David KrisoThe Christmas season is winding down as we speak. New Year’s preparations are underway. The champagne is now the hot item on the shopping list. The party hats, the fancy 2023 party glasses, and New Year’s party supplies are on the shelves. 2023, a bigger and even better year is on the horizon. In Walt Disney World, there will be many new and better things to look forward to. After the sudden ousting of CEO Bob Chapek, many new things will be changing for the better. So, what bigger and better experiences should Disney travelers look forward to for 2023?
5. Walt Disney World Railroad reopened! The Walt Disney World Railroad has finally reopened after a four-year hibernation. Back in 2018, the Walt Disney World Railroad shut down in order for a track replacement project to begin. The entire track layout around the Magic Kingdom, was in need of replacement. Much of the tracks were the same tracks laid in 1970, during the Magic Kingdom’s construction. After a long four-year hiatus, the Walt Disney World Railroad will once again be making stops at Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Main Street U.S.A. One more thing-the train will be passing through a newly constructed tunnel beneath the Tron Lightcycle Run’s cue area. Think of it-the cue corridor for Space Mountain passes underground, beneath the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks. Imagination couldn’t be more exciting!
4. Blizzard Beach reopens with Frozen theme! Imagine a ski resort that has melted away! The year was April 1st, 1995. Yes, it snowed in Florida. April fool! Blizzard Beach has been a smash hit of a water park since that opening day. From Meltaway Bay, to Slush Gusher, to Teamboat Springs, to the grand daddy of them all-Summit Plummet, it is the perfect aquatic getaway from the four major parks. Originally, Ice Gator was the symbol character. This time, Blizzard Beach will have a new theme-Frozen, featuring Olaf and the cast of characters from Frozen. There’s simply no better theme to grace Blizzard Beach than the cast of Frozen. For an animated film that took the world by “snow storm” in 2013, it’s the right fit for Blizzard Beach and the perfect theme for its storyline. It’s true aquatic magic flowing once again.
3. Guardians of The Galaxy-Cosmic Rewind (EPCOT): Remember the original attraction, “Universe of Energy”, presented by Exxon? It was the attraction with the dinosaurs, with the upbeat theme song “Universe of Energy”. Click on the link to listen to the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hYoGfacCRM Disney’s imagineers put their heads together and couldn’t come up with a more exciting, more modern attraction to appeal to today’s Disney fanbase. May 2022, Guardians of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, opened to the public. The story line is set in present day, however, guests are teleported to the world of galaxy known as Xandar. Guests are shown a new form of technology known as the cosmic generator. Suddenly, the cosmic generator is stolen. Guests are then lead to coaster trains build to look like Nova ship capsules. Guardians of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is not just any kind of roller coaster. Guardians of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is is Disney’s first ever “story-telling” roller coaster, a roller coaster which the guests’ coaster carriages pivot 360 degrees. Best of all, the guests are catapulted backwards. Making the attraction all the more interesting, the ride follows a mix selection of 80s and 90s songs. The characters of Guardians of The Galaxy-Star Lord, Quil, Groot, Drax, and Rocket take guests for the ride of their lives.
2. Tron Lightcyle Run (Magic Kingdom): This coming April 2023, the Magic Kingdom will be home to four roller coaster attractions. Ever since 2017, the commotion about Tron Lightcycle Run being added to the Magic Kingdom couldn’t have made Disney fans more excited. The COVID pandemic slowed things down a bit of course, but that hasn’t stopped the commotion at all. The COVID pandemic never shed any doubt on when or if the attraction would open. Now the news is for real. April 2023, Tron Lightcycle Run will open to the public. At the same time, the Walt Disney World Railroad was closed, while the track had to be rerouted through a tunnel passing beneath Tron’s cue area. Tron Lightcycle Run first opened in the Shanghai Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. It was an immediate smash hit. Without a doubt, it is destined to be a smash hit in Florida. Click on the link to view Tron Lightcycle Run in Shanghai. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taeucixxrdM&t=2s
1. Park reservation system (Big change!): If there is one experience guests have shown more unappreciation for, it has been Disney’s park reservation system. The park reservation system has been a disaster since the ending of the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, and even post-pandemic, guests had to make reservations for each and every park. That being said, guests were forced to plan their stay way in advance. Why should that even be the new normal? Guests can finally breathe easy. A more desired new normal is coming to Disney parks, especially at Walt Disney World. Guests will no longer need to make reservations for each and every park. When guests purchase a multi-day ticket, the reservation is already included. The park reservation system will still be in place for annual passholders, particularly Florida residents. They will have to make reservations for whichever park they wish to visit on whatever day. The only experiences resort guests need to make reservations for are the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue at Fort Wilderness Campground, recreational activities (ex. horseback riding at Tri-Circle D Ranch), and VIP tours (ex. Backstage Magic). To better control the park crowds, it’s best to give resort guests the benefit, since they’re paying the big bucks to stay on property. Fair is fair!
2023 is coming! It is time to pop open the champagne. Not only is a new year on the horizon, but bigger and better things are coming for the “Happiest Place on Earth”. Walt Disney World has gone through a lot in recent years. From losing money due to the pandemic, to making adjustments to follow pandemic guidelines, to readjusting to post-pandemic life, Walt Disney World, along with Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, were forced to make many changes. Much of those changes were encouraged by former CEO Bob Chapek, whose businessman’s mindset proved unfit for Disney’s sophisticated fanbase. 2023 is bound to bring about many new experiences. Among them are the Walt Disney World Railroad-returning to action after being closed for four years, Blizzard Beach reopening with a Frozen retheme, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, the April opening of Tron Lightcycle Run, and the most anticipated experience of all-the park reservation system being dropped, however still required for annual passholders (i.e. Florida residents). It is experiences like the following that are going to guarantee guests a stay like no other. For the first time in forever, the uninterrupted happiness which guests are were long used to for experiencing during their stay, is finally here…to stay.
