Removed during the 2006 refurbishment that brought the movie characters to the ride, a new version of the infamous talking skull that once stood before the drop is now in place. While it isn’t exactly the same, it is similar to the more famous version in the Disneyland attraction.
The Skull says a few words before a lightning flash goes off from his eyes, along with the crack of thunder. While the flash is a little bright, we are happy to see that it was at least well-themed. Sadly, it is not the original dialogue by X. Atencio, but it is cool nonetheless.
On-ride photo and the talking skull can now be seen daily at Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom.
As construction continues on the two new themed lands for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the last remaining section of the Streets of America is coming back to life, while the “Battle Escape” attraction is finally rising upon the Star Wars Land site. We check in again in our latest photo and video update…
We begin with our latest video update:
And now on to the photos…
“Battle Escape” is quite visible from several locations now.
Meanwhile, they continue to paint the remaining Streets of America facades. It should be interesting to see what these become.
The facade is also being completed so it is no longer a movie set.
Still not entirely sure what this barrier between Muppets Courtyard and Star Wars Land will be, but it is taking shape.
We’re still hoping that the former Writer’s Stop is becoming a lounge for the Sci-Fi Dine-In, but it is still unclear what exactly the space is becoming.
Some work is being done on the facade of Muppetvision 3-D.
The construction walls were expanded out towards the FastPass+ kiosk.
The extended queue for Muppetvision #-D still exists, but a walk down here is quite disturbing. It’s what the kids might call “Creepy AF”.
And now a look from the balcony of PizzeRizzo.
As always, stay tuned to WDWNT.com for further updates of the progress on the expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
If you are a hardcore Disney Parks fan, you no doubt wear your ride evacuations like a badge of honor. While other guests are often angry or scared during an attraction breakdown, you are excited at the possibility of walking through a show scene in a ride and out some backstage exit door, undoubtedly seeing something you weren’t meant to see. In fact, many guests pay for backstage tours just to see such things, but there are many areas that even those do not travel. On Friday, I was “lucky” enough to experience an “evac” on a ride that I had never before, Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom.
Our log became “jammed” just before the lift hill into the final drop. We were maybe stuck for 15-20 minutes before someone came to help us, but boy, do people get antsy after about 10…
Apparently this is a very common occurrence at the attraction, as guests think it is OK to slip through the lap bars and jump out of the log on their own. Obviously, this is incredibly stupid and no one should do this, considering someone who jumped out of a ride vehicle on this attraction once died (albeit while the attraction was in motion).
While I didn’t capture it on film, another guest jumped out of the log as the cast repeatedly yelled at him over the PA system not to. He then urged his wife to jump out, as the cast continued to yell her to please not move and for both of them to stay where they were. He eventually pulled his wife out unwillingly, eventually then running into the cast members who were coming to get them out of the vehicle safely (if they had only waited about 30 more seconds). The most comical part was when the wife pointed at her husband as if to say “he made me do it”, for fear they would both be ejected from the park by the Disney employees. I am unaware if any action was taken, but I doubt it. I know this might be controversial, but the cast members probably have enough to deal with at that moment, trying to make sure that the remaining guests get out safely.
Either way, this was my first evacuation on Splash Mountain and it was easily the one where I saw the most guests not adhering to safety instructions, which is much scarier than a ride breaking in my book.
So, what do you think? Have you ever witnessed a similar situation on a ny of your trips to Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments.
Cars 3: Driven to Win is the first game from the recently reformed Avalanche Software, the former team behind the now canceled Disney Infinity series. Under ownership of WB Games, Avalanche has managed to make a return to the industry creating Disney licensed games of all things. It’s about the best (realistic) option fans could have hoped for, and with Cars 3: Driven to Win Avalanche has crafted a game that makes a bold statement: They are back and ready to create more fantastic video games set in the Disney universes we love.
Driven to Win is a full-fledged, content heavy movie tie-in, the likes we haven’t seen in years. With over 20 tracks to race on, a handful of game modes, and some of the best kart racing gameplay out there, Cars 3 offers a premier movie tie-in that should complement the recent release of the Cars 3 movie nicely.
