Disney Adds Annual Passholder Perk Offering More Savings

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

Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholders are given much more than access to booking reservations to the Disney Parks.

Throughout the year, Disney offers exclusive discounts and perks that are only available to those who hold the Annual Passes.

At this point, the selling of Annual Passes has not returned at Walt Disney World Resort. While the Disney World Annual Pass Incredi-Pass, Disney Sorcerer Pass, Disney Pirate Pass, and Disney Pixie Dust passes are all still noted on the website, they are all listed as “unavailable” and have not been available for purchase since November of last year.

disney world annual pass

Current Annual Passholders can still renew their passes online, meaning that they are in a select group when it comes to accessing massive benefits and perks that come with being a passholder.

That’s why, if you are a Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholder, you need to get to shopDisney quick!

Through March 17, Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholders can now get 25% off their purchases of $75.00 or more.

Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom

To take advantage of this perk, you’ll have to link your Disney Annual Pass to your shopDisney account, if you haven’t done so already. From there, just sign into your shopDisney account and place all the items you want to purchase in your bag. Enter the code “WDW25” at checkout and you’re all set! Please keep in mind that select merchandise, including non-Disney branded items, are not eligible for this discount.

shopDisney is the official home of all Disney merchandise. The online store carries just about anything Disney-themed you could imagine, including Park collections, Ears, as well as Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar merchandise, and much more.

disney world partners statue castle

Legendary Actor, William Hurt, Dead at 71

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

We have some sad news to report on coming out of Hollywood. Iconic actor William Hurt has died at the age of 71. At this time, his death is being reported as “natural causes. The news was reported by the actor’s son, Will Hurt. Hurt shared:

“It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday. He died peacefully, among family, of natural causes. The family requests privacy at this time.”

Throughout his extensive film career, the Oscar-winning actor was in a number of notable films, including Kiss of the Spider Woman, Broadcast News, and Lost In Space. He also appeared in a number of television shows, including Damages, Humans, and Pantheon, which was in the middle of filming when the actor passed. While Hurt appeared in a number of successful Hollywood films and shows, he also made his mark on both the Disney and Marvel universes.

Tuck Everlasting

Disney fans may recognize Hurt from his role in the 2002 film Tuck Everlasting — which also starred Alexis Bledel and Jonathan Jackson, Sissy Spacek, and Victor Garber. Hurt played the Tuck family patriarch Angus Tuck. The film was a wonderful, sad love story that was a hit amongst Disney’s younger female audience. If it’s been a while since you have seen the film, or have yet to see it (which you definitely should), here is a summary from Disney:

Young Winnie Foster, stifled by the formality of her proper life and domineering mother, escapes into the woods only to get lost. Soon she happens upon Jesse Tuck – a boy full of life and adventure who’s unlike anyone she’s ever met – and falls in love. The Tucks, a kind and generous family, have a powerful secret – a spring that holds the magic of everlasting life. And now Winnie must choose to live life as she knows it or drink from the spring.

Tuck Everlasting

While Disney fans may recognize Hurt, Marvel fans around the world will recognize him even more. Hurt had an extensive career within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has appeared in a number of films — The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Avengers Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Widow. In all of those films, he played Secretary Thaddeus Ross, a former Lieutenant-General of the US Army, who then becomes Secretary of State. Ross was responsible for attempting to recreate the Super Soldier Serum that created Captain America, and in turn, the serum that created Bruce Banner AKA The Incredible Hulk.

During his illustrious career, Hurt was nominated for multiple Academy and Golden Globe Awards. He also performed on Broadway and was nominated for A Tony Award. Hurt is survived by his four children.

Orlando man sentenced to 15 years in prison for molesting children at Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

An Orlando man who was convicted of molesting multiple underage Guests at Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort in 2019 has been sentenced to 15 years in prison according to ClickOrlando, a local news station in the Central Florida area.

James Anthony Jones, 53, was first arrested Jones was first arrested on October 17, 2019, and charged with lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim between 12 and 15 years old after he molested two children at Magic Kingdom. Orange County deputies said that the first victim was with her mother at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe inside the park when a man later identified as Jones inappropriately touched the young girl.

Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

Records show that surveillance cameras captured the incident. Shortly thereafter, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies received another report involving a man with a similar description to the one in the Christmas shop. This time, an incident occurred in the preshow area of the Haunted Mansion attraction in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom.

