musicians. The idea is that the new act will be like classic Nashville country performances (think Grand Ole Opry).

We’ll be keeping an eye on things over there in Frontierland.

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When was the last time you saw Country Bear Jamboree before it closed? Tell us about your memories of the show in the comments!

The post 3 Ways Magic Kingdom Has Already CHANGED Since Country Bear Jamboree’s Closure first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disney World has a plethora of dining options! We would argue that there is something for everybody.

If you like the fancier things in life, you can dine at places like Victoria & Alberts or Citricos. For a quick snack in the parks, head to a nearby counter-service spot like Casey’s Corner or ABC Commissary. But if you like a local pub with lots of screens and an easygoing, relaxed atmosphere, then head over to Rix Sports Bar & Grill!

Rix Sports Bar & Grill is located in Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. While Coronado Springs is a little off the beaten path (it’s located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom), we ventured over to the hotel to check out this table-service bar and grill — here are our thoughts! 

Atmosphere

Coronado Springs brings together the Spanish, Mexican, and Southwest American cultures into one gorgeous oasis. Here you’ll find a beautiful lake, a fun pool with a Mayan pyramid, and several restaurants! One such restaurant is Rix Sports Bar & Grill. 

Formerly known as Rix Lounge, you’ll find a classy and airy atmosphere all around you. It’s a relaxed sports bar where you can catch a game or simply enjoy some good food and drinks.

There is one large room with a bar along the back wall, so you can have your choice of a table or a seat at the bar. The cultural inspiration can still be felt around the bar, as well.

If you are looking for a place to relax from the busy parks or need to catch a big game while on your trip, Rix might be the place to go! While atmosphere is important to a restaurant, we need to talk about the food.

Menu

Let’s start with the menu, shall we? Naturally, you’ll find a good selection of drinks at Rix Sports Bar & Grill. There’s a wide variety of cocktails, beer, and hard cider to choose from.

They have half a page dedicated to a variety of mimosas as well as their wine options. If you’re hoping for some liquor, they’ll have you covered for that, too!

The food menu includes some typical pub grubs. It’s not an extensive list, which is typical of a sports bar, but we think we’ll find something you’ll like — we certainly did!

By this point, you’re probably wondering what we found that we liked, so let’s dive into everything we tried!

The Food & Drinks

We started off our meal with a cocktail — the Honeysuckle Lemonade. It’s a combination of honeysuckle vodka, lavender bitters, and lemonade. You can grab this cocktail for $13!

We noticed this was pretty tart and sour. It was like a grown-up tart lemonade and would be great on a hot summer day. The vodka isn’t overpowering, only giving a hint of the liquor (which might be bad if you have multiple drinks and it sneaks up on ya!). The lavender bitters were subtle, giving a nice addition to the lemonade flavor. For $13, we thought this was tasty and large.

Next, we tried out the Buffalo Chicken Flatbread appetizer for $15. This is an easily shareable option of grilled chicken with a blend of flavors including queso spread, diced celery, blue cheese, buffalo sauce, and garnished with scallions and ranch. Caution — this flatbread is SAUCY!

This was a very flavorful flatbread. The crust was nice and crispy and we found the buffalo sauce spicier than other Disney spicy items, but it wasn’t overwhelming. The ranch had a great cooling effect. The diced celery is small, but it adds another bit of crunch and subtle flavor. There’s not a ton of chicken on it, but it was still flavorful. If you’re a buffalo chicken, we recommend getting this!

Our main course consisted of the Rix Mac & Cheese Burger for $23!

This burger is LOADED. It’s their signature burger topped with crispy and creamy macaroni and cheese, sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and onion all on a toasted bun. This burger is HUGE (like, gives you carpel tunnel huge). It’s served with standard Disney tater tots (that we found to be very salty).

The mac & cheese is baked, so it’s crispy on the outside but oh, so creamy and cheesy on the inside. The burger patty was flavorful and juicy, so it didn’t have to rely on all the toppings to be good. For $23, we thought it was all very fresh, delicious, and worth the price!

Our only complaint about the burger was that the bottom bun struggled to support everything inside. If you can handle a messy burger and you’re super hungry, we say totally go for it!

For dessert, we had to try the Fried Oreos for $12.

The idea might be your run-of-the-mill carnival fried Oreo dessert, but the execution is perfect. You get four Oreos fried in a funnel cake batter, topped with powdered sugar, and served with a warm chocolate sauce. Talk about chef’s kiss.

Our only complaint here was that we wanted MORE! We would have loved one or two more to make this a more shareable dessert. Other than that, we loved these delicious fried cookies. They were crispy on the outside with the soft and gooey Oreo on the inside. The chocolate sauce isn’t necessarily needed, but we did enjoy it.

