Tomorrow, October 1 is Magic Kingdom's 45th Anniversary

Tomorrow is Magic Kingdom's 45th Anniversary:

It is hard to believe that tomorrow will be the 45th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the 40th Anniversary just 5 years ago. While I am younger and wasn't alive to appreciate the park when it opened 45 years ago on October 1, 1971, Disney World has been like a second home to me for my whole life. I didn't visit until the park was 20 years old itself when I visited the park for the first time at the age of 2 in 1991.

Think about this Walt brought the idea of a theme park to Central Florida in 1965, it was a park he wouldn't get to see open. His brother Roy dedicated the opening of the park on October 25, 1971. Roy would die just a few weeks later. It was a grand multi-property vacation destination for guests which included just two resorts, The Contemporary and The Polynesian Village Resort.

The Disney Parks Blog shared this today on their blog:

"Constructing a property of this size was no small task – and neither was celebrating the accomplishment of opening the world’s largest Disney property to-date. To celebrate, the resort held a three-day series of grand opening festivities that culminated on October 25 with the grand opening of Magic Kingdom Park."

The grand opening featured a 1,076-piece marching band and included a release of 50,000 balloons, and so much more. Here is Roy's dedication speech he made on October 25, 1971:


Today, the Walt Disney World Resort includes 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, the ever extensive shopping and entertainment district in Disney Springs, and more then two dozen resorts. 45 years later Walt and Roy's dream continue as Walt said himself, "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

I will never forget all the countless trips I have made to Walt Disney World and there is no greater memory then entering Magic Kingdom, walking down Main Street, USA and just seeing how beautiful Cinderella Castle is. Even after my trip just last week I can't wait to plan my next trip to Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom celebrating 45 amazing years and so much more.

We already know that Walt Disney World will continue to grow with Pandora - The World of Avatar opening next year and Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land opening in the next few years. We can never forget that this dream and these parks all came thanks to the idea of man to bring joy and magic to people around the world. Here's to you Walt and let the magic of Walt Disney World continue for many more years to come.

Disney Princesses Meet & Greet Coming to Disney Springs; New Birnbaum Disney World Guide Offers Pandora Ride Descriptions

Disney Princesses Meet & Greet Coming to Disney Springs:

Beginning this Saturday, October 1, guests visiting the World of Disney story in Disney Springs will have a chance to meet Cinderella and other Disney Princesses for a limited time. There will be surprise appearances each day from the likes of Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Tiana, or another surprise visit from another princess. There will no set times to meet the princesses but each visit will be treated as if you are at a royal reception. 

Entertainment Show Director Tom Vazzana told the Disney Parks Blog, “Cinderella had a wish for her and her fellow royal princesses to have a place to meet new friends. The Fairy Godmother was able to grant her this wish, and now, tucked away in a magical corner of World of Disney is a location befitting Cinderella’s request. A magical ‘royal hall’ was created complete with tapestries and images inspired by classic fairytales.”

With a Disney PhotoPass Photographer on hand, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. everyday from October 1 through November 1, guests will be greeted by a cast member will give them an approximate time to return for their personal royal reception. When guests return to the queue they will be moments away from meeting a Disney Princess.

New Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Guide Offers Description for Pandora Attractions:

Thanks to The Laughing Place for the discovery of the complete descriptions of the two new attractions hitting Disney's Animal Kingdom next year when Pandora - The World of Avatar opens. The two new attractions are the Na'vi River Journey and AVATAR Flight of Passage. Both attractions are set to open sometime in the latter half of 2017. Here are the descriptions:

Na’Vi River Journey (FP+)
A musical voyage into Pandora’s bioluminescent forest, this trip is as calm and family-friendly as they come. The adventure begins as guests board canoes and venture down a mysterious, sacred river hidden within the rainforest. The grandeur of Pandora is revealed as canoes float past exotic glowing plants and an array of amazing creatures, include native humanoids known as Na’vi. The journey culminates in an encounter with a Na’vi shaman, who has a deep connection to the life of Pandora and sends positive energy into the forest with her music. Na’vi River Journey is generally appreciated by guests of all ages (through timid tykes who are spooked by darkness may find parts of this expedition unsettling).

