In honor of Stacy Fulford, the Hollywood Studios Streetmosphere characters held a pie-eating tribute on Sunset Boulevard yesterday in Mimi Kaboom’s honor…
Fulford, who portrayed Mimi Kaboom for several years at the park, tragically passed away earlier this week.
2018 looks to be a promising year for Disney Parks, which is surprising given it is the calm before the storm which is 2019. With so many new attractions, restaurants, and entertainment options on the way, we are listing the seven (yeah, seven…) things that have us most excited for the new year.
Paint the Night will finally be making a return to the Disneyland Resort in Spring 2018 as part of PIXAR Fest. I would say we are excited for this event, but it’s really just for the return of this amazing parade, which will now perform at Disney California Adventure. Frozen has been removed from the parade and new float is being added to fit the PIXAR promotion (rumored to be Inside Out-themed). We may not be excited for PIXAR Pier or PIXAR Fest next summer, but we’re sure excited to have Paint the Night back.
Beginning Spring 2018, Tokyo Disneyland will hold the “Happiest Celebration” for the resort’s 35th anniversary. With a new daytime parade, nighttime spectacular, decorations, specialty food and drink offerings and more, Tokyo Disneyland will have tons to offer to guests visiting during the celebration.
Returning January 12 is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. The festival was a big success in 2017, so for 2018 it’s expanding to seven days a week until February 19th. We can’t wait to see the changes and improvements to the festival this year!
Walt Disney World’s youngest park will be turning 20 in 2018, and while Disney has been a little scarce on details regarding a specific celebration, we already know that Flights of Wonder will be replaced by a new bird show featuring the characters from Pixar’s Up. In addition, D23 will be hosting some sort of ticketed event on the actual anniversary, April 22nd.
By the time Caribbean Beach Resort’s transformation is complete in late-summer, the resort will look almost indistinguishable from the original incarnation. We can’t wait to see the new Centertown Marketplace, Shutters Restaurant, lobby and more that will be completely reimagined when the project is finished.
For a better look at what Caribbean Beach used to look like, check out our video tour.
The Edison will open at Disney Springs on New Years Day, and that’s just the first restaurant coming to the shopping and dining district in 2018. Terralina Crafted Italian by “Top Chef Master” Tony Mantuano will be opening sometime in 2018 where Portobello’s currently is, Jaleo will open on the West Side of Disney Springs and offer some flavors of Spain from chef José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup, and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill will be opening in Town Center, offering laid back California-inspired dishes. As you can see, there are a handful of new eateries making their way to Disney Springs in 2018 (barring the usual delays we’ve become accustomed to), so stay hungry.
Perhaps most exciting for 2018 is the opening of Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That’s right, completely new rides will open at Hollywood Studios for the first time since 2008! This new land will have guests shrink down to the size of a toy where they will then enter the world of Andy’s backyard. New attractions, a merchandise store, and a new counter service restaurant make up this land, and guests will be able to experience the whole thing this summer.
As you can see, 2018 has a lot to offer.
What new offerings coming to Disney Parks in 2018 have you most excited? Let us know in the comments, and from all of us at WDWNT, have a Happy New Year!
A few weeks back, we reported that Disneyland had quietly offered up a number of props and signs from recently removed attractions through a Van Eaton Galleries auction. While Disney’s sale of surplus goods, even iconic pieces from beloved attractions, is no great news, the fact that the sale was conducted through a third-party auction house with no public acknowledgment by Disney is peculiar, to say the least. The auction was held, as planned, at Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks, California, on December 16, 2017.
The results, more than anything, confirmed what we all already knew—that there is quite a bit of nostalgia, and the money that comes with it, for these literal pieces of the Disneyland Resort. Van Eaton Galleries offered hundreds of lots of memorabilia from Disney theme parks in this sale. Compared to many of the other lots in the sale, those that seemed to carry the “fresh from Disney” pedigree performed extremely well. While these Disney-direct items were only a small fraction of the auction, they consistently brought the highest prices and collectively represented a significant chunk of the total auction proceeds.
