First, we've got our first glimpse at some of the new ride video for the upcoming Soarin' Around the World show, which debuts at Shanghai Disneyland on June 16, then follows at Epcot and Disney California Adventure the next day. Epcot's Soarin' attraction also is getting a third theater for the show, in an attempt to reduce its often hours-plus wait.
Over in World Showcase, the old Maelstrom ride is becoming Frozen Ever After, a musical adventure featuring Anna, Elsa, and the whole gang from Arendelle. Academy Award-winning composers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez talked about their roles in adapting Frozen into the new attraction.
Much of Disney's Hollywood Studios will remain a construction zone this summer, as work continues on Toy Story Land and the new Star Wars land. But DHS is getting an expansive new Star Wars-themed fireworks and projection mapping show this summer — Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. Show Director Michael Roddy explains:
Frozen Ever After and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular will open sometime in June.
Finally, Disney's Animal Kingdom will expand its hours into the evening... at some point starting Memorial Day weekend. When the sun sets, Animal Kingdom will entertain visitors with a new night version of the Kilimanjaro Safaris, a projection mapping show on the Tree of Life and, eventually, Rivers of Light — the big new show on the Discovery River in front of Expedition Everest. Here's a taste of the Tree of Life Awakens show:
Here's a taste of the new "Tree of Life Awakens" projection show at Disney's Animal Kingdom, opening next month: pic.twitter.com/0SlLMfYMqU
— Theme Park Insider (@ThemePark) April 20, 2016
And of Rivers of Light:
Update: Disney confirmed tonight that a Jungle Book-themed show will debut in Rivers of Light's place at Animal Kingdom, starting Memorial Day weekend. "Jungle Book: Alive with Magic" will run for the summer, suggesting that we won't see Rivers of Light until fall, if then.
More from the "Awaken Summer" Event:
It was really my only complaint about the original show. And, I don't know how you could transition from one place in the other more smoothly, but I'm sure it could be done.
I guess if you were to smoothly go from one part in California to another, it might make it look like the state is only the size of Rhode Island. But if we're going all over the world, I don't think it really matters if you fly over the city of Hong Kong, then out over a herd of wildebeest crossing the Savanna. It would be a part of the charm and keeping in theme with Epcot's philosophies.
It's a small world, aft....never mind.
What happened to the additional track for Toy Story Midway Mania?
This Jungle Book rumor is extremely perplexing, because I watched a periscope the other night of a live preview of Rivers of Light (sans rafts). I'm not sure who Disney was presenting it to (media, pass holders, execs, etc...), but it was billed as "Rivers of Light", and did not have any mention of Jungle Book. Perhaps they can run the show with the stationary effects (projections, fountains, and lights/fireworks), but don't want to debut it to the public until the raft effects are fully operational. I suppose it's possible Disney is quickly putting together a Jungle Book themed projection/fountain show to stem the tide while the rest of Rivers of Light are perfected. However, I just don't get how it's going to take Disney so long to get this show running the way they want, so much so that they're spending even more money putting together a temporary show to bridge the gap until Rivers of Light is ready.
If you are concerned/curious, why not ask Disney directly? If you go to the "Contact Us" page on their website, you can send a message using the "Email" icon. One of the pre-defined Subjects is "Animals, Recycling and the Environment".
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
As for the Jungle Book, it will clearly be a last minute substitute for Rivers of Light, which does *not* bode well for the latter.