Festive PhotoPass Fun

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

The holiday atmosphere here at Walt Disney World Resort is so warm and cozy (and not just because of the weather!), and Disney PhotoPass photographers love making guests’ photos even merrier with some holly-jolly props, Magic Shots, and more! Below, check out some of our favorite photo ops available this holiday season from Disney PhotoPass Service around Walt Disney World Resort, and note where photographers will be capturing each of them. 

After dark in front of the Christmas trees at EPCOT, Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs

On the bridge leading from Oasis to Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, on Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, at all World Celebration locations at EPCOT, at theDisney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs, and at the following locations at Magic Kingdom Park: entrance, the Disney PhotoPass Studio inside Sir Mickey’s, and on Main Street, U.S.A.

At most locations at all four theme parks, the Disney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs, and select resorts

In front of the Christmas tree at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, on Sunset Boulevard and Echo Lake at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, near the main entrance to World Showcase at EPCOT, and at the entrance and in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park

In front of the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, at select Hollywood Boulevard locations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, at the Disney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs, and starting November 25 when guests can meet Santa Claus at EPCOT

At all three Disney PhotoPass Studios, which are located at Disney Springs, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Magic Kingdom Park

In the Norway pavilion at EPCOT (starting November 25) and at the Disney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs

At all World Showcase locations at EPCOT starting November 25, and at Echo Lake and select Hollywood Boulevard locations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If guests want to deck their halls with all these photos, have them consider purchasing Memory Maker. With Memory Maker, guests can download all the Disney PhotoPass photos and videos from their vacation, including those taken onboard attractions – all for one price.* 

*Disney PhotoPass Service and Memory Maker are subject to the applicable terms and policies. Includes photos taken during the applicable Memory Maker Window as defined in such terms (generally, photos taken (i) within one day for Memory Maker One Day or (ii) within 30 days from the date of first activation for standard Memory Maker). If Memory Maker is purchased at the advance purchase price, any photos taken within 3 days of the date Memory Maker is purchased are not included and must be purchased separately. A MagicBand, or an eligible mobile device with Bluetooth technology enabled for the My Disney Experience app, is required to receive certain attraction photos and other digital content. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos in your account will expire pursuant to the expiration policy. Downloads are restricted to personal use only. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Valid theme park admission required for certain photo locations.

Mickey’s Toontown to Reopen at Disneyland Park on March 8, 2023

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

It’s Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s birthday! In honor of this special occasion, the Disneyland Resort is pleased to announce the official reopening date of Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park – March 8, 2023!

It was this time last year that we first announced Mickey’s Toontown would undergo an ambitious reimagining, and reopen with some all-new experiences for families and young children to have more opportunities to play together inside Disneyland Park. At D23 Expo in September, we shared a bit more about the interactive play areas and how we are stepping into a new era of inclusive experiences in this land for families of all ages.

We are all excited to see just how Mickey’s Toontown will become a vibrant symphony of sights, sounds and sensations very soon. Here’s a look at some of what you can expect when the land reopens on March 8!

The reimagined Mickey’s Toontown will provide open, grassy play spaces for everyone to unwind, starting with CenTOONial Park, the first space guests will see when they enter the land. CenTOONial Park will be anchored by two new interactive play experiences; a beautiful fountain featuring water tables designed for play that invite guests to have a sensory experience, plus a nearby dreaming tree with sculpted tree roots providing an opportunity for children to crawl and explore.

Mickey’s Toontown will be home to the new attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway! Inside the El CapiTOON Theater, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will put you in the wacky and unpredictable cartoon world of Mickey and Minnie, where Guests will board a train with Goofy as the engineer. One magical moment after the next leads you to a zany, out-of-control adventure filled with surprising twists and turns that the entire family will enjoy!

As you may have read, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open on Jan. 27, when the Disney 100 Years of Wonder Celebration comes to life at Disneyland Resort!

Over in Goofy’s neck of the woods, Guests will find Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard, as shown in this new aerial rendering of the area.

