Big - BIG - News from D23!

There were a TON of amazing projects and updates announced for both the Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort at the D23 Expo on July 15. 

Here are the highlights:

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• Star Wars-themed land update – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the name of the new Star Wars-themed land opening in 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, after the opening of the land at Disneyland Resort.

• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway –  In this game-changing attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature an original story that will take guests on a journey inside the world of Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts using new technologies that turn the flat cartoon world into an incredible dimensional display. Located inside the Chinese Theatre, this new attraction will replace The Great Movie Ride, which will close August 13, 2017. Opening for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be announced at a later date.

• Toy Story Land – Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is scheduled to open summer 2018.

Epcot:

• “Guardians of the Galaxy” – Epcot will have a brand new attraction within Future World based on Guardians of the Galaxy.  To make way for this new adventure, Ellen’s Energy Adventure inside Universe of Energy will close Aug. 13, 2017. The new attraction will open by the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021.

• “Ratatouille” – Within World Showcase, in an all-new space in the France pavilion, a new “Ratatouille”-inspired attraction will take guests on a dazzling chase across a kitchen with the sights, sounds and smells of Gusteau’s Parisian restaurant. Patterned after the number one family attraction at Disneyland Paris, the new attraction will open by the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021.

• Mission: SPACE – In addition to an updated Orange Mission, a brand new Green Mission will take guests on a stunning tour around the Earth, with younger cadets joining the adventure for the very first time. Mission: SPACE will reopen this August.

• New restaurant – Adjacent to Mission: SPACE, a new table-service restaurant will invite guests to travel high above the Earth for an unforgettable dining experience. The opening time frame will be announced at a later date.

Magic Kingdom Park:

• “Tron”-themed attraction – The highest rated attraction at Shanghai Disneyland is coming to Tomorrowland in a new area near Space Mountain. Opening will be announced at a later date.

• Live entertainment theater – Based on the iconic Willis Theater in the 1920s Kansas City where Walt lived after he left Marceline, this new addition to Magic Kingdom Park will be located off of Main Street U.S.A. and will be an entirely new venue for world class entertainment. Opening will be announced at a later date.

Resorts:

• Disney Riviera Resort – The proposed 15th Disney Vacation Club property will be located near Epcot with a rooftop restaurant that has unbelievable views of nighttime spectaculars at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Opening will be announced at a later date.

• Immersive Star Wars-themed hotel – An immersive Star Wars-themed hotel will be the most experiential concept ever. Dedicated entirely to the galaxy of Star Wars, guests will have a one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away. Opening will be announced at a later date.

Transportation:

• Disney Skyliner – This new transportation system will give guests a bird’s-eye view of Walt Disney World Resort. Disney Skyliner will connect Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to four resorts – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, as well as the proposed 15th Disney Vacation Club property, Disney Riviera Resort. Opening date for Disney Skyliner will be announced at a later time.

• Minnie Van service – Starting later this month, the Minnie Van service is a whimsical, point-to-point transportation service that will help guests get around Walt Disney World Resort in a jiffy. Guests can arrange their own private Disney vehicle right from their smartphone, and a Disney Cast Member will drive them wherever they want to go around Walt Disney World.

Disneyland:

• Guests will experience intergalactic adventures in the highly-anticipated Star Wars– themed land known as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The 14-acre land will open with two anchor attractions – one that gives guests the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and another that puts guests right in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

Disney California Adventure Park:

• Pixar Fest, a limited-time, all-things Pixar celebration will launch at the Disneyland Resort in 2018. The celebration will include a new fireworks spectacular, as well as special characters and entertainment experiences. As part of the celebration, Pixar Play Parade will return to the resort, this time in Disneyland Park, and fan-favorite, Paint the Night, will move to Disney California Adventure Park, which has one of Disney’s longest parade routes.

• Paradise Pier will become Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Park next summer. This area adjacent to the “World of Color” lagoon, will take on a brand-new look as more favorite Pixar characters and stories come to life on the seaside waterfront, from The Incredibles, Inside Out and even more Toy Story.

