Allergy-Free Menus Debut at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

Diners with food allergies will now have more choices at restaurants in Disneyland and Walt Disney World. On April 14, Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts began to introduce new allergy-friendly menus at approximately 120 quick-service and table-service locations. The menus provide more convenience and readily available options for guests with special dietary requests.

Allergy Dining

“Over the years, the number of guests with food allergies and intolerances has continued to grow. In 2013 alone, our cast members assisted with more than 650,000 special dietary requests. These new allergy menus are another way in which we can provide high-quality, safe and more accessible alternatives, and the best possible dining experience for guests with specific dietary needs,” says Gary Jones, chef and culinary dietary specialist for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

The new allergy-friendly menus provide allergen content for each menu item, making informed choices easier. Menu selection includes appetizers (where applicable), entrées, side items, desserts and kids’ meals, and focuses on the most common allergens: gluten/wheat, milk, peanut, tree nut and fish.

Guests are still able to consult directly with a restaurant chef or special diets trained cast member. Guests are also encouraged to continue to communicate special dietary needs to restaurant cast members, as this allows the culinary team to take extra measures during preparation to prevent the introduction of the allergen.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is the recipient of a FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) Award for dedication to providing a safe and enjoyable dining experience for vacationing families and their chefs have been recognized for their commitment to food allergy awareness, education and management.

The new menus will be introduced in signature restaurants on April 14, then debut at other table-service and quick-service restaurants (including Walt Disney World water parks, Downtown Disney and resort hotels) through September 2015. For more information on special dietary requests, click here for Walt Disney World Resort and click here for Disneyland Resort.

To check out a sample menu, click here.

PHOTOS & REVIEW: Tomorrowland Movie Preview Opens at Epcot Replacing Captain EO

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

The sneak peek of the upcoming Disney film TOMORROWLAND began at Epcot’s Imagination! pavilion over the weekend:

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 Captain EO was removed from the main sign and replaced with simply “Magic Eye Theater”

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The strange stripe on the back wall was replaced with concept art for the film

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You can clearly see where the Captain EO sign was…

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While you wait, there is a countdown clock and some audio clips of Brad Bird talking about the film

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 There is a costume and rocket pack from the film on display in the waiting area

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The sneak preview is 12 minutes long and focuses on a part of the film that includes many famous Disney attractions and characters. I won’t spoil it, but if you attended Destination D: Attraction Rewind, you have seen most of this preview. However, the in-theater lighting, wind, and water effects are a nice touch. The preview is worth a watch the next time you visit Epcot, and certainly if you are a big Disney Parks fan. You have until May 24th to catch the sneak peek at Tomorrowland in the Magic Eye Theater.

Tomorrowland hits theaters May 22nd.

Photos by Jose Castillo and Kelly Derda

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Digital Movie Posters and New Digital Projectors Installed at The Great Movie Ride

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

While we wait for the full roll-out of the Turner Classic Movies overlay coming to the Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, some elements of the rehab have already been installed and are in use now:

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 While not turned on yet, the new digital movie posters in the queue are installed

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 Some new logos for the attraction were produced

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 Touchscreens are being installed with the various prop displays in the queue

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The original logo poster will be sticking around thankfully

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 The pre-show “coming attractions” are now being presented via a digital projector

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The same can be said for the finale film montage

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While overall everything looked much crisper, there was clearly a lot of older film clips that didn’t make the conversion so well. Our theory is that this is simply the film that has been shown converted to a digital format with no restoration. Scenes from newer movies looked clear while the older ones looked brighter, but nearly as bad as they did before. With a new pre-show and finale film debuting soon, this is understandable as these clips will not be seen in this new digital format for very long before they are replaced.

We have a short video of the two films so you can see just how big the difference is in the projection quality:

Overall, it is exciting to see changes made and it shouldn’t be long until the new pre-show, finale, and such are installed.

Typhoon Lagoon to Host “Teen Beach Movie 2” Beach Party

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

As part of the Coolest Summer Ever at Walt Disney World Resort, a new summertime dance party inspired by Disney Channel’s upcoming Teen Beach 2 (sequel to the popular Teen Beach Movie) will hit the beach at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park.

From May 22 through July 5, guests can join in the “Teen Beach 2:” Beach Party at various times throughout day. The fun includes “bikers” and “surfers” who dance and play beach-themed games with guests as a DJ spins remixes of retro tunes. Taking over part of Typhoon Lagoon’s main beach area, guests can participate in relays on the sand, hula hoop spinning, water balloon and beach ball tossing, and the grooviest dance moves this side of Mt. Mayday.

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Premiering this summer on Disney Channel, Teen Beach 2 is set months after surfer sweethearts Mack and Brady return from a summer adventure that transported them into Brady’s favorite 1960s beach party movie, “Wet Side Story,” only to receive a surprise real-world visit from Lela, Tanner, Butchy and their other new-found surfer and biker buddies.

Dirk Wallen’s 4/24/15 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

WDWNT Reporter (and “2, 5, & 7 seconds” enthusiast) Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom this week dn has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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 Work has now begun on the front section of the central hub

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The new control towers flanked by castle turrets are going up as well

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Goodbye red pavement

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A look at the work happening at the north end of the hub

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New MagicBandits have arrived

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They are also running a special on them at most WDW stores right now

Super Hero Headquarters to Open by May 1st, Avengers Vinylmation Being Released

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

The new Super Hero Headquarters store at Downtown Disney’s West Side will be open by May 1st, just as The Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters.

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Official store logo

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To celebrate the opening, Avengers Vinylmation are being released on May 1st at the new store:

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Disney Design Group Artist, Thomas Scott, will be on hand for a special appearance and signing from 5p.m.- 6p.m. at Super Hero Headquarters that day as well.

