November 2022 – Page 5 – A Walk With The Mouse

In-Person Safety Requirement Returns to Disney Cruise Line

Posted on November 16, 2022November 16, 2022 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Over the weekend, Disney Cruise Line resumed in-person safety drills onboard some of their cruise ships. This was reinstated after previous COVID restrictions enabled the need to have this process completed virtually.

These drills, also known as “muster drills,” are a way for Disney Cruise Line to ensure Guests’ safety by making sure Guests know what to do in the event of an emergency. This also complies with U.S. Coast Guard and international safety regulations.

Previously, when there were still COVID concerns onboard, as well as reduced capacity, Guests were able to go to a designated muster station, check in virtually on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App, and then watch a safety video.

Now, as COVID restrictions are being lifted on the Cruise Lines, this process will once again be done in person, as it started this past weekend on November 12.

Disney Cruise Line announced these changes in a message sent to travel agents and advisors:

We regularly review our processes and have made the decision to reintroduce the in-person assembly drills. All Guests will be required to report to their assigned assembly station in person at the scheduled time on embarkation day, beginning on the following sailings:

Saturday, Nov. 12: Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy

Monday, Nov. 14: Disney Wish

Wednesday, Nov. 16: Disney Wonder

Sunday, Nov. 20: Disney Magic

This transition will ensure all Crew Members and Guests are fully aware of our safety procedures in the event of an emergency. The DCL Navigator App will continue to notify Guests of their assigned assembly station, provide directions for getting to their location and share additional safety information with Guests.

Although Disney Cruise Line Guests may hate or feel inconvenienced by these drills, they are vital to keeping everyone safe, as safety is one of Disney’s key tenets.

Per Disney, these Guest Assembly Drills entail the following:

Before departing on each cruise, we hold a mandatory assembly drill for guests, providing important instructions on what would be required of passengers in the event of an actual emergency. Crew services are suspended during the drill, and attendance for guests is required. We use a state-of-the-art automated system to account for guests checked-in at assembly stations.

You can read more about Disney’s commitment to safety, which includes these Guest Assembly drills, along with safety management, crew training, and crew drills, on Disney Cruise Line’s safety information webpage.

Influencer Slams Disney For Complicated, Unfair Lightning Lane System

Posted on November 15, 2022November 15, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort initiated the Lightning Lane system last year, replacing the free FastPass+ system with a paid alternative through the Disney Genie app.

Many Guests have complained about the service and the need to spend all day planning your Disney Parks visit minute by minute. Even an expert app developer claimed they would be fired if his team designed the Disney Genie system.

This week, an influencer spoke about his experience with Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane. @kingzippy is a family-friendly content creator with 7.4 million TikTok followers. He visited Walt Disney World Resort with his daughter and shared this video about his experience there:

@kingzippy
@disneyparks what happen to the magic ? #disney #disneyland #disneyworld #vacation
♬ original sound – KingZippy

“Mickey Mouse, what happened to Disney?” he asked. “I went to Disney to get off of my phone and just enjoy my vacation, and then the whole time, I’m sitting there on my phone.”

Additionally, the influencer felt it was unfair that Guests still in their hotel rooms get to select Lightning Lane return times at the same time as Guests in the Disney Parks.

father and daughter wearing masks in front of cinderella castle at disney world

“It’s not fair that Carol sitting in her hotel room, gets to schedule she’s going on ‘it’s a small world’ at 10 to 11 a.m. while I’m walking around the Park wondering how I’m going to get in the Lightning Lane,” he explained. “… It’s not fair for the people at the Park that are really trying to get on rides, meanwhile, Carol is in her hotel room scheduling her entire day.”

“I just want to buy a FastPass. Give me a wristband and let me just go on all the rides,” the Guest said. “So Mickey Mouse, if you give me the option to just buy a FastPass wristband, I will pay whatever money you want, and I will schedule a vacation to Disney next week.”

Two Guests checking Disneyland App in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle

In written comments, he explained that when he arrived at Park open, all Lightning Lane rides were booked through 3-5 p.m. Though he eventually figured out how to better utilize the paid service, he still felt it wasn’t worth it.

“I figured it out at magic kingdom thankfully we got on every ride but I was still on my phone the entire time instead of enjoying it with my daughter,” he replied to one commenter.

Despite the negative feedback, Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort recently increased the price of Disney Genie+. At Walt Disney World Resort, some Individual Lightning Lanes can cost up to $25 per Guest.

Tim Allen Says Religion Will Play a Role in ‘The Santa Clauses’

Posted on November 15, 2022November 15, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney+

Tim Allen is back in the sleigh again! The Santa Clauses premiers on Disney+ on November 19th and, according to star Tim Allen, it will have a much different tone. Allen recently sat down with “The Wrap” to explain that as Executive Producer, he had a vision for the series that was unlike the previous movies. He said he wanted religion to play a part in the story this series has to tell.

