Guardian's of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Opening May 27

The Guardians of the Galaxy are on their way to EPCOT, and we better be ready for an intergalactic chase through time and space. It all begins May 27 when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind releases its awesome mixtape of an attraction to the world. This is another big, magical moment in the transformation of EPCOT and the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration currently underway.

The ride is based on the fact that EPCOT is hosting the Wonders of Xandar Pavilion on Earth, its first otherworld hub, when it’s hit with a time-altering threat. Check out this teaser video from Disney:

“This is an SOS from Nova Corps … Our outpost on Earth’s EPCOT is in danger!”

The moment when the “Cosmic Rewind” happens looks particularly interesting, and we’ve heard that the ride will launch backwards so interested to learn more details. A few things we know about the ride are:

• Disney continues to call this a “family-friendly” attraction, the minimum height to ride is 42”

• That said, this is a rollercoaster, with the cars capable or rotating 360 degrees

• This attraction will be Disney’s first reverse launch coaster

Things we still are waiting to find out:

• Will the ride have a virtual queue? Individual Lightning Lane available for purchase? We don’t know yet, but trust me we’ll update you as soon as we hear!

I am very excited about this new attraction! I think it will add a much needed additional thrill ride into EPCOT’s attraction list. I am excited to see what kind of Disney Easter eggs are in the ride - in the clip above if you watch closely you’ll see some vintage EPCOT items so I’m wondering if we’re going back-in-time through the park (total speculation but that would be pretty amazing).

One things is for sure, The Guardians of the Galaxy are on their way to EPCOT, and we better be ready for an intergalactic chase through time and space. It all begins May 27th when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind releases its awesome mixtape of an attraction to the world.

Are you ready to save the galaxy? Well good news, here at Middle of the Magic Travel we are a full service travel agency specializing in Walt Disney World vacations! Ready for a quote - click here to get started.

Olivia's Cafe - The Perfect Place to Kick-off Your Vacation

Olivia’s Café is located at Disney’s Old Key West, and is what I would consider a hidden gem at Walt Disney World! We first ate at this restaurant back in 2018 and have made it a point to start our trip at Olivia’s every Disney vacation ever since! Here’s why we love Olivia’s!

1.     The relaxing atmosphere of the resort and restaurant are a great way to kick off your vacation after a morning of travel! This is also a plug for Old Key West, a resort that is often overlooked at Walt Disney World. We love the Key West vibes and colorful décor all around the resort

2.     The food is delicious. It’s American cuisine with a Key West spin, and it’s done really well. Some of our favorite dishes on the menu are The Crab Cake, The Catch of the Day (it changes and every time we’ve ordered – it is fantastic), and of course the Buttermilk Chicken which is truly a dish worth enjoying over and over again!

3.     The overall atmosphere at Olivia’s is very relaxing – we absolutely love all of the pictures on the wall featuring the Disney Vacation Club family. It’s a fun, inviting atmosphere that we truly enjoy.

4.     The cast members here are one of a kind! We have always had the most pleasant experiences and love our conversations around the table. The friendly vibe sets the tone for a great family vacation we’re about to begin!

5.     We love Olivia’s to kick-off our trip as we can head over to Disney Springs after dinner via the water shuttle at the resort. It’s super convenient and makes for a very fun first night full of relaxation and plenty of Disney!

I highly recommend adding Olivia’s Café to your Disney itinerary and enjoying the family-friendly Key-West cuisine and relaxation!

Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Welcomes Back Disney H20 Glow After Hours This Summer!

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be shimmering bright on select nights this summer as it welcomes back Disney H2O Glow After Hours, from May 28–August 27!

 Experience the night in a whole new light with three hours—after hours—at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Limited-quantity tickets mean more time for splashing around all of the Park’s popular attractions. Immerse yourself in all the fun effects and décor. Groove to the cool beats of the DJ dance party. Plus, adults can relax in an area just for them that features a bar area with refreshing libations available for purchase.

Across Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, you can challenge twisting slides, shoot the Crush ’n’ Gusher water coaster and ride the surf at the largest wave pool around. And no place is cooler for preschoolers than Ketchakiddee Creek. Of course, that’s all just for starters.

 To make these already awesome evenings even better, your event ticket also includes select complimentary ice cream treats, popcorn and select beverages (available during event hours only).

Ready to party? Dive into the summer’s splashiest, flashiest, most magical fun under the stars—Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon!

 Admission to this event requires a separately priced ticket valid only during specific event dates and hours. Attractions and offerings subject to change without notice. Contact Melissa Zimmer, with Middle of the Magic Travel for more information.

GET READY TO SCREAM! Halloween Horror Night Tickets are now On Sale!

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights brings together the stories and visions of the world’s most notorious creators of horror. From cinematic greats and crazed current cult favorites to the park’s original abominations—every year, the legend grows and the experience reaches beyond your wildest nightmares.