Dedicated to all things play, Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard incorporates a whimsical sound garden where kids will discover new ways to make wacky noises, as well as enjoy an all-new, elevated clubhouse.

When Guests step inside Goofy’s House, they’ll find a fun, interactive candy-making contraption that only Goofy could imagine! The confectionary contraption begins high outside of Goofy’s home, as drips of honey fall from a beehive onto a chute that slides the colorful drops around and down into the home. From there, junior candymakers will help Goofy make the candy, and the silly sounds of household appliances will combine to make a truly Goofy symphony.

Donald’s Boat will be perched in the duck pond of the Goof homestead. Imagine larger-than-life spinning water lilies, balance beams and rocking toys at Donald’s Duck Pond that will help little ones get the wiggles out. Kids will definitely love making a splash in this space! Guests can also look into the boat through the portholes to witness bubbles of fun inside the flooded vessel and interact with some familiar ducklings including Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.

For those wanting to get a little ‘nutty,’ Guests can head over to Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster, where Mickey’s Toontown’s favorite tinkerer, Gadget Hackwrench, has created a one-of-a-kind, fun-sized coaster for the town’s tiniest citizens.

And at Mickey’s House and Minnie’s House, Guests will once again be able to step right into their homes and enjoy a self-guided tour as they discover special surprises in every room. They may even be able to visit with Mickey and Minnie while they’re there, should they be home!

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin will also return, where Guests can board Lenny the Cab and spin through the streets and alleys of Toontown as they follow the adventures of Roger Rabbit.

And when Guests feel a snack attack coming on, they’ll be able to turn to two new places to appease their appetites in the land: Café Daisy, where acclaimed culinary expert, Daisy Duck, serves up diner classics at her sidewalk table eatery; and the Toontown Farmers Market at Good Boy! Grocers, a friendly roadside stand, offering grab and go drinks and treats.

Be sure to stay tuned to Disney Travel News for more information about the transformation of Mickey’s Toontown as we get closer to March 8. And in the meantime, please join us in wishing our beloved Mickey and Minnie a very happy birthday!

Both a Theme Park reservation and valid admission for the same Park on the same day are required for Park entry. Park reservations are limited, subject to availability and not guaranteed.  Visit https://disneytraveltradeinfo.com/dlr for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort.

Disney Guest Chugs Beer, Takes Off Shirt, and Gets Arrested

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

A Guest recently saw their trip to Walt Disney World Resort cut short.

Disney World is known as “The Most Magical Place On Earth,” but that doesn’t mean that every single situation that unfolds at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios is exactly “magical.”

Recently, a report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department noted an incident that occurred with an EPCOT Guest at the Disney Skyliner.

Chase Holderby, 30, of Merritt Island, Florida, was being very loud and stumbling around the American Adventure Pavilion after witnesses said he quickly chugged down two beers in approximately 30 seconds.

“We observed the subject shaking everyone’s hand in line, high-fiving people, and was stumbling while in the line,” a deputy wrote in an arrest report.

epcot world showcase

A few minutes later, the Disney Park Guest was seen having a verbal argument near the Japan Pavilion. When he made it to the Morrocco Pavilion, Walt Disney World Resort security asked him to leave the theme park.

That’s when Holderby, continuing to be belligerent, took his shirt off and got in line for the Disney Skyliner.

“Once in the line queue, he continued to act belligerent and cause the crowd of people in line to become alarmed,” the deputy wrote. “While attempting to get him onto the physical gondola car, he wouldn’t initially get in and was dangerously close to falling into the area beneath where the attraction operates.”

As a result, Disney had to stop the entire transportation system and “delay all other riders.” After multiple warnings, Holderby was arrested on charges of trespassing and disorderly intoxication.

disney world skyliner

Disney Begins Prep For 100th Anniversary Celebration!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disneyland Resort has just kicked off its holiday celebration, which will run until January 8, 2023.  The Merriest Place on Earth features the Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure, Believe! In Holiday Magic Fireworks, and fun holiday layovers like Haunted Mansion Holiday, “it’s a small world” Holiday, Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl.

