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Time for our 5th monthly update from Walt Disney World for 2019. Each month we bring you all the latest information from Walt Disney World. Our Walt Disney World News & Rumours May 2019 highlights include Hollywood Studios 30th Birthday, Extra Extra Magic Hours for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and an update to Rivers of Light.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

While we still have summer & Halloween seasons to come, Disney is already planning for Christmas. The dates for this year’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party have been announced and tickets are available to purchase from the Disney World website.

This hard ticket event takes place at the Magic Kingdom from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. Ticket prices vary by date and are cheaper to buy in advance. This year ticket prices are between $99 to $139 plus tax. There is a $5 discount for children.

Party dates for 2019 are:

• November: 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22 and 24
• December: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20 and 22

Epcot Forever

Epcot Forever is the new nighttime show coming to Epcot in fall 2019. The long-running IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth ends it run on September 30 and the new show starts the next day.

However, you will have to be quick to see Epcot Forever as it isn’t the long term replacement for IllumiNations a new show is scheduled to start in 2020. Disney has released the following video which highlights what we can expect from Epcot Forever.

Rivers of Light – We Are One

Another nighttime show is getting some changes at Walt Disney World this summer. We have never been great fans of Rivers of Light here at Modern Life is Good. It is just a bit boring!

Perhaps we are not the only ones who are not too thrilled by the content. For summer 2019 changes are happening and it has a slightly altered name. Rivers of Light – We Are One debut is on Memorial Weekend and will feature classic moments from Disney Animation.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

You can now book vacations to stay at Disney’s newest resort. Disney’s Riviera is now accepting bookings for December 16, 2019. This is the first all-new resort to open at Walt Disney World since Art of Animation in 2012.

The property is a DVC property, and DVC sales for the resort are also now open. If you want to find out more about Disney’s Riviera Resort, The Points Guy has further information.

For further information on all the current Walt Disney World Resorts visit our guide.

Fancy Nancy

It must be a sign our kids are getting older as we had never heard of Fancy Nancy. However, she has replaced Sofia the First and is now meeting guests at Hollywood Studios.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Miss Modernlifeisgood recently explained why the not yet opened Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is her most disliked ride at Hollywood Studios. Unfortunately, she has some time longer to work out whether she will hate this new attraction.

Originally scheduled to open in Fall 2019 the opening date has been pushed back to Spring 2020. However, some further details on Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway have been released.

New Restaurant Hollywood Studios

Despite all the new additions to Hollywood Studios there have been no new Table Service Restaurants. That is now changing as Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant has been announced as coming to Toy Story Land.

Guests will dine with a “kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets“. It sounds great fun!

Parks are Now Smoke Free

Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, water parks and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex are now smoke-free. The ban was introduced on May 1 and includes vaping. Designated smoking areas are available outside of the parks, but all internal points have been removed.

Strollers

New rules have also been introduced for strollers. Wagons, including stroller wagons, are now prohibited inside parks. In addition, strollers should be no larger than 31” wide and 52″ long when measured across the widest and longest points.

Wonderful World of Animation

Hollywood Studios celebrated its 30th birthday on May 1. While there are several more anticipated events coming to the park in 2019 the day was marked with the opening of a new nighttime spectacular. The Wonderful World of Animation will now be entertaining guests nightly in the park.

Hollywood Studios has become the best park in our opinion for nighttime shows in recent years.

Hollywood Studios has also released a new park logo for its 30th anniversary. In addition, there is new merchandise available in the park to celebrate the landmark.

Extra, Extra Magic Hours

Extra Magic Hours are getting extended this fall to celebrate the opening of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Every morning from September 1- November 2 there will be Extra Extra Magic Hours at Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom.

At Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom, the extra hours will be for 1 hour between 7-8 am. However, in Hollywood Studios, they will be daily between 6-9 am.

While there are still no guarantees you will get into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the additional hours will also include Toy Story Land and select other attractions.

Extra Magic Hours are available to guests staying at Disney Resorts and select other resorts. Click the link to find out more about Extra, Extra Magic Hours.

And Finally

Grace a female western lowland gorilla was born at the Animal Kingdom on May 1. She is named after the GRACE gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We will be back with another Walt Disney World News & Rumours update in June. If you have missed any of our previous updates you can find them all here.

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