AVATAR Flight of Passage (FP+)
The crowning jewel of Animal Kingdom’s newest neighborhood, AVATAR Flight of Passage invites daredevils to take a scenic trip to Pandora on the backs of a flying Mountain Banshee. The intense journey takes place in a cutting-edge, simulator-like environment and offers much more than a thrill a minute. Guests are treated to a bird’s-eye view of all the sights, sounds, and smells of the majestic moon that the Na’vi call home.
A high-flying “E-Ticket” experience, Flight of Passage is a most realistic, immersive experience. It is not recommended for guests with motion sensitivity, heart conditions, fear of heights, or any other physical issues. This experience is quite popular, book a Fastpass+ assignment if you can. For height requirements, visit www.disneyworld.com.

More details on Pandora - The World of Avatar are slated to be revealed at the upcoming D23 event, Destination D: Amazing Adventures, being held at Disney's Contemporary Resort on November 19-20. James Cameron, Jon Landau, and Disney President of Parks & Resorts Bob Chapek are slated to be on hand. We may even here an opening date so stay tuned. 

Get Adventurous With Destination D Merchandise; Jon Favreau & Disney Making Re-Imagined "Lion King"

Get Adventurous With Destination D Merchandise:

We are less than 2 months away from Destination D23: Amazing Adventures at Disney World. Today, we got a sneak peak at some of the exclusive merchandise that will be available at the event. The exclusive merchandise will be available at Mickey of Glendale's in their pop-up tent at the event. Here is just some of the merchandise we can look forward:

Jingle Cruise 12 Days of Christmas Mystery Collection: An “all-gnu” pin collection celebrating the holidays as only the wild Jungle Cruise Skippers can! Each box contains one randomly selected pin. (There are 12 different pins in all.)

Jingle Cruise 4th Annual White Elephant Gift Exchange T-Shirt: Arriving just in time for the third fourth annual celebration! Wear this festive 100-percent cotton tee to your office party… or save it for next year’s re-gifting!

Jungle Navigation Company T-Shirt: Official 100-percent cotton company apparel designed and approved by Alberta Falls of the Jungle Navigation Company.

S.E.A. (Society of Explorers and Adventurers) Pins: Detailed replicas of the actual pins worn by generations of elite members of S.E.A.

S.E.A. (Society of Explorers and Adventurers) T-Shirt: Proper—100-percent cotton—garb for your own legendary explorations and adventures.

Tickets for Destination D: Amazing Adventures are still available for the event that takes place November 19 and 20. Some of the amazing presenters at the even will include Walt Disney Parks & Resorts President Bob Chapek, James Cameron, Jon Landau, Joe Rohde, Marty Sklar, Jared Bush, and Tony Baxter. Also Walt Disney Archives will also have an exhibit sharing the adventures of Walt Disney. Destination D: Amazing Adventures will take place at Disney's Contemporary Resort. 

Jon Favreau & Disney Making Re-Imagined "Lion King":

News broke this morning when Jon Favreau and Disney released they would be making re-imagined (live-action) version of the 1994 Disney animated classic in "The Lion King." I couldn't be more excited for this film. This follows Favreau's groundbreaking technology hit in "The Jungle Book" which made $965.8 million worldwide at the box office. 

"The Lion King builds on Disney’s success of reimagining its classics for a contemporary audience with films like Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. The upcoming Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson as Belle, is already one of the most anticipated movies of 2017. Like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King will include songs from the animated film. Disney and Favreau are also in development on a sequel to The Jungle Book. No release date has been announced for either film." - Walt Disney Company

"The Lion King" is one of Disney's biggest animated film's of all time making $968.8 million at the box office worldwide, including $422.8 million domestically. My excitement this morning was overwhelming as "The Lion King" is my favorite Disney film besides of course "Toy Story." My first favorite character will always be Simba. I can't wait to see this film.

 

Dave Filoni Named Head of Creative Development at LucasFilm Animation; New Muppets Show Details

Dave Filoni Named Head of Creative Development at LucasFilm Animation:

Director Dave Filoni (Star Wars Rebels, The Clone Wars) has been promoted to Head of Creative Development at LucasFilm Animation. This comes after news recently that he was stepping away from directing "Star Wars Rebels," scaring fans. All is well as Filoni was just promoted. Taking his place will be Justin Ridge, who has previously directed episodes of the show, has been name supervising director for Rebels.

