Up! A Great Bird Adventure gets UPdated

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Since debuting in April of 2018, “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been met with groans from park guests. The original version of the show in Asia lasted only 5 months before being completely rewritten in September of 2018 to be more comedic. Needless to say, it didn’t improve guest feedback much. Fast forward one year, and the show has been heavily altered once again during a recent short hiatus.

In the latest update, the show has been “dumbed-down” a bit, with the cultured Anandapur resident acting as host now replaced with a bumbling, comedic Wilderness Explorers Troop Leader. Dug and Russell from Disney-PIXAR’s UP are still prominently featured in the show.

The show still features the expert bird trainers of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (and the beloved avian cast), but is probably now more tonally similar to the original Flights of Wonder.

runDisney Changes to 2020 WDW Marathon Weekend

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Starting in 2020, the marathon will start at 5 AM, which is 30 minutes earlier than the previous start time of 5:30 AM. In addition, runners will now traverse through Blizzard Beach Water Park.

In an effort to reduce the amount of time runners spend on the roadways, the course will include more time in Epcot. Specific details of the course layout haven’t been announced as of yet, so stay tuned for that.

New this year, runDisney is offering a new outdoor exclusive area for runners and ChEAR Squad packages for spectators. The exclusive area for runners will be utilized to take photos, pick up their gear, stretch, and recover. ChEAR Squad packages will allow spectators to access to the finish line, popular Magic Kingdom viewing location, and other amenities. It is important to note the ChEAR Squad packages will not include access to the outdoor exclusive area for runners.

Pools @ Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans Riverside Resorts Closed for Refurbishment

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

Guests staying at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort or Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside should be advised that certain pool facilities will be unavailable for several weeks.

At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, the Jamaica Village pool, Jamaica laundry room, and Jamaica pool restrooms will be closed until mid-November for refurbishments. The exact reopening date is yet to be determined.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside

Meanwhile, over at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, the Magnolia Bend leisure pool between buildings 80 and 85 is also closed for refurbishment, along with the nearby guest laundry facility. The refurbishment is scheduled to last until late October. During this time, the guest laundry facility between buildings 90 and 95 will remain open.

Mobile Ordering Comes To Artist’s Palette & Capt. Cook’s

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Mobile Ordering has now rolled out to The Artist’s Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Capt. Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Guests can now skip the line and order their meals at these quick-service locations through the My Disney Experience app. When you get near the restaurant, all you have to do is press “I’m Here” on the app and head to the Mobile Order pick-up area to enjoy their meal without the wait. And if you’re using the Disney Dining Plan, you can redeem meals and snack credits through Mobile Order.

Mobile Ordering has expanded significantly at Walt Disney World in 2019. Most recently, Mobile Order was made available at the Milk Stand, Ronto Roasters, and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and at Roaring Fork at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

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New MagicBand Designs Available for Annual Passholders

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

New MagicBand designs available only to Walt Disney World Passholders will continue be released throughout the year, so guests can accessorize for every season. You may recall that the 2019 Mickey Mouse and Cinderella Castle design was released back in June.

Starting October 1,  Passholders can find the Goofy and Tree of Life design “wherever MagicBands are sold”, according to Disney.

More Passholder-exclusive models will be released throughout the year and will be available while supplies last.