Disney has a lot of balls in the air and they’re about to fall into place in 2012. For anyone who likes to travel with, at or through Disney, this is going to be a big year.
They’re off to a good start this month with the opening of The Exotics Course featuring “supercars” by Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi and Porsche. The one-mile circuit at Walt Disney World Resort will open around mid-January and will offer gear-heads the opportunity to take a spin behind the wheel of one of these impressive cars or be chauffeured by a pro. If you’re planning a visit this year, you can make reservations at www.exoticdriving.com
The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is an interactive experience, opening soon. Guests become apprentice sorcerers, working under Merlin the Magician hunting out villains and flushing them from their hiding places. Using magic spell cards, players can bring the likes of Yzma, Kronk and their pals, to their knees. This experience will be included in the price of admission to the park.
Fantasyland, at Walt Disney World Resort, will start unveiling its new and expanded attractions in 2012. The much anticipated expansion will include new rides and experiences Under the Sea with The Little Mermaid and at the Beast’s Castle. Most of Fantasyland will open in 2013 and it should be complete in 2014. To read more about the new and improved Fantasyland, check out our previous post.
In spring of this year, Walt Disney World will open 512 Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. The rooms sleep up to four guests, on custom linens, befitting a prince or princess. The opulent decor will conjure reminiscences of favourite movies like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Frog.
In March Disney launches the newest ship in their fleet, the 4,000 passenger Disney Fantasy. The ship will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and carry passengers on a week-long voyage of the Caribbean. While on board, the Muppets will lead you around the ship in an interactive detective game. You can also take in the two Broadway calibre shows, put together just for Disney Fantasy passengers. The ship is decked out with all the bells and whistles. Its maiden voyage is set to begin March 31, 2012.
Disney Cruise Line will add new ports and itineraries in May of this year. Sailing from New York, Seattle and Galveston, Texas, passengers will now have new opportunities to experience New England, the east coast of Canada, Alaska and the western Caribbean. Check out our post on these new voyages.
Also opening in May, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. This resort offers 1,120 family suites with decor from The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo. There will also be 864 themed rooms in the Little Mermaid wings. Nemo will be the first wing to open, in May followed by Cars in July and The Lion King in September. The Little Mermaid wing should also be open by the end of the year. Disney’s 25th resort hotel will be located next to Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
So that’s some of what Disney has in store for us in 2012, and we’ll have more updates for you soon. – Jen R, Staff Writer
