Author: Nate

Top 10 Highlights of Hollywood Studios Park History

Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the third theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort, officially opened 29 years ago today – on May 1, 1989.

In honor of today’s anniversary, take a fun-filled walk through the park with the top 10 highlights of the park’s history:

1. The Chinese Theater – Modeled after the Hollywood landmark, this near replica is a 9/10 scale of the original building. In 2019, the theater will be home to the first attraction dedicated to the mouse himself: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

2. Gertie the Dinosaur – Created by Winsor McCay in 1914, Gertie sprang to life on the vaudeville screen as who many believe was the first animated character to show a distinct personality, paving the way for our own cast of characters – including Mickey Mouse himself.

3. The Hollywood Brown Derby – Inspired by the historic Hollywood locale, this signature dining location features three items from the original menu: the famous cobb salad, grapefruit cake and the Shirley Temple cocktail.

4. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – A 40-foot-tall guitar greets you at the entrance to the first Disney attraction to take guests upside down. Take off from 0 to 60 to the sound of over 900 speakers blasting the music of Aerosmith throughout the attraction.

5. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – Join the 2nd Unit of the “Raiders of the Lost Ark” film crew and experience the thrills of a live set.

6. BaseLine Tap House – Baseline Tap House, which offers “small bites and dreamy flights” was once the Figueroa Printing Company, a mom-and-pop print house that enjoyed great success through the mid- and late-20th century. Look around and you may see some of their work.

7. Star Tours – The Adventures Continue – Climb aboard a starspeeder and travel the galaxy! Did you know that in the latest version of this fan-favorite attraction you can find yourself landing on a planet in the outer rim of the galaxy known as Batuu? It’s the planet from the upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

8. Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage – This Broadway-style show enchants audiences with a tale as old as time. The show premiered the same day as the animated feature on Nov. 22, 1991 and is the longest-running stage show at a Walt Disney World theme park.

9. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – Hold on tight as you’re transported to the 5th dimension via a most uncommon elevator. Imagineers watched 156 episodes of “The Twilight Zone” in preparation for this iconic attraction.

10. Fantasmic! – With over 50 performers, pyrotechnics, laser lights, one million gallons of dancing water, a 40-foot-tall dragon and five costume changes for Mickey Mouse himself, Fantasmic! is the perfect way to end your day celebrating Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Some imagination, huh?

May 1, 2018
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Celebrates 29 Years Today

Places, everyone! Today, Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrates 29 years of Hollywood glamour and glitz right in the heart of Florida. Here’s a look at the park’s entrance 29 year’s ago with its original moniker, Disney-MGM Studios, on its marquee.

Nearly three decades later, the park is in the middle of an exciting multi-year transformation, expanding to add two new lands where guests will become part of their favorite stories and create their own exhilarating adventures: Toy Story Land, which will debut to guests this June 30, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which is set to open in 2019. Work is also underway on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction, our first Mickey-themed ride-through attraction, set to open in 2019.

When the park opened, there were nine attractions for guests to enjoy: Backstage Studio Tour, Catastrophe Canyon, Disney Classics Theater, The Great Movie Ride, The Magic of Disney Animation, The Monster Sound Show, Residential Street, SuperStar Television and Hollywood! Hollywood! at Theater of the Stars. Here’s a unique look at Hollywood Blvd. just prior to opening day.

Still after 29 years of showbiz, there’s always a chance you’ll have a celebrity sighting while visiting the park. (Ok, world-famous character celebrity – but it counts!)

Happy Anniversary, Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Here’s to another 29 dazzling years.

May 1, 2018
Unions at Disneyland Are Putting ‘Living Wage Ordinance’ On Anaheim Ballot

Unions representing Disneyland have band together in an effort to gather enough signatures to put a ballot measure before Anaheim voters that would require Disneyland to pay the resort workers a “living wage.”

The coalition is made up of 11 labor unions and they have been pushing for higher wages at Disneyland Resort and nearby hotels. They says they plan to present a petition with about 20,000 signatures to the Anaheim city clerk’s office this morning.

