There’s a lot changing in Disney World in 2022 and we want you to know what to expect.
Let’s take a look at all of the biggest changes coming to Disney World this year and when you can expect to see them!
Favorite Offerings Return
First up, 2022 is going to bring us the return of some favorite offerings. For one, April 18th kicks off the phased return of traditional character meet and greets.
Yep, autographs, hugs, high fives, and more with Disney characters will be returning to the parks over the course of Spring and Summer!
Click here to learn more about this return!
Additionally, this summer will bring the return of the Minnie Vans rideshare offering.
This transportation option is a collaboration between Disney World and Lyft. You can use the Lyft app to book a Minnie Van, driven by a Cast Member, that can take you anywhere you need to go in Disney World!
Want to learn more about Minnie Vans? Click here!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Opens
Meet the Guardians at Planet Xandar’s new EPCOT pavilion and find yourself on Disney’s first reverse-launch omnicoaster to a special soundtrack. We can’t wait!
To learn more about this ride, click here!
New Restaurants Open
Did you know several new restaurants are set to open in Disney World this year? Salt & Straw is a very popular ice cream shop that already has a location in Disneyland, and now it’s coming to Disney Springs!
The spot was originally supposed to open in March but has yet to open. We’re keeping an eye out!
Click here to learn more about Salt & Straw!
Back over in EPCOT, we’re waiting for Spring’s debut of Connections Cafe and Eatery near Creations Shop!
This new spot will serve up a worldly menu and be the location of the park’s Starbucks!
Want to see more about Connections? Click here!
Finally, there’s a new table-service restaurant confirmed to open in Toy Story Land this year! Disney’s Hollywood Studios will soon be home to Roundup Rodeo BBQ, a Toy Story-themed restaurant that will serve up barbecue in a rodeo toy set environment.
Plus, Toy Story Land is also getting a new store — Jessie’s Trading Post!
To learn more about the Toy Story Land updates, click here!
Hotel Refurbishments
Did you know some hotels are changing too? Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been under construction for some time as 200 Disney Vacation Club villas are added.
The construction is set to wrap up this summer, but that’s not the only resort that’s getting a DVC update.
Click here to learn more about the Grand Floridian refurbishment!
Over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, new DVC villas are set to be constructed as well. Construction is set to begin this year but the project is set to be complete in 2024.
The best part? These new villas are set to bring new dining and entertainment. That’s big news!
Want to learn more about the Polynesian changes? Click here!
Entertainment Changes
2022 is also bringing some updates and changes to entertainment. Sometime this year, Fantasmic! will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios after over two years of hiatus.
And it’s bringing with it some updates! We can’t wait to see this refreshed classic.
To learn more about the return of Fantasmic!, click here!
Over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Finding Nemo: A Big, Blue World is set to debut as a replacement for Finding Nemo: The Musical at Theater in the Wild.
This new show will still be based on Finding Nemo characters and feature songs from the old musical like “Go With The Flow.” But it will also feature new story material!
Click here to learn more about this new show!
More Restaurant Reopenings
Some beloved restaurants are reopening too — and these are some long-awaited favorites. Hoop Dee Doo Revue, for instance, is coming back to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground on June 23rd.
Yep, we’ll be back to eating buckets of fried chicken and watching this (updated!) hoedown next month!
Want to see more about this return? Click here!
Victoria & Albert’s is an award-winning signature restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa that has been closed since 2020.
Disney has confirmed that this spot will reopen for nights of fine dining this year! There’s no exact date yet, so stay tuned.
To see more about Victoria & Albert’s reopening, click here!
Technology Updates
Finally, 2022 is bringing us some big-time tech updates in Disney World. MagicBand+, the new evolution of MagicBand is set to debut sometime this year.
The new bands feature an updated design, expanded features, and even the ability to interact with physical elements in the theme parks.
Click here to see more of MagicBand+
And Hey, Disney! is set to begin appearing in hotel rooms this year. This new offering is a collaboration between Disney and Amazon Alexa.
Hey, Disney! will be offered in hotel rooms and guests can speak to the system with voice commands for information, scheduling, and more!
Want to learn more about Hey, Disney!? Click here!
We’ll be keeping an eye out for more exciting changes and dates so stay tuned to AllEars!
To save big on your 2022 vacation, click here!
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What changes are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments!
Any idea when the new Magicband+ will be released? I’ve got a trip coming up in November and would really like to try it out.