Walt Disney Imagineering marked a another milestone in their creation of the highly anticipated Toy Story Land when they welcomed Wheezy to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this weekend. The squeaky toy penguin from the Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” films is the latest of Andy’s toys to appear in Toy Story Land, which so far already features Jessie, Rex and Slinky Dog.
When Toy Story Land opens, guests will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and the rest of the gang are having in Andy’s backyard. Guests will be able to take a ride on Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster Andy has assembled from his Mega Coaster Play Kit, or take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, a galactic play set that Andy won at Pizza Planet.
Guests can also walk through a new carnival game box to experience Toy Story Mania!, which has been a guest-favorite attraction at the park since it opened in 2008. Now expanded with a third track, the popular attraction will allow even more guests to take aim at 3D objects – using everything from baseballs to cream pies – in a variety of whimsical, fast-paced games.
Families can also head to Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land for tasty meals and old-fashioned soda floats.
Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure Park is getting a Pixar make-over and it will open this summer as Pixar Pier. In addition to the newly reimagined Incredicoaster and all-new Lamplight Lounge, guests will discover new experiences – both big and small – throughout the newly reimagined Pixar Pier.
In 2019, Jessie the yodeling cowgirl will invite you for a rootin’ tootin’ spin on Jessie’s Critter Carousel. Inspired by Jessie’s wilderness friends in the “Woody’s Roundup” television show from “Toy Story 2,” this newly reimagined attraction is a classic boardwalk carousel with a whimsical spin. Saddle up on one of 56 adorable friends, choosing from a turtle, snake, buzzard, armadillo, bunny, deer, raccoon, ram, skunk and two cozy logs inhabited by a family of owls.
And when Pixar Pier opens June 23 at Disney California Adventure park, guests will find transformation around every corner.
Just past Lamplight Lounge, you will find Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats. Inspired by the lovable and not-at-all-abominable monster from “Monsters, Inc.,” this will be your go-to for frozen treats.
In the “Toy Story” neighborhood of Pixar Pier, big appetites and small fries alike will love the Poultry Palace. This giant fun meal inspired by Pixar’s short, “Toy Story Toon: Small Fry,” even comes with a Fun Meal Zurg!
¿Quieres un churro? Stop by Señor Buzz Churros, where Buzz has switched into Spanish mode to offer this quintessential Disneyland Resort treat.
Further down Pixar Pier, Angry Dogs will be serving up some hot items – which is the perfect place for Anger from “Inside Out.” The more he burns with rage, the hotter the dogs get!
You can check out these and many more newly themed experiences throughout Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure park!
In addition to the newly reimagined Incredicoaster and all-new Lamplight Lounge, guests will discover new experiences – both big and small – throughout the newly reimagined Pixar Pier.
In 2019, Jessie the yodeling cowgirl will invite you for a rootin’ tootin’ spin on Jessie’s Critter Carousel. Inspired by Jessie’s wilderness friends in the “Woody’s Roundup” television show from “Toy Story 2,” this newly reimagined attraction is a classic boardwalk carousel with a whimsical spin. Saddle up on one of 56 adorable friends, choosing from a turtle, snake, buzzard, armadillo, bunny, deer, raccoon, ram, skunk and two cozy logs inhabited by a family of owls.
And when Pixar Pier opens June 23 at Disney California Adventure park, guests will find transformation around every corner.
Just past Lamplight Lounge, you will find Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats. Inspired by the lovable and not-at-all-abominable monster from “Monsters, Inc.,” this will be your go-to for frozen treats.
In the “Toy Story” neighborhood of Pixar Pier, big appetites and small fries alike will love the Poultry Palace. This giant fun meal inspired by Pixar’s short, “Toy Story Toon: Small Fry,” even comes with a Fun Meal Zurg!
¿Quieres un churro? Stop by Señor Buzz Churros, where Buzz has switched into Spanish mode to offer this quintessential Disneyland Resort treat.
Further down Pixar Pier, Angry Dogs will be serving up some hot items – which is the perfect place for Anger from “Inside Out.” The more he burns with rage, the hotter the dogs get!
Come discover these and many more newly themed experiences throughout Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure park!