Here is a statement from LucasFilm:

“Dave is still just as involved as ever – overseeing all aspects of Star Wars Rebels production as Executive Producer and occasionally directing episodes.  In many ways, mentoring Justin and moving him into the role as Supervising Director has made it possible for Dave to be even more immersed in the writing and story structure of the show as well as creatively overseeing future animation development. Justin started with Lucasfilm Animation on the first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and worked with Dave before that on Avatar: The Last Airbender, so they’ve been working together for quite some time.”

Season 3 of "Star Wars Rebels" premiered last Saturday on Disney XD.

More Details on "The Muppets Present... Great Moments in American History":

Update: Here are the official show times for "The Muppets Present... Great Moments in American History": 

9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 1:25 p.m., and 4:40 p.m.

There are less show times then first thought. Disney updated their showtimes on its website. This was first reported by Blog Mickey.

Last week, while I was in Disney, we learned the official opening date of "The Muppets Present.... Great Moments in American History" will in fact be this Sunday, October 2. The new show takes place around The Hall of Presidents in Liberty of Square in the Magic Kingdom. There will be two different shows one focusing on the signing of the Declaration of Independence with an original song and the other focusing on the midnight ride of Paul Revere. 

The shows will be seen several times daily. According a report by Blog Mickey and a member of the DIS Boards these will be the show times: 9:05, 9:15, 10, 10:15, 11:45, 11:55, 12:10, 1:15, 1:25, 2:20, 3:35, 3:45, 4:25, and 4:35. It seems that the show will be somewhat short around I say 5-8 minutes long. 

"Hosted by James “J.J.” Jefferson, town crier of Liberty Square, and Sam Eagle, the fiercely patriotic American eagle who is forever trying to set a high moral standard for the Muppets, this wacky new show is set to take place several times daily, just outside The Hall of Presidents."

I could only wish that this debuted that I was there last week. I can't wait to see what hilarious hijinks the Muppets bring to the Magic Kingdom.

 

Is Disney Making a Bid for Twitter?; Sprinkles Coming to Downtown Disney District

Is Disney Making a Bid for Twitter?:

Disney Twitter could become a reality very soon. News broke this afternoon that Disney could be making a bid to buy Twitter according to Bloomberg. Disney is currently working with an adviser to make the bid. Disney or Twitter hasn't made comment to the news. 

After Twitter recently received interest in discussing a deal, they have begun the process of evaluating a potential sale of the company. Sale of the company has been gathering steam in recent months. Salesforce.com is the other company rumored to be putting a bid for the social media company.

Disney seems to have the inroads to purchasing Twitter because Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, is already on Disney's Board of Directors. Disney might see this purchase as an in-ways of a new online outlet to help already owned ESPN and ABC for news, sports, and entertainment. Stay tuned as this story develops.

Sprinkles Coming to Downtown Disney District in Disneyland:

Sprinkles already has a popular location in Disney Springs at Disney World. Opening in November at Disneyland's Downtown Disney District, touted as the world's first cupcake bakery by Food Network, Sprinkles will be opening its newest location on the West Coast. 

Sprinkles has been credited with inspiring the craze for gourmet cupcakes. The shop in Downtown Disney District will offer handcrafted cupcakes in flavors like banana, carrot, salty caramel, strawberry and a Sprinkles bestseller: red velvet. Signature cookies, including snickerdoodle, salted oatmeal cornflake and peanut butter pretzel chip are also on the Sprinkles bill of fare. - Disney Parks Blog

Have no fear, Sprinkles also considers customers' special dietary needs by offering vegan, gluten-free, and sugar free cupcake, cookie, and sorbet options. What flavor cupcake do you want to try first when Sprinkles opens this November.

Resort Review: Disney's Caribbean Beach

It's hard to write things like these especially the day after you come home. Disney is a special place for everyone who loves it and it gets harder and harder to leave every time. This past week I had the chance to stay at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. The resort is very large getting to resort last Sunday and realizing that where you check in at the Custom House is totally separate from the buildings where you are staying.

Our room was located on the opposite end of the resort from the Custom House in Building 39 of Trinidad South. Disney's Caribbean Beach is split into seven different sections: Jamaica, Aruba, Barbados, Martinique, Old Port Royale, Trinidad North, and Trinidad South. We were in a Pirate Room, Room 3908 to be exact.