Leave it to Disney to make you feel like a kid again inside their bar — sipping on spiked lemonade and eating deep-fried Oreos. If you don’t like fried desserts or Oreos, you’ll want to pass. Otherwise, this was our inner child’s dream.

Nosh or Not?

We recommend trying Rix Sports Bar & Grill if…

• You’re staying at Coronado Springs! If you’re already at the resort, you gotta stop by.
• You love bar food or a bar atmosphere! The food is a delicious and Disney-style take on bar food.
• You want to watch a game and get some great food while hanging out! This is the spot to hit if you’re looking to watch a big game and you want to eat something tasty.
• You’re looking for something a bit less, well, Disney. There’s no Disney theming here, so if you want a bit of normalcy on your vacation, check this out!

You might want to skip Rix Sports Bar & Grill if…

• You want a completely Disney experience. Like we said, there’s no Disney theming here, so if want something completely unique to Disney, we recommend one of the many other table service options in the parks.
• You have to take a bus to get here. Coronado Springs Resort is pretty far away from most other things. While the food is great, it might not be worth the time of taking the bus to get here.
• You’re looking for healthier options. The food is delicious, but it is still bar food. There are lots of deep-fried and greasy foods here to choose from.

Overall

Our reporter had said that she had eaten here once before and wasn’t impressed, but this time completely changed her mind! She LOVED everything she ate. It was big portions and super flavorful. The atmosphere provides a bit of relaxation and normalcy on your busy Disney vacation. The server was great — attentive but not overbearing. We found that our food took a while to come out, so ordering it all at once might help with that.

We hope this helps you make an informed decision about whether to eat here or not. In the meantime, keep following DFB for more Disney restaurant and snack reviews!

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Do you think you would enjoy Rix Sports Bar & Grill? Let us know in the comments!

The post REVIEW: Fried Oreos and Spiked Lemonade? You’ve Got Our Attention, Disney! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Disney is wasting no time getting to work on its latest project!

Country Bear Jamboree is changing in a huge way in Magic Kingdom — Disney Imagineers are updating the show with “an all-new act.” The bears are going to be singing Disney songs in NEW styles, like pop country, rockabilly, and bluegrass! The ride officially closed its doors on January 27th, and now we’ve got our first signs that work is taking place.

We stopped by Country Bear Jamboree the day after it closed for refurbishment to check on any signs of construction — and we were surprised by what we found! Okay, so we didn’t really find a lot, although, at first, we thought something exciting was going on here. A STAGE was set up in front of the ride. We quickly learned, though, that this temporary stage is for an upcoming Cast Member event. Still, it looks pretty cool and has a lot of fun details.

However, the ride itself is completely roped off, so no one can go wandering in while the bears are learning their new songs. This is a closed rehearsal, people!

There is also a fun sign saying “Bear with us,” indicating that the ride is currently closed. Disney does have some cute signs for closed rides and construction sometimes.

We’ll keep our eyes out for additional construction updates. Could we see construction walls appear after the stage is taken down? Only time will tell! Over at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (the area formerly home to Splash Mountain), the area is FILLED with construction walls, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Stay tuned to DFB for the latest news and changes from Country Bear Jamboree and more in Disney World.

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Are you excited about the Country Bear Jamboree changes? Tell us in the comments.

The post See What Country Bear Jamboree Looks Like Now That It’s CLOSED at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.

With the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park closed for a grounds expansion, new themed walls have gone up around the attraction with lenticular art of the Mansion’s changing portraits.

Many of the walls feature art by Imagineer Marc Davis, who created the art found inside the Mansion’s portrait gallery. The paintings have a lenticular effect so that they seem innocent, but change into something more haunting. First up is Davis’ Medusa portrait. Straight on, she appears as a Grecian woman.

When you shift, much like when the lightning flashes on the attraction, Medusa is revealed.

Next is the Black Prince portrait. At first, he appears as a knight in battle.

The portrait then changes to a skeleton man riding a skeleton horse.

April-December, another portrait of a ghost that haunts the Mansion begins as a young woman with “April” written in the top right corner.

She then turns into a corrupting old woman with “December” written at the top right.

Finally, there is the Ghost Ship portrait, which is a ship sailing the sea by day.

But by night it has been struck by lightning and is destroyed.

Also on the walls are quotes from the Ghost Host that can be heard during the ride.

Three of the attraction’s crypts with puns can be found on one of the wall panels.

Guests are given the option to join in on the haunts by scanning a QR code that will send them to the Snapchat PhotoPass feature on the Disneyland app.

Concept art for the grounds expansion can be seen by guests walking past the Haunted Mansion.

What do you think of these construction walls? Let us know in the comments below.

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

The post Disneyland Adds ‘Corruptible Mortal State’ Gallery Outside of The Haunted Mansion During Closure appeared first on WDW News Today.