The game takes place after the events of the movie. The story is light, and the events don’t matter a whole lot, but they are there. After a quick and intuitive tutorial, players are set free to decide how they want to play. While many tracks, characters, and cosmetic features are locked from the beginning, the game does a wonderful job of laying out the road map (no pun intended) for players to unlock all the game’s content.
The Hall of Fame is essentially a big check list with 136 challenges to accomplish. Xbox and PlayStation players might equate these tasks or challenges to the likes of Achievements or Trophies. The various challenges encouraged me to play the game in different ways, and evoked that “one more race” feeling that keep me playing for upwards of 20 hours. The more challenges you complete, the more you unlock, and the loop just goes on and on.
The game’s 21 tracks are all well thought out and themed nicely to the Cars movies. The first 17 tracks were built specifically for Driven to Win and feature the best locations from the Cars 3 movie. The last 5 tracks are from the Cars 2 video game and have been retooled to accommodate the new mechanics of Driven to Win. Although I’ve played some of these tracks before, they felt like new having been suited for the better sequel that Driven to Win is.
Pre and post races are met with some humorous commentary from Chick Hicks, who you may remember from the first Cars movie. He now hosts a racing talk show called RSN and throughout the game Chick will chime in with his bitter and jealous two-cents, as you race your way to victory. While I found this to be a nice touch to the game, I wished there was more variety in the commentary. Too often at the end of a race I would hear the same jokes that I had already heard dozens of times before.
Driven to Win has 23 different characters to play as ranging from classics like Lightning McQueen and Mater to new characters such as Cruz Ramirez and Jackson Storm. Each character has a provides a unique personality and plays differently, offering a wide array of options for players. Although I didn’t personally stray away from Lightning McQueen too much, I found it a bit disappointing that so many of the characters from the Cars 2 video game did not make a return. I wasn’t necessarily longing to play as any of them, but I couldn’t help but notice a gap in the roster right between the original Cars and Cars 3 characters.
In race mode, the game feels like a classic arcade racer with tight controls. The drifting, while quite different from a game like Mario Kart, took a while to get adjusted to, but after a few hours I was drifting like the Hudson Hornet. Car handling feels tight, a notable improvement from the Cars 2 video game released back in 2011. The abilities to drive in reverse and on two-wheels make a return in Driven to Win, and are improved on with stunt strips placed throughout the track that reward racers with turbo power for pulling off some more stylistic driving. When I played Cars 2 I largely ignored these features and particularly found driving in reverse to be a bit cumbersome, but Driven to Win‘s challenges pushed me to master these skills and utilize them to outrace my opponents.
Battle race is more Mario Kart style. Mystery boxes allow for some pretty ridiculous, and in some cases violent, racing. I don’t know that the team at Pixar would consider this game cannon if they saw just how aggressive Lightning McQueen can be with a couple rockets strapped to his sides. Takedown mode has players racing against the clock to mow down waves of virtual enemy cars to set new highs scores. Stunt showcase is all about getting big air and pulling off stunts. It doesn’t matter how you race in this mode, you just need to score some serious points to beat out the competition. Best Lap Challenge is the game’s ghost mode, and I found this mode to be particularly more difficult than the others. I just couldn’t seem to pull off three star ratings in this mode.
Finally there are the Master-Level Events. These are the main story missions, of which there are four. Each event involves a different character from Cars 3, except for the Mater the Greater event inspired from the Car-Toons short. Each Master-Level Event utilizes a different mode to really test the players skill in that particular aspect of the game. I never found any of the Master-Level Events to be any more challenging than any other race or event in the game. Even the final showdown with Jackson Storm seemed a bit underwhelming, though I was playing the game on an easier mode in all fairness.
