8 HUGE Disney News Stories You've Totally Missed

June was a BIG month at Disney World!

Along with all the Pride Month celebrations, we also saw the return (and debut!) of certain characters, an announcement about a popular holiday party, and even some MAJOR flooding. Find out what you might have missed in Disney World this June!

First, we’ve got some BIG character updates. If you’re a fan of Encanto, you’ll be thrilled to know that Mirabel made her debut in Magic Kingdom on June 26th! You can now catch her in the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade. We recommend checking the My Disney Experience app to confirm what time the cavalcade is scheduled for on the day of your visit.

If you catch the cavalcade, you can see Mirabel on the top of the float that also typically features Mulan and Pocahontas!

Over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Adventurers Outpost reopened! This character meet-and-greet was scheduled to open on June 19th, but it actually opened a few days early.

At this meet-and-greet, you can find Mickey and Minnie dressed in their explorer outfits! There is both a standby line and a Lightning Lane, so if you purchase Genie+ you have the option to book this attraction!

Instead of last year’s smaller Very Merriest After Hours event, Disney announced that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will return in 2022 for the holiday season!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will take place in Magic Kingdom on 24 different evenings between November and December, from 7PM to midnight. Guests will be treated to exclusive eats, shows, a parade, and lots more!

Prices and dates were also revealed for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, so you can already start making your holiday Disney World plans. Ticket prices range from $149 to $199 per person.

Tickets went on sale for guests at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels (as well as the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, and Shades of Green) on June 30th, 2022. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on July 7th, so mark those calendars! If you end up snagging tickets, you can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4PM on the day of your event, and you don’t have to worry about making a park reservation!

In other holiday news, Disney has announced the date on which EPCOT’s 2022 International Festival of the Holidays will start!

Disney has also shared that Candlelight Processional will be back this year, as well as many other beloved holiday offerings.

The summer often equals a LOT of rain in Florida, but this year we experienced some serious flooding in Disney World! Florida rain is not shocking, but one day the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and even a store (Celebrity 5 & 10) were covered in water!

Part of Celebrity 5 & 10 was blocked off by Cast Members as they tried to sweep the water out of the store. If you’re visiting Disney World during the particularly rainy months, you might want to wear water-friendly shoes, pack an umbrella, and come prepared to face a bit of flooding in certain places if things get really bad!

Minnie Vans arrived early in Disney World! Minnie Vans, which are rideshare vehicles powered by Lyft (and designed to look like Minnie!), were scheduled to return to Disney World on June 29th, but we noticed them reappear two weeks early.

Minnie Vans can be a more expensive way to travel around Disney World when you consider all the other free transportation options, but they can be really convenient too — taking you directly where you need to go. You can click here to see our full guide to Minnie Vans to decide whether they’re something you want to use during your next trip.

In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Finding Nemo musical reopened as the new, reimagined musical, The Big Blue…and Beyond. The original musical never reopened after Disney World closed in March 2020.

The reimagined musical tells the story of Finding Nemo from the viewpoint of the creatures at the Marine Life Institute (from Finding Dory), and it features a new LED screen, props, decor, songs, and more!

Keep in mind that this show is available through Genie+ so you can skip that standby line if this is a must-do for you!

One of the most confusing parts of Genie+, the 120-minute rule, was made official by Disney in June. This rule impacts when guests can schedule their next Genie+ reservations after having already scheduled a first one.

Basically, with Genie+, you will make your first reservation (which you can make as early as 7AM). Then, you can make another Lightning Lane reservation either:

Now Disney has formally outlined the 120-minute rule on its Genie+ website, giving some more direction and specifics on the rule. And yes, it can be confusing! But now it’s official! Don’t let the 120 minute rule catch you by surprise.

And finally, Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue finally reopened! This popular dinner show in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds had been closed since early 2020, but now it’s BACK.

The menu has been updated and the show has received some updates, like enhancements to lighting and scenery.

You can make your reservations now!

In terms of other news, June also brought us the reveal of menus for EPCOT’s 2022 International Food & Wine Festival…

…the big news that Disney has CANCELED their involvement in the Brightline Orlando Airport train project which was set to have a station at Disney Springs…

…and tons (and we mean TONS) of food updates — from menu changes at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, to some menu OVERHAULS at places like ’50s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. Plus, there are more food changes on the way, including new items being added to a brunch spot, the return of a buffet, and other new menu items.

And that’s all the BIG news from June in Disney World! We can’t wait to see what July will hold.

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World and wondering what other things you should know about before you step into the parks, click here to see 11 big things happening in Disney World in July, or click here to check out some of the exclusive Annual Passholder offerings coming soon!

Keep reading AllEars for more Disney World news and updates!

Did you visit Disney World this June? Tell us in the comments!

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