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

[scrappinginontario]

If you think you may need more than one park I’d honestly try to get it closer to midnight vs 7am especially on weekends as when a single park sells out multi day will also sell out so let’s say it’s a weekend in September peak F&W season popular headliner at eat to the beat and Epcot G+ sells out at 8am multi park would also sell out HOWEVER MK/DAK/DHS individual G+ could still be available

Also here are the price points for the 27th
$27 all parks or just magic
$25 DHS
$18 Epcot
$ DAK

Genie+ has sold out less than 5 times since it was introduced. I would not be concerned with it selling out. Disney wants people’s $$ so will sell as many as possible.

 

[mickey916]

Disney Springs Water Taxi Service Resumes

Earlier this month, Disney Springs water taxi service — and other boat transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort — was suspended due to low water levels. After Central Florida received some rain, the Disney Springs water taxis (also referred to as the Sassagoula Steamboat Company) are back in operation.

Disney Springs Water Taxi Service​

 

[mickey916]

First Look Moana Music & Journey of Water Features
During a trip to EPCOT this week, we could hear “Moana” music playing from Journey of Water Inspired by “Moana” as Walt Disney Imagineering continues tests on the attraction. The pace of work is accelerating to a greater speed than originally anticipated.

‘Moana’ Music Comes Alive​

The first video in our Tweet below features an instrumental version of “We Know the Way” from “Moana.”

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The second video shows water flowing over the Journey of Water entrance structure featuring Te Fiti’s swirl symbol. We saw testing here as far back as October 2022, too. Imagineers recently stated they have “begun to teach water how to play” at the new interactive walkthrough attraction.

Journey of Water​

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In our most recent construction updates, it has looked like Journey of Water is near complete, with only testing remaining. In April, Disney shared a video of water flowing through the attraction. The walkthrough attraction may include some MagicBand+ interaction.

Journey of Water concept art shows flowing waterfalls as well as water jumping over pathways. Next to a body of water is a giant statue of Te Fiti. It’s in the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT.

“Along with Moana as a steward of water conservation, Te Fiti is a symbol of how we should protect and nurture water wherever we find it,” Reid Ekman, Lead Concept Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, wrote on Disney Parks Blog.

This is an important theme in Journey of Water, where guests will learn more about how water travels from our skies to the ocean, and back again. This story will unfold along a lush trail inspired by the environments and art style of the beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios film.

 

[mickey916]

Construction Work Moves Outside Gasparilla Island Grill
Construction at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has moved to the balconies above Gasparilla Island Grill.

Gasparilla Island Grill Construction​

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The sidewalk running along the side of the resort’s main building is closed between Grand Floridian Cafe and Gasparilla Island Grill.

White construction walls line the walkway.

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Guests can walk a few yards down the sidewalk before hitting a green construction fence.

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Out from under the resort’s awnings, potted plants sit on the edge of stone planters around the construction site.

More green fencing is behind the planters.

This entire area is blocked by white construction walls and plants.

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This is across from the Courtyard Pool.

A-frame signs direct guests to Gasparilla Island Grill, which is a quick-service restaurant.

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The construction walls pick up closer to Gasparilla Island Grill.

Scaffolding is up across the balconies above the restaurant.

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Crew members in this area were helping direct traffic.

There’s a fenced-off entrance through the construction walls for crew members.

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As part of the ongoing refurbishment of the resort, crews have been working on guest room balconies.

At the corner is the entrance to Gasparilla Island Grill, which does remain open during construction.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

i would absolutely LOVE if they brought Madam Mim to WDW. i know they had her in DL last year but seeing as this will be my first halloween time trip, therefore my first MNSSHP, i would be so excited to see her. She is my second favorite villain <3

I loved seeing Madam Mim last year at OBB! She was so funny in her deranged way. Hope she makes it to MNSSHP, I'll be there in Sep.

 

[OKW Lover]

https://wdwnt.com/2023/06/walt-disn...o-reflections-a-disney-lakeside-lodge-permit/

Walt Disney Imagineering Files to Extend STOLport Permit Connected to Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge Permit
June 23, 2023
byShannen Michaelsen

Walt Disney Imagineering has filed for an extension of a permit related to Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, a project long thought canceled.

Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge 2018 Announcement​

After rumors swirled of a “Disney Discovery Lodge,” Bob Chapek announced Riverside – A Disney Lakeside Lodge at Destination D in 2018. The nature-inspired Disney Vacation Club resort was to be built on the former site of Disney’s long-closed River Country water park, on the shore of Bay Lake near Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. It would have had more than 900 hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas.

​

Terri Schultz, who was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Club at the time, said in a statement: “This resort experience will be a celebration of Walt Disney’s lifelong love and respect for nature, with some fun and even surprising accommodation types that families will find irresistible. It will give our members and guests yet another opportunity to stay in close proximity to all the newest attractions and experiences in our theme parks, and with the flexibility, value and world-class service families expect from Disney.”

STOLport Site Permit​

In May 2018, Disney filed a permit for the “STOLport Site,” near the old Walt Disney World Airport — also known as the Lake Buena Vista STOLport (Short Take Off and Landing), as a stockpile location. The new resort wouldn’t actually be constructed on the STOLport site, but it could act as a staging ground.

