Disney Has Just Given Us a Ton of New Details About “Hey, Disney”

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Resorts, Uncategorized

We live in a world where we have access to everything we could ever want to know at the tips of our fingers. We can program nearly everything to happen remotely — from turning on the coffee pot at a specific time, turning our lights on and off, and even locking our doors if we leave the house and forget to. Disney has slowly been integrating those technological advances into its theme park experience, and soon, more tech will be coming to select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Later this year, Disney Guests will have a new — and complimentary — feature in their hotel rooms. It is called “Hey, Disney” — as Disney teamed up with Amazon and its Alexa programming — and will give you a whole new world of features to take advantage of and enhance your Disney experience. Disney Parks Blog shared more information on the fun, new tech coming to the Most Magical Place on Earth.

There’s a magical new digital voice assistant ready to bring Disney characters and stories to life called “Hey Disney!” Using Alexa technology for supported Amazon Echo devices, you’ll be able to ask all the useful questions – weather forecasts, set timers and alarms, etc. – and get answers from more than 25 popular characters including Mickey Mouse, Olaf, Rocket and Groot, Princess Tiana and many more. Plus, when you stay at select Disney Resort hotels, you can use “Hey Disney!” to learn helpful information about your vacation, order room amenities and more. Wondering when the next bus to EPCOT leaves or need to request more towels for your room? Just ask the Disney Magical Companion, a new character who will interact with you via “Hey Disney!”

Hey Disney!’ will begin rolling out in select Disney Resort hotel guest rooms across Walt Disney World later this year as part of our 50th anniversary celebration. Access will be offered as an optional, complimentary feature during guest stays.

Hey Disney

What’s even more exciting, those who have an Amazon Echo device in their home will also be able to take part in the “Hey, Disney” fun! Guests can purchase “Hey, Disney” for any Amazon Echo via the Amazon Alexa Skills Store. If you have purchased Disney’s new Magicband+ — which is not on sale just yet — it will also pair with “Hey, Disney” on your Amazon Echo device.

Hey Disney

Disney has said that the “Hey, Disney” feature is coming to select hotels for the 50th Anniversary. The 50th will only run until March 2023 and Disney has not said if the feature will become a permanent fixture after that. We will just have to wait and see what Disney has to say when it finally releases “Hey, Disney” at hotels.

Disney World Pulls MagicBand+ From Shelves After Accidental Release

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

On May 1, Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort were shocked and elated when they saw Disney’s new MagicBand+ on sale. Disney had announced the new bands would be coming to the Parks in 2022. There was no official announcement of the release from Disney, so these Guests thought it was just a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, they soon learned that it was all a big mistake.

Not long after the MagicBand’s release, theme park insider Scott Gustin shared on Twitter that the new MagicBand’s were released by accident. Disney Cast Members had pulled the Bands from shelves and were refunding Guests who had already purchased them.

Disney says a limited number of MagicBand+ bands were sold earlier today. They removed the bands from the store and are offering refunds. MB+ features/in-park experiences are not live and are planned to launch later this year. Details (and a launch date) will be revealed later.

Guests have been waiting for months for Disney to finally release its MagicBand+. Sadly, they will have to wait a little longer. The new MagicBands are supposed to interact with the Fab 50 statues that have been placed at the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration. However, the 50th Anniversary has less than a year left, so if the statues are taken down when it ends, Guests will have a very limited time to actually use that feature.

Chip and Dale Fab50

According to Disney, MagicBand+ is also supposed to light up as you watch both Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom and Harmonious at EPCOT. Those are also only around for the 50th Anniversary. Disney has said that its MagicBand+ would be released early in 2022, but we are almost halfway through the year, and there is still no release date.

Disney Enchantment

Even though Guests are still unable to purchase MagicBand+, traditional MagicBands — with dozens of incredible colors and designs — are still available for sale at all four theme parks, as well as Disney Springs.

DisneyDining.com will keep readers updated if and when Disney finally gives its MagicBand+ a release date. Hopefully that will be soon, since stores at Walt Disney World Resort are already getting shipments of them.

