Author: Nate

  • Boy Gets Surprise Trip to Disney After Spending Vacation Money to Feed Hurricane Evacuees

    Boy Gets Surprise Trip to Disney After Spending Vacation Money to Feed Hurricane Evacuees

    Six-year-old Jermaine Bell of Jacksonville, Fla., spent more than a year saving money for his birthday trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. However, as hurricane Dorian approached the South Carolina coast, Jermaine decided to use his money to help those in need.

    Jermaine emptied his piggy bank and bought hundreds of hot dogs, bags of chips and bottled water. He served them free of charge to hurricane evacuees who passed through the South Carolina town where he was visiting his grandmother.

    On Sunday, Sept. 8, Jermaine celebrated his seventh birthday. Mickey Mouse and a group of Walt Disney World cast members made a surprise visit at the birthday party where Jermaine learned that he and his family are going to Walt Disney World after all as you can see in the video below:

    “When Mickey came out, I was just really happy,” he said in a video from Disney.

    Millions of people have since been inspired by the story of this little boy’s selfless act of compassion. It seems Mickey took notice too! Less than a week after closing up his hurricane hot dog stand, Disney employees showed up outside of an interview with “Good Morning America” to deliver his gift in person. He even got a hug from the Mouse himself.

    Jermaine and his family will visit the Orlando parks sometime later this month when he’s not in school. But knowing he helped hundreds of people makes it worth the wait.

  • Build-A-Bear Releases Nightmare Before Christmas Bear Collection

    Build-A-Bear Releases Nightmare Before Christmas Bear Collection

    Don’t lose your head – but Build-a-Bear has released a new The Nightmare Before Christmas collection and it’s now available online!

    These Jack Skellington and Sally bears are inspired by Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” and come complete with outfits and songs from the film!

    First up, The Pumpkin King of Halloween Town himself! – $55.00

    Jack Skellington is a whimsically dark stuffed animal that’s available exclusively online. Fans of Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas can make their own merry misadventures with Jack’s signature suit and “This Is Halloween” song chip included in this bundle. Make every day a haunted holiday and let Jack Skellington sing and dance his way into your collection!

    Also make a new friendship with Sally! – $53.00

    Now you can add the beloved ragdoll from Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas to your collection. Sally is stitched together with love and includes her own dress with her signature patchwork print. Plus, this online exclusive bundle includes “Sally’s Song” on a sound chip, so you’ll be able to hear this Spiral Hill sweetheart’s signature song at the press of her paw.

  • A Baby Eland Was Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Yesterday

    A Baby Eland Was Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Yesterday

    The family at Disney Animal Kingdom just got a little bit bigger. A baby Eland was born on Sept. 4 as the park returned to normal activities after being spared from the affects of Hurricane Dorian.

    Early yesterday morning, an eland in Disney’s care gave birth to a healthy calf named Doppler in honor of its post-storm arrival. Gender is not known as of yet.

    The photos below were taken in the first few hours after the birth, and the calf has already taken its first steps.

    The calf was born as part of a species survival plan in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Mom and baby are bonding well, and the team will conduct a neonatal exam in the coming days to get a gauge on the calf’s weight, height and gender. The pair will remain backstage for the next several weeks before venturing out onto the savanna with the rest of the herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 

  • Walt Disney Company to Donate $1 Million Plus to The Bahamas Relief and Recovery Efforts in

    Walt Disney Company to Donate $1 Million Plus to The Bahamas Relief and Recovery Efforts in

    The Walt Disney Company, led by Disney Cruise Line, has committed more than $1 million in cash and in-kind support to help relief and recovery efforts for those in The Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian.

    “The Walt Disney Company stands with the people of The Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company.  “We hope our $1 million donation will provide much-needed relief and help our neighbors, colleagues and all those impacted by this devastating storm begin the long process of recovery as they work to put their lives and communities back together.”

    Disney’s commitment includes a $1 million donation to nonprofit relief agencies who will be undertaking recovery and rebuilding efforts, as well as the provision of supplies—including food staples and basic construction materials—to those in impacted areas.

    Additionally, Disney employees with immediate needs in impacted areas of The Bahamas will have access to a range of resources. Disney Castaway Cay, which experienced only tropical force strength winds, employs more than 60 Bahamians from Abaco and Grand Bahama, as well as several employees from other Bahamian islands.

