All the Details from Saturday's Destination D Parks Panel (Part 2)

Continuing on from part one of the Destination D announcements we will start off with the most recently announced Disney Vacation Club resort that will be built on the land of the old River Country. Yesterday, it was announced that the resort would be called Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge. Here is the concept art for the resort:

The deluxe resort will be nature-themed and will consist of 900 hotel rooms and proposed Disney Vacation Club Villas. Back in October, Terri Schultz - Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Club had this to say about the new resort:

“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.”

There is no timeframe of when this resort will be completed.

Another Disney Vacation Club resort is already well underway in construction in Disney's Riviera Resort which was announced that it will be completed by Fall 2019.

The 15th DVC resort is inspired by the European grandeur Walt Disney experienced in his travels along Europe’s Mediterranean coastline. As you can see from the newly released concept art, Disney Vacation Club Members and other guests will have a great view of fireworks spectaculars and easy access to the Disney Skyliner, which will have a station at the resort.

The story behind Disney's Riviera Resort is that in 1935, not long after Mickey Mouse was born, Walt took a break from the production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Walt & Lillian and Roy & Edna Disney took an extended grand tour of Europe that would have an impact on Disney storytelling for decades to come. With its castles and colorful, fairy-tale villages, Walt fell in love with Europe – the art, the architecture, the food, and, of course, the stories. 

Earlier this week, Bob Chapek announced that the Disney Skyliner system would also be debuting in Fall of 2019. Yesterday, though guests attending Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse got their first look at the gondolas that will take to the sky on the Disney Skyliner.

Once in operation the Skyliner will connect Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios to four resort hotels including: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Art of Animation, Disney's Pop Century, and Disney's Riviera Resort. Check out Bob Chapek and Mickey revealing the very first look at the gondola:

As you can see the gondolas will have iconic Disney characters including the Fab Five, favorite characters from Disney attractions, and of course one's from our favorite films as well. I can't wait to ride the Disney Skyliner.

All the Details from Saturday's Destination D Parks Panel (Part 1)

Its been a while but what better to get back in the thick of things on Mickey's 90th birthday and to go over just what was announced during the Parks Panel yesterday morning at Destination D: Celebrating Mickey Mouse. Disney Parks & Resorts chairman Bob Chapek kicked things off with announcements that Mickey's Mix Magic nighttime spectacular will debut on January 18 at Disneyland with all-new music, projections and lasers that set the scene for an epic dance party that takes over almost the entire park. Also returning in January will be Mickey's Soundsational Parade with a new float with Mickey himself.

Coming this May to Disney's Hollywood studios, a new nighttime cinematic spectacular experience, in the "Wonderful World of Animation" will debut in celebration with the park's 30th Anniversary. The show will use state of the art projection technology taking guests on a magical journey through more than 90 years of Disney animation beginning with Mickey himself. 

More details are to come later on the opening of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway which Chapek revealed yesterday that the attraction is about a year away from opening, setting it up to open in the Fall of 2019.

Next, Bob headed over to give us details about the revamp of Epcot revealing that besides the update of the circle vision show in China, the O' Canada show is also in the process of getting an update of the 360 degree show at the Canada pavilion. Just a few months ago though Disney announced that Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will be ending its run in the fall of 2019. It will be replaced with an interim show called, "Epcot Forever."

The show will feature classic Epcot tunes which will begin with a spark of imagination that will swell into an epic spectacle of fireworks, music, lighting, lasers, and special effects kites. 

In 2020, "Epcot Forever" will be replaced with the main nighttime spectacular replacing Illuminations. This show will celebrate how Disney music inspires people all around the world. It will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, and lasers.

That's not all as Chapek revealed the name of the Ratatouille attraction coming to the France pavilion. It will be called Remy's Ratatouille Adventure. He also shared that a new Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long, will debut in France in addition to "Impressions de France." The show is being created by Don Hahn who produced both the animated and live-action films.

We are all excited for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge which will opening in Summer 2019 in Disneyland and Fall 2019 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We now know what the two attractions will be called, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. We even received a first look into both attractions.

Smugglers Run will of course take guests right into the Millennium Falcon and feature Chewbacca and Hondo Ohnaka, right from "Star Wars: Clone Wars" and "Star Wars: Rebels." 

First Look at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run:


Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will take guests on a battle between the First Order and the Resistance including a face-off with Kylo Ren himself.

First Look at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance:

Both attractions will have optional interactive integration with the Play Disney Parks App which will invite guests to become galactic travelers and live their own Star Wars stories in a galaxy far, far away. That's not all as Bob Chapek revealed that Disney legend and Oscar-winning composer John Williams is currently creating new and original themes that will be played throughout Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Here is a preview of what Williams is creating:



Finally, Chapek shared new details on the Star Wars resort that will open next to Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

This groundbreaking experience is unlike any resort experience you’ve ever seen. From the moment you board your launch pod, it’s a fully-immersive, multi-day Star Wars adventure aboard a luxury starship complete with high-end dining, space-view cabins and all of the exciting action you would expect from an authentic Star Wars experience.

Part two will include details on Disney's Riviera Resort and the new Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge plus our first look at the gondolas for the Disney Skyliner. 

Destination D & More on D23's Slate of Events for 2018; Rumor: Stitch's Great Escape to Become Meet & Greet

Destination D & More on D23's Slate of Events for 2018:

Today, we all celebrated Epcot's anniversary as it opened on this day 35 years ago on October 1, 1982. One of the events was the D23 Epcot Fanniversary and during this event D23 just named some of the events they would be having in 2018 for its members. They later announced the full slate of events for next year.

