When the Disneyland Diamond Celebration was announced, we were never given an end date for all of the fun and festivities centered around the 60th brithday of the Happiest Place on Earth. Disney finally announced this week that the Celebration will not conclude until September 6th, 2016, so you still have plenty of time to “be dazzled” in Southern California.
Since we first told the world of Disney Springs replacing and overlaying Downtown Disney back in March 2013, everyone has been wondering when the name change would finally take place. Next Tuesday, September 29th, the Downtown Disney name will be no more 20 years after it replaced the Disney Village.
The name change comes 1 day before the opening of Morimoto Asia Restaurant on September 30th and just a few days after the opening of Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in The Landing. The final restaurants, second parking structure, and the new Town Center area will open in 2016 to complete the project.
Today was the big day at Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs as the long awaited Indiana Jones-themed offering opened to guests:
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Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar opens at 11:30am daily. They close at 12AM Sunday through Thursday and at 1AM on Friday and Saturday. Surprisingly, there is not a ‘no one under 21’ rule like at Trader Sam’s after 8PM. 4 souvenir mugs will be available at Jock Lindsey’s at a later date, but not available right now.
We have hundreds of photos of Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar to share with you later, so stay tuned!
I managed to visit the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios over the last week and I have some great newsworthy photos to share with you from my trip, so let’s take a look at what’s new and exciting around the Vacation Kingdom of the World:
Disney Springs is now on all of the I-4 road signage
The new exit ramp heading West hasn’t opened yet though
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Over at Epcot, there is a lot of work happening in front of the park
A ton of new big figs have arrived at the Art of Disney
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New Princess lithographs
A ton of merchandise is left over from the recent GenEARation D pin event
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The 2nd Star Wars countdown pin was released this week
New Pirates of the Caribbean MagicBand
New updated Jack Skellington MagicBand
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France has an entirely new booth for Food and Wine this year
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Looks great!
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Work continues on the FROZEN expansion in Norway
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The facade should appear here in no time
The Spirited Beasts exhibit in Japan is gone and a new exhibit is coming
Moving to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I got a peek backstage where construction will eventually be taking place for Toy Story Land
Not much happening yet, but crews working on the Toy Story Mania expansion were all over the place
Work continues on the Star Wars Launch Bay
New Star Wars shirts released recently
Force Awakens merchandise has made it into Tatooine Traders
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New gluten, nut, and dairy free snacks are available in the parks
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Moving over to the Magic Kingdom
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Dream Along with Mickey is back, but the stage area is still a disaster
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The building expansion for the Skipper Canteen is coming along nicely
New Peg Leg Pete bandanna for sale at Pirates
Merchant of Venus in Tomorrowland has become a Star Wars shop
They even have Force Awakens balloons at the Magic Kingdom
New Jingles big fig featuring mickey on sale
Check out the full Epcot map just released for the 2015 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Click the images to open an even bigger version.
Last night was the very first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for 2015 and it hosted the premiere performance of the all-new Hocus Pocus Villains Spelltacular show on the Castle Forecourt Stage. We were on hand for the very first show and have a complete video of the premiere to share with you today:
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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15, 2015 — Diamond Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: DMND) (“Diamond”) announced today that it has entered into a long-term strategic alliance agreement with Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort tied to its Pop Secret brand premium popcorn. Pop Secret popcorn is now the official popcorn of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.
Diamond Foods also plans to advertise on Disney-owned channels like ABC Family and the Disney Channel. Retail promotions, on-pack sweepstakes and digital content creation are all ways in which Pop Secret popcorn expects to work with Disney.
“We have been looking for an alliance that is in-line with our core brand values and we couldn’t be more delighted to announce this relationship with Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort,” said Burke Raine, Vice President of Marketing, Snacks, at Diamond. “Pop Secret popcorn and Disney both have deep associations with movies and encourage lasting memories shaped by fun family activities.”
As part of the relationship, Disney will begin selling freshly popped Pop Secret popcorn at popcorn carts throughout Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. The Pop Secret brand will also become the title sponsor of the nightly Fantasmic! Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort and plans to sponsor movie nights held at many of Disney’s resort hotels.
