Disney News

Author: Nate

  • Disneyland Announces New Marvel Land to Open in 2021

    Disneyland Announces New Marvel Land to Open in 2021

    In a recent D23 fan club email, Disney confirmed that Avengers Campus, the upcoming Marvel-themed attraction at Disney’s California Adventure park, is expected to open in this year.

    Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Disneyland had to alter or delay many of its plans for 2020. While the park has been closed since March of last year and still has no confirmed date for reopening, the company is apparently planning to get back on schedule and Avengers Campus will debut in 2021 in California Adventure at Disneyland Resort.

    Avengers Campus invites you to team up with the Avengers and their allies in a fully immersive land at Disney California Adventure park. Avengers Campus is comprised of several heroic locations—each hosted by a different Super Hero or their ally—to share their unique powers, technology and knowledge with recruits. Take a look below at all the details:

    Sling webs with Spider-Man

    The first key location, the Worldwide Engineering Brigade—also known as WEB—is home to the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature a favorite neighborhood her: Spider-Man. This new family-friendly attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, invites guests to put their web-slinging skills to the test.

    The innovative technology adapted specifically for this attraction includes a seamless blend of 3D and new interface, which allows guests to go on a mission and experience what it’s like to have super powers and sling webs alongside Spider-Man.

    WEB is all about how bright young innovators like Peter Parker are inventing new technologies that let all of us become Super Heroes. Being able to authentically represent Peter’s character was a critical element to our story, and thanks to our Studio partners, I’m excited to share that Tom Holland will reprise his role as part of this attraction experience. It was an honor to get to work with Tom, and I can’t wait for guests to experience the amazing talent, humor, and heart he’s bringing to this attraction when it opens this summer.

    “Suit up” with the latest gear, including Spider-Bots from WEB

    The WEB Suppliers store is where you will find the latest WEB inventions, including interactive Spider-Bots much like the ones you will see in the new attraction, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure. Each Spider-Bot has a remote control, and all eight articulated legs move forward and backward. Best of all, you can tap into your inner WEB inventor by customizing your Spider-Bot with tactical upgrades to harness the powers and styles of favorite Super Heroes, including Black Panther, Iron Man and Black Widow, as well as Ant-Man and The Wasp. 

    Other must-have items at WEB Suppliers include a specially-designed backpack to carry Spider-Bots when they are not in action, Spider-Man light goggles, a take-home spider web kit and Funko Pop! vinyl figurines of Spider-Man and Iron Man.

    Nearby, the Campus Supply Pod is the place to power up with official Avengers Campus gear, including performance fleece hoodies and tees, headwear, drinkware and other Super Hero supplies.

    Enjoy tiny treats and big bites

    When it’s time to take a break from the heroics, three new dining spots at Avengers Campus will offer dishes that are rich in both flavor and storytelling.

    Pym Test Kitchen is a food innovation science lab where the food and drinks tell a story. Just as Ant-Man and The Wasp use “Pym Particles” to grow and shrink just about anything, Pym Technologies applies this innovative science to the creation of shareable bites, inventive-sized entrees and sweet treats. You will be able to taste-test such items as the Impossible™ plant-based large and micro meatballs with pasta, or the “Pym-ini,” a panini served by the slice or as a long, multi-portion sandwich. 

    Adjacent to the Pym Test Kitchen, an oversized beer can overhead signals that grown-up beverage tastings are available at Pym Tasting Lab. Adults can order a craft beer, ranging from a blood orange hefeweizen to an amber lager or try one of the Pym Research Staff’s Pym Particle-infused cocktail experiments.

    Next, the Avengers have invited the crew of their favorite “shawarma joint” in New York, the Shawarma Palace, to open a second location at the Campus. Enjoy favorite shawarma-inspired snacks at this food cart, which is decked out with memorabilia since the Shawarma Palace owners are huge Avenger fans. Lastly, Taneleer Tivan did not limit his collection to lovable misfits; he is also curating a weird and wonderful menu of intergalactic eats at the Terran Treats food cart near Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! 

    Team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy

    Speaking of, we will continue to celebrate Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, the fan-favorite attraction that opened in 2017, as one of the anchor attractions of Avengers Campus. This rockin’ adventure blasts you straight into the “Guardians of the Galaxy” story, alongside characters from the blockbuster films and comics. As you help Rocket bust his pals out of the Collector’s Fortress, you will experience raucous mayhem, music inspired by the soundtracks from the movies and thrilling free-fall drop sequences!

    Encounter a formidable villain in a land full of heroes

    Last but certainly not least, throughout Avengers Campus, Super Heroes will come to life in ways that are more exciting than ever. You may have heroic encounters with Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, Thor and even villains like Loki. We’re excited to also share that Ant-Man and The Wasp will be making their first appearances in the park, and Iron Man himself will be debuting his new armor in Avengers Campus: the Mark 80.

    You may even have the chance to witness Spider-Man swinging into action high above Avengers Campus with gravity-defying, acrobatic feats never seen before in a Disney theme park.

    At a nearby ancient sanctum, Doctor Strange will train recruits in the mystic arts by bringing this ancient sanctum to life with powerful spells. At night, the area glows even more vividly with majestic colors and lights, pulsating with mystic energy.

    Finally, every hero needs a formidable villain to fight… the villainous Taskmaster, who will have a role in the upcoming film “Black Widow,” will be seen for the first time at a Disney park at Avengers Campus. Taskmaster’s abilities include photographic reflexes. Taskmaster can replicate Super Hero moves, making this new villain a balanced foe for the Campus heroes.

  • Disney Announces 4-day Ticket Deal for Florida Residents for $50 a Day

    Disney Announces 4-day Ticket Deal for Florida Residents for $50 a Day

    New year, new Florida Resident ticket deal! Disney World has announced a new four-day ticket offer to Florida residents that comes out to just $50 per ticket.

    This special offer invites you to visit all four parks now through June 18, 2021 (subject to blockout dates), for just under $50 per day (plus tax). You can choose your parks and choose your days for a total of $199 (plus tax).

    The Florida Resident Discover Disney Ticket is a great way to experience the fun and excitement happening across the Walt Disney World parks in early 2021. The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts begins this Friday and runs through Feb. 22. That will be followed by the Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, which blooms to life March 3.

    You can also step inside the cartoon world in Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, travel to Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, or check out the royal makeover of Cinderella Castle while experiencing classic attractions at Magic Kingdom Park. With new character interactions across all four parks, as well, now is the time for Florida residents to discover some Disney magic all your own.

    As a reminder, Walt Disney World continues to operate with enhanced health and safety policies so everyone can enjoy the magic responsibly. To manage attendance, guests are required to have valid theme park admission and make a park reservation for each day of their visit through the Disney Park Pass system.

  • Disney World Theme Parks Booked to Capacity for New Year’s Eve Crowds

    Disney World Theme Parks Booked to Capacity for New Year’s Eve Crowds

    New Years Eve is one of the busiest days of the year at Disney World and as expected the park is booked to capacity as crowds descend on the most magical place on earth to ring in 2021.

    Disney World increased capacity to 40% for the Holidays and all four of Walt Disney World’s parks have hit that mark for New Year’s Eve according to what Disney World’s Theme Park Reservation Availability calendar shows.

    Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are no longer showing open availability, according to the calendar on the Disney World website as you can see below:

    While it appears that Disney World’s four theme parks will not be open to host its usual midnight countdowns and even Magic Kingdom will close at 11 PM, according to listed park hours, there will be festive activities available at open Disney Resort Hotels.

    Special events being hosted at select resorts include New Year’s Eve scavenger hunts, crafts and pre-recorded fireworks shows that are available for streaming from guest room TVs or the My Disney Experience app.

    Quick-service restaurants, pool bars, lounges and merchandise stores at Disney resorts will be open after midnight. Select locations will be open until 1 a.m. at the following Disney World Resort venues:

    • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village
    • Disney’s Beach Club Resort
    • Disney’s BoardWalk
    • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
    • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
    • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
    • Disney’s Old Key West Resort
    • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
    • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
    • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • Two FREE Days of Theme Park Tickets Included in New Disney World 2021 Special Offer

    Two FREE Days of Theme Park Tickets Included in New Disney World 2021 Special Offer

    Walt Disney World Resort will be offering a special “happy new year” to those planning 2021 vacations at The Most Magical Place on Earth by giving you extra park tickets with a new special offer.