Flip Flops are a wish your heart makes… So with spring break right around the corner, it’s time to start sporting that beachwear again and Disney’s latest collaboration with Havaianas has produced the perfect footwear for the occasion. The Brazilian flip flop brand has created the perfect line of Disney Princess Flip Flops that are both stylish and comfortable.
Havaianas are the perfect footwear for the pool or beach, but also great for a day in the Disney Theme Parks, too. These designs are totes adorbs with the princess on one flip-flop and a quote from their movie on the other.
If you’re not into princess then don’t worry. There are plenty of other options featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Star Wars, Marvel and more, no doubt there is a perfect pair to flaunt your favorite Disney style. You can find all of you favorite Disney Designs at Havaianas.com.
“We are constantly looking at ways to delight our guests through the assortment of merchandise we offer as tangible memories of the time guests spend with us,” said Kenny Funk, Disney’s vice president of merchandise. “The combination of the Havaianas brand and Disney’s magical merchandise makes for an appealing combination for our guests.”
The company has been the official flip-flop of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort for the past several years and has three branded locations inside the parks. Guests can shop Disney-themed flip flops by Havaianas, as well as the brand’s core and fashion styles at shops in the Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks in Walt Disney World, and at California Adventure in Disneyland
You can find the new princess designs at The Landing in Disney Springs where the Disney mega shopping center has unveiled quite few new items perfect for spring break including the newest Mickey Mouse Ray-Bans that would go perfect with your flops, whether you are celebrating at Disney Parks or anywhere.
By now most Disney fans have heard about the picture perfect Purple Wall trend, especially with the release of the “Meet Me at the Purple Wall” Limited Release MagicBands. But there are quite a few other popular Insta-worthy “Disney Walls” out there located throughout Disney Parks.
They’ve got color and quirky style, which is why “Disney Walls” have become unofficial fan-favorite photo locations for many guests visiting a Disney theme park. Photos with vibrant or multicolored “Disney Walls” as a backdrop have been a growing trend on Instagram and Twitter this year – some walls even have their own guest-created hashtags!
Snapping a picture in front of a Disney Wall is a must-do during a visit for some and for others it’s a fun sort of photo scavenger hunt just to find these walls in the parks. Finding the perfect wall to show off your Disney Parks #OOTD is the latest Instagram and Twitter trend at the moment and here are 9 of the top Disney Walls to get you started.
1.Magic Kingdom Park #PurpleWall – Walk down the ramp from Tomorrowland Terrace toward the entrance to Tomorrowland. Right when you hit the turn into the land, you’ll see the #PurpleWall on your right.
2. Epcot’s #BubbleGumWall – Guests will find this wall by simply turning right or left just outside of the exit of Spaceship Earth.
3. Epcot’s #BlueberryWall – Leave the #BubbleGumWall and take two more steps to find the bright #BlueberryWall.
4. Epcot’s #ToothPasteWall – While at Epcot, head to The Seas With Nemo and Friends pavilion. You’ll find the #ToothPasteWall upon exiting the pavilion.
5. Disney’s Animal Kingdom #MossWall – Head into Pandora – The World of Avatar and walk towards Satu’li Canteen. Just opposite the restaurant’s front door is the newest popular “Disney Wall,” which you can spot on social channels under the hashtag #MossWall. Tip: The Flight of Passage attraction’s exterior queue also offers some very Instagrammable backdrops.
6. Disney’s Animal Kingdom “You Are Most Beautiful” Wall – No hashtag for this one yet, but it’s still a super popular stop for guests visiting Harambe Marketplace in the Africa section of the park. Look for it on the park-side of a cast members-only doorway.
7. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Harambe Market – Just outside Harambe Market, look for a wall that sports quotes and a painting of Mickey Mouse.
8. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Harambe Market – Harambe Market, located in the Africa section of the park, serves up soulful street food and fun photo opps.
9. Mission Space Wall – Mission Space, located in Future World at Epcot.
There are quite a few other picturesque walls out there. Which “wall” do you love at Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments below.
If you have been wondering about the progress of construction over at Galaxy’s Edge, Disney has just released some absolutely stunning flyover video of the area and you can see, up close and personal, exactly what there up to behind those construction walls.