Driven to Win includes some fantastic split-screen co-op that opens up the entire game for two to four players. In split-screen the game runs and looks just the same as it does in single player. Here, players can compete in cups, race with or against each other, and pick a team to race for. The focus on split-screen multiplayer is strong here, as Driven to Win comes across as both a game that’s great to play alone or with friends. There’s no online play this time around, but I found this to be a good thing, as usually game’s like this go offline shortly after their launch, and never get the server support or maintenance they need. Deciding to make a rock solid local multiplayer experience was a better idea in the long run, and it’ll help Driven to Win age better over time.
While Driven to Win does play solid, the visuals and graphics do look like something that could have easily been pulled off in 2007 on the Xbox 360. However, I played on Nintendo Switch, so perhaps that had something to do with the less-than-impressive graphics. The game does look notably better on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions, as I discovered by comparing gameplay. While lighting is dull and environments are bland throughout the Switch version, the more powerful consoles offer more dynamic lighting with livelier surrounding environments. Although the game didn’t look as great on the platform I played it on, I never felt like the average visuals disrupted my enjoyment.
When racing around the track gets tiring, players can head to the Thomasville Playground. This unique mode offers players a big sandbox to mess around in. Throughout the Playground, players can take on various challenges and find a few collectables. It’s like a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game but without the time limit. I felt like the Thomasville Playground was not only a great place to help me unlock more characters and customization options, but the ideal way for me to hone in on my skills and improve them with the various challenges. The Thomasville Playground adds a whole new layer to the already impressive amount of content packed in the game.
Overall Cars 3: Driven to Win is a fun racing game for all ages. Where typical movie tie-in games tend to fall flat, Drive to Win excels. With dozens of tracks, characters, and ways to play, there is enough here to keep players busy for a long time. While not the most impressive looking game of 2017, Driven to Win is a satisfying racing game set in a recognizable and lovable world. In a time when most Disney licensed games are either free-to-play mobile games, or serious AAA blockbusters, it’s nice to once again have something in the middle of the road. Cars 3: Driven to Win is an excellent game that proves Avalanche Software can still put out a great Disney licensed game in a post Disney Infinity world.
Cars 3: Driven to Win is available now for Switch, Wii U, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival located in the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot is adding some new shorts when it reopens next week.
The attraction has been closed since June 12th and will re-open on June 19, 2017. The La Luna and For The Birds shorts have been removed and replaced with Disney’s Feast and PIXAR’s Piper shorts. These two shorts will join Get a Horse when the attraction returns on Monday.
If you are familiar with Disneyland, you undoubtedly know about the long lines for Corn Dogs that can be found on Main Street U.S.A. (and occasionally at the secondary location, the Corn Dog Castle at Disney California Adventure). If you only visit Walt Disney World, then you might be wondering why such lines exist, seeing as the corn dogs in Orlando are pretty terrible. Well, the difference between the two is that the dogs are hand-dipped at Disneyland and served fresh, not from frozen like their Walt Disney World counterparts. While the food trucks at Disney Springs have given us their take on this classic snack, the Magic Kingdom is finally trying out Hand-dipped Corn Dogs.
Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, already home to the beloved waffle sandwiches (including breakfast), funnel cakes, and ice cream cookie sandwiches, is now also the home for these new, fresh-made snacks.
The hand-dipped corn dog with house-made chips is $8.49, but you can get just the corn dog for $5.99 upon request.
In case you don’t believe that they are hand-dipping the corn dogs, here’s a peek into the kitchen. This item is fairly new, so they are still learning how to do this and it was quite evident. Many corn dogs came out fairly deformed in appearance and we ended up waiting quite a while for this to come out of the kitchen.
Hand-Dipped Corn Dog with House-Made Chips ($8.49)
Hand-Dipped Corn Dog with House-Made Chips ($8.49), Sleepy Hollow Refreshments at the Magic Kingdom
As you can see, our corn dog came out quite deformed, but it was also very good. While the Disneyland version is still superior, this was lightyears better than any other corn dog I’ve ever had in Orlando.
