Disney Cancels Lake Nona Project; Star Wars: Galactic Star Cruiser Closing Permanently in September

There is some breaking news out of the Walt Disney Company concerning Florida as they have decided to cancel the $1 billion Lake Nona project and the Star Wars: Galactic Star Cruiser will permanently close in September. 

Disney Cancels Lake Nona Project:

In an email to to staff, President of Disney Parks & Experiences, Josh D'Amaro says the company has decided not to move forward with the construction of the Lake Nona campus. The $1 billion campus which was supposed to be ready by next year with staff moves to the Orlando campus delayed until 2026. 

In the memo, he stated that it was not an easy decision but believes it is the right one to make. He also stated that the company will no longer be asking employees to relocate and that conversations with those of who have already relocated to possibly relocate back to California. 

The situation and feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis looms large as Disney is not playing around. D'Amaro stated, "I remain optimistic about the direction of our Walt Disney World business. We have plans to invest $17billion and create 13,000 jobs over the next 10 years. I hope we're able to do so."

Star Wars: Galactic Star Cruiser Closing Permanently in September:

Walt Disney World announced more shocking news today that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will close permanently as of October 1, 2023 with the final voyage on the immersive experience occurring September 28-30,2023. Here is official announcement:

Many fans will say they saw this coming right from when Galactic Starcruiser opened due to the price. Going forward, Disney says it will focus resources on other opportunities that will be more accessible to its large group of fans. 

Breaking Disney News: Dining Plans Officially Coming Back, Park Pass Reservations for Dated Tickets Say Cya Later, and More

 Disney announced some very good news for Walt Disney World visitors today that beginning in 2024, the Dining Plan is coming back, park pass reservations for date-based tickets will be going away, good-to-go dates will be coming for Annual Passholders and Cast Members, extended park time will continue and even simplifying the ease of Genie+ by allowing for planning ahead of your trip.

Beginning January 9, 2024 guests visiting Walt Disney World who's reservations include date based tickets will no longer require Theme Park Reservations. Date-based tickets for reference are the standard tickets that guests purchase. For other admission types, including non-dated tickets, theme park reservations may be required to help Disney to continue managing attendance and delivering a great experience for everyone.

Also for reservations for January 9 or later guests may begin purchasing the Disney Dining Plan. The Dining Plan finally returns after being halted in July 2020 after the parks reopened during COVID. Packages for 2024 will open for purchase May 31. Guests will have the option to choose between the Quick Service Dining Plan and the regular Dining Plan. Pricing has not yet been released for the return of the Dining Plan.

For Annual Passholders and Cast Members, Disney is introducing good-to-go days. These select days will allows annual pass holders and cast members to enter the 4 parks without a reservation. Once introduced, good-to-go dates at the park will be rolled out on an ongoing basis. Good-to-go days will vary by park and  pass block out days as well as park capacity limitations will continue to apply. More details on good-to-go days will be released in the future.

Disney will continue to offer extended morning park hours at all four theme parks for guests staying at Walt Disney World Resorts in 2024. Extended evening hours will also continue to be available for Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villas guests for select days and select parks.

Finally, Disney will also begin offering the ease of planning your days with at the park ahead of your trips with Genie+. While a date of this rollout was not announced they do plan on releasing more details on this feature at a later date.

Disney Announces Ways you can Celebrate Disney 100 at Walt Disney World

 With Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary officially over, Disney has officially begun celebrating its 100th anniversary in Orlando. This week they shared just some ways we can celebrate The Walt Disney Company's 100th Anniversary. First off would be meeting Mickey and Minnie in their platinum best.

EPCOT will be the center of Disney's 100th celebration at Walt Disney World later this year. As the parks transformation continues and is expected to be completed later this year. As Mickey and Minnie have been meeting guests in their brand new platinum best on the west coast at Disneyland, they will be dressed in their platinum bests at EPCOT later this year. More details on where guests will be able to meet them will be coming soon. 