Disney Hotel Undergoing Revamp, All-New Pixar Theme Coming Soon

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

Disney has just announced that the fan-favorite hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, located in Disneyland, will soon get an all-new theme!

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel in Disneyland Resort is a fan-favorite hotel, themed to the California beachfront boardwalks. Disneyland currently describes the hotel as:

Celebrate the heyday of California beachfront boardwalks at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. Step back in time at this old-fashioned yet modern hotel—home to a variety of shopping and recreation opportunities—and ride a wave of relaxation from your charming seaside-themed room all the way up to the rooftop pool for some welcome fun in the sun.

Soon, however, the California beachfront theming will wash away as Disney announced the hotel will undergo a revamp and will include an all-new Pixar theme!

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel retheme

As seen in the concept art above, Paradise Pier will soon include Pixar theming elements, including the iconic Pixar balls seen in various films.

According to Disney Parks Blog:

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will soon begin a transformation, with an all-new theme! The reimagining of the hotel will weave the artistry of Pixar into its comfortable, contemporary setting. Guests will gain a new perspective on some of their favorite Pixar worlds and characters through carefully curated artwork, and décor that reveals the creative journey of the artists who helped bring these stories to life.

Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel retheme

Additionally, the new Pixar-themed hotel will include the Pixar Lamp as the center of the lobby, as seen in the concept art above. Disney Parks Blog shared:

Guests will be welcomed into whimsical character moments, like the iconic, playful Pixar Lamp balancing atop its ball in the lobby (as pictured in this artist concept rendering). Stay tuned, as we will share much more about this project soon!

At this time we do not know what the new hotel’s name will be, or when this revamp will be taking place, but Inside the Magic will update you as we get information.

Paradise Pier Hotel swimming pool

Disney also recently announced new hotel benefits coming for Disneyland Guests, including a new walkway from Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel to Disney California Adventure Park, as well as early theme park entry.

Other exciting news at the Disneyland Resort includes upgrades coming to the shopping and dining district, Downtown Disney. As previously announced by D23, the multi-year project to reimagine Downtown Disney District is being planned with work starting in January 2022 and will include an even broader collection of shopping, dining & entertainment experiences.

Paradise Pier Fireworks

Disney Housekeepers Caught Stealing In Undercover Sting Operation

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts

A couple of Disney employees were recently caught in an undercover sting operation that you won’t’ believe.

It was recently reported that two employees of the Walt Disney World Resort were arrested after unknowingly taking part in an undercover operation. As stated in the sheriff’s arrest report from the Orange Country Sheriff’s office, Walt Disney World pulled a sting operation alongside police that led to two housekeeping Cast Members getting arrested at the Disney Resort.

On March 9, 2022, Disney worked alongside the Orange County Sheriff’s office in order to investigate suspicions regarding ongoing thefts at Disney Resort Hotels.

According to the report, Disney set up a decoy hotel room at the Port Orleans – Riverside Resort after suspicions rose of two Cast Members – Raphmarie Cartagena Torres and Aishaleam Abraham Rodriguez. Once the room was set up, number 8097, sheriff’s detectives covertly watched a live video feed from a neighboring hotel room on Disney property. The hotel room was not used by actual Guests but was set up to look like it was.

port orleans trundle bed

According to the arrest report, Torres, 27, was the suspect in a series of ongoing thefts at the property, resulting in Disney being skeptical in the first place.

In the decoy room, Disney left $200 in cash as bait. The sheriff’s report states that “the money was placed in a small black backpack and put in camera view.” Other items were also included in the room such as Apple products and other personal items that could be easily stolen. Around9:50 a.m. on March 9, the Cast Members under suspicion entered the hotel room with instructions to clean the Walt Disney World Resort room. The sheriff’s report details that:

upon entry (Raphmarie) is seen immediately making entry into the front pocket of the backpack, and removing the cash from the interior of the bag. Raphmarie counts out $65, places it on the television stand, and a hand is seen removing the money from the stand. Raphmarie is then seen rummaging through the rest of the bags in the view of the camera.

disney world cinderella castle wedding aisle evening

Once the Cast Members had left the room, sheriff’s detectives confronted the two Disney Cast Members outside. Each had taken $65 in cash that matched the serial numbers from the money left in the decoy room. Both women were arrested and charged last month with theft by an employee, according to Orange Circuit Court records. None of the other items were stolen from the decoy room.

