This Magical Moment Between Mickey and a Grieving Family

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney World means many things to many people. For some, it’s just a theme park. To others, it’s escapism. Many call it home. And then, for others, it’s a place to process grief. I myself have grieved loss at Disney and know firsthand its heart-healing powers. One family on TikTok recently discovered this as well.

The family of Rayne Straaseley shared a video of their recent trip to Walt Disney World, but this was no ordinary vacation. Rayne passed away last September after, as her “Aunt Juju” (Jules) put it, “a rough go in her small time on Earth.” Her aunt went on to explain, “She’s been in and out of the ICU multiple times, eats from a feeding tube in her tummy, and has a plethora of medical machines and equipment to help her live her daily life. At this time, there is no umbrella diagnosis for us to understand why these things are happening to her.”

For what should have been Rayne’s 7th birthday, she and her mother took a photo of Rayne to Disney World to meet her favorite characters. This alone is enough to reduce a grown adult to tears, but a video shared to TikTok of Rayne meeting Mickey Mouse was one of the most touching Disney moments I’ve ever seen.

First, Mickey took a napkin and made a blanket for Rayne because he didn’t want her to the cold. Then he waved at the photo and kissed it. He spent time with both Rayne’s mom and aunt, tenderly touching his face to there’s, telling them not to cry. Then he led the family in singing happy birthday to Rayne in a moment they will never forget.

Rayne Straaseley

The touching video went viral and got the attention of the official account for @DisneyParks, who weighed in: “Mickey always knows how to put a smile on our face 🥹 Sending you lots of love and pixie dust 🫶”

Disney (and Mickey) proves once again that “no matter how your heart is grieving if you keep on believing…a dream that you wish will come true.” You can watch the full TikTok videos here and here.

Disney Dining Plans To Return in 2024

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks

Time to eat! Just announced, Disney dining plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels who purchase a vacation package with us starting with stays beginning January 9, 2024, which will also open for bookings on May 31.

We know our guests – and families in particular – have missed dining plans, which offer guests the convenience and peace of mind of pre-paying for their meals and snacks.

Guests will be able to choose from two popular options: Packages that include either the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan. Both plans will be a great value for families with young children with access to many spectacular food and beverage offerings across Walt Disney World.

Three Shows Just Got the Axe From Disney

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

It looks as though the grim reaper himself has come for several shows on Disney+ as the entertainment giant has just given them the final axe.

Many of the shows on the Disney+ platform have been given the green light–renewed for an additional season. These include High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, The Santa Clauses, and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Other series on Disney+, however, have not been so lucky, and fans of those shows are not going to be happy.

Per Yahoo! Lifestyle:

Big Shot, National Treasure: Edge of History, and Willow have all received the final ax by the network, and fans are, in a word, “shocked”—and speculating that the streamer “can’t get anything Disney-branded past one or two seasons.”

Big Shot has been canceled, and that’s after just two seasons on the Disney+ streaming platform. The so-called “sports dramedy” starred John Stamos (Full House, Fuller House), who plays a men’s basketball coach who gets the boot from the NCAA and decides instead to coach girls’ basketball at an upscale private high school. The series, created by David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey, and Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond), though enjoyed by many Disney+ fans, has been canceled.

“It was reported last June that Disney’s decision to renew the show for a second season despite low viewership may have played a role in the departure of longtime Disney exec Peter Rice,” reads a report at Yahoo!. “Though Big Shot scored higher ratings in its second season, it wasn’t enough to keep the series from being taken out of the streaming game.”

Another fan-favorite show that got the axe at Disney is National Treasure: Edge of History. In response to the news, at least one viewer pointed out the fact that “Disney+ can’t get anything Disney-branded past one or two seasons.”

“Despite being one of only two Disney+ original series not related to Marvel or Star Wars to make the Nielsen’s streaming rankings with an episode,” reads the Yahoo post, “it seems the viewership was not up to Disney’s standards, and the treasure hunt was officially called off by the streamer just last month.”

National Treasure: Edge of History S1E1 on Disney+ release date

The final series to get the axe at Disney+ is one that “told the story of a group of unlikely heroes who set out to save the world 20 years after the defeat of Queen Bavmorda, shown in the original film.” The series, of course, is Willow. “The Willow television show starred Warwick Davis, reprising his role from the film as Willow Ufgood, alongside Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Amer Chadha-Patel, and Tony Revolori. The series was produced by Lucasfilm and Imagine Entertainment, which had produced the original film.”

But despite its following, Disney+ has also given the Willow series the axe in the streaming world.

