Disney Reveals Surprise Permanent Closure, Guests Left in Disbelief

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The Walt Disney Company frustrated many guests recently after dropping a surprise closure announcement for a famous attraction in one of its iconic theme parks.

The Disney Animation Building is an attraction located in Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. The building serves as a celebration of Disney animation, providing guests with an immersive and educational experience about the art of animation.

Inside the Disney Animation Building, various exhibits, displays, and interactive activities showcase the history and process of Disney animation. Visitors can explore different rooms that highlight the creation of beloved Disney characters and films.

The Animation Courtyard is a space where guests can watch classic Disney animated film clips and enjoy character meet-and-greets. The Sorcerer’s Workshop offers interactive activities like drawing your favorite Disney characters.

Additionally, the Animation Academy allows guests to participate in drawing classes taught by Disney artists, allowing them to learn the art of animation hands-on. You can also have an unforgettable live conversation with Crush from Finding Nemo (2003) at the Turtle Talk with Crush attraction.

The Beast’s Library is a longstanding and beautiful location within the Disney Animation Building. The space is themed after the character Beast from Disney’s animated classic Beauty and the Beast (1991). Guests entering this area step into an enchanting recreation of the library in the Beast castle, as depicted in the movie.

The library has magical effects, including a show that lets you discover your inner Disney character hosted by Lumiere and Cogsworth. Guests can also find displays featuring scenes and characters from Beauty and the Beast. It has been a prominent part of the building, but that is about to change.

Fireplace Beast's Castle

To the shock of everyone, Disney recently unveiled plans to change the Blue Sky Cellar at Disneyland’s California Adventure Park into a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) home center. This location has served as a preview center where guests can get a sneak peek at upcoming attractions, shows, and developments within the Disneyland Resort.

Disney Journalist Scott Gustin gave some inside information on the bombshell plans Disneyland has in store. The Disney Imagination Campus currently occupying the Bly Sky Cellar will be moved into the Disney Animation Building, replacing The Beast’s Library.

This means The Beast’s Library is closing permanently to make room for the campus. Guests cannot experience the beautiful and immersive location after December 10, when it closes for good, to start the transition process.

Fans have responded with anger and disbelief over the change. An entire Reddit thread has popped up online with people venting their frustrations over Disney removing something fun to make room for more Disney Vacation Club spaces.

Basically removing something fun so they can move something to make way for touting their timeshares. (I get that DVC isn’t a typical timeshare but it’s a timeshare system nonetheless)

Many Disneyland fans wonder why Disney has chosen to remove this location, and others lament the decision. One user stresses that no announced change to the park to make room for a DVC experience has ever resulted in a good time for guests who aren’t DVC members.

Maybe it’s because I’m not a DVC member, but absolutely none of the announced changes to the parks as a direct result of some added benefit to DVC has been good, what so ever. Utilizing the Innoventions building as a DVC lounge is such a waste of space when that entire area should be re-hauled into some big ticket attraction for all guests to enjoy. And now we’re losing the library just so DVC can move into the Blue Cellar? This is all just pandering to a wealthier subset of clients while detracting from the park experience for the other 99% of guests.

Another was frustrated that Disney seems to be pressuring people to become a Disney Vacation Club member. However, they don’t believe it is worth the money when the quality of the parks seems to be diminishing instead of improving.

They make ridiculous amounts of money on DVC in the long haul, so they’re REALLY pushing to incentivize folks into signing up. But its is only worth it if the parks continue to grow and improve. The opposite is happening. Majority of that promised $60 billion isn’t going into what people imagine it is.

Disney Cruise Line Celebrates Opening of New Cruise Terminal at Port Everglades

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

The magic of Disney Cruise Line has officially arrived at Broward County’s Port Everglades in greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Disney Cruise Line, along with port and community leaders, celebrated the opening of the new dedicated cruise terminal and Disney Cruise Line’s second year-round homeport in Florida.

“The grand opening of our new dedicated terminal is an incredible milestone as we embark on the largest expansion in our cruise line’s history,” said Sharon Siskie, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Cruise Line. “Now our guests will have even more options to experience the magic of a Disney vacation at sea and can begin creating lifelong memories with their loved ones from the moment they arrive.”

Port Everglades’ ideal location in South Florida offers guests the opportunity to experience beautiful beaches, world-class entertainment, shopping, and dining, as well as family and cultural activities, before or after their cruise. It is also conveniently located near major airports and highways, allowing guests to easily travel to and from the port.

Once guests arrive to the terminal to embark on their voyage, they will “dive” into the world of Disney and Pixar’s film, “Finding Nemo,” with some of their favorite friends from the film displayed on colorful murals. The more than 104,000-square foot terminal was reimagined by Walt Disney Imagineering exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests to provide a seamless embarkation experience.

Port leaders attended the dedication ceremony, including Port Everglades CEO and port director, Jonathan Daniels. He stated that, “Disney Cruise Line is adding a new dimension to the Port Everglades experience. Our staff is looking forward to this new journey with Disney Cruise Line and further diversifying our cruise portfolio to reach a broader audience.”

