A transformer failure at the Disneyland Resort resulted in loss of power to much of Fantasyland and Mickey’s Toontown Wednesday afternoon December 27th, in the middle of one of the busiest days of the year.
According to ABC7.com, the local ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, reported that a Disneyland spokesperson said guests were being evacuated from “about a dozen” rides, including the Monorail, which, interestingly, isn’t technically a Fantasyland or Toontown attraction.
As of 3pm PST (6pm EST), power to much of the park had been restored, with all of Toontown plus some Fantasyland attractions, including “it’s a small world” which is currently sporting its holiday overlay.
At least one guest paid way too much for Disneyland tickets and then complained they weren’t offering refunds when the rest of the park, as well as Disney California Adventure, were open and operating.
Nonsensical time spent at Disneyland. There is a power outage and there is no refund either!!! $1100 down the drain!! #disneypoweroutage#poorcustomerservice
Access to Club 33 locations is usually members-only, but Adventures by Disney offers a visit to Shanghai Disneyland’s Club 33 location as part of the “Enchanted China” tour. Heather Concannon went on that trip with her family in August, and took some photos inside Club 33 that she shared with WDWNT.
Shanghai Disneyland’s Club 33 is located at the top of Mickey Avenue (Shanghai’s version of Main Street).
Shanghai’s Club 33 has two floors, Heather explained. “The first floor had a small reception area, while the second floor was the dining area.”
The stairway to the second floor; like the entire location, it’s decorated in an elegant Fantasia theme.
“The second floor consisted of the main dining room and several private dining areas,” according to Heather. “The dining area could probably seat about a hundred people.”
The private dining areas could be closed off with curtains.
Heather’s party was seated at a large table in the main dining area, also called the Garden View Room. According to Heather, the service was impeccable. “The cast members were kind and accommodating to our group,” she reported.
“The food was good,” Heather told WDWNT. “Because we visited with Adventures by Disney, we were provided with a fixed menu, which felt authentic to the Chinese culture.”
The hamachi and grapefruit sorbet with green apple wasabi granité appetizer.
The Australian wagyu short rib entree.
“In comparison with other Disney restaurant dining experiences, Club 33 really seemed to stand out,” Heather said. “The closest comparison I can draw is the experiences I had at Palo and Remy on the Disney Cruise Line.”
The dining room opens onto a balcony with an excellent view of the park. Heather’s group was able to view Shanghai’s “Ignite the Dream” nighttime spectacular from here.
“Besides being able to say I finally visited a Club 33 location, my favorite part of experiencing this exclusive space was the firework viewing area,” Heather shared. “It was private to guests visiting Club 33, therefore it felt intimate, allowing us to really enjoy the fireworks.”
There’s a small gift shop on the second floor, where Heather picked up a few souvenirs before she left.
Club 33 at Shanghai Disneyland was a “very elegant and one-of-a-kind experience,” Heather said. While Disneyland in California and Tokyo Disney Resort also have Club 33 locations, all three are themed very differently. Club 33 locations are currently being built in all four parks in Walt Disney World as well.
Heather added that this was her first visit to Shanghai Disneyland and it was “unlike visiting any other Disney theme parks. With its innovative attractions, intricately themed lands, and authentic Chinese influence it is certainly a place all Disney fans should visit in their lifetime!” Heather’s Adventures by Disney itinerary also included stops in Hong Kong, Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Guilin, and Shanghai, where they visited notable sites including Victoria Peak, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and Hong Kong Disneyland. You can see more of her trip in Heather’s YouTube video below.
This image has not been officially confirmed, but it looks like the real deal to me. With only 5 months to go until the release of “Solo”, we should be getting some promotional material and this could be the first one. This originally was posted on reddit and the image originates somewhere from Russia, as you can see by the writing in the main title. In this image we see Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich), Lando Calrisian (Donald Glover) and Kira (Emilia Clarke).
And another potential image has also leaked. Seems to be the reverse image of the above image plus the addition of The Millennium Falcon.
Walt Disney World Annual Passholders now receive a 10% discount at almost all Disney-owned dining establishments. The discount was previously 20% from October 1st, 2016 through December 23rd, 2017 at only select locations.