As the sun sets on days filled with thrills in all of Universal’s theme parks, the night awakens with a frightening chill at Universal Studios Florida™. Surrounded in shadow by screams and mad laughter, you’re never quite sure if your spine is tingling with dread or sheer excitement. Step by step, you enter into terrifying haunted houses, inspired by the biggest names in horror. Face nightmarish creatures on streets twisted into sinister scare zones. Lose yourself in outrageous live shows filled with diabolically entertaining surprises. Then escape to some of Universal Studios’ most exhilarating attractions where heart pounding takes on a different meaning—until the horror calls you back.

Halloween Horror Nights will run on select nights from September 2 - October 31, 2022. The full dates are listed below.

2022 Dates:

September 2-4, 7-11, 15-18, 21-25, 28-30
October 1-2, 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-31

There are also exclusive tours being offered. The Halloween Horror Nights Behind-the-Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour, featuring a daytime lights-on tour of three or six houses during normal park hours starting at $79.99. OR if you need all the screams, the Halloween Horror Nights R.I.P. Tour is the option for you! It is a VIP guided tour that gives you preferred access to the houses, tours start at $249.99 a person.

We’re staying tuned to Universal Parks for more info on this years event, including the theme! As soon as we know more, we’ll update this post but it’s guaranteed to be a frightfully good time.

Ready to plan your Universal getaway? Let’s work together.

WARNING: EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. NO COSTUMES OR COSTUME MASKS ALLOWED.

Dole Whip Sangria Anyone?

Yes you hear right! Walt Disney World is now servin’ up a Sangria Float for guests 21 and over at Disney Springs. This is the newest Dole Whip location and I know you’ll want to make this a place to stop at during your visit to Walt Disney World.

Swirls on the Water opened on March 15, 2022 and is offering some interesting new Dole Whip flavors. This kiosk will feature delicious flavors as well as signature items like DOLE Whip Lime & Habanero Soft-serve Nachos featuring waffle cone chips topped with DOLE Whip lime and habanero soft-serve, mango boba pearls, Tajin spice, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream, or the 50th Celebration Cone with a DOLE Whip lemon and cookie dough soft serve swirl. Guests can also try the DOLE Whip Flight featuring all six of the featured swirl flavors

And as mentioned previously, guests 21 and over can enjoy a Sangria Float - which features Dole Whip and Red Wine Sangria!

Which one of these new flavors sounds most appealing to you?!

Starlight Safari Tours Return to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Just in time for Earth Day, the thrilling Starlight Safari tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is now bookable for dates beginning April 22 and beyond.

Traveling with animal lovers - this VIP experience is perfect for you! Guests are invited to climb aboard an open-sided safari vehicle and witness the wild as it comes to life on an after-dark safari tour. View 30 species of Afrianc wildlife through night-vision goggles. This takes place at Animal Kingdom Lodge - so no park tickets are required.

This nighttime tour lasts approximately one hour. It’s available exclusively to Guests 8 years of age or older. Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult who is 18 years of age or older. Price is $89 per guest, there are two safaris each night at 8:30pm and 10:00pm.

Reservations and additional details are available at DisneyWorld.com or via the My Disney Experience app - and of course I can help you get your reservation added to your vacation package when you book with Middle of the Magic Travel!

Super Nintendo World Opening Summer 2023 at Universal Studios Hollywood

There is some new excitement in the theme park world on the West Coast as Universal Studios Hollywood recently announced Super Nintendo World will be opening in the Summer of 2023!

Super Nintendo World, Universal Japan

There is a Super Nintendo World currently at Universal Studios Japan, in case you’re needing some Super Nintendo fun before the big debut in the U.S. The U.S. debut of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood will transport theme park guests and Nintendo fans into the world of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach to become part of their compelling universe.

To mark the occasion as the countdown begins to the land’s exciting debut, Universal Studios Hollywood will unveil a takeover of its popular Feature Presentation retail store with Super Nintendo World theming, opening soon. Located just inside the theme park’s main entrance, guests will have a chance to share their excitement for the land’s 2023 arrival by gearing up with merchandise such as Mario and Luigi themed apparel and iconic character hats. A selection of plush characters, including Yoshi, Mario, Bowser and Luigi in a variety of sizes, will also be among the many fun items available for purchase.

As we learn more about this new land, we’ll keep you updated! I know I have one very excited little guy (and grown guy) that can’t wait to experience this amazing new land!

Nighttime Spectaculars Returning to Disneyland!

There is so much excitement happening at Disneyland in California! Here’s what’s happening!

On April 22, 2022, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular will return to Disneyland Park, and “World of Color” will return to Disney California Adventure Park. “Fantasmic!” is preparing for its return to Disneyland park on May 28, 2022.

But that’s not all the exciting news - there is more!

Upon its return to Disneyland Park, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, the Disney Live Entertainment team will introduce exciting new elements to the “Main Street Electrical Parade” that will continue to evolve this beloved spectacular.

