Details Announced for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel at Walt Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Hollywood Studios

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will fully immerse guests in a galaxy far, far away when it debuts in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort. As part of this first-of-its-kind vacation experience, guests become the heroes of their own stories during a two-day, two-night adventure where they see, feel and live Star Wars.

A model of the Halcyon starcruiser is viewable by guests for a limited time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. When guests book the two-night vacation experience for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, debuting at Walt Disney World Resort in 2022, they will stay aboard this glamorous ship as they plunge into an all-immersive Star Wars story that goes beyond anything Disney has created before. (David Roark, photographer)

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser invites guests into a new kind of “storyliving” as they travel the galaxy in style aboard the glamorous Halcyon starcruiser, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. They will stay in well-appointed cabins, experience exquisite dining and out-of-this-world entertainment, visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and much more.

Throughout the journey, guests’ choices will determine their personal adventures by interacting with characters, crew and other passengers they meet as they become part of the action and the broader Star Wars saga. Decisions guests make will determine how their individual stories unfold as they seize control of their destinies – and potentially impact the fate of the galaxy.

Launch from Walt Disney World Resort

  • The adventure begins when guests arrive at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser terminal at Walt Disney World and check in for their two-night experience.
  • Guests will enter a Launch Pod to begin their Star Wars Through windows above, they’ll see themselves leave their world behind as they jump into hyperspace and draw closer and closer to the massive and magnificent Halcyon starcruiser.
  • When the Launch Pod docks with the starcruiser and the airlock opens, guests will step into the ship’s main deck Atrium to begin their journey through a galaxy far, far away.

An All-Immersive Experience

  • A visit aboard the Halcyon starcruiser plunges guests into a multi-day, interactive story that interweaves with members of the crew, other passengers, familiar Star Wars characters and others. Guests may encounter the starcruiser’s strong and charismatic captain, the ship’s plucky mechanic, heroes of the Resistance or many more as they choose alliances and chart their courses.
  • The all-immersive experience features enthralling onboard activities, such as:
    • Learning the ancient ways of the lightsaber and facing off against a training remote, where guests may discover their own connection with the Force.
    • Visiting the starcruiser’s Bridge to learn about its systems and how to operate them, including navigation and defense – skills that may come in handy during a journey through this adventure-filled galaxy.
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  • Guests will find refreshment each day in an enticing supper club known as the Crown of Corellia Dining Room. This bright and welcoming hall will offer breakfast and lunch daily to passengers before transitioning each evening into a lavish multi-course menu of both otherworldly and familiar origins.
    • One night’s dinner will feature a live performance from a galactic superstar who can captivate an entire room with the crook of her jewel-encrusted purple Twi’lek finger.
  • The journey also includes an excursion to Batuu, where guests can explore the winding pathways of Black Spire Outpost and seek out a hidden Resistance base.

Fun Facts – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

  • Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser guests will be the first to see characters like Rey wield a brand-new, more realistic lightsaber designed by Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development to create dramatic in-person moments previously only seen in films or shows.
  • Every window in the Halcyon starcruiser – including those in each cabin – has a view of the galaxy beyond, with ever-changing vistas as the ship progresses from destination to destination.
  • Guests will be able to explore the starcruiser and perhaps discover hidden spaces deep in the mechanics of the ship – perfect for uncovering secrets … or holding clandestine meetings.
  • The Crown of Corellia Dining Room is named for Corellia, the planet known galaxy-wide for the shipyards that created not only the Halcyon starcruiser, but also the famed Millennium Falcon.
  • For a limited time, guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios can now see a model of the Halcyon starcruiser on display inside Walt Disney Presents.

Florida Governor Suspends All COVID Orders While Disney Reminds Guests To Maintain Guidelines

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Yesterday was a big day for the state of Florida as the Governor announced he is suspending all COVID orders as of July 1. Disney was quick to send out a push notification to Walt Disney World guests that they are currently maintaining their health and safety guidelines.

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspending all local COVID-19 emergency orders by executive order on Monday (5/3), while signing a law that restricts what both governors and mayors can do during pandemics. ‘I think that’s the evidence-based thing to do,’ DeSantis said at a news conference in St. Petersburg. ‘I think folks that are saying they need to be policing people at this point, if you’re saying that, then you’re really saying you don’t believe in the vaccines.’”