Broward County Mayor Lamar P. Fisher also attended the grand opening celebration, along with federal, state, and local leaders, and said, “Dream vacations start here in Broward County. The addition of Disney Cruise Line in our community provides travelers with more vacation options at Port Everglades, while boosting our local economy and creating more than 1,100 direct local jobs.”

Disney Cruise Line is committed to creating a lasting, positive impact in port communities. In recognition of Disney’s arrival to Port Everglades, the cruise line announced new community investments in Junior Achievement South Florida and Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. The donations will support a variety of initiatives, including programs that inspire career exploration, innovation, and storytelling.

“Being a good steward in the port communities where Disney Cruise Line operates is so important to us. We’re proud to continue to invest in local youth programs that help empower and inspire the next generation of dreamers in Broward County,” Siskie said. Collaboration with these organizations will also provide Disney Cruise Line cast and crew, both on land and at sea, with the opportunity to volunteer as mentors and engage with local students through various educational programs.

“Community partners, like Disney Cruise Line, play a pivotal role in empowering the youth of today, shaping their futures for tomorrow. This support is not just a financial contribution, it’s an investment in the next generation,” said Laurie Sallarulo, president & CEO of Junior Achievement of South Florida (JA).

Disney Cruise Line’s donation to Junior Achievement of South Florida will support the JA Career Bound and JA Pre-Apprenticeship programs, including a special marine service technician track that educates students about the maritime industry, marine basics and engine fundamentals.

Chris Gentile, Co-CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, added, “The impact of Disney Cruise Line’s commitment reaches the very heart of our mission, which is to empower and uplift the youth of Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.” Disney Cruise Line’s donation will help strengthen and support several of the organization’s initiatives, such as the Youth of the Year program.

The Disney Dream will begin sailing from Port Everglades on November 20, 2023, followed by the Disney Magic on May 9, 2024, offering guests the opportunity to sail on a mix of three-, four- and five-night cruises to tropical destinations in The Bahamas and the Caribbean.

As part of Disney Cruise Line’s expansion, Disney Cruise Line and Broward County previously announced a 15-year agreement that provides for one ship to homeport in Port Everglades year-round beginning this fall 2023, joined by a second, seasonal ship in 2025.

Iger Issues PSA To “Prepare Parents” for Content Coming to Disney+ Platform

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

For the millions of families who subscribe to Disney+, the streaming platform is the perfect place to experience wholesome, family-friendly content. Many parents love the security that their children can scroll and view content without the worries of them stumbling upon something that is inappropriate or violent on accident.

However, that reputation is about to change. With the announcement of Disney’s purchase of the Hulu streaming platform, the doors have just been opened, and a flood of new, R-rated content is heading for Disney.

Disney+ and Hulu’s merger has paved the way for an exciting development in the streaming landscape. In an effort to expand its content offerings, The Walt Disney Company has purchased Hulu. Hulu is known for its incredible range of films and shows, including many that are originals of the platform. Many of these shows and movies are more mature, specifically Hulu hits like American Horror Story. This move will undoubtedly bring a new dimension to the streaming experience and cater to a broader audience, but there are also concerns that it will alienate the current audience of the Disney+ platform.

While many fans will be thrilled to experience all of the new content this merger will provide, others may not be thrilled to see Disney+ stray so far from its family-friendly landscape. As the visionary behind this strategic merger, Disney CEO Bob Iger aims to ensure that families are prepared for the upcoming changes. To this end, Iger has issued a public service announcement, urging parents to brace themselves for the arrival of this edgier content. He believes that the forthcoming beta launch of a unified Hulu-Disney+ app in the following month will allow families to gradually adjust to this new facet of the platform, specifically when it comes to implementing parent control settings.

Iger says, “We are basically putting it in beta so that we can prepare parents, largely, to basically implement parental controls, because you’ll be able to access Hulu programming on the same app.” 

However, despite Iger’s efforts to provide a heads-up, concerns have been raised by some parents. They worry about the inadvertent exposure of such content to impressionable young children who may not be ready for it. The integration of this content directly into their existing Disney+ account might catch them off guard.

With the merger of Disney+ and Hulu, viewers can expect a diverse range of content that goes beyond the traditional family-friendly offerings. This expansion will grant subscribers access to an extensive library of R-rated movies and TV shows, providing a balanced blend of entertainment for viewers of all ages.

It is worth noting that the inclusion of this “spicy” content on the Disney+ platform is a logical progression for the company. By consolidating its resources and leveraging the extensive general entertainment content from Hulu, Disney aims to create a unified streaming experience, capturing a greater audience engagement and unlocking new opportunities for growth.

mickey mouse in front of disney plus

As the beta launch approaches, excitement builds among subscribers who eagerly anticipate the transformation of their streaming experience. The merger between Disney+ and Hulu represents a significant milestone in the streaming industry, solidifying Disney’s status as a dominant player in the market.

