Walt Disney World News and Rumors 1/20/14 - 1/26/14

News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.

News

Magic Kingdom

•  I've seen confirmation from Disney that the Festival of Fantasy Parade is scheduled to start in March. It was originally just slated for Spring. 
• The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has been seen testing.  We're getting closer to an official opening. 

Epcot

• The artists have been announced for this year's Flower Power Concert Series for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.  They are: 
  
  • March 7-9 The Guess Who “American Woman”
  • March 14-16 Gary Lewis and The Playboys “This Diamond Ring”
  • March 21-23 The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
  • March 28-30 The Lovin’ Spoonful “Summer in the City”
  • April 4-6 Paul Revere & The Raiders “Good Thing”
  • April 11-13 Village People “Y.M.C.A”
  • April 18-20 The Grass Roots “Midnight Confessions”
  • April 25-27 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry the VII, I Am”
  • May 2-4 Starship starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
  • May 9-11 Chubby Checker & The Wildcats “The Twist”
  • May 16-18 Alan Parsons Live Project “Eye in the Sky”

Disney's Hollywood Studios

•  The Monsters University meet and greet will be closed from Jan. 29 - Feb. 8.  It's rumored the area will be going back to a Monsters Inc theme.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

•  Creature Comforts, a shop found in Discovery Island will be closing next January.  It will reopen in the summer of 2015 and will be turned into a quick service dining location.  (Does anyone else smell Starbucks?)

Downtown Disney

• The Smokehouse, a new counter service location that is attached to House of Blues has opened on the WestSide.  Menu items include: pulled pork sandwiches, pulled chicken sandwiches, half-racks of ribs, a turkey leg, a brisket sandwich, and hot dogs.  Sides include cole slaw, potato chips, and baked beans.  
• Team Mickey is now closed.  It will make way for the Marketplace Co Op store, which is comprised of 6 different smaller boutique stores, each selling different and unique merchandise.  

General WDW News

•  The Wilderness Lodge has rejoined the list of AAA four-diamond-rated hotels

Rumors

• Some of the nighttime events for Disney's Animal Kingdom could be starting as early as this summer...including, perhaps the new nighttime spectacular. 

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