OrlandoSentinel goes on to share: “The bill, which takes effect on July 1, would also ban businesses from requiring so-called “vaccination passports,” putting into law DeSantis’s executive order from last month. The law forbids businesses from requiring proof of vaccination against COVID for entrance.”

WDWNT reported that on the heels of that announcement Walt Disney World sent out a push notification to Walt Disney World guests via the My Disney Experience app that stated: “Important Information: We are aware of the state of Florida’s plans announce today to modify COVID-19 guidelines. We will evaluate this latest guidance and maintain our current health and safety measures at this time, including face covering requirements. We will continue to make thoughtful adjustments to our policy. As COVID-19 vaccines become available, we encourage people to get vaccinated.”

Disney College Program Returning, Past Participants Invited to Reapply

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via wdwnt.com

Disney has announced that the Disney College Program, which was suspended in March of 2020 alongside park closures due to COVID-19, is returning. Below is Disney’s communication on how the program will be resumed:

Along with much of the world, we’re encouraged by the progress made possible by rising vaccination rates and recently revised guidance around health and safety measures. And while we’re seeing some additional positive signs, we still have a ways to go to a full recovery. This summer we are opening more Disney hotels, sports and convention groups are returning and we are reintroducing some of our guest-favorite offerings.

Disney College Program signup

As our industry and community continue to bounce back, we have welcomed back thousands of cast members to work and have also restarted our recruitment efforts amid a tight labor market at Walt Disney World. Both of these measures are important indicators toward fully reopening our businesses and getting more people back to work.

Right now, we are also ready to welcome back students and are excited to announce the relaunch of the Disney College Program this June. We are inviting participants whose program ended early or was suspended in 2020 to reapply and join us. Today, May 3, these participants will receive exclusive communication via email about this exciting opportunity.

The Disney College Program has always been a source of optimism and pride for our company with participants who each bring new ideas, talents, and perspectives to the table. While that won’t change, we are evolving our Disney Programs to reflect the new world around us.

Disney College Program roles

Applying to the Disney College Program will be even easier with a simplified application process, a concierge team of recruiters you can engage with on social media, and year-long arrival dates. We have temporarily modified some of our eligibility requirements so that many of you can still apply, even if you’ve already graduated. We’re also developing new ways for participants to shape their future careers, exploring a variety of roles and connecting with Disney professionals as they make magic.

We have also been thinking of other college and university students who may be eagerly awaiting their own Disney experience. Right now, we’re focused on bringing the Disney College Program back to Walt Disney World Resort and will have more to share about Disney International Programs, Disney Culinary Program, and those at Disneyland® Resort later. The good news is that there is much to come in the future of the program, and we can’t wait to share more information with you when that time comes. Keep an eye out here on the blog, follow us on social media, or opt-in for email updates to stay in the know.

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Disney has also added some details about the new Flamingo Crossings Village complex, which opened to Cast Members this past December:

We want you to know that we’re relaunching the Program in a thoughtful and responsible way, with the safety of our participants and our working cast always at the forefront of our planning, particularly as we consider a new approach to housing at the new, state-of-the-art Flamingo Crossings Village complex. Those who return to a program this summer will be the first participants to call this beautiful new community home.

Similar to what we’ve done to help reduce risk in our theme parks and resorts, we are also putting in place a combination of measures for our participants. Participants will receive pre-arrival communication regarding our enhanced safety measures, including updates that promote physical distancing, required face coverings in all common areas, and a new contactless, curbside move-in experience. Like many colleges and universities, we’re also modifying the occupancy of our units, giving fully vaccinated participants the opportunity to live with other fully vaccinated participants.

flamingo-crossings-village-pool-5991347

This incredible, state-of-the-art complex will surely dazzle and delight participants, adding to the holistic Disney Programs experience.  The apartment complex offers a variety of amenities, including a resort-style pool, study areas, and fitness facilities.

A previous Disney College Program residence, the Vista Way Apartment Complex, was put up for sale by Disney last month.

Closer Look Inside Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Avengers Campus, an entirely new land dedicated to discovering, recruiting, and training the next generation of Super Heroes, will open June 4, 2021, at Disneyland Resort, inside Disney California Adventure Park. Disney has released more details and photos of the new land and we can’t wait to visit!