Hand-Dipped Corn Dog with House-Made Chips ($8.49), Sleepy Hollow Refreshments at the Magic Kingdom
Sure, the hot dog was peeking out and there was a strange “leg” coming out of it, but the flavor of the batter was good and the all-beef hot dog was great. The house made chips were tasty as always, making this a solid meal. Sadly, I still prefer the chicken and waffle sandwich, so this probably won’t sway me from my usual order, but it is nice to finally have real corn dogs here. Now, we just need them to start making the spicy link from Corn Dog Castle…
DISNEY CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA ANNOUNCES ACTION-PACKED PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE FOR D23 EXPO 2017, JULY 14-16, 2017
The Games Showcase returns to D23 Expo Arena, with special guests and surprise unveilings, on July 15
A Disney Products presentation—featuring surprises and giveaways—at the Walt Disney Archives Stage will help open the Expo on July 14
Disney Publishing Worldwide will unveil a treasure trove of upcoming titles throughout the weekend, while Oh My Disney will delight fans with more than 30 hours of fresh entertainment distributed across the Disney Digital Network
At the upcoming D23 Expo 2017, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) will showcase a blockbuster slate of programming from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel. Fans will get an inside glimpse into Disney products and collectibles during a presentation on the Walt Disney Archives Stage, while exclusive news about games and interactive experiences will be unveiled during a presentation in the 3,400-seat D23 Expo Arena. In addition to the DCPI pavilion on the show floor, Disney Publishing Worldwide will go “behind the pages” of some of their upcoming books during a series of panels throughout the weekend. Oh My Disney will also bring fun, fan-focused live activations to the heart of the DCPI pavilion all three days on the Oh My Disney Stage.
Programming kicks off on Friday, July 14, the first day of the Expo and continues through the weekend:
The Walt Disney Company’s Celebrated Product Legacy and the Exciting Future Ahead
Friday, July 14, 10 a.m., The Walt Disney Archives Stage
Fans and collectors are invited to the ultimate inside look at how products and collectibles have become an essential part of the fan experience for Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel. This session will provide a look back at the important role consumer products have played in the history of the Company, as well as a sneak peek at the product development process. Attendees will also get a first look at some of the most exciting upcoming and new product lines. And they can also expect a few surprises that no fan will want to miss!
Level Up! The Walt Disney Company’s Video Game Showcase
Saturday, July 15, 1 p.m., D23 Expo Arena
At the Games showcase, fans will experience never-before-seen gameplay, trailers, special guests, and other unforgettable surprises from across the Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel games portfolios. Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, DCPI, will kick off the presentation, which will feature many show-stopping moments including announcements from Marvel, and more information about highly anticipated games, including Star Wars Battlefront II™ from Electronic Arts, KINGDOM HEARTS III from Disney and Square Enix, and more.
Disney Books Panels and Presentations
Friday, July 14, Sunday, July 16, various stages
Guests will be able to go inside the pages of their favorite classic and contemporary stories during Disney Publishing Worldwide’s series of exclusive panels and presentations.
On Friday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. in the D23 Expo Arena, Gravity Falls series creator Alex Hirsch and Star vs. The Forces ofEvil series creator Daron Nefcy will discuss what it’s like to bring hit Disney XD series from the screen to page with bestselling titles Gravity Falls: Journal3 and Star vs. The Forces of Evil: Star and Marco’s Guide to Mastering Every Dimension.
Mindy Johnson, author of Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation, will interview a panel of animators past and present and share how women make remarkable contributions to the legacy of Walt Disney’s animation studio. The presentation will take place on the Walt Disney Archives Stage on Friday, July 14, at 4:30 p.m.
Disney Legends Richard Sherman and Floyd Norman will invite fans to the D23 Expo Arena on Saturday, July 15, at 6 p.m. for a one-of-a-kind discussion about their upcoming book A Kiss Goodnight.
Marcy Smothers, author of the upcoming title Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food, will show guests in the Walt Disney Archives Stage on Sunday, July 16, at 10 a.m. how Walt Disney infused fun and creativity into his food—from his family’s kitchen table to the Happiest Place on Earth.