    Available to book beginning Jan. 5, 2021, guests buying non-discounted four-night/three-day room and ticket packages at select Disney Resort hotels for arrivals most nights Jan. 8, 2021, through Sept. 25, 2021, will receive an additional two days of theme park tickets.

    From pleasant Central Florida temperatures to the return of the guest-favorite Park Hopper option (available as an add-on purchase), 2021 promises plenty of fun at Walt Disney World theme parks:

    • The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Arts debuts Jan. 8 and runs through Feb. 22, inviting guests to experience an expansive selection of visual, performance and culinary arts.
    • Disney’s Hollywood Studios brings guests inside the cartoon world in Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and offers the chance to play with Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their pals in Toy Story Land.
    • Cinderella Castle features a royal new look at Magic Kingdom Park, welcoming guests for the perfect portrait as they seek out classic attractions.
    • At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can explore Pandora – The World of Avatar, an immersive land featuring massive floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and unbelievable experiences including Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.
    • Guests will also discover new character encounters throughout The Most Magical Place on Earth, as favorite Disney friends explore all four theme parks and Disney Resort hotels.

    As a reminder, Walt Disney World continues to operate with enhanced health and safety policies so everyone can enjoy the magic responsibly. To manage attendance, guests are required to have valid theme park admission and make a park reservation for each day of their visit through the Disney Park Pass system.

  • John Travolta Almost had his own Ride at Disneyland According to Imagineer

    John Travolta Almost had his own Ride at Disneyland According to Imagineer

    Disneyland almost caught Saturday Night Fever as a former Disney employee recently revealed John Travolta almost agreed to be used for one of the resorts most iconic attractions.

    The iconic pre-show recording for Soarin’ Around the World is beloved among Disney fans, but it almost looked quite different.

    Jim Clark is a former Disneyland imagineer, the position responsible for designing and building the theme park’s attractions, and he recently took to social media to discuss his time with the company as you can see in the post below:

    One of the biggest revelations was that John Travolta was almost used for the ‘Soarin’ Around the World’ ride, but his work schedule, and facial hair, prevented them from using Travolta.

    “Two months before (Disney’s California Adventure) opened; we still hadn’t shot the preshow. John Travolta was interested, but his movie’s schedule was making it difficult, plus he had this little beard,” Clark said in a since deleted tweet. Instead, the team used actor Patrick Warburton after seeing his performance during a screening of ‘Emperor’s New Groove.’

    Despite the initial casting conflicts, many Disney fans would agree that they worked out for the best.

    Travolta went on to voice the dog Bolt in Disney’s 2008 film, and Warburton, who is also known for voicing Yzma’s henchman Kronk in “The Emperor’s New Groove,” famously donned a black suit, striped tie, and delivered quotable lines like: “Have a nice flight.”

  • Disney’s Live-Action Cruella Gets a Theatrical Release Date

    Disney’s Live-Action Cruella Gets a Theatrical Release Date

    Cruella, the live-action film about the 101 Dalmations villain Cruella de Vil, will be released in theaters and now has a release date.

    From a script by Aline Brosh McKenna and Kelly Marcel, among others, the film will tell the origin story of the classic 101 Dalmatians villain.

    Rotten Tomatoes recently tweeted, “Disney’s Cruella will release in theaters on May 28, 2021,” as you can see in the post below:

    While Disney has been tight-lipped about plot details, Cruella will take place before the events of 101 Dalmatians and will be set in the 1970s London fashion scene.

    While fellow live-action remakes of Disney cartoons Mulan, Pinocchio and Peter Pan and Wendy have opted for streaming premieres, Disney still plans on Cruella making a theatrical debut despite earlier reports that Disney was considering sending Cruella to its Disney+ streaming platform.

    Directed by Craig Gillespie, Cruella stars Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Paul Walter Hauser, Joel Fry and Emily Beecham. It is scheduled to release in theaters on May 28.

  • VIDEO: Disney Cruise Line Reveals Lobby Statue for New Cruise Ship

    VIDEO: Disney Cruise Line Reveals Lobby Statue for New Cruise Ship

    Durring the “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Celebration” on ABC, Disney revealed a brand-new video of the Disney Wish, which sets sail in summer 2022.

