(More) Changes at The World

Disney has just announced:

     The Studio Backlot Tour at DHS will be closing as of September 27th in the name of "future enhancements".

 Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour Closing

 Ooooh. I am ever so hopeful that a new Cars Land is in the works!!!

It’s all in the name of progress, or as a Disney representative told us, “future enhancements”. The Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studio will give its final tour on Sept. 27, 2014. - See more at: http://attractionsmagazine.com/studio-backlot-tour-attraction-closing-later-month-disneys-hollywood-studios/#sthash.2tdLCcgj.dpuf

It’s all in the name of progress, or as a Disney representative told us, “future enhancements”. The Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studio will give its final tour on Sept. 27, 2014. - See more at: http://attractionsmagazine.com/studio-backlot-tour-attraction-closing-later-month-disneys-hollywood-studios/#sthash.2tdLCcgj.dpuf

And ....
     The Maelstrom ride at Epcot's World Showcase Norway Pavilion will be replaced by a new attraction based on "Frozen".   

 Frozen ride replacing Maelstrom

Some folks are not happy with this.

 new Frozen-attraction stirs up controversy

Two things:
  I hope it's better Imagineered than the 'Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid'  over in Fantasyland.


  I wonder if the movie at the end of the ride will remain. (probably not)

The movies at Norway, China, France, and Canada are some of favorite Epcot things. And yes, I do wish that ALL of the countries would have one.

So many changes!!

Disney Springs, Coming Along

We have pretty much been avoiding DownTown Disney lately because of all the construction, but last week we wanted to have a look (and have an Earl's sandwich), so we braved the traffic and I have to say that the changes are very interesting.


The 1st of the new parking garages:

The new Starbucks on the WestSide:
        (there is another one open in front of the World of Disney store)

Looks like Mannequins is being 're-imagined':

This is going up right across from Paradiso 37 (just there on the right):

Something big on the waterfront:

And a new bridge (?) across the water:

The new Disney Springs is shaping up to be pretty awesome.

Save Off Kilter !!

The WDW Powers-That-Make-Decisions recently released this message:

Over the coming months, we’ll be introducing new entertainment acts at Epcot, refreshing some of our existing acts and retiring a few others.

Namely: Off Kilter (Canada),  Mo'Rockin (Morocco),  The World Showcase Players (United Kingdom),  Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps

.... their final performances the week ending September 27. We thank them for all they’ve done to make the Epcot Guest experience enjoyable and memorable.

 The Disney Parks Blog announced their replacements:  

B'net Houariyat, a traditional Berber music and dance troupe in Morocco;  Sbandieratori Flags, a corps of dynamic flag-waving performers in Italy; a 'thrilling' lumberjack-inspired show in Canada; Scottish Musical trio, a Celtic folk music ensemble at the United Kingdom .... more." 

Whoa whoa whoa ...  Wait a minute....
Off Kilter is a very very popular act. Very. Popular.
They are just about the only reason I go to Epcot in the afternoon. Sorry, Disney-Powers-That-Make Stupid Decisions, I just don't think that a lumber-jack inspired show will ever replace Off Kilter, no matter how 'thrilling' it might be.

 

There's a grassroots campaign going on Facebook to save Off Kilter.   The Facebook page is called "Save Off Kilter"

The petition can be found here:

https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-disney-company-keep-off-kilter-in-epcot-s-canada-pavilion

Food and Wine 2014

The 2014 Food & Wine Festival is looming (Sept 19th-Nov 10th).    Remember when it used to be only 3 weeks?



Now that the list of kiosks and menus is out,

 food-wine-marketplaces

 I've been working diligently to make my list of must haves and wanna tries.     Note: This takes several trips!


  Must haves:
 
Belgium: Belgian Waffle - chocolate -or- berry compote ?? Mmm, undecided, probably....both!  Potato and Leek waffle? Undecided.

Canada: Cheddar cheese soup & Filet Mignon. Definitely.

France: Beef Bourguinon and Creme Broulee. Absolutely.

Hawaii: Pork Slider. Another definite.

Hops & Barley: Florida Beef slider and carrot cake.