The measure would end up on the November ballot if enough signatures are verified and would ask voters to require Disney and other large Anaheim employers that accept city subsidies to pay workers a minimum of $15 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2019. Salaries would then rise $1 an hour every Jan. 1 through 2022. Once the wages reach $18 an hour, annual raises would then be based on the cost of living.

The petition drive was launched by a coalition of employee unions shortly after a survey — that found that 73% of Disney employees who were questioned said they don’t earn enough to pay for such basic expenses as rent, food and gas — was released in February. It also found that 11% of resort employees have been homeless or have not had a place of their own in the last two years.

The survey was conducted by the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit research organization in Los Angeles, and the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College.

To qualify for the November ballot, the unions needed to collect the signatures of 10%, or 13,150, of the voters in Anaheim. The coalition of unions says it deployed at least 50 volunteers each day since April 12 to collect the 20,000 signatures.

Disney officials have said that the average annual pay for hourly workers at the resort is $37,000, which calculates to about $17.80 an hour.

May 1, 2018
Disneyland After Dark Announces Second Star Wars-Themed Celebration on May 9
Exciting news Star Wars fans! Due to unprecedented demand for the Disneyland After Dark – Star Wars Nite event Disney has added a second celebration of Star Wars on May 9!

Guests at this after-hours event will once again have special access to Disneyland park to celebrate a galaxy far, far away. You’re also encouraged to come dressed in favorite Star Wars attire!

This next Star Wars-themed celebration will give you a chance to experience many of the same offerings from the first Star Wars Nite event, including:
- After-hours access to Disneyland park, with mix-in access beginning at 6 p.m.
- Special entertainment, including a galactic dance party and character encounters!
- Themed décor and immersive Star Wars-themed photo opportunities.
- Specialty food and beverage offerings.
- Commemorative lanyard, event credential and unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos taken during the event.
Additionally, they will be adding new experiences for this second celebration of Star Wars, which will include:
- - Opportunity to be among the first to purchase Solo: A Star Wars Story pins (quantities are limited).
  - An additional Star Wars-themed photo opportunity.
  - Acme Archives Limited artist showcase and signing.
  - Book signing for “It’s Your Universe” (quantities are limited).
As a reminder, beginning May 4, all Disneyland park guests will be able to enjoy these new and returning Star Wars experiences:
- “March of First Order” – Captain Phasma guides a squad of First Order stormtroopers through Tomorrowland in a dramatic show of force.
- Encounter Rey – Meet the Resistance’s newest hero at Star Wars Launch Bay.
- Hyperspace Mountain – This popular transformation of Space Mountain returns!
A limited quantity of tickets will be available starting May 1.
May 1, 2018
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Smashes ‘Star Wars: Force Awakens’ Opening Weekend Record

Superheros win battles and the battle for box office records has just begun for “Avengers: Infinity War”. Since its release on Friday, the film soared passed predictions and expectations as “Infinity War” broke both the domestic opening-weekend box office record and the worldwide opening record.

Marvel’s newest superhero flick raked in an estimated total of $258.2 million at the US box office over the weekend, blasting past “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” by almost $11 million with the snap of a finger.

Hulk smash! And even though the green guy barely made an appearance in the movie, “Infinity War” smashes too! More records that is… The newest addition to the MCU franchise brought in $640.9 million worldwide over the weekend making it the highest grossing global opening of all time, beating out “Fate of the Furious” by almost $90 million.

The film was perfectly positioned to have an opening weekend of galactic proportions when you factor in the fact that the movie is 10 years in the making and the culmination of 18 films previously released by Marvel Studios, all tied together for this latest film against the galaxy’s biggest threat yet, the mad titan, Thanos.

“Marvel spent 10 years methodically and carefully creating a universe of characters, worlds and stories that all led to this and, in doing so, created an event unlike anything the business has ever seen,” said Dave Hollis, Disney’s distribution chief.

The tentpole cost close to $300 million to produce and the money has already been well worth it. Infinity War’s box-office box office win was helped by the biggest Saturday of all time in North America ($83m), as well as the biggest Sunday ($69m).