There's more to celebrate at EPCOT later this year as we know that Journey of Water: Inspired by Water will open later this year as well as a new nighttime spectacular is expected to light the skies. Disney also shared a sneak peak of a new special Spaceship Earth lighting that will debut later this year as well. 

“The Show Lighting Team at Walt Disney Imagineering has been amazed at our guests’ reaction to the nightly shows on Spaceship Earth,” said Jason Read, show lighting designer principal for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’ve helped celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, EPCOT’s 40th and the park’s signature festivals. Now, we’re excited to have Spaceship Earth ring in the biggest celebration yet, the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company.”

Appearing over the last few weeks at each of the four parks plus Disney Springs, are the new Disney100 backdrops.

This photo op is perfect for the entire family and is a perfect start to your day at the parks. Guests should also be prepared for special and unique character meet & greets. As the celebration ramps up at Walt Disney World, guests may run into some of their favorite characters dressed in their platinum best as they pop up at various Walt Disney World resorts.

A celebration at Walt Disney World wouldn't be a celebration without new food, drinks, and of course merchandise. Beginning on May 1, at Amorette's Patisserie in Disney Springs, a new limited Disney100 petite cake will be available for a limited time. The dessert will feature layers of vanilla chiffon, berry mousse and berry compote, all topped with a celebratory Disney100 medallion macaron.

Disney100 merchandise has already showed up at the Walt Disney World Resort, soon a new Disney100 Cinderella premium popcorn bucket will be released exclusively at Magic Kingdom.

Stay tuned for when it will make its grand debut. For now guests can enjoy drinks and popcorn in the new Disney100 refillable cups available now at Walt Disney World hotels and popcorn buckets available at all four parks and Disney Springs. 

Limited release merchandise is available across Walt Disney World where you can cherish nostalgic memories with the Decades collection, most recently the 40s-themed Disney100 decades collection which features "Fantasia," "The Three Caballeros," "Pinocchio," and "Dumbo."

This is just the beginning as there will be more ways to celebrate Disney100 in the months to come.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Dates Announced; Disney Vacation Clubs 17th Resort Announced for Disney's Fort Wilderness

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Dates Announced:

Its halfway to Halloween with Disney Parks and of the many announcements this week we officially have the dates for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for 2023. Parties will kick off later this summer beginning August 11 and will run through November 1. Here is the announcement from the Disney Parks Blog:

"With spellbinding entertainment, favorite Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best and more, celebrate the most haunting time of the year at Walt Disney World Resort. This limited-capacity, nighttime event starts at 7 p.m. and allows guests to experience shorter wait times on attractions, themed food and beverage and more. Guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green can purchase tickets starting April 27, and tickets will be available to all guests starting May 2. "

The event dates are:

August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29

September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29

October: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31

November: 1

Guests this year can enjoy a ghostly promenade with the Haunted Mansion Gravediggers during Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. Mickey's Not-so-Spooky Spectacular fireworks and projections show will once again be hosted by the 'Pumpkin King' himself, Jack Skellington. Guests will also be able to trick-or-treat throughout Magic Kingdom on their favorite sweets and treats. If you enjoy the Sanderson Sisters, you can enjoy the stars of "Hocus Pocus" as they and their comrades as they summon the ultimate "Hocus Pocus" party potion in the "Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular" on stage at Cinderella Castle.

Finally, all guests can enjoy during the party their favorite attractions including Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, and the newly open TRON: Lightcycle Power Run powered by Enterprise. Please note TRON will use a virtual queue during the party.

Are you excited for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?

Disney Vacation Club Announces its 17th Resort for Disney's Wilderness Resort:

Walt Disney World and the Disney Vacation Club today announced proposed plans to bring its 17th resort to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. It will bring a refreshed look to the cabin hideaways at the resort offering guests a private retreat in the midst of nature many comforts of home.

It will be nestled across 750 acres where more than 350 new cabins will be replacing the old cabins, which have delighted guests for years. The cabins will be built with an eye toward the environment, utilizing the footprint of the existing cabins and taking advantage of more energy-efficient features.

