A critically endangered female western lowland gorilla was born on Wednesday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and her name is Grace.
Disney officials say her birth was an important step in sustaining the species, which has been in decline due to hunting and habitat loss. Grace’s parents, mother Kashata and father Gino, were selected to breed as part of the Species Survival Plan overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Grace is named after the GRACE gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is dedicated to helping gorillas orphaned by poaching, Disney officials say.
Walt Disney World Resort guests can see Grace and her family on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
According to the Walt Disney Company, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame has shattered records with an unprecedented estimated global debut of $1.209 billion, becoming the first film in history to surpass $1 billion in its opening weekend.
The film reached the billion-dollar threshold in just five days, more than twice as fast as its predecessor Avengers: Infinity War, which held the record at 11 days.
“From the very beginning with Iron Man, all we’ve wanted to do was tell stories that brought these characters to life onscreen the way we’ve experienced them as fans of the comics,” said Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios.
“That we’ve had so many other successes in this journey leading to this unbelievable result with Avengers: Endgame has been almost entirely due to the fans around the world who have supported us through it all. Our directors, Anthony and Joe Russo, and our writers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, really brought this story home, and I am also incredibly thankful for our cast and filmmakers from across the MCU and all who’ve worked so hard to make these films the best they can be, including the amazing teams at Marvel Studios and Disney. And of course, without Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, none of this would have been possible.”
Seven years after releasing the first film to ever break the $200 million mark in its debut with 2012’s The Avengers, Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Studios have posted the first-ever $300 million domestic debut in history with Avengers: Endgame.
Marvel Studios now holds the top two global openings of all time (Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War), as well as six of the top 10 domestic debuts.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, Cinderella will have a new member for her magical coach.
Thomas Smith writes, “Lilly, named after Walt Disney’s wife, was born in March and became the first white Shetland pony ever born at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Her mother, “Lady” and father “Ferdinand” are Shetland Ponies, but not just any Shetland Ponies. Both are Cinderella’s ponies that pull her iconic pumpkin coach for Disney’s Fairytale Weddings and parades at the Magic Kingdom Park.”
At 2 years of age, Lilly will begin training and could make her debut a year later.
For now, you can see her for a few hours a day at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
As Disney fans already know, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will once again make its way to Magic Kingdom starting this August, but that’s not all.
The Disney Parks Blog has announced a new Halloween fireworks spectacular will light up the nighttime sky featuring incredible elements such as projections, lasers, and of course, fireworks.
“this new show will feature state-of-the-art projection effects, lasers, lighting and dazzling fireworks that come together to tell a not-so-scary story about how anything can happen on Halloween night. The show will take guests along on a trick-or-treating adventure, where four friends – Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – find themselves drawn into a mysterious haunted house. The journey takes them from one room of the house to another, encountering dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a whole series of troublemaking Disney villains.”
Some other returning events will include;
the popular live show “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular,” featuring the Sanderson Sisters and Disney villains the likes of Oogie Boogie, Dr. Facilier and Maleficent.
“Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade,” which happens twice nightly and features favorite Disney characters dressed in their Halloween best, along with the Disney villains and a cavalcade of fiendishly fun floats.
Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam in Fantasyland is the spot for all of the young partygoers to get their groove on with favorite Disney Junior characters like Doc McStuffins and Vampirina.
In Frontierland, prospector Cactus-Flower Cate rounds up youngsters for the “Frontierland Costume Promenade,” encouraging them to show off their costumes in a quest for the greatest treasure in the land – candy! The “Frontierland Costume Promenade” takes place just prior to each run of Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade.
Trick-or-treating throughout the park!
Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are on sale now starting at $79.
Disney is making some changes to the much maligned “Rivers of Light” nighttime show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The new show which will have a slight title change; “Rivers of Light: We are One” will be ready in time for Memorial Day weekend and will feature characters from Disneynature films.
Disney added this show and a 5,000 seat theater in 2017 but has had difficulty finding a niche for it when compared with the nighttime spectaculars of the other parks.
