Disney News

Category: Walt Disney World

  • Disney World Worker Accused of Trying to Arrange Sex with 8-Year-Old Girl

    Disney World Worker Accused of Trying to Arrange Sex with 8-Year-Old Girl

    Today, federal prosecutors announced an employee at Walt Disney World in Orlando has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with an 8-year-old girl.

    Federal authorities arrested 40-year-old Frederick M. Pohl, Jr., on charges of transferring obscene materials to a minor and attempting to entice a minor.

    Investigators said Pohl worked at a theme park, and part of his duties was to help secure guests’ lap bars if they appeared unsecured.

    Authorities said Pohl began chatting online with an undercover federal agent posing as an eight-year-old girl. During the conversations, Pohl sent explicit photos of himself and arranged to meet with the girl in Orlando at a hotel.

    According to a criminal complaint, Pohl communicated online with and tried to arrange to have sex with the 8-year-old girl. Investigators said Pohl believed he was talking with the child and her father, but he was actually talking with an undercover federal agent.

    “When Pohl arrived at the hotel, he was arrested.” Pohl was previously probed by Homeland Security investigators in 2007 for “attempted exploitation of minor children.”

    Pohl, of Clermont, faces up to life in federal prison if convicted.

  • Disney’s New ‘Summer One World’ Ticket Offers Admission to All 6 Parks

    Disney’s New ‘Summer One World’ Ticket Offers Admission to All 6 Parks

    Walt Disney World is rolling out a new ticket this summer that gives guests access to each of Disney’s theme parks and water parks.

    The Summer One World Ticket costs $444 and gives guests one admission to each of Disney’s theme parks and water parks. The price breaks down to $74 per admission, Disney says.

    Each ticket includes six admissions—one admission to each theme park (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and each water park (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon). Visitors will be able to visit more than one park per day, but each park can only be visited once, according to Disney. Take a look at the ticket details below: 

    • Summer One World Tickets must be purchased between Jun 4, 2019, and Aug. 23, 2019. 
    • Each Summer One World Ticket includes six admissions – one admission to each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks and each of the two water parks. 
    • You have flexibility in how you use these tickets, including visiting more than one park per day. 
    • Tickets must be used June 4, 2019 – Aug. 28, 2019.

    Pairing the Summer One World Ticket with a Disney resort hotel stay helps you remain immersed in magic for every moment of a Walt Disney World vacation. You can save up to 25 percent on rooms at select Disney resort hotels for stays most nights May 28, 2019, through Aug. 28, 2019, when you book through Aug. 28, 2019.

    Summer 2019 will be an amazing time to visit Walt Disney World, with new experiences at all four theme parks: 

    • Anything can happen during Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom Park, including the new “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party,” featuring those true originals, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
    • Party with Pixar pals at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the park’s 30th anniversary year, featuring The Incredibles, Mike and Sulley from Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.;” Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang at the new Toy Story Land; and the new Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy that takes you into the world of Cars. 
    • Pandora – The World of Avatar comes to life each night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with bioluminescent fauna and flora. And now evenings in the park are about to be even more special with the May 24 planned debut of “Rivers of Light: We Are One,” introducing additional stunning imagery and familiar animal characters to the popular nighttime show on Discovery River. Also beginning May 24, the Tree of Life will awaken in a whole new way to honor the 25th anniversary of “The Lion King,” with beautiful projections on the iconic tree featuring music and animation paying tribute to the classic film. 
    • “Guardians of the Galaxy – Awesome Mix Live!” will return to Epcot this summer. Star-Lord and Gamora from the Guardians of the Galaxy films will take you on a musical journey through the cosmos, showcasing hits from Star-Lord’s Awesome Mix tapes. Live shows will take place daily from June 14 through Aug. 18. 

    If you need help booking your magical vacation, contact Enchanted Kingdom Vacations with Vikki for help. My services are completely free and I will always find you the lowest rates. Let me do all the work so you don’t have to!

  • New Mexican Sweet Bread Minnie Ears Now Available at Disney Parks

    New Mexican Sweet Bread Minnie Ears Now Available at Disney Parks

    Disney Parks has released Concha Mexican Sweet Bread Minnie Ears and you’re definitely going to want a bite of these!

