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Your Guide on the Quest for the Perfect Disney Vacation
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Here is your latest News From the World of Disney for the period of December 2 – 15, 2016. Even though the end of the year of typically a slow time for Disney Parks news there is still some interesting news coming out of the entertainment side with multiple nominations for Disney movies.
July 5 – Mickey Mouse has an uncharacteristic frown on his face. Disney legend Blaine Gibson, sculptor and animator for Walt Disney Studios since 1939, passed away at the age of 97. Gibson not only animated Disney classics such as 101 Dalmatian, Fantasia, Bambi and Peter Pan, he also sculpted the ‘Partners’ statues in Walt Disney World and Disneyland as well as all of the presidents in the Hall of Presidents through George W. Bush. According to a family friend, Gibson was watching 101 Dalmatians with his grandson before he ‘took his final nap’. (Link)
July 7 – Readers of Travel & Leisure recently voted on the 2015 World’s Best Awards and Disney Cruise Line came out on top of the #1 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line for Families and Top Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line for the second time in a row. (Link)
July 7 – Comic-Con is coming! Comic-Con is coming! You know what that means? Star Wars news. The first bit of news to hit the media is that makers of The Lego Movie are teaming up again to write and direct a new Star Wars movie which will focus on a young Han Solo. The projected release date is May 25, 2018. (Link)
July 8 – Johnny Depp, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, took a break from filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie to visit a children’s hospital in Brisbane, Australia. The video of the encounter will make your heart smile while you reach for a hankie. (Link)
July 7 – Who will be the next royal to grace the silver screen in a live-action Disney movie? It appears that it will be Prince Charming. A writer and producers are already attached to the project. (Link)
July 8 – A state of the art wine service machine called the WineStation is now in use at Disneyland’s Grand Californian Resort. The machine allows sommeliers to serve vintage wines by the glass which average guests might find too expensive to buy by the bottle. (Link)
July 8 – A partial listing of Candlelight Processional narrators was released featuring Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Joe Morton, Meredith Vieria, Edward James Olmos and Amy Grant. Candlelight Processional Dinner packages have also gone on sale for most dates. (Link)
July 8 – As reported in the last Disney News post, the city of Anaheim was voting to give Disneyland a 30 year tax abatement on ticket gate tax. After rather contentious debate, including the Mayor, Tom Tait, adamantly arguing against the abatement, the Council voted 3-2 to approve the deal. For their part, Disney has agreed to spend $1 billion by enhancing and adding to the park and building a new 5,000-space parking lot. Also, if Disney spends another $500 million the agreement is extended to 45 years. (Link)
July 10 – Recently filed permits indicate that the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights will indeed be back for 2015. (Link)
July 10 – It appears that 300-plus cabins at the Campsite at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are getting a rehab. (Link)
July 13 – When the 20th edition of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival begins in September it will not only take place in the World Showcase, it will expand this year into Future World. (Link)
July 14 – At the D23 Expo in August, eight Disney legends will be recognized for their contributions to the Disney legacy. These legends include George Bodenheimer (retired Executive Chairman of ESPN), Andreas Deja (Disney animator), Eyvind Earle (Disney artist), Danny Elfman (Musician), George Lucas (filmmaker), Susan Lucci (actress), Julie Reihm Casaletto (first Disneylany Ambassador) and Carson Van Osten (Disney Executive). (Link)
July 14 – Registration for the 2016 Princess Half Marathon weekend events have opened. However, if you are reading this and haven’t registered you might be out of luck. The half marathon, 10K and Glass Slipper Challenge are already sold out. If you missed out on registering for one of these events you can consider running for a charity or possible getting a registration through one of the approved travel agencies. (Link)
July 14 – Prince Harry’s Invictus Games are coming to ESPN Wide World of Sports in May, 2016. The Invictus Games is a competition for wounded servicemen and women. This is the first time the Invictus Games will take place in the United States.
July 14 – New details on Shanghai Disneyland were shared by Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger including the names of the six themed lands: Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle, Tomorrowland, Mickey Avenue and Gardens of Imagination where ‘Ignite the Dream, a Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light’ will take place. (Link)
July 15 – Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland is expanding in 2015. There will be 17 parties this year beginning on September 11 and culminating on October 31. (Link)
July 16 – And the future hits keep on coming. Have you ever wondered how the Genie from Aladdin got stuck in that magic lamp? Disney is going to answer that question in their latest live-action prequel, Genies. Genies does not have a release dates yet. (Link) (Manager Note: Look out for a blog post summarizing all the upcoming Disney movies in the next few weeks.)
July 16 – As part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Frozen Summer Fun, the Ice Palace Boutique is opening beginning on July 26. The boutique will transform guest ages 3-12 into their favorite Frozen character. It will be located on Commissary Lane across from ABC Commissary. (Link)
July 17 – Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Dear Disneyland! Happy Birthday to you! (Link)
That’s all the news for now. Follow me on Twitter @JazzinDisneyMom for more Disney news.