In addition to Festival of Holidays, both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park will have a number of seasonal food offerings, including nearly a dozen new churros.

Less than three weeks after the holiday’s end at Disneyland Resort, a brand-new celebration will be kicking off — the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. And Disney is going to be celebrating the milestone in a big way. A party like that takes a while to put together, so Cast Members are already prepping!

Instagrammer TheCaliBae shared a video of a giant platinum Mickey Mouse being wheeled through Disneyland and into the back, where it will wait until it makes its Disneyland debut on January 27.

Disney Parks Blog shared more on the exciting anniversary celebration:

Beginning Jan. 27, the Happiest Place on Earth will receive new platinum-infused décor throughout the resort, new sparkling looks for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals, special food and beverage offerings, merchandise and more. 

At Disneyland park, Walt Disney’s original Sleeping Beauty Castle will be dressed in style for the anniversary. Celebrating wonder, the castle will be adorned with elegant platinum banners and bunting, accented by a magnificent cabochon featuring the three Good Fairies who illuminate it with their shimmering pixie dust. Two majestic water fountains will grace either side of the moat, while a beautiful wishing star will sparkle from the tower above.

“World of Color – One” at Disney California Adventure park will celebrate the storytelling legacy started by Walt Disney a century ago. It will tell a new story of how a single action, like a drop of water, creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. It brings some of the most courageous, loving and inspiring characters to life in new ways. The show will also feature a new original song, “Start a Wave.” 

While Disney shared a number of fun facts about the 1ooth Anniversary celebration at Disneyland Resort, they have not said what will happen at Walt Disney World Resort or Disney’s other theme parks — Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Paris. However, they have said that the company’s 100th will be honored globally. 

Disney “Most Woke Corporation in America” According to Recent Survey

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Uncategorized

Once a year, the American Conservative Values ETF (ACVF) conducts a survey aimed at Conservative Investors to determine what companies investors think misalign with their values. “It’s an ongoing informal survey intended to identify companies with woke or liberal reputations, as well as capture trends over time,” said ACVF CEO William Flaig, one of the group’s co-founders. Typically tech companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google top the list but not this year.

Disney, overwhelmingly, has been voted “THE most woke company in America” by this group of Conservative Investors. Tech giants Facebook, Google and Twitter made the top five but this is the first time Disney has topped the list. In 2021, Disney ranked low on the list when just 10 percent of ACVF investors ranked it as woke.

CVF President Tom Carter said, “It’s clear Disney’s adoption of left-wing ideology led by its war on parental rights is harming the company’s brand among politically conservative investors.” He went on to say that the ACVF is currently boycotting 29 companies, including Disney, and actively encourages its investors to do the same.

This line of thinking extends past just the ACVF as well. Financial columnist and analyst Steve Beaman said that many investment groups and individual investors are tired of companies (on both sides of the aisle) mixing business and politics. “Corporations need to focus on products and customers along with shareholder returns,” he said. “That should be the main focus, not some agenda involving political and social issues.”

Many conservatives have gone beyond stock boycotts and have boycotted the Parks and films as well due to their increasing frustration with Disney’s involvement in political issues. Disney Fan turned Disney Boycotter, Tara, spoke with me and said, “Disney used to stand for something everyone could love: simple family friendly fun. Now they want to have some sort of mission statement with an agenda and I’m not ok with that. We used to go 3 or 4 times per year. We won’t go again until they stop the woke stuff”

Bob Chapek

Disney Parks 4th Quarter Earnings Call showed signs that the company may be feeling the crunch from these protests. Earnings were well below anticipated estimates and stocks suffered more dramatically than they have in 20 years immediately after the call. The Disney online community continuously comments “go woke, go broke” in protest what they perceive as a “Woke agenda.” While the company certainly won’t go broke, it is possible they may take a step back from politics if these financial trends continue.