Well hey everyone! I can’t believe we are already over a month into 2019. I mean, the Super Bowl already happened. And I bring this up only to say:
GO PATRIOTS!!!!!
I actually had the good fortune to work from home earlier this week while they were streaming the Tom Brady/Julian Edelman parade from Disney:
Both Lilo and I enjoyed it obviously.
So the point is – 2019 is off to a pretty great start. And 2019 feels legit like the Year of Disney. From the movies to the parks to small screen, Disney is doing some serious damage this year.
And as of right now, we will not only be in Disneyland and visiting the Walt Disney Family museum on our California road trip this summer but I think we may be squeezing in some Walt Disney World in November when we are down there for Shannon and Evin’s wedding. And it seems like the moments not spent in the parks this year will be largely spent at the movies taking in all the Disney we can. So like, we are looking forward to hella-Disney this year.
But I thought it might be a good idea to list off some of the new Disney coming in 2019. There’s a lot to look forward to this year so I am going to be splitting this into a couple posts with this one focusing on the parks. I will do another one on the entertainment side of things a little later.
So what’s going on at the parks?
I thought it would be best to keep this US-based and focus only on Disneyland and Walt Disney World here. I mean, EVERYTHING at the other parks would be new to us, right? Right? Oh fine, I just didn’t want to do ALL that research. I have a real job, you know.
Here’s what the Goodys are talking about when it comes to new introductions at the US parks over the next year:
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World) – Let’s just get this one out of the way right off the bat. This is THE big news at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. For those living somewhere under some sort of large rock or rock-like structure, Disney is bringing a Star Wars-themed land to both Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando and Disneyland Park in California. Thing will be all kinds of immersive with two new attractions in each location (including one where you can ride the Millennium Falcon…pew pew.) And we are both excited and nervous to be visiting Disneyland within what looks like weeks of the thing opening. Hello crowds but also, hello STAR FRIKKIN WARS!
Opening: Summer 2019 in Disneyland and Late Fall in Walt Disney World
Excitement level: 10 (out of 10)
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Hollywood Studios) – Look, I was bummed to see the Great Movie Ride close as well, but the (long overdue) introduction of a Mickey and Minnie-themed attraction is pretty coolness. Housed inside the Chinese Theater, the gist is this thing will make you feel as though you’re a part of a Mickey cartoon short. And word is they are using some pretty cutting edge tech to make this feel like you are really part of a cartoon. I guess they are calling it “2 ½ D,” which is like 3D without glasses, I guess? I don’t know. But hey, a new ride. And a dark ride at that. Bonus.
Opening: Fall 2019
Excitement level: 8 (out of 10)
- Disney’s Skyliner (Walt Disney World) – So yeah, only us real crazy Disneyheads get excited about new modes of transportation. But still, is IS a pretty neat way to travel – through the air and what not. And being someone that never rode the Skyway – or at least I don’t remember ever riding it (alcohol DOES kill brain cells so) I am excited about this whole gondola system offering me a new perspective on Disney World. Being that it provides transport only between EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and resorts we don’t really stay at (Caribbean Beach) or ones we aren’t sure we will stay at when it opens (Riviera) AND its rumored these WILL BE enclosed but WILL NOT have air conditioning, our excitement is a bit muted. But still, air transport around Disney World? Cool stuff. Plus the gondolas are insanely cute.
Opening; Fall 2019
Excitement level: 5 (out of 10) - Riviera Hotel (Walt Disney World) – I think the addition of any new hotel at Walt Disney World is exciting regardless of what the hotel is. But the Riviera is essentially just a DVC property for the Caribbean Beach Resort and while we do usually stay DVC, I am not sure if we will be staying there any time soon. Based on the early concept art, theming looks minimal (place looks like a Hilton or whatevz) and the location isn’t the best. We typically pick our hotel based on convenience. The aforementioned Skyliner will be there, but that just doesn’t seem enough to warrant what I assume a high price tag. I will say, though, there is talk of a rooftop restaurant that will have views of both the EPCOT and Hollywood Studios nighttime spectaculars. That DOES make me more interested. As I like both food AND spectaculars. And spectacular food.
Opening; December 2019
Excitement level: 4 (out of 10)
- EPCOT Forever (EPCOT, duh) – Speaking of nighttime spectaculars. Of course, I am sad to see my favorite nighttime show, Illuminations, come to an end. You know this, man. And the actual permanent replacement for Illuminations won’t actually debut until 2020. But the interim replacement show – EPCOT Forever – seems like something for true EPCOT fans, with classic EPCOT music behind a display of fireworks, lighting, lasers (pew pew), and something called special effects kites. I like the sound of that and with us most likely going to WDW for a few days in November after Shannon’s wedding, it seems the perfect opportunity to bask in the limited-time-ness of the whole thing.
Opening; Fall 2019
Excitement level: 6 (out of 10) - Wonderful World of Animation Nighttime Show (Hollywood Studios) – continuing the whole nighttime spectacular thing, Hollywood Studios also has a new nighttime show coming this year – The Wonderful World of Animation. Part of Hollywood Studios’ 30th anniversary, this will be a projection show that takes guests through 90 years of Disney animation. Last trip, we saw Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! for the first time and I really liked how they made use of the Chinese Theater for projections and I mean, those lasers were legit. Pew. Pew. So I kind of have high hopes for this one. Not 100% on whether this will be a limited time thing or not but hopefully it will be showing when we visit in November.
Opening; May 2019
Excitement level: 6 (out of 10)
- NBA Experience (Disney Springs) – Basketball has become an increasingly large part of our house so I am kind of thinking this will be a must-visit in November as we are def planning on spending some time at Disney Springs. This place looks hella-cool tho. We can participate in slam dunk challenges, practice our shooting, take part in dribbling challenges, get a photo on the NBA draft stage, and a lot more. When I first heard an NBA experience was what was replacing DisneyQuest, I was kind of meh about the whole thing, but the more I hear about this place, the more I am kind of getting excited about it. Especially since I don’t think I will ever actually be in the NBA. Turns out you have to be good at basketball.
Opening; Summer 2019
Excitement level: 7 (out of 10)
- Finishing Pixar Pier (Disney’s California Adventure) – Pretty much ALL of Pixar Pier will be new to us when we visit Disneyland this summer. Last time we visited, this area was still Paradise Pier so we are excited to see the whole thing. The Incredicoaster. The Lamplight Lounge. Jack-Jack’s cookie num-nums. And in 2019, they will be adding two new attractions – Jessie’s Critter Carousel and the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind. By themselves, they’re probably not the most exciting attractions – the carousel is, well, a carousel….and the Emotional Whirlwind seems like it’s just a repurposed Flik’s Flyers – but I think it just makes Pixar Pier all that more of a destination. Which I think really helps make California Adventure a much better park.
Opening; Not sure, 2019
Excitement level: 5 (out of 10)
2019 is going to be a very VERY exciting year at the parks and we are psyched to be visiting both Disneyland and Walt Disney World to see it all. #blessed and all.
WeHeartDisney 
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