The room isn't what we are used to although it was perfect for just the three of us (Mom, Dad, and myself). With my dad being disabled we always need the bathroom to have a walk-in shower with a chair for him. Bathroom was one of the nicest bathrooms in any of the resorts. Only issue was the sliding door seemed to get stuck when closing, not to big of an issue. 

There were two double beds that were made to look like you were sleeping in a literal pirate ships. The dresser looked like large crates ready to hold pirate loot. The refrigerator was inside a large barrel. It was pretty neat. Here are some pictures of the room:

Food, the main pool, and shopping area of the resort are all located in the Old Port Royale section of the resort. It was about a 15 minute walk from Trinidad South. CenterTown has a food court and Shutters Restaurant. We didn't not eat at Shutters but we ate the food court every day for breakfast and once for lunch and once for dinner. The food court had several options for everyone from the usual burgers, chicken nuggets, and pizza to some other pretty cool options. The menu can be quite adventurous especially for someone like me who is extremely picky. 

Tuesday night we didn't have any sit down reservations so we headed back to the resort for dinner before we headed over to Hollywood Studios for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. For dinner we all had the baked chicken which came with two sides. I had mine with mashed potatoes and broccoli. My parents had it with rice and broccoli. It was also served with cornbread which was delicious. The meal itself was almost like a table service meal anyway. The other time was yesterday for lunch before we left the resort. I went with the basic Angus Bacon Cheeseburger. Overall, the food was pretty good here and I enjoyed it. 

While I didn't get to go in the pool I did capture some views of the area. This resort is absolutely beautiful. I would stay here again but, I would request somewhere closer to Old Port Royale or even closer to the Custom House. You really do feel like your living life in the Caribbean. Check out some of the amazing shots I captured.

So overall, I really enjoyed my stay at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Despite being so far away being at the opposite end of everything, the size and beauty of the resort made up for everything. The bus transportation to the parks was also pretty amazing. We were lucky enough to not have to wait more than 5 minutes for every bus going to the parks. The room ,although smaller than most of the rooms I've stayed in Disney resorts, really was perfect for the three of us. If people asked me about Disney's Caribbean Beach, I'd say go ahead and book it. I would just tell them request Barbados or even Martinique. I can't wait to see where I stay for my next visit at Disney World. 

Finding Dory, New Parade, & More Coming to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea; Stitch's Great Escape Going to Seasonal Operation

Finding Dory, New Parade, & More Coming to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea:

Tokyo Disneyland was already getting some exciting new attractions with the announcement of the Big Hero 6 and Beauty and the Beast inspired attractions that were announced earlier this year. Today, even more details were revealed as more of our favorite characters will be heading over to the Japanese Disney Parks.

First off during Spring 2017, a new Easter-themed parade starring Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde from Disney's "Zootopia" in Tokyo Disneyland. At Tokyo DisneySea the entire park will be "festooned with colorful springtime decorations. Mickey and his friends will also be dressed in their Easter finery.

Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar

Also in the Spring in the Port Discovery area of Tokyo DisneySea, a brand new attraction called Nemo & Friends SeaRider will open. The new attraction will "immerse guests into the underwater world of the popular stories by using a ride system that will seamlessly blend glorious new visuals with a dynamic motion-base system." The storyline will find guests boarding a submersible that will shrink you to the size of a fish.

"Also opening in the spring of 2017 at Tokyo DisneySea is the “renewed” Turtle Talk, where Dory and Squirt join Crush while additional characters like Destiny the whale shark and Hank the octopus will stop by. Nemo & Friends SeaRider sounds incredible and the updated Turtle Talk, which has already hit the domestic Disney Parks, is a hoot that Tokyo DisneySea guests will surely adore as much as we do." 

In the Summer, a "Special Event at Tokyo DisneySea" will be themed to the new movie releasing next year, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" and the the Pirates film series. It will be located in the Mediterranean Harbor area of the park. Guests will enjoy the show on the harbor featuring the likes of Captain Jack Sparrow, pirates, and tons of splashing water, as well as atmosphere entertainment presented by a crew of pirates. Special merchandise, menu items, and decorations inspired by the event will transform the park into a Pirates of the Caribbean world. Specially themed decor and entertainment will also transform Tokyo Disneyland.

