TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (6/15/16) – Safety at Disney, Gator Incident, Expert Interviews, & More

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, we take a more serious turn in light of this week’s events in Orlando and at the Walt Disney World Resort. Join us as we welcome experts to examine and discuss the safety of guests and Walt Disney World in light of these terrible tragedies. We will also be raising money for the victims of the club attack Orlando, so please tune in and help by donating as well.

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WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to AM 1520 WBZW at showtime. For those outside the Orlando area, the show can be heard (and now watched via video stream) at Listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. The show also utilizes new interactive avenues for our audience, including a live chat, the ability to call-in to the show, and live polling.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • Guest interviews discussing guest safety at Walt Disney World, regarding both of this week’s incidents
  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • Live fundraiser for victims of the Pulse night club attack
  • And more!

We hope that you will tune in this Wednesday at 9PM ET for another episode of WDW News Tonight!

If you missed the last show, you can watch it here:

BREAKING: Disney Company Donates $1 Million to OneOrlando Fund; See How You Can Help

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

JULY 4TH CELEBRATED AT WALT DISNEY WORLD IN FLORIDA

Today, the Walt Disney Company is announced a $1 million cash commitment to the OneOrlando Fund, established by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to assist those affected by the tragic events in Orlando. Also, eligible donations from Disney employees will be matched dollar for dollar by Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation.

“We are heartbroken by this tragedy and hope our commitment will help those in the community affected by this senseless act,” said Bob Chapek, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “With 74,000 Cast Members who call Orlando home, we mourn the loss of the victims and offer our condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.”

OneOrlando Fund will provide funds and other services to individuals affected by the tragedy. The website for the new fund is www.oneorlando.org. Anyone can donate to the fund through that website.

The Walt Disney World Resort has also been working in coordination with other Central Florida agencies and leaders to provide support to those in need. In coordination with OneBlood, cast members and other employees working at Walt Disney World Resort wishing to donate blood to help victims may donate at five designated locations across the resort property.

Through an effort led by the City of Orlando and the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association, Walt Disney World Resort is also providing complimentary accommodations for the families and friends of the victims.

VIDEO: New Trailer Released For Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon”

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

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Disney has just released the newest trailer for “Pete’s Dragon” and we get to see a lot more of Elliot in this one, including his inadvisability powers. Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPOamb6d_20

A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence and Oscar® winner Robert Redford. The film, which is directed by David Lower, is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a., with Barrie M. Osborne serving as executive producer.

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon. Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

New Spider-Man Game Coming to PS4

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Sony surprised audiences tonight at their E3 conference with the announcement of an all-new Spider-Man game coming exclusively to PlayStation 4. The game is being developed by Insomniac games, recently known for Sunset Overdrive, and if Spider-Man plays anything like that, fans should be very pleased.

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Along with the announcement came a trailer, which you can watch below. The trailer shows the Web Head swinging his way around New York City and fighting baddies. Also interesting, Spidey’s suit is unlike anything we have seen before. Some elements seem like nods to the recent Civil War suit but overall, it looks to be something entirely new.

https://https://youtu.be/3R2uvJqWeVg

On the PlayStation Blog, developer Insomniac posted, “Spider-Man is one of the most iconic and well-known characters in the world, and we’re thrilled to be given the responsibility to create a brand new, authentic Spider-Man story”. They also mentioned that this Spider-Man is unrelated to the upcoming MCU movie.

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No release window was provided for the game, though given that it was just a CG trailer, I’d say we have at least two years before we get our hands on Insomniac’s Spider-Man.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Demo Out Now

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Sony showed off a new trailer for the upcoming LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens tonight at their E3 Press Conference.

