Yacht & Beach Club Holding “Countdown to Midnight”, New Year’s Eve Event Including Adventurer’s Club Reunion

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort is holding a new special event to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2015, one that includes an Adventurer’s Club reunion…

“Countdown to Midnight” includes “live music, comedy acts, and great food” according to Disney. There will even be a reunion of the long-shuttered Adventurer’s Club of Pleasure Island fame at the event, along with a dance area dedicated to music on vinyl, and much more.

Details are scarce so far, but the event is available only to guests with a resort reservation and the price per person is $300 (includes tax and gratuity). The event takes place between 8PM and 1AM starting on December 31st, 2015.

Animal Kingdom Getting a New Table Service Restaurant in 2016:– “Tiffins”

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

We’ve been watching construction of a new restaurant at Animal Kingdom (just behind Pizzafari on the way to Pandora: The World of AVATAR) for quite a while now, but we now finally know what it will be…

Tiffins Concept Art

Tiffins Concept Art

The restaurant will be called Tiffins and it “will celebrate the art of traveling, featuring a diverse menu drawing from places that inspired the creation of Disney’s Animal Kingdom”. Serving lunch and dinner, Tiffins will also include waterfront views from indoor and outdoor seating areas. “Tiffin” is an Indian English word for a midday meal or a type of container used to carry food while traveling.

Tifins will open to guests in 2016 at Disney’s animal Kingdom theme park.

CONCEPT ART & VIDEO: Disney Previews “Rivers of Light” and the Tree of Life Nighttime Projections for Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Today, Disney is finally sharing more about the Rivers of Light nighttime spectacular coming to Animal Kingdom in 2016:

In “Rivers of Light,” a pair of mystical hosts come to the river bearing gifts of light. During the show, the hosts set out from the shore on elaborate lantern vessels for a dramatic dance of water and light to summon animal spirits. With the storytellers as your guides, the wonders of “Rivers of Light” builds to a stunning crescendo.

In addition to the show, you’ll also notice the park’s iconic Tree of Life will undergo an amazing awakening as the animal spirits of the tree are brought to “light” by magical fireflies, revealing moments of wonder and enchantment.

To create “Rivers of Light,” Imagineers and Creative Entertainment partnered with the talents of master puppet designer Michael Curry, composer Mark Mancina and the filmmakers at Disneynature. According to Imagineer Joe Rohde, the addition of “Rivers of Light” to the park’s offerings will serve as that huge “wow” moment that ends a guest’s visit to the park.

 

Disney also released a video with Imagineer Joe Rhode discussing the project:

“The Latest At The Land”: Star Wars – Season of the Force Debuts at Disneyland np

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

As what sometimes seems like the entire civilized world waits for the next installment of the Star Wars film juggernaut and theme park fans gaze into the night skies for a clues about the shape of the films’ brick and mortar edifies at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, a slight peek forward and long look back at the Lucas Universe, Star Wars: Season of the Force opened Monday November 16 at Disneyland.

This re-skinning of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland as Season of the Force, is certainly a placeholder for the full scale Star Wars land now beginning construction, but that doesn’t make this temporary fare insignificant. It uses the resources and rides of the area as a temporary exposition space, and arguably, the most ambitious movie promotion ever mounted.

This temporary fare elevates the area with the look and tone of the previous and upcoming films while building buzz for what is widely expected to be the highest grossing film of all time. It does that with a handful of “pavilions” and overlays at familiar Tomorrowland attractions.

Star Wars Launch Bay: Located in the former Innoventions/Carousel Theatre is primarily a photo meet & greet with Darth Vader and Chewbacca presenting considerable wait times. But not for lack of trying. Multiples of each of the characters, à la Mickey’s House, are tackfully deployed to at least double the capacity.  The rest of the downstairs area is essentially a “hardware” show. Here the wardrobe, weapons, and the vehicles, flying or ground-bound, of a galaxy far away, are on display in a fairly rich, art directed Star Wars environment.

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The Path of The Jedi: Taking up residence in the The Magic Eye Theatre (Yes, that really is the name again…) in the Space Mountain complex. The presentation is essentially a long film trailer, including material from all of the preceding Star Wars films and the upcoming The Force Awakens. It is light on new material, but if you have ever been a fan of the series, you may start to get that familiar feeling again.  Your milage may vary.

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Hyperspace Mountain: In what is certainly the best “Extreme Makeover: Space Mountain Edition” yet, this Disney Park classic get reconnoitered into an X-Wing space battle. It may be a little light on new scenes, and the additions probably wouldn’t pass muster on a long term basis. But when you are speeding through “outer space” at great speed, the new sights work pretty well.

Miraculously, this change was accomplished behind the scenes without significant downtime to the attraction, just a few late morning openings. This highlights Disneyland’s and Walt Disney Imagineering’s “out of the box” creativity, the blessing of proximity, and their willingness to use the So. Cal. Parks as a living laboratory. Lucky us!

Star Tours (with The Force Awakens themes): All Guests will see the new footage as a prelude to the normal randomized scenarios. Warning: This small change and the adventure that follows may serve to remind you that Star Tours is still one of the best simulator rides around.

Various Marvel Universe ephemera is on display on the upper level of the Tomorrowland Expo Center at Super Hero HQ, where guests can also now meet Thor or Spider-Man in meet and greet experiences.

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Giant movie promotion or not, Season of the Force brings a pulse to Tomorrowland, especially at night when dramatic lighting and the stars in the sky add to the atmosphere. And even for a minute, that awkward looking, sometimes rotating antenna/sculpture on the upper level where the Rocket Jets used to be looks okay… Maybe.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2016 Expands to 90 Days

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

If 75 days wasn’t enough last year, the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival will now run a full 3 months in 2016.  Epcot will host the annual event March 2 – May 30, 2016.