Each proposed, stand-alone cabin offers spacious accommodations, sleeping up to six adults, and features a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen and private patio. A select number of cabins are also expected to be dog-friendly. The cabins are part of an extended refresh at Fort Wilderness which include a proposed pool and walking trail enhancements as well as the recently closed for refurbishment of Trail's End restaurant and Crockett's Tavern, with more exciting news to come.

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort is expected to open in 2024. Additional Information regarding project details, the start of sales and rental bookings will be released at a later date.

Week in Review: Walt Disney World Announces Plans for 2023, TRON Soft Opening, and Mickey's Toontown Reopens in Disneyland

 It was a busy week for the Disney theme parks in the US as the beginning of the week kicked off the press event for the opening of TRON: Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. During the event Disney made several announcements about what's to come this year at Walt Disney World.

Starting off on April 22, at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Moana will begin greeting guests along the Discovery River. This fall at Magic Kingdom, Mirabel from "Encanto"will greet guests in the Fairytale Garden, which will be transformed with whimsical decor by La Familia Madrigal. As previously announced at this past summer's D23 Expo, Figment will begin greeting guests at the Imagination Pavilion  later this year and Mickey & Friends will have a new home inside the brand new Communicore Hall at EPCOT!

Communicore Hall Concept Art

Speaking of EPCOT, the Disney 100th Celebration will shine spotlight on the park as this Fall, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana will open. Then later this year, an all new nighttime spectacular highlighting the 100 Years of Wonder will debut. 

Finally, a stunning new restaurant will open at Disney Springs in late 2023 in Summer House on the Lake. The restaurant embodies a breezy, beach house vibe featuring three expansive outdoor patios with a lake view. The California-inspired menu will feature simple, sustainable ingredients from pizza and pasta to fresh salads and sandwiches. 

I know I'm excited for my trip in November.

TRON is set to open in a little over 2 weeks, but starting tomorrow Monday, March 20 the ride will soft open to guests via virtual queue or via purchase of individual lightning lane. The soft opening will be available until April 2. 

Mickey's Toontown Reopens in Disneyland:

Mickey's Toontown is officially open in Disneyland as the reimagined land opened to guests today beginning a new era of ways families and young children can play together. The land was dedicated yesterday by Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock where he was joined by Mickey and the residents of Toontown including for the first time ever Pete is making appearances as he causes mischief around the neighborhood. 

CenToonial Park is the first place guests will see as they enter the land and is anchored by two new interactive play experiences: a beautiful fountain featuring water tables designed for play that invite you to have a sensory experience plus nearby a dreaming tree with sculpted tree roots for children to crawl around and explore. 

Goofy's How To Play Yard incorporates a whimsical sound garden where kids can discover new ways to make wacky noises, as well as an all new, elevated club house. Donald's Duck Pond will help little ones get all their wiggles and make a splash that is surrounded by larger than life spinning water lilies, balance beams and rocking toys. 

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway debuted in the land back on January 27 of this year with the reopening today it is joined by Chip & Dale's Gadget Coaster and the return of Mickey and Minnie's houses as well as Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. 

Two all new dining locations have opened in the land in Cafe Daisy and Good Boy! Grocers Farmers Market. Cafe Daisy serves up playful spins on diner classics - including a plant-based option. At Good Boy! Grocers farmers market stand offers grab-and-go drinks, snacks and novelties.

Finally, located next to Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, EngineEar Souvenirs features a selection of Mickey Mouse and pals toys, apparel, headwear and more to "choo-choo-choose" from including the all new Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway remote control trackless train.

That's all for this week and we will see you all real soon.

- John

I thought I was done, but sometimes plans change and its good to be back!

Sometimes when you think all is lost, and sometimes the answer or what is lost is right in front of you. After over 2 years of not writing one single blog post here on It All Started with a Mouse, I am back. Since my last post, everything has changed including myself. I welcomed 2 wonderful kids most recently our second son was born prematurely at 26 weeks and he is growing stronger everyday. The now 2 year old is taking toddlerhood by storm. I sometimes wonder if he 14 and not 2 but guess what he is a Disney lover just like his parents. He's already been to Disney twice and will be back for a third time later this year.

