’50’ Medallion Removed From Cinderella Castle Clock at Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

The first 50th anniversary decorations are being removed as the large “50” medallion has been taken off the Cinderella Castle clock.

While the 50th anniversary celebrations ended on March 31, the medallion likely needed to stay for the final performance of Disney Enchantment, which took place last night. The medallion was featured in several aspects of the show, including lighting and projections.

At this time, the bunting and spire ribbons remain, but Disney has confirmed that removal will take place over an extended period of time.

WDW MK Cinderella Castle no medallion 1 1

All 50th Anniversary decor is expected to be removed across the four parks of the Walt Disney World Resort as the 18-month celebration comes to a close. Disney has announced that the celebratory embellishments will be removed in phases.

Cinderella Castle’s transformation into a “Beacon of Magic” brought new life to the Magic Kingdom icon through “Disney Enchantment,” a new fireworks spectacular replacing “Happily Ever After” at Magic Kingdom, which debuted as part of the celebration. Nearly a year after its debut, “Disney Enchantment” added a new sequence to celebrate Walt Disney and his brother Roy, following lackluster feedback from guests.

At least for now, the most recent “EARidescent” repainting of the castle is expected to remain when the bunting and turret jewels are removed from Cinderella Castle. Many of the 50th anniversary decorations have already been removed from Main Street, U.S.A., as “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” comes to a close. We saw the first decorations removed at the beginning of March.

Guest Goes Viral In Meltdown at Park

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

Via DisDining.com

Walt Disney World Resort is a popular resort located in Orlando, Florida, and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, seeing thousands of Guests daily. Disney World is home to four separate theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as two water parks called Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Guests also can enjoy going to shops, food, and much more while visiting Disney Springs.

The term “Disney Karens” has been used to describe certain individuals who behave in entitled and demanding ways at Disney theme parks, often causing disruptions and conflicts with other Guests and Disney Cast Members. The term “Karen” is a slang term that has become popular in recent years to describe middle-aged, privileged white women who exhibit entitled and often aggressive behavior.

There have been numerous reports of Disney Karens causing disruptions and ruining the experiences of other Guests. For example, some have been known to demand that attractions be shut down for their own personal use, or to insist that they be allowed to skip long lines. In some cases, Disney Karens have even been caught on camera engaging in physical altercations with other guests or park staff.

cinderella castle and fireworks

In a Reddit Thread, Disney World Guests talk about an incident with a “Karen” Guest and a Cast Member. This Guest described the “Karen” as a  “Ken.” He was parking his stroller when a Cast Member asked him to move it due to a safety liability.

“Ken puts his family’s stroller in the empty spot in our row. I helped him maneuver it on by just pushing a wheel that was caught. It’s at the end of the seat. The cast member is doing checks and tells me I can’t have that on the end and I tell him it isn’t mine. He yells to ask who it belongs to and Ken says it’s his. Cast member explains it can’t be on the end because it’s a safety liability.”

The Cast Member shut the Guest down by saying either someone needed to be with the stroller or they needed to be removed from the train.

“Cast member shuts him down and basically tells him someone either needs to get off with it or move someone around so it can be in the middle. Ken says “What if she switches places with me?” I respond and say “I want to sit with my family”. He will NOT stop arguing with this amazing cast member who says that there are 300 people waiting and they need to make a decision and if it fell off it could kill someone. Ken didn’t care. OH! He also told the cast member I said I would be responsible for it, which never happened.”

Disney Cast Members do their best to look out for the safety of Guests and to keep attractions running smoothly.

How King Charles III Helped Disney Sidestep DeSantis

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

In a shocking legal move, Disney’s lawyers have gone Game of Thrones on Ron DeSantis’ new board – and it looks like a royal clause will hold up in court.

Walt Disney World has been locked in a heated legal, political, and social battle with Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis after the company spoke out against the Parental Rights in Education Act. DeSantis and the Florida Legislature passed legislation to dissolve Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, a privilege held by the company since 1967 that allowed it to treat Walt Disney World as a self-governing area. This allowed them easier access to things like firefighter and paramedic response in the Parks, as well as greater ease for building and land permits.

DeSantis appointed a hand-selected board to take over, now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The board officially took over last month, but news recently broke that its lawyers have discovered a bizarre clause in the Development Agreement signed by the previous Reedy Creek board that severely limits or entirely eliminates the power of the new board.

In the Agreement, which was signed on February 8, 2023, there are several terms that are defined to expire “21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, King of England…” The clause also says that the Declaration will terminate “as of the date that none of [Walt Disney Parks & Resorts] owns any real property within 10 miles of the RCID properties.”

