Bitesize Orlando November 2021 – Issue 5

After October’s bumper crop of news, November has been a quiet month for Florida theme parks news. D23, Disney’s official fan club held its annual get together last weekend which has given us the lions share of the news this month. Bitesize Orlando November 2021 will follow the blueprint of last months newsletter making it easier for you to scan for the content that you want starting with what has been happening on the website this month.

Website Updates

Not much may look to have been happening on the website but there is a reason. I have started the process of completely rewriting and laying out my free Holiday Planning Guide for 2022. There have been quite a few changes since its last rewrite. Disney World’s Fastpass+ service is out in favour of the premium Disney Genie service which will fundamentally change how you plan for your trip from now on. Disney’s complimentary airport transfer service, Disney’s Magical Express, is also going away from January leaving holidaymakers with no complimentary transport options from the airport. International phone charges are changing for the majority of UK phone customers in the Spring on top of COVID imposed restrictions and paperwork you have to deal with.

I am moving the guide over to a new professional level publishing system that will make incremental updates and rewrites much easier but it is a very slow process.

A lot of love goes into the holiday guide so this process isn’t quick, even without learning new software at the same time. A rewrite usually takes around 4 months on top of keeping the website updated. I hope to have it ready sometime in January or February. Once it is done incremental updates will be much easier to implement making the yearly updates a lot quicker also. Please bear with me while I make this necessary step.

New Orlando Holiday Planning Service

If getting your head around all this planning information is a little bit much I am also setting up a holiday planning service. For a one-off fee, I will help you plan your holiday. If you haven’t booked anything I can help you narrow down your accommodation and travel options. You can ask me any questions and get an honest, unbiased answer from someone that has been travelling to Orlando for over 20 years.

My interest in Orlando isn’t purely for leisure. I used to work in the travel industry and know the intricacies of airline and accommodation bookings as well as the directional selling that is still, unfortunately, rife within the industry.

You will have access to your own personal holiday planning space. A space where we can communicate, store notes and ideas, work on your itinerary. Everything you need for your holiday will all be in one space accessible on whatever device you choose. Before you leave for Orlando you will have a clear picture of how each day of your trip will look like.

A lot of groundwork has been covered but I still have a lot to do before it is ready. Like the guidebook, I hope to have it ready in early 2022.

As you can see there is quite a lot going on in the background, so please forgive me if things appear to go a bit quiet on the website while I iron out the finer details of the new guide and holiday planning service. Last week I published an article detailing the essential apps you need for an Orlando holiday. I hope to be able to put up a couple more articles before the new year to help with your planning.

Bitesize Orlando November 2021 Headlines

Disney World News

The annual D23 Expo has once again come and gone leaving us to digest a few nuggets of welcome information. First up for Disney World this month, something a little more offbeat!

Magic Kingdom Comes To Minecraft!

If your children play Minecraft, Disney has just released a Magic Kingdom downloadable pack in conjunction with the 50th-anniversary celebrations for the resort. The DLC is packed with iconic attractions and familiar characters from Disney and Pixar movies.

According to the post on Disney Park’s blog, you can explore the Magic Kingdom on your own or with friends (if you have a multiplayer subscription). Check out the video below for a little game play footage.

The Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Adventure DLC Pack requires Minecraft Bedrock Edition which can be purchased separately if not already installed. Download the pack now from the Minecraft Marketplace and start your magical adventure.

Fantasmic Returning To Hollywood Studios

Like most shows, Hollywood Studios nighttime spectacular Fantasmic was suspended in March 2020 when Disney World was forced to shut due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Unlike the fireworks at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT that returned this summer, Fantasmic has remained suspended. Photos have shown the stage getting a big refurbishment but no news has materialised about when the show will return, until now!

At the D23 fan event last week in Disney World it was finally confirmed that Fantasmic will be returning in 2022 although no exact timeframe was given.

Disney did share that it will return with a brand new sequence featuring live performers, stunts, special effects and more.

New Details About Finding Nemo At Animal Kingdom

We already know that the Finding Nemo show in Animal Kingdom is getting reimagined but Disney used the recent D23 event to share a little more news about the new show.

The new show will officially be called “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… And Beyond!”. The new storyline is set in the timeline of “Finding Nemo” sequel “Finding Dory”. Many of the popular songs from the original Finding Nemo show will be incorporated into the new storyline along with some brand new songs.

“When you take a seat in the theater, you’ll find yourself at the Marine Life Institute. As the show begins, we catch up with the fish from Dr. P. Sherman’s office in “Finding Nemo,” who have made their way across the ocean to California. They tell the story of Nemo and how they all got there, incorporating many of the beloved songs and production numbers from the original show. The team is hard at work getting “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” ready to open in 2022”

Shawn Slater, Disney Cast Member on the new Finding Nemo show

Magic Kingdom Daytime Parade Returning

Like Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom’s popular daytime parade has been suspended since the park closed in March 2020. Last weekend Disney shared the news that the Festival Of Fantasy Parade will be returning to the Magic Kingdom in “early 2022”.

If you are looking to travel before the parade returns, you can still catch a parade in Magic Kingdom. The Christmastime Parade is currently running on select nights at Magic Kingdom as part of the separately ticketed “Disney Very Merry” After Hours Event. The event runs from 9pm for 4 hours on select nights from early November until 21st December. The exorbitant price and late timing may take some of the shine off the magic. Tickets to the Very Merry After Hours Event start at $169 per person and can go as high as $249!