In 2009, Walt Disney Co. chief Bob Iger paid $4 billion to acquire Marvel Entertainment, even though many of the superhero characters in Marvel’s stable were unproven. Debuting with $207.4 million in 2012, the original “Avengers”, had the highest opening to date for a Marvel film.

“Avengers: Infinity War” will next set its sights on records like the fastest film to reach $1 billion and the highest gross ever. With opening box office numbers like this, it’s not hard to imagine this film sitting at number one as the highest grossing of all time, taking yet another record from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

The film stars Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chadwick Boseman, and Zoe Saldana just to name a few. They reunite two years after the events of “Captain America: Civil War” for “Infinity War,” which also stars Josh Brolin as Thanos, the intergalactic force bent on destruction. Joe and Anthony Russo directed the film which was written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

April 30, 2018
First Ever Disney·Pixar Toy Story Land Themed Plane Takes Flight

Over the weekend, a ‘Toy Story’ themed aircraft launched in Shanghai, as a joined venture between China Eastern Airlines and the Shanghai Disney Resort. The new airplane features a large, flying Buzz Lightyear painted on one side of the exterior, and Woody on the other.

The first Disney·Pixar Toy Story Land themed plane took flight from Shanghai over the weekend, featuring in-flight entertainment and colorful décor that illustrates the new attractions now open at Shanghai Disney Resort. Even the ceiling is decorated for this special flight experience!

Travelers at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport will spot favorite Toy Story characters in the departure terminal before take-off and receive a commemorative boarding pass as part of the new flight experience.

Starting at check-in, the entire experience is fused with the popular Disney franchise. The check-in machines are Toy Story themed, and the desks feature images of the characters. Within the aircraft itself, the top of the cabin features artwork of Woody and Lotso, among others. The luggage compartments above the seats are sky blue, with cartoon clouds and a variety of other characters drawn on. Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are, of course, on display. The seats and trays again feature colorful depictions of the characters, and the headphones and other accessories are all themed to further enhance the experience. The menus also revolve around Toy Story characters, with themed cutlery and food and drink options.

The plane will fly between Beijing and Shanghai, with service to and from other Chinese cities in the future.

April 30, 2018
Toy Story Land-Inspired Games Debut on Disney World Website
With the Toy Story Land expansion at Disney’s Hollywood Studios nearly complete and opening this summer, Disney has created two new digital games inspired by Toy Story Land that you can play on their website.

Both games are inspired by attractions in the land – the guest-favorite Toy Story Mania!, as well as the new Alien Swirling Saucers.
- The Claw Challenge – In :60 seconds, use The Claw to pick as many “chosen ones” as possible. Tip: the smaller the Aliens, the higher the points!
- Trivia Mania – Test your knowledge on “Toy Story.” How many questions can you answer?
Another game, Slinky Dog Dash, debuted earlier this spring. In it, you’ve got :10 seconds to stretch Slinky Dog around the course to collect points … but don’t let his tail catch up before time runs out!

All three games are complimentary and can be accessed on desktop or mobile devices.

As a reminder, Toy Story Land will officially open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on June 30, 2018.

For more on what to expect when this thrilling new land opens, check out the list of related blog posts below!
April 29, 2018
Super Heroes Now Assembling at Disney California Adventure Park

On Friday, your favorite Super Heroes are began convening throughout Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure park for the ultimate heroic encounter!

For a limited time, Super Heroes have teamed up to meet with their newest “recruits” and save the universe.

Black Panther and Black Widow: The king of Wakanda and his Royal Guards, the Dora Milaje will be joined by Agent Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, to show off the latest in Vibranium technology.

Captain America: Celebrate the First Avenger as he arrives on the Avengers vehicle to greet gathered citizens.

Spider-Man: The daring, yet friendly web slinger is here to protect the streets. Snap a photo, grab an autograph or just thank him for protecting the neighborhood!

Thor and Gamora: Two of the most powerful warriors in the galaxy team up to defend a Sakaarian outpost. While meeting them, you may learn tactical fighting techniques and hear tales of valor!