Finally coming July 11, 2017, will be the renewed version of the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights. For the first time ever a brand new icy castle float featuring Anna and Elsa from Disney's "Frozen" will join the parade. Cinderella will have two brand new floats one featuring her pumpkin coach and the other will showcase the grand ballroom featuring Prince Charming. Returning will be the "Beauty and the Beast" float that has been absent from the parade since 2011. The new version will have enhanced LED lighting and will bring even more color to the park at night. 

Stitch's Great Escape Moving to Season Operation, Is this the End for the Attraction?:

Beginning October 2, Stitch's Great Escape will be moving to seasonal operation in Tomorrowland of the Magic Kingdom. The attraction will then be opened as attendance demands moving forward. Here are the hours of operation going forward into January 2017:

• October 2 through November 18 – CLOSED
• November 19 through November 26 – OPEN
• November 27 through December 16 – CLOSED
• December 17 through January 2 – OPEN
• After January 2 – CLOSED

The attraction which has never really gained popularity with guests could be seeing the end of the road very soon. It has recently been rumored that a brand new Wreck-It-Ralph attraction featuring Sugar Rush would be taking its place. Stay tuned for more developments on this story. 

Disney Files Patent for Projection Technology in Hotel Rooms

Soon when guests enter their hotel rooms at Disney Parks they will be immersed into an interactive world. The Walt Disney company has filed a patent for projection technology in their hotel rooms that will allows the resort rooms to become an interactive environment, according to the Orlando Business Journal.

Here is the detailed description of the patent filed by Disney:

For instance, right now if one plays a car racing game on a computer, they not only drive the cars, they also hear them, hear other cars, hear the crowd, see fiery crashes, hear the explosions, and the game play is back-grounded by emotional music and the like. If they play with a slot car, they only get to drive a car. There are few sounds, certainly no background music to amp up the emotions. When they play on a screen, the world is completely surrounding and immersive, they only have to move by brain through the frame of the screen bezel and they are into another world. If they play in their room, none of this is true. The goal of the projector with its camera and audio attachments of the display systems described herein is to allow a room, where ever the room is located, to become as immersive as any screen environment or even more so.
To this end, the display system is a device that can be both an input and an output device. On the output side, the display system is a projector of still or animated visual imagery, and the display system may include a speaker or otherwise be capable of sending audio signals to speakers elsewhere in the room. In this way, the display system may provide an audio track to projected imagery to enhance the display and/or gaming experience.

In the patent, it shows that the projection devices can be controlled by everyday electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and a radio-frequency enabled book that will communicate with the devices. This will further enhance the interactivity between the guest and the room. 

Stay tuned for more details on when Disney will start using this new technology in their resort rooms at their parks. 

New DuckTales Logo Revealed; Possible Universe of Energy Closing Date?

New DuckTales Logo Revealed:

Check out the new "DuckTales" logo that Oh My Disney! revealed before tonight's airing of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez along with her partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy are dancing to the DuckTales theme song.

The relaunched series will premiere on Disney XD in 2017. The new logo is described as "a thrilling throwback, not only to the original Emmy-winning animated series, but also to the original source material in the comic books written by Carl Banks."

Possible Universe of Energy Closing Date?

Get ready for another outburst from Disney fans because according to rumors a Universe of Energy closing date has been revealed. According to WDW News Today, cast members have been informed that the closing date for Ellen's Energy Adventure in Epcot will be in January 2017.

That attraction will close for what will likely be the rumored Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster. The announcement that was supposed to be made during the San Diego Comic-Con was delayed. Now, you can look to hear the official announcement within the coming months at Disney World's D23 event, Destination D. This is according to rumblings within the company.

Now of course none of this is official so you can take it with a grain of salt until Disney makes the official announcement. Stay tuned until then though as the rumors continue to grow stronger that we will be saying goodbye very soon to Ellen's Energy Adventure.

Note: This is coming to you as I sit here in my room at Disney's Caribbean Beach. The first two days of this vacation have been absolutely amazing. That is of course besides the rain that has been pretty wicked. Blogs for the rest of week will be by chance of whether I'm in the room enough. They will resume back to normal next week along with some extra special trip report blogs. 

