Disney Mix is a new app that lets people connect and socialize in new ways. Designed with younger audiences in mind, Disney Mix is a family friendly social hub where kids can chat, play, and create with their friends. As for parental controls, Disney’s Club Penguin team has created a system that filters out inappropriate content and offers options to block and report any undesired content.
Users can create their own avatars in the app and then add various friends and Disney related groups using their Disney accounts. Users can also create and share memes with plenty of Disney related filters and options. Various games have also been implemented within the app that allow you to play without ever even leaving the chat room.
Disney Mix is available now for the App Store and Google Play. The app will receive regular updates with features like video sharing coming in the near future.
Radio Free Disneyland, a curated music podcast that tells the stories of the Disneyland Resort in a unique and tuneful way, is set to debut here on WDWNT.com on Saturday, September 10. Using Disney music, not-so-Disney music, and definitely not Disney music to tell the stories of the “lands,” their origins, and their citizenry. Real and imagined. Usually with a backbeat.
Episode 1: The Discovery of Disneyland, will reveal the backstory of two former east-block operatives with an ax to grind against the Anaheim, California theme park. They believe the park to be a powerful and dangerous distillate of America. The United States on steroids. Its contents, an idyllic turn-of-the-century American town, a stately riverboat, rocket ships, and the fleet of submarines all confirm the power of the place.
Along the way, unique song selections, surprising guests, and an off-center look at park-centric subjects, should bring to mind the stories, the people and the magic places. The central figure in this secretive cabal is Deejay Middlebrow, a down on his luck disc jockey who is chosen to run the radio propaganda arm of this shadowy foreign operation.
The first episode will also feature a sidelong look at Disneyland Park’s 60-year-plus crush on Briar Rose, otherwise known as Sleeping Beauty. Music, architecture, and story origin art pay tribute to the ancient tale. The examination will take place both audibly and through the Show Notes page here on WDWNT.com.
Other episodes to follow in the weeks ahead include: My Way Or The Highway (Cars Land), Moonspinners (Tomorrowland), It’s A Dark Ride (Fantasyland), and Westward Ho! (Frontierland).
The Radio Free Disneyland Podcast is a co-production of WDWNT and PlayThisPodcastLoud.com.
For those who were wondering if some of New York Street and the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios would survive the upcoming expansion of the park, I think the following photos will answer your question…
The street is being removed to make way for the Star Wars themed land and Toy Story Land that will be added to the park in the coming years.
Streets of America Being Removed
We will provide further pictures and video of the “damage” later today, but it looks like the Streets of America and New York Street could be removed from the park in a matter of days.
Audiences were mesmerized by Disney’s live-action epic adventure “The Jungle Book,” which has earned more than $949 million at the global box office to date. Critically acclaimed, Jon Favreau’s stunning live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic, will be available early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on August 23, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand on August 30.
Venture behind the scenes with in-depth bonus features that reveal the innovative film-making technology used to create the richly immersive jungle world and characters; Follow the journey of the film’s only on-screen actor, charismatic newcomer Neel Sethi (Mowgli); Delve into a candid and humorous scene-by-scene audio commentary with director Jon Favreau and meet the all-star voice cast who help bring the film’s colorful characters to life, as well as the musicians who accent the adventure with a majestic music score.
Audiences will also have the opportunity to experience the movie again at select IMAX locations for a limited time only from August 26th through September 1st.
In our latest photo report, we travel to the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding resort area to see the latest progress on the Tomorrowland repainting, the continuing rock installation at WDW beaches, and the Disney Vacation Club cabin additions at Wildenress Lodge.
Cinderella Castle Crane Returns
Cinderella Castle Crane
The crane is back at Cinderella Castle for the installation of the Dreamlights for the holiday season (yes, it is still August).
Cinderella Castle Crane
Cinderella Castle Crane
Tomorrowland Repainting
Tomorrowland Entrance Repainting
The repainting of the Tomorrowland entrance is now visible on the front side, as a grey/silver soat has been started at the bottom of the rocks by the water.
Alligator and Snake warning sign in the Magic Kingdom
Spotted this sign by Big Thunder Mountain, in the designated smoking section.
Sofia the First ear hat
There is now a Sofia the First ear hat on sale in the parks.
Sofia the First ear hat
New Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise
More Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise featuring the Fab 5 continues to be released.
New Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise
New Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise
The line is geared towards children, so there are plastic placemats available.
Magic Kingdom Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
When “Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It!” is cancelled for inclement weather, it also get the Magic Kingdom rainy Day Character Cavalcade treatment. This replacement offering drives up and down Main Street in this case, at least giving guests a look at their favorite characters. It also has a really catch soundtrack, which you can hear below in an older recording of the parade we have:
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
In traveling to Trail’s End at Fort Wildnerness, we decided to take a boat, which provided some spectacular views.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
This is one of my favorite pictures I’ve ever taken at Walt Disney World…
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
What are all these bags backstage at the Contemporary? ROCKS. HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF ROCKS.
We take a short trip to Epcot in our latest photo report, catching up on a few minor changes around the park, as well as some new merchandise items for sale.
No Climbing at the Mexico Pavilion
No Climbing Sign on the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot
So, the old sign was clearly ripped off and these new signs using an Epcot font put in place. I only hope these are temporary as they damaged the wall underneath and these look no better than what was already there.
No Climbing Sign on the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot
New Merchandise Round-Up
It wouldn’t be a photo report if I wasn’t hocking some of Disney’s latest souvenirs you could take home…
Peter Pan Snowglobe
The Peter Pan’s Flight snow-globe was remade without Tinker Bell on the top. The Tink statue was too fragile and was breaking in transit, so they just placed Peter’s hat on top of the new version.
