Medals Revealed for 2022 runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

runDisney has released the medal designs for the 2022 runDisney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, and we’re so excited!

From a Disney Cast Member;

Get ready to savor the music, the stories and more found in EPCOT’s World Showcase during the 2022 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend powered by Shokz! In a harmonious celebration of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary and the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, this race weekend will explore the heart of the human spirit found in the international cultures around World Showcase. Between the food and wine, music and magic, runners will have so much to celebrate!

Today we are serving up a reveal of this year’s exciting finisher medals that will be awaiting runners at the finish line. Take a look:

Disney Wine & Dine 5K powered by Shokz

It’s time to seize your moment during the 2022 Disney Wine & Dine 5K, celebrating Disney and Pixar’s “Coco”! The runDisney community is quite a familia and together we will celebrate the inspiration of the Mexico Pavilion all along the 3.1-mile course. Runners will be ready to let out their best grito when they finish this race to remember!

Disney Wine & Dine 10K powered by Shokz

Runners need only to take the first step to find themselves during the 2022 Disney Wine & Dine 10K. Celebrating the valiant story of Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” this 6.2-mile course takes inspiration from the vibrant music, stories and magic of Southeast Asia that guests will find throughout the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon powered by Shokz

Life is full of possibilities, especially for runners during the 2022 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon. Taking inspiration from Disney and Pixar’s “Soul” and the “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” exhibit found in the American Adventure Pavilion, participants will get lost in the rhythm during this 13.1-mile course. From start line to finish, runners will find their spark while celebrating the music and magic of the incredible tapestry that makes up the U.S.A.

Disney Two Course Challenge powered by Shokz

Genie from Disney’s “Aladdin” joins us for the 2022 Disney Two Course Challenge, bringing together the international cultures of the World Showcase in a universal celebration of human spirit. Participants of the challenge will be rewarded with the prestigious challenge medal showcasing a unique locket design with the Genie inside!

We’re still serving up the opportunity to join us virtually and run on a course of your choosing with limited spots remaining for the 2022 Virtual Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend! From 3.1 to 19.3 miles, explore one-of-a-kind race options that will bring the magic of a runDisney event to you!

You also won’t want to miss out on celebrating your race weekend accomplishments during the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Post-Race Party. From access to EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Global Marketplaces and select EPCOT attractions to exclusive entertainment and more, it’s a party you and your friends and family won’t want to miss. Head over to runDisney.com to purchase your tickets today!

New Details From Eyewitness to Magic Kingdom Brawl

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

More details have emerged about the brawl at Magic Kingdom tonight. We spoke to a bystander about the incident who was able to give us an eyewitness account. The fight involved two separate families, names at this time are unknown so for now we will call them “Green Shirt” and “White Shirt Family”. The incident occurred due to a supposed line cutting incident at Mickey’s Philharmagic. 

The sister of the man in the green shirt realized she left her phone in her ECV and left the line to go retrieve it. When she returned  White Shirt family did not want to let her back through at which point they pushed her. 

The sister made her way back to her brother where they proceeded to watch the show without further incident.  

After the show, however, White Shirt Family was waiting for Green Shirt at the attraction’s exit. Green Shirt told them that he didn’t want any trouble, but according to the bystander we spoke with, White Shirt Family ganged up on him and “jumped him”. 

Several bystanders and Cast Members attempted to break it up but the scene was so chaotic no one could get a handle on the situation.  

Expletives were shouted and at one point White Shirt Family called Green Shirt and his sister “terrorists” according to the bystander. 

The bystander estimated that it took approximately 6 minutes for Disney Security to arrive on scene. They were shortly followed by local Sheriffs and EMS. Green Shirt left with EMS and we are told he had a decent cut on his face. 

It’s unknown if anyone involved was arrested, though we did check the arrest log for Orange County for Wednesday July 20 and didn’t find anyone matching the descriptions of either White Shirt Family or Green Shirt. 

The bystander we spoke with said the whole situation was “traumatic” to witness and they wished Disney “had better security measures” because “you just never know these days”. 

We will update you if any new information about this situation comes to light. Here is the video again for those who may have missed it: 

MagicBand+ Launch Date Announced at Walt Disney World

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

The long-awaited launch of MagicBand+ has been announced! The next-generation MagicBand+ will add new functionality to unlock experiential moments of magic.

It’s time to band together because MagicBand+ is launching July 27 at Walt Disney World Resort!

At Walt Disney World, MagicBand+ can do everything a MagicBand can do and more – from entering theme parks with a tap* and connecting your Disney PhotoPass memories, to unlocking your Disney Resort hotel room and more.

But our newest wearable also has great new features, including color-changing lights, haptic vibrations, and gesture recognition – plus it pairs to your smartphone using the My Disney Experience app. Once you get your hands on one, you’ll want to do it all – and there’s a lot you can do when MagicBand+ launches!

Before you head out on these exciting new experiences, you’ll want to pick out the perfect MagicBand+ from an incredible lineup of more than 25 designs.

Disney Fab 50 Quest

As part of the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration, you can interact with the Disney Fab 50 Character Collection throughout all four theme parks with the “Disney Fab 50 Quest.” Help Tinker Bell bring the sculptures to life across all four Walt Disney World theme parks using virtual pixie dust from Tink.

Jodi Benson, who you may know as the voice of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” recently embarked on the quest and caught up with a few familiar friends – Sebastian and Flounder!

Sebastian and Flounder are just a few characters you may meet!

