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Ears the News: April 24, 2021 Edition


 Ears the News

Brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com

Disney Cruise Line to unveil the newest ship-'Disney Wish' 

Once Upon a Disney Wish took place on Thursday, April 29th on Disney's webpage.  The 30 minute presentation offered a sneak peek at the ship, and also had a chance to go behind-the-scenes with Walt Disney Imagineers for a look at creating the Disney Wish.  Click here for the presentation.
Disney Wish concept art
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

'A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King' to open May 2021 at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World President, Jeff Vahle, announced that 'A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King' will open in mid-May 2021.  There isn't a specific start date but there has been some anticipation that the mid-May timeframe continues to support increased capacity during  the summer season.  
Festival of the Lion King rehearsals
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Disney offering its Walt Disney World Cast Members a complimentary one-night resort stay ahead of the 50th celebrations

Walt Disney World Cast Members will be able to enjoy one night at a resort as Walt Disney World prepares for the 50th anniversary. Both active and furloughed cast members can sign up through the employee website from April 26 through June 1st.  They may stay at the resort beginning April 28-September 25.  This offer is available to Florida-based or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort full time, part time, or seasonal Cast Members, Imagineers or Employees.
Walt Disney World will begin its 50th celebrations on October 1 2021
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Patina Restaurant Group hosting job fair for its Walt Disney World restaurants

One of the largest operating participants at Walt Disney World is holding a job fair to recruit employees for its restaurants as the phased reopening from the COVID-19 shutdown continues.  More than 30 job positions is opening in Disney Springs locations including Maria & Enzo's, Pizza Ponte, Morimoto Asia, Enzo's Hideaway, The Edison and Vivoli il Gelato.  They're also hiring at their EPCOT locations which includes Tia Napoli and Tutto Italia.  Sign-on bonuses as high as $500 for back of house cooks and $300 for front of house, excluding services staff.  Positions will be available online and during the in-person job fair that takes places on Thursday, April 29, at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs from 10am to 3pm.Maria and Enzo's at Disney Springs
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

More Magic Kingdom snack kiosks join Mobile Order

More locations are allowing Mobile Order at the Magic Kingdom for guests to order directly from their phone.  Sunshine Tree Terrace, The Friar's Nook, and Sleepy Hollow were all added on April 21, 2021.  Mobile Order allows you to order meals in the My Disney Experience app.  Using the app, you can select you menu items, customize orders and pre-pay for a meal.  When you arrive at the restaurant, you'll tap an "I'm here" button in the app which notifies the kitchen to prepare the meal.  You will then be alerted, on the app, to pick up the meal at the designated window.

Sunshine Tree Terrace
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Operating Walt Disney World Mobile Order locations April 2021

  • ABC Commissary

  • Aloha Isle

  • The Artist's Palette

  • Avalunch

  • Backlot Express

  • Beach Club Marketplace

  • Boardwalk Bakery

  • Capt. Cook's

  • Centertown Market

  • Contempo Cafe

  • D-Luxe Burger

  • Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

  • Everything POP Shopping and Dining

  • Flame Tree Barbecue

  • The Friar's Nook

  • Gasparilla Island Grill

  • Harambe Market

  • Landscape of Flavors

  • Lottawatta Lodge

  • The Lunching Pad

  • The Mara

  • The market at Ale & Compass

  • Milk Stand

  • P&J's Southern Takeout

  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe

  • Pinocchio Village Haus

  • Pizza Window

  • PizzeRizzo

  • Primo Piatto

  • Regal Eagle Smokehouse

  • Restaurantosaurus 

  • Roaring Fork

  • Ronto Roasters

  • Rosei's All-American Cafe

  • Satu'li Canteen

  • Sleepy Hollow

  • Sunshine Seasons

  • Sunshine Tree Terrace

  • Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant

  • Warming Hut



John Stamos at Magic Kingdom as part of filming for American Idol Disney Night

John Stamos was at Walt Disney World  filming for ABC's American Idol Disney Night airing May 2nd.   The stage was setup along the walkway between Fantasyland and the hub.  The area was closed off to guests.  Stamos is a mentor for season 19 of American Idol and is holding one-on-one sessions with the season't top 10 contestants.  The contestants will perform a song from the renowned Disney songbook in hopes of securing American's real-time vote.  The Disney Night show will air Sunday, May 2nd on ABC.

John Stamos filming for American Idol
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Disney photographers capture SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch over Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and Space Mountain at Disney World

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocketlLaunch over Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and Space Mountain

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocketlLaunch over Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and Space Mountain
Photos courtesy of WDWMagic.com

Disney photographers captured fantastic images of Space X's Falcon 9 rocket launch.  Space X's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center .  Aboard were NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and European astronaut Thomas Pesquet.  This trip to the International Space Station is the third flight of the Crew Dragon capsule since May of last year.


Reopening date announced for Disney's Boardwalk Inn this summer

Disney's BoardWalk Inn will reopen on July 2, 2021.  Today's announcement continues the phased reopening of the resort hotels.  

Disney's BoardWalk Inn will reopen in July 2021
Photos courtesy of WDWMagic.com


  • May 30 2021 - Disney's Beach Club Resort

  • June 6 2021 - Disney's Wilderness Lodge

  • July 2 2021 - Disney's BoardWalk inn

  • Late July 2021 - Disney's Polynesian Resort

Disney's All Star Music, Disney's All Star Sports, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter remain closed and do not yet have a reopening date.


Disney shows off the 'Grand Hall' aboard the Disney Wish

Disney released the grand reveal of more concept art on the Disney Wish. The Grand Hall is described as "a bright, airy and elegant space that welcome guests as they first step on board." Its fairytale castle-inspired design is influenced by Gothic, Baroque and French Rococo. At the base of the grand staircase, under the glow of the wishing star, will stand the wish fulfillment herself: Cinderella. Cinderella's story represents the transformation of wishes into dreams and those dreams turning into reality. You will see a beautiful, bronze statue of Cinderella and many tributes to the Cinderella story in the Grand Hall's design. Click here for details of the new design concept.


Disney Wish concept art

Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com


Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover to reopen this weekend

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover will reopen this weekend at the Magic Kingdom, according to Walt Disney World President, Jeff Vahle.  The Magic Kingdom attraction has been closed since the first week of March 2020.

Tommorowland Transit Authority PeopleMover closed - July 2020
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com

EPCOT operating hours extended until July

Disney updated the operating hours through the second week of July 2021.  EPCOT will now see a 10pm closing time through July 10th.  It previously has been closed at 9pm.  Click here for park hours.

EPCOT hours have been extended to 10pm close through July 10
Photo courtesy of WDWMagic.com


Elisa loves helping others create magical memories with their family and friends. You can email Elisa at elisa@kingdomkonsultant.com





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