“Star Wars: Episode VIII” Is Officially Titled “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

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Lucasfilm has released the official title for Episode VIII and it is called “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.

From StarWars.com:

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The Official Title for Star Wars: Episode VIII Revealed

Announcing the name of the next film in the Skywalker saga.

We have the greatest fans in this or any other galaxy. In appreciation of the fans, we wanted them to be the first to know the title of the next chapter in the Skywalker saga: STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI.

THE LAST JEDI is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, Jason McGatlin, and Tom Karnowski.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is scheduled for release December 15, 2017. 

 

Source: StarWars.com

Housekeeping at Disney World to be Reorganized Due to Degrading Service Quality

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

Ever since the Four Seasons resort opened at Walt Disney World, Disney has been looking at ways to keep up with the luxury resort, especially since many Disney Deluxe Resorts are priced higher.

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One of the larger problems in recent years has been in the upkeep of a guest’s resort room, with a notable downward trend in the quality and care of housekeeping Cast Members. It is very common these days to find beds unmade, trash on floors, and sometimes even worse inside of your Disney hotel room.

Disney is reformatting the way their Housekeeping works across Walt Disney World to attack this problem over the coming weeks and months. The first major change is a large increase in the number of housekeeping Cast Members across the property, including the hiring of dozens of new managers across all of the hotels. This is all in anticipation of the introduction of the new dispatch system, similar to the one recently rolled-out in Tomorrowland for custodial Cast. This system is said to better dispatch housekeepers to get rooms cleaned more efficiently for the day’s arrivals.

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The last piece of all this is that a rumored third party company, based in the hospitality industry, will be coming in and retraining the housekeeping teams on current industry standards and trends. All of this piled together should create drastic changes in the upkeep and cleanliness of Disney’s hotel rooms.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: New Safety Pre-Show at Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

Similar to the pre-boarding videos added last year to Space Mountain and Toy Story Midway Mania, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios now displays safety and loading information in a 60 second video before guests enter the load area.

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The first screen is on the Lock ‘N’ Roll Parking garage.

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A second screen is located underneath.

The addition of these videos is to prepare guests better for the boarding procedures, in hopes of shortening wait times.

Figment Artwork from Festival of the Arts Scavenger Hunt Now For Sale

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

 

If you have taken part in the Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts (or at least read our review), you know how cute the original artwork made for the hunt is. Well, now guests can take some of that art home…

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There is now a Figment section in the Art on Demand kiosk located in the Art of Disney store at Epcot. Here guests will find four of the art pieces for sale as prints (paper or canvas).

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Pricing on the prints begins at $25.00, but can range into the hundreds by increasing the size and adding framing. I suggest the canvas art as they are already made ready to hang and look quite nice. Canvas prints start at $90.00.

The Latest Absurd Upcharge is a Disney Springs Personal Shopper

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

Are you ready for another absurdly priced add-on?

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Melanie Pace, distinguished fashion advisor, on-air style expert and wardrobe stylist who has been featured in outlets including “Women’s Health,” “Shape Magazine,” and “E! News” and who has partnered with major brands like Amazon, Lilly Pulitzer and Jimmy Choo, is now accepting appointments for new clients at Disney Springs.

Not sure if a Personal Shopping Session is right for you? Here’s what you’ll get:

  • Personalized, one-on-one consultation with a proven fashion advisor
  • Fashion recommendations to suit your unique style for everyday wear or a special occasion
  • Beauty advice including make-up and skincare tips
  • Special access to Disney Springs retailers

Personal Shopping Sessions are a whopping $250 per hour and small group experiences can be arranged if you’re the type who’d rather shop with friends.

To book a session, visit melaniepace.com or call 321-377-1337 and ask for a “Disney Springs Style Session” – appointments are booked on a first come, first-served basis during normal Disney Springs operating hours.

BREAKING: Disney Infinity Team Reformed to Make ‘Cars 3’ Game

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

Rejoice, Disney Infinity fans! Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has just announced that they have acquired and re-opened Avalanche Software, the studio behind the canceled Disney Infinity series.

The studio will open back up and retain the name Avalanche Software. John Blackburn will resume his position as studio head, with some members of the old team expected to return. Now under control of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Avalanche will be developing a Cars 3 game for the upcoming Disney Pixar movie under the same name.

Warner Bros. has also gotten the rights to the Octane engine, which Avalanche created specifically for developing the Disney Infinity series. Cars 3 is being developed with this engine, so hopefully Disney Infinity fans will find certain aspects of the game to look and feel similar.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment president David Haddad released the following statement,

It is a tremendous pleasure to welcome Avalanche Software into our development stable, and we look forward to working with our new team, Pixar Animation Studios, and DCPI to create ‘Cars 3’ based on the upcoming film and hugely popular franchise. The Avalanche talent and technology are a great addition to our group of outstanding developers, and we are excited for this ‘Cars 3’ game as well as all of the future games the team will create under John’s leadership.

Obviously Avalanche Software has experience with the cars franchise, as Disney Infinity 1.0 included both Cars figures, as well as a Cars 2 Play Set.

Warer Bros. also has previous experience with Disney properties, most recent being the LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens game released last Summer.

No word on when exactly in 2017 the new Cars 3 game will be released, but players can look forward to the return of Avalanche Software, and hopefully a long and healthy partnership between Warner Bros. and The Walt Disney Company.

RUMOR: Disney Junior – Live on Stage Removing Puppets to Become Screen-Based Show

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

The Disney Junior: Live on Stage show at Disney California Adventure will be closing for several weeks later this year to undergo a major overhaul that should be removing puppets from the show.

Disney Junior: Live on Stage at Disney California Adventure may be removing puppets

Disney Junior: Live on Stage at Disney California Adventure may be removing puppets

When the show returns later in 2017, it is rumored to be a screen-based show hosted by a single entertainer, utilizing clips from various Disney Junior programming. Not only will newer Disney Junior programs be incorporated, but the puppets that have been a staple of the show since it opened will be history as part of cost-cutting measures. The puppeteers in Disney Junior are union entertainers, and apparently this did not help their case (according to sources). 

No exact date for the closure of the show has been made yet, but it should be in April. There is no word if similar changes will be made to the Walt Disney World show in the future.

The show was last updated in 2013 to include Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins: