Tomorrowland Launch Depot Now Open to All Guests

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via wdwnt.com

Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. has been transformed into Tomorrowland Launch Depot and serves as the TRON Lightcycle Run gift shop. After spending much of the day serving as a reservation-only location, the new shop outside of Tron Lightcycle Run is now open to all guests visiting Magic Kingdom.

Yesterday, the Tomorrowland Launch Depot was reserved to guests who had booked an opening day reservation for the TRON Identity Program experience. Though the opening day experience was canceled, Disney reconciled with guests who had booked the experience by providing them with an exclusive first entry into the new TRON merchandise shop.

It was originally expected that the shop would open to all guests beginning tomorrow.

We had the chance to take a full tour of the Tomorrowland Launch Depot as it opened to guests today. It’s located between TRON and Space Mountain (it has always been the Space Mountain gift shop). There are entrances from the main Tomorrowland walkway and the exit walkway from TRON Lightcycle / Run.

WDW MK Tomorrowland Launch Depot 20

We got the first look of all new TRON Lightcycle Run merchandise guests can expect to see on their first visits to the Tomorrowland Launch Depot, including a line of TRON Lightcycle Run opening day merchandise. We also found new TRON Lightcycle Run-inspired merchandise options at the MaDe kiosks in Tomorrowland Launch Depot at Magic Kingdom.

Disney Genie+ Price Reaches New Record High at Walt Disney World

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

The Disney Genie+ price reached an all-time high at Walt Disney World today. The service costs $35 per person today, which is six dollars more than the previous highest price of $29.

Disney Genie+ Price

The service sold out before noon yesterday. If a sellout occurs, sales of Genie+ will not resume again until the next day. Guests can purchase Genie+ starting at 12:01 a.m. on the day of their visit.

Genie+ reached its previous record highest price in the past few months, including yesterday. It first reached that price during the 2022 holiday season, with its record high before that being $22 in October.

Disney Genie, Genie+, and Lightning Lane

Disney Genie service logo

Disney Genie is a free feature that launched in October 2021 at Walt Disney World. Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane are the paid program that replaced FastPass+.

When Genie+ first launched, the service was available at a flat rate of $15 per person, per day. Last year’s switch to date-based pricing saw a new high price of $22 — which Disney noted was the highest it would go in October, implying the even higher rates that have now come to pass.

Individual Lightning Lane prices have always been on a date-based basis, but the maximum was formerly $20. Since the update to the pricing scale for Genie+, rates for Individual Lightning Lane have been rising as well.

Genie+ Lightning Lane Attractions

Select attractions offer Lightning Lane access that you can book through Genie+. Check out the current full list below.

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Magic Kingdom

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • Haunted Mansion
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
  • Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
  • Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
  • Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic
  • Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Space Mountain
  • The Barnstormer
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Tomorrowland Speedway
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

EPCOT

  • Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Journey into Imagination with Figment
  • Living with the Land
  • Mission: SPACE – Green
  • Mission: SPACE – Orange
  • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
  • Soarin’ Around the World
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Test Track
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Turtle Talk with Crush

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
  • Disney Junior Play & Dance!
  • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
  • Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
  • Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
  • Toy Story Mania!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

  • Festival of the Lion King
  • DINOSAUR
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
  • Feathered Friends in Flight!
  • Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!
  • It’s Tough to Be a Bug!
  • Kali River Rapids
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris
  • Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost
  • Naʻvi River Journey
  • The Animation Experience at Conservation Station

Final Performance of Disney Enchantment Nighttime Spectacular at the Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

April 2nd marked the last performance ever of “Disney Enchantment” at the Magic Kingdom. The nighttime spectacular debuted on October 1, 2021 with the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, and now will conclude to make way for its predecessor, “Happily Ever After,” as the celebration concludes.

You can find the video below.

The show debuted when The World’s Most Magical Celebration began on October 1, 2021 to highly mixed reviews. Fans criticized its lack of connection to the history of Walt Disney World, largely focusing on newer Disney films instead. Additionally, the structure of the show itself and its message were also lambasted. Many said it fell flat compared to “Happily Ever After,” which is regarded among Disney’s best nighttime spectaculars at any park.

The first iteration of the show lasted until early May 2022, when additional pyrotechnics and laser effects were quietly added to the show’s finale.

In August, Disney quietly updated the show again, this time overhauling the entire introduction to include a short tribute to Walt and Roy Disney, who were instrumental in the creation of Walt Disney World. Some references to opening day attractions were also added, alleviating some complaints about the show’s lack of historical connection to the park. A few lines of narration from Angela Bassett were also replaced by Mickey Mouse’s voice.

At the D23 Expo 2022 in September, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products head Josh D’Amaro announced that “Happily Ever After” would return after the 50th Anniversary celebration concluded in March 2023. Its first performance is set to be tonight, April 3. 

’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.