Typhoon Lagoon: A Tropical Oasis of Fun and Adventure

Posted on October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Within the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park stands as a sun-soaked paradise for visitors of all ages. With its thrilling water attractions, serene tropical ambiance, and a touch of Disney magic, Typhoon Lagoon is a refreshing and exciting escape from the Florida heat.

Typhoon Lagoon’s unique story revolves around a fictional tropical paradise struck by a massive typhoon. The aftermath of the storm left behind a water park filled with thrilling waterslides, serene beaches, and a picturesque lagoon. The park’s thematic design reflects the remnants of the typhoon, with surfboards, boats, and other nautical elements scattered throughout, adding to the sense of adventure and discovery.

Typhoon Lagoon boasts a wide array of water attractions suitable for visitors of all ages and thrill levels. Here are some of the park’s most popular offerings:

Miss Adventure Falls: This family-friendly raft ride takes you on a journey to uncover the treasures of the park’s “Miss Fortune,” a stranded oceanographer.
Crush ‘n’ Gusher: A unique water coaster that propels you uphill and down thrilling twists and turns on a high-speed adventure.
Ketchakiddee Creek: A water play area designed for young children, complete with small slides, fountains, and interactive water features.
Castaway Creek: A relaxing lazy river that winds its way through the park, allowing guests to float leisurely through the tropical landscape.
Blizzard Beach’s Summit Plummet: The park’s iconic waterslide, which boasts one of the tallest, fastest free-fall body slides in the world.

One of the standout features of Typhoon Lagoon is the park’s unique surfing experience. The massive wave pool, known as Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, creates perfect six-foot waves for visitors to surf or bodyboard. Whether you’re an experienced surfer or a first-time wave rider, this attraction provides an unforgettable experience for guests looking to catch some waves.

Typhoon Lagoon offers a variety of live entertainment options, including dance parties, beachside performances, and the opportunity to meet beloved Disney characters in their tropical attire. Whether you’re dancing to the rhythm of the island or capturing magical moments with Mickey and friends, these experiences add a touch of Disney enchantment to your day at the water park.

Typhoon Lagoon provides guests with amenities such as rental lockers, beach chair and umbrella rentals, and a convenient gift shop for all your water park essentials. Dining options include a variety of choices, from quick-service locations offering snacks and refreshing beverages to full-service restaurants like Leaning Palms, where you can enjoy a delicious meal with a tropical twist.

For those seeking relaxation, Typhoon Lagoon offers plenty of options. The sandy beaches surrounding the wave pool and lagoon are perfect for lounging in the sun or finding a shady spot under a swaying palm tree. You can also rent a private cabana for a VIP experience, complete with personal attendants, a stocked cooler, and reserved seating.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is a tropical oasis filled with fun and adventure. Whether you’re seeking thrilling water rides, serene relaxation, or the magic of Disney characters, this water park has something for everyone. With its unique storytelling, thematic design, and a variety of attractions, Typhoon Lagoon is a refreshing and exciting escape that promises cherished memories for visitors of all ages. So, pack your swimsuit, sunscreen, and a sense of adventure, and make a splash at Typhoon Lagoon during your Walt Disney World vacation.

‘Once Upon a Studio’ Now Streaming on Disney+

Posted on October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney+

Disney’s new “Once Upon a Studio” short film is now streaming on Disney+. The short originally debuted at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and then on ABC on October 15.

It uses a mix of 2D and 3D animation, on top of live-action footage to bring together dozens of Disney characters. Disney brought back more than 40 voice actors to reprise their roles, plus pulled audio from the archives to use dialogue from actors who have passed, like Robin Williams as the Genie.

The film takes place at the Roy E. Disney Animation Building, beginning when employees leave for the day — including Disney Legend Burny Mattinson. Mattinson filmed the sequence in August 2022, and sadly passed away in February 2023 at the age of 87 and the short is dedicated to him. He was the longest serving Cast Member in the history of The Walt Disney Company and would have received a 70th anniversary service award (the first ever) this year.

Dan Abraham, co-writer and director of “Once Upon a Studio” said in a recent press release that Mattinson loved being included in the film. “When I storyboarded this, in the very first frame, I drew, ‘Burny Mattinson walks out of the door with a young intern.’ And that was all about handing the baton on to the next generation. He was in the storyboards for months and months before Burny even knew he was in them. When Once Upon a Studio was greenlit, we went to Burny and asked him, ‘How would you feel about being part of this?’ And he was really, really into it! I don’t think he had done any on-camera work up until that point. But Burny is an animator and a story artist, so he’s an actor with a pencil; he has been his entire life. When he delivers his line—’If these walls could talk…’—there is a sparkle in his eye. It is just undeniable the things that Burny has seen in his 70 years at the company: Walt Disney, the death of Walt Disney, the emergence of computer animation, all the different people who were in charge throughout the decades. And he just rolled with it all.”