    This never-before-seen digital clip showcases new details of the dazzling Grand Hall and a first look at the stunning character statue at the base of the grand staircase.

    As you can see in the video below, the statue is based on an iconic Disney princess whose faith in her dreams has inspired generations to believe in the power of their own:

    Inspired by the beauty of a fairytale castle, the Grand Hall makes a bold welcoming statement, setting the tone for an enchanted family vacation from the moment guests step onboard the Disney Wish. It is an idyllic setting for Cinderella, whose timeless story is the perfect example of magic transforming wishes into dreams and dreams into reality.

    Stern characters are a tradition of the Disney fleet as well, and the Disney Wish’s stern will feature Rapunzel as we’ve previously reported.

    The Disney Wish is the first of three new ships joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet through 2025. All three ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, will be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

  • First Look: New Entrance Fountain at EPCOT Celebrates the Past, Present and Future

    First Look: New Entrance Fountain at EPCOT Celebrates the Past, Present and Future

    As we previously reported, a multi-year transformation of EPCOT is underway that will reimagine the park while keeping true to the original vision and now crews have removed all the “progress walls” from the main entrance plaza, giving you the first full look at the reimagined entrance fountain.

    Now in front of iconic Spaceship Earth you’ll now see a reimagined fountain, standing in the footprint of the original that welcomed guests on the park’s opening day in 1982.

    While there is still more work to be done, the area is much more open and welcoming now. It features new planters, pathways, lush landscaping and a vibrant new color palette that will eventually tie into the four new neighborhoods we’re creating inside the park – World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature and World Showcase. Take a closer look at the new fountain below:

    “Our design team took special interest in this water feature, as we looked back to the geometry of the original for inspiration while creating some new magic of our own. In the fountain’s center is a brilliant light, a unique liquid-cooled fixture we’ve designed with new capabilities that complement the fountain’s changing colors and will coordinate with new lighting coming to Spaceship Earth and the upcoming World Celebration beyond,” Disney Parks said.

    Three acrylic pylons, each standing over 16 feet tall and featuring the park’s logo, surround the fountain and hearken back to the creation of EPCOT. Their timeless design and vertical presence draw your eye upward toward the sky – perfectly framing views of Spaceship Earth.

    This new fountain is the centerpiece of EPCOT’s entrance plaza, which we’ve designed as a welcoming area that brings people together. The greenery and use of water celebrate a harmony between humanity and the natural world. This park was built to inspire optimism, and we’re infusing this transformation with the magic of possibility.

  • New Reigning Cats and Dogs Loungefly Mini Backpacks Coming Soon

    New Reigning Cats and Dogs Loungefly Mini Backpacks Coming Soon

    Just in time for the new year, the all-new Disney Parks Reigning Cats and Dogs collection features two new Loungefly Mini Backpacks that are both the cat’s meow and doggone amazing!

    The entire collection will be available at Walt Disney World Resort, Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort and online at shopDisney.com beginning Dec. 28.

    This all-new assortment is the first-ever collection from Disney Parks for pet owners and pets alike with apparel, accessories and more! Take a closer look at the Loungefly Mini Backpacks below:

    Rolly, Lady and Pluto Loungefly Mini Backpack – $90

    Life will be a walk in the park with this mini backpack by Loungefly that keeps your essentials safely stowed under the watchdog eyes of three of Disney’s canine characters: Rolly, Lady and Pluto. Fetch on this paw-some accessory that’s really something to bark about.

    Marie, Figaro and Oliver Loungefly Mini Backpack – $90

  • Electrical Water Pageant Returning Soon to Walt Disney World Resort

    Electrical Water Pageant Returning Soon to Walt Disney World Resort

    Disney has announced, The Electrical Water Pageant will soon make its return to the waterways of Walt Disney World Resort, just outside of the Magic Kingdom.

    Guests at Disney Resort hotels along Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake will once again have a chance to see this twinkling nighttime musical processional that’s enchanted onlookers since 1971.

    The announcement was made in a post to the Walt Disney World Cast and Community Facebook page on Wednesday as you can see in the video below:

    According to the Disney World website, the floating nighttime parade will resume on December 20. 

    The Electrical Water Pageant, a procession which includes a medley of patriotic songs, can be viewed from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.