Dads of the Kingdom Episode 00005 - 2017 D23 Announcements for WDW

Terry and John talk about the 2017 D23 announcements...excited about the new additions arriving at Walt Disney World over the next 1-5 years!

"Minnie Van" Service Starts at Walt Disney:

• The Minnie vehicles will take you everywhere you want to go at the Walt Disney World Resort, and you’ll ride in Minnie’s classic style.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Ratatouille Coming to Epcot:

• “Guardians of the Galaxy”-inspired attraction will be added to Future World, adhering to the original vision of Epcot’s Future World as the place to experience the excitement and adventure offered by space travel. This new attraction will replace the current Universe of Energy attraction, closing 8/13/17
• “Ratatouille”-inspired attraction will also be added to the France Pavilion in World Showcase. Similar to the 4-D attraction Ratatouille: The Adventure that opened at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris in 2014
• Both attractions to open by 2021 for Walt Disney Worlds’ 50th anniversary.
• Disney Skyliner:
• Connect Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century and Caribbean Beach resorts and other locations with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the International Gateway at Epcot. And many of the gondolas with Disney Skyliner will feature favorite Disney characters.

Disney Vacation Club Announces Disney Riviera Resort:

• Rooftop restaurant that will offer unbelievable views of nighttime spectaculars at both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
• Estimated to open 2019.
• Connected to the new Skyliner transportation system.

Toy Story Land to open in summer 2018:

• Two new attractions; Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers.

Disney Planning Three, Not Two, New Cruise Ships:

• All ships completed by 2023.
• New, immersive experience.
• Larger than current Disney cruise ships.

Tron Attraction Coming to Magic Kingdom:

• Tron – the highest-rated attraction at Shanghai Disneyland – is coming to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! The new Tron attraction will sit in an entirely new area right next to the Space Mountain attraction at Magic Kingdom Park.
• Opening 2021, Walt Disney Worlds’ 50th anniversary.

Space Restaurant Coming to Epcot:

• The restaurant will invite guests to travel into space for amazing dining experiences in the stars. “Windows” will display scenes from space.

Star Wars Land to open 2019:

• One attraction will make you feel like you’re on a Star Destroyer inside a hangar bay. It’s an attraction built on a scale we’ve never done before.
• The second attraction will give guests the opportunity to fly the Millennium Falcon, piloting the ship, shooting blasters or preparing for hyperspace – all while completing a critical mission.
• Immersive land with character interactions.

Star Wars Resort:

• The hotel will be a luxury hotel. Many are assuming that means it will be on par with Disney World’s deluxe category.
• The hotel is a large part of the experience, not just a place to stay. Guests will feel like they are stepping into a place in the Star Wars story, not just a Star Wars-themed hotel.
• To accomplish that feeling of immersion, each guest will be given a storyline that shapes his or her experience.
• Guests will wear Star Wars costumes during the experience.
• Hotel employees will play characters in the Star Wars story while performing their duties. That’s different from other Walt Disney World hotel staffs.
• This is advertised as a “multi-day adventure,” and it likely will be priced as such. Surveys given to guests visiting Walt Disney World indicated the price point could be $1,000 per person for three days and two nights. Disney has not announced an official price for the experience.
• The hotel will be a spaceship in the Star Wars fleet. As such, there won’t be windows looking out to Walt Disney World grounds. Instead, each window will show space scenes.

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