New Cavalcade In 2022 Despite Parade Return

When the parks reopened post-COVID shutdown, Disney was forced to suspend the parades and fireworks due to social distancing regulations brought in by the state of Florida. Earlier this year Disney introduced character cavalcades which enabled guests to still meet their favourite characters in a socially responsible setting. With the parade returning, Disney also announced that a new cavalcade will start in Magic Kingdom in 2022.

The Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade will feature the most characters to date including Nick and Judie from Zootopia, Baloo and King Louie from Jungle Book plus Merida, Moana, The Incredibles and more.

Cavalcades were only meant as a temporary fix but have proven quite popular. Cavalcades remain quite dynamic. Some are getting removed in favour of more traditional meet and greet opportunities where possible. Keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app that lists the times of the cavalcades on your visit.

Daytime Stage Show Returning To Magic Kingdom

Also returning in “early 2022” is the popular Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire. The show will once again play multiple times throughout the day on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage.

The show will return with 50th-anniversary costumes for the performers and a brand new song, “Where The Magic Feels Like Home”. Scenes and songs from the original show will also be incorporated into the new one.

Lightsaber Training Preview

D23 also offered fans a sneak peek at one of the most anticipated experiences that will be part of your stay in the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel, Lightsaber training.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro visited the almost complete complex just outside Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park recently to share an update on progress. The short video below will give you an idea of what lightsaber training will look like. As a bonus, we also get to see what it will be like to command and defend the ship.

Disney On Broadway 2022 Lineup Announced For EPCOT

Disney On Broadway will once again grace EPCOT on select days as part of EPCOT’s annual celebration of culinary, visual and performing arts, collectively titled, “EPCOT International Festival Of The Arts“.

The 2022 festival will run from 14th January until 21st February. Disney On Broadway is a special show presented in the often unused America Gardens Theatre opposite The American Adventure attraction.

There will be three performances per day. This full lineup is as follows:

• Jan. 14, 16, 17, 20 & 21 – Arielle Jacobs (“Aladdin”) & Adam Jacobs (“Aladdin”)
• Jan. 15, 18, 19, 22 & 23 – Kerry Butler (“Beauty and the Beast”) & Telly Leung (“Aladdin”)
• Jan. 24, 26, 27, 30, 31 and Feb. 3 & 4 – Heidi Blickenstaff (“Freaky Friday,” “The Little Mermaid”) & Robert Creighton (“Frozen”)
• Jan. 25, 28, 29 and Feb. 1, 2, 5 & 6 – Kara Lindsay (“Newsies”) & Dan DeLuca (“Newsies”)
• Feb. 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17 & 18 – Ashley Brown (“Mary Poppins”) & Josh Strickland (“Tarzan”)
• Feb. 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 & 20 – Kissy Simmons (“The Lion King”) & Michael James Scott (“Aladdin”)
• Feb. 21 – Special, extended finale performance featuring Brown, Strickland, Simmons & Scott

Seaworld Orlando November 2021 News

Just one minor change this month for Seaworld who are sitting on their brand new roller coaster, Ice Breaker, until next year.

Sunny Day Carousel Opens in “Sesame Street”

The Sesame Street area opened in 2019 replacing Shamu’s Happy Harbour play area. Most attractions were re-themed with new ones added to create the fan favourite area we see today. For some reason, the carousel that was part of Shamu’s Happy Harbour was left with it’s original ocean branding, until this week.

The Carousel re-theme brings the former Sea Carousel into the theming of Sesame Street. Like the rest of the area, it features bright colours and an engaging theme welcoming children on board. On Seaworld’s sensory guide it rates 2 in touch, 0 in taste, 2 in sound, 1 in smell and 4 in sight.

Legoland Florida Resort

The main Legoland Resort is busy putting the finishing touches to their new attraction for 2022. Peppa Pig Theme Park right next door has announced an opening date and news that will delight some families.

Peppa Pig Theme Park Certified As Autism Centre

When it opens on 24th February 2022, the Peppa Pig Theme Park next door to Legoland will be certified as an Autism Centre.

At the recent IAAPA trade show in Orlando, executives also revealed a new accessible ride car on the Peppa Pig’s Balloon Ride attraction. A full accessibility Guide and longer-term plans for the park are being worked on. The Muddy Puddles Splash Pad has also been designed to be accessible to all. The ground will be specially graded for wheelchair use and include water play elements over serval heights including a tunnel of water loops that can be navigated in a wheelchair.

Peppa Pig World has teamed up with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to earn its accreditation as a Certified Autism Center (CAC). Staff have undergone autism sensitivity and awareness training.

The extensive program of ongoing training covers the areas of sensory awareness, environment, communication, motor and social skills, program development, and emotional awareness, and includes a comprehensive autism competency exam.

Check out the video below for an update on the construction and a peek at some of the areas you can enjoy at Peppa Pig Theme Park when it opens.

That’s it for this month. That you for reading and, seeing as my next Bitesize Orlando will be New Year’s Eve I would like to thank everyone for the support and wish you all a very merry Christmas.