Disney News

Category: News

  • EPCOT’s World Showcase May be Staffed Without Cultural Representatives During Reopening

    EPCOT’s World Showcase May be Staffed Without Cultural Representatives During Reopening

    Disney World received approval from the state of Florida to reopen it’s four Orlando theme parks and along with the the new saftey measures you may notice some staffing changes in World Showcase at EPCOT.

    The cultural representatives who staff EPCOT’s World Showcase may not return to the parks right away, according to a reported agreement between labor unions representing Disney World employees and Walt Disney Company.

    Until Disney World is able to resume normal staffing, Cast Members who “do not meet the culturally authentic theming at EPCOT may be temporarily assigned to work in positions which are otherwise reserved for Cultural Representatives,” according to the agreement.

    Disney suspended it’s cultural representative program April 18 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as you can see in the tweet below:

    Disney also said that it will invite back its Cultural Representative to complete their program at “a later date.”

  • Disney World Gets Approval From Florida For July 11 Phased Reopening

    Disney World Gets Approval From Florida For July 11 Phased Reopening

    Walt Disney World received approval from the state of Florida to reopen it’s four Orlando theme parks starting July 11.

    Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open first, on July 11. Then, Epcot and Hollywood Studios will follow on July 15.

    The plans were reportedly approved Friday by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in a memo sent to Orange County officials, according to multiple news reports. Disney reps weren’t immediately available for comment.

    Disney submitted its reopening plans on Wednesday to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force and received an endorsement from Orange County Mayor Jerry Dennings shortly after the meeting.

    In Disney’s presentation, Jim MacPhee, Senior Vice President of Operations, Walt Disney World Resort, described plans for temperature checks of guests and staff, face masks and social distancing, frequent signage, numerous hand washing stations throughout the park and backstage and use of plexiglass barriers at retail and food and beverage locations.

    Capacity will be reduced at park attractions, restaurants, retail stores and transportation connecting the parks. Fireworks, character-meet and-greets, water displays and other events that might create crowds or make social distancing difficult will be temporarily suspended. The park will expand mobile ordering platforms at its restaurants. It will clean ‘high touch areas frequently.

    MacPhee said Disney’s strategy will focus around three keywords — “education, communication and engagement.”

  • Disney World Officially Canceling Their Fireworks & Parades Indefinitely

    Disney World Officially Canceling Their Fireworks & Parades Indefinitely

    Disney World received approval from the state of Florida to reopen its theme parks and to help control the crowds, Disney World has canceled Fireworks Displays and Parades until further notice during their phased reopening.

    “This phased reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, with limits on attendance and controlled guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing” Disney said. “That means certain experiences we know draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date.”

    In addition, “high-touch” experiences such as makeover opportunities, playgrounds and character meet and greets will remain temporarily unavailable, but characters will still be in our parks to entertain and delight our guests. 

    Walt Disney World received approval from the state of Florida to reopen its four Orlando-based theme parks starting July 11.

  • The Walt Disney Company Receives 102 Daytime Emmy Nominations Across its Platforms

    The Walt Disney Company Receives 102 Daytime Emmy Nominations Across its Platforms

    The Walt Disney Company’s networks and brands combined to earn a total of 102 nominations for the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

    The awards will be presented in a two-hour special airing Friday, June 26. Awards will be presented in leading categories during the telecast, with recipients and other special guests appearing from their homes. 

    Take a look below at the complete list of nominees from across The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of brands:

    WALT DISNEY TELEVISION

    ABC

    General Hospital (23 nominations)

    • Outstanding Drama Series
    • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Finola Hughes
    • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Maura West
    • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Steve Burton
    • Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Jon Lindstrom
    • Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Tamara Braun
    • Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Rebecca Budig
    • Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: James Patrick Stuart
    • Outstanding Young Performer in a Drama Series: Katelyn MacMullen
    • Outstanding Young Performer in a Drama Series: Eden McCoy
    • Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series: Michael E. Knight
    • Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series
    • Outstanding Directing Team for a Drama Series
    • Outstanding Original Song: “North Star”
    • Outstanding Casting for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
    • Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama or Digital Series
    • Outstanding Technical Team for a Drama Series
    • Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
    • Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing for a Drama Series
    • Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
    • Outstanding Costume Design for a Drama or Digital Drama Series
    • Outstanding Hair Styling for a Drama Series
    • Outstanding Makeup for a Drama Series

    The View (8 nominations)

    • Outstanding Informative Talk Show
    • Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Abby Huntsman & Ana Navarro
    • Outstanding Lighting Direction
    • Outstanding Technical Team
    • Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing
    • Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design
    • Outstanding Hair Styling
    • Outstanding Makeup

    GMA3 Strahan, Sara & Keke (3 nominations)

    • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
    • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: Michael Strahan, Sara Haines & Keke Palmer
    • Outstanding Directing for a Talk, Entertainment News or Morning Program

    Good Morning America (2 nominations)

    • Outstanding Morning Show
    • Outstanding Directing for a Talk, Entertainment News or Morning Program

    Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade

    • Outstanding Technical Team

    Disney Team of Heroes (ABC)

    • Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement—Brand Image Campaign—Network or Program

    DISNEY JUNIOR

    Elena of Avalor (7 nominations)

    • Outstanding Writing Team for a Preschool Animated Program
    • Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program
    • Outstanding Music Direction and Composition
    • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “Never Leave”
    • Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special
    • Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated Program
    • Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

    The Rocketeer (5 nominations)

    • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Maurice LaMarche—The Rocketeer
    • Outstanding Writing Team for a Preschool Animated Program
    • Outstanding Main Title for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated Program
    • Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

    Muppet Babies (3 nominations)

    • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Eric Bauza
    • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Matt Danner
    • Outstanding Directing for a Preschool Animated Program

    Puppy Dog Pals (3 nominations)

    • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Kevin Michael Richardson
    • Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special
    • Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program

    Vampirina (2 nominations)

    • Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series
    • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “The Vamp Opera”

    Doc McStuffins

    • Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series

    Elena of Avalor: The Magic Within

    • Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

    The Lion Guard

    • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “As You Move Forward”

    Muppet Babies: Play Date

    • Outstanding Short Format Children’s Program

    T.O.T.S.

    • Outstanding Performer in a Preschool Animated Program: Christian Simon

    DISNEY CHANNEL

    Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure (7 nominations)

    • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Directing for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Music Direction and Composition
    • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “Waiting in the Wings”
    • Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special
    • Outstanding Main Title for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program

    DuckTales (4 nominations)

    • Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: Paget Brewster
    • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Sound Editing for an Animated Program

    Big City Greens (3 nominations)

    • Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: Marieve Herington
    • Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program: Chris Houghton
    • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program

    Big Hero 6 The Series (2 nominations)

    • Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program: “Gonna Go Good”

    Disney Mickey Mouse (2 nominations)

    • Outstanding Directing for an Animated Program
    • Outstanding Editing for an Animated Program

    Big City Greens: Green Christmas

    • Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

    BUNK’D

    • Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series

    Milo Murphy’s Law

    • Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

    Pup Academy

    • Outstanding Directing for a Children’s or Young Adult Program

    Shook

    • Outstanding Young Adult Program: Shook

    SYNDICATION

    Live with Kelly and Ryan (4 nominations)

    • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
    • Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host: Kelly Ripa & Ryan Seacrest
    • Outstanding Directing for a Talk, Entertainment News or Morning Program
    • Outstanding Hair Styling

    Tamron Hall (3 nominations)

    • Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host: Tamron Hall
    • Outstanding Costume Design/Styling
    • Outstanding Makeup

    HULU

    Light as a Feather (6 nominations)

    • Outstanding Young Adult Program
    • Outstanding Interactive Media for a Daytime Program
    • Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program: Liana Liberato
    • Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program: Jordan Rodrigues
    • Outstanding Principal Performance in a Daytime Program: Brianne Tju
    • Outstanding Directing for a Children’s or Young Adult Program

    Holly Hobbie

    • Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series

    LUCASFILM

    The Star Wars Show

    • Outstanding Daytime Promotional Announcement—Topical

    NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

    Rewind Nature

    • Outstanding Special Class—Short Form Daytime Program
  • Disney Launches Free Online Activities with Frozen, Star Wars and More

    Disney Launches Free Online Activities with Frozen, Star Wars and More

    Disney is introducing a new online platform called The Disney Destiny of Imagination that brings together a collection of your favorite characters in themed activities and it’s being made available to families for free.

    The activites are Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars themed and are sure to keep all ages entertained.

    The freebies are aimed at helping children to play, stay active and continue learning while having fun with everything from Frozen to Captain America.

    They include storytelling sessions so that young ones can listen to classic and magical Disney tales and Art of Animation workshops with Disney artists so that they can learn to draw characters such as Captain America and Olaf.

    Other Frozen treats include boardgames and trivia quizzes to test fans’ movie knowledge while other trivia movie themes include Star Wars and among the games is Marvel top trumps.

    There are plenty arts and crafts activities, such as join-the-dots and colouring-in of favourite characters, with activity books covering everything from Mickey and Minnie to The Hulk and Spider-Man.

    Star Wars activity packs, for instance, enable fans to create their own Darth Vader masks while young ones will no doubt enjoy Mickey Mouse drawing tutorials.

    New activities will be going live every week and those due to be added soon include Keep Active ideas with exercise sheets encouraging children to expend a bit of energy alongside their favourite characters, according to ChronicleLive.

    All the activities are available for free at the Disney shop here.

  • Mobile Order Adds Apple Pay and Arrival Times at Disney World Ahead of Reopening

    Mobile Order Adds Apple Pay and Arrival Times at Disney World Ahead of Reopening

    Disney World received approval from the state of Florida to reopen its theme parks and now they are adding some new changes to mobile ordering that you may want to hear.

