New Details, Concept Art Revealed for Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

Via Disney Destination

Watch the magic of storytelling unfold, as Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel is being reimagined and transforms into Pixar Place Hotel at Disneyland Resort! We want to bring Guests along on the journey, and today share some new artist concept renderings and details, as they begin to see touches of Pixar popping up here and there at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, with much more to come!

This 15-story high-rise hotel overlooks Disney California Adventure Park. Guests may have already noticed the hotel’s exterior has a bright new look! While Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel continues to welcome Guests during this transition, we want to share a colorful glimpse of what Pixar Place Hotel will look like in the future once the transformation is finished this winter. When complete, Pixar Place Hotel will be the only fully Pixar-themed hotel in the United States!

The lobby will continue to evolve over the next few months and will begin to blend beloved Pixar imagery with the hotel’s contemporary setting. When the transformation is complete, iconic images from Pixar films will be at the front desk, with characters pictured larger than life in curated artwork.

This winter, as Guests enter the hotel lobby, they will be greeted by the Pixar Lamp playfully balancing atop its ball!  A whimsical, colorful character-inspired mobile will hang above, welcoming Guests to the new, reimagined lobby atrium.

Later this summer, overnight Guests can splish and splash at an all-new water play area inspired by Nemo and his friends, where Crush the sea turtle goes with the flow atop a 186-foot-long waterslide and Hank can be seen hanging out at the pop-jet splash pad.

Later this year, a family play court will be added to the deck with activities inspired by Pixar’s famous short films. Interactive games and imaginative free play celebrate favorite friends from “La Luna,” “Bao,” “For the Birds,” and “Burrow.” And when it’s time to relax, Guests may enjoy food and drinks under the love-struck umbrellas from “The Blue Umbrella.”

By night, the pool deck is the ideal spot to take in amazing views of the Disneyland Park fireworks, and lounge by cozy character-inspired fire pits with family and friends.

This fall, the hotel will unveil a new restaurant at the resort, Great Maple. This Southern California-based modern American eatery specializes in playful takes on upscale comfort food. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day, the ground-floor restaurant — with a beautiful outdoor patio — will be easily accessible to Hotel Guests, local diners and theme park goers!

Signature dishes to start dreaming about? Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Maple Bacon Doughnuts, the Cajun Shrimp & Cheddar Biscuit Benedict, and the Soda Pop-Braised Baby Back Ribs! Great Maple will also have a full bar including beer, wine and cocktails.

Great Maple’s culinary creativity will abound throughout the hotel, offering food and beverage service at the pool, as well as a new grab ‘n’ go coffee shop and café near the lobby, and eventually at the hotel’s new concierge lounge.

During the refurbishments of Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, overnight Guests still enjoy the great benefits of staying on property at the Disneyland Resort such as early park entry and a special entrance to Disney California Adventure Park, along with close proximity to Disneyland Park and the Downtown Disney District.

Josh D’Amaro Breaks Down ‘Galactic Starcruiser’ Debacle

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

Walt Disney World Resort is known for providing cutting-edge, top-of-the-line rides, entertainment, food, and accommodations. The Resort’s innovation in hospitality is one of the reasons that Guests return year after year to spend their valuable vacation time. However, sometimes Disney misses the mark and misjudges what their customer base really wants.

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel may be one of the biggest missteps the Disney Parks have seen in the past few decades. Josh D’Amaro, the Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has addressed the Galactic Starcruiser’s failings and the impact that its closing will have on the company financially.

Last week, many fans were saddened, but not completely surprised, to hear that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser would be completing its final voyage on September 30, 2023. The much-anticipated hotel was a boutique experience for Guests who wanted a premium, immersive Star Wars adventure. The project is wildly inventive, and it is truly an entirely new experience for fans to immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe.

The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser was an intimate experience where a small number of Guests would embark on a two-night voyage aboard the starship Halcyon. During their travels, Guests would get to interact with various characters from the Star Wars universe, take part in lightsaber training, and enjoy various other activities.

Unfortunately, the Starcruiser did not perform as well as Disney had hoped. Most Guests were turned away by the shocking $2,500 per night price point. After less than two years, the Starcruiser will be retiring earlier than hoped.

Josh D'Amaro

May 22, 2023, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro did a Q&A at the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference. During his interview, D’Amaro addresses the closing of the Starcruiser, which he referred to as “a pretty stunning asset.”

D’Amaro explained that Disney is very proud of how the Starcruiser turned out and is honored that Guests gave it such incredibly high ratings. Unfortunately, the Starcruiser did not perform as well as hoped, which left Disney with no choice but to “sunset” the experience.

D’Amaro goes on to explain how this with financially affect the company saying;

“I will not, I don’t think we’ve talked about this before, but in both Q3 and Q4, as we accelerate depreciation on that Starcruiser, we should expect about $100-$150 million in accelerated depreciation.”

