Welcome to Travel Tuesday — your guide to what’s happening around the Disney Parks and beyond! If you’re planning a Disney vacation or are about to embark on one, we’ll let you know what changes, additions, and experiences you can expect.
This week’s edition find characters from Zootopia and Finding Dory making their way into the parks, purple MagicBands making a lot of vacationers happy, and two new ways to cruise with Disney on the horizon.
Disneyland Update | Walt Disney World Update | Other Disney Destination Update
Disney Parks Overall
Star Wars Lands to Break Ground
At this year’s shareholder meeting, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger mentioned how excited he was about the construction of the new Star Wars Lands at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He also discussed the two attractions that have been announced. One allows guests to be in command of the Millennium Falcon while the other puts the guests in the midst of an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order.
When asked by a shareholder if a third attraction was cut due to budget concerns, Iger said that there have been many versions of the plans and that they are confident that finished product will be spectacular. He also said they are spending plenty of money on the new lands.
Finally, he announced that the two lands will officially break ground in April.
The Jungle Book Preview
In what is not a surprising event, Disney Parks announced that a preview of The Jungle Book will be coming to both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World on March 18. Replacing the Zootopia preview, the new sneak peek will be held at the Bug’s Life Theatre at Disney California Adventure and at One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The version at Disney California Adventure will feature special in-theater effects.
The Jungle Book will be released April 15.
Zootopia Characters
With Zootopia breaking Disney Animation box office records, it should be no surprise that Nick and Judy will be coming to Disney Parks. At Disney California Adventure, they will meet guests on Hollywood Boulevard. At Walt Disney World, they will be participating in the “Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It!” Street Party at the Magic Kingdom. No start date was given, but they should be making appearances soon.
Finding Dory Comes to Turtle Talk
At both Epcot and Disney California Adventure, characters from Finding Dory will be added to Turtle Talk. Destiny the whale shark, Bailey the beluga whale, and Hank the octopus will join Dory and Crush in meeting and interacting with guests. The new additions should start appearing in early May. Finding Dory comes to theaters June 17.
Quick Takes
Alamo Launches “I Wanna Disney Parks Vacation” Sweepstakes
RunDisney Reportedly Switching to PhotoPass for Events