Mexico: Rib-eye taco, sweet corn cheese cake.

Scotland: Vegetarian Haggis. I was very pleasantly surprised by this last year.  And the Crannachan (new).

Fife & Drum: Ghirardelli Sundae.  Uh oh. Trouble here. I love Ghirardelli's

Intermissions Cafe: Key Lime tart.

  Wanna Tries:

Desserts: Frozen s'mores (beverage). Sounds interesting.

New Zealand: Venison sausage. Not me, Hubby wants to try it.

 Puerto Rico: Sorullitos and bolitas de queso.

Refreshment Port: Croissant doughnut and the Dole Fruit Squish'em. 

   AND don't forget: 

Only a few Must Sees this year:

Richard Marx  (Oct 13-14)  My sis and I see ALL of his shows everytime he's here (which is not often enough).

Wilson Phillips (Oct 27-28) Missed 'em last time.

.38 Special  (Nov 1-2)  Love the boys from Jax! Donnie Van Zant will be missed!

Disney Girls

 These Disney girls have something to say about that!

Confession # 24 : Changes- Like and Dislike

WDW has made / and is making / a lot of changes lately, some I've liked a lot, some not so much ...

   The new Fantasyland:

Tried 'Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid' - nicely themed, but unless you're six, just eh.

I do like the Le Fou Brew and am excited about the new '7 Dwarfs Mine Train' (although a CM friend said it was 'just okay').

Loved Toon Town Fair (now gone), totally dislike Storybook Circus.

Overall: not so hot.

    Then there's Hyperion Wharf  Disney Springs.

Looks like more shopping and dining, fewer things to do.
I wish that a few of the clubs would have been kept (Comedy Warehouse, Adventurer's Club, maybe one dance club). It would have given those of us over 18 something to do at night after the parks close.

The new multi-level parking garages will definitely ease the parking place shortage. And hopefully the traffic engineers will design everything perfectly.

Overall: I've felt that DTD need a face-lift for a while, so mostly YAY.

    The Polynesian Resort will return to its original name, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.
  "The sweeping renovation happening now also includes a new food and beverage experience opening for guests next year, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto — based on the popular themed lounge at the Disneyland Hotel in California." Disney parks Blog

  

 

 Photo: Orlando Attractions Magazine

From the look of the artist rendering of the new lobby, the waterfall and 'rainforest feel' will be gone.  Booooo.

Aaaand, a new DVC resort is being built over the lake, like a real South Seas resort, too cool.

Photo: Orlando Attractions Magazine

Overall: Mostly like.

Now this is what I'm truly excited over....

Coming over at the Animal Kingdom:

Pandora, The Land of Avatar    

This sounds most interesting!

New rides (on a Banshee!) and a nighttime show: Rivers of Light!

Photo: Disney Parks Blog

Pandora-the-land-of-Avatar-name

Avatar-land-Animal-Kingdom-Disney

Since Camp Minnie-Mickey is gone to make room for Pandora, The Festival of the Lion King has been relocated to a new theater in Africa (where it belongs!). It looks so much better than the former location, more in keeping with the African theme! 

Overall: Bring it ON!

Happy 25th, DHS!

Disney's Hollywood Studios has been open 25-years today!     

The Hollywood Tower of Tower is my most favorite ride of all WDW rides.

And Toy Story Mania is loads of fun.










I love the little things that you might not notice as you rush around:

Know what this is??

A net full of jello.



Hint: It's an homage to a very special person.

Say it out loud. Say it fast.

Here's 'a ton of bricks' ... don't let it hit you.

Ever noticed this? 

Stop and pull the rope!!

I also enjoy the American Idol Experience. There are some talented people out there!

DHS remains my favorite WDW park ... even with some changes.

What changes you ask?


Remember  Residential Street?

It was the original location of the Osborne Lights... and I really liked them much better back there.

It was bulldozed to make way for the stunt show arena.

Remember "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"?

Now it's the location of Toy Story Mania, which I like a lot, but  wish it could have been built elsewhere so that  WWTBAM could have stayed.




And I do so hope that Carsland (like at Disney California Adventure) will come to the Studios!!!