About Pop Secret® Popcorn
Since 1984, the Pop Secret® brand has been offering popcorn fans a quality product. Once popped, our premium popcorn kernels are ready to customize and capture all your favorite toppings. Pop Secret® is committed to providing popcorn lovers with a convenient and delicious snack for wherever and whenever they want it – whether settling down on the couch to watch a movie at home or enjoying a snack together! For more information about Pop Secret, please visit http://www.popsecret.com/.
About Diamond Foods
Diamond Foods is an innovative packaged food company focused on building and energizing brands including Kettle Brand® chips, Emerald® snack nuts, Pop Secret® popcorn, and Diamond of California® nuts. Diamond’s products are distributed in a wide range of stores where snacks and culinary nuts are sold. For more information, visit the Company’s corporate web site:http://www.diamondfoods.com.
About Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
More than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families could experience together, immersed in detailed atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world’s leading family vacation destinations – Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan; Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, located on Lantau Island. A sixth resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, is currently under construction in Pudong New District, Shanghai. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line; Disney Vacation Club; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the world’s most popular destinations; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts, cruise ships, entertainment and attractions.
The map for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom was finally released and most interestingly, the entertainment schedule has been revamped dramatically. Fireworks are now 30 minutes later than in previous years, while the first parade is 20 minutes later and the second a full 45 minutes later than last year. There are 4 castle stage shows compared to the usual 3, likely because it is a new show for this year.
Star Wars Weekends has been perhaps the most popular annual event in the history of Walt Disney World since it was introduced in 1997, so much so that it became an annual event in the early 2000’s at the then Disney-MGM Studios. Well, after 16 fantastic events, it seems Star Wars Weekends is being shelved in 2016.
Also, don’t expect to see Mickey and friends using the force anytime soon…
With Star Wars Launch Bay opening soon and the Season of the Force launching at both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars will more permanently be permeating the Disney Parks stateside now through the opening of Star Wars land later this decade (construction starts in January on both coasts). With there being permanent Star Wars offerings in the parks outside of Star Tours and Jedi Training Academy, it seems Walt Disney World may elect to shelve Star Wars Weekends, at least for now. It is expected that some seasonal Star Wars offerings will still return around May the 4th annually, but any celebrity shows and involvement are not expected to return anytime soon.
Also rumored, it seems highly likely that Disney characters dressed as Star Wars characters are being retired in merchandise, logos, and meet and greet appearances. The decision was made along the same lines of the retirement of Hyperspace Hoopla a few years back as Disney and Lucasfilm are “re-positioning the brand” leading into the new films. Basically, it’s an image perception concern with Lucasfilm and Disney looking for a more serious tone with the brand.
There may not be any Star Wars Weekends, but Season of the Force is coming in January to Disney Parks
Season of the Force is expected to debut on both coasts in January 2016. The event will host Hyperspace Mountain at Disneyland Park and a special Star Wars fireworks show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Other offerings, such as the new destination on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and Star Wars Launch Bay will debut in early December 2015, just ahead of the theatrical release of Episode VII. Again, no celebrity involvement is expected on either coast during Season of the Force.
While we still have confirmation from Disney on the cancellation, it is being strongly rumored at this time. Stay tuned for more information on this story as it develops.
This season will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Osborne Family Spectacle of (Dancing) Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sadly, it will also be their farewell dance.
From the Orlando Sentinel:
After 20 years of millions of bright lights and holiday cheer, Disney announced Friday it is pulling the plug on The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
“The display of lights has enjoyed a successful run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, going all the way back to when it first appeared on Residential Street,” Disney wrote on its official blog.
This will be the display’s 20th and final year, Disney said.
Disney said it plans to end the show to make room for new expansions and attractions, including Toy Story Land and Star Wars-themed land.
Walt Disney Co. Chief Operating Officer Tom Staggs announced Thursday the company will break ground for the new Star Wars attraction in 2016.
“Our heartfelt thanks go out to the family of Jennings Osborne for letting us share their family tradition year after year,” reads the post. “And thank you to all of you for being part of the spectacle with us.”
The light show will display nightly from Nov. 6 through Jan. 3.
