First Look at the 50th Anniversary Merchandise

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via Disney Destinations;

Do you remember your first pair of Mickey Mouse ears? What about your first Disney character plush? For almost 50 years, Guests from around the world have commemorated their Walt Disney World Resort trips with sentimental souvenirs that serve as timeless reminders of their vacations.

Over the years, carefully curated merchandise collections have been important piece of Walt Disney World history. Today we are giving you the first look at the merchandise collections inspired by “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” that begins Oct. 1.  

If Guests are planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation during the 18-month anniversary celebration and are looking to take home a token of the magic, we are excited to share a preview of the new collections debuting this fall across Walt Disney World Resort, with select items available at shopDisney.com.

Pre-Celebration Must-Haves

Available beginning on Aug. 12, this must-have pre-celebration collection features limited-time products, perfect for Disney fans who are visiting Walt Disney World Resort before the official 50th anniversary festivities begin. Annual Passholders can check out this special long-sleeve T-shirt exclusively for them.

Launching at the start of the celebration, three new collections will appear across Walt Disney World Resort, with select items available on shopDisney.com. Two more 50th anniversary collections will debut later this fall.  

Celebration Collection

From accessories by Dooney and Bourke and festive headwear to coordinating mommy-and-me ensembles and – fan favorite – a soap dispenser, the Celebration Collection offers a wide-ranging assortment of commemorative merchandise for the whole family, perfect for mixing and matching.

Disney Castle Collection

The iconic Magic Kingdom Park landmark, Cinderella Castle, serves as the inspiration behind this new collection. Favorite items include the collectable ornaments, the castle-themed mug and, of course, the light-up Minnie Mouse ear headband!

Vault Collection

This collection is sure be a favorite among long-time fans. It offers retro-themed designs inspired by items from the Walt Disney Archives. Paying tribute to 50 years of Walt Disney World magic, the collection includes an assortment of opening-day favorites, such as a 2021 rendition of the original Mickey Mouse ear hat, throwback T-shirt styles and vintage-inspired plush toys. And best of all, there’ll be more blasts from that past joining the collection as the celebration continues! 

EARidescent Collection

You may have noticed the new EARidescent décor on Cinderella Castle, and you will soon see more of it around Walt Disney World Resort in honor of the 50th anniversary. The latest color collection, which will debut in late October, is themed to match the EARidescent celebration and features everything from a mini-backpack by Loungefly and a Spirit Jersey to a set of sparkling Minnie ears.

And there’s more to come! This fall, look for one-of-a-kind retail displays that will incorporate Disney storytelling into the 50th merchandise shopping experience. The imaginative displays will pop up at select merchandise locations across Walt Disney World, including World of Disney at Disney Springs. The rendering pictured above was envisioned by our very own merchandise cast members Eric Rachaphoumy and Paul Seus. 

You also won’t want to miss upcoming merchandise news, where we will reveal details about the Luxe Logo Collection, a range of upscale pieces for the Disney collector that will debut in November. Stay tuned for exciting updates about “The World’s Most Magical Celebration!”

Construction Update on the Disney Wish

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via Disney Destinations

In summer 2022, the Disney Wish will sail its inaugural season of three- and four-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from its new home port of Port Canaveral, Florida. With less than a year to go, Disney Cruise Line is busy constructing the ship and has shared an update!

“Moin” from Papenburg, Germany! I’m Philip, the portfolio project management executive for Walt Disney Imagineering Germany, responsible for overseeing the design, construction and delivery of the new class of cruise ships for Disney Cruise Line. I’m excited to be your eyes and ears on the ground here at the Meyer Werft shipyard as we bring the Disney Wish to life.

These past months have been very exciting as we continue building the Disney Wish, and I want to share details on two specific spaces the team is currently working on.

Wheelhouse Installation

The wheelhouse, also known as “the bridge,” is an incredibly important part of any ship. The captain and officers command the entire ship from this location.

The wheelhouse for the Disney Wish is nearing completion and is part of a huge block to be installed on the ship in the building dock. We have all eagerly awaited this moment, as this block will truly give the Disney Wish an identity. I would even go as far as saying that it gives our ship a face!

The wheelhouse was very carefully designed both from a navigational and functional means but also from an aesthetical point of view. With the lifting and installation of this very large and very wide block, the next milestone in the impressive construction process is achieved. The second main building part of the Disney Wish, the entire foreship, has now been constructed.

The next step will be to get the first building part, the so-called gigablock, to be “married” to the foreship. Following this, the remaining aft blocks will be lifted and installed to complete the entire ship. So more to come very soon!

Bow Installation

All the ships in our fleet have very elegant lines with sleek hulls and long bows, and the Disney Wish will certainly carry on this tradition. As construction of our newest ship is progressing at full speed, another important milestone has been achieved.

Just installed is the impressive bow of the Disney Wish, where Captain Minnie will be featured in a beautifully designed medallion and filigree. As part of the shipyard’s high-tech block building principle, the bow block has been lifted and installed to reveal the graceful bow of the Disney Wish. This block is just one of nearly 100 total blocks, and the tip of the bow alone weighs an impressive 500 metric tons!

The entire process of lifting, installing and fully welding the bow block, while being suspended from the overhead gantry crane, took just under 10 hours.

Following the successful installation of this bow block, there are just over 30 blocks remaining to be installed in the coming weeks to complete the Disney Wish in time for the ship’s maiden voyage in June 2022. Stay tuned for more exciting updates on this progress!

