Disney Animatronic “Spins” Uncontrollably

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

In recent years, Walt Disney World and Disneyland have both stepped up their attraction game quite a bit, offering incredible, state-of-the-art experiences that completely immerse Guests into the attraction.

Flight of Passage in Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a jaw-dropping good time, and the upcoming TRON Lightcycle/Run coaster will be sure to please thrill chasers once it opens in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.

However, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is perhaps Disney’s most ambitious and high-tech attraction, featuring multiple ride systems and amazing animatronics, at least when things go to plan.

Due to the high-tech nature of this attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has multiple breakdowns and closures fairly often, resulting in Guests becoming frustrated after waiting so long for the ride while in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

We have seen many, many examples of breakdowns since the ride has opened, but never have we seen a malfunction quite like the one shared on social media recently.

Rise of the Resistance attraction at Disneyland Park

A video went viral recently all over social media including Twitter and TikTok, and showed Kylo Ren, the main antagonist of Disney’s sequel Star Wars trilogy spinning uncontrollably. You can check out the hilarious video below, shared by @roberttolopi:

@roberttolppi

Is it supposed to just spin in a T pose?#disneyland #starwarsland #starwarsride #riseoftheresistance

♬ You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – Dead Or Alive

As you can see, Guests approach the end of the ride, where Kylo Ren finally confronts Guests. Usually, the ship is hit by gunfire from other ships, causing a big metal beam to collapse on top of Kylo, and Guests have their final opportunity to escape.

However, as you can see in the video, this is not so much the case. The Kylo Ren animatronic figure just spins around uncontrollably while “t-posing,” certainly not the intimidating encounter he was probably hoping for. This is not due to a breakdown, however as the original poster of the video edited the video to make it seem like the animatronic was spinning.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Man Arrested After Attacking Teens In Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Yet another Disney World fight has occurred, this time resulting in the arrest of a man who says he has brain cancer.

There have been several fights breaking out at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort over the course of the last few months. Perhaps the most notable happened earlier this summer when a massive brawl between families at Magic Kingdom in the shadow of Cinderella Castle resulted in arrests and multiple hospitalizations.

Another brawl that was caught on video saw two Disney Park Guests at Disneyland fight in the midst of the popular nighttime spectacular Fantasmic!

Now, we have another Disney World fight to report.

Ramon Aponte Jr, 41, was arrested by the Orange County Police Department after allegedly attacking two teenagers who jumped in front of him in line while waiting to ride Toy Story Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The incident occurred earlier this summer.

According to the report, the pair continued to heckle Aponte Jr. from further up the line, leading to shoving, and eventually, a punch was thrown before he ordered them to back up as he had brain cancer. Once they got up to the front of the line and a Disney Cast Member asked how many, the two teenagers said “Two.” That’s when Aponte Jr. replied “Two a**holes.”

The name-calling prompted more fighting and the three were kicked out of the line. However, the fighting continued and rose to violence outside of the attraction. One of the teenagers was shoved into a pole, forcing him to fall forward and complained of a “concussion.” He was later taken to the hospital.

Several Disney Cast Members noted that Aponte Jr. was the aggressor and this led to him being arrested.

All three Disney Park Guests were given bans by Walt Disney World Resort.

Man Arrested at Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Via DisDining.com

Things at Walt Disney World Resort lately seem to be going from bad to worse when it comes to Guest behavior. Yes, we know, summer in Florida isn’t the best time to be at a theme park. It is very hot, even more humid, the lines are long, and the prices for everything from food and drinks to merchandise is high. Be that as it may, Guests need to remember they are still in a family theme park and should know how to conduct themselves property.

Sadly, it looks like another Guest decided to behave like a fool and, this time, a woman and her young baby were put in danger. The incident happened on July 5 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — a Park known for its incredible themed areas like Toy Story Land and it’s exciting, immersive attractions, like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

According to eyewitness Alyssa P., who reached out to Disney Dining, a man was arrested after shoving his girlfriend and a young baby to the ground in the Park. According to Alyssa, the couple and the child were already being escorted out of the theme park when the man shoved the woman. The shove also caused the baby to fall to the ground. The man — identified as Matthew Johnston from Port Saint Lucie, FL — was immediately arrested. He was then transported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office where he was booked on a charge of Domestic Violence.

