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Hello everyone,
We have been exceptionally busy over the holiday season, so I have been a bit behind on the news front, but I finally have time today to provide a few small updates.
Earlier last month the new Star Wars Launch Bay opened at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. They feature meet 'n' greets with Darth Vader and Chewbacca, as well as random appearances by some roaming characters such as Greedo and the Jawas. With the opening of the Launch Bay and preparations for Star Wars Land, we now know that Star Wars Weekends will not be returning, which is a huge shame.
Captain Phasma made her Disney parks debut at the Christmas parade taping during Christmas season at the Magic Kingdom, and subsequently appeared at a special post-premier event at Disney's Hollywood Studios. She has since appeared on the Star Wars float during the Rose Parade in California, where Kylo Ren also appeared, marking his Disney debut, albeit not in the parks.
Along similar lines, the Seventh Sister now appears during the new version of the Jedi Training Academy in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Finally for Star Wars, the First Order Stormtroopers now appear randomly, not just at Disney's Hollywood Studios outside the Launch Bay, but also in Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Baymax made a welcomed return to Epcot last month, at Innoventions, and it is strongly rumoured that Joy and Sadness might be appearing there soon, too - although that is purely rumour and unconfirmed right now.
Tow Mater, Lightning McQueen, Phineas and Ferb are leaving Disney's Hollywood Studios next week, according to various internet reports. This will mark the end of an era for the Disney Channel superstars, and their final appearance at DHS will be the last time they will be seen regularly at any Disney park.
At Disneyland Paris, the sorely missed hotel greetings have returned for a limited time, until the first week of March, 2016. The hotel characters were a staple of on-site stays for twenty years, and there was much uproar when Disney ended them last year. It is unclear as to why there has been a sudden, if only temporary, change of heart, but we can only speculate that the in-park greetings haven't been as well received as they'd anticipated (with many complaints about the long lines, limited numbers of characters out, etc).
Disneyland Paris also recently confirmed that there would be an increased character presence in Disneyland Park until the spring. Of course, what was really confirmed was the characters that already appear "randomly" (not on the schedule), but are actually always there, will now be made more available and easier to find, with (hopefully) longer hours, a queue line and some sort of schedule listing.
Finally, DLP has been working on a new show for the Chaparral Theatre, "The Forest of Enchantment", which is due to start on 10th February. Sadly it looks to only be a temporary show (ending 8th May), which is weird since they appear to be putting a lot of effort into it. We can hope that it'll run past the official end date and will be more permanent, as the park definitely needs some more permanent stage entertainment.
Ok, that's everything for now!
Have a great weekend everyone,
Dan. |
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Hello everyone,
Today the Disney Parks Blog announced that in preparation for the brand new 14 acre Star Wars Land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Star Wars Weekends would no longer be presented, making this past year retrospectively the last one. This is quite a blow for the park, and Star Wars Weekends will be desperately missed by pretty much everyone.
In the same announcement they confirmed that the Star Wars Launch Bay - a new in-between attraction in preparation for the new land - will open on December 1st, and will feature character [ Read More... ] |
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Hello everyone,
Today the Disney Parks Blog finally confirmed details of the long rumoured Club Villain event at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Taking place inside a new building that was recently constructed near the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Club Villain is a premium event, with prices set at $99 per person, including tax and gratuity. Club Villain opens on January 16th, 2016, and runs on "select nights", with no end date currently announced.
Details from the Disney Parks Blog are as follows:
"The first Club Villain will take place Jan. 16, with reservations opening today, when the mysterious Dr. Facilier is your host for the evening, welcoming guests and his friends from the “other side” to his parlor of mystical mishaps, with musical numbers and a wicked mix from his house DJ. Also stopping by to socialize are those divas of evil, Maleficent, Queen of Hearts, Cruella De Vil and the Evil Queen.
Club Villain provides a spellbinding evening to enjoy fiendish concoctions from the Potions Bar, savor culinary delights from New Orleans and beyond, meet with the villains and dance the night away."
It is currently unclear whether you'll be able to actually meet the villains there, or if they will just be present on a dance floor or stage. You would think - and hope - that for $99 per person that you would be able to meet them; but I guess we shall see in January!
To make you reservation you can call 407-939-3463, 90 days in advance.
Dan. |
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Hello everyone,
Today the Disney Parks Blog announced that a brand new rotational seasonal dining experience, titled "Minnie's Seasonal Dine at Hollywood and Vine", will take place at the Hollywood and Vine at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
A little while ago Walt Disney World shocked fans by announcing a brand new Christmas meal there this year, which I talked about in detail here on the blog. Now, it would appear that Walt Disney World have decided that along with the former Star Wars meal, there was enough interest in seasonal dining that they would offer it year round!
