Author: Nate

Enchanting New Springtime Disney Foodie Delights at The Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort always has the most amazing food all year round, but Disney Foodies will be going crazy over these new delicious eats. With Spring upon us, Disney has just sprung some new Foodie Delights on us that you can find being cooked up at Magic Kingdom! There’s an enchanting array of new offerings now available and even more coming soon.

Perfect for the season, they have a brand-new Flower Crown Cupcake available at Main Street Bakery. This beautiful vanilla cupcake is filled with raspberry buttercream and topped with a buttercream flower crown and hard candy Minnie Ears. This yummy treat is the perfect spring snack, and even makes for a good photo opportunity. Just grab some Crochet Floral Minnie Ears from your favorite Disney shop and pose for the camera with your flowery cupcake in hand!

Just across the street at Casey’s Corner, you’ll find a brand-new refreshing beverage – a Mint Julip Lemonade Slushy! This non-alcoholic lemonade slushy comes with mojito-flavored syrup, and a garnish of cherry, mint and lemon wedge. And don’t forget about the popular Hot Dog of the Month. While there’s only a few days left in March, don’t miss your chance to try the Greek Hot Diggity Dog! And for April’s Hot Dog of the Month, you’ll find the Cuban Hot Diggity Dog, topped with Mojo pork, relish, swiss, and mustard. These special “of the month” toppings can even be added to an order of fries!

At Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, March’s Ice Cream of the Month is Dulce De Leche, and April’s flavor will be Cookie Dough – yummy! But the ice cream doesn’t stop there – a Brownie Sundae and an Apple Blossom Sundae have also been added to the menu! Right next door at The Plaza Restaurant, you’ll find March’s Milkshake of the Month: Coffee Mint – with mint chocolate ice cream, coffee, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a cherry. And for April, the Milkshake of the Month will be a Caramel Turtle Milkshake with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, and walnuts.

In Fantasyland, Pinocchio Village Haus has added an Italian Cream Cake to the dessert menu. This lemon cakes comes topped with cream cheese icing, toasted coconut and a white chocolate piece featuring everyone’s favorite Conscience – Jiminy Cricket! As for the Flatbread of the Month – March’s flatbread is Buffalo Chicken. And since April is National Grilled Cheese Month, the April Flatbread of the Month will be a Grilled Cheese Flatbread with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, swiss, and cheddar and served with a side of tomato-basil soup for dipping!

Be Our Guest Restaurant has an exciting new dinner menu coming this summer, and now here’s the scoop on the fabulous dessert trio. This trio will have a raspberry macaron with lemon filling and fresh raspberries, a whole maraschino cherry dipped in dark chocolate with hazelnut topping, and a white chocolate Chip cup with our signature Grey Stuff! It will also be exclusive to the dinner menu.

At Gaston’s Tavern, you’ll find a new Ham, Brie, and Grain Mustard Sandwich as well as a Smoked Turkey, Swiss and Cranberry Aïoli Sandwich.

In Tomorrowland, Sonny Eclipse has a new dessert at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café – a cookies & cream cheese cake topped with chocolate, galaxy sprinkles, and a white-chocolate piece featuring the amazingly-talented Sonny Eclipse himself. And over at Liberty Square, you’ll find a crisp new Shrimp Wedge Salad at Columbia Harbour House.

And finally, in Adventureland, they have a fruit-tastic update to the menu at Sunshine Tree Terrace. The famous Citrus Swirl, the classic frozen orange juice slushy twisted with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, has been joined by the new Orange Cream swirl! This new swirl twists together vanilla soft-serve ice cream with Orange Dole Soft-Serve to create a tasty new citrus-flavored treat. Both of these swirls are now available in a cup or as a float with refreshing orange soda.

So there you have it. Magic Kingdom Park is buzzing with tasty excitement this spring, so get out there foodies and try all of those delicious new offerings!

March 28, 2018
Disney Sued By Man Who Claims Rat Bit Him at Magic Kingdom

When you go to visit the mouse the last thing you expect is that you might get bitten by a rat, but a lawsuit filed earlier this month in Orange County claims that is exactly what happened to a man who was visiting Walt Disney World in April 2014.

