Disney announces a new “Encanto”-themed attraction coming to Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

President of Disney Parks, Products and Experiences announced today, alongside Disney’s Chris Beatty and Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee, that Magic Kingdom will soon welcome an Encanto-themed attraction.

Disney’s Encanto is Walt Disney Animation’s 60th full-length animated feature film. It opened at the box office during the week of Thanksgiving in 2021, and then it debuted on the Disney+ streaming platform just in time for Christmas.

Encanto tells the story of the amazing Madrigal family living deep in the Colombian mountains. The family has been given a gift–one that has bestowed a special ability or talent on every member single Madrigal–all except one, named Mirabel.

Mirabel is often reminded that she’s the “unspecial” Madrigal–the only Madrigal whose emotions don’t cause weather disturbances, who can’t make herself turn into another person, who can’t heal others with food. But Mirabel–and the other Madrigals–soon learn that there’s more to the so-called “unspecial” Madrigal than anyone ever knew.

Disney’s Encanto created an entirely new group of Disney fans–those who love the story, the colors, the excitement, the music, and the pageantry of Encanto, and now, Disney Parks is finally getting in on the joy of the animated film, as Josh D’Amaro announced on Sunday during the 2022 D23 Expo Parks Panel than an exciting Encanto-themed addition is in the planning stages for Magic Kingdom.

The new addition will feature casita, the house where all of the Madrigal family lives, as well as an introduction to all the members of the family as Mirabel introduces Guests to her lovely family members, like Abuela, Tia Pepa, Dolores, Camilo, and others.

Though we don’t have any details as of yet–and we have no opening date or exact location of the new addition, we gather from what D’Amaro, Beatty and Lee said, that the new Encanto-inspired attraction will be part of a greater expansion at Magic Kingdom, which has also not yet been given an opening date.

Disney Announces Fantastic New Character Meet and Greet at EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

At D23 Expo 2022, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared a look into the future for Disney theme parks and beyond. One of the announcements about a new character meet and greet at EPCOT has sparked our imagination and interest.

From a Disney Cast Member;

Imagination has always been a core theme at EPCOT, with attractions and experiences that push the boundaries. There’s one key character who always comes to mind when we think about imagination, and he’s coming to life in a whole new way by the end of next year. That’s right, you’ll be able to meet Figment in person at EPCOT.

Trailer AND a Premiere Date For ‘The Santa Clauses’!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

It may just be September, but it is never too early to start getting excited about the holiday season. It’s always fun to think about the gifts you’ll buy, the delicious food you’ll indulge in, and the Christmas shows and movies that will make your days merrier.

This holiday season, Disney is bringing back the nostalgia and releasing a brand-new series based on the first family of Christmas — The Santa Clauses. The Santa Clauses follows Scott Calvin — AKA Santa Claus — as he goes on the search for the perfect person to replace him as Father Christmas.

Last weekend, at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, Disney shared more information on the new series, including a premiere date! The Santa Clauses will premiere on Disney+ on November 16.

If that wasn’t exciting enough, Disney also released the first official trailer for the series, which you can watch below.

Here is more information on the fun and festive new series coming to Disney+:

Scott Calvin is back! After being Santa Claus for nearly thirty years, he’s as jolly as ever. But as Christmas declines in popularity, so does his Santa magic. Scott struggles to keep up with the demands of the job, as well as being there for his family. Upon discovering there is a way to retire from his post, Scott considers stepping down as Santa Claus and finding a worthy successor so that he can become a better father and husband.

The Santa Clauses will also star Elizabeth Mitchell — reprising her role as Mrs. Claus — Kal Penn will play game designer Simon Choski, Austin Kane will appear as Cal, Elizabeth Allen Dick will play Sandra, Devin Bright will play Santa’s elf helper Noel, and Matilda Lawler will play Santa’s right-hand elf, Betty.

The film will also introduce a Christmas witch, played by Laura San Giacomo, and, much to the delight of fans, David Krumholtz will return to reprise his role as Bernard — the head elf in the first two films.

Again, The Santa Clauses will premiere on Disney+ on November 16.

Villains Land Teased By Disney

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

The Walt Disney Company has always been a champion of imagination, and loves bringing everyone’s favorite Disney films, animations, and ideas to life.