Star Wars Weekends 2014

May 16 - June 15

Disney Hollywood Studios: Star Wars Weekends

NEW this year:

the "Star Wars" Dine-In Galactic Breakfast! at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. 

At dinner, Disney characters get dressed up for Jedi Mickey's "Star Wars" Dine at Hollywood & Vine. 

Both of these exciting new character dining experiences will be offered only from May 4 through June 15, 2014.

Check it out here: May-the-fourth-be-with-you

Disney Parks Video

Halloween at D's Animal Kingdom

Just came across this:



Loved the tigers!

Disney Picture of the Day

Just adorable:

Unknown Disney

Came across an interesting site today ...

buzzfeed.com: things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-disney-parks

Here are a few that I didn't know:

   The brownish winding path in Liberty Square is meant to represent raw sewage that flowed down the streets of Colonial America, since indoor plumbing wasn’t yet invented.

 Photo: flickr:vmpyrdavid

    
While most of the lawns at Disney parks are meticulously tended to, the lawn at “The Haunted Mansion” is left to grow out and die, to match the mood of the ride.

 

Photo: flickr:eccentricscholar

    

Look for a wedding ring embedded in the concrete in line at “The Haunted Mansion.” It’s said that it belongs to the hanging bride you see in the stretching room and attic scenes on the ride.

 

Photo: justoffmainstreet.wordpress.com

    

 The futuristic palm trees in Tomorrowland actually fold up at dusk, and unfold at dawn.

 Photo: flickr: expressmonorail

    
 The lobby and queuing area for the “Tower of Terror” ride are full of hidden Twilight Zone references, such as Burgess Meredith’s broken glasses and a book with alien script that has been translated to “To Serve Man.”

 Photo: Towerofterror.org

   

 On the “Dinosaur” ride in Animal Kingdom, there are three pipes in the queuing area with chemical formulas printed on them. The formulas on the pipes are for ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise.

 

Photo: disney-pal.com

 I'll be looking for these!!

Finding Dory

Coming in June 2016  (not nearly soon enough!):

  Finding Dory ,
the Disney-Pixar sequel to Finding Nemo (2003), featuring Dory and her family!

Today !!

Disney Festival-of-Fantasy parade steps off at MK park

Cannot wait to see THIS :

Photos: Disney Parks Blog

Confession # 23: I Miss ToonTown Fair... Still!

Today is the 3rd-year anniversary of the demise of WDW's Toon Town Fair.

ToonTown was closed in 2011 to make way for The Storybook Circus part of the new Fantasyland.

Dueling Dumbos, Pete's Silly Sideshow, Casey Jr, Splash 'n Soak Stations, The Storybook Circus Giggle Gang (clowns)....

just cannot compare with Mickey's and Minnie's houses. Ever.

2014 Year of the Horse

Since way before 1959!

Chinese Zodiac

Real Life Disney: Olaf

(Walt Disney Studios)

Disney Picture of the Day

 

 No, I did not add the caption, but I do think it's funny!

Festival of Fantasy

This is the name of the new parade that will debut at the Walt Disney' World's Magic Kingdom park this spring, which will feature this wonderful 'steampunk' Maleficent Dragon:

Pictures: Walt Disney World/Orlando Sentinel

Disney-Maleficent-float-Festival-of-Fantasy

I can hardly wait!!

And just in case you haven't heard  ...

"Maleficent"

... Starring Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, will be released July 2, 2014. It looks to be incredible!

Photo: Disney

Maleficent trailer

Hot Chocolate @ DTD

Okay, so Hubby and I wanted to try a hot chocolate at Ghirardelli's and decided that the 1st really cold day of the New Year we would go and get one.

We got one Classic Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa and one Decadent Drinking Chocolate. The cashier said the Decadent was very ... intense. She was not kidding.

The Decadent Chocolate tasted just like you were drinking very rich chocolate syrup, which in fact, it is, as it is made from melted chocolate drops.

The Classic was very tame in comparison, so we mixed the two and came up with a pretty decent hot chocolate.

Disney Picture of the Day

Hilarious