Walt Disney World to Resume Annual Pass Sales Soon

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Big news launched out of Disneyland as the new Annual Pass program called “Magic Key” was revealed. For all the west coast Disney fans and Disney travelers, there are four new keys to choose from to fit your preference, each with slightly different perks. Sales for Magic Key will go on sale at the end of the month. While we were eager to hear the news about Disneyland’s “Magic Key”, we’ve also been very curious to know what Walt Disney World plans to do with their Annual Pass program. Currently, Annual Passes are not available for sale, although you can still renew an Annual Pass if you are a current passholder. Well, we’re happy to say – if you’re eager to become a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder – you’ll have a chance to soon enough!

As announced by Disney: “For those wondering about Walt Disney World Annual Passes, new pass sales will become available in time for the start of the 50th anniversary celebration! Walt Disney World Resort will be sharing additional information and details later this month.”

While Disney has yet to release an official sale date for the Annual Passes, we’ll be sure to share the information Disney releases “later this month”. We do however know “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” honoring Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary kicks off on October 1, 2021. With the announcement from Disney about new sales coming available in time to start the celebration – it could be anytime now, as we are just 59 days away from the grand event! Are you interested in becoming a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder? Get ready to make your purchase soon enough.

Three Disney World Cast Members Arrested in Undercover Child Predator Sting

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts, Uncategorized

Hard news to share coming out of Central Florida. Seventeen suspects have been arrested in an undercover child predator sting. Of the seventeen it is now being reported that three of the suspects are Walt Disney World Cast Members. The names and former locations of where these Cast Members worked have been released.

According to WFLA: “Seventeen people from across central Florida have been charged “Operation Child Protector,” a six-day undercover investigation into child predators held by multiple agencies. Sheriff Grady Judd said all of them intended to engage in sexual activity with what they believed were children, but instead, they encountered undercover officers who were posing as children online.”

The report goes on to share that among the suspects were three employees at Disney World including couple Savannah and Jonathan McGrew (both worked as custodians at Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and Kenneth Javier Aquino (a lifeguard at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge).

In total, the 17 suspects face 48 felony charges and two misdemeanors, with nine of them having criminal histories. To view the article details and list of suspects names, visit WFLA. We’re thankful for “Operation Child Protector” and the success in arresting these 17 predators.

Disney Releases Pricing, New Info, Commercial, and More for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

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

Disney is continuing to release more details on the new Star Wars-themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which is opening in spring 2022. A new commercial has been released along with information on what’s includes in the vacation packages and most importantly, pricing.

From a Disney Cast Member;

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is set to open in spring 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort, and today with the debut of its first commercial, we get a glimpse of what this first-of-its-kind vacation experience will be like. Check it out!

After you’ve watched this one or maybe 10 times, here are a few fun moments that stood out to me:

    • We already know our adventure will begin at the Galactic Starcruiser Terminal at Walt Disney World, where we’ll enter a launch pod and head out into space. In this new clip, we watch out a viewport as the pod jumps to hyperspace, followed by the sudden appearance of the Halcyon starcruiser, our home base for this immersive two-night adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
    • As we learned last week from Disney Imagineers, the dining experience will certainly be a highlight of a stay aboard the starcruiser. And you never know whom you may bump into while sipping a beverage.
    • You see in the commercial how the Resistance is always looking for new recruits – but will we choose to join them?
    • As our hero’s family rushes into the scene, you get a view out to space over his shoulder, and then a quick look inside the cabin. The sleeping berths we can see are reminiscent of a similar bunk inside the main hold of the Millennium Falcon, no? And those are definitely some nice robes the family is wearing – they look like Jedi ready for action!
    • When the camera pulls back, we zoom out the cabin’s viewport and into space – where suddenly TIE fighters dart in and hurl some blaster bolts toward the starcruiser. The Imagineers let us know we’ll be trained in bridge operations as part of our stay on the ship, and its laser cannons may come in handy at some point …

That’s a lot to digest in just 30 seconds! If you’re interested in learning more, head over to www.starwarsgalacticstarcruiser.com, which was updated this morning with loads of new details. While you’re there, be sure to sign up to receive updates as more information is released. You can also check out our aforementioned conversation with Imagineers all about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in the video below.

Vacation Package and Pricing Details

One question that is on everyone’s mind is how much and what is exactly is included. Disney has released more details on that front. A lot of information is available on www.starwarsgalacticstarcruiser.com including sample pricing. Take a look at the image below for what you can expect to pay for the stay.

Here is a look with details from the Walt Disney World website:

View a sample itinerary that gives you an exciting look at some of the many experiences that you may encounter during your voyage.

Your Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser vacation package includes:

    • 2-night stay in a cabin or suite.
    • Ongoing, immersive, and interactive entertainment, where choices determine your experience
    • Food and beverages on the starcruiser (excluding alcoholic and specialty beverages) and a quick-service meal at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo or other select locations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
    • Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for your planetary excursion to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
    • Valet parking.
    • Exclusive Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser databand (known on your home planet as a MagicBand).

Price based on a cabin room at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. The number of packages available is limited. All packages are a 2-night experience. Package includes entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for one (1) day on day 2 of your experience. This admission ticket expires at midnight prior to departure date and is nonupgradable, nontransferable, nonrefundable and excludes activities/events separately priced. Package includes two (2) breakfast, two (2) lunch and two (2) dinner meals per Guest, with gratuity included for dinners; and one (1) quick-service meal consisting of one (1) entrée and either one (1) nonalcoholic beverage or, if age 21 or over, one (1) alcoholic beverage (where available), or, for Guests ages 3 to 9, one (1) combo meal from the children’s menu offerings, to be used in the theme park only. Entertainment and experiences onboard subject to change without notice or liability.

Pricing has not been released for Galaxy Class Suites or Grand Captain Suites. Note that packages will be limited as there are only 100 cabins/suites available.