After a 22-year run, The Circle of Life - 'An Environmental Fable' inside The Land Pavilion at Epcot will close permanently on February 3. Disney Performing Arts will take over the space shortly after the closure for student workshops and performances beginning February 9th, 2018.
The film which debuted on January 21, 1995 was a 20-minute live action film featuring Timon and Pumbaa telling the story of man's relationship with the land and how we can protect and care for the environment. The show in recent year's has been almost outdated and was closed down for over a year for refurbishment before re-openeing last year.
According to WDW News Today, it seems with the moving of the trailer for the performing arts which was located between the Germany and Italy pavilions it seems that may clear land for a future new country possibly the long rumored Brazil pavilion. Stay tuned for updates.
Yesterday, was a sad but monumental day for Disney's Hollywood Studios. We saw the closure of many attractions including Streets of America, Lights, Motors, Action! Stunt Show, Studio Catering Company, Mike and Sulley Meet & Greet, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids! Play Set Adventure, and the Earffel Tower. With these closures we will see the beginning of construction for the future of the park for Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land.
With the closures as well that meant the walls officially went up over night. Essentially a 1/3 of the park is now closed off. The area where Muppet Vision 3D and what soon will be a re-themed restaurant that was Pizza Planet is now called Muppets Courtyard. This was discovered last week before the changes came to the new map for the park.
Now the construction walls that now inhabit the park for the foreseeable future that went up overnight.
Now on the walls near Toy Story Midway Mania you can see concept art for Toy Story Land. The one photo you can speculate where Star Wars Land will meet with Toy Story Land inside the park. Check it out:
Upper Corner you can see the assumed area where Star Wars Land will connect with Toy Story Land
Pictures are courtesy of @Bioreconstruct on Twitter.
Other Disney World Notes:
Today, also Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away stage show began a day early at the Studios. The Inside Out Meet & Greet with Joy and Sadness began at Epcot. Also in Epcot, The Circle of Life did not reopen as its refurbishment was supposed to end today.
That's all for today, its certainly the beginning of great future for Hollywood Studios. Its certainly needed it.
Every year a player or two from the winning Super Bowl team will do a spot with Disney shouting, "I'm going to Disney World/Disneyland." Not this year as no ad was created. Have no fear though as Super Bowl-winning QB Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos did make the trip to Disneyland with his family. Manning and his family participated in a ticker-tape parade this afternoon at the park.
Here is the video from Disneyland of Manning at the parade celebration:
It was the first time since 2005 that no "I'm going to Disney" ad was created. Congratulations to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on their Super Bowl 50 win.
Skipper Canteen to Accepted Same-Day Reservations for Limited Time:
For a limited time later this month, from February 12 to February 27, guests at Disney World will be able to make same-day reservations at the Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd Skipper Canteen. Guests will be able to make same-day reservations for either lunch or dinner.
Reservations can be made by either visiting jungleskippercanteen.com or by calling 407-993-1933. Will you be taking advantage during this limited time at the newest restaurant at the Magic Kingdom. It seems like this is another test and something more permanent on reservations will be made in the future for Skipper Canteen.
The Circle of Life at Epcot's The Land Pavilion Closed For Good?:
Today it was discovered that the Circle of Life show inside the Land pavilion at Epcot closed for a lengthy refurbishment unexpectedly. The attraction actually closed down yesterday. The show is expected be closed through April 2 and reopen on April 3.
The question remains though that will the movie based on the Circle of Life and the effects on the environment will return when the attraction reopens. No word has officially been announced of what kind of work is actually being done on the attraction that has been inside the pavilion for 21 years since 1995.
Speculation is that a new film will debut once the attraction reopens to modernize the film. The Circle of Life was a 20-minute 70 mm movie film that teaches the conservation with Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba from "The Lion King."
