Month: September 2014

Canadian Lumberjack Show to Open Next Week at Epcot’s Canada Pavilion

Epcot - Canada

The ‘Canadian Lumberjack Show’ is scheduled to debut at Epcot’s Canada Pavilion next week on October 5th.

The show is being produced by the Florida based Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, takes the place of Off Kilter as the live entertainment act for Canada Pavilion.

According to the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show website, “The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is similar to an Old Time Lumberjack Show and a great family entertainment, matched by none. In the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show or Timber Show, we use quality lumberjack competitors, also known as Timberjacks from around the world. The Paul Bunyan Lumberjacks are also the same lumberjacks you see on the Stihl Timber Sports Series, ESPN, and TNN. So if you are looking for a great Timber Show with real tough Lumberjacks also known as Ironjacks, The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, is the type of Old Time Lumberjack Show / FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT you want.”

Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show has previously worked with Disney during private events, and brings over 28 years of performing experience.

Disney has not released any details or confirmed the new act as of yet.

Video of Final Performance of Off Kilter

Off_Kilter

Courtesy of wdwmagic.com –

Thousands of fans stopped by the Canada Pavilion at Epcot yesterday to see Off Kilter perform for the final time – and what a show it was.

Crowds packed the area in front of the stage along World Showcase promenade for every show, easily reaching capacity each time. The band arrived on stage for the final time to huge cheers and applause at 7:30pm, and following their 25 minute regular set, were brought back by the crowds for three encore performances – no doubt they would have played all night given the chance.

The show is not something that will be forgotten, for the guests in attendance or the the band themselves. For those of you who couldn’t make it, here is the entire show from the Canada Pavilion’s Off Kilter final performance.

Off Kilter Final Performance

Disney Files Permits for Work at Disney’s Hollyswood Studios Soundstage 1

Soundstage 1

Disney has filed permit paperwork for what is expected to be a major project in Soundstage 1 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The soundstage which is located between Toy Story Mania and the Studio Backlot Tour, has recently been used as gift shop during Star Wars Weekends, a base for MyMagic+ testing, and most recently as the home to Wondering Oaken’s during Frozen Summer Fun.

Simply titled, ‘Project 3 – DHS Soundstage 1 Renovation,’ the permits do not give away any details, other than the expiration date of 9/30/2016, and Whiting Turner being involved in the project. The long expiration date for the permit suggests something on a large scale.

Adding further weight to a coming addition is the appearance of several key executives and Imagineers at the park today. WDI’s Tom Fitzgerald, Tom Staggs, George Kalogridis, and Meg Crofton were reportedly seen in the area of Soundstage 1.

Some recent rumors have suggested one possible use of Soundstage 1 may be for an expansion of Toy Story Mania to provide additional capacity. Personally, I’m not buying into that rumor.  This appears to be a much bigger project than simply an expansion of Toy Story Mania.  Other rumors for Soundstage 1 have also mentioned a Monsters Inc themed roller coaster attraction, expanding the Pixar Place mini-land.

The upcoming closure of the Studios Backlot Tour this weekend would appear to also be a significant step in this project, given its close proximity to Soundstage 1.

Disney has not yet commented on any expansion, or given any indication of what will replace the Studios Backlot Tour.

Hasbro Partners with Disney to Make Princess, ‘Frozen’ Dolls

Elsa - Frozen

Hasbro Inc. said Wednesday that it will partner with Disney Consumer Products to make Disney Princess and “Frozen” dolls, taking advantage of the blockbuster success of the animated movie.

The partnership will give Hasbro global rights, except in Japan, to make dolls of Disney characters including Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast and The Little Mermaid. Starting in 2016, Hasbro will also have rights to characters from the popular animated movie “Frozen.”

A Disney spokeswoman said Mattel currently has the rights to Frozen, but that will end in 2016 when Hasbro gets the rights.

Toy makers have struggled recently as children turn more to electronic games and consumer electronics.

But Hasbro’s girls division has been a bright spot for the company, posting strong sales on high demand for brands such as My Little Pony. In July, Hasbro said second-quarter sales in the category climbed 10% to $163.8 million.

Disney Updates Park Rules & Begins Adding Signs at Park Entrances

Epcot-SSE

Disney has updated its park rules which govern the admission policy for all of its domestic parks.

The new guidelines are aimed at clarifying some points that may have previously been unclear. Greater clarity is now being given to e-cigarette usage and the requirement for children under 14 being accompanied by an adult.

The new rules go into effect today, September 24th at both Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.

Disney has updated their respective sites for the domestic parks to reflect the updated rules –

New WDW Rules

New Disneyland Resort Rules

Along with the new pages on the websites, signage will be installed at the park main entrances with some of the most important rules highlighted.

New Walt Disney World Monorail Operating Schedule to Begin September 27th

WDW Monorail Red

A newly revised operating schedule for the Walt Disney World Monorail system will be in effect on September 27th.

The new schedule will be as follows –

  • Magic Kingdom Resort beam – 7am to 1 hour after park close
  • Magic Kingdom Express beam – 8:30am to 1 hour following park close
  • Epcot beam – 8am to 11pm or 1 hour after Magic Kingdom closes (whichever is earliest)

La Nouba to Offer Dinner Package This Fall

cirque-du-soleil

La Nouba will be offering a dinner package option with Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe, Planet Hollywood or Splitsville Luxury Lanes this fall.

The price for the dinner packages will be:

  • $99 plus tax for a Category 2 ticket ($89 plus tax for children ages 3 to 9)
  • $119 plus tax for a Category 1 ticket ($109 plus tax for children ages 3 to 9)

The package includes 1 ticket to a 6pm performance Tuesday through Saturday nights on the following dates:

  • September 30 through November 1, 2014
  • November 6 through November 22, 2014

Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe, Planet Hollywood or Splitsville Luxury Lanes will be available either before or after the show. The package will include one entrée, dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage. The meal coupon includes priority seating at the chose restaurant. Guests should be seated for dinner by 4:30pm to dine before the 6pm show. For dining after the show, priority seatings at the restaurants begin at 8pm.

The package can be purchased now online or at (407) 939-7328.

Pal Mickey Support Ending

Pal Mickey

Disney will no longer be supporting the original interactive guide Pal Mickey, that was introduced in 2008.

Starting on September 27th, Pal Mickey will no longer work at Walt Disney World. Pal Mickey which uses a series of infra-red transmitters around the parks, has mostly been replaced with RFID as part of MyMagic+.

Using the infra-red locators positioned around the parks, Pal Mickey shared location aware timesaving tips, fun facts and jokes.

Two Attractions Closing in January for Refurbishment in Walt Disney World

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain will be closing again in January for its annual refurbishment.

The refurbishment is currently scheduled for January 4-30,  and will be reopening to guests on January 31, 2015.

Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also be closing for refurbishment in January.

The attraction will be closed January 20th through February 4th, and will be reopening to guests on February 5, 2015.

Fodor’s Travel Names Aulani a Top Hotel

aulani-disney-charaters

“An enchanting resort complete with Disney character experiences and a touch of local culture in everything …”

That’s what reviewers at Fodor’s Travel, one of the largest and most respected publishers of travel and tourism information, are saying about Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, which is being recognized as a 2014 Fodor’s 100 Hotel Award winner, and one of the top 12 “Beach Getaway” hotels worldwide. Aulani was the only resort in all of Hawai‘i to be included in this distinguished category.

Fodor’s evaluated more than 5,000 properties around the globe, so cracking the top 100 – and being called out as one of the world’s greatest beach resorts – is a wonderful achievement.