The couple is seeking more than $15,000 in a suit that claims Galen Haldeman, 59, had ridden Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and was in a nearby merchandise store when he was bit. The lawsuit, which was filed in Orange County on March 19, claims he suffered debilitating medical problems that stem from the rat bite suffered at the park.

Haldeman was pushing his wife, Carol Haldeman, through the store in her wheelchair when the apparent rodent jumped onto the wheel of her chair and started moving toward her arm.

The lawsuit states:

“Just as the rat was about to bite into Carol’s arm, Galen grabbed the rat and yanked it off the chair. As he did so, the rat bit into one of Galen’s fingers. Galen had to twist the rat’s neck, and the rat fell to the floor where someone threw an empty plastic container over it”.

According to the lawsuit, a Disney employee came over and asked onlookers not to take any photographs.

“As a result of Disney’s negligence, Galen Haldeman was bitten by this rat and has been beset with debilitating medical problems ever since,” the suit said.

The couple is suing for ensuing medical expenses, physical handicap, disfigurement, mental anguish and other problems to the incident.

The Haldemans’ attorney and Disney were not immediately available for comment.

March 27, 2018
Reunion Station Reservations Begin April 4

Reservations will begin on April 4 for workshops and private-lounge access at Reunion Station, a new gathering space for Members opening April 30 at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge as part of Membership Magic.

Presented as a “Membership Extra” for eligible Members and located in what appears to be a repurposed railroad station at the edge of Bay Lake, Reunion Station is flexibly designed to serve as a private lounge with foods and beverages by morning and evening, a center for paid workshops by midday, and a relaxing (complimentary!) retreat for Members by night.

Reunion Station’s evolving roster of workshops at the time of this post include the “Disney Vacation Club Beverage Tasting Series,” “Phone Photography” and “Animation 101.”

The “Disney Vacation Club Beverage Tasting Series,” taking place on Mondays from 1:30-3 p.m. beginning May 7, is an interactive series of beverage-tasting seminars focusing on a different beverage type each week, from “Speak Easy Craft Cocktails” to “New World Wines.” Each session includes small-plate food pairings to complement the beverages served. (Other arrangements should be made for those under 21.)

During “Phone Photography,” presented on Tuesdays from 1:30-3 p.m. beginning May 8, participants learn to expertly capture vacation photos on their phones, including the best approaches to photographing fireworks, characters, family poses and more.

“Animation 101,” presented on Thursdays from 1:30-3 p.m. beginning May 10, is led by noted Disney animator Todd Bright, whose credits include work on The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear. Each week’s class explores Disney-animation history and focuses on a different animation topic, with participants learning how to apply basic animation principles to creating their own flip book, learning to draw action poses through a study of basic gesture drawing or learning the art of character design.

Each workshop is priced at $40 a person (inclusive of tax and gratuity) and limits party sizes to a maximum of four people, including the Member. Participants younger than 18 must be accompanied by a paying, participating parent or guardian.

Beyond the workshops, Reunion Station will serve as a food-and-beverage-inclusive lounge available as an add-on option for Members staying in any Disney Vacation Club accommodation type at Boulder Ridge Villas or Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Members who add this option (priced at $50 a night for adults and $33 a night for kids ages 3-9) to their vacation will enjoy pastries, fruits, cereals, juices and more from 7-10 a.m. daily, and wine, beer, cheeses, salads, soups, desserts, crudité and more from 4-6 p.m. Note that this option is available only for the entire length of stay and for every member of the traveling party.

And from 7-10 p.m. daily, Reunion Station will open its doors to all eligible Members (including those not staying at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge) for mixing and mingling. A lounge host will be on hand during these nighttime hours to answer questions and offer assistance.

Call Member Services beginning April 4 to add Reunion Station workshops or food-and-beverage lounge access to your vacation plans. While the food-and-beverage-inclusive lounge-access option is available only to Members staying at Boulder Ridge Villas or Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Reunion Station workshops are open to all eligible Members.

