Date Announced for Addition of Hatbox Ghost at Walt Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

He’s on his way! Hatbox Ghost will be making his way to Walt Disney World this November, and we couldn’t be any more excited than we are right now. Guests to Walt Disney World have waited eagerly for the 1000th happy haunt to make their way to Walt Disney World, and after a year of anticipation and rumors, we finally know that the newest fashion resident will find his way to Disney World in November of this year.

He’s on his way! Hatbox Ghost will be making his way to Walt Disney World this November, and we couldn’t be any more excited than we are right now. Guests to Walt Disney World have waited eagerly for the 1000th happy haunt to make their way to Walt Disney World, and after a year of anticipation and rumors, we finally know that the newest fashion resident will find his way to Disney World in November of this year.

Guests to Disney World who’ve been awaited the arrival of Hatbox Ghost no longer have to guess at when the happy haunt will materalize at the ultra-popular dark ride in Orlando, Florida. D23 just gave us a finite timeframe of November to expect when the awesome animatronic made popular at Disneyland will make his debut at Disney World. Personally, I’m extremely excited for this addition as the Hatbox Ghost, originally created by famed Disney Imagineer Yale Gracey is one of my favorite parts of Haunted Mansion lore. Not only is he getting ready to move permanantly to Florida, Hatbox Ghost has also made a name for himself after being played by Jared Leto in the latest Haunted Mansion reboot that released eariler this summer.

Fans are sure to flock to the mansion once Hatbox Ghost materializes within its walls, so if he’s an immediate must-see for you and your family, you’ll want to hurry and make sure you have a trip booked. The ride is expected to be closed for a couple of days as Imagineers install and test Hatbox Ghost, but we’re certain it won’t be long before he’s ready to scare the pants off of riders at Disney World. We’ll be there and let you know once Hatbox Ghost makes his official debut in November, so stay tuned friends.

Reports of Covid-19 Outbreak at Walt Disney World

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

Via DisDining.com

Since its inception, Walt Disney World Resort has been synonymous with joy and wonder,  continuously enchanting visitors from around the world. Unfortunately, that reputation was put on pause when the Resort was forced to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented unprecedented challenges to the global entertainment giant.

Disney Cast Members worked tirelessly to implement protective measures to help combat the spread of COVID-19, but still, outbreaks within the theme parks were destined to happen. During the peak of the pandemic, Disney was a place that, unfortunately, did facilitate the spread of the virus. The Park’s high-touch areas, indoor spaces, and large crowds played a major role in this.

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Worldwide, the pandemic eventually began to wind down and restrictions were lifted within the Disney Parks. Fans rejoiced as Disney once again returned to its pre-pandemic status, where hugs and crowds were a thing of the norm.

For many people, Covid feels so far away. The years of lockdowns feel like a dark spot in this country’s past, one that Americans are eager to move on from. Now, the public is once again fearing that these days could return.

One Guest’s recent Walt Disney World vacation report has stirred up major COVID-related fears for fans. They made a post to the r/WaltDisneyWorld Reddit group, saying;

“had a great trip but now my entire family has covid. Landed back in my hometown yesterday and immediately tested only to be positive. Tons of people in lines coughing and no regards for personal space. Just a heads up for those who are going soon !”

Unfortunately, there is a lot of truth to this fan’s statement. Nationally, Covid numbers are beginning to rise once more. This can be especially seen in large cities and in places like Walt Disney World, where it is, as one commenter puts it, “a theme park a legit cesspool for germs and people from all over.”

Children with Masks on at Disney

Right now, the biggest thing that fans can do is remember to wash their hands, stay a safe distance from others, and stay home if they are feeling extremely sick. Your health and the health of fellow Guests should be the priority.

Florida Airport CLOSES Due to Incoming Hurricane ‘Idalia’

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

Tropical storms and hurricanes are common occurrences in the state of Florida, and their impact can be deadly and devastating. Right now, the incoming tropical storm, Idalia, is preparing to create a trail of destruction. The state is closely monitoring this tumultuous storm, its path, and the efforts being made to mitigate its impact.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tasked with monitoring and predicting the behavior of tropical storms and hurricanes. When it comes to Idalia, they are currently on high alert as the storm approaches the Gulf Coast.

Just yesterday, an official Hurricane watch was issued for the Florida Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. While those areas will be affected the most, tourists should be prepared for heavy weather in other parts of the state as well.

Understandably, tourists planning to visit Walt Disney World Resort this upcoming week are incredibly concerned about the Idalia hurricane warning. As this storm surge is strengthening into a hurricane, Walt Disney World Resort is currently closely monitoring the rapid intensification of this storm. They announced;

“Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions. We are closely monitoring the path of the projected weather as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members.”

However, it now seems that many fans may not even be able to make it into the state. On Monday morning, August 28, the Tampa International Airport (TPA) announced that it would be closing due to Idalia. TPA will close at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday and will remain closed until it is deemed safe.

This may greatly derail the flight plans for Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort. TPA is advising tourists to contact airlines individually to receive flight updates.

Right now, the most important thing is that everyone stays safe as this storm blows through Florida. Walt Disney World isn’t going anywhere; the safety of you and your family is the most important thing.

Disney Makes Changes to Genie+

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

Disney Genie+ is complicated. Many have complained that it is too complicated. In recent months, Disney has promised that they hear those complaints and are working to simplify the process. Over the past few months, changes have trickled out to make the experience easier. Today they issued an update that makes it MUCH easier.

Disney Genie+ is a paid service offered by Disney theme parks that allows visitors to access shorter wait times for popular attractions. With Genie+, guests can use the app to book reservations for a selection of rides and shows. This service replaced FastPass in 2021 and has been the source of many complaints due to it being overcomplicated.

Simply finding rides to book has proven difficult for many guests. In the past, the app’s tips board listed Lightning Lane rides alongside non-Lightning Lane rides. This made booking a Lightning Lane reservation difficult because you’d have to wade through everything to find the ride you wanted. Since there are a limited amount of Lightning Lane reservations available, this costs valuable time.

Disney has now fixed this issue with a small but meaningful change. As of today, August 21, 2023, guests can now sort the list to show Lightning Lane attractions only. This filter will be helpful when planning your day and making your Lightning Lane selections. It’s a minor change that will have a big impact.

Guests on X (formerly Twitter) have praised the change but hope for more. Currently, you’re only allowed to select a Lightning Lane for a specific attraction once per day. Because of this, fans hope the app will hide attractions that have already been chosen in the future so that only eligible (to you) attractions are visible.

Hopefully, this change will come soon. As always, stay tuned right here, where we will keep a close eye on the developments.