Loki: Be on the lookout for the trickster, Loki! He has arrived and will be searching for allies to join his exploits.

As we mentioned earlier this month on the Disney Parks Blog, Doctor Strange will also arrive at Disney California Adventure park later this summer for a limited time.

For more action-packed fun, don’t miss Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” in theaters today.

April 29, 2018
Explore the New Bourbon Trail at Disney Springs
There’s something exciting – and tasty! – coming to Disney Springs on May 1. Kick off your summer by exploring this brand-new Bourbon Trail, where guests ages 21 and older can discover bourbon-inspired beverages and food pairings. Meander through the many shops and restaurants throughout the area and find your favorites!

Each of these drinks has been carefully paired with a delicious dish, and there’s even a map that shows where to find all of them! Whether you’re a bourbon aficionado, or just enjoy sipping and savoring new drinks, this trail is perfect for an afternoon stroll or a night out with friends.

Here is your guide to everything being offered on the trail, so be sure to read up and prepare your taste buds, because these offerings will only be available through June 17 and you won’t want to miss out!

House of Blues Restaurant & Bar
- Fine and Mellow – featuring Knob Creek Bourbon, St. Elder, lemon juice, strawberry, and rhubarb bitters
- Hurry Sundown Old Fashioned – featuring Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Benedictine, butter pecan syrup, bitters, and caramel pecan bacon
- Smoked Brisket or Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich
- Homemade Bread Pudding – topped with toffee sauce and bourbon butter
Splitsville Dining Room
- The Trifecta – a stirred concoction of Old Forester 100, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Benedictine, and Pimento Dram
- BBQ Chicken Pizza – smothered in BBQ sauce, topped with marinated grilled chicken, BBQ sauce, smoked gouda, mozzarella, cilantro, and red onion
Bongos Cuban Café
- Angel’s Envy Bourbon Mojito – featuring Angel’s Blue Envy Bourbon, simple syrup, soda water, and fresh mint leaves
- Authentic Cuban Style Churrasco Certified Angus Beef – a 10-ounce skirt steak hand-cut and served with house-made chimichurri sauce, white rice, and beans
YeSake
- Strawberry Bourbon Sour Slushie – bourbon, sweet strawberry puree, and lemonade
- Citrus Fresh – salmon, green leaf lettuce, cucumber, onion, spinach, and jalapeño tempura crunch wasabi ponzu sauce (available as a bowl or wrap)
Planet Hollywood Observatory
- Bulleit Frontier Old Fashioned – featuring Bulleit Bourbon, sugar, and bitters
- BBQ Ribs – fall-off-the-bone St. Louis-style ribs, slow cooked in-house, smothered with BBQ sauce, and served with triple fries
STK Orlando
- Double Down – featuring Woodford Reserve and lemon juice
- Double Smoked Bacon – served with date chutney, oven-dried tomatoes, and crispy garlic
- Bag O’ Donuts – enhanced with dulche de leche filling and spice chocolate and raspberry sauces
Enzo’s Hideaway
- Enzo’s Bourbon Swizzle – featuring Bulleit Bourbon, lemon juice, ginger syrup, bitters, and fresh mint sprigs with notes of spice, rye, and cedar
- Salumi and Formaggi Board – an impressive selection of meats and cheeses
The Edison
- Peach Tree Downs – a refreshing peach mint julep with a nutty pecan finish featuring Knob Creek Bourbon and Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey, with a rich, sweet, woody, full-bodied and almost-fruity flavor and aromas of toasted nuts, grain, and oak
- DB Clothesline Candied Bacon – maple and black pepper-infused bacon served with a sour pickle
Paradiso 37, Taste of the Americas
- Kentucky Sunrise – featuring Jim Beam Bourbon, orange juice, and grenadine
- Argentinian Skirt Steak – 10-ounce char-grilled skirt steak topped with caramelized onions and chimichurri and served with wasabi or truffle fries
The Ganachery
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon – comprised of more than 200 delectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood to sweet aromatics: spice, fruit, and floral notes
Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant
- The Gold Cup – featuring Bulleit Bourbon, Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and muddled mint, lime, and cucumber
