On November 16, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products shared the company’s new approaches to operations and inclusion in the wake of 2020 via a keynote session of IAAPA Expo Virtual Education Conference. One key note included was that the reimagining of Splash Mountain has been expedited.
As shared by IAAPA.org: “We believe that truly inclusive environment is critical to fostering ideas from all people to help us grow, innovate, and create the best stories possible,” D’Amaro said. More information about Disney’s backstage commitment to inclusivity will be rolling out in the next few months. Guest facing changes, like the reimagining of “Splash Mountain,” have been expedited to ensure that all who visit the company’s parks do feel welcome as well.
Muppet Babies – It’s cute, colorful, and adventurous. Well, Disney is now experiencing some woes over this popular reboot as they are being sued for copyright infringement.
As shared by Deadline: “A new copyright infringement and fraud suit against The Walt Disney Company over Muppet Babies is no romp in the nursery. Veteran small screen scribe Jeffrey Scott filed a four-claim complaint in federal court Oct. 22. In the document, Scott alleges that ideas new and old for the Disney Junior and Disney Channel reboot that launched in 2018 were lifted from his work.”
“In 2015, Disney began the early stages of developing the new Muppet Babies show,” the October 22 filing says. “In early 2016, Disney executives met with Scott at their request, and he presented detailed ideas for the show’s updated structure, look and characters, and for new episodes, with the understanding on both sides that, if Disney used Scott’s ideas and produced new episodes, it would pay for Scott’s ideas and honor the commitments that Disney’s predecessor, Marvel, and Jim Henson, made to him,” the complaint continues. “A Disney executive then emailed Scott asking him to send Disney his ideas in writing, which Scott did.”
“Scott is informed and believes that, when Disney executives D’Ambrosia and Sapire solicited Scott’s ideas for a Muppet Babies reboot, they and their superiors at Disney knew, and concealed from Scott, that Disney had assembled or was assembling a production team for the reboot, and that they and their superiors had no intention of offering Scott an opportunity to work on the reboot or to pay him for his ideas, which they intended to use without complying with their obligations under the parties’ implied agreement,” the jury trial seeking filing states.”
Disney did not reply to Deadline’s request for comment.
This morning, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, took the virtual stage at the IAAPA Expo: Virtual Education Conference, where he shared a behind-the-scenes look at the lessons we’ve learned over the past year, and the ways we’re moving forward into 2021 and beyond. Check out all the details as shared below by DisneyParksBlog.
As Josh shared in his talk, the end of the year is always a time for reflection – and to chart a path for the year to come. While we never could have imagined what this year would hold for our company, we’ve learned so much: how to share that special Disney Parks magic with our fans at home during the closures of our businesses worldwide; how to reimagine our park, resort, and store experiences to meet new challenges; and how, even amid uncertainty, to plan for what we know are better days are ahead.
Now, as we look to the future, there are new and exciting milestones on the horizon. While the pandemic meant putting some projects on pause, we never stopped dreaming up new experiences. And we are looking forward to inviting our guests to see what we’ve been working on.
There are groundbreaking new updates coming to Disney destinations around the world. As Josh shared in his update today, progress is currently being made on several projects across the globe that are pushing the boundaries of innovation and storytelling like never before.
Here’s a special peek at some of the announcements Josh made today:
Video previously recorded
More details were also shared on the next generation of immersive Disney experiences currently in development, including updates on Avengers Campus, the historic transformation of EPCOT and more.
Progress continues to be made toward the completion of Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris. This new land will invite guests to team up with the Avengers and their allies in a fully immersive land.
The Worldwide Engineering Brigade (better known as WEB) building will soon house our newest attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure where guests will be able to board vehicles and help Spider-Man take control of an army of Spider-Bots that have taken over Avengers Campus.
Guests visiting Disneyland Paris will also soon be able to experience Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel – celebrating 80 years of Marvel storytelling in a typical New York setting.
The resort will feature contemporary Art Deco style and include one of the largest publicly viewable collections of Marvel artwork in the world.
