December 2020 – Page 3 – A Walk With The Mouse

Former Disney Cast Member Faces Misdemeanor Charges

Posted on December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via DisneyTips.com

A former Walt Disney World Cast Member was accused of stealing $34,000 between 2017 and 2019 is now facing two misdemeanor charges. On top of the misdemeanors, she is no longer welcome back at Walt Disney World.

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: Disney World accused a Magic Kingdom vacation planner of stealing nearly $34,000 over two years from the company, but she wasn’t charged with a felony or sentenced to any jail time following a Sheriff’s Office investigation, records show.

After getting caught redhanded, the 53-year-old Davenport woman was fired from her job at the Magic Kingdom in May 2019. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigated her for grand theft and sent the case to the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office.

But ultimately, the woman was charged with two misdemeanors. The woman pleaded no contest in October to petit theft and was placed on probation for 12 months. Her sentence also required community service, a $273 fine and a seminar on impulse control, according to court records. She also isn’t allowed to go back to Disney World.

According to a 2019 sheriff’s incident report, Disney told deputies the woman stole $33,988 from the company between January 2017 through May 2019 while working in the ticket booth at the Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center. “The Defendant was responsible for issuing theme park tickets and MagicBands to guests wishing to enter the various Walt Disney World locations. The Defendant would systematically activate the Disney MagicBands, collect cash from guests for the purchase and subsequently void the transactions and pocket the cash,” the sheriff’s report said.

New EPCOT Entrance Fountain Unveiled at Disney World

Posted on December 25, 2020December 25, 2020 by Mathew Corn Epcot

Over the year, Disney Cast Members have been working hard on reimagining the EPCOT entrance and the fountain in front of Spaceship Earth is finished and has been revealed.

From a Disney Cast Member;

The past, present and future of EPCOT are all coming together today in one special moment at the front of the park. Anyone visiting as of this morning will see in real life what we at Walt Disney Imagineering have been dreaming up in our heads for many years now.

Overnight, our crews removed all the “progress walls” from the main entrance plaza, giving you the first full look at this next major milestone in the park’s historic transformation. While there is still more work to be done here in the future, the area is much more open and welcoming now. It features new planters, pathways, lush landscaping and a vibrant new color palette that will eventually tie into the four new neighborhoods we’re creating inside the park – World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature and World Showcase.

And there in front of iconic Spaceship Earth you’ll now see a reimagined fountain, standing in the footprint of the original that welcomed guests on the park’s opening day in 1982. Our design team took special interest in this water feature, as we looked back to the geometry of the original for inspiration while creating some new magic of our own. In the fountain’s center is a brilliant light, a unique liquid-cooled fixture we’ve designed with new capabilities that complement the fountain’s changing colors and will coordinate with new lighting coming to Spaceship Earth and the upcoming World Celebration beyond.

Three acrylic pylons, each standing over 16 feet tall and featuring the park’s logo, surround the fountain and hearken back to the creation of EPCOT. Their timeless design and vertical presence draw your eye upward toward the sky – perfectly framing views of Spaceship Earth.

This new fountain is the centerpiece of EPCOT’s entrance plaza, which we’ve designed as a welcoming area that brings people together. The greenery and use of water celebrate a harmony between humanity and the natural world. This park was built to inspire optimism, and we’re infusing this transformation with the magic of possibility.

Disney Announces Blizzard Beach Reopening

Posted on December 25, 2020December 25, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

This past September, Disney announced that one of the two water parks would be reopening on March 7, 2021. The water parks have yet to reopen during the phased reopening. Disney has announced which water park will open and it will be Blizzard Beach.

First opened to the public on April 1, 1995, this spring will kick off Blizzard Beach’s 25^th season. In honor of this exciting news – here are seven fun facts you may not have known about Disney’s wintry-themed water park.

1.Blizzard Beach has a special story all its own

A ski resort in Florida? You heard that right! As the story goes, a legendary snowstorm in Florida prompted local opportunists to build a ski resort. When Florida’s climate returned to normal temperatures and the snow began to melt, Blizzard Beach was born.

2. Blizzard Beach is home to one of the fastest waterslides in the world

Summit Plummet at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

The ultimate water park thrill ride, Summit Plummet is a 120-foot-tall waterslide with a near-vertical drop. Guests accelerate up to 65 mph on the slide, making it one of the fastest attractions at Walt Disney World.

3. There’s no shortage of tasty treats

Nachos from Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

From churros to Mickey ice cream bars, you can discover many of your favorite snacks at the Disney Water Parks. There are plenty of menu options to choose from, including these loaded nachos from Frostbite Freddy’s Frozen Freshments.

4. The first chairlift in Florida was built at Blizzard Beach

Want to know a Disney secret? This colorful chairlift, built to ferry guests to the top of Mount Gushmore, was the first of its kind in the state of Florida. The chairlift offers a scenic bird’s-eye view of Blizzard Beach and easy access to Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher and Teamboat Springs.

5. There’s a full-service beach bar serving Blizzard Beach-inspired cocktails

Fancy drink from Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

Piña CoLAVA anyone? How about a Blue Blizzard Margarita? The Polar Pub serves as Blizzard Beach’s own full-service beach bar and offers specialty cocktails inspired by the park’s stories.

6. Cross Country Creek is one of the longest lazy rivers in the U.S.A.

Cross Country Creek at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

At 3,000 feet, Cross Country Creek ranks among the longest lazy rivers in the country. It takes between 20 and 30 minutes to complete one journey around the waterway – depending, of course, on how lazy you want to be!

7. Teamboat Springs is one of the world’s longest family whitewater raft ride

Teamboat Springs at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

One of the world’s longest family whitewater raft ride is none other than Teamboat Springs at Blizzard Beach. Along the winding rapids of Teamboat Springs, guests encounter remnants of the fabled snowstorm in the form of snowshoes, snow shovels, melting icicles and a snow mobile.

Disney Cruise Line Recipes for a Tropical Holiday at Home

Posted on December 25, 2020December 25, 2020 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via DisneyLists.com

Looking for a bit of the tropics to add to your holiday? If yes, you’ll want to make these delicious Frozen inspired drinks from Summertime Freeze on Castaway Cay at home!

From a Disney Cast Member;

We love to find fun ways of bringing the magic of Disney into your home, so for this installment of #DisneyMagicMoments, we’re excited to share another series of popular recipes – this time, from Summertime Freeze at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in The Bahamas.

Like Olaf, some of us wish it was summer all year long. And while things may be a bit chilly outside, we decided to take a tropical twist on the holidays and present four blended beverage recipes that you and your family will love. Download the print-at-home recipe to get started.

Make your favorite beverage – or all of them! – and bring a small taste of island paradise into your home, or wherever you may be celebrating this holiday season.

(Careful, the “Sven’s Carrot Delight” might attract some of Santa’s reindeer.)

Disney Cast Member’s Wreath-Decorating Contest

Posted on December 25, 2020December 25, 2020 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

‘Tis the season! Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment Cast Members recently participated in a backstage wreath-decorating contest and we can’t get enough of these creative wreath creations!

As shared by Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment Facebook page:

“’Tis the season to be jolly…and creative! Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment Cast Members recently participated in a backstage wreath-decorating contest. Check out a few of the teams’ beautiful designs inspired by the animals in our care, and some extra-inventive efforts featuring many up-cycled, environmentally-friendly materials. #DisneyAnimals #DisneyCastLife #Disney #Animals #Animal #Holiday #Wreath #Decoration”