Next year, 2018 will be Disney's Animal Kingdom's 20th Anniversary and D23 will be hosting an event at the park sometime in April. Also next year, during the Summer D23 members will be getting a sneak peak of Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios and the new Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. Also returning for 2018 will be the Sip & Stroll and holiday events at Walt Disney World. 

Just last year, members had a blast during D23's Destination D: Amazing Adventures the event will return to Walt Disney World next November with the theme of Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse. This will celebrate the main man himself and his 90th Birthday and his debut in Steamboat Willie. The event will include panels, presentations, an all-new exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives, a pop-up store from Walt Disney Imagineering’s Mickey’s of Glendale, and so much more. Additional details, including special hotel rates and ticketing information, will be announced in the coming months.

Here is the full schedule of events:

January 12 - Lunch With a Disney Legend - TBA  in Burbank, CA

January 13 - The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour in Burbank, CA

February 2 - D23 Night at Disney’s Aladdin in Hollywood, CA

Feb 3 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Peter Pan Burbank, CA

Feb 10 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Peter Pan Orlando, FL

March 24 - D23 Night at Disney’s Frozen New York City, NY

April D23 Celebrates 20 Years of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Apr 7 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour — Presented by D23 Burbank, CA

May 25 D23’s Return to Marceline Marceline, MO

Summer D23 Members Visit Toy Story Land Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Summer D23 Members Visit Pixar Pier Disney California Adventure

June 23 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Robin Hood Burbank, CA

Jun 29 Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA Orlando, FL

Jun 30 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Robin Hood Orlando, FL

July 20 D23 Member Mixer San Diego, CA

August 10 Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA Burbank, CA

Aug 11 D23’s Saturday Morning on the Lot Burbank, CA

September 8 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23 Burbank, CA

Sep 8 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Mary Poppins Orlando, FL

Sep 15 D23’s Magical Screening Series: Mary Poppins Burbank, CA

October D23’s Spell-tacular Disney Fanniversary Burbank, CA

Oct 3 Sip & Stroll Epcot, WDW

Oct 5 Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA Orlando, FL

November 16-18 D23 Destination D: Happy Birthday Mickey Orlando, FL

December D23 Holiday Event at Walt Disney World Resort Orlando, FL

Dec Light Up the Season with D23 Burbank, CA

Dec 1 The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour—Presented by D23 Burbank, CA

Source: D23 and Disney Parks Blog

Rumor: Stitch's Great Escape to Become Alien Encounter Meet & Greet:

Stitch's Great Escape seems to be going away for good with a new sign where the seasonal operating attraction has appeared. Thanks to @1ben_laurence on Twitter where the sign now says Stitch's Alien Encounter Character Greeting. 

While no details on this have been announced or available at this time it does seem that the new Stitch Meet & Greet will take the place of an attraction that just never gained popularity. Will this character encounter stay forever. I don't think so as the attraction has long been rumored to be replaced with a Wreck-It-Ralph attraction. 

Stay tuned for more details on the new Stitch's Alien Encounter Greeting when they are announced.

Source: WDW News Today

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. 

New Details Revealed for D23 Destination D, Disney's Wedding Pavilion Getting a New Look, and More

New Details Revealed for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures:

D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventures Presented by Ethan Allen | Disney is November 19 and 20 at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Today, we learned new details including that James Cameron and John Landau will join Imagineer Joe Rohde in revealing new details on the new immersive, 12-acre land in Pandora - The World of Avatar, that is scheduled to open next year at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The event will also include a conversation with Chairman of Parks and Resorts, Bob Chapek (we just may get an update on Star Wars Land/Toy Story Land). 

Cameron, Landau, and Rohde will be joined by Disney Legends Marty Sklar and Tony Baxter; Walt Disney Imagineers Chris Merritt, Jason Grandt, and Wyatt Winter; Producer Don Hahn (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast); and Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline. 

Guests attending the event will also get an advance exclusive look at Disney's "Moana" from Moana screenwriter Jared Bush (co-writer/co-director of Disney's Zootopia). 

The weekend event will take place in the convention center at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Tickets, currently on sale, are $190 each for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members. Tickets are also available to D23 General Members for $250 per ticket. All guests will receive a special gift created exclusively for the event, and attendees are guaranteed seats at all panels and presentations. Mickey’s of Glendale, the famed Walt Disney Imagineering store, returns with a pop-up shop at the event for attendees, featuring a selection of exclusive Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise as well as limited-edition pins, apparel, and collectibles themed to the event.

Further details about the program and tickets for D23 Destination D: Amazing Adventurespresented by Ethan Allen | Disney can be found at D23.com/Events. Additional details about the schedule will be shared in the coming months.

Disney's Wedding Pavilion Getting a New Look to Debut Early 2017:

The Ever After Blog by Disney Weddings revealed today that the wedding pavilion in Disney World will be receiving a new look that will debut early 2017. Here is what they said about the new enhancements:

"It will be receiving a new look very soon, while still maintaining all the magic and splendor our Guests have come to know and love (like the stunning view of Cinderella Castle). The new décor will feature an elegant, neutral color palette and shimmering crystal chandeliers. Brand new furnishings, wall coverings, and carpeting round out the enhancements and bring new life into the interior. We can’t wait for you to experience the magic for yourself."

Here is the concept art for the Wedding Pavilion:

They expect the new enhancements to be completed by the week of January 14, 2017. (Note: Date and rendering of the enhancements are subject to change.)

New "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" International Trailer Released:

We just saw the amazing new trailer from "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" that was released last week during the Olympics coverage. Today, a new international trailer was released. The new international trailer reveals both new and old footage as well as some new dialogue that wasn't seen in the new trailer released last Thursday. The trailer was found by ComicBook.com. Check it out below:

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" soars into theaters December 16, 2016.