All told, the Disneyland props and signs from recently removed or renovated attractions totaled something in the neighborhood of $147,000 before buyer’s fees are added. The Tower of Terror props from Disney California Adventure brought in $106,650 of this total, also before buyer’s fees. A few of the top selling items are featured with photos below. The prices shown are the final winning bid and are before Van Eaton Galleries adds its 18% buyer’s fees to the final bid price. Notably, especially if you are Disney, these hammer prices are also before Van Eaton Galleries subtracts its customary sellers fees (typically around 15%) from the final bid price.
The strong sales of these items through Van Eaton Galleries surely pleased whatever lines of business knew that it was Disney, itself, offering the items for sale. Those that were not informed of the sale of Disney-owned items are no doubt asking questions and finding answers based on Disney news stories reporting the auction results like this one. Nevertheless, now that Disney has proven what it already knew—that there is a market for its own nostalgia—it’s worth wondering what comes next… because there’s always a next. Are more similar, secret sales of beloved Disney “nostalgic assets” on the horizon? As WDWNT discussed before, a number of beloved attractions have recently been removed, leaving plenty of potential items to offer up to the collecting community. Could the prices achieved by Disney have been even higher by selling the items with Disney’s own name attached to them? Disney has done it before, having built whole special events around the offering of these items.
Regardless, we thought it would be worthwhile to crunch the numbers on the most-recent “secret sale” of Disneyland props to find out what Disney gained from the sale and to put the profits in context.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll focus on the 28 items from Tower of Terror at Disney’s California Adventure that sold at the Van Eaton Galleries auction. Those 28 items grossed a total of $106,650, by far the largest chunk of value of the Disney-offered items in the sale. Once the customary seller’s fees of 15% are subtracted, totaling $15,997.50, the net proceeds to Disney total $90,652.50 of extra spending money in Disney’s coffers. By the measures of “normal” people, that’s a whole lot of money from the extra stuff that Disney has hanging around… but the Disney Company should not be held to “normal” people standards. Instead, here’s the breakdown of Disney’s “secret sale” in a corporate context:
The $90,652.50 “profit” from the Tower of Terror props—a profit because they are presumably depreciated assets on Disney’s balance books—is equivalent to:
We’d love to hear from you with additional ideas of how Disney’s $90,652.50 “profit” from the Tower of Terror props could best be spent. Hit us up in the comments below or on social media with your thoughts.
Tower of Terror Sales Results
682 Tower of Terror Lobby Elevator Floor Indicator Prop $9000
685 Tower of Terror Service Elevator Sign Prop $3400
686 Maintenance Staff Only Tower of Terror Sign $600
687 Tower of Terror Load Instructions Sign $3000
688 Emergency Exit Only Tower of Terror Sign $700
689 Tower of Terror Exit Sign $1200
690 Tower of Terror Room Key Cabinet $11000
691 Tower of Terror Lobby Fireplace Grate $4500
692 Pair of Tower of Terror Large Lobby Floor Lamp Props $4750
693 Tower of Terror Main Lobby Chandelier No Lot
694 Tower of Terror Large Hanging Lobby Light $2000
695 Tower of Terror Retractable Chandelier $3250
696 Tower of Terror Entrance Outdoor Wall Light $2000
697 Tower of Terror Amber Outdoor Wall Light $2250
698 Tower of Terror Entrance Outdoor Wall Light $2000
699 Tower of Terror Foo Dog Outdoor Wall Light $2000
700 Tower of Terror Amber Outdoor Wall Light $1800
701 Tower of Terror Repaired Chair Prop $4250
702 Tower of Terror Marble-top Cabinet Prop $4500
703 The Tip Top Club Anthony Freemont Poster and Lightbox $6000
704 Tower of Terror Chair Prop $1600
705 Tower of Terror Pressure Gauge Prop $1300
706 Authorized Staff Only Tower of Terror Sign $700
707 Tower of Terror Pressure Gauge Prop $1600
708 Tower of Terror Library Television Prop – Right Side $10000
709 Tower of Terror Library Television Prop – Left Side $12000
710 Picture If You Will Sign $4500
711 Tower Hotel Gifts Entrance Sign $4500
712 Tower of Terror Hotel Display Case with Props $2250
Tower of Terror Subtotal: $106,650
Van Eaton Proceeds: $15,997.50
Net to Disney: $90,652.50
Total Sales (TOT and Other): $147,000
As 2017 comes to a close, we look back at some of the greatest moments in Disney Parks this year. From new restaurants and attractions, to festivals and more, 2017 added so much to the Disney Parks we love. So, in no particular order, here are the seven (yeah,…. seven) best things from 2017 (in our opinions, of course).