Clark Spencer, President of Disney Animation, said of Mattinson, “For 70 years, Burny was such an important part of this studio. His career spans everything from working in the mailroom to being an animator and story artist to directing feature films to being the best mentor anyone could ever ask for. His smile lit up the Studio, and the joy he brought to every room was infectious. Simply stated, his influence on the people and the films of Disney Animation was extraordinary. For those of us who had the honor to work with him, he inspired us to truly be the best that we could be.”

In the short, after Mattinson and the other employees leave, the animated characters of the studio come to life to take a 100th anniversary photo. Of course, Mickey and Minnie are heavily featured, but they’re also joined by beloved characters like Mirabel from “Encanto,” Anna and Elsa, the Three Little Pigs, Milo Thatch from “Atlantis,” Hades, Baymax, Merlin from “The Sword in the Stone,” Winnie the Pooh and friends, Cinderella and Prince Charming, and many more.

Watch the trailer for “Once Upon a Studio” below.

“Once Upon a Studio” is also set to play in front of “Wish” when the movie opens in theaters on November 22. The main character of “Wish,” Asha, appears briefly in the short film.

Trailer Released for Marvel’s ‘Werewolf by Night’ In Color

Posted on October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney+

Marvel Studios will re-release “Werewolf by Night” in color on Disney+ next week. The “Special Presentation” debuted last Halloween season.

“Werewolf by Night” was originally in black and white, being inspired by classic horror films of the 1930s and ’40s. It will be available in color beginning on October 20, 2023. Watch the new trailer below.

“Werewolf by Night” is directed by Michael Giacchino from a teleplay by Heather Quinn and Peter Cameron. It stars Gael García Bernal as Jack Russell, Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone, and Harriet Sansom Harris as Verussa Bloodstone.

After the special’s premiere, “Director by Night,” a documentary about Giacchino’s direction, was released.

Marvel has indicated they want to dig into the darker side of the MCU with more projects like “Werewolf by Night.” No characters from the special have appeared in the MCU again and Marvel hasn’t announced a “Werewolf by Night” follow-up, but Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said it introduced “a world that will ultimately become quite important to the future of the MCU.” (via Collider)

New Walt Disney Company 100th Anniversary ‘Lifetime’ Special Look Celebrates Theme Park & Movie Memories

Posted on October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The Walt Disney Company released a new “Lifetime” special look celebrating dreams come true for their 100th anniversary on October 16, 2023.

The video features clips from Disney films, new and old, with Walt Disney’s voice overlaid. It also highlights the theme parks, the company’s work with Make-A-Wish, and more.

It’s a complement to the sizzle reel released in 2022 in anticipation of the anniversary entitled “Tradition.” That reel had the message “100 years ago, a tradition began with you.” The new dream-themed ad follows that up with a matching sentiment: “It all started with a dream. You made it come true.”

It ends with Walt Disney saying, “We’re just getting started” and the words “here’s to the next 100 years” over the castle.

Disney Files Subpoena for Former Reedy Creek District Administrator John Classe

Posted on October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Walt Disney World has issued a subpoena for former Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) Administrator John Classe seeking various documents and information from his tenure with the District.

John Classe was the District Administrator for almost a decade. When RCID became the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD), Classe stayed on for the transition.

The new Board of Supervisors chose Glen Gilzean Jr. to replace Classe. When Gilzean took over the position in May, Disney added him as a defendant in their lawsuit against the District and Florida Governor Ron Desantis.

Classe signed a 1-year contract to stay on as a Special Advisor but it was later terminated and he ceased work with the District by July. He was removed from Disney’s lawsuit.

Now Disney is seeking documents from Classe concerning the preparation and any analysis of the 2022 Comprehensive Plan, 2023 Development Agreement, 2023 Restrictive Covenants, and the Land Development Regulation Amendments, as well as documents related to the District’s authority to enter into those agreements, any decision to provide or not provide public notices for the Agreements, whether the Development Agreement impacted property owners, and communications with property owners about the Development Agreement.

The CFTOD Board attempted to declare these agreements null and void, which is what led Disney to file their federal lawsuit against DeSantis and the District.

Disney is also looking for documents about the financial impact of their future development activities, concerning the appointment of the District Board of Supervisors, and various communications between Classe, CFTOD, and third parties.

The subpoena calls for John Classe to appear with the documents and testimony on October 31, 2023.