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Here is your news from the world of Disney for the period of September 23 – October 7, 2016. In a news period dominated by news of Hurricane Matthew making a near miss of the Orlando area causing the theme parks to close for only the fourth time in it’s 45 year history, there was some other news to take note of especially in the world of Disney entertainment.
WALT DISNEY WORLD PARKS NEWS
September 24 – There was an accident on Epcot Center Drive when an SUV crashed into a road sign causing it to fall. The driver was treated and released from Celebration Hospital. (Link)
September 29 – A couple of military discounts were announced, a special offer for theme park tickets and another for resort discounts. (Link: Tickets; Resorts)
September 30 – The convention center at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club is getting a 25,000 sq. ft. addition bringing it to 100,000 sq. ft. in total space. (Link)
October 1 – Magic Kingdom Park (45th) and Epcot (34th) celebrated birthdays on this day. (Link)
October 1 – Special 45th birthday discounts were announced for annual passholders. The discounts include 20% off food and alcohol at 45 dining locations and a deal for those purchasing annual passes: if you purchase an annual pass between now and January 3, 2017 you will get an extra month free. (Link)
October 1 – Two special holiday events were announced for Disney Vacation Club members. ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol’ on December 24 and a New Year’s Day Brunch on January 1 both at the Fantasia Ballroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. (Link: Christmas; New Year’s)
October 1 – It looks like the Hall of Presidents will be closed for refurbishment beginning on January 17, 2017 through June 29, 2017. This closure, in all likelihood, will be to add our new president. (Link)
October 6 – For only the fourth time in it’s 45 year history, Walt Disney World closed all of its theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs beginning at 5:00pm on Thursday, October 6 reopening Saturday morning, October 8. (Link)
DISNEYLAND NEWS
September 27 – Sprinkles Cupcakes will be coming to Downtown Disney. It will replace Something Silver. (Link)
October 3 – A sneak peak of the working model of the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction was released. This new attraction is expected to open in the summer of 2017 meaning this will likely only be an overlay just as the Maelstrom’s reimagination into Frozen Ever After was simply an overlay of the previous attraction. (Link)
DISNEY CORPORATE NEWS
September 26/October 6 – At the beginning of this news period Walt Disney Co. hired a financial advisor regarding the possible purchase of Twitter. They have now crunched the numbers and decided against the mega-merger. The news of Disney not purchasing Twitter caused Twitter stock to plummet. (Link)
September 29 – Ethan Allen will launch a Disney-inspired line of furniture and home accessories. A pre-sale of the Disney collection is open to D23 members only. The full line will be available November 18. (Link)
October 3 – The only media outlet Disney hasn’t conquered yet is streaming media. That seems to be coming to an end as rumors are swirling that Disney might be in the market to purchase streaming giant Netflix. This rumor caused Netflix stock to jump 4%. (Link)
October 3 – GK Elite, a supplier of gymnastics apparel, is partnering with Disney to create a line of Disney-inspired leotards. The leotards are not only made for adults but matching leotards are made for dolls as well. (Link)
October 6 – Alfred Angelo released their 2017 Disney Princess Wedding Dress line. The line features dresses inspired by Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Elsa, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Snow White and Tiana. (Link)
DISNEY CRUISE LINE NEWS
September 29 – The dates for the 2017 holiday cruises were released. (Link)
Halloween on the High Seas: Disney Magic: Sept. 27- Oct. 28, 2017; Disney Wonder: Sept. 15 – Oct. 27, 2017; Disney Dream: Sept. 4 – Oct. 30, 2017; Disney Fantasy: Sept. 2 – Oct. 28, 2017
Very Merrytime Cruises: Disney Magic: Nov. 11 – Dec. 24, 2017; Disney Wonder: Nov. 10 – Dec. 22, 2017; Disney Dream: Nov. 10 – Dec. 22, 2017; Disney Fantasy: Nov. 11 – Dec. 23, 2017
October 3 – The October 3rd sailing of the Disney Dream was diverted to the western Caribbean due to Hurricane Matthew. (Link)
DISNEY MOVIE/ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
September 28 – Starting on September 30, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story merchandise will be debuting in the Disney Parks. (Link)
