Tidbits
January 2014




Where There’s Smoke

1/20/14 A new Counter Service Dining location has opened in Downtown Disney Westside. The Smokehouse opened today (1/20/14) offering Guests a new counter service option adjoined to the House of Blues restaurant. The new location features Smoked Turkey Legs, Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwiches, Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, St. Lous Ribs, Hot Dogs, and Housemade Cole Slaw. Entrees are priced $7.99 - $12.99. As the new location has replaced the ticket building, event tickets are now sold in the gift shop area.

Benching Mickey

1/20/14 Further details have been announced regarding the type of merchandise planned to be available at the Marketplace Co Op. Disney Parks has announced that the home products section will be named "Centerpiece" and will carry a number of unique theme park related items. Announced items have included salt & pepper shakers shaped like Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tommorowland trash cans; an Orange Bird pitcher and glassware set; and attraction poster plates and glassware.

11/27/13 Earlier this month, Downtown Disney announced that the Team Mickey store in the Marketplace will be replaced by “ The Marketplace Co Op” in Early 2014. The new store will feature six sections: beauty accessories, women's fashion accessories, D-Tech brand accessories, sports apparel & collectibles, home products, and girl’s fashion accessories.

Shopping Shake-Up

1/15/14 The Heritage House in the Liberty Square section of the Magic Kingdom has been re-purposed. The location closed on January 4th and re-opened as a MyMagic+ Service Station on January 14th.

1/12/14 Two Magic Kingdom stores and one Disney Resort store will not be ringing in the New Year. The Wyland Galleries at Disney’s Polynesian resort ceased operation on December 31, 2013. Heritage House in Liberty Square and Seven Dwarf's Mine Train shop in Fantasyland will both reportedly cease operation in January 2014. Guests in search of these locations’ former merchandise are being directed to the Wyland Galleries location at Disney’s Boardwalk and other Magic Kingdom retail locations.

A Short Freeze

1/12/14 Character Cast have reported that the Anna and Elsa Meet & Greet in Epcot’s Norway pavilion has been extended through January 31, 2014. Cast are also speculating that the offering may be extended again or become permanent if the Meet & Greet remains at its current level of popularity.

10/20/13 Epcot will be celebrating the release of animated feature film Frozen through the Late Fall and Early Winter. Epcot’s Norway pavilion will offer a Meet & Greet location with Anna and Elsa from Early November through January 4, 2014.

Still Sweet

1/12/14 Although a popular storefront will undergo renovations through the Winter and Early Spring, Guests will still be able to grab a sweet treat on Main Street. Despite the lengthy refurbishment of the location’s façade from January 13th through April 11th, the Main Street Confectionary will remain open to Guests during this time.

Danceasaurs

1/12/14 The Animal Kingdom introduced a new entertainment offering on January 6, 2014. Dinoland USA is hosting a Character Dance Party twice daily at 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Recent dance parties have offered appearances from Slim, Gypsy, Princess Atta, Rafiki and Mushu or Slim, Gypsy, Terk and Br'er Fox.

Seating Switches

1/12/14 The Magic Kingdom has begun a new project to offer more enclosed seating at one of its most popular counter-service restaurants while recently completing a project to expand the outdoor seating at another popular counter-service restaurant. A renovation project has begun to enclose the patio section of Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tommorowland. The project has been announced to convert the patio space into an enclosed, air conditioned seating area. The newly enclosed section of the restaurant is planned to open Mid-February 2014. A renovation of the outdoor seating area of Pinocchio's Village Haus in Fantasyland has recently been completed. Although the renovations have reportedly expanded the outdoor dining area, it appears that most of the expanded seating is in the form of new benches that do not offer a table for setting one’s food.

Pardon Our Pixie Dust

1/12/14 Due to ongoing renovations in the area, the Aladdin and Jasmine Meet & Greet in Adventureland has been temporarily moved to a new location. Through February 13th, Guests will find the pair meeting at the Adventureland Veranda.