While it isn’t totally clear if he means $100-$150 million per quarter or total, that is a large number for Disney to lose. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a massive asset to loose, and it’s failings may mean we wont see anther experience like it for a while.

a Tropical Storm May Be Headed for Walt Disney World

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

If you’ve visited Walt Disney World Resort, especially more than once, then you know that Florida has two settings: sunshine and rain.

In fact, rain and thunderstorms are so common in the Sunshine State that Floridians can even smell when a storm is coming (source: the author is a native Floridian, and she can tell you whether the clouds are worth worrying about with just a sniff).

But the National Hurricane Center is currently sniffing out something bigger than your average Central Florida storm. According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm could be forming.

Although a tropical storm may sound like a fancy way of saying ‘thunderstorm,’ it’s worth noting that the two are incredibly different. Tropical storms form when the winds reach 39 miles per hour or higher, making them much more dangerous and challenging to navigate than a thunderstorm (which is already difficult to navigate through).

Hollywood Studios Rain Ponchos

This year’s hurricane season begins on June 1, and yet a potential storm has already been spotted on the horizon.

According to a report by the Orlando Sentinel, the National Hurricane Center has begun tracking something “in the Atlantic east of Florida with a small chance of forming into a tropical depression.”

Rainy Day

Reportedly, the system that has been spotted has a 10% chance of turning into a tropical storm within the next couple of days. However, it’s no secret that a tropical storm can quickly develop into a hurricane, heading straight for Central Florida.

If this storm develops further, it could easily disrupt many Guests’ plans for visiting Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney World Tickets to Hit Lowest Price in Years

Posted on by Mathew Corn Aubree's Ride Reviews, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Planning your next Disney World trip might be even more magical, as Park tickets are set to hit some of the lowest prices in years.

While many fans are used to — but not less disappointed by — prices constantly hiking up at Walt Disney World, the Orlando-based Resort is gearing up for summer with an irresistible deal, offering theme park tickets with some of the lowest prices we’ve seen in years. Time to plan our next magical vacation!

Disney recently announced a special offer for Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort this summer, allowing them to visit Disney World’s four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT — for less than 400!

Guests who want to take advantage of this jaw-dropping offer will be able to experience four days of magic and thrills across Walt Disney World by purchasing a specially priced “4-Park Magic Ticket” for just $99 per day, plus tax (total price: $396 plus tax).

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Per Disney World’s website, the “4-Park Magic Ticket” includes one admission to each of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks—Magic Kingdom park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios—for a total of four admissions, on four separate days.

“4-Park Magic Ticket” offers are limited to one admission per theme park and one theme park per day, meaning you could not visit your favorite theme park twice nor have Park Hopper benefits while taking advantage of this special offer. However, “this ticket does not require theme park reservations to enter the parks,” according to Disney World’s website.

These tickets will be available for purchase starting May 23, 2023, and will be valid for theme park admission from June 1 to September 29, 2023—subject to blockout dates from July 1 to July 4 and September 1 to September 4, 2023.

The “4-Park Magic Ticket” expires within seven days of first use or on September 29, 2023, whichever occurs first, and is not valid for admission on the blockout dates mentioned above. All tickets are nontransferable, nonrefundable, and exclude activities/events separately priced. You can click here to learn more about Disney’s “4-Park Magic Ticket” special offer.

tower-terror

With savings of up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels and the Disney Dining Plan making its long-awaited return, it is the perfect time to plan a summer getaway at Disney World!

‘Steamboat Willie’ Is Getting His Own Water Attraction

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts

When Walt Disney brought Mickey Mouse to life in 1928 with the release of the short animated film Steamboat Willie, the world fell in love. This moment was huge for the Walt Disney Company; everything changed at that moment.

Now, decades later, Mickey Mouse and Steamboat Willie still have millions of fans. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine a Disney theme Park without Mickey, and Steamboat Willie stands as a symbol of Disney’s legacy of innovation and creativity. However, Steamboat Willie has not had much exposure within the Disney Parks.

Now, fans of this loveable short will be thrilled to know that an all-new Steamboat Willie Splash Pad will be coming to a Disney Resort this fall.

mickey mouse waving

Right now, Disney Parks are undergoing some massive transformations. Tons of new rides, attractions, and additions have come in 2023. Another big change is coming this fall with the opening of the new Disney Vacation Club property at Disneyland Resort. The Villas at Disneyland Hotel is going to be an incredible and innovative new space to vacation. Here, Guests will be able to enjoy the adorable new property and all of its cool design elements.

Disneyland villas pool

For many Disney fans, a break day spent at the pool is essential. Luckily for Guests of The Villas, the pool area will not disappoint. Disney invites Guests “to bask in the California sun in the brand-new Palette Pool area, an inviting oasis designed for relaxation and play.”

The area will feature the Palette Pool, Palm Breeze Bar, and an incredible new Steamboat Willie-themed splash pad. The new splash pad is fully black and white and shows Mickey Mouse in his original form. This new attraction is totally unique, and something unlike Disney fans have ever seen before. Guests of all ages will be able to enjoy this pool when it opens with The Villas on September 28, 2023.