(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