Celebrate Soulfully at Disney Parks This February in Honor of Black Culture and Heritage

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

This Feb. marks the return of Celebrate Soulfully at Disney Parks, bringing new culturally rich experiences to Walt Disney World Resort and, for the first time, to Disneyland Resort. Coinciding with Black History Month, Celebrate Soulfully invites families and friends to gather for experiences that honor Black heritage and culture through music, food, art and more.

Celebrate Soulfully is one of the ways Disney Parks is reimagining tomorrow.

Immerse Yourself in Art, Music and Entertainment

Join us as we celebrate soulfully through song, dance, stories and stirring displays featuring the work of Black artists across Walt Disney World Resort and at Disneyland Resort.

Walt Disney World Resort

At Disney Springs, Motown favorites return alongside jazz, R&B and pop hits, with a line-up of featured musical acts all month long. Serving as the perfect spot to capture commemorative photos of the celebration, the fun continues with new murals and art displays throughout Disney Springs, several of which have been inspired by favorite characters from “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” series on Disney+. And at House of Blues Restaurant and Bar, guests can discover a permanent collection of Southern Vernacular Art.

Explore the rich and dynamic evolution of jazz at “The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” exhibit in The American Adventure at EPCOT through the legacies of famous musicians and stories of how jazz took root in cities across the United States. Since its inaugural debut last year, the exhibit has traveled to museums across the country and expanded to include histories from Kansas City and Harlem.

You can continue to celebrate Black cultural influences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, where you may encounter the beats of the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe as they bring rhythms from the Congo to Mombasa Marketplace in Africa or attend “A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King,” a Broadway-style show filled with pageantry puppetry and classic songs from Disney’s “The Lion King.”

And at select Walt Disney World Resorts, join us for viewings of films including “Soul,” “Remember the Titans,” and more as a part of Movies Under the Stars.

Disneyland Resort

As part of Celebrate Soulfully, Disneyland Resort will present “Celebrate Gospel” – at Disneyland park for the first time. “Celebrate Gospel” is a Disneyland Resort tradition, previously held in Stage 17 in Disney California Adventure park.

Opening this powerful event, award-winning Gospel singer, actor and fashion designer Kierra Sheard performs on Feb. 19 at Fantasyland Theater, along with a capella Gospel group Sacred Groove. On Feb. 26, Grammy-award winners Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music take the stage, along with The Singers of Soul performing in their unique a capella style. On both weekends, you can hear Southern California community choirs as they also join this beloved tribute to the spirit of Gospel Music from 3-7 p.m. on the Fantasyland Theater stage.

At Downtown Disney District, you can celebrate with nightly outdoor concerts covering genres such as R&B, Gospel, reggae, funk and jazz throughout Feb., plus Saturday afternoon Gospel music. You can also catch live jazz piano nightly at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen.

Also at Downtown Disney District, discover art displays from emerging Black artists who found inspiration in Disney and Pixar’s “Soul.” Originally developed in collaboration with Pixar and HUE Unlimited in a collection of wearable art, the works are from Bee Harris, Bianca Pastel, Arrington Porter and Cory Van Lew. Plus, chalk muralist Marcella Swett will create a new chalk mural each week in February.

Immerse yourself in Black stories at Disneyland Resort in February and beyond. Join the heroes in Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure park, where you may see Black Panther and join Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, to learn wisdom from Wakanda. Let your imagination soar during a one-of-a-kind princess experience, which may include sightings of Princess Tiana, with Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose restaurant.

Feed Your Soul with Inspired Flavors

Discover celebratory eats inspired by Black stories and new dishes brought to life by chefs at locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort. And make sure to look for “Cooking with Soul” featured menu items, spotlighting authentic dishes and the talented chefs who create them across Walt Disney World Resort, including EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Join us for new and returning favorites at Disneyland Resort.

Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort

  • Come together with loved ones over a meal that nourishes your soul with brunch and happy hour menus at dining destinations across Disney Springs, including Wine Bar George, House of Blues, City Works Eatery & Pour House, STK and Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’.
  • Discover the flavors from the Caribbean, Africa and the Southern United States as chefs and culinary cast members draw on their heritage to infuse cultural flavors into mouthwatering new menu items at Polite Pig, Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar and D-Luxe Burger.
  • Craving something sweet? Head to The Ganachery to indulge in Soulfully Sweet Pralines inspired by Joe Gardner from Disney and Pixar’s “Soul.”
  • Support Black-owned businesses at Vivoli il Gelato by ordering Coffee Pot Gelato, a limited-edition flavor made with coffee stout sourced from Green Bench Brewing Company, a Florida-based Black-owned brewery.

EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort

  • Available at Refreshment Outpost, the Nairobi Coffee Porter is infused with Kenyan coffee and features subtle berry and stone fruit notes.
  • Also found at Refreshment Outpost, the Plant-based Bratwurst is inspired by the flavors of Eastern Africa and is served with spicy turmeric aioli, Kachumbari slaw and coffee barbecue jackfruit.
  • Featuring layers of Fanta Strawberry, Minute Maid Lemonade, Fanta Blue Raspberry Slushy and vanilla ice cream, the Half Note Float at Fife & Drum is named in honor of the jazz club frequented by Joe Gardner in Disney and Pixar’s “Soul.”

Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort

  • The Peach Cobbler Rum Cake at Tiffins Restaurant is inspired by a beloved recipe from chef James Hemings, celebrating his lasting creative and culinary legacy.
  • At Nomad Lounge & Cocktail Bar, guests are invited to satisfy their sweet cravings with Mandazi, a delicious fried dough dessert with Swahili origins.
  • Available at Creature Comforts Coffee Shop, Flame Tree Barbecue and Restaurantosaurus, the Celebrate Soulfully Cupcake is a colorful and delicious homage to the Disney-Pixar film, “Soul.”
  • Sip on a refreshing Mint Julep, flavored with pineapple and orange to honor the inspirational story of the drinks’ creator, John Dabney. This flavorful craft cocktail will be available at locations around Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including Nomad Lounge, Dawa Bar, Restaurantosaurus Lounge and Thirsty River Bar.

Disneyland Resort

  • Celebrate Soulfully New Orleans style at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney District, where chefs honor the flavor of Louisiana with creole cuisine including their NOLA BBQ Shrimp & Grits.
  • Sip from a special menu, enhanced with wines, beer and spirits from Black-owned businesses, at Hearthstone Lounge at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Live jazz is offered nightly in the hotel lobby throughout February.

Bring Home Treasures Celebrating Black Makers and Creatives

Retail destinations at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort spotlight Black designers, artists and visionaries with celebratory merchandise items.

Walt Disney World Resort

  • Inside Art of Disney, check out the Artist Spotlight to learn more about Floyd Norman, Bruce Smith, Carole Holliday and others – some of the talented animators who have worked with the Walt Disney Animation Studios in films ranging from “The Jungle Book” to “The Proud Family” and beyond. And on select dates, meet artist, painter and operator of the Three Masks Art Gallery, Timothy Adebule.
  • In honor of Black History Month, Bowes Signature Candles, will offer special discounts off candle making. Founded by Jamaica native and artisan Dave Bowes, Bowes Candles is located inside Marketplace Co-Op and Disney’s Days of Christmas at Disney Springs. And during the month of February, Bowes Candles can also be found on the porch of the Discovery Trading Co. facing the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
  • Sephora at Disney Springs will celebrate a company-wide commitment to dedicate substantial shelf space in-store to diverse companies.
  • Be inspired by the words of modern age trailblazers like Muhammad Ali and historic figures like Maya Angelou at Sugarboo & Co., where you can find an assortment of writings from members of the Black community.
  • Within some of the most popular Disney-owned locations at Disney Springs, you’ll discover products featuring classic and new characters and films, including “Soul,” “Princess at the Frog” and “Black Panther.”
  • Under Armour joins the celebration with their Black History Month Collection for men, women and youth in apparel and footwear silhouettes.
  • Meet the talented African artisans behind unique craftworks near Mombasa Marketplaceat Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

Disneyland Resort

  • Returning to Downtown Disney District on Feb.1, Post 21 features a collection of modern and design-forward merchandise from Black-owned businesses, curated by a local Los Angeles-based mother and daughter team at a kiosk location.
  • At WonderGround Gallery, guests will discover items with connections to the films “Soul,” “Princess and the Frog,” “The Lion King” and more.
  • Pelé Soccer will debut a new sweatshirt design that features an iconic image of Pelé and a call to “empower the culture.”
  • Lovepop honors Black History Month with special “We are Black History” and “Black is Beautiful” cards.

These are some of the ways you can celebrate soulfully at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Keep checking back here for more details about future offerings!