    Previously guests would place a Mobile Order and you would receive a notification when the order was ready to be picked up, but now guests will have to select an arrival time and pick up their orders within a thirty minute window.

    Another new feature added to Mobile Order is the addition of new payment method options. You can now pay for your order with Apple Pay and Disney Gift Cards and well as with Disney Dining Catds and Disney Reward Redemption cards.

    Disney World is making a number of changes to make reopening safe for it’s guests and the new additions to the Mobile Order service will make cashless transactions even easier.

    Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open first, on July 11. Then, Epcot and Hollywood Studios will follow on July 15.

  • Passholder Preview Announced for Disney World Reopening

    Passholder Preview Announced for Disney World Reopening

    Disney World unveiled it’s reopening plans and now an email has gone out to Annual Passholders about a Passholder Preview for the occasion.

    Take a look at the details of the email below:

    Dear Valued Passholder,

    In case you missed it, this week we shared some big news about Walt Disney World Resort, including plans to welcome Guests back to the Theme Parks as part of a phased reopening beginning July 11.

    We truly can’t wait to welcome our Passholders back! And we will do it with a great deal of thought. As we reopen, our phased approach will be a deliberate one with limits on attendance and density controls that align with expert guidance.

    And so, to foster recommended physical distancing during this unprecedented time, we will soon be introducing a new Park reservation system and requiring all our Guests to make advance reservations for their Park visits.

    We’ve put together some of the details of what this new system will mean to Passholders on our website. So please take the time to read this important update.

    We truly value the role our Passholders play in making the Walt Disney World Resort experience so magical. And as our re-opening progresses, we are planning a special Passholder preview opportunity to access the magic.

    Walt Disney World has gotten the go-ahead from the state of Florida to open its four Orlando theme parks starting July 11 along the lines of plan executives presented to Orange County officials on Wednesday.

    The phased reopening starts with the Magic Kingdom and Disney Animal Kingdom on Saturday, July 11 and Epcott and Disney Hollywood Studios on Wednesday, July 15.

    The plans were reportedly approved Friday by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation in a memo sent to Orange County officials, according to multiple news reports.

  • Disney World Reopening Only Available to Passholders and Exsiting Ticket Holders

    Disney World Reopening Only Available to Passholders and Exsiting Ticket Holders

    Now that Disney World has announced a reopening date, theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will only be available to Annual Passholders and those with existing tickets.

    “At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations,” Disney said on it’s website.

    Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make a theme park reservation before new tickets are sold; they will be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details.

    Disney World will resume new sales of tickets and Disney Resort hotel reservations after that period of time. 

    After Walt Disney World presented it’s reopening plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force this week and the company is now preparing for that reopening by canceling all of its dining reservations for the rest of the year and suspending its FastPass+ reservation system as well.

    Pending approval from government agencies, Magic Kingdom park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will begin a phased reopening on July 11—with Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopening on July 15, but advance reservations will be required to visit.

  • Disney World Cancels Dining Reservations and Suspends FastPasses as part of Reopening Plans

    Disney World Cancels Dining Reservations and Suspends FastPasses as part of Reopening Plans

    Walt Disney World presented it’s reopening plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force this week and the company is now preparing for that reopening by canceling all of its dining reservations for the rest of the year and suspending its FastPass+ reservation system.

    Pending approval from government agencies, Magic Kingdom park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will begin a phased reopening on July 11—with Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopening on July 1, but advance reservations will be required to visit.

    The parks will reopen with some important updates to promote physical distancing, including. Take a look below:

    • Park Reservations: Initially, park attendance will be managed through a new park reservation system. To enter a park, both a park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date is required.
    • New Ticket Sales: At this time, new ticket sales are temporarily paused. Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold. Additional details will be shared with these Guests soon. New ticket sales will resume after that period of time.
    • New Disney Resort Hotel Reservations: At this time, new reservations at Disney Resort hotels are temporarily paused so we can focus on Guests with existing reservations (Disney Vacation Club Members can still make new reservations). Reservations will resume after that period of time.

    All existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages, are canceled through the end of 2020. New ones will be able to made closer to when the parks reopen, and the booking window will shift from 180 days to 60 days.

    The company has established a new “Know Before You Go” web page at DisneyWorld.com/Updates for the latest news on operations, including details on how to change plans.

  • VIDEO: Stormtroopers Patrolling Disney Springs to Help Enforce New Safety Procedures

    VIDEO: Stormtroopers Patrolling Disney Springs to Help Enforce New Safety Procedures

    Disney Springs began it’s phased reopening last week and with the many new saftey procedures put in place due to the coronavirus crisis, Disney has brought in First Order Stormtroopers to help enforce the new protocols.

    They’re stationed on some of the balconies and if you do see them, it’s probably best to snap a photo from afar and “move along,” as Stormtroopers may not appreciate you getting too close.

    Check out a video from ITM of the Stormtroopers in action below:

    The World of Disney store opened its doors Wednesday, along with other Disney-owned and -operated venues D-Luxe Burger (mobile order) and the Marketplace Co-Op.