From a Disney Cast Member;

Calling all Super Hero recruits! We recently shared first-look images of Avengers Campus, opening at Disney California Adventure park on June 4. Today, I’m excited to take you back inside of Avengers Campus for a closer look at just some of the details you may come across as you visit the different addresses. But first, did you know that Campus stands for Centralized Assembly Mobilized to Prepare, Unite, and Safeguard? Now you know!

The main entrance to the land is located adjacent to the Worldwide Engineering Brigade – also known as WEB, however, the land also features a back entrance just outside of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, one of the land’s anchor attractions. Touring this area, I discovered a curious substance.

A late addition to the Campus, Taneleer Tivan, a.k.a. the Collector, placed his Fortress against its edges. This placement warped the ground immediately surrounding the alien stronghold causing a cosmic disruption to ooze from the ground below. Hues of blues, purples and yellows glow in the daylight. Pretty rad, huh?

Nearby, The Collector is also curating a weird and wonderful menu of intergalactic eats at the Terran Treats food cart. Just one of his curious creations, the Sweet Spiral Ration Churros will feature unique and unexpected flavors. You never know what you’re going to get, but trust me, they are delicious!

Around the corner, Pym Test Kitchen featuring Impossible™ is a food innovation science lab where the food and drinks tell a story. As we’ve shared before, just as Ant-Man and The Wasp use “Pym Particles” to grow and shrink just about anything, Pym Technologies applies this innovative science to the creation of inventive-sized foods, like the pretzels that grow and shrink as they pass through the quantum tunnel. This logic also applies to the beverages and condiments, seen here overhead in the beverage and condiment station. No appetite is too big or too small here!

Back outside, we come to the heart of the land – Avengers Headquarters, where you will find the emblematic Avengers “A” on the building and surrounding areas. At Avengers HQ, you may catch a glimpse of the Avengers springing into action, ready to save the day. A shining Quinjet sits atop its roof as a beacon for the campus.

Close by, but what feels like is located in another dimension are the overgrown ruins of an Ancient Sanctum. For as long as anyone can remember, rumors of unexplained events and energies have emanated from this remote location. Here, you’ll learn mysterious secrets from Doctor Strange and discover ancient, magical artifacts. Pictured here, the Orb of Cagliostro is known to be especially active at night when it flows with magical energy!

And for our final stop on today’s tour, we come to the front of the land. Back in the 1940s, Tony Stark’s father built a Stark Motors factory here in California, and decades later, Tony transformed the site into the Worldwide Engineering Brigade – also known as WEB. This is the place where bright innovators like Peter Parker have been assembled by Tony Stark to invent new technologies and equip everyday people to become heroes. While the Avengers themselves are sleek, organized, and structured, WEB is expressive, youthful and chaotic. You’ll notice this throughout WEB. For example, outside the former factory building, you can’t miss the colorful graffiti murals created by young recruits with a knack for the arts.

Okay, that concludes our tour for today, but there’s more to discover as you wander the campus. We can’t wait for you to share your findings when you visit.

Snow White’s Enchanted Wish Attraction at Disneyland Now Being Criticized for Nonconsensual “True Love’s Kiss” Scene

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via wdwnt.com

When Disneyland reopened at the end of April, the new Snow White’s Enchanted Wish opened as well. The ride is a reimagining of the former Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and Disney has been heavily promoting the new version of the attraction. One of the major new scenes near the ride’s finale features Snow White and Prince Charming’s kiss, an integral part of the movie.

Disney is now under criticism from those who believe the scene should have been omitted from the ride as it portrays a situation in which Snow White cannot consent to be kissed. Acts of physical contact are often considered nonconsensual when one or more parties is asleep, inebriated, or otherwise not of sound mind.

Those who support the scene’s inclusion often cite that a Snow White attraction without true love’s kiss would then exclude a main plot point from the story, and the kiss is considered a life-saving action rather than a violation of Snow White’s autonomy.

Disney’s role in the portrayal of social and cultural issues has been a hot topic lately. This controversy follows in the wake of Disney’s push for inclusivity. Major changes have been afoot at the parks, including the new Disney Look guidelines and the ongoing refurbishments at the Jungle Cruise, plus the upcoming closure of Splash Mountain at the U.S. parks.