Walt Disney World Updates from the D23 Expo Japan Last Night

Due to some extenuating circumstances last night I didn't get to share all the news that was shared last night/or this morning at the D23 Expo Japan by Disney Parks & Resorts President Bob Chapek. Although as much as we were hoping to hear an official opening date for Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios, that was not to be as it was not announced. We are still in the dark as to when it will open even though the long heard rumors still remain as Memorial Day weekend are as strong as ever.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway will open sometime in 2019 and we got some new concept art (seen above) along with some new details on the ride. It will feature a brand new catchy theme songcreated especially for the attraction as well as a new experience that defies logic that we’re calling 2 ½-D. No glasses required.

On the attraction, the fun begins when guests will see the premiere of a new cartoon short with Mickey and Minnie getting ready for a picnic. As they head out, they drive alongside a train and find out that the engineer is Goofy. Then, one magical moment lets you step into the movie and on Goofy’s train for a wacky, wild ride.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will put guests inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where they're the star and anything can happen.

Also opening in 2019 will be Star Wars: Galaxies Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but that wasn't the news they strove for as we got more details on the most-immersive resort that will be built on a Disney Parks property. The new Star Wars' themed resort will combine luxury and complete immersion into the Star Wars Universe.

Guests will take a multi-day journey by boarding a starship that will be alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy. They will become active citizens in the galaxy and even dress in proper attire during their stay. Every resort window will have a view into space. 

The opportunity for immersion at this resort will also stand out among all Disney resorts around the globe, as it will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This will allow for a total Star Wars experience that is out of this world. There is no official opening date for the Star Wars-inspired resort.

It was confirmed a while ago that the Guardians of the Galaxy-inspired attraction coming to Epcot that it would be a roller coaster, last night Bob Chapek officially confirmed that. The one-of-a-kind family attraction will be one of the world’s longest enclosed roller coasters when it’s added to Future World at Epcot. It will feature a unique story created by Walt Disney Imagineering that will 'wow' guests as part of a new innovative ride system. 

 “As we build upon its core mission of optimism and hope to inspire the world, the real will become fantastic and the fantastic will become real—in whole new ways at Epcot,” Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, said.

This amazing attraction will open in time for Walt Disney World and Magic Kingdom's 50th Anniversary in 2021.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Just When Will Disney's Hollywood Studios Change Its Name?

In the last few weeks we have heard from Disney insider Len Testa that Disney had finalized on a new name for Disney's Hollywood Studios in Disney Cinemagine Park. Yes, I know not very exciting or even thrilling. Testa said he and another Disney Insider and legend Jim Hill would reveal more about the new name on their Disney Dish Podcast.

That episode has finally been released and Testa and Hill revealed that the new name in Disney Cinemagine Park would be announced at the media event of when Walt Disney World opens Toy Story Land at the park according to sources. Which according to him will in fact open Memorial Day Weekend in May.

The park wouldn't officially change names until the end of 2018 beginning of 2019 in preparation of when Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge open. In preparation of the park changing names of course Disney will have plenty of special edition merchandise for fans to say "Goodbye to Hollywood" as the park gets ready to change its name for a second time since it opened.

The park which opened in 1989 will also be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year and opened as Disney's MGM Studios until Disney and MGM ended their deal together in 2008.

It is rumored that Disney had chosen Disney Cinemagic Park but didn't want guests to be confused with their main park in Magic Kingdom, so Disney Cinemagine Park it is. If you notice Disney has also chosen Disney Cinemagine Park instead of Disney's Cinemagine Park in a sort of new branding for the company.

You can listen to the full episode of the Disney Disney with Len Testa and Jim Hill here. We have less than a year left of Disney's Hollywood Studios before the name change. What do you think of the name Disney Cinemagine Park?

Source: Disney Dish Podcast

Possible Opening Date for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway; "Incredibles 2" Trailer

Possible Opening Date for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway:

WDW News Today is reporting that Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway will be debuting at Disney's Hollywood Studios on May 1, 2019. This is not confirmed by Disney but according to their sources, Walt Disney Imagineering is expected to hand over operation of the attraction sometime in April 2019.

The May 1 opening would be in correspondence with the parks 30th Anniversary and ahead of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at the park later that year. They are also saying even more details on the attraction will be released at some point today so stay tuned.