• Building on the success of Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: BREAKOUT!, Guardians of the Galaxy stories will soon be joined by Spiderman and the Avengers in what will become a completely immersive Super Hero universe at Disney California Adventure.

What's new at Disney World and Universal Orlando?

This summer is a perfect time to head to Florida to check out the exciting changes at Disney and Universal!  

At Disney's Animal Kingdom, Pandora - The World of Avatar, is officially opening on May 27.  

Journey to a distant world where floating mountains defy gravity.  Where creatures come alive in a brilliant bioluminescent glow and mystical rivers flow.  Where you can fly on the back of a banshee and feel it breathing beneath you.

There are two new rides in this new land.  The Na'vi River Journey is a gentle boat ride through the rainforest.

The Avatar Flight of Passage is a breathtaking, first-person flight over the moon’s incredible landscape.

Admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of Avatar as a movie.  It had amazing visual effects but the story just didn't interest me that much.  But I can't wait to check out the new land.  From everything I've read and seen of it, the visual effects Disney is using in the new land are unbelievable.  

Animal Kingdom also has a started a new nighttime show with Rivers of Light. This park's first nighttime show celebrates the beauty of all living things and features water, sound, dramatic lighting and special effects.

While I didn't get to see Rivers of Light on my recent trip, I did get a chance to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris on a sunset safari.  It was so cool to see nocturnal animals not normally seen on this ride.  And even knowing the sunset was a "Disney sunset" rather than a real one, it was one of the best sunsets I've seen.

Over at Magic Kingdom on May 14, a new show will light up the night sky above Cinderella Castle. Happily Ever After Nighttime Spectacular uses projection mapping combined with Disney storytelling, pyrotechnics and classic Disney characters in a show that will inspire guests to find their own "Happily Ever After". Two unique parts of this show will be an original score and original, hand-drawn animation of characters like Ursula, Aladdin and Tiana.

I'll miss Wishes but can't wait to see Happily Ever After!

At Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Miss Adventure Falls is now open.  Have a splashing good time aboard this family-style raft attraction. You'll slide down on a white water rafting adventure past the lost and glittering treasure of the fabled Captain Mary Oceaneer. With a ride time of two minutes, this is one of the longest water attractions at both Disney Water Parks. 

Speaking of water parks, Universal Orlando is opening an entire brand new park on May 25 - Universal's Volcano Bay.  Universal Orlando Resort's third theme park features Krakatau—the fire and water volcano—that looks over this water playground full of thrills and relaxation. The park will feature all kinds of water rides, from slides to wave pools and rafting adventures to smaller places for your little ones. Volcano Bay provides unique TapuTapu wearables.  The TapuTapu devices will be used for everything from reserving your place in a virtual queue for the rides to activating special effects throughout the park. 

At Universal Studios Orlando, the new ride Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon is now open.  Visitors follow Jimmy Fallon—Host of NBC's The Tonight Show—on board a "flying theater" that zooms you around famous New York City landmarks. Pre-show activities let guests interact with Hashtag the Panda, listen to The Ragtime Gals and send their very own Thank You Note.

So what are you waiting for??  Give me a call and let's get you to Florida to check out all of this new excitement for yourself!!

17 REASONS TO VISIT WALT DISNEY WORLD IN 2017

With an amazing land set to debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in 2017, a new festival, a multitude of dining locations and popular returning events, 2017 is shaping up to be an exciting year at the Walt Disney World Resort!

Check out the 17 reasons to visit Walt Disney World Resort in 2017 …

1)    “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” Fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This “out of this world” fireworks spectacular, which returned a few weeks ago to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, uses the latest projections effects, lighting, lasers and pyrotechnics to light up the sky, Star Wars style.

