LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Flying the Millennium Falcon with the help of the beloved Grogu -- colloquially known as "Baby Yoda" -- and the Mandalorian. Passing underneath a giant lode of gold in a mine that's probably haunted. Dancing along with Mickey and friends amid bubbles, "snow" and streamers.
There's a lot of new things to do at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this summer, and Disney wants to make sure travel advisors know about it all -- and encourage their clients to take a trip to the "Most Magical Place on Earth."
"There's no better place to spend this summer than at one of our Disney destinations," said Jodi Bainter, vice president of domestic leisure sales at Disney Destinations, at a media event.
At Walt Disney World specifically, guests can take advantage of the offerings of the Cool Kids' Summer promotion as well as a number of new and newly reinvigorated attractions and experiences.
Disney is also offering a number of promotions right now, like a free visit to a waterpark on arrival day and free Disney Dining Plans for children.
"I feel like this moment right now, we've got more offers, ways to invite families and more to do than we've ever had before," Bainter said.
Grogu and Mickey take center stage
One of those new things to do is rocking with the Muppets at Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Another is at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the attraction that invites guests to pilot the famous spaceship, where a new adventure launched May 22 featuring the Mandalorian and Grogu.
An interactive attraction, Smugglers Run has always had appeal to re-ride so guests can try their hands at different positions in the cabin and better their scores. The new adventure, featuring all new video, just builds upon that re-rideability.
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster requires riders to be 48 inches tall. Smuggler's Run allows smaller riders of at least 38 inches.
But the smallest of park visitors have something new, too, in the show "Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!"
The "Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!" show offers fun for all ages at Animation Courtyard in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
The high-energy production encourages littles to get up and dance as they help Mickey and Minnie gather their friends for a party. The show mixes video, live performances from Mickey and friends and physical elements that offer a wow factor, like bubbles and "snow" raining from the ceiling at appropriate moments in the storyline.
For parents, it makes for some great photo ops -- and a nice break in the air conditioning. The show officially opens May 26.
The home of the show, Animation Courtyard, will also introduce a family experience, "The Magic of Disney Animation." The courtyard features a park-like atmosphere where children are already playing as their families relax on benches nearby.
New blasters and blasts at Magic Kingdom
Guests can now pick up the blasters used in Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, one of a number of upgrades the ride recently received. Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort
Last month, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin reopened after a refresh that included a new character, new scenes and new blasters that are easier to use.
The attraction, which was almost 30 years old, was ripe for a technological refresh, said Kimberly Alison, a producer with Walt Disney Imagineering.
"We really put a lot of love and thought into what the game system improvements could be," Alison said. That came in the form of blasters that can be picked up and always-on lasers in different colors that can better be used to aim and fire. "The overarching goal was really to make the gameplay a lot more dynamic and fun with our reactive targets and the new ride vehicles, as well."
There are also some more ways to max out one's score and achieve the highest rank, Galactic Hero, Alison said. Her advice for hopefuls: shoot targets with multicolor rings.
The photos taken onboard the attraction have gotten a major overhaul, too, according to Jeff Harmon, manager of Disney PhotoPass, the service that captures photos and videos of guests around the resort.
Now, guests' scores and ranks from Space Ranger Spin are printed on their photos thanks to a collaboration between PhotoPass and Walt Disney Imagineering.
Guests receive five pieces of media from the attraction, including rider photos and an animated message from Buzz Lightyear, but it was no easy feat to accomplish.
Harmon said when the idea was first approached, it was with some trepidation about making it work, but the two groups made it happen.
"We've all bragged about how well we've done on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. We have, you know, [a score of] 999,999, right?" Harmon said. "But now, you have proof, or, in most cases, disproof, that your score might have been embellished a little bit."
Now that PhotoPass and Imagineering have figured out how to marry their data, Harmon said, "it also opens us up to future collaborations with Walt Disney Imagineering … It's opened up a lot of opportunities for us to discuss, 'What else can we do to make more magical memories for guests with PhotoPass?'"
Guests can buy the Memory Maker package, which includes downloads of all photos and videos taken of their party during their trip for $185 in advance or $210 in parks (a one-day product is also available for $85). The product is commissionable for travel advisors.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad recently underwent a refresh, returning as a smoother coaster with new design elements. Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort
Across the park, the iconic attraction Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened earlier this month after a refresh. The smoother coaster has new scenes, set pieces and more.
Wyatt Winter, an executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, said the goal was to enhance the classic attraction.
"That additive storytelling is the focus," Winter said.
Winter is particularly connected with the attraction: His first role with Disney was as a Big Thunder Mountain cast member.
Celebrating America's 250th at Epcot
Smugglers Run isn't the only attraction with crisp new video this summer.
Soarin' Across America will officially open at Epcot on May 26, replacing Soarin' Around the World, in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
The attraction showcases much of the country's natural beauty, from the New England coastline to the Grand Canyon as well as iconic cityscapes like New York and Los Angeles. A new musical arrangement uses the classic Soarin' score to great effect, adding regional undertones for different locations around the U.S.
This marks the third iteration of Soarin', which began with Soarin' Over California. The refreshes encourage repeat rides, as do the return of classic iterations from time to time; for instance, Soarin' Over California is currently running at Disney California Adventure Park until the end of June.
Cool Kids' Summer returns
This summer marks the return of Disney's Cool Kids' Summer, which runs May 26-Sept. 8.
The promotion encompasses a number of deals and experiences for Disney's younger guests, many encouraging dancing and activity, like the Disney Jr. show at Hollywood Studios.
At Magic Kingdom, Jessie's Roundup: A Rip-Roarin' Revue will take over the Diamond Horseshoe, while GoofyCore at Epcot's CommuniCore Hall features dancing and games.
Bluey's Wild World will open at Disney's Animal Kingdom's Conservation Station on May 26. Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort
The much-anticipated Bluey's Wild World at Conservation Station at Disney's Animal Kingdom, featuring the television show's eponymous star and her sister, Bingo, opens May 26.
Travel Advisor Appreciation Month
National Travel Advisor Appreciation Day is celebrated in May, and Disney announced earlier this month that it will set up a Travel Advisor Appreciation Station for the third year in a row in June.
This year, the station will be at the GM Lounge in Epcot's Test Track pavilion, June 15 to 27. There, the company will welcome travel advisors from the U.S. and Canada with valid agency IATA or CLIA identification from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.
The station, which will offer a cool place to recharge, refreshments and visits with the Travel Agency Sales team, is a way to say thank you, according to Bainter.
"They do such a great job for Walt Disney World Resort," she said. "They get as excited as we do, which I love, and we're just giving them so much to talk about this summer. The combination, the offers with all that's new and reimagined across the site, now it's the perfect time for families to come visit."
Bainter encouraged advisors to take advantage of the resources offered on the Disney Travel Agents website and the College of Disney Knowledge as well as the assets Disney is sharing related to "Cool Kids Summer."
"Anything that an advisor can get here to see themselves is excellent, but those that maybe can't make the trip, we want to make sure they have all the ways to be able to talk about what's happening across the resort," she said.