Stitch's Great Escape to Close Forever (Finally); New Details on Terralina Crafted Italian

Stitch's Great Escape to Close Forever (Finally):

It appears as the end is finally coming for Stitch's Great Escape. According to WDW News Today, the attraction will close forever once its season run ends on January 6, 2018. A new attraction, rumored to be Wreck-it-Ralph themed, will take its place.

Disney has not yet made the official announcement but it is expected in the next few days. Stitch's Great Escape will have its final seasonal operation run from December 23 through January 6 then close for good.

It has been one of the worst rated attractions and has been running on seasonal operation since October 2016.

Source: WDW News Today

New Details on Terralina Crafted Italian Coming to Disney Springs:

Terralina Crafted Italian will be opening in Disney Springs in 2018 and today on the 12 Days of Disney Parks Christmas we got more details on the restaurant. Coming from the Levy Restaurant group, which brought us Paddlefish earlier this year, Terralina Crafted Italian will transport guests to "la dolce vita" (the sweet life), essence of the spectacular Lake District of Northern Italy.

Alison Weber, Chief Creative Officer for Levy, had this to share on details of the restaurant:

"The story here is of a first-generation Italian family, from the Lake District, who built a home in Disney Springs, expanding it over the years to welcome more friends and neighbors to enjoy their hospitality, and, of course, food! At Terralina Crafted Italian, every detail supports the philosophy that ‘life is meant to be savored through the simplest of pleasures.’ The table is even set that way … ready for good conversations, storytelling and moments to be enjoyed.”

Featuring an open rotunda that welcomes guests with a rustic stone fireplace, a new outdoor patio with a veranda bar that spills out into the Disney Springs promenade, and a two-story glass conservatory that showcases stunning views of Lake Buena Vista, every element of the décor feels fresh and new. The herb garden outside the front doors, will give a nod to the medley of flavors that are waiting to be discovered inside and the curated collection of family photos and vintage heirlooms that are scattered throughout the space.

James Beard-Award Winning Chef Tony Mantuano will lead menu development and he’ll have some serious culinary delights planned for the wood-burning oven and open kitchen on display in the location. Terralina Crafted Italian is expected to open sometime in early 2018 and details on the menu are expected soon. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for those delicious details.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Two #DisneyParksLIVE Events Later This Week; Stitch's Great Escape Returning

Two #DisneyParksLIVE Events to be Streamed Later This Week:

This week the Disney Parks Blog will be live streaming two events. The first being on Thursday with a live stream of "A Frozen Holiday Wish" and the lighting of Cinderella Castle. The live stream will begin at 8:10 p.m. EST. 

“A Frozen Holiday Wish” stars the royal sisters Anna and Elsa, and their friends Olaf and Kristoff. In this show, Queen Elsa uses her incredible powers to present a gift to everyone in the kingdom by transforming Cinderella Castle into a glimmering ice palace, perfect for the holiday season. Trust me, this must-see show will give you chills!

This is on November 9 during the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party of the season. 

The next live stream will happen on Friday, November 10 when we will get our first look at the new "Beauty and the Beast" musical production live from the Disney Dream. This live stream will take place at 10:40 a.m. EST. 

Here we will get a sneak peek at the newest Broadway-style musical. The new show brings the timeless fable to life like never before, featuring a style of theater that interlaces classic storytelling elements along with cutting-edge technology. 

Fans are encouraged to use #DisneyParksLIVE during the live stream to follow along on Twitter.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Stitch's Great Escape Returning for Holiday Season:

Much to the chagrin of many, Stitch's Great Escape will return for seasonal operation during the holiday season. The attraction which has been closed since the end of August will operate from December 23, 2017 through January 6, 2018 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. 

The ride has been turned into a character meet & greet for Stitch most recently. Rumors are still hot saying the ride will eventually close for good. 

The Last Jedi Trailer Coming Tomorrow, Stitch Meet & Greet Opens, and More

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Trailer Coming Tomorrow:

The next trailer for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is in fact premiering tomorrow during halftime of the Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Monday Night Football game on ESPN. Star Wars on its social media pages officially teased the trailer this morning. 

Get ready. Trailer tomorrow. #TheLastJedi pic.twitter.com/woC9KF4GH8

— Star Wars (@starwars) October 8, 2017

Guests visiting Disneyland more specifically Downtown Disney can watch the premiere of the trailer on a giant screen outside of AMC Downtown Disney Theaters 12. The fun will begin at 5 p.m. with a live DJ, trivia, giveaways all while counting down to the premiere of "The Last Jedi" trailer. Tickets for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" will in fact go on sale officially after the premiere of the trailer.

"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" soars into theaters on December 15.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

New Stitch Meet & Greet Opens Up at Magic Kingdom:

The new Stitch's Alien Encounter Character Greeting officially opened up at Magic Kingdom. The new meet & greet is indeed in the former queue of the current seasonally operating Stitch's Great Escape. 