While expanded to more restaurants, the deal still does not include Victoria and Albert’s. The new discount is set through December 31st, 2018 and is valid for the Passholder and up to three guests.
Passholders can still get a 20% discount at all of these restaurants by purchasing a Tables in Wonderland card.
For the first time in a while, we take to the skies above Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see the latest progress on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land…
To the left is Toy Story Land, to the right is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
In the lower center, you can see the recently topped-off highest point in Galaxy’s Edge, some of the rock-work that resides above the show building for the Millennium Falcon attraction.
Guests visiting Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are now being treated to a new preview of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening in 2019 at both parks.
A small section of the model of the entire land that was on display at the D23 Expo this year is on display now at Disneyland’s Launch Bay. Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios has had a different section on display since September.
In addition, the Star Wars Launch Bay film was updated on both coasts to include a new, never-before-seen preview of the 14-acre land coming to Disney Parks:
A recent posting to the Disney Auditions website has fueled rumors that Disney is looking to create living “Cars” characters for Cars Land at Disney California Adventure and beyond.
The posting claims it is looking for “male & female individuals who are outgoing, energetic and enthusiastic to help bring to life the citizens of Cars Land”. The required skills include getting in and out of float vehicles repeatedly, being between 5’2″ and 5’8″, and a clean DMV driving record.
All of these requirements seem to point towards the addition of “living characters” at Cars Land, not unlike the Talking Mickey at the Magic Kingdom that can have a full conversation with guests.
Be sure to check back as more details become available on this story.
After the mixed reception by Star Wars fans concerning “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, it seems Disney is preparing itself for the worst when “Solo: A Star Wars Story” comes out this May.
According to Screen Geek:
A source close to the film’s production has informed us:
Disney is bracing themselves for the Han Solo movie to bomb. They were worried about it before all The Last Jedi controversy, but now they’re essentially writing Solo off. The lead actor, Alden Ehrenreich, can’t act, and they had a dialogue coach on hand for all of his scenes. On top of that, the script is unworkable. It’s going to be a car crash.
I hate to say it but Disney is behaving like Warner Brothers when they tried to mirror the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Warner Brothers should have taken their time with releasing individual superhero movies accumulating to the formation of Justice League, but Warner Brothers wanted Avengers like box office money right away, and now they are stuck with a mess on their hands.
Disney knows it is sitting on a gold mine with Star Wars and feels it’s necessary to have a Star Wars movie released annually in order to apply that box office revenue to their year end earnings. But if you dont have a good story, just dont bother making the movie. The consumers of today have a lot more access to reviews from both critics and audiences that have seen a particular movie that they are interested in, and if those scores are low, they are going to save their hard earned money for another movie.
Disney’s goal should always be quality over quantity.
Here is hoping for the best, but like Disney, prepare for the worst when Solo is released on May 25, 2018.
Legendary Walt Disney World entertainer Christopher George Weaver has passed away according to cast members who worked with him. Weaver was best known for portraying the Mayor of Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom.
In addition to appearing around Main Street U.S.A., Weaver also hosted many of the old Magic Kingdom Welcome Shows at the Railroad Station when it existed.
We would like to thank Christopher for his many years of bringing joy to guests from around the world and our condolences go out to his family and friends.
It’s quite possible that Monsters Inc. will be joining the roster of explorable worlds in the upcoming game Kingdom Hearts III.
Recently a handful of photos were leaked on Kingdom Hearts Insider when forum user nintendo uploaded a slew of photos showing off the crossover of Pixar’s Monsters Inc. and Kingdom Hearts.
The screenshots, if actually legitimate, shows an earlier development build of the game running, so please excuse the poor presentation and screen clutter.
The world seems to take place in the Monsters Incorporated building from the first movie. This image shows the room where all the doors are kept. Also, there’s Boo in the bottom right of the screenshot.
A monster boss battle in the lobby of the Monsters Incorporated building.
Not sure as to what the X could be for…
Sora, Donald, and Goofy are decked out in monster skins to match the Monsters Inc. universe.
Earlier this year we got a first look at the Toy Story world coming to Kingdom Hearts III, so we know that Pixar properties are now possible in the Kingdom Hearts universe.
Kingdom Hearts III is scheduled to release in 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