    “The Bahamas is such a special place to us and our guests, and we have watched the devastation created by Hurricane Dorian with concern and heartache,” Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line said. “We stand with the Bahamian people, and especially those in Abaco and Grand Bahama, as they recover from the worst storm to ever make landfall in The Bahamas. As the needs in these communities are assessed, we are prepared to aid the relief and recovery efforts through funding, the provision of supplies and by providing support to our Bahamian Crew Members.”

    Disney continues to monitor Hurricane Dorian and will coordinate on an ongoing basis with nonprofit organizations on emergency response efforts. This includes sharing lifesaving information with families before and during emergencies, prepositioning supplies at-the-ready to respond rapidly to natural disasters, and providing resources to activate large-scale responses as needed in the event of a disaster.

  • Disney World Parks Closing Early Tuesday Due to Hurricane Dorian

    Disney World Parks Closing Early Tuesday Due to Hurricane Dorian

    Although it has happened before, Disney World closing is rare and now due to possible affects from Hurricane Dorian Disney will be closing it’s Florida parks early on Tuesday.

    Disney World will remain open for part of Tuesday, however the hours will be cut short because of the storm.

    Take a look below for the various parks’ hours for Tuesday:

    • Magic Kingdom Park: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (opening at 7 a.m. for Extra Magic Hours)
    • EPCOT: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Opening at 6 a.m. for Extra Magic Hours)
    • Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (opening at 7 a.m. for Extra Magic Hours)
    • Disney Springs: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • ESPN Wide World of Sports: closed
    • Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park: closed
    • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Winter Summerland Miniature Golf: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    • Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Disney Resort hotels remain open, but the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will be closed starting September 3 at 3 p.m. and will reopen after the storm when it is safe.

    Hurricane Irma shut down Disney World for two days in 2017. That was only the sixth time in the resort’s 45-year history that severe weather has forced the theme park to close.

    Hurricanes Floyd and Charley prompted closures in 1999 and 2004, respectively. Hurricane Matthew forced a closure in October of 2016. Disney was also closed on September 11, 2001.

  • Disney World Prepares For Hurricane Dorian as it Strengthens to Category Five

    Disney World Prepares For Hurricane Dorian as it Strengthens to Category Five

    Ahead of Hurricane Dorian, Walt Disney World is operating as normal for now, but they are monitoring the storm closely as it approaches the state.

    Disney said they are taking precautions by canceling weekend sporting events and closing Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park on Sunday.

    The path for Hurricane Dorian has shifted several times this week and had Orlando in its crosshairs on Friday, but the latest path may see the hurricane skirt Florida’s coast, although Central Florida isn’t out of harm’s way.

    The storm grew into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane Sunday with 180 mph wind and gusts of 200 mph as it’s set to slam into the northwestern Bahamas today and through Monday. It will then head closer to Florida and be parked off West Palm Beach by Monday night.

    Guests at the following resorts have been contacted to plan for anticipated weather: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

    Hurricane Irma shut down Disney World for two days in 2017. That was only the sixth time in the resort’s 45-year history that severe weather has forced the theme park to close.

    Hurricanes Floyd and Charley prompted closures in 1999 and 2004, respectively. Hurricane Matthew forced a closure in October of 2016. Disney was also closed on September 11, 2001.

  • 24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Now Open Through Nov. 23

    24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Now Open Through Nov. 23

    The Walt Disney World Resort global dine-around – the 24th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – kicked off Thursday and runs through Nov. 23 with irresistible bites, sips and non-stop family fun.

    That’s 87 delicious days of Festival-exclusive edibles and entertainment, such as a Candy Sushi-making experience, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt, the rockin’ Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Disney du Jour Dance Party.

    Opening week is set to thrill foodies at more than 30 global marketplaces, filled with eats like the warm raclette Swiss cheese debuting at The Alps Global Marketplace, a brand-new location for this year’s event. Follow your nose to the jerk-spiced chicken grilled on site for all to savor at the Islands of the Caribbean Global Marketplace. And get ready for a taste of autumn at the Appleseed Orchard Global Marketplace near Le Cellier Steakhouse, where a chill vibe plus charcuterie and cheese nibbles pair well with fresh apple-enhanced libations plus fanciful flights with spice and kick. 