    The headbands will set you back $27.99 and can be found at the Mexico pavilion in Epcot, near The Grand Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros, and across stores in both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

    The bow is inspired, designed and colored after the Mexican traditional textiles stripes (zarape) and covered with clear flat sequins that add more brillo! 

    The ears are a mix of soft suede and puff paint, in an iconic shell-like design to add a crackle texture that perfectly resembles the crunchy topping of the bread. The headband itself is covered with a satin fabric and inner soft velvet lining.

    These beautiful ears were designed to represent the very popular Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce) with a crunchy topping, usually made with sugar, butter, and flour. The topping cracks during the baking process, giving the sweet treat a shell-like appearance. This pan dulce is perfect for breakfast (with a nice cup of café!) or during the merienda (afternoon snack). 

  • Mobile Order Service Coming Soon to Select Disney World Resort Hotels

    Mobile Order Service Coming Soon to Select Disney World Resort Hotels

    Ordering food and beverages at Disney Parks has never been simpler since the mobile order app was introduced in 2017. Now Disney Parks has rolled out a the service at select resorts.

    Imagine getting a jump start to your day or returning from the parks and conveniently ordering, paying for and picking up fresh meals and snacks when you are ready – right from your fingertips.

    Over the coming months, you’ll be able to do just that as Disney expands the popular mobile order food service to additional restaurants at Disney Resort hotels, including: Everything POP Shopping & Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Contempo Café at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

    These restaurants will join our existing mobile order lineup of Centertown Market and Spyglass Grill at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and over 20 other quick-service locations throughout the four theme parks and Disney Springs area.

    With the service, you can order ahead from wherever you happen to be, skip the order line and head directly to the pick-up counter where Cast Members deliver your food – helping you save time to enjoy all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World Resort.

    And don’t forget, if you have a Disney dining plan you can now redeem your meals and snacks through the service. Disney also recently introduced a new enhanced look that makes the ordering experience easier than ever.

    The mobile order service is yet another way we are improving the vacation experience for guests through the My Disney Experience app, especially at Disney Resort hotels, where select guests can streamline check in to start their vacation even faster, use their mobile device as a digital key, view bus times and much more. 

  • Tinker Bell ‘Glow’ Wings Now Available at Disney Parks

    Tinker Bell ‘Glow’ Wings Now Available at Disney Parks

    New glow wings inspired by your favorite pixie fairy, Tinker Bell, are now available at select locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.

    Light up the night during your favorite nighttime spectacular or add a touch of pixie dust for a day in the parks.

    Find these fairy special wings now at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Elias & Co., and World of Disney at Disneyland Resort and Emporium Complex, Mouse Gear, Discovery Trading Co. and Fantasmic Cart at the Walt Disney World Resort.

    Get your Glow Tinker Bell Wings now and set your course to the second star on the right, and light up the night!

    Want to share your new wings with Tinker Bell herself? Find her in her enchanted forest hideaway, Pixie Hollow, at Disneyland park. And meet Tink at Town Square Theater at Magic Kingdom Park.

  • Ex-Disney Employee Accused of Stealing $14,000 Worth of Costumes From Parks

    Ex-Disney Employee Accused of Stealing $14,000 Worth of Costumes From Parks

    A former Disney employee is accused of stealing $14,000 worth of costumes and props from two theme parks, according to an arrest affidavit.

    Patrick Spikes is facing several charges, including grand theft according to court documents.

    Orange County deputies began investigating in August when clothing went missing from an animatronic at the closed Cranium Command attraction at Epcot.

    Spikes became a suspect when he started posting pictures of Buzzy on his Twitter account @backdoordisney, the affidavit said.

    When Spikes was confronted and questioned about the missing clothes by detectives in December 2018, he became combative and was charged with a misdemeanor for resisting arrest.

    With a search warrant, police found “numerous pieces of Disney property” on Spikes’ phone and said almost all of it was “later determined to be stolen.”

    Investigators found that Spikes received almost $30,000 via Paypal from two people between late July and early September 2018. One of the buyers sent a total of $8,800 to Spikes for 18 stolen items. He told police Spikes claimed they were his belongings obtained legitimately from Disney.

    Detectives are still investigating and trying to track down all the stolen items.

