Disney Cruise Line Announces Acquisition of Ship

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Today, Disney announced the acquisition of a partially completed ship that will bring the magic of a Disney Cruise Line vacation to new global destinations. Disney will work with the esteemed Meyer Werft shipbuilding company to complete the cruise ship previously known as the Global Dream in Wismar, Germany. The ship will be renamed with certain features reimagined under the world-renowned expertise of Walt Disney Imagineers and is expected to set sail in 2025.

The new ship, to be based outside the United States, will feature innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining and legendary guest service that set Disney Cruise Line apart. The exterior will be adorned in the iconic, Mickey Mouse-inspired colors of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels.

The 208,000-gross-ton ship is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be fueled by green methanol, one of the lowest emission fuels available. Disney Cruise Line expects the passenger capacity to be approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members.

Construction will be completed at the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, under the management of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based company that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. The ship’s previous owner filed for bankruptcy before completing the vessel, enabling Disney Cruise Line to secure it at a favorable price and within the capital expenditure guidance The Walt Disney Company provided on its recent earnings call. The project also secures employment for hundreds of former MV Werften employees and will provide opportunities for numerous maritime industry suppliers in the region.

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.

Guest Jumps Out of EPCOT Ride Vehicle to Sit With Animatronic

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

A visit to Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT is not complete without a visit to the iconic Spaceship Earth attraction. But one Disney Park Guest made the poor choice of jumping out of the ride vehicle to sit with an animatronic.

The nostalgic Spaceship Earth attraction not only serves as the iconic focal point for EPCOT, but it also features a time-traveling experience that Disney fans can’t get enough of. As you disembark on the time travel ride, Guests explore the history of human communication from the Stone Age to the computer age.

One Guest experiencing the attraction seemingly makes the decision to get out of the Spaceship Earth ride vehicle to sit with an ancient Greece educator during the ride experience.

@pharmd23 took to social media on November 15, 2022, to share the following video of a Guest on Spaceship Earth. Check out the video in the tweet below:

According to the comments in the post, apparently, Spaceship Earth was momentarily paused when the Guest decided to exit the ride vehicle to visit one of the attraction’s many animatronics. It’s not uncommon for the attraction to stop mid-ride for slower-moving Guests to enter and exit the attraction.

We immediately can think back to the cucumber incident, when a Guest jumped out of a ride vehicle to grab a cucumber while riding EPCOT’s Living with the Land attraction. Sadly, a decision such as this can easily result in being banned from the Disney Parks.

Disney describes the iconic Spaceship Earth attraction experience with:

Back to the Beginning: Witness the landmark moments of amazing innovation that made today’s spectacular communications technology possible.

Travel back to the dawn of humanity, when early man painted on cave walls. Watch new ideas spread like wildfire with the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press. The wheels of time turn ever faster as we enter the modern age of media, from newspapers announcing the end of the Civil War to the televised broadcast of the moon landing—and beyond.

All of these great moments are brought vividly to life using elaborate sets and advanced Audio-Animatronics figures during this inspirational, 16-minute, Omnimover-style attraction.

Disney Park Guests Evacuated from Attraction’s Rooftop

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

With the vast amount of Guests visiting Disney theme parks, it’s inevitable that attractions will break down or require routine maintenance on occasion. But can you imagine an evacuation from an attraction’s rooftop?!

With the vast amount of Guests visiting Disney theme parks, it’s inevitable that attractions will break down or require routine maintenance on occasion. But can you imagine an evacuation from an attraction’s rooftop?!

Hyperspace Moutain at Disneyland Paris features a Star Wars takeover of the usual Space Mountain ride experience. The classic space ride allows Guests an opportunity to “Blast off and do battle with the evil Empire in this epic takeover of a classic attraction.”

For Guests visiting Disneyland Park in Paris, Hyperspace Mountain is an extremely popular attraction as it looms over the Discoveryland portion of the Disney Park.

Disneyland Paris Hyperspace Mountain Star Wars

But, a few Guests got to experience an evacuation with impressive views as they were removed from Hyperspace Mountain via the exposed rooftop portion of the attraction.

@DLPReport shared a video via social media on November 12, 2022, with the note, “At Hyperspace Mountain, Guests are being evacuated down the cannon’s stairs due to a train stuck on top of the catapult.” Check out the video in the tweet below:

Furthermore, Hyperspace Mountain seemingly continues to have maintenance issues, as @DLPReport took to social media on November 14, 2022, to report, “Hyperspace Mountain has unexpectedly closed until Wednesday included, provisionally reopening Thursday Nov 17.”

The Disneyland Paris website currently states, “As part of our continuing efforts to exceed the expectations of our Guests, this attraction is closed today.”

