Disney dropped a bombshell on us this morning with the announcement of Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World being re-themed to Princess and the Frog to set new adventures with Princess Tiana. A few weeks ago after it was rumored that Disney should re-theme the classic ride from its controversial theming from Disney's animated film "Song of the South". Disney has reportedly been working on the reimagination of the ride for over a year according to Disney Imagineer, Bob Weis.
The ride will pickup shortly after the film's final kiss where guests will join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure featuring some of the films powerful music as they prepare for their first ever Mardi Gras performance. Charita Carter, the senior creative producer leading the project at Walt Disney Imagineering shared this quote with the announcement, “Like Princess Tiana, I believe that courage and love are the key ingredients for wonderful adventures. I am delighted to be a part of bringing this fun-filled experience to our guests.”
For Imagineers, change is rooted in a tradition set by Walt Disney who encouraged new innovations, new ideas, new scenes and current storytelling. And the experiences they create can be enjoyed by guests who visit our parks from all over the world.
As part of the creative development process, conceptual design work is well underway and Imagineers will soon be able to conduct preliminary reviews and develop a timeline for when the transformation can start to take shape. As of now there is no timeline for when the reimagination will take place. It was announced the both attractions on both coast will open back up when Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom opens on July 11 and when Disneyland opens back up with its current theming.
Stay tune for more information as we learn about the future of Splash Mountain.
New Rose Gold Castle Loading Screen this morning when the Disney Park Pass Reservation System went live.
We are just 3 weeks away from Walt Disney World re-opening after the devastating effects to our country due to Covid-19. This morning the new Disney Parks Pass Reservation system went live, but struggled with multiple IT issues due to overwhelming traffic on the site. Guests who already have a resort reservation and tickets from now until September 26, 2021.
The system which was supposed to go live at 7 a.m. EST/4 a.m. PST, however initial reports from Disney were that system was not live. After almost 2 hours of waiting guests attempting to make reservations on the new system, guests were finally able to make reservations at almost 9 a.m. EST. Once live it seems guests were able to make reservations with ease however there were still reports of loading trouble again that was most likely due to traffic on the site.
Disney should not have dumped everyone who had reservations already from now until September 2021 all into one phase of reservations as if it was phased into say 90 day time slots the system probably would have handled it better. Other issues were guests finding reservations to be sold out when reservations were actually still available on days as well as some guests reporting they were only able to get reservations for a certain amount of days on their trip as they were getting capped on the amount of days they can reserve in the park.
The next set of dates where guests can make reservations is June 26 where Annual Passholders without resort reservations can begin to make reservations. On June 28, any existing ticket holders without resort stays can make reservation requests.
Stay tuned for future updates on Disney's new reservation system, Disney Parks Pass, as well as Disney news right here on It All Started With a Mouse.
Note: To my readers, its been a while I know. Since my last post almost 2 years ago, I have gotten married last September and now my first child is about to be born in the coming weeks. I am going to try and keep up with however there is no telling with a newborn coming in how I will be able to blog as much as I used to. This will not be a daily blog like it used to be. I do thank you all in advance for reading and of course you can always listen to me on the MouseLife podcast.
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.
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.
Happy 4th of July Celebrate with #DisneyParksLIVE:
Happy Birthday America! Tonight, as they have the past few years the Disney Parks Blog will live stream, “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” from Magic Kingdom. The #DisneyParksLIVE stream will begin at 9:10 p.m. EST.
It is one of the most popular live streams and one of the best fireworks displays all year round. You will want to tune in for this one. Happy 4th of July everyone!
New Fleet Coming this Summer for Disney Magical Express:
On Monday, Walt Disney World Resort announced that the Disney Magical Express will be getting a modernized look with a new fleet this summer.
The new fleet will be much like the Disney Cruise Line fleet and will display the iconic Disney script as seen above. Guests will also be seeing Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and Daisy on the busses.
The new fleet will debut sometime later this summer.
Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy Coming Early in 2019:
Toy Story Land may be opening tomorrow but today during the media event of What's Coming it was announced that a new show will debut in early 2019 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, a high-octane first-of-its-kind new show that’ll put you right in the middle of the world of Disney Pixar’s “Cars.”
It will be located near Rock 'N' Roller Coaster (most likely in the Sunset Showcase Theater). In Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy you will come you’ll come face-to-face with racing legend Lightning McQueen, who is excited to showcase what he’s learned over the years with you – the next generation of rookie racers. Of course, as Lightning McQueen has discovered throughout his career, things don’t always go according to plan, and he has to think fast to get back on course. With friends Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez and the gang from Radiator Springs on his side, Lightning gears up for the challenge.
Will you be ready to rev your engines up when Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy debuts early next year?
New Image Unveiled for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway:
Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy wasn't the only news to come out of the media event as a new image for Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway was also unveiled.
The attraction will totally immerse guests in a cartoon world and will feature a new catchy theme song created especially for the attraction. The fun begins when you see the premiere of a new cartoon short with Mickey and Minnie preparing 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 and Minnie's Runaway Railway although not announced officially is expected to open at Disney's Hollywood Studios sometime in Summer 2019.
It's been a month since I've gotten around to post anything on here as shortly after my last post my father's health deteriorated and 1 week later he passed away. After nearly 20 years of health issues he was finally at peace but the pain for me while has gotten better to some degree I still wish everyday I could hear his voice or see his smile just one more time.
What can I say about the man who when I was young between him and my mother took me to Disney multiple times and allowed us to be able to stay at the Polynesian which became our favorite resort as a family. Being able to walk around World Showcase his absolute favorite part of the parks. If he could he would just walk around that multiple times a day all while seeing The American Adventure his favorite because he loved history.
Disney was just one of his favorites and I am so thankful he got to go back in January one last time with four of his grandchildren. It wasn't all about Disney with my father, he loved sports including the New York Yankees and New York Giants. I loved talking baseball with my Dad and loved getting in arguments over our football teams (I am a Cowboys fan). His stories were always interesting no matter how many times I had heard them already.
I miss my Dad so much and I couldn't just get back into writing a blog without sharing where I have been. Blogs might take a while to get back to normal including now that I am planning a wedding. Lucky enough for me, I was able to ask my now fiancé to marry me back in April in Epcot and celebrating with my father as he beamed with pride that I, his son, will get to marry the love of his life. I could only wish that he would be able to see the wedding in person. I know though that he will be looking down on us with his amazing smile and how happy he will be.
I can only hope that I can be half the man he was because he was so amazing as a father to me and my two sisters. The memories I have with him will last forever. I love you Dad and may you Rest in Peace.
