Thanks to the success of the already $100 million-plus earning film Jungle Cruise, based on the Disney Parks attraction, work is already underway to bring audiences a sequel.
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are set to return as riverboat captain Frank Wolff and the explorer Dr. Lily Houghton, as well as the directing and producing team of the original film.
Currently, the film has a worldwide box office of over $187 million.
A gold statue of Frozone from The Incredibles and Incredibles 2 will be on display at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this fall as part of the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection.
Composer Michael Giacchino helped announce Frozone’s inclusion in the collection.
TV and film actor Ed Asner died on August 29th at 91. According to his family, he passed Sunday, surrounded by loved ones. Asner is known for his voice role in Disney Pixar’s “Up.” Asner voiced Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old looking for, and finding, adventure.
Asner is best known for playing Lou Grant on both “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Lou Grant.” Asner won five Emmy Awards for the role. In all, Asner was awarded seven Emmy trophies.
In addition to his television success, Asner also appeared in numerous films, most notably playing Santa Claus in the Will Ferrell hit “Elf.”
Asner was previously married to Nancy Lou Sykes from 1959 to 1988. The couple had three children: Kate and twins Matthew and Liza.
It’s no secret Walt Disney World Imagineers are hard at work transforming EPCOT’s Future World into a whole new experience. Of course, the buzz lately has been surrounding what’s going on over in EPCOT’s World Showcase portion of the Park including the new Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction and new nighttime spectacular, “Harmonious” – both set to debut on October 1 for Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. While many Future World classics are staying put, several experiences are getting an upgrade. Club Cool featuring Coca-Cola has been reimagined, along with EPCOT’s new flagship shop called “Creations” – both scheduled to open “soon”. Future World’s newest restaurant, Space 220 is scheduled to open this month with no exact date just yet. We’ve even seen EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth undergo a transformation as it prepares to become a Beacon of Magic. One of the theme Park’s projects that seems to have been placed on the back burner during COVID-19 has resurfaced in discussion as Walt Disney Imagineer, Zach Riddley provides an update for EPCOT’s first-ever coaster in its “final stages”.
While announcing the addition of Rocket and Groot to Disney’s Fab 50 character sculptures, Zach Riddley shared on Instagram the following Guardian’s of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” update: “We are deep in the final stages of preparing our first Other World Showcase pavilion at EPCOT with our Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction! This stunning new addition to EPCOT will feature some firsts for the Park – our first roller coaster attraction, a brand-new storytelling coaster technology, and one of the longest indoor coasters in the world! This is a story and a set of characters that expand EPCOT’s strong legacy of real science brought to life in fantastic ways – discovering the wonders and mysteries of our galaxy and galaxies beyond. We are excited to soon welcome Rocket, Groot, and other members of the Guardians of the Galaxy to EPCOT and to take us on an adventure that’s truly out of this world!! I cannot wait to see this statue in EPCOT for #DisneyWorld50!”
Construction for the EPCOT coaster was scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2021 so that the ride’s debut would coincide with the kickoff of WDW’s 50th-anniversary celebration. Unfortunately, it’s looking like a 2022 opening seems much more likely at this point. We’re thrilled however to hear the words “final stages”! While we can’t get enough of Rock n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – EPCOT is due for a coaster! Hopefully, we’ll be able to experience the galaxy roller coaster at EPCOT soon enough.
The stunning nighttime spectacular lighting up the sky above Cinderella Castle of course! While fireworks have returned to Magic Kingdom since the Park’s phased reopening, Guests visiting the Park last night, August 31, were not able to see Happily Ever After fireworks. Walt Disney World put out an announcement and push notification via the My Disney Experience App yesterday for Magic Kingdom Guests stating that while Happily Ever After projections would still take place, any of the fireworks involved would not be part of the show. The reason was unknown at the time, but now we’re learning there was a backstage fire that caused the hold-up of fireworks for the Disney Park.
We previously shared the news that Disney announced they would be testing new fireworks on August 30 and September 1. The new show firework show replacing Happily Ever After on October 1, 2021, for the 50th Anniversary Celebration is “Disney Enchantment“. It seems like during the August 30 testing of Disney fireworks for “Disney Enchantment”, one of the fireworks launching areas caught fire.
Reporter Scott Gustin shares, “A fire backstage at a fireworks launch site last night is why there will be no fireworks during Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom tonight. The projections will happen – but no pyro tonight.” With the shared video of the noticeable smoke as shown below:
Gustin goes on to share, “I don’t have any information about any possible damage to the fireworks launch site or the exact location of the fire near the launch site – but it is the reason fireworks were canceled tonight.”
Magic Kingdom’s new fireworks display, “Disney Enchantment” isn’t the only set of fireworks that are undergoing testing. EPCOT’s “EPCOT Forever” is being replaced by “Harmonious“. Each theme Park is scheduled to debut the new fireworks shows on October 1.
Our hope is that all those visiting Magic Kingdom today (September 1) will have the opportunity to see Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After WITH fireworks tonight! We’re curious to see if Disney will be testing “Disney Enchantment” fireworks once again tonight, September 1 as previously noted.