In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Pirates of the Caribbean at the Disneyland Resort, which was March 18th, Disney has thrown together a special video that highlights some interesting facts about this well beloved ride:
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Have you heard this week’s WDW News Today Podcast? If you haven’t, here’s what you can expect:
Join Tom Corless and a cast of others for a variety show dedicated to the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Plenty of Walt Disney World and Disneyland information and fun awaits you on this edition of the WDW News Today Podcast!
On this week’s show, we pillage and plunder through all 50 years of Pirates of the Caribbean in Back to the Future. Get ready for nearly 4 hours dedicated the greatest theme park adventure of all time!
To download or listen to the show on-site, go to our podcast download page. You can also download episodes of the show by subscribing to our iTunes feed, or through Stitcher.
You can also watch the segment as a multimedia presentation featuring pictures and video on YouTube:
Today, Disney is sharing the incredible backstories and more information on many aspects of Pandora: The World of AVATAR ahead of its opening on May 27th, 2017:
Just like some Cast Members work for the Kilimanjaro Safaris tour company in Africa, or the Kali River Expeditions and Himalayan Escapes in Asia, the Cast Members in Pandora will work for a tour company as well. Alpha Centauri Expeditions, or ACE, is the eco-tour company that brings us to Pandora through a partnership with the Na’vi. Their mission statement: “Our dream is that all those who crave exciting adventures in nature can find that with ACE. We look forward to helping you discover the wondrous beauty that the world of Pandora has to offer.”
Founded by Marshall Lamm, ACE hosts travelers and also provides lodging, food, merchandise establishments, pathways, bridges, safety railings, lights, fans, informational and safety signs, river transportation, as well as park guides who know all about the land, flora, and fauna within the Valley of Mo’ara on Pandora.
When you visit Pandora – The World of Avatar, you are visiting a specific regional area of Pandora, the Valley of Mo’ara. The native inhabitants, the Na’vi, live in distinct clans throughout the moon of Pandora. Mo’ara is home to the Omaticaya clan.
Here are some key phrases in the Na’vi language you might want to know before visiting:
Pongu Pongu was originally built by a former RDA employee who fell in love with the natural splendors of Pandora. Eventually, he built a place where his fellow Expats could gather and socialize. He even placed a retired RDA-era AMP suit outside the building as a sort of landmark. The Na’vi named the place, “Pongu Pongu”, which means, “Party Party,” because of all the wild and memorable times both humans and Na’vi have had together there. The owner eventually collaborated with the ACE tour company to transform this eccentric building into a place for tourists to visit and wet their whistles. Filled with Pandoran treasures and RDA relics, it has quickly become a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.
The Satu’li Canteen was once the main mess hall of a large RDA base located in the Valley of Mo’ara but now the canteen is owned and operated by the ACE tour company. A restaurateur hired by ACE has redesigned the once utilitarian Quonset hut structure into a beautiful museum-like dining room. Featuring Na’vi art and cultural items, the Satu’li Canteen now reflects a new friendship and cultural understanding that exists between the humans on Pandora and the indigenous Na’vi.
The interior has been transformed, with the colorful Na’vi items filling the walls and hanging from the ceiling. Most of the items were gifted to humans by the Omaticaya clan living in Mo’ara. Hand woven tapestries, natural Pandroan elements, and even cooking tools can all be found inside the restaurant along with sketches and photographs on the walls that help explain their significance. With this unique display of cultural items, the Satu’li Canteen visually represents the positive influence the Na’vi have had on the humans living and working on Pandora.
Located at the exit of the Flight of Passage attraction, Windtraders is an old building that used to be part of the base during the conflict between the Na’vi and humans. When ACE took over the old facility, they stripped the interior to just a shell and redesigned it to celebrate the natural world of Pandora. The feeling in the shop is a combination of a national park’s visitor center, a cultural center, and a science museum. The store offers a range of items including science kits, explorers gear, items that feature natural bioluminescence, realistic and plush versions of Pandoran creatures, clothing, and various cultural items from the Na’vi. Many of these Na’vi items come from Na’vi traders that travel all over Pandora and visit with various clans.
Colors of Mo’ara is run by local expats, as wild and eclectic as the creatures they paint. This facepainting kiosk features authentic Pandoran markings – perfect for those arriving to Pandora or ending their visit wanting a memory of their time spent there.
The Pandora Conservation Initiative (PCI) is a group of scientists who study the world of Pandora. A specialized subset of PCI has inherited and refined the Avatar program which is now offered for tourists. Thanks to PCI scientists and technicians, Guests can connect to their own avatar and fly over Pandora on the back of a mountain banshee. A Na’vi guide helps guests experience their own Na’vi rite of passage.
With the help of ACE, guests board a woven reed boat and journey down a river into a sacred bioluminescent rainforest. Along their journey they discover the Shaman of Songs; a Na’vi with a deep connection to Eywa (the Na’vi diety). Drawing on the natural energy of Pandora the shaman creates a magical, unified harmony that echoes throughout the entire rainforest and beyond.
Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens May 27th, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Disney will finally be rolling out mobile advance ordering for counter service restaurants, and they will be doing it May 27th at their very newest.
Satuli Canteen inside Pandora: The World of AVATAR will be the very first restaurant at Walt Disney World to open with the feature.
Mobile ordering allows you to pay for meals on-the-go with the My Disney Experience app, bypassing the queue to order in the restaurant. Using the app, you can select any of the menu items, customize them as you wish, and pre-pay for the meal. Arriving at the restaurant, guests will simply tap “I’m Here”, which will notify cast members to prepare the meal. When it’s ready, you will be alerted in the app to pick up the food at a designated service window. Only credit card payments will be accepted for this service, with Dining Plan guests still having to use the normal queue, at least as of right now.
Disney of course tested this service in one form or another over the last few years, including the most notable test at the Backlot Express and Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney has also released ore details on the menu:
Look for familiar dishes with a twist in the fast-casual restaurant, with bowls that allow diners to customize their lunch or dinner. Diners start with a base of quinoa and vegetable salad; red and sweet potato hash; mixed whole-grain and rice or romaine and kale salad. Next is either with wood-grilled chicken, slow-roasted beef, sustainable fish or chili-spiced fried tofu. And the bowl is finished with charred onion chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette or creamy herb dressing.
The menu also offers steamed “pods” – bao buns with either cheeseburger or vegetable curry and served with root vegetable chips and crunchy vegetable slaw.
For little ones, there’s an option of grilled chicken or beef, fish or tofu with greens or rice; a hot dog wrapped in Parker House dough; cheese quesadilla, or a steamed “pod” (cheeseburger bao bun).
To read more about the food at the Satuli Canteen, click here.
Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens May 27th, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The parking lot of the Walt Disney World Casting building on Buena Vista Drive will close April 1st, 2017 to accommodate the construction of a new Disney Springs parking garage and pedestrian bridge, as we reported several months ago.
Located next door to the Casting building at Disney Springs, the new structure will contain 3000 additional parking spaces, not just for Disney Springs guests, but also for the Casting building and the nearby Partners (formerly Suntrust) building. In the meantime, those visiting the Casting or Partners building may utilize the 2 and 4 hour parking spaces in the Partners parking lot. Those who work there will be parking in the Cast Services lot by the Team Disney building.
Work on the garage and bridge is slated to be completed in 2019.
It seems as though Disney may be trying to create a better guest flow at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom by moving the security perimeter of the park further out.
If all goes according to rumored plans, guests parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center will go through security bag check and metal detectors after they exit the parking lot trams, but before the board any monorails or a ferryboat to the park. These guests will then be able to walk directly to the Magic Kingdom turnstiles (or touch points as the kids call them these days) once disembarking at the park’s monorail station or ferryboat dock.
Supposedly, this would lead to security screening areas being added at the various monorail platforms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Guests taking a bus or resort launch to the Magic Kingdom would still be screened just outside of the park at new checkpoints. Guests walking over from Disney’s Contemporary Resort on the small walkway between the hotel and the Magic Kingdom will also have their own checkpoint (which is already being done at select times of the day).
Disney has not yet made any comment about the changes, so they are simply in the realm of rumor for now. However, recent construction work being conducted at the Transportation and Ticket Center and at the Magic Kingdom park entrance are pointing towards the change. It is unknown when the changes would take place, if they ever do materialize.
What do you think? Would this be a positive change in your opinion?
Disney executives from a variety of fields held a panel at the 2017 South by Southwest Conference (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, and discussed how emerging technologies will help the company to innovate and break new ground in storytelling.
Disney Imagineering R&D executive Jon Snoddy, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media senior vice president Mike White, and Disney Interactive vice president of Engineering Kathy de Paolo led the panel in talks about how both artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing the way future Audio-Animatronics are being implemented.
During the panel, attendees got to see Audio-Animatronic versions of Jake (a droid once featured at Star Wars Launch Bay in Disneyland) and a pocket-sized Pascal (the chameleon sidekick from Tangled). Both were used to show how Disney is looking for new ways to bring characters to life in more natural ways. As White put it, “We are constantly evaluating emerging technologies, and we use the ones that make our products and experiences better.” He went on to stress the importance of emerging technologies, “Disney is committed to technology that enhances our stories. It’s not merely a science project.”
Snoddy reinforced Disney’s desire to inspire and move guests by always daring to delve deeper into the world’s most advanced technologies:
“Every new technology that has come along for the past 60 years has been adopted into a storytelling medium. It won’t be different now. [Guests] really come to be moved emotionally, and that will not change.”