September 28 – The Walt Disney Studios have tapped Jon Favreau, director of The Jungle Book, to create a live-action remake of The Lion King. (Link)
October 2 – The first trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales has been released. (Link)
October 4 – The live action version Mulan now has a release date. Mark your calendar for November 2, 2018. (Link)
October 6 – Disenchanted (Enchanted sequel) now has a director. Hairspray director Adam Shankman has been tapped to helm the project which is expected to begin filming in the summer of 2017. (Link)
October 6 – The Disney Channel released its first teaser trailer for the new Disney Channel series Tangled which will begin airing in 2017. (Link)
October 7 – A new Disney Channel original movie is debuting tonight at 8:00pm (Eastern). The Swap tells the story of a high school gymnast and hockey player trying to figure who how to get things back to normal after magically swapping bodies. (Link)
October 7 – Emily Mortimer is rumored to have been cast at the grown-up Jane Banks in the new Mary Poppins Returns. (Link)
October 7 – Disney has celebrated the release of Finding Dory with the naming of October 7th as National Septopus Day. (Link)
DISNEY SPRINGS NEWS
September 29 – A third parking garage is planned for Disney Springs. The new garage will be across from the Lime Garage with a pedestrian bridge connecting the two garages. The new garage could have as many as 2,000 new parking spots. (Link)
September 29 – During the month of October, ‘A Princess Royal Reception’ will be held at the World of Disney store at Disney Springs. Each day princesses will greet guests from 10:00am – 4:00pm. When you check in a cast member will tell you the approximate wait and give you instructions on when to return. (Link)
DISNEY FUNNY OF THE WEEK
Our Disney Funny of the Week comes to us from Oh My Disney and shows what the movie Up might look like in real life. (Link)
REFURBISHMENTS
Current Refurbishment of Note:
| ATTRACTION | LOCATION | DATES |
| Monorail | Express Beams Overnight Closures – 11:30pm Sundays – 9:30am Monday; 11:30pm Mondays – 9:30am Tuesdays
Resort Beam Overnight Closures – 12:00am – 8:30am Mondays; 12:00am – 8:30am Tuesdays Monorail Shutdown – 11:30am – 6:00pm Tuesdays – Thursdays |
|
| Planet Hollywood | WDW – Hollywood Studios | 1/6 – Fall 2016 |
| Disneyland Railroad | Disneyland | 1/10/2016 – Summer 2017 |
| Fantasmic! | Disneyland | 1/10/2016 – Summer 2017 |
| Mark Twain Riverboat | Disneyland | 1/10/2016 – Summer 2017 |
| Sailing Ship Columbia | Disneyland | 1/10/2016 – Summer 2017 |
| Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes | Disneyland | 1/10/2016 – Summer 2017 |
| Pirates Lair | Disneyland | 1/10/2016 – Summer 2017 |
| Pizza Planet | WDW – Hollywood Studios | 1/19 – 11/7, 2016 |
| Flying Fish | WDW – Boardwalk | 2/1 – 9/30, 2016 |
| Fulton’s Crab House (Paddlefish) | WDW – Disney Springs | 4/4 – 12/31, 2016 |
| Dinosaur | WDW – Animal Kingdom | 7/25 – 10/16, 2016 |
| Big Thunder Mountain | WDW – Magic Kingdom | 8/8 – 11/18, 2016 |
| The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adv. | Disneyland | 9/6 – 9/29, 2016 |
| Disney Wonder | Disney Cruise Line | 9/9 – 11/10, 2016 |
| Wilderness Lodge Hidden Springs Pool | WDW | 10/26/2015 – 2017 |
Upcoming Refurbishments of Note:
| ATTRACTION | LOCATION | DATES |
| Goofy’s Sky School | Disneyland | 9/26 – 9/28, 2016 |
| Stitch’s Great Escape | WDW – Magic Kingdom | 10/2 – 11/19, 2016 |
| Splash Mountain | Disneyland | 10/3 – 11/5, 2016 |
| Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster | WDW – Hollywood Studios | 10/27 – 11/9, 2016 |
| Blizzard Beach | WDW | 10/23 – 12/24, 2016 |
| Stitch’s Great Escape | WDW – Magic Kingdom | 11/27 – 12/17, 2016 |
| Haunted Mansion | WDW – Magic Kingdom | 11/28 – 12/2, 2016 |
| Splash Mountain | WDW – Magic Kingdom | 12/7 – 8, 2016 |
| Typhoon Lagoon | WDW | 12/25 – 3/11, 2016 |
Upcoming Permanent Closures:
| ATTRACTION | LOCATION | DATES |
| Shark Reef | Typhoon Lagoon | 10/3/2016 |
| Main Street Electrical Parade | WDW – Magic Kingdom | 10/10/2016 |
| Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Disney’s California Adventure | 1/3/2017 |
| Stitch’s Great Escape | WDW – Magic Kingdom | 1/3/2017 |
That’s all the news for now. Follow us on Twitter @MQPodcast for breaking Disney news.
Sue Nowicki is an alumnae of the 2014/15 Disney Parks Moms Panel. She splits her time between planning her next Walt Disney World vacation and being team mom to ten high-energy volleyball players where she fills the roles of secretary, navigator, head cheerleader, treasurer, athletic trainer and team psychologist. You can follow her on Twitter @JazzinDisneyMom.
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