On Sunday, July 16, at 4:15 p.m. on Stage 28, Kingdom Keepers author Ridley Pearson, Disney Legend Marty Sklar, and fellow Imagineers will explore the history of Disney Parks through Maps of Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai.
Celebrating the 90th anniversary of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Dave Bossert and David Gerstein, authors of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons, will showcase the definitive history of the iconic character on Sunday, July 16, at 6 p.m. on Stage 28.
Throughout the weekend, select authors and artists will be available for signings and meet and greets at Talent Central and the Disney Dream Store.
DCPI Pavilion and Oh My Disney Stage
In the DCPI pavilion on the show floor, fans can “Live the Magic” and experience how Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel can enrich their daily lives. Divided into four distinct lifestyle environments, guests will be able to preview and experience all-new cross-category offerings from Disney’s licensees, authors and artists, including playing the latest games from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars, immersing themselves in the pavilion’s park environment of outdoor play and creativity, or watching cooking demos in the kitchen environment featuring influencers from Disney Family and Disney Publishing Worldwide.
At the heart of the DCPI pavilion is the Oh My Disney Stage, which will bring the fun, fresh voice of Oh My Disney to life through daily surprise-and-delight moments, including celebrity guests, panels, performances, game shows, toy unboxings, first looks, and a live taping of The Oh My DisneyShow hosted by Maker creator Alexys Gabrielle. The stage’s events, programs, and shows will be shared live across the Disney Digital Network’s editorial channels like Oh My Disney, Disney Style, Polaris, and Disney Family and social accounts for every Disney character, franchise, and film. The full Oh My Disney Stage schedule and live streams will be revealed in July.
Tickets for D23 Expo 2017 are available for $81 for one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $72 for a one-day adult admission and $53 for children 3–9. Multi-day tickets are also available. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2017, visit D23expo.com.
Disney has just released Cars: Lightning League on mobile platforms to coincide with the release of Cars 3 in theaters.
This new mobile game features a unique twist on the endless runner formula. Rather than playing endlessly, gameplay is broken up into levels, where players will speed, drift, and burn through various courses themed to locations from Cars 3.
Over time players can upgrade their racers, as well as unlock new ones, like Mater, Crruz Ramirez, Jackson Storm, and more. Of course, Lightning McQueen is unlocked from the start. After each level, players will earn coins and other prizes based of their performance. They can then purchase additional gems and coins, in standard free-to-play fashion, to buy other goodies.
Cars: Lightning League is available for free now on the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon.
Monorail Blue is currently being evacuated on the turn just before Disney’s Contemporary Resort on the Epcot line. We assume that this breakdown is related to the piece that fell off, but can not confirm at this time.
Needless to say, all Monorail lines are currently down until further notice.
We will provide updates as they are available.
UPDATE: Monorails have returned to service and Monorail Blue was able to be moved to the station for an easier evacuation.
Beginning Thursday June 29, you’ll be able to get your old Pleasure Island favorites, including the Kungaloosh, at Dockside Margaritas at Disney Springs as part of a special #ThrowbackThursday promotion.
Every Thursday from June 29 to September 28, the special Pleasure Island drinks will be priced at $9 (including tax). There will also be a Pleasure Island non-alcoholic drink, Emil’s Strawberry Colada from the Adventurer’s Club, priced at $5 on Thursdays.
In addition to the Kungaloosh, you’ll also be able to reminisce over the Bell Bottom, Techn-O, and Thriller from 8-Trax, Hoopla from Mannequins, Armadillo Punch from Neon Armadillo, Shark Bite from Rock ‘n Roll Beach Club, Punch Line from Comedy Warehouse, and Pleasure Punch and Funmeister (which were available throughout Pleasure Island). Some of the drinks will rotate on a weekly basis, but the Kungaloosh will be available every week.
The drinks should be available on days other than Thursdays but not at the special $9/$5 pricing.