Source: WDW News Today

First Teaser Trailer for "Incredibles 2" Released:

Where is my Supersuit???? The first teaser trailer for "Incredibles 2" has arrived for our viewing pleasure and we can't wait for June 15, 2018 to arrive. Check out the teaser trailer below:

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, & More Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios

The Disney Parks & Resorts Panel at the D23 Expo just ended and boy did we receive some news. Here is just a list of what's coming to Walt Disney World in the next few years.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is Official Will Open in Disneyland First:

The first news from the panel and President of Parks & Resorts Bob Chapek was for Star Wars Land. It was officially confirmed that the lands in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World will be called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The lands will both open in 2019 but it will open up in Disneyland first.

The lands will allow guests to isit a remote trading port on the edge of wild space, where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life – and where guests will find themselves in the middle of the action.

The lands will feature two major attractions that put guests in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Each attraction – and even the land itself – will offer guests the chance to immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe like never before.

One attraction will make you feel like you’re on a Star Destroyer inside a hangar bay. It’s an attraction built on a scale we’ve never done before (this is the First Order vs. The Resistance ride). The second attraction will give guests the opportunity to fly the Millenium Falcon, piloting the ship, shooting blasters or preparing for hyperspace – all while completing a critical mission. But how you perform on the mission holds even bigger stakes: perform with skill and you may earn extra galactic credits, while bringing the ship back banged up could put you on the list of a bounty hunter. End up on Harkos’s list and you may face a problem if you show up at the local cantina!

We will also be able to meet up with BB-8, Kylo Ren, members of the First Order among other in Galaxy's Edge. Rex, from the original Star Tours, will be making a return as a DJ at the cantina. At the cantina, guests will of course be able to try blue milk and nearby acquire trinkets and treasures from around the galaxy. 

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway to Replace The Great Movie Ride:

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway is coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios and will replace the iconic Great Movie Ride. The Great Movie ride will have its last day of operation on August 13, 2017. The attraction will be inspired by the new Mickey Shorts that air on the Disney Channel. Here is what Imagineer Kevin Rafferty had to say about the new attraction:

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature a new story and a new singable attraction theme song as well as a new experience we’re calling “2 1/2 D.” No glasses required. Walt Disney Imagineer Kevin Rafferty said teams are inventing new technologies that turn the flat world of a colorful cartoon short into a “dimensional display of amazingness.”
“This is one of the boldest…most impossible things I’ve ever worked on in almost 40 years of being an Imagineer. And you know what? That’s what I love about it. Well, that, and Mickey,” Kevin said. “This is not going to be a small attraction, it’s going to be game-changing.”

More updates on Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway are coming in the near future so stay tuned.

Star Wars Inspired-Themed Resort Coming to Walt Disney World:

The Star Wars-themed hotel was confirmed tonight during the Disney Parks & Resorts Panel at the D23 Expo. It will debut as part of a brand new Disney 360 vacation concept. Bob Chapek had this to say on the new resort coming to be built right next to Disney's Hollywood Studios:

“It’s unlike anything that exists today.” Bob said. “From the second you arrive, you will become a part of a Star Wars story! You’ll immediately become a citizen of the galaxy and experience all that entails, including dressing up in the proper attire. Once you leave Earth, you will discover a starship alive with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold all around you. It is 100% immersive, and the story will touch every single minute of your day, and it will culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits.”

More details on this amazing resort experience will be released in the coming months.

Toy Story Land to Open Summer 2018:

Finally, we did receive an update on Toy Story Land. It will open sometime in Summer 2018 (an exact date wasn't given). It was confirmed that guests will now enter Toy Story Midway Mania inside of Toy Story Land. Here is more information on the Slinky Dog Coaster and Alien Swirling Saucers attractions that are coming to the new land:

The new Slinky Dog Dash will be a family coaster attraction where you’ll zip, dodge and dash around many turns and drops that Andy has created to really make Slinky and his coils stretch to his limits.

Alien Swirling Saucers will also be a new attraction at Toy Story Land. It’s designed as a toy play set that Andy got from Pizza Planet, inspired by the first “Toy Story” film. Aliens are flying around in their toy flying saucers and trying to capture your rocket toy vehicle with “The Claw.”

As always stay tune for more updates on the official opening date of Toy Story Land.

Source: Disney Parks Blog