March 27, 2018
Two Missing Children Found in Disney World After Mother Flees DCF Order

Two Palm Beach County children who had been reported missing Thursday, have been found safe in Disney World, according to the Palm County Sheriff’s Office.

“The children have been located in Disney World and currently in the custody of Orange County Sheriff’s Office,” the PBSO said in a statement.

Before they were found, Benjamin Fisler, 2, and Kyle Fisler, 3, were last seen with their mother, Kiashara Leonard, 35, on Thursday. The Department of Children and Families advised deputies that there was an active order to take Benjamin and Kyle into their protective custody.

It is believed that Kiashara was aware of this order and absconded the area with the children. The children will now be placed into the custody of DCF after their brief visit to the mouse.

March 26, 2018
Jon Favreau To Write Live Action ‘Star Wars’ Series For Disney

The live action Star Wars series is still moving forward and Disney has just tapped Iron Man director Jon Favreau as writer and executive producer. The live action series was confirmed by Walt Disney Company chairman and CEO Bob Iger on a quarterly earnings call with investors last November and will debut on Disney’s digital streaming service.

The director of iron man and the jungle book will helm the series for disney’s new direct-to-consumer platform.

In early March, Lucasfilm announced that Emmy-nominated producer and actor Jon Favreau has signed on to executive produce and write a live-action Star Wars series for Disney’s new direct-to-consumer platform. Favreau is no stranger to the Star Wars galaxy having played roles in both the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series and in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story.

“I couldn’t be more excited about Jon coming on board to produce and write for the new direct-to-consumer platform,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “Jon brings the perfect mix of producing and writing talent, combined with a fluency in the Star Wars universe. This series will allow Jon the chance to work with a diverse group of writers and directors and give Lucasfilm the opportunity to build a robust talent base.”

Favreau is thrilled to be returning to the Star Wars galaxy: “If you told me at 11 years old that I would be getting to tell stories in the Star Wars universe, I wouldn’t have believed you. I can’t wait to embark upon this exciting adventure.”

Disney’s collaborations with Favreau extend back a decade, when he helped launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe as director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2 and as an executive producer of the Iron Man and Avengers films for Marvel Studios. For Disney, he directed and produced the massively successful The Jungle Book, which won an Academy Award for its groundbreaking visual effects. He is currently in production on Disney’s highly anticipated reimagining of The Lion King, set for release in 2019.

The untitled Star Wars live-action series does not yet have a release date.

March 25, 2018
Live-Action ‘Lady And The Tramp’ Officially In The Works

Another one of your favorite childhood Disney animated classics is getting the Live Action treatment. The 1955 animated Disney classic “Lady and the Tramp” is set to be made into a live action/CG hybrid for Disney’s upcoming digital streaming service.

Lego Ninjago Movie director Charlie Bean has been confirmed as closing a deal to direct a live-action/CG hybrid remake of Disney’s “Lady And The Tramp.”, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter.

Bean is a longtime animator who has written on Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack and directed 18 out of the 19 episodes of Disney XD’s Tron: Uprising before making his feature debut with Ninjago. Lady and the Tramp now throws the filmmaker into the live-action world while still keeping him grounded in animation.

Lady and the Tramp, released in 1955, told the love story between a pampered Cocker Spaniel named Lady and a streetwise mongrel named Tramp. Lady finds herself out on the street after her owners have a baby and is saved from a pack by Tramp, who tries to show her how to live her life footloose and collar-free. More doggone adventures ensue. The centerpiece of the movie is the candlelit spaghetti dinner in an alley while two human cooks sing and play “Bella Notte,” considered one of the most iconic scenes in Disney and movie history.

Andrew Bujalski wrote the script for new adaption and Brigham Taylor, who worked on the studio’s remake of The Jungle Book, is producing the project.

March 24, 2018
Catch The Headless Horseman at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

If you’re a brave soul who can’t get enough of the Headless Horseman, the “Return to Sleepy Hollow” offering at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground may be perfect idea for you want to get another look at him after his annual appearance at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park before “Mickey’s Boo To You” parade.

Disney just announced that the “Return to Sleepy Hollow” offering is coming back this fall at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and is available for booking.

