Update: Where Will NBA Players BE Staying

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

We previously announced the NBA is coming to Walt Disney World! It has been confirmed that Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will be hosting the games likely beginning at the end of July. Due to the health guidelines, it is believed the NBA will require all players to remain onsite for the duration of the season. The question now is where will they stay? Yesterday there were rumblings that they would be housed at Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House. A day later, that information may have changed.

The new Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort opening July 9 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, takes its inspiration from the Disney animated short film “Destino.” (Steven Diaz, photographer)

The most recent reports are coming in from an NBA Reporter name Kevin Smith. Smith states:

  • First Tweet: “Walt Disney World sources, Disney and the NBA have agreed that Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is likely to be the primary host resort for the NBA when they resume the season. Sources say an agreement may be reached this week, which will allow preparations to move quickly.”
  • Second Tweet: “Other Walt Disney World resorts remain under consideration to host the NBA, but Coronado Springs offers the best package of rooms, resources and proximity to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Still a possibility that multiple resorts are used for the NBA, per WDW sources.”

A third Tweet shares: “Coronado Springs has over 2,000 hotel rooms between their campus style buildings & the 15-story Gran Destino tower. It all surrounds a contained lake with pools, boating, and walking/jogging paths.. In addition, the property has over 220,000 sq. ft. of convention space attached.”

We’d agree with Kevin, that yes, Coronado Springs does seem to have the rooms and convention space that could house the NBA players. While Coronado Springs is rumored to be the front runner, other rumored resorts include Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Four Seasons Orlando.

Disney Cruise Line To Extend Future Cruise Credit Through March 2022

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Disney Cruise Line is reaching out to guests who have had to cancel their cruises or move their sail date due to concerns about COVID-19. Future cruise credits have now been extended for use on sailings that depart by March 31, 2022.

In fall 2019, the Disney Magic sails to Bermuda, Bahamas and Canada from New York, followed by Bahamian and Caribbean voyages from Miami. Aboard the Disney Magic, guests can experience new spaces and experiences, including dining at Rapunzel’s Royal Table. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

The following message has been issued to Disney Cruise Line guests:

At Disney Cruise Line we understand that these are challenging times, but we take comfort in knowing that brighter days are ahead. We can’t wait to welcome our Guests back onboard and return to making magic at sea. During this time of uncertainty, we want to provide our Guests with even more flexibility. Guests whose sailings were cancelled due to COVID-19 were previously offered the choice of either a future cruise credit equal to 25%, 125% or 150% of their original voyage fare to be used within 15 months of their original sailing or a full refund. Disney Cruise Line is now extending the use of future cruise credit to sailings that depart by March 31, 2022. The credit has been automatically added.

For Guests with a 125% or 150% future cruise credit, they may place a reservation on hold by applying it as a payment option when booking a new reservation online beginning Wednesday, June 3, 2020. For Guests with a 25% future cruise credit, it may be applied as a payment option beginning Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Once the modified reservation is paid in full, any remaining future cruise credit will be applied to the shipboard account as a non-refundable onboard credit.

If you prefer to speak to someone directly, please contact a member of our reservation team at 1-866-325-6685 or 407-566-7797. Sailings are currently available through summer 2021 with additional eligible sailings to be released at a later date. We appreciate the planning that goes into a cruise vacation and hope our Guests enjoy this additional time to travel. We look forward to welcoming Guests aboard as soon as we can and making magic for them and their loved ones.

NBA Reportedly Will Use Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House For Players

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House could soon say “Jambo!” to the athletes of the NBA as they prepare to resume their season.

According to DVCNews.com, all rooms at Jambo House are unavailable on Disney Vacation Club’s reservation site through the end of the year, while all other DVC resorts have availability beginning June 22nd. They also noted that legally, Jambo House and Kidani Village are part of the same condominium association, therefore, Disney is not completely blocking access as long as DVC members would only have to relocate to Kidani Village to stay at the lodge.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Refurbished Room

The league is reportedly planning to resume its season in Orlando, likely at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, with a formal vote to approve the plan by team owners scheduled for Thursday. Walt Disney World’s resort hotels would act as dormitories for players, keeping them isolated from the public in an effort to contain any threat of COVID-19 infection.

Spaceship Earth Will Be Open With The Reopening Of The Park On July 15th

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

Despite having its status recently updated to “Closed for Refurbishment” on the Walt Disney World website and on My Disney Experience, it seems Spaceship Earth may make its ascent once again upon the reopening of EPCOT on July 15th. Thank the Phoenicians!

According to the UNITE HERE Local 362 union, which represents attraction workers throughout Walt Disney World, Spaceship Earth’s refurbishment has been pushed back. The information was revealed during an web conference and subsequently posted on a WDWMagic forum earlier today. The attraction is set to reopen with the rest of the park. You can find more details on the refurbishment below:

As times have changed, the Spaceship Earth attraction at EPCOT has changed with them. Opening in 1982, the ride received massive overhauls in 1986, 1994, and 2007, usually with the departure or addition of a corporate sponsor. With over a decade since the last reimagining, coupled with the 2017 departure of Siemens, Walt Disney Imagineering is ramping up for another round of changes to the park’s icon attraction.

The reimagining was set to begin on May 26th, despite a $900M decrease in CAPEX spending on the parks due to postponed or cancelled projects.

It was first announced back in October 2018 of the closure, and the closure is still expected to last about two and a half years as part of the park’s massive overhaul, which includes a new building for the exit of the attraction, and potentially a new name, as revealed during the 2019 D23 Expo: “Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story.” As with all the changes overtaking the park, this reimagining promises to make the attraction––in newly-appointed CEO Bob Chapek’s words––“more Disney, more family, more timeless, and more relevant.”

The overhaul will be so thorough that it will require the ride to close at least until the park’s 40th anniversary in the second half of 2022, possibly leading into 2023, or even further now with the closure setbacks and further postponement. It’s also unknown whether the full set of changes will be implemented given the current theme park climate.

Josh Gad Surprises Health Care Worker’s Daughter

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Grab a few tissues and get ready for the feels! Good Morning America (GMA) has been celebrating health care workers regularly throughout this pandemic. They most recently celebrated Ashley, a health care worker and founder of Pittsburgh’s first COVID-19 testing unit. We all know that the struggle of working around the clock must be surreal right now, and Ashley manages to keep it together… even with her sweet 7 year old daughter, Paige.

GMA found out Paige LOVES Olaf (of course, right?!)! So, they reached out to one of our all time favorite actors, Josh Gad (aka Olaf’s voice). Josh was sure to let Olaf share a special message for Paige. Check out the sweet video here:

Right along with Olaf, we too thank Ashley and Paige, and all other health care workers and their families, for their especially important service during these times. Warm hugs all around!