2)    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – Inspired additions to Star Wars Launch Bay

You can celebrate the newest cinematic addition to Star Wars, courtesy of an assortment of props from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

3)    MagicBand 2 Rolls Out

MagicBand 2, the next iteration of bands that offer the same helpful functions as the original bands, have just made their way to select Disney Parks merchandise locations and the Shop Disney Parks app.

4)    Exclusive New Star Wars Tour Now Available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This seven-hour experience, led by a Star Wars “all-in-the-know” tour guide, allows you to experience Star Tours – The Adventures Continue; get an insider’s tour and meet characters at Star Wars Launch Bay; screen “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi” and enjoy Star Wars-themed menu items at Backlot Express. The tour wraps at the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party, which includes reserved viewing for the show.  Younglings ages 4-12 on the Guided Tour package can also train in the way of The Force in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. The price is $129 per Guest.

5)    Disney After Hours Events Return January-March

Disney After Hours returns to Magic Kingdom Park on Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 2, 9, 16, March 2 and 9, 2017. This 3-hour event takes place after the park closes and is only open to a limited number of Guests, which means much shorter lines at 25 attractions, character greetings and more. The cost is $119 per adult or child (tax not included).

6)    More Dining to Debut at Disney Springs

Dozens of shopping and dining locations made their debut at Disney Springs in 2016 – and even more are set to open in 2017! Stay tuned for news and opening dates for Planet Hollywood Observatory, Paddlefish, The Polite Pig, The Edison and Wine Bar George.

7)    Milestone Races for runDisney

It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. And to celebrate, they’ve made Donald Duck their mascot. Also, in anticipation of the release of “Beauty & The Beast” this spring, runDisney has themed this year’s Princess Half Marathon after the film.

8)    First-Ever Epcot International Festival of the Arts Begins January 13 

Epcot will start 2017 off with a bang, offering a brand new art festival for you to experience. This new offering will run weekends between Jan 13-Feb. 20, 2017 and will showcase visual, culinary and performing arts.

9)    Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Begins March 1

This year’s spring festival will run March 1-May 29, 2017. Festival “firsts” include brand-new topiaries of Belle and Figment, two new outdoor kitchens (bringing the total to 15), and a “Cars” interactive play garden for kids in honor of the upcoming Disney•Pixar film, “Cars 3.”

10) New Garden Rocks Dining Packages to debut at Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

During the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, dining packages will be available on select days at a number of Epcot restaurants, combining dinner and reserved seating for performances of the Garden Rocks Concert Series.

11) New Family Raft Ride at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

Coming this spring, you can enjoy a new family-style raft attraction at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Planned to be one of the longest Disney water park attractions, this experience will immerse you in the story of treasure hunter, Captain Mary Oceaneer. Guests will gently ascend in treasure rafts, only to plunge into a whitewater adventure where they may encounter some of Mary’s legendary treasure.

12) Boulder Ridge Cove, Geyser Point Bar & Grill Opening Summer 2017

Scheduled to open at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge in summer 2017, Boulder Ridge Cove pool will feature an expanded sun deck and zero-depth-entry pool in what appears to have been an abandoned rock quarry. Geyser Point Bar & Grill, a new quick-service eatery, will be located in the heart of the feature pool area of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

13) Pandora – The World of AVATAR Opening Summer 2017

This new land will open its doors at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in summer 2017 with exciting new offerings – including AVATAR Flight of Passage, the Na’vi River Journey, the Satu’li Canteen Restaurant, Pongu Pongu drink location and Windtraders merchandise shop.

14) Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Returns for a Record 75 Days

This year’s festival will kick off on August 31 and run through November 13 – for a record 75 days!

15) 35th Anniversary of Epcot

The second theme park to be built at the Walt Disney World Resort will mark its 35th anniversary on Oct. 1, 2017.

16) More Updates to Star Wars-Inspired Land

A Star Wars-inspired land is currently under construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Measuring 14-acres, this new land will transport you to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life.

17) Return of Holiday Favorites

Stay tuned for updates on next year’s Candlelight Processional narrators, the return of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park, “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and more!