Police Dispatched to Magic Kingdom, Character Under Investigation

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

Police were dispatched to Walt Disney World Resort following an incident that led to a character being under investigation.

When visiting Disney World, Guests are treated to all kinds of immersive and fun activities. From classic attractions to entertainment offerings to dining experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy when visiting the Disney Parks & Resorts.

Of course, one of the most popular activities– outside of rides– that Disney World Guests enjoy is meeting their favorite characters in meet-and-greets. Disney World has an unmatched number of characters throughout the day in its Parks, ready to meet Guests. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy, and Daisy Duck, as well as many others, including your favorite Disney princesses, Pixar pals, and animated heroes. When visiting characters, Disney Park Guests can get photos– which can be downloaded on Disney PhotoPass— and spend time sharing a few words with them.

While many of these meet-and-greets produce the best family photos, it seems that one did not go as many would have wanted. As a matter of fact, it resulted in the police being called to the scene.

Disneyland

Florida Politics’ Gabrielle Russo was the first to report that Orange County Sheriff’s Office was called to Magic Kingdom Park to investigate Tigger after an alleged incident at the Crystal Palace Restaurant in the Disney Park. A 40-year-old travel agent and the travel agency’s owner filed a complaint against Tigger after they shared they believed the Disney character was “acting off.” The agency owner said she saw Tigger’s hand slide down and touch the 40-year-old’s rear end and make a laughing gesture. She captured the moment on video, according to the report.

“As she goes to take the picture, Tigger’s hand comes off of her shoulder, almost at falling speed. His arm goes in the direction of her buttocks but from the angle of the video it’s not completely clear if he touches her buttocks as his arm falls,” the report said.

The two wanted Tigger to be prosecuted, but after an investigation, the Orange County Sheriff Department ruled in favor of Tigger, who remains nameless because he was not charged with any crime.

The 22-year-old said he “cannot see anything below the upper chest level while looking straight, and cannot see anything beyond approximately 30 degrees on either side of him.”

One character attendant described the travel agent as “handsy.”

“They kept touching his tail and making inappropriate comments. Upon getting to table 36 Tigger was bouncing and dancing and having fun with the Guests,” the report said.

This, unfortunately, isn’t the first time that the police have been dispatched to any of the Disney Parks, including Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT. One of the most prominent incidents happened last year when families brawled inside Fantasyland in the shadows of Cinderella Castle. Of course, in that case, several arrests were made.

Skip the Line for FREE at MCO Airport on Your Next Disney Vacation

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

For many Guests, the worst part of visiting Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort is the crowds. Every year, millions of fans choose Disney as their vacation destination, and with that popularity comes long lines inside and outside of the Disney Resort. After waiting in long lines for the entirety of a vacation at Walt Disney World Resort, the last thing anyone would want to do is wait in long lines at airport security on the way home.

MCO, the Orlando Airport, has gained an unfortunate reputation for having extremely long lines for security. Some people have reported waiting hours in line for security.

Luckily, a new hack is going to change that forever.

MCO Terminal C

MCO Reports Busiest Day Ever

It is no secret that Disney tourism is back and better than ever. Guests are flooding into Walt Disney World Resort, and we are seeing tourism numbers meet and exceed the pre-pandemic numbers. Some people might be surprised to know that Orlando International Airport actually had its busiest day in history on March 11, 2023.

With all these new travelers, the TSA line within MCO airport has gotten longer than ever. Many families travel to Walt Disney World Resort with their young children and large families, and a TSA line after an exhausting theme Park vacation can be a nightmare for parents.

Mco reopening

Fortunately, Disney travelers can now save time with the MCO TSA Reserve program at the Orlando International Airport. This program has become an essential tool for anyone planning a magical Disney vacation.

Orlando International Airport is the closest airport to the Walt Disney World Resort. As one of the busiest airports in Florida, Orlando International can be overwhelming for travelers. The MCO TSA Reserve program brings some much-needed relief for Disney travelers by providing a reservation lane at security checkpoints. This means travelers won’t have to wait in the same long lines as the rest of the airport visitors.

@not_that_jonathan

This is the best tip I heard about flying to Disney and I am so thankful for it. Google MCO Reserve and it’ll take you right to where you need to go. #disney #disneyworld #magickingdom #hollywoodstudios #epcot #flyingtodisneyworld #mco #mcoreserve

♬ original sound – Jonathan

Reservations are completely free and can be made online prior to your trip. The service is not available to those with TSA Pre-Check. They can be made for flights from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.