“It originally had a lot of otherworldly characters, and ghosts, and goblins. I said no, this is Christ-mas. It’s Christ-mas. It literally is a religious holiday,” Allen said. “We don’t have to blow trumpets, but I do want you to acknowledge it. That’s what this is about. If you want to get into Santa Claus, you’re gonna have to go back to history, and it’s all about religion.”

The writing team went back to the drawing board and reworked the story to better fit with Allen’s vision for it. The comedian didn’t give any spoilers saying only that the team “found a brilliant way” to work religion into the story. Allen went on to say that the religious aspects won’t come into play until episode 5 but added that he’s very proud of it and thinks, “It’s really wonderful. They took a chance, and we did it really well.”

As Executive Producer, Tim Allen had one other requirement: that the series treat the story respectfully and pay homage to the beloved films. “I needed that to launch this thing. Respect the last one and let’s not be too gamey with it,” he said. So while the series may be a departure from the films we know and love, at least we know that they will embody the same spirit.

The show’s official synopsis states, “Scott Calvin is about to turn 65 and, realizing he can’t be Santa forever, sets out to find a suitable replacement Santa while preparing his family for a new adventure in life south of the pole.” The first two episodes will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+ on November 19, with one new episode dropping weekly after that.

Disney Releases First Look at Live-Action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Special!

Posted on November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney+, Uncategorized

We are just about one month away from Disney’s celebration of 30 years of the Academy Award-winning animated film Beauty and the Beast. Yes, it’s been 30 years since Disney shared the story of a tale as old as time. Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s most successful films of all time and, in celebration of the 30th anniversary, Disney will be airing a combination live-action/animated special that will air on ABC on December 15.

The Beauty and the Beast 2-hour special will star musical sensation H.E.R. as Belle and superstar Josh Groban as the Beast. The special will feature new musical performances, sets, and costumes. And now, Disney is giving us a first look at H.E.R. in Belle’s signature yellow and Josh Groban in a royal blue cape — bringing viewers back to the iconic ballroom scene.

The Beauty and the Beast special will be directed by Jon M. Chu, who released a statement when it was announced:

“Beauty and the Beast was always a game-changing cinematic experience for me. When the animated movie came out, I watched it multiple times in the first weekend. It showed me the outer limits of what animated artists and storytellers could achieve, so the fact that I get to executive produce a tribute to all the creatives that made this masterpiece through our Electric Somewhere company is a dream I didn’t even think was possible. With world-class creatives and talent to reinterpret the classic musical numbers (with a few surprises), I can’t wait for the audiences, in person and at home, to experience what we have in store for them. It’s a true celebration of creativity.”

Beauty and the Beast will also star Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Martin Short as Lumière, David Alan Grier as Cogsworth, Rizwan Manji as LeFou, Jon Jon Briones as Maurice, Leo Abelo Perry as Chip, and Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts.

If you wish to get into the Beauty and the Beast spirit, both the original animated film and the 2017 live-action remake — starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens — are both available to stream on Disney+.

Again, the special will air on ABC on December 15 and will be available to stream on Disney+ the following day.

Start Date Revealed for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Holiday Remix

Posted on November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

Get ready to rock out with your favorite Christmas songs in an epic race through space! On May 27, 2022, EPCOT’s newest ride (and first-ever roller-coaster) opened, and fans have been raving about it ever since. The much-anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind took the place of Ellen’s Energy Adventure and had been taking guests on a twisty turny adventure through the galaxy since it opened. Fun fact: coming in at 500 million dollars, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the most expensive roller-coaster ever built!

Earlier this fall, it was announced that Cosmic Rewind would receive a holiday overlay, and much to fans’ excitement, it would include a new song in the soundtrack. Imagineer Wyatt Winter said, “This is an all-new, unique mashup song taking a lot of your favorite holiday songs we all know and love and creating a new song with it … Imagineers were able to do some custom lyrics.” Other than this teaser about the new song, not much is known about the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – Holiday Remix overlay yet, except that it will be holiday-themed. Not much to go on.

We have been on the edge of our seat waiting for new information about the rides festive makeover and the wait is almost over! Just announced today the overlay will begin on November 25, 2022. This is an exciting development for Disney World because they don’t often get holiday overlays like Disneyland does (i.e the famous Nightmare Before Christmas overlay at The Haunted Mansion). It will be nice to have a festive-themed ride to enjoy at EPCOT this season. You’ll be able to catch the overlay until December 30, so there is plenty of time to experience the ride in all of its holly jolly goodness.

If you can’t get enough of the Guardians of the Galaxy, also releasing on November 25 is the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday special, only on Disney+! Get ready to laugh as the crew ventures to Earth to kidnap Kevin Bacon as a Christmas gift for Star-Lord!