While the highly anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands won’t debut to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort guests until 2019 this new video shows just how much progress they have made and how huge the scope of the project really is.
At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests will be transported to the planet of Batuu, a remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge that was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes. Here, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action at two attractions that take detail and immersion to the next level: one that lets guests take the controls of Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.
As you can see in this video, which Bob Iger shared this morning during the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is shaping up to be one of the most detailed and immersive lands ever created in Disney Parks history. Take a look at the video above for construction flyover footage that shows the expansive scale of this thrilling addition.
Take a look back below at some of the other constructions updates we have made along the way. Like the video, the progress they have made is truly stunning.
Mickey Mouse and Ray-Ban have teamed again to make a super cool pair of sun glasses that feature Mickey Mouse himself.
The new Mickey Ray-Ban Limited-Edition Sunglasses are available exclusively at Sunglass Icon by Sunglass Hut at Disney Springs and Downtown Disney.
You may recall that Sunglass Hut released a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses featuring Mickey Mouse back in December. The product was such a hit that the company has developed a NEW design, set to debut to the general public this month on March 15, 2018.
Early access to the limited-Edition Ray-Ban Sunglasses is available to D23 members from March 7–14, 2018. This early access offer is only available for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members and you will be required to show your D23 Membership card.
The Limited-Edition glasses feature Mickey Mouse on the Ray-Ban New Wayfarer, have a retail price of $193, and are etched with “M18” to commemorate their release date. No discounts apply and there is a purchase limit of five pairs per guest.
Spring time is here and as the sun gets brighter each day you may want to sport some Mickey Mouse inspired sunglasses. Luckily you can, as once again, Mickey Mouse and Ray-Ban have teamed up to throw some shade on your eyes.
The new Mickey Ray-Ban Limited-Edition Sunglasses are available exclusively at Sunglass Icon by Sunglass Hut at Disney Springs and Downtown Disney.
You may recall that Sunglass Hut released a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses featuring Mickey Mouse back in December. The product was such a hit that the company has developed a NEW design, set to debut to the general public this month on March 15, 2018.
Early access to the limited-Edition Ray-Ban Sunglasses is available to D23 members from March 7–14, 2018. This early access offer is only available for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members and you will be required to show your D23 Membership card.
The Limited-Edition glasses feature Mickey Mouse on the Ray-Ban New Wayfarer, have a retail price of $193, and are etched with “M18” to commemorate their release date. No discounts apply and there is a purchase limit of five pairs per guest
It seems like Disney may finally be looking to do something with the area near Ft. Wilderness which is still home to the former rustic waterpark — now abandoned — known as River Country. According to permits filed Monday they are looking to do some geotechnical borings in the area which could indicate new development for the area. What could it be!?
According to the new permits filed with the South Florida Water Management District, Disney is looking to “Conduct geotechnical investigation to assess the suitability of subsurface soils”. In layman’s terms, they are asking for permission from the state to drill and evaluate the soil conditions at the River Country site.
Specifically, the applicant is evaluating current conditions in Wetlands 7.1G, 7.1K and 7.22. and they are requesting the ability to permit temporary wetland impacts to allow for entry by sub-aqueous geotechnical drill rigs to collect data and assess the suitability of subsurface soils, documents state.
Known as Project 89, the documents also say the type of authorization being requested is “Construction or operation of new works, activities and/or a stormwater management system; or a new Conceptual Approval”.
This process is usually used to find out if an area is suitable for a new construction project. This could be anything from a new theme park to a new resort, but at this point there is no telling what Disney is up to. However these types of permits often indicate the first stages of future development and since Disney probably isn’t considering any type of new theme park anytime soon, the most likely answer could be a new Magic Kingdom area resort.
Disney’s River Country was the first water park at Walt Disney World. It opened on June 20, 1976, and closed indefinitely on November 2, 2001. On January 20, 2005, The Walt Disney Company announced that River Country would remain closed permanently.
Along with Discovery Island, it is one of only two Disney parks in their history to close permanently. Both were left to deteriorate rather than be demolished. Take a look at the video below to get a sense of what it looks like today. Keep in mind that it’s in a restricted area and trespassing is strictly prohibited. It can also get you banned and it’s not a bright idea to go exploring if you want to be able to keep going to Disney World.
