A recent posting to the Disney Auditions website has fueled rumors that Disney is looking to create living “Cars” characters for Cars Land at Disney California Adventure and beyond.
The posting claims it is looking for “male & female individuals who are outgoing, energetic and enthusiastic to help bring to life the citizens of Cars Land”. The required skills include getting in and out of float vehicles repeatedly, being between 5’2″ and 5’8″, and a clean DMV driving record.
All of these requirements seem to point towards the addition of “living characters” at Cars Land, not unlike the Talking Mickey at the Magic Kingdom that can have a full conversation with guests.
Be sure to check back as more details become available on this story.
Guests visiting Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are now being treated to a new preview of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening in 2019 at both parks.
A small section of the model of the entire land that was on display at the D23 Expo this year is on display now at Disneyland’s Launch Bay. Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios has had a different section on display since September.
In addition, the Star Wars Launch Bay film was updated on both coasts to include a new, never-before-seen preview of the 14-acre land coming to Disney Parks:
For the first time in a while, we take to the skies above Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see the latest progress on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land…
To the left is Toy Story Land, to the right is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
In the lower center, you can see the recently topped-off highest point in Galaxy’s Edge, some of the rock-work that resides above the show building for the Millennium Falcon attraction.
Walt Disney World Annual Passholders now receive a 10% discount at almost all Disney-owned dining establishments. The discount was previously 20% from October 1st, 2016 through December 23rd, 2017 at only select locations.
While expanded to more restaurants, the deal still does not include Victoria and Albert’s. The new discount is set through December 31st, 2018 and is valid for the Passholder and up to three guests.
Passholders can still get a 20% discount at all of these restaurants by purchasing a Tables in Wonderland card.
Access to Club 33 locations is usually members-only, but Adventures by Disney offers a visit to Shanghai Disneyland’s Club 33 location as part of the “Enchanted China” tour. Heather Concannon went on that trip with her family in August, and took some photos inside Club 33 that she shared with WDWNT.
Shanghai Disneyland’s Club 33 is located at the top of Mickey Avenue (Shanghai’s version of Main Street).
Shanghai’s Club 33 has two floors, Heather explained. “The first floor had a small reception area, while the second floor was the dining area.”
The stairway to the second floor; like the entire location, it’s decorated in an elegant Fantasia theme.
“The second floor consisted of the main dining room and several private dining areas,” according to Heather. “The dining area could probably seat about a hundred people.”
The private dining areas could be closed off with curtains.
Heather’s party was seated at a large table in the main dining area, also called the Garden View Room. According to Heather, the service was impeccable. “The cast members were kind and accommodating to our group,” she reported.
“The food was good,” Heather told WDWNT. “Because we visited with Adventures by Disney, we were provided with a fixed menu, which felt authentic to the Chinese culture.”
The hamachi and grapefruit sorbet with green apple wasabi granité appetizer.
The Australian wagyu short rib entree.
“In comparison with other Disney restaurant dining experiences, Club 33 really seemed to stand out,” Heather said. “The closest comparison I can draw is the experiences I had at Palo and Remy on the Disney Cruise Line.”
The dining room opens onto a balcony with an excellent view of the park. Heather’s group was able to view Shanghai’s “Ignite the Dream” nighttime spectacular from here.
“Besides being able to say I finally visited a Club 33 location, my favorite part of experiencing this exclusive space was the firework viewing area,” Heather shared. “It was private to guests visiting Club 33, therefore it felt intimate, allowing us to really enjoy the fireworks.”
There’s a small gift shop on the second floor, where Heather picked up a few souvenirs before she left.
Club 33 at Shanghai Disneyland was a “very elegant and one-of-a-kind experience,” Heather said. While Disneyland in California and Tokyo Disney Resort also have Club 33 locations, all three are themed very differently. Club 33 locations are currently being built in all four parks in Walt Disney World as well.
Heather added that this was her first visit to Shanghai Disneyland and it was “unlike visiting any other Disney theme parks. With its innovative attractions, intricately themed lands, and authentic Chinese influence it is certainly a place all Disney fans should visit in their lifetime!” Heather’s Adventures by Disney itinerary also included stops in Hong Kong, Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Guilin, and Shanghai, where they visited notable sites including Victoria Peak, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and Hong Kong Disneyland. You can see more of her trip in Heather’s YouTube video below.
A transformer failure at the Disneyland Resort resulted in loss of power to much of Fantasyland and Mickey’s Toontown Wednesday afternoon December 27th, in the middle of one of the busiest days of the year.
According to ABC7.com, the local ABC affiliate in Los Angeles, reported that a Disneyland spokesperson said guests were being evacuated from “about a dozen” rides, including the Monorail, which, interestingly, isn’t technically a Fantasyland or Toontown attraction.
As of 3pm PST (6pm EST), power to much of the park had been restored, with all of Toontown plus some Fantasyland attractions, including “it’s a small world” which is currently sporting its holiday overlay.
At least one guest paid way too much for Disneyland tickets and then complained they weren’t offering refunds when the rest of the park, as well as Disney California Adventure, were open and operating.
Nonsensical time spent at Disneyland. There is a power outage and there is no refund either!!! $1100 down the drain!! #disneypoweroutage#poorcustomerservice
Permits filed by Disney to the City of Anaheim seem to hint at a rehab for Aladdin’s Oasis in Adventureland at Disneyland.
The permit states that the stage will be fixed up and expanded, the restrooms refurbished, and exterior walls altered and rethemed for the addition of a new pedestrian ramp.
This space opened as an Aladdin themed dinner show in 1993, but in 1995 became a restaurant-only location for the busiest park days. Now Aladdin’s Oasis serves as a meet & greet location and a space for occasional events. Prior to all of this, it was home to the Tahitian Terrace dinner show.
Does this mean that a dinner show is returning to Aladdin’s Oasis, or will it be used in some other dining capacity (the space was used for “on-the-go” parade packages as recently as this year).
Stay tuned to WDWNT.com for new details on this story.
We have received the sad news (according to cast members who worked her) that Stacy Fulford, who played Mimi Kaboom in Streetmosphere at Hollywood Studios, has passed away. The Citizens of Hollywood always entertain and delight guests and Mimi Kaboom was no exception. From her official website you can see her passion for performing runs deep:
Her love for performing began in dance class early in life. Passions then led her to pursue music education, then by the natural order of things found herself in the world of theatre. After stealing the show as Wicked Witch of the West in her elementary school’s production of The Wizard of Oz, she knew the stage was her home. Stacy earned her degree in Theatre Arts from Florida Southern College, and has been happily working in the industry ever since.
We would like to thank Stacy for her many years of bringing joy to guests from around the world and our condolences go out to her family and friends.
