Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2023 Edition

[DefnotDLav]

As has already been pointed out, the Disney+ effect is real.

Hard to justify spending $75 for a family when you can wait 60 days and see it for "free".

 

[BrianL]

100%. Even waiting 2 weeks would have helped so the stragglers from TLM and Spiderverse had time to watch those and be available for Elemental.

Right. They were competint with themselves in TLM and with Spider-Verse, and somewhat Flash. It's actually almost unbelieveable that Flash tanked as badly as it did considering the huge marketing push. I know DC movies aren't that popular, but it missed even the lowest projections. Again though, TIMING is everything! This weekend - big no. I bet next year studios will be avoiding this weekend like the plague.

 

[starlite_]

Right. They were competint with themselves in TLM and with Spider-Verse, and somewhat Flash. It's actually almost unbelieveable that Flash tanked as badly as it did considering the huge marketing push. I know DC movies aren't that popular, but it missed even the lowest projections. Again though, TIMING is everything! This weekend - big no. I bet next year studios will be avoiding this weekend like the plague.

The Flash is honestly gonna become a case study. There is just soo much going on there. Personally I am curious to see Batman in it but not enough to go watch it in theaters.

 

[Gusey]

100%. Even waiting 2 weeks would have helped so the stragglers from TLM and Spiderverse had time to watch those and be available for Elemental.

I wonder if that was why it was unexpectedly delayed here in the UK? It comes out 7 July here but was originally supposed to be out same day as the US

 

[rangerxenos]

Saw Elemental today--very good!

I feel bad that box office returns are low. Audience scores are very high but I think people are just waiting for it to be on Disney+.

I really enjoyed it, I think it was a solid Pixar movie. The animation was gorgeous.

 

[rangerxenos]

As has already been pointed out, the Disney+ effect is real.

Hard to justify spending $75 for a family when you can wait 60 days and see it for "free".

I almost had a heart attack, was waiting at the Concession stand behind a family on Friday, and their bill for popcorn/drinks/snacks was $55!

How can families afford to go to the movies anymore!

 

[rangerxenos]

Good Morning, almost afternoon! Trying to get back in the swing of things after being on vacation.

While I was in ME, I booked the rest of my December WDW trip thanks to the larger than expected AP discount!

 

[Smugpugmug]

I almost had a heart attack, was waiting at the Concession stand behind a family on Friday, and their bill for popcorn/drinks/snacks was $55!

How can families afford to go to the movies anymore!

Exactly why I bring my own snacks/drinks. A popcorn with a soda at the theater I went to for Across the Spiderverse was $18.

 

[rangerxenos]

Exactly why I bring my own snacks/drinks. A popcorn with a soda at the theater I went to for Across the Spiderverse was $18.

I buy popcorn, it's too difficult to smuggle in a bucket, LOL! I bring drinks and M&Ms in.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I buy popcorn, it's too difficult to smuggle in a bucket, LOL! I bring drinks and M&Ms in.

A few years ago I went to see Ralph Breaks the Internet (not a good movie, don't recommend it) and someone in my theater managed to sneak in an entire rotisserie chicken and a liter of soda. I want to know his secrets.

 

[1lilspark]

I pay for our theaters movie club so with the discount a small popcorn is comparable to what I pay in the parks

 

[SuzErwin]

Anybody think Disney is taking advantage of the slow Summer at Disneyland to do any refurbishments, almost like the Summer is becoming the quiet season that Jan/Feb used to be?

Disneyland is never slow, it’s a park heavily visited by locals and so it’s busy all year round. Also the summer weather, while hot, is more pleasant than Florida (far less humidity, practically zero thunderstorms).

According to the Orange Country Register (the local paper for the Anaheim area) the Disneyland refurbishment schedule was thrown off by the pandemic and the park is still catching up, so the schedule is dictated by needing to avoid having too many attractions down at one time.

 

[BrianL]

A few years ago I went to see Ralph Breaks the Internet (not a good movie, don't recommend it) and someone in my theater managed to sneak in an entire rotisserie chicken and a liter of soda. I want to know his secrets.

I know people like that. A buddy of mine once broke out this huge sub sandwich, and another time a whole pizza!

 

[Justrose]

New Details on Jollywood Nights, Frozen Holiday Surprise & Christmas Party Overlays

Jollywood nights is limited to only ten nights in its inaugural year. That’s not a lot and it will surely sell out. Disney wants the party to be a slam dunk hit and they know it will be. If it is, they said it could expand to more nights in future years. That being said, this party won’t be for everyone. The demographic Disney is aiming for is guests who can immerse into emotional and fun parties, not just witness the events around them and look for photo opportunities. It’s about stepping into different experiences.