Though it is rare for incidents such as these to happen at Walt Disney World, it is interesting to see how Disney and the police work together to help combat criminal activity. Usually, we see things like this happen with other Guests but according to the report, even Cast Members can engage in illegal activity.

It is always advisable to keep valuable items or cash kept in a safe location if you have to leave them in your rooms. Disney World Resort hotels have a safe that Guests are free to use if they would like.

rain at disney world

First Look at Disney’s Halfway to Halloween Eats and Treats

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

It’s halfway to spooky season! As April 28 approaches, we are soon-to-be halfway to Halloween! And we all know it’s never too early to get in the spirit. These wickedly delicious items are running amuck, amuck, amuck across Disney Parks.

These eats are sure to put a spell on Guests with tasty flavors and adorable eats. See the return of favorites like the Sister’s Elixir Hot Cocoa Bomb at The Ganachery at Walt Disney World Resort or the Spooky Churro from California Churro at Disneyland Resort. And be on the lookout for some new tricks and treats from Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs, including exclusive trading cards to collect.

DISNEYLAND RESORT

Downtown Disney District

Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs (available April 28 through May 1)

  • Cheddar Pickle Dog: The pickle dog sprinkled with cheddar cheese for a pop of orange to celebrate Halloween

California Churro (available April 27 through May 4)

  • Spooky Churro: A churro rolled in cinnamon sugar cut in half, drizzled with peanut butter and chocolate sauce, and topped with yummy peanut butter candy pieces in seasonal colors
8 Halloween Churros not to be missed at the Disneyland Resort | Chip and Company

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

Magic Kingdom Park

Sleepy Hollow (available April 28 through August 13)

  • Lady on the Gravestone 50th Chilling Chamber Pop: Citrus cake crumbs, raspberry buttercream, and blue crisp pearls (New)

Available at Liberty Square Popcorn Cart and Various Outdoor Vending Carts (available April 28 through May 1)

  • Jack Skellington Popcorn Bucket (Limit two per, person per transaction while supplies last)
First Look at Disney's Halfway to Halloween Eats and Treats 2022 - ThrillGeek

Disney Springs

The Ganachery (available April 28 through May 1)

  • Sister’s Elixir Hot Cocoa Bomb: Dark chocolate cauldron filled with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows topped with an edible image of the Sanderson Sisters and a chocolate broom stirrer

Gideon’s Bakehouse (available April 28 through May 1)
Get an exclusive trading card during Halfway to Halloween. Each four and six cookie box will feature one of the sixteen cards, plus be on the lookout for a bonus card for those waiting in line featuring Barnabas Mephistophelittle! (Limit of one per person while supplies last)

  • Pumpkin Spice Shadow Cakes: Chocolate-dipped spice cakes with a pumpkin buttercream filling (New)
  • Frankenstein Cake Slices: A three-layer chocolate cake covered in cookies and cream buttercream and loaded with M&M’s
  • Valentina Cake: Classic red velvet cake covered in a light and fluffy cookies and cream marshmallow buttercream

Available at Various Outdoor Vending Carts in West Side (available April 28 through May 1)

  • Mickey Mummy Popcorn Bucket (Limit two per, person per transaction while supplies last)
Fans Line Up Throughout One Disney Park to Snag New Limited-Time Popcorn Bucket - Inside the Magic

Resorts

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (available April 28 through May 1)

  • Hocus Pocus “Amuck” Cakes: Rich devil’s food cake with “peanut boo-tter” filling decorated to resemble all three Sanderson Sisters

(Note: All offerings are subject to change.)