    Toast the Festival kickoff with us at Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar, where mimosas will be served individually or as a flight for those who can’t choose between vibrant fruity flavors like key lime and blood orange.  

  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Officially Opens at Walt Disney World Resort

    Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Officially Opens at Walt Disney World Resort

    This will be a day long remembered at Disney World, as the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is finally here!

    Fireworks exploded overhead during the land’s dedication ceremony on Wednesday morning as Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, was flanked by the mighty Chewbacca and other Star Wars characters and today it’s officially open to the public..

    “With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, we’ve set a new standard for the most immersive storytelling in the galaxy,” said Chapek. “Every experience in Batuu – from piloting the Millennium Falcon to building your own droid – puts guests deeper into their own Star Wars story.”

    Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened at Disneyland Park in California on May 31, 2019, is the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park. The 14-acre land transports guests to the remote planet of Batuu, full of unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes.

    Guests become part of their own Star Warsstories as they experience galactic food and beverages, such as iconic Blue Milk and Green Milk. They can craft their own lightsabers or build their own droids in immersive, interactive retail experiences. They can explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops and may even come across iconic Star Wars characters.

    In one of the land’s signature attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, guests take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy as pilots, gunners or flight engineers in an exhilarating experience that responds in real time to the actions they take. A second anchor attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, will debut Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland. In the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined, guests will become part of the action during a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance in an experience that will blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

    The new land builds off decades of collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm Ltd., a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production, including the Star Wars franchise. The work on Star Wars between these two creative powerhouses dates back to 1987, when the groundbreaking Star Tours attraction opened at Disneyland Park in California.

  • TSA Bans “Thermal Detonator” Coke Bottles From Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

    TSA Bans “Thermal Detonator” Coke Bottles From Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

    If your looking to board your flight after your trip to Disneyland or Disney World then this is NOT the souvenir you’re looking for. The Transportation Security Administration has banned the Star Wars-themed Coke bottles from flights because it looks like an explosive.

    The bottles are one of the many exclusive items sold at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Even though they are just a bottle to hold a refreshing soda, they still resemble the grenade-like explosive seen in the Star Wars movies — specifically in Return of the Jedi when Princess Leia, disguised as the Ubese hunter Boushh, threatens to blow up Jabba the Hutt’s barge with one.

    In response to a question, the TSA indicated on Twitter that Star Wars-themed Coke bottles are banned from checked and carry-on luggage, saying, “Replica and inert explosives aren’t allowed in either carry-on or checked bags,” as you can see in the post below:

    Fans became enamored with these plastic bottles even before the California iteration of Galaxy’s Edge opened in May. Many have collected the bottles and brought them home from the park to display on shelves or, in some cases, turn into Christmas tree ornaments.

    At $5.49, the bottles are one of the cheapest souvenirs available at Galaxy’s Edge — and popular: Disney has limited guests to three bottles per transaction to prevent hoarding. But with the TSA’s new policy, that may no longer be a problem. Disney PR declined to comment on the TSA decision; Cola-Cola and TSA could not be reached for comment.

  • BREAKING: New Epic Footage from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Released at D23 Expo

    BREAKING: New Epic Footage from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Released at D23 Expo

    Now this is the footage you have been waiting for! At the D23 expo, Disney showcased some new footage from “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and it teases what that end on the Star Wars Skywalker saga will look like.

    The footage includes a fleet of dozens of Star Destroyers in the atmosphere of a planet. Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) appear in a later scene, fighting on a downed ship in the middle of the ocean as waves crashed around them. The biggest crowd-pleasing shot comes at the end of the teaser, with Rey wearing a dark hood, sporting a double lightsaber. The footage hasn’t been released online. 

    Take a look at the out of this galaxy footage below:

    Director J.J. Abrams returns to helm the final chapter in the Skywalker saga and returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd.

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will also see the debut of Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. Franchise veterans Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels will reprise their roles of Luke Skywalker and C-3PO, respectively, with the new film also seeing the return of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian for the first time since 1983’s “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”.

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on Dec. 20, 2019.