Disney's Hollywood Studios to Offer Daily Extra Magic Hours Once Toy Story Land Opens

Like Disney's Animal Kingdom last year when Pandora: The World of Avatar opened, Disney's Hollywood Studios will offer daily Extra Magic Hours once Toy Story Land opens. This will at least be through all of July and one would think will last until Labor Day weekend in September.

On opening day of the land on June 30, the park will be opened from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. and will follow up with opening from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. The park will also have Extra Magic Morning hours from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. daily. That's not all as every Friday, Disney's Hollywood Studios will have Extra Evening Magic Hours from 10 p.m. until midnight. This of course will all be exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort guests.

Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios will open on June 30, 2018.

Source: WDW News Today

Walt Disney World to Re-Open Tomorrow After Effects from Hurricane Irma

Photo Credit: @JEFF_EMT on Twitter

Hurricane Irma has left Florida for the most part, the curfew has been lifted, and Walt Disney World will resume operations tomorrow, September 12. The cast members along with countless others began clean up of the resort as Irma caused several downed trees and minor flooding in spots but the resorts or the parks never lost power. Tomorrow's hours for the parks are:

Magic Kingdom will open at 9 a.m tomorrow morning and close at 7 p.m. due to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The park will also have Extra Magic Hours from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Walt Disney World Resort guests.

Epcot will be open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. with Extra Magic Hours for resort guests from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Disney's Hollywood Studios will open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Disney's Animal Kingdom will also be open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Disney Springs will open from 10 a.m until Midnight. 

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach will remain closed tomorrow.

Evening Extra Magic Hours Extended at Animal Kingdom; Two New Shorts Added to Disney/Pixar Film Festival

Evening Extra Magic Hours Extended for Disney's Animal Kingdom:

Good news Pandora fans, evening extra magic hours at Disney's Animal Kingdom have been extended past July 4. Before the new world opened Disney announced that guests staying at a Walt Disney World resort would be able to enjoy Pandora: The World of Avatar would stay open for Extra Extra Magic Hours from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. nightly from May 27 through July 4.

Today, it was revealed that Pandora: The World of Avatar and the evening Extra Magic Hours have now been extended through August 19. From July 5 through August 19, the park will remain open from 10 p.m. through 12 a.m. 

Source: WDWInfo

Two New Shorts Added to Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival:

The Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival re-opened after a week long refurbishment last week at Epcot. The film festival which opened last year has added two new shorts both Academy Award-winning shorts.

Both "Piper" and "Feast" were added for guests to enjoy in 4D replacing "La Luna" and "For the Birds." "Piper" opened ahead of Pixar's "Finding Dory" last year. It tells the story of  young bird learning how to find food and overcoming her fears to do so.

"Feast" opened ahead of "Big Hero 6" in 2014. It is about a dog dealing with his owner’s many issues, including a breakup and depression, all the while enjoying an array of foods that mimic the respective themes of the short.

Check out both "Piper" and "Feast" now at the Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival at Epcot.

FastPass+ Available for Pandora Tomorrow & More, Iger Extends Tenure, & More

FastPass+ Available for Pandora Tomorrow & More:

Tomorrow March 24, FastPass+ selections for both The Na'vi River Journey and Avatar: Flight of Passage will become available at 7 a.m. EST. Guests will be able to choose one of the two attractions for their first set of FastPasses. This is of course subject to availability.

 The big news however comes in the news that Pandora: The World of Avatar will have exclusive Extra Magic Hours for select Disney resort guests.

Guests at select Walt Disney World resorts visiting Pandora: The World of Avatar from when it debuts on May 27 through July 4 will get extra time to see the new world. Nightly Extra Magic Hours will be from 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. exclusively inside Pandora: The World of Avatar and not the whole park. Guests with an existing reservation at the select Walt Disney World resorts will receive notification of the Nightly Extra Magic Hours.

Bob Iger Extends Tenure as Disney CEO Through July 2019:

For weeks it has been rumored that Bob Iger would once again be extending his tenure as Walt Disney Company President and CEO. Today, that became a reality and for the third time in as many years Iger will now continue as CEO of the company through July 2, 2019.

As Iger continues the search for his replacement, it appears Iger will get to see his pride and joy inside Walt Disney Theme Parks with Star Wars Land opening in 2019. While no official opening dates have been announced for the biggest and most expansive lands opening in both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. One would think he is pushing Imagineers to have them ready to open before he leaves the position. Iger will have both Pandora: The World of Avatar and Star Wars Land for his legacy as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.

Leaving as CEO in July 2019 still leaves rumors abound that Iger still may be thinking of running for president in 2020. We will all just have to wait and see who will come out of the wood work to be the next CEO at the Walt Disney Company. If Iger ever leaves.

"The Music of Pixar Live!" to Debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios May 26:

Today, it was announced that a new show will be debuting this summer at Disney's Hollywood Studios. "The Music of Pixar Live!" will debut at the park on May 26. The limited-time concert will showcase the amazing music from our favorite Pixar films complete with a live orchestra and appearances from our favorite Pixar characters.

Starting May 26, “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” will be presented three times nightly at Theater of the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (following the regular daily performances of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage”). The show will also feature highlights from some of Pixar’s greatest scores, from films like “Toy Story” to “Cars 3.” Guests can also expect appearances by Woody, Jessie, Mike and Sulley, the Incredibles and more.

