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‘Hey, Disney’, A Magical Voice Assistant at Home and at Walt Disney World

Today, Amazon and Disney announced ‘Hey, Disney!’, an entirely new kind of voice assistant that will work alongside Alexa at home and across Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms. Expected next year, ‘Hey, Disney!’ will let fans and Guests interact with some of their most beloved Disney characters, simply by saying ‘Hey, Disney!’ on supported Echo devices at home and at Disney Resort hotels.

Hey Disney

‘Hey, Disney!’ and Alexa will begin rolling out in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms as part of the 50th anniversary celebration. ‘Hey, Disney!’ and Alexa will work side-by-side to simplify Guests’ stay and make it a bit more delightful by answering questions, fulfilling special requests and more. Guests can ask ‘Hey, Disney!’ for more blankets and towels, the fastest way to get to the park in the morning and where to get their favorite food. With Alexa, Guests can hear the news, ask for sports scores, play music and more.

With ‘Hey, Disney!’, fans and Guests will get access to interactive Disney storytelling experiences and entertainment, as well as fun and delightful content like jokes, fun facts and special surprises featuring Disney characters. Go on interactive adventures with Mickey, Dory and Olaf, or sit back and listen to your favorite Disney stories. Transport yourself to the worlds of your favorite characters with unique Soundscapes or test your Disney knowledge with trivia. ‘Hey, Disney!’ will even make everyday tasks more magical, such as setting timers and alarms, and checking the weather or time of day.

To bring a little more magic to your in-home Alexa experience, Disney announces the availability of a new Mickey-inspired stand for Echo Show 5. This OtterBox Den Series case brings the fun of Disney to your home with a playfully designed stand.

Hey Disney

The ‘Hey, Disney!’ voice assistant was developed from the ground up by Disney, featuring original character voice recordings and audio, with over 1,000 magical interactions to discover, as well as a brand-new character created as a guide — the Disney Magical Companion. ‘Hey, Disney!’ will mark the first time an Alexa Custom Assistant will be available on Echo devices.

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theDIBB > Disney

2021 Walt Disney World Holiday Resort Packages Now Available

Walt Disney World Holiday Resort Packages are expected to go on sale today from 10am (EST). Previously the date announced was 28 June, however this seems to have been brought forward. disneyholidays.co.uk

Walt Disney Travel Company

For anyone looking to book a holiday with Walt Disney World for 2021 will be able to do so from today. We are not sure at this point if this will only be booking through the US site or if bookings will be able to be made through the UK site. Continue reading →

theDIBB > Disney

Forthcoming Attractions

Forthcoming Theme Park Attractions and New Parks

Listed below are a number of possible upcoming theme park attractions, lands, and new theme parks coming to Florida. Although the list contains all confirmed and strongly-rumoured new attractions, some of the details may still be somewhat vague – especially the opening date. Once the details, including the opening date, become known then the attraction or park will be added to the Theme Park Timeline.

For temporary changes or closures to park attractions please see the separate list of Ride Closures and Future Refurbishments.

Walt Disney World

Animal Kingdom

  • None confirmed.

Epcot

  • HarmonioUS firework show – New nighttime firework show opening sometime in 2020. This replaces the temporary new firework show Epcot Forever.
  • Festival pavilion – New three-level pavilion for live events and festivals with a park on the top, possibly opening in 2022.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy ride – New indoor rollercoaster at Universe of Energy pavilion replacing Ellen’s Energy Adventure, opening sometime in 2021 (possibly Spring).
  • Journey of Water – Walking water-based trail inspired by “Moana”, possibly opening in 2021.
  • Mary Poppins attraction – New Mary Poppins attraction and Cherry Tree Lane area, opening sometime in the next few years (2021 or 2022).
  • Play Pavilion – New interactive play “city” coming to the old Wonders of Life pavilion in Future World, opening sometime before 2021.
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – New trackless 3D dark ride at the France pavilion, opening in Summer 2020.
  • Space 220 – New space-themed restaurant next to Mission: SPACE, opening sometime in 2020.
  • Update to Spaceship Earth – Spaceship Earth is to be updated with new narration, new musical score, and new scenes, probably opening in 2022.
  • Wondrous China – New film in the China pavilion of World Showcase, opening in 2020.

