Full TRON Details Released

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

The opening date of TRON Lightcycle / Run, the brand new headliner ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, is almost here. We can wait to ride! In preparation for launch, Disney World has released details on how guest will get access to the attraction via a virtual queue or Lightning Lane, PhotoPass, required lockers for belongings and more. 

Via a Disney Cast Member;

We are counting down the days to the ultimate race across the Grid when TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise opens at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4.

Before you board your very own Lightcycle and enter this race as the newest members of Team Blue, here are the top 4 things to know:

1 – JOIN TEAM BLUE VIA THE VIRTUAL QUEUE

When TRON Lightcycle / Run opens it will use a virtual queue, allowing guests the opportunity to experience the attraction later in the day and enjoy all that Magic Kingdom Park has to offer while they wait to enter the Grid. Guests with a valid ticket or pass and a theme park reservation for Magic Kingdom Park on the same date will have the opportunity to request to join the virtual queue via the My Disney Experience app*. A standby queue will not be available.

Stay tuned to disneyworld.com/virtualqueue for details about when and how guests will be able to request to join the virtual queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run.

2 – INDIVIDUAL LIGHTNING LANE ENTRY

Guests may also have the option to purchase individual – or à la carte – Lightning Lane entry in the My Disney Experience app*. On the day of their visit, Team Blue recruits with a valid admission and a park reservation for Magic Kingdom Park on the same date may visit the Disney Genie Service Tip Board in the app to choose an arrival window and make their purchase before joining the high-speed race against Team Orange. Guests may check the app on the day of their visit for pricing and availability.

3 – NEW LOCKER SYSTEM

New to TRON Lightcycle / Run, a double-sided and digitized locker system will be used to store bags and loose items while you race your Lightcycle. Inside the attraction queue, these complimentary lockers pair directly with your MagicBand, MagicBand+ or ticket media so you can easily lock and reopen your locker with a quick tap. Guests without a MagicBand or other ticket media (such as a card) will be provided with a card to assign their locker. All items must be placed either in a locker before you board your Lightcycle, or in a small compartment located on the attraction vehicle that can hold items such as cellphones, glasses or wallets.

4 – DISNEY PHOTOPASS PHOTO AND VIDEO OFFERINGS

You can relive your race through this dark, computerized world when you preview an onboard photo and video automatically linked to your My Disney Experience account through one of the following methods:

    • Use your eligible mobile device, enable Bluetooth® for the My Disney Experience app* before riding, ensure you’ve logged into the My Disney Experience app* sometime earlier that day, and keep your device out of low power mode. Make sure your mobile device boards your Lightcycle with you and is safely stored in the small Lightcycle compartment to use this method.
    • Wear a MagicBand or MagicBand+ that’s linked to your My Disney Experience account.

We’ll see you in the Grid, Team Blue recruits. Countdown protocol initiated. End of line.

*Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

This Walt Disney World Attraction Is Closing For Good

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Out of all the other Parks that make up Walt Disney World Resort (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT), Hollywood Studios is probably the one with the most iconic entertainment performed by live actors. The classic Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is a stunning theater adaptation of the classic Walt Disney Animation film.

Not only that, but there’s For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, full of fan-favorite songs and characters, giving Guests a chance to join in the fun. There’s also the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, which provides Guests with an inside look at how stunts are performed on action movie sets. The most iconic of them all is Fantasmic!, a classic nighttime spectacular including our favorite Disney characters and songs.

However, there’s one show that’s missing from this list: Voyage of the Little Mermaid, located in the Disney Park’s themed area, Animation Courtyard.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Disney

Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a live show with a runtime of approximately 14 minutes, and it was so popular that it ran for nearly 20 years! The show consisted of special effects, live performers portraying the iconic Disney Princess and Prince Eric, as well as intricate puppets, including an intimidating 12-foot-tall Ursula who performed the classic song, “Poor Unfortunate Soul.”

Voyage of the Little Mermaid Theater

However, after Walt Disney World Resort reopened during the pandemic, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show (like most live entertainment) was missing. Just a few months ago, rumors were circulating, claiming that the theatre itself was infested with mold. To make matters worse, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was removed from the official Walt Disney World website.

According to a report made by Inside the Magic, the puppets used for the live show have been sold, confirming that this classic attraction has taken its final bow.

Voyage of the Little Mermaid

Disney’s ‘Toy Story’ Restaurant Gets an Opening Date!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

An official opening date and menu details have been revealed for the long-awaited Toy Story-inspired restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios… and we can’t wait!

Walt Disney World Resort is preparing for a new Disney dining experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that will feature one of its most popular franchises… Toy Story!