More details on the new concert show debuting this summer will be released soon so stay tuned.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Early Morning Magic Coming to Magic Kingdom in Disney World; Dates Released for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas

Early Morning Magic Coming to Magic Kingdom in Disney World:

It certainly appears that Disney World is trying to get rid of Extra Magic Hours in its parks, well at least the Magic Kingdom. Earlier this week "Disney After Hours" was announced with a hefty price tag of $150/person to stay in the Magic Kingdom an extra 3 hours after the park closes during certain dates in April and May. Today, it appears information has leaked on another premium event inside the Magic Kingdom for Fantasyland called, "Disney Early Morning Magic."

Here you'll be able to enjoy a trio of Fantasyland attractions in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Peter Pan's Flight before the park opens to guests. You'll also be treated to continental breakfast inside Pinocchio Village Haus which will include:

• Chilled juices, coffee, and teas
• Seasonal fruits and berries
• Freshly baked pastries
• Cheese and cured meats
• Scrambled eggs with assorted toppings
• Vegetable frittata
• Smoked bacon
• Pork and turkey sausages
• Fried potatoes with caramelized onions
• Mickey waffles

Check-in for the event will occur at 7:30 a.m. with admission will be from 7:45-10 a.m. Admission will be limited. Tickets, which are not on sale as of yet, will cost $69 for adults and $49 for children (tax is not included). 

Dates Released for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party:

Yesterday, not only were the Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates announced, but also the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party dates were also announced. The party will return November 7 and will run through December 22 this year. The party will run for 21 nights this year. Here are the dates for the party:

• November 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27, and 29
• December 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, and 22

Returning for the party this year will be Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Holiday Wishes fireworks, Castle Dream Lights, and the Celebrate the Season castle stage show. Pricing for this year's party has not yet been released yet. A date for tickets to go on sale was also not announced. 

"Maleficent" Sequel, Extra Magic Hours Ending?, Walt Disney World Speedway to be Demolished, and More

Maleficent Sequel in the Works:

A sequel to last year's hit Disney live-action film "Maleficent" is being scripted. Disney has hired the hit film's screenwriter Linda Woolverton, to return and write the film.

The studio is also hoping for Angelina Jolie to return as the star and has been keeping her in the loop in hopes that she will sign on as the evil dragon. Last year's hit film made $758.4 million worldwide in a slow box office year. 

The first film had told the story of Disney's animated classic of "Sleeping Beauty." There is no word what the second film will be about as of yet. 

Could Extra Magic Hours be Ending Next Year?:

In provisional hours for 2016 for the Walt Disney World Resort sent to travel agents this week there seemed be something missing. Extra Magic Hours have been left off for next year's park hours. Extra Magic Hours have been an extra benefit for guests staying on-site and select Downtown Disney resorts, allowing guests to enter the park an extra hour early or several hours later. 

This allowed on-sites guests to see lower crowds during Extra Magic Hours because off-site guests aren't able to enter the park at those times. This is obviously still in the rumor stage as the provisional hours simply could just not have the Extra Magic Hours on them and they will be added later. Stay tuned on if Extra Magic Hours are really ending in the new year.

Walt Disney World Speedway to be Demolished for Expansion of TTC Parking Lot:

Disney has filed plans to demolish the Walt Disney World Speedway to expand Magic Kingdom's Ticket and Transportation Center parking lot according to WDWMagic. 

After announcing back in February that the Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Exotic Driving Experience would be closing later this year, speculation began about what would happen to the Walt Disney World Speedway. We now know that the speedway will be demolished to make way for an expansion of the Ticket and Transportation Center's parking lot. Since the addition of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, the TTC has experienced problems with reaching capacity before the parks even reach capacity. This should and will alleviate the issue. 

Disney has already started roadway improvements around the area with a project to add traffic lights in areas that are frequently congested by the parking area.

Boba Fett is Coming to Disney Infinity 3.0:

In an announcement by Disney Interactive, Lucasfilm, and Sony at E3, it was announced last night that Boba Fett will be joining his Star Wars counterparts in Disney Infinity 3.0 as part of a new limited edition offering. Boba Fett will be a part of the "Star Wars" Saga Starter Pack for both the Playstation 4 and Playstation 3 consoles exclusively. It will be the only place fans can play as the character through the holidays and will also allow fans to get the Star Wars Rise Against the Empire Play Set nearly a month early. 

Boba Fett is one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy, and will use his martial arts skills and blaster rifle to help the Galactic Empire hunt and track down prey. He will be instantly playable in the new Disney Infinity 3.0 Toy Box and will be unlockable in all of the Star Wars Play Sets.

The limited edition Star Wars Saga Starter Pack for both PlayStation consoles will be sold at retail for $114.99. The set will include:

• Disney Infinity 3.0 edition game software
• Star Wars Twilight of the Republic Play Set piece, Ahsoka Tano figure, Anakin Skywalker figure
• Star Wars Rise of the Empire Play Set piece, Luke Skywalker figure, Princess Leia figure
• Boba Fett figure
• Disney Infinity 3.0 edition base
• Web Code Card (unlocks content for pc/mobile)

The game is rated E10+ and will be available this fall.