Alyssa told Disney Dining that she witnessed the shove and subsequent arrest and then asked a Disney Cast Member what happened. The Cast Member told her that the couple had been fighting and had been asked to leave the theme park, which is why security was with them. Even though security was there, that did not stop Johnston from deciding to physically assault his girlfriend and child. Alyssa called the entire incident “all so disturbing.”

Hollywood Studios

Unfortunately, this is not the first time in recent weeks that a fight has broken out at one of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks. Recently, a screaming match broke out on a Magic Kingdom tram headed to Disney’s Ticket and Transportation Center. Luckily, Cast Members were able to break it up before things got physical. Then, there was an all out brawl that broke out at Disney’s Magic Kingdom between two parties that resulted in arrests and lifetime bans.

Jessie’s Trading Post Now Open in Toy Story Land!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Back in January, Disney shared that the new Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios would be getting a much-needed retail and dining expansion in the near future. Guests would be able to shop at Jessie’s Trading Post and dine at Roundup Rodeo BBQ. The news was exciting as there was not too much shopping in the land and the only place to eat was Woody’s Lunch Box. Disney never said when Jessie’s Trading Post or Roundup Rodeo BBQ would be opening, but did say that it would be sometime in 2022.

Well, you can imagine Guest’s shock and excitement when Disney opened Jessie’s Trading Post on Friday, July 22! No official announcement was made, but there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony before Guests were officially let in.

Disney Parks Blog first shared more information on Jessie’s Trading Post:

Hee-haw, attention all honorary toys! After enjoying a rollicking ride through Toy Story Mania!, you will soon be treated to a new experience that is filled to the brim with fun. Andy discovered Jessie’s Trading Post playset tucked away in the attic, and is bringing it downstairs to set up shop—full of the coolest toys and finest souvenirs handpicked by the rootinest, tootinest cowgirl.

It’s so exciting to see the new Toy Story Land area open and Guests enjoying their time there. Here is more info on everything else making its way to Toy Story Land, which will only make you want to spend even more time there!

Also coming in 2022 to Andy’s backyard is the previously announced Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant! In this unique, fun, family-friendly dining experience, guests will enjoy delicious barbecue fare while surrounded by a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets that Andy has brought together to create his one-of-a-kind rodeo.

Stepping into the lobby and waiting area, guests experience first-hand what it feels like to be one of Andy’s honorary toys, before progressing into two larger dining room spaces where Andy’s rodeo takes place. Here, the rodeo will be in full swing, with western town and train station playsets mixing with surprising, playful details, like some fan-favorite Pixar characters as they’ve never been seen before!

Woody in Toy Story Land

At this time, we don’t know when Roundup Rodeo BBQ will be opening, but, if Jessie’s Trading Post is any example, we may not know until it actually opens! Disney Dining will keep readers updated if and when we have an opening date.

Man Arrested After Attempting to Bring Gun To Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Another day, another gun at Disney World. This time, it was at Hollywood Studios. The weapon was detected by Walt Disney World’s tireless security team. This comes just on the heels of another incident.  Reports of people attempting to bring guns to the theme parks are on the rise, 2020 saw more attempts to bring a gun than any other year before it and that trend has unfortunately not slowed down.

35 year old Nathaniel Franco Freeman reportedly sat his bag down on a security table to be inspected when he got visibly agitated and opened the bag. He then asked the woman he was with if she had removed something. According to the arrest report he turned to the woman with him and asked “did you take it out?” while searching his own bag.

A search of the bag found a 40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun concealed in the bag with 13 rounds. Authorities were called and Orange County deputies conducted on check on Freeman and the weapons serial number and discovered Freeman did not have a concealed carry permit.

Florida law permits the carrying of concealed weapons, but only with a valid permit and private property owners do have the right to disallow weapons of any kind, permit or not. Disney does not allow the carrying of any weapons on its property. Freeman was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. It is not known at this time if he is banned from Disney Parks in the future. However, given Disney’s past decisions regarding incidents like this one, it is likely.