Inside Look at Disney Channel's "Descendants 2," Sneak Peak of "Doctor Strange" at Disney Parks, and More

Inside Look at Disney Channel's "Descendants 2":

Today, we got our first look at the sequel to Disney's very successful franchise in, "Descendants 2." The film while it won't be out until 2017 will build on what "Descendants" has become a big hit. Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay the sons and daughters of Disney's most infamous villains find their way in Auradon. Joining them in the sequel will be Uma (Ursula's daughter), Harry (Captain Hook's son), and Gil (Gaston's son) making their debut. 

The first film was a smash hit as it was the No. 1 cable television movie of 2015. It was also the fifth highest-rated original movie ever on U.S. cable TV in total viewers. Consumer interest remains strong as the books the films are based off are hits on the New York Times Best Sellers List. The first book, The Isle of the Lost, was No.1 on the Best Sellers List for 14 weeks and has spent 45 weeks on the Best Sellers list. The sequel in, Return to the Isle of the Lost, entered the New York Times Best Sellers List at No.2 when it was released. It has since reached No.1 and has spent 15 weeks on the Best Sellers list. 

Sneak Peak of "Doctor Strange" Coming to Disney Parks:

The very strange and mysterious world of Marvel's "Doctor Strange" is coming to Disney Parks. The film which hits theaters November 4, 2016 will have a sneak peak at Disney Parks beginning October 7. Here is some info on the sneak peak from the Disney Parks Blog:

At Disney California Adventure park, the preview of “Doctor Strange” will be presented in 3D with special in-theater effects at the Sunset Showcase Theater in Hollywood Land, while guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will get to see this advance look at clips from the film as part of the One Man’s Dream attraction. 

“Doctor Strange” follows the story of world-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange who, in his quest for healing after a horrific car accident, discovers powerful magic in a mysterious place known as Kamar-Taj – the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying our reality.

Here is the trailer for "Doctor Strange":



#DisneyParksLive to Feature the "WonderFALL" Experiences at Disney World This Sunday:

The next Disney Parks Live stream will happen this Sunday September 18, and will feature the "WonderFall" World of Disney experiences at Disney World. Inside this live stream fans will get a chance to see a portion of the "Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular," the thrilling stage show that takes place during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. 

The live broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. on the Disney Parks Blog. During the live stream we will get a peak at the "Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular" and have a behind-the-scenes look at the show during a live interview with one of the show's directors. Also they will take us to Epcot for updates on the International Food & Wine Festival and an update on Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. They will also be give us a sneak peak at what else is in store this Fall at Walt Disney World.

Could we finally be getting an update on Rivers of Light? Tune in this Sunday at 8 p.m. EST. 

Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon to Close October 2; Second "Moana" Trailer Released

Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon to Close October 2:

What has been rumored for a while now, Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon will close October 2 according to WDWMagic. The Shark Reef at the Typhoon Lagoon allows guests to snorkel through a sunken ship in a 100 x 23 saltwater pool complete with sharks and tropical fish.

An underwater observation area was also available for those guests who don't want get wet and just want to enjoy the view. The reef closure is in preparation for the new attraction in another area of the park, Miss Fortune Falls, that will open in Spring 2017. 

Second "Moana" Trailer Released:

As announced earlier this week, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson premiered the brand new trailer for Disney's "Moana" this morning on Good Morning America. Disney's "Moana" stars Johnson as the demi-god Maui and Auli'i Cravalho as the adventurous teenager, Moana. 

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient  quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

Here is the trailer:

Chase the waves of a new #Moana trailer. The film, starring @TheRock and @AuliiCravalho, opens Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/b9WL3n14e7

— Disney (@Disney) September 15, 2016

"Moana" chases the waves into theaters this Thanksgiving Day, November 23.

New Specialty Eats to Celebrate Tower of Terror Final Check-Out; Sneak Peak of New "Moana" Trailer

New Specialty Eats to Celebrate Tower of Terror Final Check-Out:

Two new specialty eats are debuting at Disney California Adventure to celebrate the final check-out of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The classic attraction will be closing for good on January 2, 2017 to make way for the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.

First up for guests to try is the Tower Drop Dog at Award Wieners. It is an all-beef frank dipped in red-pepper ketchup, topped with grilled onions, peppers, and an onion crunch on top of a black noir potato bun. One bite of the awesome dog and you just might think you have traveled into the Twilight Zone.