Get ready to experience a fun rodeo-themed table service restaurant that the beloved Andy from Toy Story (1995) has built for his pals, including Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, and more. The colorful interior is a perfect match with its location in the Disney Park’s Toy Story Land.

The big news coming from @DisneyParks, as they shared on social media, “Howdy, partners! Get ready for some mouthwatering BBQ and all the fixin’s at Roundup Rodeo BBQ opening Mar. 23.”

Keep in mind while there are colorful images of Toy Story characters throughout the Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant, this is not a character dining experience. Instead, the table-service restaurant will feature family-style dishes for the whole party to enjoy.

And if you’re a fan of mouthwatering BBQ and fixin’s to go along with it, the menu for Roundup Rodeo BBQ looks delicious! Disney Parks Blog reports the menu with images as follows:

Salads

Roundup Rodeo BBQ salads
  • Tomato Salad: Tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled red onions tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette and garnished with fresh dill (plant-based)
  • Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad: Romaine and kale mixed with green apples, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries tossed with green goddess dressing
  • Watermelon Salad: Cubed watermelon garnished with freshly torn mint leaves (plant-based)

House-Smoked Meats

Roundup Rodeo BBQ meats
  • Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, slow-cooked for hours in our onsite smokehouse 
  • Buttercup’s Beef Brisket: Hand-sliced beef brisket, smoked then slow-cooked to juicy perfection
  • There’s a Sausage in My Boot: Spiced pork sausage fire-grilled over live oak to give it an added kick 
  • BBQ Chicken – with Style! Chicken brined for 48 hours, rubbed with our secret backyard BBQ spice and smoked to tender juiciness

Plant-Based Offerings

Roundup Rodeo BBQ plant-based offerings
  • Slow-smoked Cauliflower topped with sweet harissa drizzle and crunchy walnut gremolata 
  • Oven-roasted “Bratwurst” that is tender and juicy, sliced to perfection
  • Impossible “Rib Chop” seasoned with spices, then roasted and glazed with sweet BBQ sauce and skewered on a sugar cane “bone”

Choose Four Sides for the Table

Roundup Rodeo BBQ sides
  • The Married Spuds: Loaded potato barrels drizzled with green goddess dressing, cheese sauce, and seasoned BBQ spices
  • Force Field Fried Pickles: Jumbo pickle spears coated with a dill-flavored breading and fried to perfection
  • Slinky Doooooooooog Mac & Cheese: Spiral pasta in a creamy house-made cheese sauce topped with crumbled cheddar crackers 
  • Buckin’ Baked Beans: A traditional BBQ picnic favorite (plant-based)
  • Cowpoke Corn on the Cob: Grilled and seasoned with a chili-lime spice blend, cilantro, cotija cheese, and lime juice
  • Mean Old Potato Salad: Homestyle with red-skinned potatoes
  • Veggie Slaw: Crunchy shredded veggie slaw that is a summertime favorite! (plant-based)
  • Campfire-roasted Vegetables: A variety of roasted seasonal vegetables (plant-based)

Desserts

Roundup Rodeo BBQ desserts
  • Cupcake à la Forky: Forky is up to something sweet! A classic chocolate cake with a gooey chocolate ganache center topped with velvety graham cracker buttercream and a sugar cookie
  • Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake: An iconic creamy dessert that balances the tanginess of the cheesecake with the natural sweetness of blueberries and lemon
  • Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie: Layers of graham cracker crust and silky chocolate mousse topped with chantilly cream
  • Goat’s Apple Pie: A picnic classic! Tart apples and warm pie spices balance perfectly with the creamy sweet filling under a crumble crust
  • Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie: With its silky sweet peaches and tartness of strawberries, this dessert is a fruit-centric delight! (plant-based)

Cocktails

Roundup Rodeo BBQ cocktails
  • Snake Eye Margarita: Inspired by a summertime BBQ featuring watermelon, smoke, and a bit of spice! 
  • Rum Punch: Rum punch with vibrant flavors of passion fruit and pineapple finished with a smoky spiced garnish
  • Chocolate with a Grown-up Twist: A blend of chocolate rum, horchata liqueur, cocoa, and flavors of toasted marshmallow
  • Frozen Peanut Butter & Jelly: A fun frozen twist on the classic peanut butter & jelly featuring peanut butter whiskey 
  • Whiskey Lemonade: A fresh take on a strawberry lemonade made with Tennessee whiskey and Italian bitter aperitif
  • The Rodeo Mule: A classic “patio sipper,” this mule mixes vodka with fresh juices and ginger beer

Nonalcoholic Offerings

  • Molly’s Frozen Iced Tea: A frosty concoction with iced tea and citrus flavors
  • Frozen Cocoa: A frozen blend of cocoa and vanilla topped with miniature marshmallows
  • Partysaurus Rex: Strawberry lemonade is even more fun when you garnish it with gummy worms!
Roundup Rodeo BBQ food

It all sounds so enticing! With the opening on March 23, 2023, booking dates for reservations have yet to be announced. We do suspect, however, that when dining reservations do open for Roundup Rodeo BBQ, they will be extremely popular.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land is a very busy portion of the theme park as Disney welcomes Park Guests to explore Andy’s backyard, which is filled with “toys” such as the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster, Alien Swirling Saucers attraction, and the fan-favorite Toy Story Mania ride experience. Additionally, Woody’s Lunch Box is a quick-service restaurant in Toy Story Land that has proven to be a very popular restaurant option. We expect the same popularity for Roundup Rodeo BBQ.