While Disney does not share why the attraction is closed, with the recent evacuation, it is likely the unexpected closure is due to maintenance issues.

Ready to take a ride on Hyperspace Mountain? Check out the video below:

If you’ve never had a chance to experience Disneyland Paris’ Hyperspace Mountain, Disney describes the Star Wars Space Mountain takeover with:

“Launch yourself into Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain for a thrilling takeover of a classic space attraction. Enlist in the Rebel Alliance and attend a briefing from Admiral Ackbar. Your mission – to pilot a reconnaissance vessel and spy on an Imperial Star Destroyer.”

“It’s a Trap! To the Admiral’s despair, the Empire is expecting you, welcoming your arrival from hyperspace with open armaments. It’s down to you and your X-wing escort to blast through a swarm of deadly TIE fighters and blow up a menacing Star Destroyer. Will the Force be strong with you?”

“With a frenzy of red and green blaster fire, the wicked whirr of TIE fighters and a stunning Star Wars™ score, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain is a jaw-dropping experience fit for the most fervent followers of the Force.”

Disney Confirms New Dining Cancellation Policy

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

A big change is coming to Walt Disney World’s restaurants, but it doesn’t involve food.

Earlier this month, we reported on Disney updating its dining cancelation policy at Walt Disney World. Previously, Guests would incur a $10 penalty fee per person for “no-shows” or if they didn’t cancel 24 hours in advance.

However, with this new policy, Gusts will be able to cancel their plans up to two hours before with no penalty. This has now been confirmed by reporter Scott Gustin on Twitter.

A room filled with furniture and a table

Some had claimed this to be a glitch when it originally rolled out, but with Disney confirming this new policy, Guests can assure it’s here to stay. Disney’s instructions on canceling are as follows:

You can cancel your dining reservation online. Please refer to the cancellation policy provided at the time of your booking and in your email confirmation. 

Restaurants offering advance reservations charge a per-person cancellation fee for reservations cancelled after the designated cancellation period, or for no shows. Each restaurant at Walt Disney World® Resort maintains its own cancellation policy, so be sure to confirm the policy before finalizing your reservation. For additional assistance, please call (407) 824-1391.

Speaking of Disney World restaurants, we recently saw the return of a very popular spot. There are some truly fantastic places to enjoy a meal at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World, but none of the Parks compare to EPCOT’s lineup of restaurants.

From authentic Chinese cuisine to an incredibly-large selection of tequila, EPCOT’s World Showcase has it all. On November 4, we finally saw the return of Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. This dining experience is found at the Norway pavilion in the World Showcase at EPCOT and gives guests a taste of Norwegian cuisine.

Disney World Parks Get Price Increase For Single-Day Tickets

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

Disney has just revealed some major changes to how Guests are visiting the Disney Parks in Florida.

The Walt Disney World Resort offers Guests the choice of choosing how many days to visit, with various packages and ticket pricing plans. But Disney will be implementing changes on single-day tickets specifically very soon.

Previously, prices were determined by what time of the year you were visiting. Now, prices will also be determined by which Park you’re visiting.

Sunset Boulevard at Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park

As revealed by Disney moments ago, prices for one-day tickets will now be determined by which Park you’re at and on which day you’re visiting. This was confirmed earlier Tuesday morning by reporter Scott Gustin, who shared the news on Twitter:

NEW: Starting Dec. 8, Walt Disney World will implement park specific pricing for 1 day 1 park tickets. Prices will vary based on park and date. Ranges: Animal Kingdom: $109 – $159 (no increase) Hollywood Studios: $124 – $179 EPCOT: $114 – $179 Magic Kingdom: $124 – $189

NEW: Starting Dec. 8, Walt Disney World will implement park specific pricing for 1 day 1 park tickets. Prices will vary based on park and date.

Ranges:
Animal Kingdom: $109 – $159 (no increase)
Hollywood Studios: $124 – $179
EPCOT: $114 – $179
Magic Kingdom: $124 – $189 pic.twitter.com/Uj2ZD4ljN6

Starting December 8, Park prices will vary depending on the day and Park for single-day ticket holders. The prices for each Park will fall under the ranges listed below:

  • Animal Kingdom: $109-$159
  • Hollywood Studios: $124-$179
  • EPCOT: $114-$179
  • Magic Kingdom: $124-$189
fantasyland magic kingdom

As you can see, a single-day ticket for Magic Kingdom will now reach up to $189, a staggering amount of money for one day at Walt Disney World. Both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are near this same price point with $179 days, and Animal Kingdom brings up the rear with $159, the lowest of the higher-end costs.

This news comes just after the reveal that Annual Passes would see an increase in price as well, even though Guests still cannot purchase all four passes at The Walt Disney World.