Disney News

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  • New Look at the Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster Ride Vehicles

    New Look at the Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster Ride Vehicles

    Disney has released an exclusive sneak peek of two of their ride engineers as they prep some of the ride vehicles for the new Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster coming to EPCOT at Disney World.

    Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a family-friendly “storytelling coaster” that will feature a groundbreaking ride system with vehicles that rotate 360 degrees and can even do a reverse launch.  

    The attraction boasts a brand new ride system, and now we have a new look at the ride vehicles themselves, which have been designed with the same color scheme as the Milano, Peter Quill’s ship from the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Check them out below:

    If you look closely at the colorful paint design on the ride vehicles (called coaches in roller coaster engineering parlance), each one is unique with different wear patterns and impact marks. Imagineers were inspired by markings that appear on NASA Space Shuttles and other spacecraft upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.

    Keep check back on Disney Dorks as we share more on this truly out-of-this-world, awesome attraction as they make progress on construction and put these coaches on the track!

  • ‘Jingle Cruise’ Returns to Magic Kingdom for the Holidays

    ‘Jingle Cruise’ Returns to Magic Kingdom for the Holidays

    The holiday season is fast approaching and today a guest favorite holiday offering – Jingle Cruise – has returned to Magic Kingdom Park.

    Jingle Cruise is again themed as if the Skippers are homesick for the holidays and to add cheer, they decorated the attraction queue and boathouse with homemade decorations, gifts and items from back home.

    Many fans of the festive overlay to the classic attraction have already taken to the internet to share the transformation as you can see in the post below:

    Boats have temporarily been renamed with holiday monikers and the Skippers are armed with seasonal jokes. (Listen carefully in the queue, too – you may hear a holiday-themed radio broadcast playing in the background).

  • VIDEO: New Baby White Rhino Born at Disney World

    VIDEO: New Baby White Rhino Born at Disney World

    An endangered white male rhino calf was born earlier this week at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Disney had shared a sneak peek of the newborn.

    The yet to be named beautiful baby boy white rhino was born to mom Kendi. He is curious, loves his afternoon naps and has started sparring with his mom.

    The video below features endearing moments as mother Kendi bonds with her playful new baby:

    Kendi was paired with dad Dugan through one of the Species Survival Plans, which are overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the responsible breeding of endangered species. White rhinos are an endangered species with a near-threatened status. 

    Typically, a rhino calf can weigh up to 140 pounds at birth, and as expected, this baby was nursing, standing and walking around right by mom within the first hour of being born. The two will spend the next several weeks bonding backstage before joining the rest of the herd.

    As the second largest-land animal on Earth, the rhinoceros is a massive sight to behold – from their horns to their hoofs and thick armored skin – all of it.

    Rhinos in the wild are found in bush country and open grassy flatlands in Africa and Southeast Asia. They are among the most endangered animals in the world due largely in part to poaching. Disney is proud to support rhino conservation efforts around the world, including those of Sumatran rhinos, which are found only in Indonesia and are critically endangered. To date, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided more than $2 million to support rhino conservation efforts around the world.

    This is the first of several rhino births on the horizon. Two other rhinos at the park are also expecting; Jao is due fall 2021, and Lola will likely give birth in fall/winter 2021. 

  • First Look: Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew Coming Soon to Disney Springs

    First Look: Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew Coming Soon to Disney Springs

    A new sweet spot is coming to Disney World and today, Disney shared a first look at — Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew — the new specialty food and beverage location opening soon at Disney Springs West Side.

    Disney Springs recently shared a sneak peek at a few of the delicious donuts that will soon be baking at Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew. These beauties are over-the-top and will only add to the amazing variety of sweet spots you can find on property.

    The overall design of this sweet spot will have a unique spin on a classic donut shop featuring graphic pops of color, iconic signage, and a beautiful outdoor seating area in the “donut garden.” Take a look below at the new renderings released by Disney:

    Before guests enter the venue, they may catch a glimpse of a culinary experience unfolding through the windows of the exposed kitchen where hot and fresh donuts will bake daily.

    “We like to say our little oasis of indulgences is going to be where ‘Happiness is Glazed Daily,’” says Mark Gibson, co-owner of Everglazed. “The menu will be full of sweet surprises and a unique spot for guests wanting a quick treat, cold brew or nitro-infused chilled coffee.”

    Everglazed will specialize in hand-crafted donuts featuring mouthwatering yeast and cake donuts with an assortment of cold brew lattes and coffee cocktails and a few sweet-yet-savory sandwich bites.

    “The humble donut has truly become a global phenomenon. The fried circle of dough is a simple concoction with the ability to showcase chef-inspired flavors and toppings,” says Guy Revelle, co-owner of Everglazed. “We can’t wait to offer guests at Disney Springs our robust menu of sweet delights, but you are officially warned: We spoke to your diet – and it’s taking some time off when we open our doors.”

    Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew will be located adjacent to Splitsville and near the west entrance and exit of the Orange Parking Garage.

  • Walt Disney World Entrance Sign is Getting a Makeover

    Walt Disney World Entrance Sign is Getting a Makeover

    Starting today, the iconic entrance into Walt Disney World Resort is getting a makeover.

    These magical gateways to a Disney vacation are about to get some pixie dust as they begin to adorn them with a new color palette that complements the recent royal makeover of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park.

    When you arrive at Disney world the very first bit of magic you experience is actually driving underneath these grand arches stretching over the roadways that tell you, yes, you’ve finally arrived at The Most Magical Place on Earth. You are here! 