Source: TheWaltDisneyCompany.com
The third installment of the popular “Cars” film franchise is set to arrive in theatres on June 16th in 3D, but fans can get an early glimpse of the story, which stars longtime favorite Lightning McQueen alongside new characters Cruz Ramirez and Jackson Storm, when the “Road to the Races” nationwide tour kicks off March 23-26, 2017 at Disney Springs Marketplace.
Expect fun activities for the whole family, plus an extended “sneak peek” of the film when the tour rolls into town. Photo opportunities with three life-size character cars will also be a part of the event.
Alamo Rent A Car will sponsor a giant color mural; Coppertone will encourage guests to take part in a racer pit crew tire-changing activity and a fun photo opportunity; Crest and Oral-B will pass out prizes from the Piston Cup prize wheel and will offer fans the chance to create a digital postcard with Lightning McQueen; at the Dole Refueling Station, you can sample high-octane smoothies; Mattel plans to present an interactive play area; and last, but not least, NASCAR will be on hand to share the history and science behind their iconic brand.
During your visit, keep an eye out for “Cars” merchandise and special menu items at select food and beverage locations, plus a DJ dance party with tracks that will make you want to rev up your engine.
The tour, located at Disney Springs in the former Marketplace Bus Loop near Disney’s Days of Christmas store, opens to the public on Thursday, March 23 at 12:00 p.m. and will run until 7:00 p.m. that evening. On Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, join the fun from 11 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. And on the final day, Sunday, March 26, guests can enjoy the experience from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
The roof of the Dole Whip stand at Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Disneyland Park
Messing around with the legendary Dole Whip at Disneyland Park may sound a little sacrilegious, but sometimes it’s good to update the classics. Just look at many of the wonderful updates made to Disney attractions over the years, enhancing the ride or show while keeping the original flavor. While you may want to stick to the standard treat (or maybe even get some Dole Whip flavored Cotton Candy over at Disney California Adventure), those who are a little more adventurous might seek to enhance the Dole Whip with a new seasoning that is being offered…
The seasoning packets now offered with Dole Whip, Disneyland Park
Disneyland already offered this Tajin seasoning at locations with fruit dishes, but it is now also behind the counter at the Dole Whip stand outside of the Enchanted Tiki Room.
The seasoning packets now offered with Dole Whip, Disneyland Park
The classic Tajin seasoning is not listed on the menu, but an individual packet is available upon request when you purchase a Dole Whip (at top added charge). Typically used as a fruit and veggie booster, the seasoning may seem to be a little strange for a frozen treat, but there’s a good reason it is being offered. The official description of the seasoning:
An Authentic Mexican condiment with a angy lime and chile pepper kick, offering a mild heat. Ideal for seasoning fresh Citrus fruit snacks.
So, I took my snack and my seasoning packet into Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and did the deed…
The Dole Whip with the seasoning packet, Disneyland Park
The Dole Whip with the seasoning packet, Disneyland Park
Would my pictures have turned out better in the sunlight? Sure. But c’mon, it’s the Tiki Room at Disneyland!
If you read the dining reviews on this site regularly, you know just how much I love spicy items, and that I can take or leave a Dole Whip. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Dole Whip, I just probably only get it like once or twice a year despite visiting Disney Parks 5-6 times a week. That being said, this combination was awesome. I enjoyed the Dole Whip with Tajin much more than without, and I think you should give it a try the next time you procure one if you are a fan of the Disneyland delicacy. Don’t worry, it isn’t overly spicy. As the description implies, it is a mild heat. The lime flavoring is also a nice touch to the existing pineapple flavor, in addition to the spice it offers.
Tajin does also offer spicier seasonings on the market, and I’d love to see a variety at the parks so I can have a really spicy Dole Whip, but this will suffice for now. I told you, I really like spicy food.
If you are one of those people who makes Dole Whip at home, you can also easily find the seasoning in your local supermarket, or even online on Amazon. The large bottle is more economical for home use, but if you want to try Tajin at Walt Disney World (which has not started offering the seasoning yet, and may never), buying the box of packets will be more convenient.
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Springtime will be hopping its way to the Disneyland Resort in just 2 weeks. Beginning April 1st, the Eggstravaganza will be returning to the Disneyland Resort for its 5th year.
To participate, pick up a map and stickers for $5.99 (plus tax) at select merchandise locations throughout Disneyland Resort. The Eggstravaganza is a scavenger hunt where you will search for special hidden “eggs” themed to Disney and Pixar characters. You will then record your discoveries by placing the corresponding sticker on the themed Egg-stravaganza map to represent that location.
Once finished you can redeem the map for a special prize. Redemption locations include the following merchandise shops: Elias & Co. at Disney California Adventure park; Disney Showcase in Disneyland park; World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney District.
Purchasing limits will apply, while supplies last. Please note that no discounts apply and separate admission is required to enter Disney theme parks. The experience is subject to restrictions and may change without notice. The Eggstravaganza at the Disneyland Resort will last from April 1st-April 16th.