Be sure to read more about each of them by clicking their titles.
Mission: Breakout had many fans upset when news broke that DCA’s Tower of Terror would be gone for good, but after the attraction opened in May, many people’s opinions quickly changed. Not only is Guardians of the Galaxy a worthy replacement for Tower of Terror, but it might even be a superior one. Either way, it’s a welcomed new attraction that takes Disney’s unique drop tower ride and adds a ton of charm the way only Disney knows how.
What’s not to love about Geyser Point Grill and Bar? This new restaurant offers fantastic food and drink options, breathtaking views of Bay Lake, and a cozy outdoor environment that will surely please guests. With solid menu prices and being just a boat ride away from Magic Kingdom, Geyser Point has quickly become one of our favorite spots on property.
After a lengthy bit of downtime, the Disneyland Railroad reopened this summer with new and enhanced scenes that have been a hit with guests. Both the Grand Canyon and Primeval World dioramas were restored to their original glory, with each scene looking fresh and having the added benefit of some new aesthetic touches. This seminal attraction has been preserved to inspire and entertain new generations of guests, while the new area north of the Rivers of America is a beautiful new vista.
When people heard that Wishes was going to end at Magic Kingdom, there was a lot of concern, and rightfully so. However, Happily Ever After debuted in May and won the hearts of Disney fans from all corners of the world. With its outstanding soundtrack, impressive new technologies, unrelenting usage of pyrotechnics, and thoughtful use of beloved Disney IPs, Happily Ever After is perhaps the new greatest Disney fireworks show to date.
It took nearly seven years from the time it was announced, but in 2017 Pandora – The World of Avatar finally opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. After all the years it took, the money invested, and confusion among fans, was Pandora worth it? The answer is a resounding yes! Pandora proves that with the proper resources, attention, and passion, Disney can still create something so unfamiliar and amazing that they further raise the bar for what a theme park can and should be. The World of Avatar is absolutely stunning, and houses a phenomenal restaurant, an incredibly lifelike Audio-Animatronic, and one of the most groundbreaking attractions ever conceived. Thanks to Pandora, 2017 has been the biggest year yet in theme park innovation.
At the D23 Expo in July Disney announced that for the first time, Disney California Adventure would be celebrating the Halloween season in a big way. Not only did the park do a wonderful job with the project, but they’ve created what is being seen as one of the most memorable Halloween celebrations ever in a theme park. Just look at Cars Land’s Haul-O-Ween celebration, never mind the new decorations on Buena Vista Street and the Monsters After Dark overlay of Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s reason enough to make the trip out to Disneyland Resort.
2017 started out strong with the inaugural year of the International Festival of the Arts at Epcot. The festival sets itself apart from the long running Flower and Garden and Food and Wine festivals by offering some of the best entertainment, food, and exhibits we’ve seen yet at an Epcot festival. While not quite perfect, the Festival of the Arts is a welcomed addition to Epcot, and we can’t wait to see it evolve over the coming years.
As you can see, 2017 has been quite a great year for Disney Parks fans. With so many new and thoughtful changes, 2017 ends with the promise of a stronger and better Disney experience for all guests for years to come.