The hours for the meet & greet will be from 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., hours for the character greeting will fluctuate daily. Disney is still saying that Stitch's Great Escape will operate seasonally saying that the ride is not closing for good. 

Rumors have been swirling since last year since the attraction began operating seasonally that the ride would be replaced with possibly a Wreck-It-Ralph attraction. Many expected an announcement during the D23 Expo, but to no avail there was no announcement. Stitch's Great Escape is expected to be replaced before Walt Disney World's and Magic Kingdom's 50th Anniversary in 2021.

Walls Go Up Around Universe of Energy:

It was inevitable that it would happen but walls have officially gone up as of yesterday around the Universe of Energy. Construction has already begun on the new Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster that is expected to be completed by 2021. Ellen's Energy Adventure and Universe of Energy closed August 13. 

Source Image: WDW News Today

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

Farewell to The Great Movie Ride & Universe of Energy; Stitch Goes Back to Seasonal Operation

Farewell to The Great Movie Ride & Universe of Energy:

Today, we say farewell to two classic original attractions and since it was announced at D23 it hasn't gotten any easier in saying goodbye to them. Both The Great Movie Ride and Universe of Energy will close forever at end of operation tonight. Universe of Energy/Ellen's Energy Adventure will close as of 7:00 p.m. ET and The Great Movie Ride will close at 9:30. 

Both rides will make way for new attractions but the nostalgia of both attractions will live on forever. I will always remember riding The Great Movie Ride all throughout my childhood learning about the movies. I loved seeing the Mary Poppins scene and of course the classic ending scene from "The Wizard of Oz." It is a bit sad to see the last original opening attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios go away.

Now while I am going to miss The Great Movie Ride tremendously, I have a special place in my heart for Universe of Energy. I have always enjoyed this attraction both before and after the Ellen update. While many have enjoyed taking a nap in this attraction I have always thought this was one of the more interesting and learning experiences for an attraction. It's the original dinosaur ride. 

While Universe of Energy will see its own way into extinction after tonight, I am going to sorely miss hearing the "Stupid Judy" joke, seeing the beautiful creatures we call dinosaurs, and of course who could forget Bill Nye. This is one of those rides that I have so many memories on from when I was younger.

With that before the tears start flowing, I say farewell to the both of these amazing attractions. The memories from both will last a lifetime.

Stitch's Great Escape Going Back to Seasonal Operation:

Guests have one more week to see Stitch's Great Escape at the Magic Kingdom before it closes down probably until the holiday season. Stitch will have his final day of its Summer Operation schedule next Saturday, August 19. Beginning the next day on August 20 it will go back into season operation. It still remains clear what the fate of Stitch's Great Escape for now but rumors are still circling around the possibility of a new Wreck-It-Ralph attraction taking its place. 

Permits Filed Around Universe of Energy Pavilion; Stitch's Great Escape to Open for Summer Months

Permits Filed Around Universe of Energy Pavilion at Epcot:

Months ago in fact last year, reports began surfacing of the demise of Ellen's Energy Adventure at the Universe of Energy Pavilion in Epcot. Those rumors included a rumored TRON coaster and a Guardians of the Galaxy coaster replacing the ride and pavilion. Rumors kind of died down for a while as the fate of the attraction was rumored to be saved.

That is until Friday when permits were filed by Walt Disney Imagineering with South Florida Management District. In the permits filed it showed plans to reroute a drainage canal behind Universe of Energy and creating two new retention ponds to hold additional runoff from “onsite improvements that will add impervious area.”

While this doesn't confirm what will happen to Ellen's Energy Adventure it does leave tons of questions and assumptions that the attraction will be going away sooner rather than later. Rumors have been swirling back to the TRON coaster since reports of Disney's fear of Universal's rights on Marvel characters and attractions not being built east of the Mississippi. Even though Guardians of the Galaxy never was part of Universal's parks. Fear is that once they appear in "Infinity Wars" that Disney will no longer have the rights to them. 

Disney of course files permits like this all the time and this could just be for an update to the attraction. One would think we might just hear the exact fate of the Universe of Energy Pavilion and Ellen's Energy Adventure during July's D23 Expo where we expect to hear some news on the overhaul of Epcot as a park. Stay tuned for future news on this subject right here on It All Started With a Mouse.

Stitch's Great Escape Returning to Operation for Summer Months:

Stitch's Great Escape, which has been in seasonal operation since late last year, will returning to operation for at least the upcoming busy Summer months. The attraction will be open daily from next week on May 27 through August 19, 2017 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. It will then be closed again for the Fall. 

Stitch and his meet & greet will also be moving from Town Square to Tomorrowland, outside Carousel of Progress, beginning today May 21. 

Source: WDW News Today

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.