45th Anniversary MagicBand 2 Available at Disney World:
According to multiple sites, a second version of the new MagicBand has been released at Magic Kingdom. It is limited edition 45th Anniversary edition of MagicBand 2 and it is themed to 'it's a small world.' It is a Limited Edition size of 2500.
Photo Credit: WDW Info
This particular MagicBand costs $32.99 plus tax. It is being rumored that Annual Passholders will soon be able to get the new puck-style MagicBand very soon in the coming days and weeks. Beginning in the new year, regular guests will soon be using the MagicBand 2.0 in the parks. The great news is have no fear the original MagicBands will still be able to be used inside the parks for the foreseeable future.
Alex Timbers, co-creator of Amazon's "Mozart in the Jungle" and co-director of Broadway's "Peter and the Starcatcher, is currently in talks with Disney to direct the live-action film, "Cruella." The film is set to star Emma Stone.
The film is written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Kelly Marcel. There is no set release date for the live-action film based off the famous villain from Disney's animated classic "101 Dalmatians."
New Special Offers for Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World:
While yesterday was the 45th Anniversary of the opening of Magic Kingdom, some long awaited new special offers for Annual Passholders at Disney World are now available. This includes new dining and merchandise discounts as well as special Anniversary offer for this special Anniversary that we celebrated yesterday.
That special 45th Anniversary offer begins today and will run through January 3, 2017. The offer allows guests when purchasing a 12-month annual pass will be able to enjoy an extra month free. You will get 13 months for the price of 12 months. Prices will vary depending on which pass you buy: Weekday Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Plus.
Starting yesterday, Annual Passholders began receiving 20% off the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 45 theme park and resort hotel restaurants. This will run through September 30, 2017 at places like Jiko - The Cooking Place, family dining like at The Jungle Skipper Canteen, or even quick service like newly opened D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs. There will also be a 10% discount off food and non-alcoholic beverages at select table-service restaurants at the theme parks or resorts.
Finally, if you like shopping, pass holders now will receive a 20% discount off their purchases at Disney owned and operated merchandise locations.
Will you be taking advantage of these new special offers for Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World?
Hall of Presidents Sets Refurbishment to Add New President:
The United States will be electing a new president next month whether it be Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump. The Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World will be welcoming one of them to the attraction while it closes for refurbishment just before Inauguration Day on January 17 will remain closed until June 29. It will open just before the 4th of July Holiday.
One would assume some changes will be made to the attraction as the acting president has given a speech during the shows attraction since President Bill Clinton did it first, followed by George W. Bush, and our current president Barack Obama. Given the unique circumstances with this election it will be interesting to see what changes Disney Imagineers make to the attraction.
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.
Flying Fish Cafe Gets New Name and New Cocktail Lounge:
When the Flying Fish Cafe at Disney's Boardwalk reopens late summer it will be operating under a brand new name in Flying Fish. The Cafe in the name is going away as the restaurant will welcome guests to sophisticated interior that will still pay homage to the golden era of seaside boardwalks.
The interior of the restaurant will feature an all new kitchen and dining room that has expanded space for private dining events, and sparkling architectural accents (like golden-winged room panels and an impressive chandelier that mimics a school of fish overhead).
The Flying Fish will also neighbor a new cocktail lounge bar next door named, AbracadaBar. The story of the new cocktail lounge created by the Walt Disney Imagineering team:
The lounge was once a secret stomping ground for famous touring magicians, local boardwalk illusionists and the loveliest magician’s assistants of the day. After every magic show, these prestidigitators would gather at the bar, where they’d conjure up new cocktails, swap magic tips and tricks, and often stay up all night attempting to “out-charm” each other with their extraordinary illusions. According to BoardWalk lore, it was on just such an evening that every single magician in the lounge vanished into thin air, never seen again… And after sitting vacant for nearly 70 years, the secret magician’s lounge is now back in the spotlight.
"AbracadaBar guests will get a special peek into the sophisticated social club, and while it’s rumored that the magicians who frequented the lounge vanished without a trace decades ago, their magic still remains strongly intact, and can be seen, heard, and even savored in the bar’s signature cocktails," the Disney Parks Blog revealed. The AbracadaBar promises to be just as magical as its name suggests with its enchanted magic show posters, mystifying mirrors. vintage props, and tricks that were left behind all those years ago.
Opening dates and the new menus will be shared at a later date.
The Magic Kingdom at Disney World will celebrate its 45th Anniversary in October. Today, Steven Miller gave us sneak peak of the merchandise that will become available to guests to celebrate the special occasion. In the new episode of Disney Parks Blog Unboxed we get to see just what to expect in new merchandise to be released:
The 45th Anniversary products will released this fall in select locations around the Walt Disney World Resort. Stay tuned as more information on the release of this amazing merchandise will be released very soon.
