Disney Tourist Arrested Outside of Magic Kingdom for Hiding Gun in a Planter

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

A news report was released today sharing an interesting arrest story from outside of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. It seems while a woman was about to go through the Magic Kingdom temperature checks at the Transportation Ticket Center, she decided to hide her gun in a planter, then blame her 6-year-old son.

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: Marcia Temple, 27, of Lithonia, Ga., was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed firearm in an incident on Oct. 8. Temple was accused of ditching a loaded handgun behind a planter near the Magic Kingdom’s security checkpoint, then blaming her 6-year-old son, who she said was supposed to be watching the gun.

The situation unfolded as a hospital employee who checked visitors’ temperatures at the Magic Kingdom’s Ticket and Transportation Center noticed Temple take something from her stroller and leave it behind the planters by the tents, the arrest report said.

The employee notified Disney Security, who contacted nearby Orange County Deputy Nadia Engwall. Engwall found a pink purse containing the gun behind the planter. The 9mm gun was loaded with 10 bullets, including one in the chamber.

Engwall asked Temple why she had a gun at Disney World. “I had told my son to hold it for me and stand right here” while she went to get her brother to take the purse and gun back to the car, the report quotes Temple as saying.

The deputy determined Temple didn’t have a concealed weapon permit for Florida or Georgia. Temple was arrested and also banned from Walt Disney World property. “Our rules are clear. Weapons are not allowed at our resort,” Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said in a statement Thursday.

Walt Disney World Increases Capacity to 35%

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

Big news just announced! Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, announced during Disney investor call on November 12, that Disney will increase capacity to 35%.

Previously, Disney has been running at a 25% capacity window. During an interview on October 13, Chapek said Disney would remain capped at 25% for all of their theme parks. A month later and it looks like there will be a bump in capacity. Chapek did say on the call that 6-feet social distancing guidelines from the CDC will still be followed.

BlogMickey shared the quote from Chapek as follows:

…our operators, which you know are the best in the world are becoming much more efficient and effective in operating under COVID guidelines. And we’ve been able to pretty materially increase our capacity and still stay within the guidelines that local governments are giving us, for example, 6 foot be social distancing, and this is happening across our parks across the world. In fact, Walt Disney world, which was at a 25% capacity constraint which was our industrial engineering estimates to keep 6 foot social distancing, now has been able to increase to 35% of capacity. So, almost a 50% increase in the number of guests that we can allow in, and still adhere to the local guidelines and the guidelines that are stipulated by the CDC with the 6 foot social distancing.

The announcement follows the news that Disney Parks report a net loss of $2.4 billion in fourth quarter earnings. 

First Look at Disney’s Animal Kingdom New Baby Boy Rhino

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Disney announced last week that Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed the birth of an endangered white male rhino calf. Now, DisneyParksBlog shares photos of the cutie and a video below!

Baby Rhino born at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The video below features endearing moments as mother Kendi bonds with her playful, yet-to-be-named baby. He is curious, loves his afternoon naps and has started sparring with his mom. 

3.3 Million Lights Borrowed from Walt Disney World for Kissimmee’s Give Kids The World Light Display

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: The fantastical 89-acre vacation village of Kissimmee’s Give Kids The World — normally off-limits to the public — is opening its gates for seven weeks this holiday season for what promises to be one of the most extravagant light displays in the nation.

The event, Night of a Million Lights, will actually have 3.3 million lights, borrowed from Walt Disney World Resort, and run from Nov. 13 to Jan. 3. In that time, the charity hopes ticket sales to some 50,000 visitors will help it raise thousands of dollars for its mission.

With help from Disney, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, Hasbro, the Kennedy Space Center, some three dozen other sponsors and a small army of volunteers, in recent weeks the village has been slowly transformed into a whimsical winter wonderland — with a glittering 150-foot tunnel, 50 holiday-themed structures up to several stories high, a massive gingerbread arch and 45 villas decorated in various themes.

Visitors will be able to stroll among more than a mile of light displays, eat ice cream or drink hot cocoa and ride carousels and other open-air mechanical attractions. Tickets for the event start at $15 for kids and $25 for adults. For more information, go to gktw.org/lights/.

Disney’s Toys for Tots Campaign

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Of all the wonderful traditions, activities and celebrations that come with the holiday season, none are as special as the seasonal opportunities we have to help others. At the heart of Disney is a love for the magic and mystery of childhood.

From a Disney Cast Member;

A big part of the holidays are about giving back and we are thrilled that shopDisney.com and Disney store are teaming up with Toys for Tots for the third year in a row to help bring joy to children in underserved communities this holiday season.

This year, we have a little help from actor and self-proclaimed Disney super-fan Neil Patrick Harris to kick off the initiative and spread the word that from now through December 13, 2020, you can donate a toy online at shopDisney.com/ToysForTots, or a new, unwrapped toy at any Disney store in the U.S. or World of Disney at Disney Springs and the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort  World of Disney, and Disney will donate an additional $1 to Toys for Tots.

In addition to donating a new, unwrapped toy, guests can support Toys for Tots by purchasing a Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Gingerbread pin. Disney will donate $1 to Toys for Tots (toysfortots.org) for every Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Gingerbread pin purchased at a U.S. Disney store or on shopDisney.com from Nov. 1 – Dec. 24, 2020.

As the magic of the holidays arrives, you can also celebrate at Disney Parks around the globe. Among the many discoveries, guests will find enchanting experiences, delectable dining options and merry-making merchandise that welcome new and returning favorites to the season.

Bring the Disney Parks magic of the season home with new holiday-themed merchandise available throughout Walt Disney World Resort, as well as the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in California and online at shopDisney.com.