Cast Member Union Wanted Vaccine Requirement For Guests, Disney Refused

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

Back in July, Disney announced that it would begin requiring vaccines for all of its salaried and non-union hourly Cast Members. Not long after, Disney began discussions with local unions representing both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Cast Members for potential vaccine requirements. Those negotiations have been ongoing, and we are now learning that Disney will move forward with its plan for a vaccine requirement for unionized Disneyland Cast Members, although full negotiations with the Workers United Local 50 have fallen through.

The union shared the announcement on its Facebook page, saying:

COVID 19 UPDATEWe have received notice, after months of good faith negotiations on the matter, that the company will be moving forward on a vaccine mandate for Local 50 and other Union’s not currently under a mandate. Cast will receive an email with details of the mandate. The deadline will be April 11th to have verification of vaccination submitted. Accommodations for religious and/or medical reasons will be available. If you have any questions contact management or us at the Union office (714 502 0220).In solidarity,Workers United Local 50

Disneyland Cast Member

The announcement left many wondering why negotiations were still ongoing when it seemed that Unions had no real issues with their members being required to be vaccinated to continue to work at the Happiest Place on Earth. However, Grace Campista, who serves on the union’s executive board, replied to a comment and revealed that the union had wanted Disney to require its Guests to be vaccinated as well — a request that Disney refused to agree with.

Disneyland DCA Lunar New Year

Had Disney agreed to require vaccinations for its Guests, they would not be the first Southern California theme park to do so. Universal Studios Hollywood began requiring proof of vaccination for all Guests 12 and older back in October 2021, after a mandate was passed in Los Angeles County. Then, in December, that vaccination proof was changed to include all Guests 5 and over. Guests under 5 are not required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.

The Workers United Local 50 did not say if the union would try to keep a conversation going about requiring proof of vaccination for Guests. Positive COVID cases in Orange County, CA — where Disneyland Resort is located — have shot up to almost 5, 000 per day, as compared to back in October, when the average number of cases was between 200 and 300.

Disneyland Cast Members will have until April 11, 2022, to prove that they are fully vaccinated and all potential new Cast Members must prove that they are vaccinated before they are allowed to begin working.

Lots of Guests at Disney World are getting this crazy rash

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

Via DisDining.com

On the first day of your visit, the food is better than you remember, and on the second day, the thrill rides are more thrilling, the spectacular live entertainment is even more spectacular, and the new nighttime fireworks and projection show at Magic Kingdom puts you in a place of wonder and enchantment. Why did you wait so long?

But right smack dab in the middle of your third day in the parks, you kinda feel tingly around your ankles. Must be the 5Gs at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster playing temporary havoc on your circulation. But then you reach down to tie your shoes, and that’s when you see them: wide bands of red hives that have spread up and down your legs, and then stop abruptly at your sock line, as if someone were painting your legs and used that blue tape as a boundary.

Come to think of it, your ankles have been kind of itchy the last few hours.

You figure you must have gotten into something you’re allergic to, but you can’t imagine what it could be. You don’t usually have skin allergies, and this just popped up out of nowhere! You go on with your day, but only one parade, two turkey legs, two Dole Whips, and a cruise in a galleon with Peter Pan later, your legs look like some terrible furor has erupted onto them, and now instead of tingling and itching, you are in pain, and those bands of red hives have turned into droves of purple bruise-like marks.

Well, my friend, you have gained a Disney souvenir that didn’t cost you a dime. It’s called “Disney Rash.” And yes, we’re serious.

Medically speaking, “Disney Rash” is known by its other, more quasi-clinical names, like Golfer’s Vasculitis, Hiker’s Vasculitis, Pound the Pavement Purpura, and even Disney Vasculitis.

It’s called Disney Rash and Disney Vasculitis because so many people fall victim to this theme park skin phenomenon, but don’t worry; Disney doesn’t have a patent on this one just yet. In fact, if you visit any theme park, you might score the same souvenir, but of course, to be fair, you’d have to call it “Six Flags Rash,” “Universal Rash,” or “Busch Gardens Rash,” and then ask yourself, if you were going to score a nasty skin rash no matter which park you visit, why didn’t you get it at Disney? (That at least sounds more fun!)

So you have Disney Rash. Now what?

First things first: Dr. Carley Fowler, M. D., of the Knoxville Center for Dermatology, says not to panic.

“It usually resolves spontaneously over three to four days,” he explains.

Next, why does it happen at Disney World and other theme parks?

Disney World, among other theme parks, provides the ideal scenario for Disney Rash to take over. It’s hot in Central Florida–and not just in July and August. It’s warm in the spring, summer, and fall. In fact, some in Florida call autumn “second summer.” The heat causes blood vessels in your legs to dilate. Plus, you’re on your feet, walking from ride to ride, attraction to attraction, show to show, and this allows gravity to pull more fluid into those vessels that are already dilated. That can cause the capillaries in your skin to become distended. They also become very fragile.