The NEW Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Via DisneyLists.com

The big blue world beckons once again as “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” debuted this past summer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The freshly reimagined return of this popular stage show invites guests into the undersea setting that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney and Pixar smash-hit animated film, “Finding Nemo.”

1 – A Reimagined Retelling of Finding Nemo: The Musical

Fans of Disney and Pixar’s “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” which debuted at the theme park in 2007 and ran for more than 13 years, can breathe a sigh of relief as the show isn’t exactly new; it’s just a “reimagined retelling.” That means that the show still immerses audiences in the story of Marlin and Nemo – an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son – through a dazzling production that combines music, puppets, dancers, and animated backdrops.

As in the original production, Marlin and Nemo each go on a separate journey that ultimately teaches them how to love and understand each other better. Except in this adaptation of that beloved tale, the storytellers are a group of fish living at the Marine Life Institute. “This show incorporates many of the songs from the original musical, as well as amazing puppetry and live performers that fill the stage,” said show director James Silson, Disney Live Entertainment.

2 – Visually Inventive Storytelling

The 1,500-seat Theater in the Wild transports guests to an undersea world through innovative special effects, sound, and lighting. The theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the richly detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney’s “The Lion King.” Main characters such as Marlin, Nemo, and Dory are represented by live performers operating animated puppets. Some puppets are larger-than-life – such as Crush, the cool sea turtle nearly the size of a car.

Fans of the original show will see many familiar faces and some new ones. As always, the performers are outstanding, bringing enthusiasm and a whole lot of talent to their roles. Since the show has been on hiatus for over two years, I’m sure the performers are thrilled to be back on stage!

3 – New LED Video Wall is a Huge Upgrade

In addition to a new script, the show features new set pieces and a custom LED video wall that visually extends the physical sets on stage – including a 32-foot-long sunken submarine. “We’ve taken a new approach to the set for ‘Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!’,” said art director Matt Fiuza, Disney Live Entertainment. “We were inspired by 3D cut paper art and sculptures as we developed the scenic in the show. Our team had such an exciting time looking at our tank set through this brand-new lens of this watercolor sculpture aesthetic.”

The new video wall does add a lot to the overall look of the stage and visually adds a lot to the story. The colors are rich and vibrant. One negative, though, is that some set pieces from the original show have been removed, such as the scuba diver’s boat when Nemo is captured. In the original, it was an actual boat, and now the boat is just on the screen. Overall though, most guests may not remember the original show well enough and will likely be dazzled by the new screen. Be sure to look for some fun items on the screen, such as a Hidden Mickey, during the show!

4 – Shortened Show

The updated show clocks in at about twenty-five minutes. The original show ran just over forty minutes. Some scenes were cut, the story abbreviated, and some ariel stunts were also cut from the show. Even with the cuts, I felt the show flowed well, and we really didn’t miss anything. The story is much more streamlined, and sitting there for a twenty-five-minute show was much easier on the back and backside (the seats are still very uncomfortable) than sitting there for over forty. It will also be easier for younger children to enjoy the show. Forty minutes is a long time, and since you really need to get there at least thirty minutes before showtime, the shortened length is a bonus.  

5 – Showtimes & Disney Genie+

“Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” is performed multiple times daily at Theater in the Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Current showtimes include two morning shows and four in the afternoon. Performances are at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 am, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:30 pm. Previously only five shows were offered during the day, so the shortened shows allow for an additional show. As always, be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for up-to-date showtimes.

“Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” is also now included in Disney Genie+. Disney Genie+ is a paid upgrade that includes access to Lightning Lane (formerly the Fast Pass line) on select attractions, allowing guests to (theoretically) save time by skipping the standby line. Unless you are visiting during an especially busy time, such as Christmas week or Easter week, you won’t need to use one of your Genie+ selections for the show. There is usually plenty of seating for all guests.

Cast Members will open the standby queue for the show about thirty minutes before showtime and then let guests enter the theater about fifteen minutes before showtime. You’ll get a lovely 45-minute break from outdoor weather along with some fantastic entertainment!