Sue Nowicki 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, treasurer, athletic trainer and team psychologist. You can follow her on Twitter @JazzinDisneyMom.
June 6 – Super Hero Headquarters is the latest addition to Downtown Disney’s West Side. (Link)
June 6 – Are you ready for twice the fun at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ? This summer the barbeque is adding Tuesday’s and Friday’s. Currently, you can book the barbeque on Thursday and Saturday’s. (Link)
June 6 – As if I didn’t look bad enough in my Memory Maker picture when plummeting down Splash Mountain, PhotoPass photographers will also be available at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach until Labor Day. (Link)
June 8 – Early this year we reported about the Cobb family who were walking from Disneyland to Walt Disney World to memorialize their 8-year-old who passed away from a form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. On their Facebook page they announced that they will arrive in Orlando Father’s Day Weekend, June 19-20. (Link)
June 8 – The lengthy rehab of the Pirate of Caribbean ride at the Magic Kingdom has begun. (Link)
June 10 – Storyboards of the new “Frozen” ride in were release by Disney as well as the name for the new water-based attraction, Frozen Ever After. (Link)
June 10 – In the MouseQuest review of “Tomorrowland” several weeks ago, it explains that the movie is not your typical ‘Disney movie’. Another way it’s not like typical Disney movies is that it is expected to lose a substantial amount of money. Some estimates say the movie could lose up to $140,000,000. (Link)
June 10 – Do you follow @DisneyParks on Twitter? If not, you are in the minority. This week they hit 1,000,000 followers. (Link)
June 11 – The world’s largest volleyball tournament is occurring at Walt Disney World this week. Over 27,000 athletes with an estimated 100,000 spectators will be in Orlando for the 42nd Annual AAU Girls’ Junior Nationals Volleyball Championships. (Link)
June 12 – Radio Disney announced that they will be launching a Radio Disney: Country in November. It will be available on their app as well as other third party digital platforms. (Link)
June 15 – What do you do with a movie which grossed $760 million worldwide? Order a sequel, of course! That’s just what it appear Disney is doing with ‘Maleficent’. The studio has already hired Linda Woolverton to write the script which Angelina Jolie is expected to star in. (Link)
June 16 – The guessing is over about what the fate of the Walt Disney World Speedway will become. Disney announced that they will demolish the facility to make way for additional Magic Kingdom parking. (Link)
June 16 – Guests staying at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village and Contemporary will be able to participate in a limited-time test where taxi cabs are offered for free to the following signature restaurants: Artist Point, Jiko and Flying Fish. Disney is conducting this test in hope of better gauging Guest’s interest in resort-to-resort transportation. The test will conclude June 30. (Link)
June 17 – June is construction time for Walt Disney World. Several new filing show that among small maintenance projects, there will be some significant work done on the Space Mountain queue as well as re-roofing buildings in the Norway Pavilion. (Link)
June 17 – A new quick service dining location has opened in Epcot. Located near Test Track, Taste Track will feature specialty grilled cheese sandwiches served with your choice of Tomato Bisque or a side salad. (Link)
June 17 – Another Disney hit is in the getting a sequel. Disney is moving forward with plans for a third installment of the “Princess Diaries”. The question remaining is will Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway reprise their roles as Queen Clarisse and Princess Mia. (Link)
June 18 – In a super secret location on the Walt Disney World website, it was announced that 2016 Walt Disney World Resort package and room-only reservations will be available online beginning June 22, 2015. (Link)
June 18 – Some users of the Disney Vacation Account encountered glitches which transferred too much money from their credit card or bank account into their vacation account this week. If you were effected by this you can call 407-939-7734. (Link)
That’s all the news for now. Follow me on Twitter @JazzinDisneyMom for more Disney news.
Sue Nowicki 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, treasurer, athletic trainer and team psychologist. You can follow her on Twitter @JazzinDisneyMom.
Welcome to the MouseQuest Podcast- Your guide in the quest for the perfect Disney vacation. This is episode number 3. In this episode, we answer questions about Disney Team Sports and events at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Questions this week include:
How would you get your child involved in a Team Sporting event at Walt Disney World? Where do you start?
Question about visiting the parks while visiting WDW for a Team Sports event.
How does Disney Transportation to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Work?
What dining options are available at Wide World of Sports?
What kind of sporting events are scheduled at ESPN Wide World of Sports?
When sporting events take place at WDW, thousands of people come to participate or support their athlete so it does have an impact on crowds at the parks and resorts. When do these events usually take place during the year?
When planning where to stay and dine during a Disney Team Sports event, what resorts and restaurant locations would be best to consider for large groups?
Do Cheerleaders and Dance Teams ever perform elsewhere on Disney property?
Appearing this week are Rich Grady, Dawn Gosdin, Amy Leto, Sue Nowicki, and Marci Smith.