The Drop, is a specialty drink that will be featured at the Carthay Circle Restaurant and Lounge. It features a Midori with Irish cream and grenadine "dropped" in. One look at the creepy cocktail is not for the faint of heart. 

Hurry up and try these new specialty eats before the Tower of Terror checks out at Disney California Adventure.

Sneak Peak of New "Moana" Trailer:

Earlier this week, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed a new poster and said that he would be premiering a new trailer for Disney's "Moana" this Thursday on Good Morning America. Today, before the trailer is released tomorrow, Disney gave us a sneak peak of the new trailer set to debut. Check it out below:

.@TheRock is set to make a splash on @GMA tomorrow morning with a special look at the #Moana trailer! pic.twitter.com/HyTHgftKlz

— Disney (@Disney) September 14, 2016

Disney's "Moana" stars Auli'i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the demi-god Maui. Disney's "Moana" rides the wave into theaters this Thanksgiving Day, November 23.

Note: 

The 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival began today and will run for the next 61 days until November 14. Who's excited to try all the amazing food at this year's festival? I know I can't wait, I'll be there in 4 days where I'll be pigging out around the world.

New Holiday Offerings at Disneyland Resort; Opening Date for New Magic Kingdom Muppets Show

New Holiday Offerings at Disneyland Resort:

The holidays are just around the corner at Disneyland Resort. The holiday offerings will begin November 10, 2016 and run through January 8, 2017. It will bring some new experiences as well as some that will return favorites we already know and love.

First up at Disney California Adventure, a brand new holiday-themed World of Color will debut. "World of Color - Season of Light" will celebrate the warm and heartfelt spirit of the holidays. It will take guests on a sparkling winter fantasy, combining classic holiday songs with memorable moments for our favorite Disney films that will create an experience filled with Disney magic.

Also new at Disney California Adventure will be the Festival of Holidays. 

The entire family will delight in diverse cultural holiday celebrations, including the popular Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, and the global sounds of special guest musical groups will ring throughout the festival. Guests will enjoy delicious, internationally inspired food and beverage at 14 themed festival marketplaces, and the young and young-at-heart will celebrate with some of their favorite Disney Characters. Princess Elena of Avalor will make her Disneyland Resort debut during Festival of Holidays, and after Holidays at the Disneyland Resort conclude January 8, she will remain at Disney California Adventure park to continue visiting with guests.

Over in Disneyland, Sleeping Beauty Castle will be transformed into Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle. It will feature magical snowfall moments and will conclude with the "Believe.....in Holiday Magic" fireworks show. Also returning will be "A Christmas Fantasy" parade, "it's a small world" Holiday, and Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Of course we can't forget about Santa, who along with his mischievous elves, will be greeting guests at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure. In Disneyland, guests will find the jolly old elf in a special location in Critter Country.

Source Disney Parks Blog

Opening Date for New Magic Kingdom Muppets Show:

According to WDW News Today, the new Muppets Show in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom will be debuting very soon, although nothing is official from Disney. "The Muppets Present.....Great Moments in American History" will debut on October 2, 2016 according to internal documents at Disney. 

While this is not officially announced as the opening date could always be delayed sans Rivers of Light. Stay tuned as we wait on the official word from Disney. I'm sure if this is the true date we will be hearing about it officially sooner rather than later. 

Festival of Fantasy Lunch Package Replacing Electrical Parade Package, Meet Your 2017-18 Disney World Ambassador Team, & More

Festival of Fantasy Lunch Package Replacing Electrical Parade Package:

With the Main Street Electrical Parade ending on October 9th, so will end the Electrcial Parade Dinner Package. A new Festival of Fantasy Parade Lunch Package will take its place and begin on October 10th. This was first reported by WDW News Today.

The dining package will still take place at Tony's Town Square Restaurant. It is a prix fixe meal that costs $45 for adults and and $17 for children ages 3-9. Tax and gratuity not included. Guests will then be given a special voucher for a special viewing area for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Guests can begin booking the package tomorrow, September 13.

The Festival of Fantasy happens every day at the Magic Kingdom at 3 p.m. 