Over the past five decades, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” has brought families together to delight in its many whimsical stories and featured characters. And soon, that will continue for a whole new generation of dreamers. In honor of the parade’s 50th anniversary, this nighttime spectacular will return with an all-new, enchanted grand finale that celebrates the theme of togetherness.

This universal theme is reflected in the creative concept of the grand finale sequence. Inspired by both the original design of classic “Main Street Electrical Parade” floats and Disney Legend Mary Blair’s iconic art style on “it’s a small world,” the new grand finale brings to life more than a dozen Disney Animation and Pixar stories. These stories will be interpreted in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sound, with unique representations of beloved characters as animated dolls.

As the new grand finale passes by, Guests along each side of the parade route will see a different set of stylized scenes from classic and contemporary favorite stories such as “Encanto,” “The Jungle Book,” “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Aladdin,” “Coco,” “Mulan,” “Brave,” “The Princess and the Frog” and more. Check out one of the early pieces of concept art, featuring Mirabel and Antonio from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award-nominated film, “Encanto.”

“Main Street Electrical Parade” and “Disneyland Forever” will be available for a limited time at Disneyland Park. When “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular comes back on April 22, it will run weekends only (Friday through Sunday). “Mickey’s Mix Magic” will present its high-energy, projections-only show during the week (Monday through Thursday) until late spring. At that time, “Disneyland Forever” fireworks will then run nightly in the summer. “World of Color” and “Fantasmic!” will return to their regular schedule upon reopening.

Health and Safety Update for Walt Disney World and Disneyland

*Updated March 15, 2022

COVID‑19 has been a constantly evolving situation, and for nearly two years, Disney has been very intentional and gradual in their approach to COVID‑19 health and safety protocols. Today they made the following announcement, please note all that follows is directly from Disney:

“Beginning Thursday, February 17, the following health and safety updates will be in place at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

Face coverings will be optional for fully vaccinated Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations, including the Disney Skyliner and Disney Ferryboat services. Guests who are not fully vaccinated are expected to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters. Face coverings are still required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses and monorails.

To stay up-to-date on the current health and safety protocols, I recommend you check Know Before you Go section for both resorts:

• Walt Disney World Know Before You Go

• Disneyland Know Before You Go

As always I am here to help answer any questions regarding policies in place at the parks, but please note I am not an expert on any health measures nor can I advise on such matters.

EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival Will Showcase Blooms, Tunes, Scents and Flavors Beginning March

It’s snowy season here in Chicago, which has many of us longing for springtime blooms! Great news for those longing for spring - it’s almost time for EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival.

This year’s festival runs March 2 to July 4 – a total of 125 days! – and features a plethora of colorful blooms, good tunes, fragrant scents and fresh flavors.

Disney Character topiaries offer a perfect backdrop for springtime photos with family and friends. A new main entrance display will feature Goofy with a birthday cake celebrating the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary.

Disney horticulture teams are also designing, planting and shaping new topiaries of the Seven Dwarfs to accompany Snow White near the Germany pavilion in World Showcase. And returning this year are Lumiere and Cogsworth topiaries in the France pavilion as well as Pumbaa and Timon topiaries near Imagination!

On the bridge to World Showcase, you can enjoy the sights and scents of spring at a new fragrant garden presented by Scentsy. Surrounded by vibrant butterfly topiaries, you’ll be invited to follow your nose to six scent stations—floral, fruity, citrus, spice, woods and fresh—to form lasting memories with the help of unforgettable aromas.

The Health Full Trail presented by AdventHealth offers a fun way for families to play and learn how to stay healthy, and Outdoor Escapes Presented by OFF!® Repellents lets you enjoy a much-needed moment of relaxation, while learning how easy it is to create an outdoor escape of their own. Bambi’s Butterfly House enchants with a kaleidoscope of butterflies showing off their extraordinary beauty and colors.

The Garden Rocks Concert Series returns to the festival this year, featuring internationally recognized artists on the America Gardens Theatre stage Friday through Monday; local bands will rock the house Tuesday through Thursday. You can view the full list of artists here.

Outdoor activities can work up an appetite, and the festival’s 18 Outdoor Kitchens serve up fresh menus, seasonal produce and refreshing beverages to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. You can stop at EPCOT Farmers Feast, since its menu options rotate throughout the festival. Other new mouthwatering menu items can be found at The Citrus Blossom, Magnolia Terrace and Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina, among others. Keep an eye out for a festival foodie guide coming in later this month!

A fun part of the Festival, is the Garden Graze, a fun food stroll highlighting five delicious sweet and savory offerings listed in the Festival Passport. Complete the graze to receive a special treat!

As with all festivals at EPCOT, you’ll be able to bring festival memories home with garden-inspired merchandise collections featuring vibrant apparel, drinkware, garden tools and much more. This season, collections will feature Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Orange Bird, Figment and Spike the Bee. 

Does this sound like a magical springtime break that you need? Well good news, here at Middle of the Magic Travel we can help get a festival plan added to your Walt Disney World vacation! Need help planning your vacation, click here to get started.