Controversy Plagues ‘Inside Out 2,’ Concerns Over New Characters and Casting Choices Arise

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Despite the film’s release being months away, Inside Out 2 is already the talk of the internet.

Disney and Pixar’s highly anticipated sequel, Inside Out 2, made a roaring debut with its trailer, amassing an astonishing 157 million views within just 24 hours. This unprecedented achievement catapulted it to the top spot as the biggest animated trailer launch in the illustrious history of Disney. Surpassing the previous record holder, Frozen 2, Inside Out 2 has set the bar even higher for animated films.

disney and pixar films

What’s even more remarkable is that a significant portion of these staggering views, approximately 78 million, poured in from the popular video-sharing platform TikTok. This demonstrates the immense reach and influence of social media platforms in promoting and generating buzz around upcoming films. Part of the excitement around the trailer is because of the introduction of a new emotion: anxiety.

Fans and enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the release of Inside Out 2, and their excitement is palpable as they eagerly count down the days until June 14, 2024, when the film will hit theaters. This highly awaited sequel promises to deliver an enthralling and emotionally captivating cinematic experience, building upon the immense success and impact of its predecessor.

The immense response received by the trailer signifies the profound connection viewers have developed with the original Inside Out, a film that touched the hearts and minds of audiences across the globe. Its innovative storytelling, brilliant animation, and compelling exploration of the strange world of human emotions resonated deeply with viewers of all ages. As such, it comes as no surprise that the sequel has generated an unprecedented level of anticipation.

disney/pixar inside out joy magic lost sad

However, not everyone is feeling superbly happy about this new film. In fact, many are concerned about the subject matter.

In this new film, we are expecting to meet multiple new emotions. The characters teased in the trailer include Envy, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Anxiety. While Inside Out was praised for tackling tough topics like anger and sadness, others think that these new emotions might be pushing the envelope. TikToker Stra Hat Goofy points out in a recent video that the combination of sadness, anxiety, and ennui (depression/dissatisfaction) could get quite dark very quickly.

@straw_hat_goofy

Who are the new emotions in Inside Out 2? #movies

♬ original sound – Straw Hat Goofy

As the character of Reilly ages, some fans think the film could get quite controversial. However, that is not the only drama plaguing this upcoming film. The trailer’s release also informed fans that we can officially not expect the return of Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling, who portrayed fear and disgust in the original film. Rumors that the pair walked away from the franchise after Disney refused to pay them enough have been swirling for a while, and now, those rumors have some backing.

Despite all of these controversies, it still looks like this Disney Pixar film is going to be a massive success. Fans will be thrilled to wait and see what else is to come for Inside Out 2. 

Disney’s New Genie+ Decision Leaves Fans Feeling Angry

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

New news regarding Disney’s Genie+ service at Disneyland Resort has received mixed emotions from fans since being announced.

Two highly-anticipated attractions at Disneyland Resort are poised to make their debut on the Genie+ platform, bringing even more excitement and adventure to visitors. However, one of these announcements has left fans feeling less than magical due to the fear of this decision raising wait times.

Disneyland Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

At Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, two attractions are set to join the Genie+ service. Among these soon-to-be additions, we have the much-loved Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, an immersive experience that takes Disney Park guests on an exhilarating journey through the whimsical world of these beloved Disney characters. Disneyland Park will soon add Genie+ to this magical attraction, which invites guests to embark on a thrilling adventure with Mickey and Minnie themselves.

The other ride getting Genie+ is the delightful underwater escapade, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, located at Disney California Adventure Park. This enchanting attraction is set to join the Genie+ Service lineup on the Disneyland app in the coming month. While some fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to experience this beloved ride through the convenience of Genie+, there is also a sense of concern among some enthusiasts.

The decision to incorporate Ariel’s Undersea Adventure into the Genie+ platform has sparked a wave of mixed emotions within the Disney fan community. While many are thrilled about the added convenience and benefits that come with utilizing Genie+ for this popular attraction, there are some who worry that the introduction of the service may inadvertently lead to longer wait times.

Understandably, fans who have grown fond of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and cherish the memories made within its fantastical setting express concerns that the inclusion of Genie+ could potentially result in increased demand and, subsequently, longer queues. However, it’s important to note that Disney strives to strike a delicate balance between maximizing guest satisfaction and optimizing the overall visitor experience.

Dozens of fans left comments expressing their dissatisfaction over this decision. Many of them are concerned that this ride will become overly busy after this change is implemented. Some compare this situation to that of the Indiana Jones and Monsters Inc. attractions.

While it’s normal for any change in attraction management to elicit diverse reactions, it’s crucial to remember that Disney consistently evaluates and fine-tunes its services to ensure guests have memorable and enjoyable experiences. With the introduction of Genie+, Disney aims to provide visitors with a more streamlined and efficient way to navigate the park, ultimately enhancing their overall enjoyment.

Only time will be able to tell if this decision will end up being a smart one for Disney. Hopefully, Disney will be able to utilize Genie+ and individual lightning lane selection on these rides without greatly raising the wait time for low-wait attractions like Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.