 

Making their topiary debut at the park’s front entrance will be Donald Duck’s mischievous nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie along with Donald and Daisy. To celebrate the National Parks Service centennial, Ranger Mickey Mouse will be presented for the first time in Future World.

The Cars play area will be replaced in 2016 with the innovative new “Fab Five” play garden featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck topiaries. Musical instruments will be built into the children’s outdoor climbing systems.

RUMOR: Pizza Planet at Hollywood Studios to Become Muppets Restaurant?

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Pizza Planet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is closing January 11th, 2016. If no further information was provided, we would assume this has something to do with the construction of the Star Wars themed land, but the restaurant is scheduled to re-open in late 2016. So… are the Muppets moving in?

Provided Muppetvision 3-D is staying, it would make sense to finally turn this establishment into a Muppets themed restaurant, as originally intended back in 1991. With a refurbishment this long and an entire Toy Story Land being built on the other side of the park, it makes little sense for it to return as a Toy Story-themed eatery. While it may not be a Muppets re-theme, something is definitely happening to Pizza Planet in 2016.

We have no solid details at this time, but stay tuned for more on this as it develops.

Monorail Coral Nose Cone Destroyed Due to Collision with Tractor During Test Run, No One Was Injured

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

During a planned test on the Express Line of the Magic Kingdom monorail this afternoon, a tow tractor collided with Monorail Coral.

Disney blocked all foot and vehicle traffic in the area around Disney’s Contemporary Resort and ensured most guests had no way of visibly seeing what exactly had happened on Wednesday afternoon near Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The planned test was to have the Express Line unavailable to guests all afternoon, but the accident brought all lines of the Walt Disney World Monorail System to a close. They are still closed at this time.

The test was related to the TCS (Train Control System), the long-awaited automation system that might bring driver-less Monorails to Walt Disney World.

No one was injured and no guests were on-board as the train was not in operation.

 


Monorail service resumed as normal the next day.

Disneyland Paris Re-Opens After Unprecedented Three-Day Mourning Period Following Paris Attacks

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Disneyland Paris reopened this morning following a four-day closure in respect of victims of the terror attacks in Paris on Friday 13 November 2015. The closure marks only the second time that the park had not opened to the public since opening in 1992. The previous closure was for one day in 1999 where strong storm damage needed to be repaired.

Euro Disney S.A.S. president Tom Wolber released the following statement in regards to the attacks and the closure: “We mourn those lost to the horrific attacks in Paris. We pray for the injured and we hold them all in our hearts. As part of France’s three-day national mourning period, Disneyland Paris will remain closed through Tuesday 17 November 2015.”  Disneyland’s closure is in line with other attractions around the capital with museums, art galleries and the iconic Eiffel Tower all closing to mourn the losses.

Between 14 and 17 November the two theme parks remained closed, but resort hotels and the Disney Village shopping and entertainment district remained open to provide activities for guests.  At the resort hotels Cast Members were on hand to provide assistance and entertain guests. Disney characters came to the hotels and provided meet & greets and Cast Member VoluntEARS also were on site to organize special activities with children.

Although the park was closed, Disneyland Paris displayed a touching tribute to the victims of the attack by colouring Sleeping Beauty’s castle in the colours of the French flag.  This tribute was visible from the public areas of the Disneyland Hotel which overlooks Disneyland Parc.

 

Disneyland Paris is allowing guests who have booked visits to reschedule their trips for a future date or receive a full refund and should contact the resort’s Guest Communication team by email on dlp.guest.communication@disney.com for requests of this nature.

Star Wars “Season of the Force” Cancelled for Walt Disney World; Star Wars Fireworks to Run Nightly Instead

WDWNT on November 13, 2015

Despite a HUGE announcement at the D23 Expo, it seems Walt Disney World has decided to make several changes in regards to the roll-out of the many aspects that would have been part of the Season of the Force event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With many fragments of the event rolling out in small bursts from now until January 5th, it seems Disney will simply advertise all of the pieces individually rather than market it as some seasonal event. In short, Season of the Force will not exist.

Launch Bay

 

That being said, all of the advertised pieces of Season of the Force are still happening. In fact, the fireworks show that was originally announced as only a weekend offering will now be offered nightly:

“Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular’’ – Starting Jan. 5, 2016, guests will be treated to a spectacular finish to their visit to the park involving a dazzling Star Wars-themed fireworks show set to memorable Star Wars music from throughout the saga.

There will also be an added-charge dessert party offered for the show:

Guests will soon be able to purchase admission to a dessert party during the fireworks show featuring themed desserts, specialty drinks and a souvenir Chewbacca stein.

But specialty snacks will also be available throughout the day:

Guests can experience Star Wars through their palates. Various novelty items and specialty foods inspired by a galaxy far, far away, such as Blue Milk Panna Cotta, Padawan Limeade, BB-8 Lemon and Butter Cream cupcake and a Han Solo Souvenir Kid’s Meal served in a Han Solo-themed bucket, will be available at various locations inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Another new offering beginning on January 5th will be the First Order Stormtrooper patrols:

As guests enjoy the sights and attractions of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, they may come face to face with First Order Stormtroopers who will patrol various areas of the park, interacting with guests during their mission to find members of the Resistance.

These pieces come in addition to the Path of the Jedi clip show, Star Wars Launch Bay, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue additions, and the new Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple Show that will all be in place by December.