Hollywood Studios

  • None confirmed.

Magic Kingdom

  • New Nighttime Parade – Rumoured new nighttime parade, possibly opening in 2021.
  • TRON Lightcycle Run – New rollercoaster coming to Tomorrowland, possibly opening in Summer 2021.
  • Changes to Tomorrowland Speedway – Rumoured TRON-themed update to the existing Speedway attraction, possibly opening in 2021.
  • Wreck-It Ralph – Rumoured for 2022 to replace Stitch’s Great Escape in Tomorrowland.

Blizzard Beach

  • None confirmed.

Typhoon Lagoon

None confirmed

General

  • Star Wars: Galactic Star Cruiser Hotel – New Star Wars themed hotel linked to Galaxy’s Edge area in Hollywood Studios, possibly opening in 2021.

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Studios

  • Bourne Stuntacular – New indoor stunt show based on the high-energy Bourne franchise, opening in Spring 2020. This replaces Terminator 2 3D.

Islands of Adventure

  • Jurassic Park rollercoaster – Rumoured new launched steel rollercoaster themed to Jurassic Park/World, possibly called “Velocicoaster” and possibly opening in Spring 2021.

Volcano Bay

  • None confirmed.

General

  • Epic Universe – New Universal Orlando theme park, including lands rumoured to be themed to Super Nintendo (Mario and Donkey Kong), Universal Classic Monsters, Dreamworks, Harry Potter, opening sometime in 2023.

Seaworld Orlando

  • Ice Breaker – New launch rollercoaster opening in Spring 2020

Aquatica

  • Riptide Race – Florida’s first duelling water slide, opening sometime in 2020.

Busch Gardens Tampa

  • Iron Gwazi – The world’s fastest and steepest wooden-steel hybrid rollercoaster, opening in Spring 2020. This replaces Gwazi.

Please see the Theme Park Timeline for a graphical list of new attractions that have opened since a previous visit.

theDIBB > Disney

Theme Park Refurbishments & Attraction Closures

There are a lot of attractions and rides at the theme parks in Orlando and all of these attractions and rides need regular maintenance or refurbishments (Rehabs). Much of this refurbishment (Rehab) maintenance is performed without affecting the theme park attraction or ride, however there are times when an attraction or ride has to be closed for rehab maintenance for a short period.

There may also be times when an attraction or ride is scheduled to be closed permanently.

Here you will find a list of ride closures and future refurbishment (Rehab) schedules for theme parks in Orlando.

All rehab dates are inclusive. So the attraction or ride is still closed or in rehab on the final date shown and reopens the next day.

This list is updated from the official Disney WDW refurbishment list and is checked and updated daily:

Magic Kingdom Park

  • Walt Disney World Railroad – Closed 6th January 2019 ~ TBD

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

  • Closed 13th September 2020 ~ TBD

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

  • TBD

‘Rehab’ refers to the scheduled maintenance, refurbishment or closure of a Ride or Attraction.

theDIBB > Disney

Theme Park Closing Strategy

The Disney theme parks can handle very large crowds however there are certain times when the parks reach capacity. When the theme parks start to reach their maximum capacity levels Disney employs a phased closure of the parks to new arriving guests.

Phases of Theme Park Closure

Phase 1

Admission is limited to:

  • Guests staying at a Disney Resort
  • Annual Passholders
  • Guests with multi-day tickets
  • Guests with multi-park tickets
  • Guests re-entering the park.
  • Guests coming from another Disney park.
  • Guests with reservations in the park
  • Guests arriving on Disney transportation

Phase 2

Admission is limited to:

  • Guests staying at a Disney Resort
  • Annual Passholders
  • Guests re-entering the park.
  • Guests coming from another Disney park.
  • Guests with reservations in the park
  • Guests arriving on Disney transportation

Phase 3

Admission is limited to:

  • Guests staying at a Disney Resort
  • Annual Passholders
  • Guests with reservations in the park

Phase 4

All guests are turned away