You can still catch few glimpses of the old park from non restricted areas of Ft. Wilderness and you can see some of it when traveling by boat on Bay Lake. It’s a bit of an eye sore, but even in its current state it’s still hidden jewel for Disney history buffs.
One rumor for the closure was that it closed down due to rare but deadly disease, amoebic meningoencephalitis, caused by an amoeba which lived Florida’s fresh-water lakes.
In 1980, a child died while swimming at River Country. The amoeba entered his nose, traveled through his naval passage and attacked the nervous system. There were no other deaths from amoebic meningoencephalitis linked to River Country and it remained open for another 21 years!
Health officials stated that there was no reason to blame Disney World for the tragedy, because the amoeba can breed in almost any freshwater lake during hot weather.
The real reason the park didn’t reopen was because of low attendance and two new bigger water parks that had opened on Disney World Property. In 1989, Disney opened a second water park, Typhoon Lagoon. It had much more parking, many more slides, newer amenities, and was much larger. In 1995, Disney opened a third water park, Blizzard Beach, which was also much bigger than River Country.
As it did every year, River Country closed at the end of the warm-weather season in November 2001, with the expectation that it would reopen in spring of 2002. That never happened.
On April 11, 2002, the Orlando Sentinel reported that “Walt Disney World’s first water park, River Country, has closed and may not reopen.” Disney World spokesman Bill Warren stated that River Country could be reopened if there’s enough guest demand.
The attraction may also have been affected by a change in Florida laws, which prohibited unchlorinated natural water bodies from being used for water park attractions. River Country never reopened.
Although it’s mostly out of sight from the public, it was only a matter of time before Disney decided to start exploring its options and imagining a new future for the area is really exciting. Whatever Disney is planning for the area, we can’t wait to find out, so keep checking back because we will be following this one closely.
You can now take a self-guided tour of Disney World and Disneyland right from the comfort of your smart phone and with out all of the long lines. Beginning today, you can now explore Disney Parks on Google Street View. Disney just launched a series of 360-degree panoramas featuring Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort locations you’ll want to check out to help plan your next vacation.
The new Disney Parks imagery on Google Street View includes Disney’s theme parks, water parks as well as a variety of areas at Downtown Disney and Disney Springs. Take a look below at Epcot from every angle.
To create the 360-degree imagery at Disney Parks, Google used Street View Trekker, a wearable backpack with a camera system on top. The Trekker is worn by an operator and is moved through walkways and structures, automatically gathering images. Imagery is then stitched together to create the 360-degree panoramas you see today.
Here’s a list of the locations that the Trekker’s captured:
Disneyland park, Disneyland Resort
Disney California Adventure park
Downtown Disney District
Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort
Disney Springs – Dining, Retail Locations
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Pandora – The World of Avatar
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Epcot
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
Disney Parks imagery is also being featured on Google’s Street View gallery page along with breathtaking natural wonders of the world. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below.
From Disneyland Resort in California to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, you’ll always find something being celebrated at the parks. And currently, Disney Gift Card is offering two wearable designs to make paying for the fun even easier at two celebrations taking place at Disney Parks right now.
While making your way through the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, have you ever wished you could take one of the flowers for yourself? The topiaries need to stay where festival-goers can enjoy them, but here are three flowers that were meant to be picked! Carry the beauty of the festival around your wrist by activating a Disney Gift Card with as little as $15. Available at festival merchandise locations throughout the park, the special-edition Disney Gift Card designs have a fresh, spring scent and are as photo-ready as ever!
Over at Disney California Adventure park, get ready to taste the culinary wonders of the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. Starting March 2, you can explore the unique flavors of California at Festival Marketplaces throughout the park. Keep an eye out for a special-edition Disney Gift Card design featuring Chef Mickey that, when activated with a minimum of $15, you can use to easily pay for everything the festival has to offer!
Disney Gift Cards are reloadable and never expire. Just stop by a merchandise or food and beverage location and ask a Cast Member for assistance. If you don’t spend it all at the festival, know that these and all other Disney Gift Cards can still be used for practically all things Disney from theme park tickets to Mickey merchandise at Disney Destinations nationwide!