    The rendering above gives you a first glimpse at what the entrances will look like when they’re finished; in addition, you’ll see these colors appear on the Magic Kingdom Park Auto Plaza as we bring a new shimmer to that iconic entryway.

    These refreshed gateways will continue to set the tone for all the stories you’ll tell and the memories you’ll cherish long after your visit. They’re also part of the broad tapestry of new experiences happening across Walt Disney World as part of the resort’s historic transformation that includes expansive themed lands like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, new attractions like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and new places to stay like Disney’s Riviera Resort.

  • Disney World Announces Extended Holiday Hours

    Disney World Announces Extended Holiday Hours

    Disney World has just announced that it will be offering extended hours for Guests to experience the magic this holiday season at all four of its theme parks.

    Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Disney World has made several adjustments to its normal holiday plans over the past several months. While the park may not be holding its normal Christmas celebrations, it will have extended hours during the Christmas season.

    According to the Disney World website, the Magic Kingdom will be open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. from the beginning of December until the week of Christmas. Starting on Sunday, Dec. 20, the Magic Kingdom will be open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

    These hours will continue until Dec. 30. On New Year’s Eve, the park is still listed as being open only from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.

    Epcot, Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom will also have extended hours. Similarly to the Magic Kingdom, these extended hours appear to end on New Year’s Eve.

    Disney World also has the hours for the first full week of January listed on its website. The Magic Kingdom will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Epcot from noon until 8 p.m., Hollywood Studios from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and the Animal Kingdom will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Disney’s Weddings Resume at Walt Disney World with New COVID-19 Guidelines

    Disney’s Weddings Resume at Walt Disney World with New COVID-19 Guidelines

    If the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to your Disney “I do’s,” then you’ll be excited to hear that Disney has announced that weddings have resumed as part of the phased re-opening at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

    “The Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings team has been working diligently with our health and safety team, looking at our experiences in detail so our couples and wedding guests can celebrate in a magical way. With health and safety in mind, we have implemented a combination of new measures that consider the guidance of local government and health officials,” their website said.

    Disney made the announcement on thier twitter account as you can see in the post below:

    The new safety measures include face coverings, which will be required for all guests and members of the wedding party. During the ceremony, the couple may be able to remove their face coverings for a limited period of time, while proper physical distancing can be maintained.

    Their events will also include measures to promote physical distancing among guests and cast members. Upcoming weddings will have limited guest counts, and they are working with couples to find creative ways to set their ceremonies, receptions and more.

  • New Disney World Specialty License Plate Celebrates 50th Anniversary

    New Disney World Specialty License Plate Celebrates 50th Anniversary

    Disney recently shared some exciting news for Florida-registered car owners – For the first time ever, a specialty Walt Disney World Resort license plate is available for purchase in honor of our 50th anniversary.

    This now gives Disney fans a way to be part of history and to help grant wishes for children who need them most.

    Proceeds of the license plate will go to Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida.

    Disney has a longstanding relationship with Make-A-Wish, dating back to 1980, and since then, more than 140,000 Disney-inspired wishes have been granted, with more than 8,000 taking place each year at Walt Disney World Resort. 

    While the design of this specialty plate will be revealed at a later date, interested car owners can purchase a presale voucher now for $25 plus applicable state administration fees by appointment at local County Tax Collector’s offices and license plate agencies (DMVs) across the State of Florida. Online pre-sale will be available soon.

    We are busy planning our 50th anniversary celebration and will share more details in the months to come. More information about Florida license plates can be found by visiting https://www.flhsmv.gov/motor-vehicles-tags-titles/personalized-specialty-license-plates/.

  • PHOTOS: Disney World’s Star Wars Hotel Construction Still Making Progress

    PHOTOS: Disney World’s Star Wars Hotel Construction Still Making Progress

    The new Star Wars resort coming to Disney World is set to open in 2021. Construction for the massive project is of galactic proportions and these are the updates you are looking for.

    Twitter user Bioreconstruct shared some amazing aerial photos of the new resort that shows that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel is still progressing throughout the pandemic.

    “Aerial look at the Porte Cochère of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). One of the recent changes is the walkway at [the] arrow,” Bioreconstruct tweeted Sunday, as you can see in the post below:

    You can see in the photo that has a small yellow arrow denoting the referenced walkway. “None of the show [buildings] will be visible to guests. An instant forest and the high walls will be in the sightline,” they noted.

    In another post Bioreconstruct shows “construction activity.” They wrote that lunch break tents are set up at the 201 South S Studio Drive site in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

    “Cabins are in the section at left. Decks of the ship are in the show building at center,” they wrote in another tweet that shows the entire construction site. “Guests will check in and be transported up the ship for 2 days of adventure inside the Star Wars timeline.”

    This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.

  • ‘Space Mountain’ Live-Action Movie in the Works at Disney

    ‘Space Mountain’ Live-Action Movie in the Works at Disney

    Continuing Disney’s trend of turning classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise into blockbuster movie franchises Disney is now developing a live-action Space Mountain movie.

    Space Mountain is an indoor rollercoaster in the dark based on Jules Verne’s 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon. The ride first landed at Disney’s Florida theme park, Walt Disney World Resort, in 1975. Two years later, the ride was implemented at California’s Disneyland.

    Logline details for the project, which is still in the early stages, are being kept under wraps, but it is described as a family adventure and is intended for theatrical release.

    Helming the project as producer and writer is Joby Harold — who is also currently writing and executive producing the upcoming Obi-wan Kenobi series for Disney+ — and his wife, Tory Tunnell, who is producing the film under their shared company, Safehouse Pictures.