Back to It All Started with a Mouse, we are back with some changes instead of daily because you know adulthood, parenthood, and life prove they are a lot this will be a weekly blog post now. I will still bring Disney news, trip reports, and more of what I had brought to the blog previously. I also want to bring new stuff to the blog as well including my wife and I have recently set a goal to run a runDisney race next year so maybe share our training plans. The big reason I am back though is I do miss the writing and a dream of mine which was recently discussed with my wife is that I want to write a book one day and with the birth of my 2 children over the last 2 1/2 years and my love of Disney I most recently realized is the type of book I want to write a children's book (possibly a Disney children's book).

I missed this and I kept the Facebook page going as most recently just sharing news, the podcast I have been a part of for the last 7 years, the MouseLife is still going on, and over the last year and a half I have hopped on TikTok, you can find me @MouseLifeJohn on both TikTok and Instagram. So tune in for the first true blog post soon and we will see you real soon and remember It All Started with a Mouse. 

- John

Changes and Goodbyes Recently Announced for Walt Disney World

We all knew it was coming with Walt Disney World being closed for over 100 days the budget was being cut on multiple projects that were announced just last year at the D23 Expo. We also received word of saying goodbye to 2 attractions officially and a surprise cut of a nighttime show. Over the last few days it was announced that both the Spaceship Earth refurbishment and the addition of the Mary Poppins attraction in the United Kingdom are officially postponed and major changes are being made to World Celebration. 

With Spaceship Earth we recently had the announcement the the refurbishment was delayed it is now postponed. The closure that was supposed to begin May 26 but with the extended park closure due to Covid-19 which has caused massive budget cuts across the parks it has now been indefinitely postponed. If the refurbishment ever gets back on the table it is expected to take 2 and half years with the reimagining including a new show building and exit attraction that was announced at last years D23 Expo.

The re-imagination of Spaceship Earth is not the only thing postponed in Epcot as the Cherry Tree Lane addition to the United Kingdom was also removed from the Walt Disney World projects due to budget cuts. With no expected completion date ever announced it was feared that this would be cut as construction never began for the addition.

With the removal/postponements of these two exciting additions to Epcot major changes are also coming to the new area in Epcot World Celebration also announced recently at last years D23 Expo in August. 

This will include changes to the Festival Center in World Celebration. While Disney stated the work is expected to resume on the new area soon it announced they will be making changes to the originally planned Festival Center, however what those changes are were not announced. So stay tuned for future updates on World Celebration and the Festival Center in Epcot.

With all that news coming on Wednesday, it was announced yesterday in a Cast Member memo that we would be officially saying goodbye to 2 attractions and surprisingly an nighttime show. At Magic Kingdom it was finally officially announced that Stitch's Great Escape is officially not reopening. This is after going seasonal a few years ago and last year when it was discovered that the Stitch animatronic was burned and destroyed. 

This has been rumored for a while to be replaced by a Wreck-it-Ralph attraction however that is now tabled for the unseeable future due to Covid-19 and the budget cuts. Also being cut over at Disney's Animal Kingdom is Primeval Whirl over in Dinoland, USA. The ride was recently put in seasonal operation just a few months ago and was operating during peak season. When Animal Kingdom opened up on July 11 the ride had been removed from maps in the park. 

The most shocking news from yesterday's memo though was the removal and permanent closure of Rivers of Light. The nighttime spectacular which debuted in 2017 had already seen one update just last year. There was no reason stated as to why they were ending the show's run as it was rumored to receive a major update within the next year or so although as there is no set return for any fireworks or nighttime shows due to the current of any major crowding at the parks due to the pandemic. 

Details on all these changes seem to be ever changing but as always stay tuned for any future updates right here on It All Started With a Mouse.