You can wave your hand to sprinkle virtual pixie dust at each Disney Fab 50 Character sculpture for different reactions! To unlock even more during your quest, use the Play Disney Parks app to collect the sculptures and enter the worlds of your favorite characters through an augmented reality feature.**

Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters

On Batuu, the bounty hunting business is booming. MagicBand+ is your guide to seeking numerous virtual bounties hidden across Black Spire Outpost with the Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters experience. Vibrations and lights on MagicBand+ guide you down the right path. When you find your Bounty, you can use the Play Disney Parks app’s augmented reality thermal viewer to reveal who’s hiding in the shadows.** Local guild master Raga Bua will reward you with galactic credits. Do you have what it takes to join the guild?

Nighttime Spectaculars

MagicBand+ brings the magic of Disney nighttime spectaculars closer than ever before during “Disney Enchantment” at Magic Kingdom Park and “Harmonious” at EPCOT! MagicBand+ complements the magic in the skies, lighting up and vibrating in sync with fireworks, visual effects, and music. Your MagicBand+ will also engage as all four theme park icons transform into Beacons of Magic!

Some of our cast members were among the first to enjoy these experiences in advance of the official launch. Before you embark on these experiences, make sure your MagicBand+ is charged, up to date and paired to your device. We’ve got you covered with easy how-to videos on DisneyWorld.com so you can get right to it.

If you’re planning to get one or even collect some, don’t forget that Disney Resort hotel guests may purchase MagicBand+ online at special prices before their arrival. Annual Passholder discounts will also be available on MagicBand+ (visit disneyworld.com/pass for more information). All guests can buy MagicBand+ at select stores across Walt Disney World and online at shopDisney, starting at $34.99.

At Walt Disney World, you can purchase a MagicBand+ at the following locations:

    • Magic Kingdom Park: Emporium
    • EPCOT: Pin Traders – Camera Center
    • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Celebrity 5 & 10 and Tatooine Traders
    • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Discovery Trading Company
    • Disney Springs: Disney’s Pin Traders
    • Select merchandise locations at Disney Resort hotels

Although features and experiences across Disney Parks will vary, Disneyland Resort guests will be able to get in on the MagicBand+ fun later this year. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting future for MagicBand+ at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts!

*With valid admission and park reservation

**To use the Play Disney Parks mobile app to enhance the MagicBand+ experience, guests must be logged into the Play Disney Parks app with the Disney account linked with their MagicBand+.

Chaos at Magic Kingdom As Brawl Breaks Out

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

Today on “Guests Behaving Badly“, a fight broke out at Magic Kingdom this evening. It’s unknown at this time what the fight was about but we will update you as more information becomes available. 

Fight might be an understatement, what went down looked to be an all out brawl, family feud style! In a now removed video on TikTok, all of the fight participants were wearing matching shirts which suggests they were all part of the same group and not a random attack. 

The fight broke out in front of Peter Pan’s Flight around 7:30 pm tonight on Wednesday July 20. Children can be heard screaming and crying in the background and the scene was absolute chaos with trash strewn everywhere.

The person who captured the video can be heard asking where security is (which is a very good question as the fight went on for a good bit with no Disney intervention). Some bystanders did appear to try to break up the fight to no avail. 

We have reached out to the bystander who shot the video for comment and will update you as more details become available. 

 Though the video has been deleted on TikTok, it can be found here on Facebook in the Walt Disney World Annual Passholders group. 

The video has been posted to Twitter. Check it out below:

ABC’s Live-Action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Special Has Cast Its Belle!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

It seems nearly impossible to believe, but this year, Disney is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its classic film, Beauty and the Beast. That’s right, 30 years ago, audiences were introduced to Belle, the Beast, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Gaston, and more. Disney wants to celebrate the special anniversary of its Oscar-winning movie and, on December 15, Disney and ABC will air a special live-action/animated version of the film. We already knew that the special will be directed by Jon M. Chu — who also directed Crazy Rich Asians — and now Disney has revealed that they have cast Belle!

Disney has revealed that the role of Belle will be played by Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. After the news was shared, H.E.R. — born Gabriella Wilson — released a statement, saying she was incredibly excited to play one of Disney’s most famous princesses. The statement, shared by The Hollywood Reporter, read:

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy. The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle! I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors Hamish Hamilton and my favorite, Jon M. Chu. It is very surreal and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Jon M. Chu also released a statement and said that he was very excited to work with H.E.R. on such a special event.

With her obvious extraordinary talent and stage presence, H.E.R. is the perfect embodiment of our Belle, and we are thrilled for audiences to see her in this celebration of creativity. We were both influenced as storytellers by the original animated movie, so it’s very exciting to collaborate together to honor the artistry of that timeless classic while also inspiring a whole new generation of creators.”

The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report on the special anniversary show, revealing the following:

The Disney-backed broadcast network is making a two-hour, live-action/animated special that will feature a new cast and air Dec. 15 on the broadcast network. Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Wicked) is on board to executive produce the project, which will be directed by Hamish Hamilton. The latter is best known for helming awards shows including the Emmys and Grammys, as well as the Super Bowl halftime show, ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live and a pair of Disney’s quarantine-era singalongs.

Disney’s live-action/animated Beauty and the Beast special will air on ABC on December 15 and will then be made available on December 16 to all Disney+ subscribers. The special is exciting news to all Beauty and the Beast fans, especially since Disney broke the news that it was indefinitely delaying — most likely canceling — the spinoff series, Little Town. The show was set to star Josh Gad and Luke Evans as LeFou and Gaston and tell their story before they ended up in Belle’s provincial town.