Month: May 2018

Disney Announces “Opening Seasons” for Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The galaxy that was far, far away and a long time ago just got a little closer.

On Tuesday, Disney announced that the highly anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open in summer of 2019 at Disneyland and in late fall 2019 at Walt Disney World.

Up until this point, all Disney has said about possible opening dates for either location was they would open in 2019.

While the announcement does not indicate a month or a date for the openings, it does indicate a couple of things.  First of all, it somewhat coincides with a lot of the rumors that the Disneyland version would open sometime during the summer next year.  With the statement of “Late Fall 2019” for the Florida version, this seems to confirm that construction there is behind Disneyland’s, which is in line with what many of us thought.  There had been rumors that construction at Walt Disney World had been closing the gap.  Either that speculation was wrong or if they have closed the gap that construction was even further behind than we had thought.

No specific date summer date was announced for the Disneyland opening.  There have been rumors that the actual date may be as early as late June or early July.  There also has been speculation, especially with how the return of Fantasmic in 2017 was handled, that Galaxy’s Edge may not open until sometime around the D23 Expo which returns to Anaheim August 23-25, 2019.

At this point, it’s all speculation and no one really knows.  Hopefully we’ll get more detailed information soon, but I personally would expect anything substantial until early spring 2019.

Walt Disney World Announces Dates for Epcot International Festival of Holidays and Candlelight Processional for 2018

Earlier today Walt Disney World announced that the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays this year will take place November 18 thru December 30, 2018.

Even though we have not been able to visit Walt Disney World in November or December for a few years, this time of year has always been a favorite time to visit for me and my family.  One of our favorite things to do during this time of the year at Epcot is to attend the Candlelight Processional.

The Candlelight Processional will be returning again this year and for the first time, this popular holiday tradition will debut for the season on Thanksgiving (November 22nd) and run through December 30th.

The Candlelight Processional is a holiday must-do for many Epcot guests.  The program is a retelling of the traditional Christmas story read by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a massed choir and live orchestra.

At this time celebrity narrators have not been announced.

Also…even though Candlelight Dinner packages have been popular in the past and are expected to return, Disney has not yet released any information regarding this.

A couple of months ago Disney announced the dates for this year’s “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party“.

Disneyland Resort Announces Locations for New Mobile Ordering Service

About 6-7 weeks ago I reported that some of the Quick Service and Fast Casual restaurants at the Disneyland Resort were going to be getting the Mobile Ordering Service, which has been very popular at Walt Disney World.

Today Disneyland has announced the initial locations that will be getting the new service.

The Mobile Ordering Service will be available at six Disneyland locations.  The six locations that will be getting the service are Bengal Barbecue, Galactic Grill, Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, Hungry Bear Restaurant, Jolly Holiday Bakery Café and Red Rose Taverne.

Nine Disney California Adventure locations will be getting Mobile Ordering and they are – Award Wieners, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill, Corn Dog Castle, Flo’s V8 Café, Lucky Fortune Cookery, Pacific Wharf Café, Paradise Garden Grill and Smokejumpers Grill.

Guests can customize their orders directly on the app, including allergy-friendly offerings.

According to Disneyland, “This new service is just one more way we’re enhancing the guest experience. Mobile ordering and the recent launch of Disney MaxPass provide convenient options that maximize each visit to the Disneyland Resort with family and friends.”

This service has been Immensely popular at Walt Disney World and I’m sure it will be a big hit at the Disneyland Resort once guests start using it.

At this time Disneyland has not indicated an implementation date for the new Mobile Ordering System.

Incredibles 2 Sneak Peek Now Playing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Are you looking forward “Incredibles 2” as much as I am?  Well, if you’re going to be at Walt Disney World in the next month or so, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a special treat for you.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now showing a sneak peek of the upcoming Disney•Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” in the Walt Disney Presents theater.

The sneak peek will show the first 10 minutes of the movie.  The movie is scheduled for its debut in theaters on June 15th.

Through June 29th, Annual Passholders can see a passholder-only showing between 9 AM and 10 AM.

Walt Disney World Online Lost and Found System Goes Live

Have you ever lost something at Walt Disney World and had to either call or go to Lost and Found to report the lost item?  Well, you no longer have to do that.

Walt Disney World Lost and Found has now moved online.  The new system is powered by Chargerback.  Chargerback also provides lost and found services for airlines and other tourism and entertainment companies.

Starting today, if a guest has lost an item at any Walt Disney World theme park, Disney Springs, Transportation (including busses, monorails and watercraft), ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex or Disney Water Park they will fill out a lost item report here.

Guest will no longer have to visit or phone the Lost and Found center.

Once guests fill out the online form they will receive an email notification with a Lost Item claim number. Disney will then continue to look for the item and provide you with an email update within 48 hours.  Disney will contact guests if they that they have found the item or need further information.

Nothing has really changed if guests have lost items at any hotel or on Disney’s Magical Express.

If an item was lost at any resort hotel, please contact the specific resort Lobby Concierge for assistance.

For Disney’s Magical Express please contact (866) 599-0951. If the item was lost over 30 minutes ago, please contact Mears Transportation Group at (407) 423-5566.

If guests aren’t where the item was lost, Disney is asking guests to go to the above link and fill out the online form.

According to Disney policy, highly valuable items (such as wallets, purses, credit cards, prescription glasses and cameras) are held for 90 days.

Items of lesser value (such as sunglasses, hats, toys and clothes) are held for 30 days.

 

Donald Duck Annual Passholder Magnet Arriving in WDW Soon

There soon will be a new Annual Passholder magnet for passholders to collect….Donald Duck….and I want it!

According to Disney the complimentary summer-themed Donald Duck magnet is scheduled be released on May 18, and will be available for pick up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios although an exact pick up location has not been mentioned yet.

The magnet will feature an image of Donald Duck on a teal background with a sunburst behind him.

The new magnet will be available through June 29.

 

I certainly hope they still have some available when I’m at Walt Disney World in about a month…because…have I mentioned it…I really want it.

How about the rest of you passholders?  Is this on your want list?

Disney Animator Dave Michener Dead at Age 85

Animator and story artist Dave Michener, who worked at Walt Disney Studios for more than 30 years, has died at the age of 85.  His wife Donna said he died at his Los Angeles home on February 15 from complications due to a virus.

Michener co-directed “The Great Mouse Detective” alongside John Musker and Ron Clements.

Michener starting with Disney in 1956, right out of college, and worked there until his retirement in 1987.  He contributed to classics like “Sleeping Beauty,” “One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” “Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day,” “The Aristocats,” “Robin Hood,” “The Rescuers” and “The Fox and the Hound.”

He was hired by Walt Disney himself, who had seen one of his art exhibits at the Chouinard Art Institute. Michener also produced and directed character animation for Epcot Center in the 1980s, followed by similar duties at Tokyo Disneyland’s “Meet the World” attraction and the pre-show PSA on the history of aviation at Disneyland.

Walt Disney World No Longer Hosting Night of Joy

Disney’s Night of Joy event at Walt Disney World has ended.  Walt Disney World will no longer be hosting the event.

The event which began in 1983 was held at the Magic Kingdom for most of its 35-year run. For two-years it was held at at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and for the past two years it had been held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. The second night of the 2017 event was called of because of the threat of Hurricane Irma.

According to sources, Disney has not given a reason for ending the Night of Joy event, although there were rumors that there were a lot of operational difficulties in hosting the event.

A possible foreshadowing that this might be happening was when Disney included Night of Joy regulars MercyMe in the upcoming Eat to the Beat concert series at Epcot.