Experiences include:

What’s This? Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along: Disney is expecting four showings The show will be hosted by two performers who are Tim Burton fans, and they’ll be inviting guests to their secret basement to watch this show together in the secret cinema. The performers are waking from a dream state to take you on this wild ride, and we’re all going to have a nightmare dream. to happen during the party. Tom Vazzana, Creative Director for Disney Parks Live Entertainment, said, “Honestly, it’s going to like be Disney in Las Vegas feel.” The whole theater will transform. They’ll dress all the walls, change out the scenery, and light it all to bring this slightly darkly, delicious, surreal sing-along through Tim Burton’s mind to life.

The show will be an overview of the whole film but in a unique way. Guests will discover the beginning and see how it morphs and changes to the end. The sing-along songs include “What’s This?” and “Kidnap the Sandy Claws,” and it will snow if guests sing loud and strong enough. Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie will even show up, but we won’t be able to meet them. If you want to meet Jack Skellington and Sally, they’ll still be over at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Tip Top Club: The Hollywood Tower Hotel was home to the Tip Top Club on the top floor. Guests aren’t able to visit it for obvious reasons, but during Disney Jollywood Nights, it will be recreated in the courtyard of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The experience will be surreal, like one foot in 2023 and one foot in The Twilight Zone. There will be a ghostly band playing music from the 1920s and guests will wonder if they’re actually there or not. There will also be custom food and craft cocktails. The space will be limited-capacity, but Disney doesn’t expect they’ll need a waitlist.

The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge Piano Bar: An experience that will have a waitlist in place will be the piano bar inside the popular restaurant. This isn’t the first special event that’s utilized this space for extra entertainment, and Disney expects it to be very popular. This type of speakeasy party is something you’d only find in a big city like New York City. A singer and a pianist will be playing standards of the era from the ’20s, ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s.

Theater of the Stars with Kermit and Miss Piggy:
A huge announcement for the event was the show being hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy in the Theater of the Stars. It turns out this is going to be an all-singing, all-dancing holiday show that will rival Radio City Music Hall. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will have a specialty number. Tiana is bringing jazz to the stage. Belle will finish out the show singing “As Long as There’s Christmas” from Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.

Kermit and Miss Piggy will be guests throughout the entire show. They’ll physically be there – not just on a screen. Unfortunately, no other Muppets will be making an appearance. They’ll be joined by a 10-piece band, and it will feel like watching a television variety show. Disney expects three performances of the show each night.

Mickey Mouse & Gang at Animation Courtyard: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Pluto will all be meeting and greeting back in Animation Courtyard. However, it’s unlike anything they’ve done before, apparently. The characters will have new costumes and backdrops that won’t be offered anywhere else. The gang wrapped their holiday movie, and the studio cases will be opened with the backdrops inside of it. Pop culture, pop icons, and being really current describe the area.

1990s/2000s Characters at Echo Lake:
Echo Lake will be a throwback to the 1990s and early 2000s with Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, Powerline Max, and Phineas and Ferb. Each of the characters will have a special holiday overlay to their costumes. The backdrops to their meet and greets will be a Christmas tree. Each of them has created their own Christmas tree, and guests will see what they would put on their own trees.

Frozone Snow Zone at Pixar Plaza: Pixar Plaza will be the home to Edna Mode and Frozone in his Frozone Snow Zone. Yes, it will actually be snowing back in Pixar Plaza. There won’t be any other characters back in this area, and these are the only two characters that won’t have holiday overlays to their costumes. However, this area will have music, food, beverages, and remnants of 1950s pop-up cards.

Latin Festival at Commissary Lane: Commissary Lane is turning into a fiesta en la calle – a festival in the street. Festoon lights will be strung all over the area. Three different bands will be energizing the street with Latin music. There will be plenty of food and drinks. It is something that would only happen in South Beach, Miami, or a festival in a big city.

Hollywood Boulevard & Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
We’ll end Disney Jollywood Nights updates with the beginning. Hollywood Boulevard will be the first part of the party you see as you enter. It will be known as ‘Welcome to Tinseltown.’ There will be a marquee there to take your photo with. Custom food and beverage offerings will be available up the street. DJs will be spinning holiday music, both classic and pop. It will be a true fa-la-la-la-la land. Along the street and in the courtyard in front of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is where you can end the night with Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!, which will be the same show guests know and love from the pre-pandemic era.