Meet Your 2017-18 Disney World Ambassador Team:

Disney has announced the 2017-18 Walt Disney World Ambassador Team. The new ambassadors are Ken Facey and Brandon Peters. Facey and Peters were surprised with the news as Walt Disney World Resort President George Kalogridis awarded both of them their official Ambassador pins. They both will represent the 74,000 cast members at the resort in sharing the magic of Disney throughout the resort and the community.

Ken (pictured left), is from Brooklyn, New York, currently is a leader of Housekeeping & Custodial at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Facey has had several roles at Disney World which included Attractions and Guest Relations.

Brandon (pictured right) from South Florida, is a performer at Walt Disney World. Peters roles in the parks have included Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial, The Royal Majesty Makers, and The Jedi Training Academy.

We'd like to congratulate and wish them new luck in their new roles.

New "Moana" Poster, 2nd Trailer Out Thursday:

Today, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed on Twitter the new poster for Disney's next animated hit, "Moana." He also revealed that he will debut the new trailer will be released on Thursday live on Good Morning America. Here is the tweet and the new poster:

EXCLUSIVE: 1st look at the @DisneyMoana poster! Stay tuned for more..THURSDAY I debut the trailer on @GMA! #MOANA 🌊🎼 pic.twitter.com/qiy6FkAF1Z

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 12, 2016

Disney's "Moana" hits theaters this Thanksgiving Day, November 23.

Today We All Remember 9/11

15 years ago, I was just a young 7th grader naive to the world and its surroundings. 15 years ago, today the United States changed forever. 15 years ago, we were all attacked, but yet we all joined together to become a stronger nation. Today, is September 11 a day that we will all never forget and will always remember the innocent lives we lost in New York at the World Trade Center, in Washington at the Pentagon, and those braves soles on Flight 93 who fought before crashing in Shanksville, PA.

You never forget where you were that day when you found out. I was just in my 2nd week of classes as I started my high school career (7th and 8th grade is at the high school at my alma mater). The first plane had crashed into the North Tower while I was in my second period gym class. I didn't find out until next period when I was in Science class. I remember thinking how could this happen and why is this happening? My teachers tried to teach the rest of the day but they all knew we were distracted. How could we not be? Our nation had just been attacked. I remember getting home from school that day and just hugging my parents and we watched the news for days, that's all that mattered. We were just glued to the television and the newspapers just watching in horror.

Today, we all remember and will never forget a day that will live in infamy. May everyone who lost their lives on this day 15 years ago, Rest in Peace. 

Disney Parks Unboxed - Epcot Food & Wine Edition; Scoop Sanderson's Contract Not Renewed at Magic Kingdom

Disney Parks Unboxed - Epcot International Food & Wine Edition:

The 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is upon us as it begins next Wednesday, September 14. Today, Steven Miller of the Disney Parks Blog showed us some of the merchandise that will be available during this year's event. Here is what he unboxed for us:

Here are just some of the items that will be available at this year's festival including shirts, hats, accessories, drinkware, dinnerware, magnets, and so much more. Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak will also return for this year's festival.

All the pins available at this year's Food & Wine Festival:

This year's 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs from September 14 through November 14, 2016.

Scoop Sanderson's Contract Not Renewed at Magic Kingdom:

One of your favorite Main Street characters won't be appearing at the Magic Kingdom much longer. Scoop Sanderson, one of the citizens of Main Street, USA, contract was not renewed and his last day will be October 8, according to LaughingPlace.com. 

Photo Credit: Holland Hayes' Facebook Page

The pin trading expert stopped trading pins recently but was still one of the lighthearted citizens that guests know and love. His portrayer, Holland Hayes, posted this on Facebook, as an almost goodbye to his fans:

"You know that sudden empty feeling of sad disappointment when you discover Scoop is not on Main Street today? Get ready to feel it a lot more.
More often I mean. It will still be brief, disappearing the instant you encounter one of the other dazzling Citizens of Main Street USA. Or handsome Leading Man and Magic Kingdom Park Vice President Dan Cockerell. Or at the very least you shall be restored upon entering one of the six other magical themed lands of The Most Magical Place on Earth
You’re gonna miss me!
And I you."

In the comment section he had posted that his contract wasn't renewed, however that he still will fill-in at Disney World when other cast members are on vacation or have called in.  We will surely miss you, Scoop.