Oswald basketball jersey
Some new basketball and baseball style jerseys are on sale in MouseGear, including this sleek Oswald one.
Oswald basketball jersey
There’s also a Mickey Mouse baseball jersey
Mickey Mouse baseball jersey
Walt Disney World baseball jersey
Walt Disney World baseball jersey
Fab 4 Basketball Jersey
Pin Central has a TON of open edition Halloween pins on sale currently (and yes, it is still mid-August).
Star Wars Halloween pin
Star Wars character Halloween pins were expanded this year, but the variety from last year are still available as well.
Star Wars Halloween pin
Star Wars Halloween pin
Star Wars Halloween pin
Star Wars Halloween pin
Disney Parks bicycle accessories
Strange enough, a line of bicycle accessories is now hitting stores around Walt Disney World.
Disney Parks bicycle accessories
Disney Parks bicycle accessories
Disney Parks bicycle accessories
Strange Things are Happening at the Imagination Pavilion
Journey Into Imagination queue
Strange things continue to happen at the Imagination pavilion, like this now wide open backstage walkway in the Journey Into Imagination queue. There used to be a metal gate here.
Journey Into Imagination queue
All of the projectors in the queue were also set to stationary, so there was no Figment appearing every few seconds.
Journey Into Imagination exit
The Figment footprints are still missing in the exit hallway, likely gone for good at this point.
Journey Into Imagination exit
Karamel Kuche
For my birthday, a group of friends decided to buy me some treats from the Karamel Kuche in Germany since I had never tried anything from there before. Everything was pretty amazing, so I’ll definitely be back.
Karamel Kuche at Epcot
Karamel Kuche at Epcot
Karamel Kuche at Epcot
We also tried a shot of this fig drink, which was… interesting…
If you ever wanted to train to be a Jedi like Luke Skywalker, you may want to take a look at the latest Disney patent…
Disney Patent for Interactive Star Wars Lightsaber
“An entertainment environment has a user with a faux light saber that interacts with a drone flying through the air or operated with hidden rods to appear as if its flying through the air. The faux light saber has LEDs attached thereto to provide IR light to the drone. As an LED is turned on, an invisible light sensor built into the drone captures an image of the field of view with a bright spot at the position of the activated LED. A visible light source built into the drone then projects light through particulate matter toward the faux light saber. As a result, the uses is provided with the illusion that the faux light saber has deflected a laser beam. Multiple LEDs can be activated in sequence at various times to give user the impression that the movement by the users of the faux light saber is deflecting multiple laser beams.”
While sometimes these patents mean nothing, rumors have suggested that the Star Wars lands coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland would be full of role-playing experiences like this. Could you imagine being able to train to be a Jedi just as Luke Skywalker was by Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode IV, deflecting lasers with your weapon?
Could guests get to be Jedi knights?
Again, this could be nothing, but guests could in fact be wielding an interactive lightsaber at Disney Parks someday.
I wish I had better news, but it seems the replacement of the Universe of Energy at Epcot in favor of a “Guardians of the Galaxy” ride is indeed imminent. Today, we are finding out more about what exactly guests may find instead of a slow-moving ride through Dinosaurs and film clips when the blockbuster MARVEL property breaks into the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (if that even still means that anymore).
Guardians of the Galaxy
Rumor has it that the Guardians of the Galaxy ride at Epcot will be a roller coaster attraction. This attraction would already be historic as it would be the first Future World attraction to break way from the fundamental “edutainment” theme the park has had for nearly 35 years now. However, it could now be an even more profound statement as it would be the very first roller coaster in the park’s history and only the 6th ride that could be categorized under “thrill”.
Apparently the ride would feature both elaborate scenes and a long roller coaster portion, very similar to the rumored plans for a Captain America roller coaster once-slated for the new land at Disney California Adventure. The existing Universe of Energy building and attraction would be demolished.
The one interesting wrinkle is that the words “MARVEL” nor “Guardians of the Galaxy” appear in any renderings of the attraction that exist so far. This is of course a product of the legal restrictions still in place on Walt Disney World by the parameters of the MARVEL/Universal Studios theme park deal.
Sources seem convinced that this attraction will be announced before the end of 2016, possibly by Bob Chapek at the upcoming Destination D event at Walt Disney World. With that being said, it does sound like the project has been approved and will be moving forward barring any unseen problems.
While still a few years off, early design has begun on a new tower for Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The exact location of the new wing is still in-flux right now, but the competing sites range from the planned site of the Persian Resort (a cancelled original hotel planned for the Walt Disney World Resort back in the 1970’s) and the space currently occupied by the convention center at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The Persian Resort site seems far more likely at this time, but other sources are speculating that the convention center would be the site of the new addition.
Separately, the convention center is set to be removed in the coming years in favor of an expanded convention center at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.
Proposed site for 2nd Bay Lake Tower type wing at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
While the building would have a very different look from the existing Bay Lake Tower, it should have a similar height and size to that of the first addition made in 2008.
The new hotel wing would boast better views of the Magic Kingdom than Bay Lake Tower if constructed, as it would be even closer to the park. Rumor has it that the price point at this new wing would be much higher than Bay Lake Tower, rivaling or surpassing the Polynesian Village Resort DVC additions.
Again, the project is not formally announced by Disney, but is in the design phase at this time. The new resort wing could be more than 5 years from completion at this point and could easily be cancelled at any point prior to construction, but sources close to the project say it is as good as green-lit at this point in time.