This permit was set to expire in May 2023, but Disney has filed to extend it. This doesn’t necessarily mean construction is going to resume on Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. Disney wouldn’t be able to use the site for any project without extending the permit.

The STOLport site could instead be used to support cabin construction at the adjacent Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Still, extending the permit does leave the door open for Reflections to be revived.

Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge History​

Disney began demolishing River Country in early 2019 and released several pieces of Reflections concept art that summer:

• CONCEPT ART: First Look at Resort Lobby and Pocahontas Statue at Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge
• CONCEPT ART: First Look at Quick Service Restaurant, Grab & Go Market at Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge
• CONCEPT ART: First Look at Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge Hotel Rooms Featuring Bambi, Brother Bear, Fox and the Hound, Pocahontas, and More; Room Types Revealed

At D23 Expo 2019, more details about the resort were released, including a look a “Princess and the Frog” restaurant.

An aerial overview of the Reflections site from May 23, 2020. (Image Credit: @bioreconstruct on Twitter)


We tracked demolition and construction into early 2020, when Walt Disney World Resort shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, behind-the-scenes work continued as Disney filed permits for restaurants, restrooms, transportation structures, and more. We checked on construction again when Walt Disney World Resort reopened in June 2020, but there has been no progress since then.

Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge was originally scheduled to open in 2022, but that deadline obviously came and went. Disney hasn’t made a peep about the resort since.

Rumors began circulating that the project was indefinitely delayed or canceled entirely. In September 2020, Disney filed a “general construction” permit for the area, followed by a permit for temporary cast parking a month later. These both seemed to indicate work on Reflections could resume. But in April 2021, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a permit to “remove office trailers from property” at multiple addresses connected to construction, strong evidence for the project’s cancelation.


While it seems Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge is dead, it still has permits open into 2024. If Disney were to complete the project, they would need to extend those permits, but they have some time to decide.

While it would be nice to think they are moving ahead with the new resort, this might be simply to give them more time before they need to remove the staged material.

 

[mickey916]

Winnie the Pooh Now Meeting Guests in Epcot

Winnie the Pooh is Now Meeting Guests in EPCOT. Walt Disney World has made huge steps recently with character meet and greets. Especially in Epcot. With Disney Character-Palooza happening more frequently, rare characters like Pinocchio, Geppetto, and Gideon walk around in Italy pavilion.

Now our favorite Pooh Bear is not just catching butterflies in his garden, he is meeting and greeting guests. The honey-obsessed Winnie-the-Pooh was outside his gate recently interacting with guests. This is a piece of good news for all of us who enjoy meeting characters, instead of just waving to them from a distance.


Winnie-the-Pooh has only been seen in Epcot wandering around the garden located between The Land Pavilion and Journey Into Imagination Pavilion in the World Nature section. He would wave to people, and then with a net in his hands try to catch butterflies. Which was cute to watch, especially during Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. The Butterfly habitat was located in front of where Pooh Bear was walking around and you could glimpse a real butterfly near him.

 

[afan]

Genie+ has sold out less than 5 times since it was introduced. I would not be concerned with it selling out. Disney wants people’s $$ so will sell as many as possible.

While true that was for one good at all parks. I would imagine splitting them up allows them to change how many are offered and you're more likely to see MK or DHS sell out esp if there aren't any more park reservations.

What were were seeing was based off a total number which could have put more than intended in some parks. If we start seeing sell outs foe these two parks more often it may actually be an improvement over the current way even if it is more confusing, as it would potentially let the people that bought it utilize it more in line with how it's supposed to work. But we won't know any of this until it starts and even then I would imagine it's more likely we won't know until fall or xmas unless the 4th is busier than the parks have been lately.

 

[ejgonz2]

First Look Moana Music & Journey of Water Features
During a trip to EPCOT this week, we could hear “Moana” music playing from Journey of Water Inspired by “Moana” as Walt Disney Imagineering continues tests on the attraction. The pace of work is accelerating to a greater speed than originally anticipated.

‘Moana’ Music Comes Alive​

The first video in our Tweet below features an instrumental version of “We Know the Way” from “Moana.”

AD

The second video shows water flowing over the Journey of Water entrance structure featuring Te Fiti’s swirl symbol. We saw testing here as far back as October 2022, too. Imagineers recently stated they have “begun to teach water how to play” at the new interactive walkthrough attraction.

Journey of Water​

AD
In our most recent construction updates, it has looked like Journey of Water is near complete, with only testing remaining. In April, Disney shared a video of water flowing through the attraction. The walkthrough attraction may include some MagicBand+ interaction.

Journey of Water concept art shows flowing waterfalls as well as water jumping over pathways. Next to a body of water is a giant statue of Te Fiti. It’s in the World Nature neighborhood of EPCOT.

“Along with Moana as a steward of water conservation, Te Fiti is a symbol of how we should protect and nurture water wherever we find it,” Reid Ekman, Lead Concept Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, wrote on Disney Parks Blog.

When do we think this will open? We’re planning a Jersey week trip and are hoping it’s open then.