Later that evening, the man was located–still at Magic Kingdom–and Cast Members played a role in helping authorities by identifying the man.

Following the incidents, Disney released a statement, calling Jones’s actions “unacceptable.”

Then in November 2019, after two more victims were identified, Jones faced additional charges.

James Anthony Jones was later convicted and received his sentence this month. The judge presiding over the sentencing in the case gave the Florida man a 15-year prison sentence, but according to court records, Jones will receive credit for the 867 days already served. He was also designated as a sex offender as part of the conviction and sentencing.

Guest Jumps Off Big Thunder Mountain to Retrieve His Phone

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

On a recent Disneyland vacation, Guests riding Big Thunder Mountain came to a sudden stop due to a Guest jumping out of the ride vehicle in an attempt to retrieve his phone.

“Hang onto your hats and glasses, folks, cause this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!”

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an adrenaline filled coaster located in Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort that takes Guests through the wild wild west. Known as the “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness”, Disneyland describes this coaster as:

Hang Onto Yer Hats!

Legend has it that after gold was discovered in the 1850s, eerie incidents took place in the mine. Trains would take off and race through tunnels… by themselves.As you enter the cursed cavern, your train speeds up along the rickety track. Shoot under a booming waterfall and dodge a falling boulder from an unexpected landslide as you swoop around sharp turns and drop into desolate canyons.

On this rip-roaring adventure, you may learn that some legends turn out to be true…

Well, on a recent trip to Disneyland, Guests had to evacuate Big Thunder Mountain after a Guest decided to jump out of the moving ride vehicle in an attempt to retrieve his phone.
guest jumps off big thunder mountain

In a video posted to TikTok, as Guests went up the second hill on the ride, a Guest was caught jumping out of the ride vehicle and running down the hill in order to try and find his phone. In the screenshot above, you can see where the Guest got out of the vehicle.

guest jumps off big thunder mountain

On his way back up the hill, the ride vehicle came to a complete stop and Cast Members came over the loud speaker to inform the ride will be shutting down.

In the screenshot above, the Guest apologizes to the rest of the ride group as he runs back up the hill, saying “Sorry, y’all”.

Guests were then evacuated off of Big Thunder Mountain and brought to safety.

big thunder mountain disneyland

Jumping out of a moving ride vehicle after being told to stay seated at all times is extremely unsafe and a violation of the rules at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Depending on the scenario, a Guest can be removed from the park and even receive a lifetime ban for breaking the rules such as these.

Disney Unveils Height Requirements For ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Coaster

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

Walt Disney World Resort fans are anxiously awaiting the opening of the all-new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind roller coaster coming soon to EPCOT.

The state-of-the-art roller coaster that rotates 360 degrees and has the first-ever reverse launch on a coaster in Disney history is rumored to be opening on Memorial Day weekend. Disney executive Geoff Morrell may have accidentally leaked the date just a couple of weeks ago when he tweeted out that the coaster would be opening during the weekend. He swiftly deleted the Tweet and changed it to “opening soon.” 

Now, we’ve got new information to pass along about the coaster.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

Twitter user @DrewDisneyDude recently shared the height requirements for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT will be 42 inches.

As mentioned in the Tweet, the height requirements for similar coasters like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40 inches), Expedition Everest (44 inches), and Slinky Dog Dash (38 inches) are all in about the same range.

Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley recently shared the first close-up photos of details inside the line queue of the attraction and said this on Instagram:

Recently we revealed our first-look at the bold and colorful design for our load station at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – coming to EPCOT this summer.

One of the ways that we help tell the story is by infusing details into all the various functional items that make up an attraction and this one is no different. And I’m excited to show some close up photos of these details.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Angular designs, striking use of colors, and materials all help tell the story of a Nova Corps facility. The railings, station gates and floor markings (yes, the floor is pretty cool too 😊) are all used to convey the experience in ways that might not be as obvious or apparent, but every detail is a choice that supports our story. And much of Nova Corps designs are inspired by their star symbol and that symbol makes several appearances in the space in striking illuminated graphics.

Seen in these new close-up images of our station gates have a weight and scale to them to help convey the industrial nature of the area. Handrails made from stainless steel give a sturdy and durable feel and show the precision craftsmanship of the Nova Corps.

An attraction of this scale includes many thousands of design details that work together to create mood, place and action – and these are just a few of the many you’ll see here. Thank you to everyone working hard to put our finishing touches on this experience – inside and out.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind