There are always new and exciting things happening at Disney World. Here are some things we are looking forward to this month.

Animal Kingdom’s 20^th Anniversary Celebration (April 22-May 5)

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Animal Kingdom. Does that make anyone else feel old? No, just me. Okay, moving on.

The anniversary celebration begins on Earth Day, April 22^nd, so Disney is expanding their Party for the Planet to include a welcome celebration, special PhotoPass opportunities, special merchandise, backstage experiences, and festival food and beverages (rumors are there will be kiosks like the Epcot festivals).

There is also a new behind the scenes tour that includes getting up-close and personal with elephants. Or if fancy food is more your style, Imagineers, animal care and conservation cast members will be hosting dinners at Tiffins.

The Party starts on April 22^nd and continues through May 5.

Curious about what a Disney anniversary looks like and tips to enjoy it, check out the recap of Epcot’s 35^th here.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival (all month)

The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival continues all month.

This celebration of spring includes topiaries, gardens, tours, seminars, special merchandise, throwback concerts, and, of course, outdoor kitchens.

Some of our favorite foods include the La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy (alcoholic) and the Chocolate Macaron Lollipop from Fleur de Lys (France), and the Key Lime Tart from Florida Fresh.

The Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake from Honey Bee-stro is one of our favorite desserts, not just of the festival, but in general. Do not miss it.

Be sure to check out the Disney topiaries. They are always a hit. As are the themed gardens, including a butterfly garden.

Easter at Disney World (through April 9^th)

If you are at Disney for the beginning of the month, there are several Easter decorations to check out. The 7^th Annual Easter Egg display is up at the Grand Floridian through April 9^th. Easter Eggs are also on display in the 1^st floor lobby of the Contemporary through April 4^th and the Beach Club through April 3^rd.

A special marshmallow chick cupcake is available at the food court at the All-Star Music Resort through April 8^th.

Pixar Play Zone (opening April 13)

Disney is opening a new “immersive” children’s experience at the Contemporary Resort starting April 13^th.

This is a fancy way of saying a new babysitting/play center for kid’s 4-12. So if you are looking for a place to leave your kids while having dinner or just having a night away, there is now an option available.

It will be Pixar themed, and cost $65 (plus tax) for each child from 6pm to 10:30pm.

Star Wars-Darkside Half Marathon Weekend (April 20-22)

runDisney’s popular Star Wars-Darkside half marathon weekend kicks off on April 20^th with a 5k. The 10k is then on Saturday morning, followed by the half marathon on Sunday.

If you are wondering about the Lightside, sadly when they cancelled Disneyland races it was cancelled. This year it was held virtually, but no news on its future.

Even if you aren’t running, check out the runners in costume, merchandise (and characters) at the Expo at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and activities at the start and finish lines. Leave a comment and let us all know if you’ll be running this year.

Dapper Days (April 28-29)

Dapper Days is a unofficial biannual event at Disney World (and Disneyland) celebrating the bygone days when people dressed up to go to Disney. This event is considered a conference by Disney, so room and ticket discounts are available. Visit here for more details.

While part of the fun is dressing up in your favorite retro gear, it is by no means a requirement. And there is also no cost to attend the park outings (aside from park admission of course).

This year’s spring event at Disney World will kick off at the Edison in Disney Springs on Friday April 27^th (no cover) . Saturday the fun heads to Magic Kingdom, and on Sunday they’ll be making their way over to Epcot.

This will be our first Dapper Days outing. Have any of you been before?

 

New Food To Try (various)

(Since food menus at Disney change all the time with no notice, we’ve included some new/noteable releases that should be tried soon before they disappear. Follow along on twitter for more updates.)

Kringla Bakeri og Kafe in Epcot’s Norway is closed until the summer, but have no fear, Midnattssol Bakeri is a new pop-up kiosk now open featuring all your favorite snacks. Also at Epcot, both the Electric Umbrella (Future World) and Liberty Inn (America) have new items on the menu. We can’t wait to try the chicken cobb salad at Liberty Inn.

There is a new popcorn bucket available at the Magic Kingdom in the shape of the infamous Mickey balloon. Also, nearly every counter-service restaurant at the Magic Kingdom has a new menu item, so be sure to check out the menus before picking a spot to eat.

Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs is hosting the Sakura Festival celebrating  spring. On April 3^rd, there will be a guest chef dinner ($120). A ramen seminar and tasting is on April 7^th ($36). And the Matsuri Fest featuring street food, beer and cocktails, and games and activities is being held on April 15^th ($45).

Paddlefish in Disney Springs has a Lobster Fest on April 25^th. This 4-course meal with wine pairings features, you guessed it, lobster. The cost is $90 and tickets are available here.

New Merchandise to Check Out (various)

(Since there is always fun, new merchandise to check out at Disney, we’ve included some new/notable releases. Follow along on twitter for more updates.)

Joining the collection of rose gold everything, millennium pink is coming to Disney World spirit jerseys and Minnie ears.

The second Saturday of each month, Annual Passholders can participate in an exclusive shopping opportunity in Disney Springs. Be on the lookout for emails.

Refurbishments and Other Ride News (various)

No one wants to get excited for an attraction only to find it closed when you are there.

Liberty Square Riverboat (Magic Kingdom) will be closed all month.

There will be no fastpasses for Toy Story Mania (Hollywood Studios) available from April 9^th-May 7^th.

A new bird show is opening in Animal Kingdom featuring characters from Up, cleverly called Up – a Great Bird Advenure. It will open April 22^nd to coincide with the 20^th anniversary celebrations.

And Pirates of the Caribbean (Magic Kingdom) has reopened with a new scene. No spoilers here. But we’ve heard good things and can’t wait to check it out soon.

Future Happenings (aka Planning Ahead) (all month)

Traveling to Disney this summer? Check out the new room only and vacation package discounts. Passholders and Florida residents also have new discounts available. Inventory for these deals always goes fast, especially for popular times. So book soon to take advantage.

We finally have dates for the Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival – August 30^th through November 12^th. Looking for more information about the Food and Wine Fest, check out our tips here.

Dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party have been announced. You can even buy tickets already. These hard ticket events occur at Magic Kingdom starting in late summer through the holidays. If you are traveling then, even if you don’t plan on going to a party, we recommend checking out the dates here because the Magic Kingdom will be closed to non-partygoers those nights.

In a not so happy announcement, Disney in now charging for on-site parking at its hotels. If you have already booked a hotel, you won’t be charged. But for all future bookings you’ll have to pay to park a vehicle. For Value Resorts – $13; Moderate Resorts – $19; and Deluxe Resorts – $24. This eliminates a distinct advantage that Disney hotels had over local hotels that almost all charge for parking.

Will you be heading to Disney World this month? What are you most looking forward to? Leave a comment and let us know.

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment or send us an email. Things are always changing at Disney, so follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more updates.

-Minnie-