Keep walking while your vessels and capillaries are acting crazy, and you’ve got the perfect opportunity for blood to leak out of those capillaries. That’s what gives the rash appearance on your skin.

And what can you do to treat or prevent Disney Rash? 

Disney Rash doesn’t look fun, and it’s not pretty, but Dr. Fowler says not to let it sully the magic.

“It does sound kind of scary, but the fact is that all those contributing factors—the heat, the gravity—cause those vessels to dilate and if you can reverse that process by not being in the heat and propping your feet up, then you’re going to reverse the process,” he said.

So keep enjoying your trip, but take the time to put your feet up here and there; this will help you to not have so much fluid pooling in your lower extremities. Take a break from the heat because the heat and humidity are responsible for getting the whole process started in the first place. Catch a show indoors, eat lunch inside where it’s cooler, or get to know the sea creatures in the massive aquarium at The Seas With Nemo pavilion at EPCOT.

Dr. Fowler even suggests wearing basketball socks that go up to your knees. These can help with fluid retention in your legs.

And for goodness sakes, make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day–even if you’re visiting in March or November. Being hydrated helps with Disney Rash and a myriad of other souvenirs you don’t want to earn while in the parks!

runDisney Medal Reveal for 2022 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios

runDisney has revealed the medals for the 2022 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend and they are awesome.

From a Disney Cast Member;

The countdown to the debut of our new race weekend continues with a little over three months until the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend: Celebrates Yestermorrow. The inaugural event, whose theme will change each year, borrows from some all-time favorite runDisney events and combines them with exciting new twists and turns for a totally unique experience. Get ready for a four-day race weekend to relive wonderful past runDisney memories while creating new ones during The World’s Most Magical Celebration!

As we start to prepare for our final on-site race weekend of our 2021-22 runDisney race season, we are excited to share a first look at the finisher medals for the 2022 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend. Take a look:

Yeti… set… run! Get ready for a 3.1-mile nighttime run and scavenger hunt through Disney’s Animal Kingdom as part of the Expedition Everest 5K! Never get lost on your journeys with this event’s compass-inspired finisher medal, perfect for explorers of all types.

Lace up those sneakers for a tasty 6.2-mile event around Walt Disney World Resort during the Race for the Taste 10K. See what we’ve cooked up for you on this “Ratatouille”-inspired course with a finisher medal perfect for runners and EPCOT fans alike.

We invite you, if you dare, to join us in an early morning dimension filled with 10 miles of not-so-terrifying terrain through the Walt Disney World Resort. Bringing back this unique race distance, your finisher medal features Goofy dropping in on the infamous Hollywood Tower Hotel.

Test your mettle and earn FOUR medals as part of the inaugural runDisney Springtime Surprise Challenge. Runners who make their way through all three of the weekend’s events, for a total of 19.3 miles, can look to earn a special “challenge” medal.

Not able to join us at Walt Disney World Resort this spring? Bring the magic home when you join us virtually and run on a course of your choosing! From 3.1 to 19.3 miles, add a little character to your at-home race adventure during the 2022 Virtual runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend.

Limited availability remains for the 2022 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend – head over to runDisney.com to register today. Will you be joining us this April? Let us know at @runDisney on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using hashtags #SpringtimeSurprise and #DisneyWorld50.

New Playset Fun Coming to Toy Story Land in 2022!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Yee-haw, attention all honorary toys! After enjoying a rollicking ride through Toy Story Mania!, Guests will soon be treated to a new experience that is filled to the brim with fun. Andy discovered Jessie’s Trading Post playset tucked away in the attic, and is bringing it downstairs to set up shop—full of the coolest toys and finest souvenirs handpicked by the rootinest, tootinest cowgirl.

Also coming in 2022 to Andy’s backyard is the previously announced Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant! In this unique, fun, family-friendly dining experience, Guests will enjoy delicious barbecue fare while surrounded by a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets that Andy has brought together to create his one-of-a-kind rodeo.

Stepping into the lobby and waiting area, Guests experience first-hand what it feels like to be one of Andy’s honorary toys, before progressing into two larger dining room spaces where Andy’s rodeo takes place. Here, the rodeo will be in full swing, with western town and train station playsets mixing with surprising, playful details, like some fan-favorite Pixar characters as they’ve never been seen before!