Now, they’re considering bringing something that Disney fans and Park Guests have been asking for, for ages — an entirely Villain-themed land!

The Villains in the Disney Parks have always been a huge draw — with Guests loving to interact with Villainous face characters like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast (1991), Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty (1959), and Cruella De Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians / 101 Dalmations (1961).

Unfortunately, until now, Guests have only been able to meet and interact with these coveted Villains either at Halloween Events (like this mind-blowingly realistic Ernesto de la Cruz Meet N’ Greet at this year’s Oogie Boogie Bash) or around at their “heroes” or “good counterparts’” lands and areas within the Disney theme parks.

At this year’s D23 Expo held in California, Disney Parks Head Josh D’Amaro took to the stage to share several brand-new concepts that the Imagineering team are looking to put into action. D’Amaro brought out Chris Beatty and Jennifer Lee, and the Disney team opened up about what they’ve been cooking behind the scenes — and gave the crowd a sneak peek at a Villains land concept that they’ve been playing with.

After discussing the potential of a Coco and Encanto land that might be entwined together somehow over at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the gathered Disney team began talking about one of the strongest, most iconic and also beloved portions of the Disney canon — the Disney Villains — in all their maniacally evil glory!

This proposed “Villains Land” would be placed right behind Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom over in Orlando, Florida, tucked alongside or behind the bright, colorful world of Coco and Encanto.

They then shared this new concept art of a new Villains Land, and proposed the concept of:

Villains looming over Casita Madrigal, and what could be beyond Big Thunder Mountain.

This announcement was met with thunderous applause and much shouting from the assembled Disney Parks fans!

All of this would undoubtedly fill a missing void in the Disney Parks for an enhanced Villain experience — and is something that fans have been dying to see for years. The new concept images definitely look cool, and we’re excited to see where this delectably evil new Land over at the Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom might have in store for Disney Park Guests.

Happily Ever After Returning to Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Last year, Disney Parks shocked fans when it announced the beloved Happily Ever After would “sparkle into Disney history”. Sure, it was known that a new nighttime spectacular would be taking over Cinderella Castle and Main Street, U.S.A. for Magic Kingdom’s 50th anniversary, but a full retirement caught many off guard.

However, after multiple teases, Walt Disney World will officially welcome Happily Ever After back very soon!

The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Central Florida attracts millions of Guests each year. And each and every Guest will visit the theme parks for a different reason — the food, the merchandise, the attractions –, but one thing that draws the crowds: the nighttime spectaculars.

When Disney Parks announced that Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams would be retiring from its nighttime slot at Magic Kingdom Park, many were distraught and skeptical about the future of the Resort’s premiere fireworks show. Then Happily Ever After debuted. Of course, some were critical — it wasn’t Wishes, and yes, nothing ever will be Wishes — but Happily Ever After successfully combined the nostalgia of its predecessor, the projection-mapping technology of the former pre-show, Celebrate the Magic, and added a distinct Disney flair that brought hundreds to tears.

Happily Ever After

Flashforward to October 1, 2021, and Happily Ever After’s replacement — Disney Enchantment — would get a lukewarm reception when it debuted for The World’s Most Magical Celebration with criticisms at its lack of nostalgia, its use of covers as opposed to the original versions of Disney songs that so many fans adore, and for its less than spectacular fireworks. It has grown on some though, and the recent addition of Walt Disney and Roy Disney during the show softened the edges of what felt like a somewhat cold celebration for the Disney Resort’s half centennial.

As we near a year since the 50th anniversary began, fans of the Disney Park are wondering what Disney will do with Enchantment when the event ends next year. In addition to staying quiet about nighttime events, including those at Disneyland Resort, “Happily Ever After” singer Jordan Fisher started theories when he posted a cryptic video referencing the fan-favorite spectacular, and all signs seemingly pointed to news coming from D23 Expo 2022.

During the Boundless Future: Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products presentation in Hall D23, Chairmain of the division Josh D’Amaro, revealed that upon the end of the 50th celebrations, Happily Ever After will once more take over Cinderella Castle and the Magic Kingdom sky. Happily Ever After will return next year.

The replacement of Happily Ever After was just one of the changes that came for the Park’s celebration. Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane debuted, as did the announcement that Park Pass reservations were staying until at least 2024. As experiences change, and paywalls become the norm, the return of a familiar favorite may temper some frustrations.