At Walt Disney World Resort, work is continuing on the historic, multi-year transformation of EPCOT, including “Harmonious,” Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
“Harmonious” will be one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created. It’ll feature the hallmarks of a Disney experience, including music and images, reimagined by diverse cultural musicians and artists from around the world.
Work also continues on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – the family-friendly “storytelling coaster” featuring a groundbreaking ride system with vehicles that rotate 360 degrees and can even do a reverse launch!
The Omnicoaster is a first- of-its-kind programmable roller coaster ride system, where guests can be rotated along the ride track in any direction while traveling at high speeds. The Omnicoaster name builds upon the tradition of the Omnimover ride system in which Walt Disney Imagineers are able to turn guests in any direction and focus their attention on a specific scene or element.
And plans are on track to open Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in 2021. Based on Disney and Pixar’s hit film, “Ratatouille,” this family-friendly attraction will invite you to shrink down to the scale of a rat for a culinary adventure with Chef Remy. During each adventure, you’ll race across Gusteau’s kitchen floor aboard special trackless ride vehicles in a thrilling 3D chase. Click here for more.
In a galaxy far, far away, progress continues at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, where guests will live aboard a starship for a 2-day, 2-night experience. Unlike any typical cruise, though, you can become the heroes of your own Star Wars story in a new type of immersive experience that only Disney could create.
Guests will cruise the galaxy in style aboard the Halcyon, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. Onboard, you’ll stay in well-appointed cabins, experience onboard dining, make a planet-side excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu and much more. Learn more in our earlier story.
At Shanghai Disney Resort, progress continues on “Zootopia” – where guests will be invited to experience the metropolis of “Zootopia.”
Based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Oscar-winning animated movie, this exciting development will be the park’s eighth themed land and the first-ever “Zootopia”-themed land at any Disney park. It will include a new major attraction that will seamlessly blend Disney storytelling and state-of-the-art technology to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life.
In this aerial photo of the area, you can see just how big the show building will be. Click here for more on “Zootopia.”This is an artist concept and is subject to change.
And at Tokyo Disneyland, new attractions, restaurants, and shops recently opened – marking the largest expansion of the park’s 37-year history.
Also, part of the expansion will be “Fantasy Springs.” This exciting development will be themed to a magical spring inspired by the beloved Disney Animation films “Frozen,” “Tangled” and “Peter Pan.” It’ll include four new attractions, three restaurants and a new Disney-themed hotel situated inside Tokyo DisneySea that will overlook Fantasy Springs.
The ever-so-popular Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction collection on shopDisney has Disney shoppers buzzing with the hard to get merchandise. Now, shopDisney has updated their website to provide a first look at the final series in the collection – Series 12: Nighttime Castle & Fireworks Finale!
As shared on shopDisney: “Coming Soon: Nighttime Castle & Fireworks Finale – Inspired by the beloved event at Disney Parks, the final series in the collection will be available soon. MerchPass entries for Series 12 will open 12/18 at 7AM PT.”
It’s hard to believe we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World next year! If you’re making plans to visit Walt Disney World chances are you already know a Disney Park Pass is required for park entry at one of Disney’s four theme parks. Well, it looks like the official 50th Anniversary date, October 1, 2021, is already at capacity for Magic Kingdom when it comes to Annual Passholders.
As you’ll see in the screen shot below, October 1, 2021 shows for Annual Passholder it is unavailable. The other three parks are still currently open. Theme Park Tickets Guests and Disney Resorts Guests are still showing availability for all four parks on October 1.
Why are Annual Passholders planning to be at Magic Kingdom on October 1, 2021? It’s such an amazing thing to experience huge milestones at the most magical place on earth. Disney will likely offer special celebrations, not to mention the hopes of being able to ride the new TRON coaster currently being constructed in Tomorrowland.
We have Park Passes to Magic Kingdom on October 1, and simply can’t wait to celebrate Walt Disney World’s 50th! Park guest or regular ticket holder? Be sure to snag your park pass via the Walt Disney World website before they are gone!
