Walt Disney World will be lifting block-out dates in August on annual passes that would not typically allow entry to the parks during this time so that guests may say goodbye to two classic attractions.
While we don’t have the exact dates yet, Disney should be distributing that information to guests later this week. The adjusted block-out will allow these guests to enter Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to ride the Universe of Energy and the Great Movie Ride one last time. Of course, guests will get to experience other things in the parks as well, not limited to these rides.
UPDATE: Silver and Weekday Select Annual Pass will have access to all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks starting August 1st. Weekday Select passes still will not admit guests on weekends, however.
Debuting this fall, the new Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is being re-imagined by Walt Disney Imagineers to capture the spirit of present-day Downtown Los Angeles, showing vintage office buildings and warehouses representing the different vibrant districts and cultures of the city. This new area will be home to Baseline Tap House, a cheerful corner pub specializing in beer and wines from California.
In a quaint brick building, Baseline Tap House celebrates the revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles by paying homage to the building’s former life as the Figueroa Printing Company, a mom-and-pop print house that had ties to the Disney studios in nearby Burbank. The space retains many of its cool architectural and mechanical details with exposed walls and old printing equipment and artifacts, blending the past and present in an inviting space. Outside will be a charming tree-shaded terrace.
The drink menu will be made up of California craft ales, lagers and cider. California wines on tap along with specialty cocktails will be available as well. A gourmet non-alcoholic lemonade and soda on tap round out the drink selection. Small bites including a Bavarian pretzel with mustard and beer-cheese fondue, spiced almonds or a charcuterie board featuring California cheeses will also be sold.
The Lights of Winter were a staple of Holidays Around the World at Epcot for many years. These illuminated arches danced to holiday music on the bridge between World Showcase and Future World, long before even the Osborne Lights were synchronized to music.
Since being retired back in 2009, many Epcot fans have lamented the loss of these arches, mostly because Disney simply never replaced them with anything. The bridge has been barren ever since, remaining dark during the holiday season over the last eight years.
So it is very interesting that there is a pin being made for Holidays Around the World 2017 that features the long-lost Lights of Winter from Epcot’s past:
While the pin design could just be for nostalgia, it does seem strange to make an item dated for 2017 based on a past offering from eight years ago.
So, while there is no other evidence of their return, the existence of this pin does raise some questions. Disney has yet to formally announce the entire Holidays Around the World lineup for 2017 as of yet. And, the bridge where the arches once resided looks like it will be gone in the not-too-distant future thanks to the overhaul of the park that is on the way. Could this be a final farewell for the Epcot holiday offering and the park that once was?
When Mission: Space returns to Epcot in a few weeks time, gone will be the Orange and Green Team mission names, replaced with new monikers that will reflect the variations in the two versions of the ride.
The reanimated classic version, or Orange Team mission, will be renamed “Mission: Space – Mars”, while the completely new family-friendly version will go by the name “Mission: Space – Earth”. The new names reflect the destinations of the two different versions of the ride.
You can read much more about the update of Mission: Space here.
Announced yesterday, concept art of the interior and the logo for the Baseline Tap House on Grand Avenue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have now been released.
Baseline Tap House opens this Fall at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. More information on the new location can be found here.
Starting August 13th, Epcot will relaunch the Mission: SPACE attraction with a brand new experience and an enhanced version of the “classic” ride.
The revamped Orange Mission, or Mission Space – Mars, has been enhanced with new HD video produced by the folks over at ILM.
The family-friendly Green Mission, now known as Mission Space – Earth, takes you on an exciting orbit around Earth. On this new adventure, you’ll take in sites like the Hawaiian Islands, Italy’s “boot” and the Northern Lights—as seen from space, of course—before finally landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
In addition to all the “mission” updates, Walt Disney Imagineering has also made this attraction more family-friendly. As we reported a few weeks ago, Disney today officially announced that the height restriction will be changed for the Green Mission side with the addition of new “X-2 booster seats”, allowing children 40-44” to ride.
Mission Space relaunches August 13th, 2017, which is also the last day of operation for the nearby Universe of Energy.
You may recall that Mickey Mouse got a bit of an updated look last year at many meet & greet locations and in various shows around the Disney Parks. Well, now guests can meet the new-look Mickey as a magician in the Town Square Theater at the Magic Kingdom.
Of course, Mickey is still talking to guests, as you can see in our video below.
Town Square Theater is open daily at the Magic Kingdom on Main Street U.S.A., available via both a standby queue and FastPass+ reservations.