 

[Naomeri]

When do we think this will open? We’re planning a Jersey week trip and are hoping it’s open then.

I have no evidence for this, but I would bet it will be open by then. IIRC, they slated this for fall, and Jersey week is almost into the holiday season at Disney

 

[Gusey]

Energy Bytes TRON Snack Stand Deletes Digital Dumplings
There has been some data corruption of the menu at Energy Bytes and the digital dumplings have been deleted from the database. The divisive food offerings have been removed from the menu as the Energy Bytes TRON snack stand focuses on frozen drinks and desserts.

 

[Violetspider]

Energy Bytes TRON Snack Stand Deletes Digital Dumplings
There has been some data corruption of the menu at Energy Bytes and the digital dumplings have been deleted from the database. The divisive food offerings have been removed from the menu as the Energy Bytes TRON snack stand focuses on frozen drinks and desserts.

Geez! They were top of my list of new MK food to try in July. Gone too soon!

 

[BrianL]

Geez! They were top of my list of new MK food to try in July. Gone too soon!

They actually weren't great. I was excited to try the buffalo ones, but they were disappointing - very wet. The watermelon feeezie drink was good though.

 

[mickey916]

New Disney Ride Share Loop in Epcot Construction Update

New Disney Ride Share Loop in EPCOT Construction Update. One thing fans of Epcot are used to is construction, so seeing more is not a big deal. This one will be helpful to rideshare users once construction is finished this fall. Just in time for the major construction walls to come down and guests to once again enjoy World Celebration.


The new Rideshare loop for drop off and pick ups is almost finished. It sits across from the Hei-Hei parking lot, and just a bit further to the entrance from the bus loops. Uber and Lyft and guest drops off should all take place in this new loop. No word on if this will be home to the Minnie Van transportation option pick up and drop off.

 

[mickey916]

Epcot CommuniCore Hall Construction Update


EPCOT CommuniCore Hall Construction Update for Late June. Fall will mark the completion of the new World Celebration neighborhood. As the hub of the park, it will feature seasonal gardens and will be home to both Communicore Plaza as well as Communicore Hall, where guests can meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. World Celebration will also anchor the park’s renowned festivals.


From Disney’s Monorail, you can get great views to check in and see how far along construction is. Since we have all been waiting for this to be finished for years, we are only happy to report that a lot of loose ends are being tied up, in the middle of major projects hitting milestones.




The last major beams have been installed, along with roofing and sides going up on CommuniCore Hall in Epcot. While the Plaza festival stage is being worked on now, and the festival light towers are almost finished being installed. Work is moving fast now and an end is in sight.




We should hear about an opening date sometime in the near future as work has hit a crescendo and it should all be downhill from here. One thing is for sure, we are closer to the World Celebration opening.

 

[OKW Lover]

EPCOT CommuniCore Hall Construction Update for Late June. Fall will mark the completion of the new World Celebration neighborhood. As the hub of the park, it will feature seasonal gardens and will be home to both Communicore Plaza as well as Communicore Hall, where guests can meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

In other words, they are replacing Communicore with Communicore.

 

[Violetspider]

They actually weren't great. I as excited to try the buffalo ones, but they were disappointing - very wet. The watermelon feeezie drink was good though.

Thanks for the info. I was a bit more interested in the beef & broccoli one, but it would seem neither were popular enough to keep on the menu. Oh well…I’ve never tried the cheeseburger spring rolls outside Adventureland, so hopefully that cart will be up and running on one of my MK days.

 

[jpeterson]

Thanks for the info. I was a bit more interested in the beef & broccoli one, but it would seem neither were popular enough to keep on the menu. Oh well…I’ve never tried the cheeseburger spring rolls outside Adventureland, so hopefully that cart will be up and running on one of my MK days.

the spring rolls cart is a much more permanent fixture these days.

 

[PolyRob]

Epcot CommuniCore Hall Construction Update

View attachment 770962
EPCOT CommuniCore Hall Construction Update for Late June. Fall will mark the completion of the new World Celebration neighborhood. As the hub of the park, it will feature seasonal gardens and will be home to both Communicore Plaza as well as Communicore Hall, where guests can meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. World Celebration will also anchor the park’s renowned festivals.


From Disney’s Monorail, you can get great views to check in and see how far along construction is. Since we have all been waiting for this to be finished for years, we are only happy to report that a lot of loose ends are being tied up, in the middle of major projects hitting milestones.




The last major beams have been installed, along with roofing and sides going up on CommuniCore Hall in Epcot. While the Plaza festival stage is being worked on now, and the festival light towers are almost finished being installed. Work is moving fast now and an end is in sight.




We should hear about an opening date sometime in the near future as work has hit a crescendo and it should all be downhill from here. One thing is for sure, we are closer to the World Celebration opening.

All I can see is the Black Panther train tracks where Vibranium is transported. I watch too much Marvel



https://ew.com/movies/black-panther-trailer-breakdown/

 

[mickey916]

All I can see is the Black Panther train tracks where Vibranium is transported. I watch too much Marvel

View attachment 771000

https://ew.com/movies/black-panther-trailer-breakdown/

You may be on to something!