It’s May in the Magic Kingdom! Summer is here, as is the heat, and soon, also, the crowds. Let’s enjoy this minor lull in traffic and see what’s new in the park.
The in-park smoking ban is now in full effect. I can finally visit a few of the quiet spots that I, as a non-smoker, were previously unable to enjoy.
This old boat dock near the exit of Big Thunder Mountain gives some great views of Frontierland and Tom Sawyer Island.
Tomorrowland Speedway
On the other side of the park, Cast Members are readying the Tomorrowland Speedway for it’s reopening in just a couple weeks. They’re testing all the cars to make sure they’re still in working order.
They have to make sure the tires are all securely fastened, as well.
They haven’t tested the cars on the track yet, as parts of it are still blocked.
Workers looked like they were doing some final checks on the newly-shortened track.
This is what the cars look like without their fiberglass body, in case you were wondering. So futuristic…
They moved a few of the fiberglass bodies out of the way while they tested the cars.
Here’s what it looked like as they were testing the cars in the station:
Now cast members are doing laps around the loading station. pic.twitter.com/TdBxtP9D4L
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) May 6, 2019
I don’t know if I can say I’m looking forward to this attraction reopening, but I know one thing for sure: it means we’re that much closer to Tron opening.
Speaking of Tomorrowland, they whole place has been getting some love and care recently, but a lot of the old signage is starting to look pretty bad.
I know Stitch’s Great Escape isn’t coming back, but they could at least take the sign down instead of letting it rot in plain sight.
Other Construction and Maintenance
The concrete replacement is continuing over near Big Thunder Mountain.
It’s night and day between the old pavement and the new.
Merchandise
There’s a new line of t-shirts with quotes from Walt Disney on them. You can see the whole line here.
They’ve done a little bit of rearranging in Sir Mickey’s, behind the castle.
Up until recently, this shop was half Princess merchandise for children, and half clothing and accessories for Women. Now it’s back to just children’s.
Merchandise for the new Aladdin film is popping up all over property.
You can get this fancy Tea Set, if you’re feeling like a Sultan.
Or you can get this tea playset, if you’d rather just have a tea party with your favorite little princess.
That’s it from me for today. Are you looking forward to the Tomorrowland Speedway reopening? Or are you excited about any other projects in Magic Kingdom? Let us know!
The Tomorrowland Speedway is a timeless ride that I still enjoy even as a senior. Now if they would just use electric cars, we could breathe easier.
Oh you can finally enjoy that boat dock. I’m so happy for you.
Your right….just do it by yourself
Seriously. Already cancelled my 4lo,500 vacation for this september. Would have been nieces first visit to any themepark. Had themed mermaid room, royal table be our guest and multiple character breakfasts reserved, fast passes, photopass, premium meal package, first visit package, the works. Disney wants to fuck around to where i’ d be missing reservations or be miserable and not enjoying myself on a very expensive vacation? Then whatever. Have an equally extravagant trip booked for universal/seaworld/gatorland instead. Bye bye disney!
glad we are now taking pleasure in discrimination against people again (smokers)
A bad habit doesn’t define a “people”. If there was a smoking religion you might have something.
I am not a smoker but I don’t think it is fair to make them leave the park to have a smoke. That could take up to an hour to leave and come back. I can’t say the designated smoking areas ever bothered me since they are outside.
Now even Walt couldn’t come to the park and enjoy himself……bring back the smoking areas….
I’m a smoker, but I’m not going to gripe about the non smoking changes. Frankly, if I need a cigarette that bad, I can go outside the gates. I’m usually too busy enjoying myself to think about smoking, so maybe this will encourage me to quit. Having said that, I think for the whiny smokers out there, since they aren’t changing the tomorrowland speedway to electric cars, they might as well have a smoking area over there. It’s not like everyone doesn’t complain about the pollution in that area anyway.
I am a smoker. I respect the designated smoking areas. I spend just as money as a non smoker at WDW. After 37 trips, I will be reconsidering family vacations.
This hatred for smokers is just over the top… yes some smokers can be rude (especially in the past when it was allowed everywhere), but for the most part having a designated smoking area away from everyone else (outside no less) was more than enough of a compromise to find this solution that should have made most everyone happy… to me this is just a microcosm of what’s wrong with the world today: I want it my way 100%, 100% of the time!!!
to all of you who are unhappy with the new rules BYE BYE so long fairwell
Honestly just a poor choice by Disney. Most smokers (including myself) were respectable and headed/stayed in the designated areas. I have a trip planned in August. My brother and I are both heavy cigarette smokers and you bet your butt I’m not leaving the park to smoke. I’m getting myself a vape and going to a quiet corner somewhere. The custodial or merch cast member that catches me isnt calling security to kick me out. I’ll apologize and stop and just move on to the next quiet place. This is going to be alot of peoples strategy. Unhappy smokers, unhappy guests, unhappy cast memebers. Its a lose lose for ALL :)
We have APs to Disneyland and have seen people at the security checkpoints turned back because they have a vape pen. The choice was to dump it into a trash can or return it to the guest’s car or hotel room. I would be careful about wasting money on something you won’t be able to bring into the parks.