- Dub Schpuds – herb roasted potato wedges with a Smithwick’s & Dubliner cheese dip
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
- Coffee Old Fashioned – Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Kahlua Coffee Liqueur, Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee, Vanilla Syrup, Aromatic Bitters, and served with a coffee ganache square
- Snakebite Sliders – three gourmet beef sliders with tomato-bacon jam, house-made pickles, shredded lettuce and cheese
The Boathouse
- Orlando Pride – featuring Old Forester Bourbon and a homemade blackberry citrus purée
- Calamari – hoisin chili marinated calamari rings lightly fried with a medley of peppers and served with a side of hoisin chili sauce
Paddlefish
- Southern Sangria – featuring Medley Bros. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, peach liqueur, Tempranillo, and seasonal fruit with warm notes of caramel, oak, and spices that are followed by touches of creamy vanilla, milk chocolate, and caramelized sugar
- The Pork Chop – a 10-ounce pork chop served with house-made applesauce and fresh green beans
The Polite Pig
- Winner’s Circle – featuring Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Pamplemousee grapefruit liqueur, and elderflower tonic, with a rich and complex flavors and hints of vanilla, toffee, and candied fruit
- The Southern Pig Sandwich – mouthwatering pulled pork, fennel-apple slaw, tangy mustard BBQ and Dukes Mayonnaise
Frontera Cocina
- Bórbon Néctar – featuring Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, 3 dashes of organic agave, 5 drops of Elemakule Tiki Bitters, and orange peel with lean oak, corn, and caramel flavors and finishes of warm toffee, spice, and drying wood
- Carne Asada – garlic and red chili-marinated Creekstone Natural Black Angus Steak, black beans refritos with queso fresco, and caramelized plantains with crema and Cotija cheese and served with tomatillo salsa and warm tortillas
D-Luxe Burger
- Smoked Bourbon Gelato Shake – vanilla gelato blended with Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon, hickory smoke, and dark chocolate sauce and topped with a bacon strip
- Southern Burger – signature blend beef patty topped with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese, lettuce, grilled onion, and bacon
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
- The Old Fashioned Elder – featuring Michter’s Bourbon and St. Germain Elderflower
- Basil Hayden’s Mint Julep – featuring Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, simple syrup, and sprigs of fresh mint
- Famous Thigh High Chicken Biscuits – three biscuits topped with Chef Art’s fried chicken thighs, drizzled with hot honey, and served alongside bread and butter pickles
Everything on this tasty Bourbon Trail will be available at Disney Springs from May 1 to June 17, so come on out, grab a drink and a snack, and take a walk with around Disney Springs! You can even pick up a Bourbon Trail Passport that contains all of this info and more at the Disney Springs Welcome Center and at any participating location.
April 29, 2018
Rainbow Mickey Ears Adding An Extra Flash of Colors to Disney Parks

Disney Parks has just released these new Rainbow Mickey ears and they are really adding some color to the parks! Now Disney fans can show off their pride and their love of Mickey Mouse with ears that Disney calls Mickey Mouse Rainbow Love.

The ears feature a red hat with the magical mouse’s hands making a rainbow heart on the front. The actual ears also feature stripes of color.

Social media is already buzzing about the news ears! Joey Graceffa — actor, singer and YouTube personality — wore a pair of the rainbow-printed ears during his recent trip to Disneyland with his boyfriend, Daniel Preda and he took to Instagram to show them off.

in a 🌊 full of people you’re all i 👀 thank you @disneyland for a day full of magic, new video, link in bio! 🌈 #GetMoreHappy

A post shared by Joey Graceffa (@joeygraceffa) on Apr 24, 2018 at 2:49pm PDT

Currently the new Rainbow Mickey Ears are a park exclusive. They retail for $17.00 and can be found at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World.

“We offer a wide range of merchandise items that appeal to guests of diverse backgrounds.” a spokesperson for the company said. The new merchandise comes just ahead of Gay Pride Month, which happens annually in June.

April 28, 2018