Hello, and welcome to this week’s Dateline Disney World! We are into the new year now, and that means it’s refurb season. I was going to visit a different park this week until a pleasant surprise brought me back to the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom. Let’s see what it is!

If you’d like to support the column and shop on Amazon.comwalt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom at the same time, just click HEREwalt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and a percentage of anything you buy will support us, at no extra cost to you! It’s a great way to help yourself and keep this column going at the same time.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!!

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

If you look closely in that shot, you may notice something. The “Let the Memories Begin” banner that has been up for a few years now has finally been taken down. This was one of my main reason for visiting MK this week. Here are lots of photos of one of the most photographed areas of the park.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Sure, the shrubs may not be level, and the grass might be rather dead, but those issues should be fixed soon. Here’s hoping it stays this way, as I really love the classic entrance, you know, the way it was designed . . . without all the extra marketing.

Refurbishments have also started all over the park in typical January fashion.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

 

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
No more Christmas.
walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
Also, no more afternoon parade, as it ended its run (finally) last weekend.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Casey’s Corner is closed as is its seating area.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

The Aladdin meet and greet area and adjacent gift shops are all down for refurbishment.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

The Jungle Cruise is “jingling” no more.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
Walls up at the Tiki Room.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Fair-weather restaurants like Tortuga Tavern are closed again since they are no longer needed to handle crowds, even though I would appreciate the more unique food offerings to stay open year round.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
With no parade running, these walls are up in Frontierland on the parade route.
walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
Splash Mountain is down for its annual clean up.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
This time they are visibly doing work right off the bat.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Frontier entertainment.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Weekly Mine Train photo time.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Finally, this project REALLY feels like it is moving quickly.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
The normal stand for Maurice’s popcorn in New Fantasyland was missing this week.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Cosmic Rays outdoor seating area is going to be glassed in and have air conditioning added to it. I’m torn on this, AC is great in the summer, but there really is nothing like a Cinderella Castle photo from here with a nice breeze during the off season.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
Heading out of the park, more Christmas window displays are back to normal.

walt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

That does it for this week. I swear, I won’t be reporting from MK next week unless something huge happens there! Which park would you like me to visit next? What do you all think of the removal of that ugly banner out front? Happy to see so many refurbishment projects happening at once? Let us know in the comments!!

If you’d like to support Dateline Disney World and you shop regularly at Amazon.comwalt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, please CLICK HEREwalt disney world, Refurb Season at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdombefore you do. It won’t cost you any extra, and it’ll help out the column!!

If you enjoyed the column, especially the photos, and you want to check out more photos and tutorials on Disney photography, please check out my photo site, [URL=”http://www.DisneyPhotographyBlog.com”]Disney Photography Blog[/URL]. And if you like listening more than reading, you can hear us talk about Disney and photography on my podcast, [URL=”http://www.ISO5571.com”]ISO5571[/URL]

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Cory Disbrow
Cory likes Walt Disney World so much, he recently packed his bags and moved to Orlando. Cory is a photographer and writes MiceChat's Dateline Disney World columns every Friday.