“Return to Sleepy Hollow” includes a group viewing of the 1949 Disney animated classic film “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” inside the resort’s historic Tri-Circle-D Ranch stables. And during event nights, you’ll be able to see galloping ghosts and experience an up close and personal encounter with the Headless Horseman.

The “Return to Sleepy Hollow” begins on September 28 at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: September 28-30, October 3-7, October 10-14, 17-21, 24-31 at 8 and 10 p.m.

Also, new this year, Disney is offering a dessert party at 9 p.m. after the movie if you’re viewing the 8 p.m. show or prior to the movie if you’re viewing the later show.

General seating costs $22 per person, while premium seating, which includes a priority photo opportunity with the Headless Horseman and a Halloween treat bag, costs $38 per person. And the dessert party at 9 p.m. costs $60 per person.

March 24, 2018
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Tickets Now On Sale
Last Week Disney announced the dates and details for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party which will transform Magic Kingdom Park for a sweet 34 nights.

So polish those pumpkins and plan your costume! Mickey’s annual Halloween spook-tacular promises a frightfully fun evening filled with trick-or-treat thrills ‘n’ chills at Magic Kingdom park.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Dates
- August 17, 24, 28, 31
- September 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
- October 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31
Returning treats include the “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” stage show in front of Cinderella Castle featuring the mischievous Sanderson sisters from the hit Disney film “Hocus Pocus” (my favorite Halloween film), Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and “Happy HalloWishes,” the fall spectacular led by the infamous Disney villains!

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets start at $75 in advance or $85 at the gate, if available.
March 24, 2018
Disney Removes Weapons from New ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ Movie Posters

Disney has removed the weapons from the movie posters for Solo: A Star Wars Story. They released new imagines of Solo: A Star Wars Story’s cast without their iconic blasters.

As you can see in the images, with the same ease that the Empire can erase a planet with the Death Star, Disney has eradicated all traces of blasters from all of the movie posters for the upcoming Han Solo flick with the stroke of a digital pen.

There is not word from Disney about the alterations, but the change on the Solo posters appears to be in response to the recent gun control concerns following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida last month as well as some plagiarism charges by a freelance artist, according to Movie Web.

Is this a step too far? We’ll leave that for the readers to decide, but blasters have been a part of Star Wars since Episode IV and it’s not like they are going to go back and digitally remove all guns like they did with E.T. and replace them with walkie-talkies… Well… at least we hope not.

I can’t help but think of Han Solo’s famous line here:

“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.”

Disney likes to be a head of the curve on social issues, evident with the removal of the bride auction from Disney World’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Their plans for the change started way ahead of the #MeToo movement, though it should be noted that the Redhead is now is packing heat herself. So pirates can’t auction brides, and they can carry guns, but space smugglers cannot carry them… Got it!

The new Solo posters maybe aren’t as cool to look at, but they’ll keep Lucasfilm and Disney from getting sued and they take them out of anybody accusing them of promoting gun violence. Perhaps it’s the appropriate time to be sensitive for the moment, because it’s not like they will be removing them from the movie or anything that extreme. It’s just a poster and if these were the posters they released first, no one would have even gave it a second thought.

March 23, 2018
Disneyland Paris Fans Get a Preview of Pirates & Princesses Festival

Guests at the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris were recently treated to a first glimpse at the Pirates & Princesses Festival, which begins March 31 as part of the resort’s 25th Anniversary celebration.

The evening included a sneak peek of the bright costumes and fun choreography guests will see in the park in just a few weeks. Among those in attendance were Miss France 2018 Maëva Coucke and Argentine French actress Bérénice Bejo (“The Artist”), as well as dozens of beloved Disney characters – and a few rapscallions.

Soon guests at Disneyland Paris will have the chance to join in the interactive show “Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice!” which offers a different story depending on the team they choose. The two worlds will also come together daily as the Disney Princesses float and the Pirates float meet for a musical celebration in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

It’s all happening at Disneyland Paris very soon! In the meantime, be sure to experience the resort’s Season of the Force offerings which come to a close on March 25.

March 23, 2018