RUMOR: Is Disney Nearing a Deal with Universal for MARVEL Theme Park Rights?

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

When Disney purchased MARVEL in 2009, the first question every theme park fan had was “What does this mean for MARVEL at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and can Disney build MARVEL attractions at Walt Disney World?”

In the 6 years since then, we have come to learn that the contract Universal and MARVEL etched out in the 1990’s was pretty iron clad and has prevented Walt Disney World from even thinking about the possibility anytime soon. In 2012, Universal spent a ton of money to upgrade the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man attraction, even though Disney owns the property. Just to host a movie preview of Guardians of the Galaxy in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney couldn’t use “Marvel” in any marketing materials or at the preview. Hell, they can’t even mention “Marvel” or “the Avengers” to promote a Vinylmation release at Walt Disney World this week…

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So, what are these? 😉

However, things seem to be changing. Rumors indicate that some of the MARVEL attractions at Islands of Adventure are closing or being re-themed. Before the end of the year, the Incredible Hulk coaster and Dr. Doom’s Fear-Fall are expected to close. Hulk is expected to get a huge renovation that includes a completely new theme, while Dr. Doom’s Fear-Fall is rumored to simply be removed.

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Is Fear-Fall coming down? What will replace it?

What’s interesting about removing the Fantastic 4 themed “Fear-Fall”l is the current war MARVEL is waging on FOX. FOX of course is re-booting the Fantastic Four despite the wishes of MARVEL Studios, and in return, Marvel is killing off the Fantastic Four in comic books in order to not offer any promotion for the film. So, does MARVEL want Fantastic Four gone from Islands of Adventure until FOX decides to work with them? It’s possible. While the Universal deal gives them the theme park rights, it also still includes rights that allow MARVEL some creative control to protect their characters and brands.

It’s no secret that MARVEL theme park attractions are in the works for Disneyland Resort down the road (As early as 2018), but the Iron Man Experience ride is already set to open in Hong Kong Disneyland next year. To avoid any “brand confusion”, one would assume Disney and Universal would like to reach some agreement before then, but Universal’s mindset on the property being in their parks is unclear.

While all speculation at this point, inside sources have told us that something is up over at Universal. Whether or not they will relinquish all rights or be changing themes to incorporate different MARVEL characters is unknown at this point, but one of these two scenarios seems likely. Either way, communication is definitely open between Disney and Universal and the option of reaching an agreement to bring MARVEL to Disney World is seeming more likely that it did several years ago.

Disney Testing System That Brings Food Straight to Your Seat at Fantasmic! & Backlot Express

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

Backlot Express and Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are currently testing a new system where guests can have items delivered to them after pre-ordering through a special app.

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Mickey is now battling long lines at the Fantasmic! concessions

Guests with FastPass+ reservations or dining reservations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during this period are randomly being invited to this test via email. If invited, guests may download a special “Express Order” app. Guests can then order and pay ahead.

At Backlot Express, the test periods are as follows:

  • April 28-May 4: Guests may have a meal prepped at counter for pickup or to go (where they are then invited to bring it with them to their seat at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular).
  • May 5-May 12: Guests may have a meal prepped at counter to-go or have food delivered to their table.

At Fantasmic!, guests can use the app to order select food, beverage, and even merchandise items from their seat and then have it delivered to their seats during the pre-show. On nights with two Fantasmic! shows, this is only available for the first showing.

The app service uses bluetooth and location services on mobile devices.

RUMOR: Dream Along with Mickey to Conclude in July, New Show on the Way

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

With Dream Along with Mickey going dark starting July 19th to accommodate stage upgrades and further hub construction at the Magic Kingdom, rumor has it that the show may not be returning as scheduled in August 2015.

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The show debuted during the Year of a Million Dreams

With the show nearing its 9-year anniversary (easily making it the longest running Castle Forecourt Stage show in the history of the park) in September, it is long overdue for a change. There is no word on what the new show would be, but it is should still be a traditional Disney character performance.

It has already been announced that the Villains Mix’N’Mingle show that performs annually on the stage at the Halloween Parties is being replaced, so it would not be unreasonable to think that the regular daily show would also be changed. Perhaps this means that Celebrate the Season (the Christmas Party’s stage show) is also gone forever? We will have to wait and see…

If you don’t believe the show is dated, here’s a video of the original version of the show from when it debuted in 2006…

BREAKING: Walt Disney World’s Disability Access Service Goes Digital Today, Linked to MagicBands Now

WDWNT on May 5, 2015

When the new Disability Access Service went live at Disney Parks in October of 2013, we knew it would only be a matter of time until it was all tied into the MyMagic+ system. Well, that very suddenly happened today.

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Goodbye paper cards

Under the new system starting today, when the guest who needs the DAS arrives at Guest Relations, the rest of the party will have to be there to have their media (tickets, MagicBands) attached to the guest the DAS guest on their account. If anyone is to be added to the party at any point later on, you will have to return to guest relations to get them added.

After this is done, you can start obtaining return times for attractions. Simply go to the attraction, check in with a cast member, and they will scan your media. The cast member will ask who attached to the DAS is riding. The guest is then given a return time to come back at. When they return, all of the guests riding will have to scan their media, just like a FastPass+.

The reasoning behind the change is to eliminate the paper cards and avoid cheating within the system. With the DAS attached to accounts, no one can have more than one. Under the old method, some guests will have multiple people in their party obtain the DAS so they can have multiple return times in their possession at once. With the system going digital and tied to MyMagic+, this will be avoided.

There are a lot of still unanswered questions about this change and we will try our best to address them as soon as possible, so stay tuned for more on this breaking story.