After a recent refurbishment of the enclosure, Disney welcomed two new tigers to the Maharajah Jungle Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with the idea being to breed them. Well, rather quickly, the female tiger is already expecting and should be delivering some tiger cubs to the park next month.
Here’s the announcement from Disney:
Disney is involved in efforts to save critically endangered Sumatran tigers. To date, the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has provided nearly $2.5 million to protect tigers and their habitats. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Sumatran tigers Sohni and Malosi have been actively breeding, and we are delighted to announce that Sohni is pregnant and expecting cubs sometime in August.
It is unknown when the cubs might go on display at the park, but it will likely be a few weeks after they are born. The tigers that used to live in the enclosure were moved to a new home permanent outside of Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Gainesville, FL.
Legendary Disney Imagineer Martin A. “Marty” Sklar passed away in his Hollywood Hills home on Thursday. He was 83. During an illustrious career spanning 54 years, Marty worked closely with Walt Disney and was instrumental in creating, enhancing and expanding Disney’s creative vision. Named a Disney Legend in 2001, he is best remembered and revered by fans around the world for his work bringing Disney’s theme parks to life.
“Everything about Marty was legendary – his achievements, his spirit, his career,” said Bob Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “He embodied the very best of Disney, from his bold originality to his joyful optimism and relentless drive for excellence. He was also a powerful connection to Walt himself. No one was more passionate about Disney than Marty and we’ll miss his enthusiasm, his grace, and his indomitable spirit.”
Born in New Brunswick, N.J., on February 6, 1934, Marty was a student at UCLA and editor of its Daily Bruin newspaper when he was recruited to create The Disneyland News for Walt’s new theme park in 1955. After graduating in 1956, he joined Disney full-time, and would go on to serve as Walt’s right-hand man—scripting speeches, marketing materials, and a film showcasing Walt’s vision for Walt Disney World and Epcot. During this period, he also joined WED Enterprises, the forerunner of Walt Disney Imagineering, and he would later become the creative leader of Imagineering, leading the development of Disney theme parks and attractions for the next three decades. He retired as Executive Vice President and Imagineering Ambassador on July 17, 2009, Disneyland’s 54th birthday. Disney marked the occasion by paying tribute to Marty with the highest Parks and Resorts recognition, dedicating a window in his name on Disneyland’s City Hall.
“Marty was the ultimate Disney Imagineer and Cast Member. From his days working as an intern with Walt to just two weeks ago engaging with fans at D23 Expo, Marty left an indelible mark on Disney Parks around the globe and on all of the guests who make memories every day with us,” said Bob Chapek, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “He was one of the few people that was fortunate to attend the opening of every single Disney park in the world, from Anaheim in 1955 to Shanghai just last year. We will dearly miss Marty’s passion, skill and imaginative spark that inspired generations of Cast, Crew and Imagineers.”
Bob Weis was one of those Imagineers. “Marty was one of Walt’s most trusted advisors and helped turn his most ambitious dreams into reality. For us, it’s hard to imagine a world without Marty, because Marty is synonymous with Imagineering,” said Weis, President, Walt Disney Imagineering. “His influence can be seen around the world, in every Disney park, and in the creative and imaginative work of almost every professional in the themed entertainment industry.”
Marty’s impact and achievements were recognized with a number of prestigious awards and accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement award from TEA (Themed Entertainment Association), induction into the Hall of Fame of IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions), and the prestigious Professional Achievement Award from UCLA.
He also authored several books about his experiences and adventures at Disney: Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdoms (2013), and One Little Spark!: Mickey’s Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering (2015).
Marty is survived by his wife of 60 years, Leah; son Howard and his wife, Katriina Koski-Sklar; grandchildren Gabriel and Hannah; daughter Leslie; and grandchildren Rachel and Jacob.
Marty and Leah were two of the founders of the Ryman Program for Young Artists, a project of Ryman Arts, a nonprofit foundation whose purpose is to teach and mentor “traditional” drawing and painting skills to talented young artists in Southern California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Marty’s name to Ryman Arts at www.rymanarts.org.
We were lucky enough to capture Marty’s final public appearance at the Expo on video, and you can enjoy hearing about his career at Walt Disney Imagineering during that presentation below.
Personally, words can not describe what Marty’s work has meant to myself and everyone here at WDWNT, especially since so many of us were shaped and molded by our experiences at EPCOT Center, a project Sklar played a pivotal role in. We can never possibly repay Marty for all of the memories and joy he brought us on countless visits to the Disney theme parks over the last 60 plus years. He will be missed greater than words can describe.