In USA Today’s “Ten Most Must-See Films Of 2018”, a new image from “Mary Poppins Returns” debuted as well as Emily Blunt discussing how it feels to take on such an iconic role as Mary Poppins.
From USA Today:
Emily Blunt acknowledges that it’s hard to put in words what it’s like to play author P.L. Travers’ iconic nanny, though “joyful” and “utterly magical” do come up in conversation. Julie Andrews played the role in 1964 and the flying umbrella passes to Blunt for a sequel set in 1930s Depression-era London, where Poppins revisits a now-grown Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer) when their family needs her again. Back in the day, a spoonful of sugar helped the medicine go down, but Blunt’s Poppins hews more to Travers’ literary character. “I just loved how eccentric and wacky she is in the books — incredibly vain and rude to the children,” Blunt says. “As a British person, I really responded to that lack of saccharine relationships. I find it comforting the idea of someone just sweeping in who’s no-nonsense and cleaning everything up and making everything right again in a magical way that’s not sentimental.”
Source: USA Today
We have received the sad news (according to cast members who worked her) that Stacy Fulford, who played Mimi Kaboom in Streetmosphere at Hollywood Studios, has passed away. The Citizens of Hollywood always entertain and delight guests and Mimi Kaboom was no exception. From her official website you can see her passion for performing runs deep:
Her love for performing began in dance class early in life. Passions then led her to pursue music education, then by the natural order of things found herself in the world of theatre. After stealing the show as Wicked Witch of the West in her elementary school’s production of The Wizard of Oz, she knew the stage was her home. Stacy earned her degree in Theatre Arts from Florida Southern College, and has been happily working in the industry ever since.
We would like to thank Stacy for her many years of bringing joy to guests from around the world and our condolences go out to her family and friends.
MagicKeepers, the MagicBand key chain, are now available in three new colors pink, purple, and blue! They retail for $12.99 the same as the original black version. No additional colors for the Minnie Magic Keeper has been spotted yet.
If you need a refresher we have a video on how to install your MagicBand 2.0 into a MagicKeeper.
Permits filed by Disney to the City of Anaheim seem to hint at a rehab for Aladdin’s Oasis in Adventureland at Disneyland.
The permit states that the stage will be fixed up and expanded, the restrooms refurbished, and exterior walls altered and rethemed for the addition of a new pedestrian ramp.
This space opened as an Aladdin themed dinner show in 1993, but in 1995 became a restaurant-only location for the busiest park days. Now Aladdin’s Oasis serves as a meet & greet location and a space for occasional events. Prior to all of this, it was home to the Tahitian Terrace dinner show.
Does this mean that a dinner show is returning to Aladdin’s Oasis, or will it be used in some other dining capacity (the space was used for “on-the-go” parade packages as recently as this year).
Stay tuned to WDWNT.com for new details on this story.
Now located on the construction walls at the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests can get a closer look at the upcoming Disney Skyliner gondola transportation system.
A map of the system, as well as an overhead rendering of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios station can be seen.
The art recently released by Disney for this station is also found on the walls here. However, there is a new piece to be seen…
The final piece shows a view from above and a look across the park to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Similar art for the Epcot station was released as well at that park’s construction walls.
No opening date has been provided as of yet for the Disney Skyliner system.
PHOTOS COURTESY @ARTISTNERD_16 ON TWITTER.
Now located on the construction walls at International Gateway at Epcot, guests can get a closer look at the upcoming Disney Skyliner gondola transportation system.
A map of the system, as well as an overhead rendering of the International Gateway station can be seen.
The art recently released by Disney for the Epcot station is also found on the walls here.
However, this are some other new pieces to be seen…
The Disney Skyliner logo.
The final piece shows a view from above and a look across the park to Spaceship Earth and the nearby France pavilion.
No opening date has been provided as of yet for the Disney Skyliner system.
PHOTOS COURTESY @ARTISTNERD_16 ON TWITTER.
