This statue has got no strings! Pinocchio is joining the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection, with his gold statue coming to Magic Kingdom.
Walt Disney Animation Studios director Chris Buck announced Pinocchio’s statue on the Disney Parks Blog Instagram story.
It was recently announced that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure would not have a standby line when opening. Like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, it will have a virtual queue which also means that Guests will not be able to ride more than once a day. The virtual queue has been a good system for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, although some Guests complain that it can be hard to grab a boarding pass. It looks like the system will be very similar, and by going on the My Disney Experience App at 7 a.m. you can grab a spot. Any available spots will be available at 1 p.m. You will be required to have a valid Park ticket and a Park reservation to be eligible to grab a boarding pass.
Walt Disney World has not announced the list of attractions for an extra fee Lightning Lane, so we cannot confirm or deny if this will be on that list. Guests are very excited about a new attraction to be coming to EPCOT. Make sure to mark your calendars for October 1st, 2021. This is going to be a 4D Adventure based on Disney and Pixar film Ratatouille.
To quote Disney “In this 4D ride experience, join Chef Remy on a daring culinary caper that will captivate all your senses as you zip, dash and scurry through the bustling kitchen, dining room and walls of Gusteau’s famous Paris restaurant. C’est magnifique!” There were several updates that were supposed to come to EPCOT and unfortunately, many of those plans got canceled. It is very exciting that we are getting a new ride, and we know Disney will outdo themselves again.
Could Disney lose its iconic symbol? DisDining.com dives into the history of the famous icon.
“Disney is set to lose its rights to Mickey, and a potential new owner is already lying in wait.
Shhh. Did you hear that–the sinister, maniacal laughter of the villain from any of your favorite Disney classic films? Yeah, me too.”
In news reminiscent of that from early 1928, Disney Dining has learned that Disney is set to lose its rights to the beloved Mickey Mouse in 2024, just three short years from now. and the enterprise poised to catch him just as he is loosed from Disney is doing so out of spite–not for the mouse–but for all he represents.
A company called MSCHF has launched its own version of Mickey Mouse–of sorts.
Its “token” isn’t referred to as Mickey, and the likeness is not quite Mickey’s either. It’s more of a copy and an idea rolled into one.
Fans and non-fans alike are invited to purchase a token that looks like a mouse. The so-called “X Famous Mouse” serves as more of a placeholder that can be bought today for $100 and redeemed in 2024 when Disney no longer owns the rights to Mickey. Once redeemed, the owner will receive an actual collectible piece of artwork.
It’s the copyright for Disney’s Steamboat Willie that is set to expire in 2024. Once the copyright expires, the character of the famous mouse as he appeared in the animated short will be part of the public domain. That is, unless Disney can pull a fast one like it did in 1988.
Faced with a similar fate in the late 80s, Disney bypassed any potential riff-raff and went straight to the federal government for help, lobbying Congress in an effort to extend its copyright on Mickey. Whether it was Disney’s powerhouse persona or a Congress full of Mickey fans, we aren’t sure. But the lobbying worked, and the copyright was extended.
But, as with all good things, the copyright is coming to an end. The so-called “Mickey Mouse Protection Act,” or, as it is more formally knows, the Copyright Term Extension Act, only extended the rights so long, and in 2024, the extension of the protection will be terminated.
MSCHF explains that it feels Disney is a “multinational behemoth, able to change national laws to suit the interests of a cartoon mouse,” and that the entertainment giant is also “a massive all-swallowing conglomerate, with a desire for both industry dominance and cultural hegemony.”
The company further says that we must “leap at the chance to take back even the scant morsels available to us; at the slightest chance we must eat them alive.”
So it would seem that MSCHF wants the rights to Mickey, not to continue to see his notoriety blossom and bloom or further his legacy, but rather to mock him and the company he represents for being such a power-hungry “conglomerate.”
Got it.
But if Disney did it once, couldn’t they do it again? Couldn’t they lobby Congress or write a letter to the President or pay a hefty sum of money to see that the copyright doesn’t expire? That remains to be seen.
And if Disney is successful in securing some kind of staying power on its Mickey copyright, MSCHF is ready for that too, saying that it will move along with the extension, should one be granted.
Catching the mouse seems to be the name of the game for MSCHF’s CEO, Gabe Whaley, who says his company is making the most of a loophole in the copyright law.
“Famous Mouse is using the idea of conceptual art as a copyright loophole,” he explained. “Copyright is always a game of loopholes.”
A loophole led to the demise of Walt’s beloved Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in early 1928. The long-eared bunny ended up the property of Universal Pictures, thanks to a contract loophole, a sneaky distributor and some less-than-loyal studio staff members.
Could it happen again in 2024? It’s possible.
Whaley explains, “This is a roundabout way to get the mouse out early.”
After closing down for almost a year and a half, Disney Cruise Line has resumed sailing out of Florida!
From a Disney Cast Member;
The Disney Dream marked our long-awaited return to cruising in the U.S. recently when it embarked on its first tropical voyage to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral. It was a special time for our cast and crew, who were excited to welcome back our guests to make memories with us once again.
As always, the Disney Dream is overflowing with fun and excitement, including appearances by beloved characters, enchanting Broadway-style musicals and fireworks at sea – tailored to our times and presented with multiple layers of health and safety protocols in place.
This was also the first time we welcomed guests to our newly enhanced terminal at Port Canaveral. The art-deco-inspired building recently received a sprinkle of pixie dust to help improve the overall boarding experience from the moment our guests arrive. New terminal features include an extended covered walkway for arrivals, expanded terminal entrance, and a new passenger bridge as well as refreshed interior touches throughout.
Across the entire fleet, our focus remains on operating in a responsible way while creating magic for all on board. As our gradual phased approach continues across the fleet, we wanted to take a second to celebrate our return to sea in the U.S. with all of you.
Take a look at what could be waiting for your family on your next Disney cruise. And, on behalf of everyone at Disney Cruise Line, we hope to see ya real soon!
WDW News Today just announced that all Guests 12 and older must be vaccinated to board a Disney Cruise. The Prime Minister of the Bahamas signed an emergency power that requires all eligible passengers to be fully vaccinated. This included all parts of the Bahamas including private islands such as Castaway Cay. The new restriction will be in effect from September 3rd through November 1st. The vaccine requirement at the moment affects the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream. The Disney Magic is currently hosting Staycations for United Kingdom residents with no ports of call.
A federal judge declared that Florida Cruise Lines can require proof of COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC guidelines, guess who have received both doses of Moderna, Pfizer, or AstraZeneca are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose. Guess who have received the one dose Johnson & Johnson are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after. Guests that do not provide proof of vaccination will not be allowed aboard. Ships with unvaccinated passengers will not even be allowed to dock. That being said, staying on the ship will not even be an option.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made vaccine passports illegal in the state of Florida which is why this ended up going to court. According to the governor’s order, businesses could be fined up to $5,000 each time they ask for proof of vaccination.
Along with those safety measures, all Guests and Cast Members will be required to wear masks while in public indoor areas of the ship. They will not be needed in outdoor areas or in staterooms. The recent Disney Cruises have only been sailing with two stops at Disney’s Private Island Castaway Cay. Any Guests that would like to modify or cancel their cruise may do so and can receive a full refund.