  • Reedy Creek Firefighters Voice Saftey Concerns with Disney World Expansion

    Reedy Creek Firefighters Voice Saftey Concerns with Disney World Expansion

    Disney World is under the largest expansion in resort history and with Disney’s new Skyliner Gondola system opening Fall of 2019, Firefighters working at Disney are starting to voice saftey concerns.

    The union representing firefighters who protect Disney property say they’re understaffed at a time when they need to be hiring and are concerned about what will happen if the Skyliner ever goes down.

    With 10 people to a pod, about 2,000 people could be up to 90 feet in the air at a time and over water in some spots.

    Firefighters said they were already stretched to the max even before all the new growth started, according to WFTV. They say more people should mean more firefighters at a place that can have a population of up to 350,000 people on its busiest days.

    “We’re at the max now,” said Tim Stromsnes, with Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters. “We’re just worried that with all this expansion, we’re not going to have enough firefighters.”

    Stromsnes said 32 Reedy Creek firefighters work each shift. He said the fire chief recently requested to hire about 40 more but was only approved for two administrative positions.

    “And we got no boots on the ground,” Stromsnes said. “Nobody that could do a gondola rescue or be on the tower truck or on the special ops team. None of those people were hired.”

    Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger and Reedy Creek Improvement District administrator John Classe disagree, saying safety for Disney guests is their biggest concern.

    “The safety of our guests and cast is, and always will be, our core focus in operating our parks and resorts,” Finger said in a statement.

  • VIDEO: TRON Roller Coaster Steel Support Columns Now Installed at Disney World

    VIDEO: TRON Roller Coaster Steel Support Columns Now Installed at Disney World

    Disney is now celebrating another major construction milestone for the much-anticipated TRON Roller Coaster coming to Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort as the first steel support columns are now being installed! 

    The TRON attraction is based on the guest-favorite attraction TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disneyland.  This coaster-style attraction will allow riders to board a train of two-wheeled Lightcycles for a thrilling race through the digital frontier.

    The steel columns will serve as the framework that’ll support the coaster’s track in Tomorrowland.  And today, Disney gave a special look at the columns and the progress Walt Disney Imagineers, Disney cast members and project teams have made in bringing the attraction to life. Take a look at the video below:

    Another major milestone was recently celebrated as cast members and the project teams responsible for bringing the new TRON attraction to life at Magic Kingdom Park signed their names on one of the first steel support columns for the new attraction. 

    The TRON attraction is set to open at Magic Kingdom Park in time for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary in 2021.

  • New MagicBand Inspired by Forky from ‘Toy Story 4’ Debuts at Disney World

    New MagicBand Inspired by Forky from ‘Toy Story 4’ Debuts at Disney World

    “Toy Story 4” hits theaters in just over a month and today Disney Parks announced the release of a new MagicBand inspired by the adorable disposable spork, from the film, named “Forky”.

    The new Limited Edition MagicBand has an edition size of 3500 and retails for $34.99. 

    The new merch doesn’t end with the MagicBand. There is plenty more Forky inspired merchandise now available at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, including a special plush, apparel and more (none of which is disposable)!

    FORKY (voiced by Tony Hale) is not a toy! At least that’s what he thinks. An actual spork-turned-craft-project, Forky is pretty sure that he doesn’t belong in Bonnie’s room. Unfortunately, every time he tries to get away, someone yanks him back into an adventure he’d rather skip.

    For Disneyland, merchandise can be found in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure park and World of Disney at Downtown Disney District. For Walt Disney World, merchandise can be found in Beverly Sunset Boutique or Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and World of Disney at Disney Springs.

    Look out for Forky in Disney·Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” in theaters on June 21, 2019.

  • Man Arrested After Handgun Found at Disney World Entrance

    Man Arrested After Handgun Found at Disney World Entrance

    A Florida man was arrested last week after Walt Disney World security found a gun in his bag at the bag check area at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

    A pistol was secured in a holster with two magazines secured to it inside the bag. He told deputies he “completely forgot it was in his bag.”

    The man, identified as Terry Bruce of Daytona Beach, said he normally keeps the weapon in his car, but he was switching cars and always takes it with him.

    Records indicate he is not licensed to carry a concealed firearm. He was placed under arrest for carrying a concealed firearm without a license.