Awaken Summer Showcase NYC

This past week I was delighted to be invited to Walt Disney World’s Awaken Summer Showcase in New York City. The event was held in the Edison Ballroom and featured a 3 course meal and lots of neat details on what is in store for guests this summer in Walt Disney World!

Upon arrival we were greeted with beverages and a menu waiting for us at our tables. We were free to walk around and look at the displays and mingle with other travel planners and Disney Cast Members as our salad was being served. The entire meal was delicious!

The presentation started with an introduction from Disney District Sales Manager, Christine Barry. We were then introduced to Cast Member Kenny, who had a few technical difficulties- no fear- a “travel planner” from the audience, Bernice Heckler, offered to help him with his presentation.

We started with why staying at a Walt Disney World Resort in incredibly valuable during your Walt Disney World vacation.

Then we moved on to whats new in the theme parks, starting with Animal Kingdom. I will be honest, the room was buzzing because earlier we had all received an email that the much anticipated Rivers of Light, was now being postponed to mid to late May after we were anticipating April 22nd. There was no mention of the postponement, but there were pictures and video…

The Tree of Life also awakens at night this summer, and it is simply stunning…

We also learned about the new Discovery Island Carnivale, Harambe Wildlife Parti, a new Sunset safari that will introduce African wild dogs and hyenas to the park, and a new signature restaurant named Tiffins that will offer lunch and dinner for guests.

We also spoke a bit more about the World of Avatar, currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2017. This new “land” will have 2 very unique attractions that totally immerse guests in Avatar’s Pandora.

Then we moved on to Disney’s Hollywood Studios- Star War Launch Bay has already opens with meet and greets with Kylo Ren and Chewbacca as well as props from the movies on display. Scenes from The Force Awakens have also been added to Star Tours and Star Wars Rebels characters have been added to the hugely popular, Jedi Training.

You can end your night watching Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular with music from the films and images projected on to the buildings inside the park.

There are some new non-Star Wars additions as as well. This includes a new meet and greet with Sorcerer Mickey and Minnie Mouse where guests walk a red carpet to meet them in the former American Idol Experience location. You can also meet Olaf this Summer in the Celebrity Spotlight location.

Moving on to Epcot, everyone is talking about and eagerly anticipating the opening of Frozen Ever After and the new Anna and Elsa meet and greet in their Royal Sommerhus. This attraction space should be ready to amaze guests this summer.

We also got a peak at the new Soarin Around the World Attraction…

We also talked about Nemo’s friends from Finding Dory joining Turtle Talk with Crush this Summer as well as new Meet and Greets with Baymax, Joy, and Sadness.

At Blizzard Beach this Summer, Olaf and Kristoff are hosting the Blizzard Beach Summer Games that will include slide races, snow ball tosses, and ice pail relays.

Downtown Disney is now known as Disney Springs! This has become a massive, immersive waterfront Shopping and dining destination with 4 distinct neighborhoods. Here you will find the new, highly anticipated STK and Morimoto Asia plus the Largest Disney Store in the world, World of Disney. La Nouba has also added more acts to it’s show- so if you have seen it before, it is time to see it again!

The Magic Kingdom is getting a pretty spectacular new stage show as well- finally including Rapuzel and Princess Tiana, “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” which will premiere in June. The show features a new song entitled, “On This Day” which Kenny and Bernice preformed for us.

After the presentation we were invited to meet Mickey, dressed in his costume for the spectacular show! Here is a picture with my Castle Dreams Travel teammates:

Please contact Castle Dreams Travel with any questions, concerns, or to book your next Disney vacation!