Check out the rest of the article about the rest of the holiday offerings but the main new info is that Frozen Holiday Surprise will definitely replace the Dreamlights. Also, a lot of the holiday overlays are being removed from the MVMCP. Currently the only ones planned are Jingle Cruise and Space Mountain with just holiday music

I am going to Disney in August but daydreaming on how to get back in December if only just for this!

 

[DefnotDLav]

I almost had a heart attack, was waiting at the Concession stand behind a family on Friday, and their bill for popcorn/drinks/snacks was $55!

How can families afford to go to the movies anymore!

When we go, which is very very rare, we bring in our own candy, but will buy popcorn.

The theaters are now making up for it with the insane ticket prices. Just cant justify $15-$20 pp with a fam of 5, before snacks!

 

[Smugpugmug]

Oh, speaking of movies. Costco currently has a gift card deal for AMC where you get two movie tickets and $20 for concessions for $36.99. I bought one for when I go see Barbie with my dad next month.

 

[HopperFan]

I almost had a heart attack, was waiting at the Concession stand behind a family on Friday, and their bill for popcorn/drinks/snacks was $55!

How can families afford to go to the movies anymore!

No surprise that we RARELY see children in the theaters. Because of my DS we are in all the kids movies plus some. Even the kid's movies are mostly adults in them. What shocked me was them ordering dinner delivered to their seat. Between the ticket prices and concessions it makes no sense to bring a family.

DS gets the Kid's Pack (small popcorn, small drink and bag of gummies) for $7. I get nothing.

 

[disney-inspired]

https://wdwnt.com/2023/06/both-red-...in-five-years-at-disney-california-adventure/

Both Red Car Trolleys Running for First Time in Five Years at Disney California Adventure​

June 18, 2023byShannen Michaelsen

The second Red Car Trolley has returned to service at Disney California Adventure, marking the first time both trolley cars have run at once since 2018.

Though the Red Car Trolley is now considered an iconic element of Disney California Adventure, it was only added in 2012, over a decade after the park opened. In 2018, Red Car Trolley closed due to Avengers Campus construction. It remained closed for years longer than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since returning to service in July 2022, only car 623 has been running.

​

Now trolley car 717 has returned to service and the two cars can be seen passing each other on Hollywood Boulevard.

717 is a reference to the opening date of Disneyland, July 17.

Though both trolley cars are, of course, red, 717 and 623 otherwise have different designs.

717 has orange borders around the top and bottom, orange doors, and orange art deco “wings” on the sides and ends.

623, on the other hand, is entirely red, which is how the trolley cars it’s based on were delivered after construction. It’s specifically inspired by the St. Louis Car Company’s 600-series trolleys from 1922.

6 comes from the 600 series, while 23 comes from the year The Walt Disney Company was founded: 1923.

The 717 is inspired by the 700-750 series trolleys constructed by the J. G. Brill Company in 1925. Its paint scheme more closely resembles the well-known design of the real Pacific Electric Railway’s trolley cars.

The original Pacific Electric Railway system operated from 1901 to 1961.

Each trolley seats precisely 20 people. The cables they appear to run on are just for show — the trolleys are battery-powered.


The three Red Car Trolley stops are near Animation Academy, at Carthay Circle, and on Buena Vista Street near the main entrance.

I know DCA is mostly a Pixar IP park but I would love if they incorporated Roger Rabbit into the trolleys because I always think of that movie when I see them.

 

[disney-inspired]

Right. They were competint with themselves in TLM and with Spider-Verse, and somewhat Flash. It's actually almost unbelieveable that Flash tanked as badly as it did considering the huge marketing push. I know DC movies aren't that popular, but it missed even the lowest projections. Again though, TIMING is everything! This weekend - big no. I bet next year studios will be avoiding this weekend like the plague.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a Sony movie, not Disney so not really competing with themselves there.

I don't care for the DC movies so wasn't planning on watching The Flash but even more so b/c I don't want to promote anything Ezra Miller is doing...

 

[BrianL]

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a Sony movie, not Disney so not really competing with themselves there.

I don't care for the DC movies so wasn't planning on watching The Flash but even more so b/c I don't want to promote anything Ezra Miller is doing...

No, I mean competing with The Little Mermaid, not Spider-Verse.