To quote the Disney Parks Blog, the restaurant will now offer "cheerful togetherness of the holidays, the glamour of Hollywood, the delight of spring, the excitement of summer and the frightening fun of Halloween. With each new season, look for unique music, décor, all-new costumes, menu items and interactive musical moments."
In the comments section, it was confirmed by Rachel Brent of the Disney Parks Blog, that the Disney Junior meal that currently takes place there will continue for breakfast and lunch, before Minnie and friends arrive in the early evening.
The first meal, which will run from January 4th to March 20th, 2016, will "a dinner party celebrating the magic of the movies and the glamour of Hollywood."
For those of you who have ever been to Disneyland Paris, and are aware of Inventions there, you will know that themed dining is something that fans who visit both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris have wanted to transplant from the Parisian resort for a long time. Inventions has a weekly themed Sunday Brunch, which always offers special characters and special costumes. While expensive, it is a great way to meet some rare and cool characters, and see your favorite characters in special outfits. Obviously, this new seasonal dining at Hollywood Studios doesn't quite go to that extent, but it's a refreshing change, and one that we very much welcome.
Reservations for the new meal, starting January 4th, will open from October 27th this year.
Have a great day everyone,
Dan. |
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Hello everyone,
Last week Jon and I spent three days in Walt Disney World to experience Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. In this first part of this report I will cover everything except Mickey's Not So Scary, as there are so many photos from that, it deserves a report of its own.
Let's start with Epcot, and the Food and Wine Festival. [ Read More... ] |
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Hello everyone,
Today the Disney Parks Blog announced the incredibly sad and disappointing news that the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights would run for its final year this year, at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. The reason given for their cancellation is due to future projects such as Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land. Even though these new lands will be a great addition to the park, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights have been a Christmas tradition for twenty years now, and many people have many cherished memories here. It's very sad that Disney are not going to find another home for them anywhere else across the resort; there are certainly many other locations that would be suitable. The streets comprising the UK pavilion at Epcot, while a little smaller, could accommodate them, perhaps even Germany, not to mention other areas of the Studios such as Hollywood Boulevard. Although it is unlikely they'll change their mind, given Disney's recent run of cutting things with no replacement, we can hope that someone will change their mind, and we will see them return; but I won't keep my hopes too high.
We will get to see them one last time this coming Christmas season, but let's take a look back now at some of our photos [ Read More... ] |
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 | Happy Force Friday! | |
| DisneyDan
Friday, September 4, 2015 9:07:32 AM |
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| Today has been dubbed Force Friday by Disney, in celebration of the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. To celebrate the day, I thought I'd share with you just a few of our photos from [ Read More... ] |
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Hello everyone,
It has been a while since I have had chance to make a full news post here on the blog, but today I thought it would be nice to finally share some of the things we have learned recently.
Let's start with Disneyland Resort in California, [ Read More... ] |
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Hello everyone,
Walt Disney World Resort finally put online the speculated holiday dining for Hollywood and Vine at Disney's Hollywood Studios, this Christmas season. There had been a couple of months of speculation, since the dinner option for the restaurant had disappeared.
The official description on the Disney websites says:
"[A] rare chance to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy all together (in all-new holiday finery) making merry with you and your Guests! Get hugs and photos with your happy hosts, and wonder as you wander through the dazzling décor, heartwarming music and holiday-themed food and activities—followed afterwards by special VIP seating for the popular Fantasmic! nighttime spectacular."
That's right - it's a Fantasmic! dining package as well as character dining. We are glad to hear that there will be brand new outfits, too!
The brand new experience will run from November 7th 2015, until January 3rd 2016, and will cost $52.99 per adult and $31.99 per child age 3 to 9 (plus tax and gratuity). You can visit the official Disney Dining page to make your reservations, or call (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463.
UPDATE: If you call the Disney Dining line, you can make telephone reservations without the extra expense of the Fantasmic! package. Prices are $50.05 per adult and $29.81 per child age 3 to 9 (including tax but NOT gratuity).
Will you be making reservations? We made ours already!
Dan.
Disclaimer:
Header image is for placement and decorative purposes only, and does NOT reflect the costume worn by Minnie Mouse at this new experience. Quoted text and prices come from this official Disney page here, and are copyright Disney. |
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