This means that the terms of the previous agreement are valid for at least 21 years, if not much longer, and while it does not cover every inch of the RCID, it covers a significant amount. This renders the new board’s power extremely limited until then.

A screenshot from the Reedy Creek Improvement District Development Agreement

The clause is what’s known as a “royal lives clause,” and is usually set for the lifetime plus 21 years after the death of the current reigning British monarch. While these are somewhat common in contracts in the United Kingdom, it’s rare to see them in the United States. While Presidents’ lives clauses have appeared in American contracts, it seems as though Disney’s lawyers opted for Charles III for political purposes. Royal lives are chosen because of their presumed longevity through affluence and the relative ease of calculating the lifetimes of their descendants.

“We’re going to have to deal with it and correct it,” board member Brian Aungst said of the last-minute agreements on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. “It’s a subversion of the will of the voters and the legislature and the governor. It completely circumvents the authority of this board to govern.”

While this is an extremely bizarre move, it’s unlikely Disney’s lawyers would have used it unless it would hold up in court. The constraints also forbid the board from using the “Disney” name or any of its characters.

Disney World Confirms Plans For Fifth Park

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Via InsideTheMagic.net

Walt Disney World Resort made international headlines yesterday when documents revealed that the Central Florida Disney Park essentially made its Reedy Creek Improvement District powerless for decades before handing it over to Governor Ron DeSantis’s hand-picked committee. The Walt Disney Company used a “royal lives clause” to enact strict covenants on the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District that rendered it practically useless until “21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, King of England….”

Much to the excitement of Disney Parks fans, the filing also revealed that Walt Disney World Resort locked in permission to build a fifth “Major Theme Park” for “Mixed Use Entertainment:”

Of course, this does not guarantee that Walt Disney World Resort will build a fifth Theme Park. The Central Florida Disney Park is busy with updates to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is likely just covering itself if it decides to build a fifth Park.

The Walt Disney Company could see legal action from Gov. DeSantis, the state of Florida, and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District governing board. “This essentially makes Disney the government,” board member Ron Peri told The Orlando Sentinel. “This board loses, for practical purposes, the majority of its ability to do anything beyond maintain the roads and maintain basic infrastructure.”

family taking a photo at disney world after hours

n a prepared statement, Disney said everything was done legally before transferring Reedy Creek to the State of Florida: “All agreements signed between Disney and the district were appropriate and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida’s Government in the Sunshine law.”

Disney World Changing Its Haunted Mansion Attraction to Create a More Family-Friendly Experience?

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via DisDining.com

Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort are home to the most classic, quintessential attractions.

Between Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom, rides like “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Space Mountain have delighted Guests for decades.

But one attraction stands out amongst all other Disney rides: the Haunted Mansion.

Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghosts

The Haunted Mansion stands out because of the vast difference in theme and tone from other attractions. The only one that could come close is Pirates of the Caribbean, which also showcases topics like death. However, one of the most significant differences is that the tone of Pirates of the Caribbean is silly, jaunty, and lighthearted despite the darker scenes in the attraction.

The Haunted Mansion, however, is dark, eerie, and spooky from start to finish. Even once the more lighthearted scene begins in the graveyard, with the ‘Swingin’ Wake,’ there are puppets and animatronics that look scarier than others.

phantom manor

Over in Disneyland Paris, the Phantom Manor has become infamous for being one of the scariest iterations of the Haunted Mansion attraction. However, Disneyland Paris has just made some significant updates, removing nooses and references to death by hanging.

@themouselets

Disneyland Paris had a few more of the “scary” scenes, but did not touch the Stretching Room yet. We’ll keep our eyes peeled on any changes at Walt Disney World! #hauntedmansion #disneynews #disneyrides

♬ Grim Grinning Ghosts – From “The Haunted Mansion” – The Melomen & Paul Frees & Betty Taylor & Bill Lee & Thurl Ravenscroft

This begs the question: could it happen here? The Haunted Mansion is one of the most beloved rides in all of Walt Disney World, but that doesn’t mean it’s exempt from critical changes. Look at Splash Mountain, for example! If something is deemed offensive enough, it will be changed, no matter how classic.

Captain Culpepper Clyne

That being said, Walt Disney World has made no indication that the Haunted Mansion will be updated or changed in any way.

So if you’re a big fan of the Haunted Mansion, there’s no need to fret! The Ghost Host, Attic Bride, Hatbox Ghost, Hitch-Hiking Ghosts, and all the rest of the 999 haunts are still happy to welcome Foolish Mortals into their not-so-humble abode.