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The Trailer shows some of the best moments from the movie and in typical LEGO fashion, there is tons of humor added to the mix. Check out the trailer below to see all your favorite Star Wars characters interact with each other.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set to release on June 28 for PS4, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, 3DS, and PC. In the meantime, a free demo is now avaibale for all PS4 owners. You can now try the game before it is even released!

https://https://youtu.be/btn3HZ2CP2I

 

Star Wars Battlefront VR Teased

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

During Sony’s E3 Media Briefing, EA’s new Star Wars Battlefront VR experience was shown for the first time, with more detail and a proper name. Officially titled Star Wars Battlefront X-Wing VR Mission, the game is just that. Developer Criterion Games will be bringing this experience for free to anyone that already owns Star Wars Battlefront on PS4.

James Svensson, a producer at Criterion, had this to say, “You will be instantaneously transported from the comfort of your living room to an X-wing cockpit in space”.

https://https://youtu.be/9JS642fmhk0

Video Source: IGN

Although no release date was provided, Sony has confirmed that their VR headset will comet on October 13.

VIDEO: A Short Clip From Pixar’s Newest Short, “Piper”

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

PIPER – Concept Art by Jason Deamer (Production Designer). ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Get your first look at “Piper” before he makes his debut during the theatrical release of “Finding Dory”.

In Pixar Animation Studios’ new short, “Piper,” a hungry sandpiper hatchling discovers that finding food without mom’s help isn’t so easy.

Piper is directed by Alan Barillaro (supervising animator “WALL•E,” “Brave”) and the short will debut in front of Finding Dory.

Official Poster Released For Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon”; New Trailer Debuts Today

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

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Disney has released the official poster for it’s upcoming live action film, “Pete’s Dragon”. The trailer for Disney’s Pete’s Dragon will debut online tomorrow!

To celebrate, Bryce Dallas Howard will go LIVE on the Disney Facebook page this afternoon to present an exclusive sneak peek.

A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliott, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a story by Seton I. Miller and S.S. Field and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliott. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliott seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon. Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon” opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

PHOTOS: Bay Lake Tower Testing Disney Vacation Club Valet Parking; Magical Express Coming Soon

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Disney Vacation Club members have often complained how far it can be sometimes to get from their resort room to the front of the hotel’s main lobby. If a guest staying at Bay Lake Tower wanted to valet park their car, they would have to walk all the way down to the front of the main building of the resort next door, a lengthy hike for a paid add-on service. Well, Bay Lake Tower is now testing a valet parking service for guests of the hotel, located right at the main entrance of the Bay Lake Tower building.

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The test could mean a roll-out to other Disney Vacation Club resorts with their own separate entrances (Grand Floridian, ETC.), but may also be paving the way for a major milestone in the Disney Vacation Club that we unfortunately aren’t ready to disclose just yet…

In addition, rumor has it that Magical Express may soon offer to drop Bay Lake Tower and other DVC resort guests off at the front door of their resorts, rather than dropping them off at the often distant main lobby of the hotel overall.

Jungle Cruise Skipper Canteen Kid’s Menu Changes Ahead of Rumored Main Menu Revamp

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Rumors have been swirling for weeks that a major menu change is coming to the Jungle Navigation Co. Skipper Canteen Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom. On top of that, Disney suddenly began accepting advance dining reservation up to 180 days out for the restaurant just last week in an effort to draw in more guests. Well, over the last few days, the kid’s menu at the restaurant underwent a few changes…

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Now gone from the menu:

  • Safari Soup – egg drop soup
  • Amazon Annie’s House-made Arepas – slow cooked beef, black beans, and queso fresco served with Yuca planks. Comes with choice of dessert (see below) and choice of small lowfat milk, small bottled water or small apple juice

New items replacing these dishes are the Safari Snack and Chef Tandaji’s Crispy Chicken.

Also, the mac and cheese received a name change and less complex description (probably in an attempt to appeal to more kids). Here is the original description:

  • Junior Skip’s Special Mac and Cheese – a typical Egyptian dish consisting of ground beef, pasta, bechamel sauce and house-made JBen cheese gratinee served with broccoli. Comes with choice of dessert (see below) and choice of small lowfat milk, small bottled water or small apple juice

The bigger changes to the main menu are still expected, but appear to have been delayed, at the very least, for now.