Shortly after a petition hit the internet, Disney announced back in June that it was re-themeing Spash Mountain to the 2009 Disney Princess animated movie The Princess and the Frog and now another petition is gaining traction asking for the classic attraction to be themed to Black Panther, in honor of the late Chadwick Boseman.
Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman passed away in September following a private four-year battle with colon cancer.
Titled “Redesign Splash Mountain to Black Panther in honor of Chadwick Boseman,” the petition has gained more than 3000 signatures. You can read the petition’s official description below:
This is to petition to change Splash Mountain to Black Panther. Disney has announced to change Splash Mountain to Princess and the Frog, but in recent news encourage them to redesign splash mountain to Black Panther theme in honor of Chadwick Boseman.
Splash Mountain currently stars the animated characters from Song of the South, the 1946 film long criticized for stereotypes of “spiritual” black men and its seemingly nostalgic view of the antebellum South.
The current re-themeing plan is inspired by the all-time favorite animated Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog.” The story picks up after the final kiss where guests will join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, the idea for re-theming the 1989 thrill ride started over a year before the announcement and quite a bit of planning has gone into the reimagining so it’s not clear how much Disney will listen to the call.
The chefs have at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have been been cooking up some delicious new dishes and we’re here to give you the latest new offerings and restaurant updates.
Starting today, ABC Commissary is offering a terrific new menu. From sandwiches and rice bowls to tasty tacos and returning favorites, this menu has it all!
Take a look at the yummy new additions below:
Sandwiches/Salads
California Burger (Plant-based) – Seared farm-fresh plant-based burger with Sriracha mustard, balsamic-glazed grilled peppers and onions, a “mayonnaise”-ketchup blend, lettuce, and tomato and served with arugula-farro salad, steak fries, or apple slices
NEW Chicken Club Sandwich – Marinated chicken breast on a toasted brioche bun with bacon, provolone cheese, guacamole, ranch dressing, lettuce, and tomato served with arugula-farro salad, steak fries, or apple slices
NEW Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Grilled sourdough toasted with buffalo chicken, Monterey, provolone, cheddar, cream cheese, side of buffalo sauce, and served with arugula-farro salad, steak fries, or apple slices
Mediterranean Salad with Chicken – Chicken breast served over mixed greens with tomatoes, cucumber, pepperoncini, Kalamata olives, and feta tossed in Mediterranean vinaigrette served with hummus and flatbread
Tacos
NEW Pork Carnitas Tacos – Pork carnitas on flour tortillas with salsa verde, pickled onion, and radish served with Mexican rice and black beans
NEW Shrimp Tacos – Sautéed shrimp on flour tortillas with cabbage slaw, chipotle mayo, and mango salsa served with Mexican rice and black beans
Rice Bowls
NEW Curry Rice Bowl with Shrimp – Sautéed shrimp and vegetables with red curry sauce served with Jasmine coconut rice
NEW Plant-based Curry Rice Bowl with Tofu – Pineapple-marinated tofu and sautéed vegetables with red curry sauce served with Jasmine coconut rice
Kid’s Options
NEW Kid’s Pork Taco – Pork carnitas on a flour tortilla served with Mexican rice and black beans
NEW Kid’s Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Grilled American cheese on sourdough served with choice of two sides.
NEW Kid’s Turkey Sandwich – Turkey sandwich served with choice of two sides.
Kid’s Uncrustable – Uncrustable served with choice of two sides.
There is Halloween fun for everyone at Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine. While it may look a little different than the last time you visited, what hasn’t changed is our chefs’ scary good food! Minnie’s Halloween Dine offers a three-course meal served at your table where you will be able to wave and snap photos of your favorite characters such as Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, and their friends. Check out this monster of a feast!
Appetizers
Served with Warm Pull-apart Rolls and Butter
Farmhouse Tossed Salad Bowl – Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onion, Cornbread Croutons, and Homemade Smokehouse Ranch Dressing.
Plant-based Chopped Salad – Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onion, Focaccia Croutons, and Plant-based Ranch Dressing.
Entrées
Garlic and Cracked Black Pepper Prime Rib of Beef – Sour Cream-Chive Whipped Potatoes, Fried Brussels Sprouts, and Pearl Onions with Red Wine Jus.
Carved Herb-roasted Turkey Breast – Garlic-Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread Stuffing, Sautéed Green Beans, Turkey Gravy, and Cranberry-Orange Relish.
Macaroni & Cheese with Shrimp – Cavatappi Pasta, Four-Cheese Sauce, Shrimp, Crispy Bacon, and Buttered Panko Crust with Fennel and Arugula.
Seared Fresh Salmon – with Grain Mustard Beurre Blanc Olive Oil-crushed Fingerling Potatoes and Garlic-Lemon Broccolini.
Plant-based Pan-seared King Trumpet Mushrooms – Braised Lentils, Blistered Grape Tomatoes, Mushroom Ragù, Roasted Root Vegetables, and Marsala Mushroom Sauce.
Pork Osso Bucco – with Boursin Cheese Hominy Grits, Caramelized Apples, Lemon Gremolata, and Pork Reduction Gravy.
Desserts (Choose One)
Apple-Blueberry Pie – Baked Apples, Blueberries, Caramel, and Streuse.
Banana Cream Pie – Bananas, Cream, and Caramel Sauce.
Plant-based Cherry-Lemon Pie – Cherries with Lemon Drizzle.
Vanilla Crème Brûlée – Rich Custard with Caramelized Sugar.
Chocolate S’mores Pie – Dark Chocolate Mousse with Toasted Marshmallow Fluff and Graham Cracker Streusel.
Kid’s Menu Create-Your-Own Meal For Guests Ages 9 and Under
Winter is coming and Disney has announced that Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf will reopen to guests beginning Nov. 6 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf offers two uniquely themed 18-hole courses, each with their own distinct musical soundtrack.
As the name suggests, the first course draws inspiration from the winter season, including snow castles and ice hockey rinks. The second course represents all things summer. Guests navigate surf boards, sand sculptures and even a melted snowman.
As Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf reopens next month, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will close for the season on Nov. 5 and reopen on Jan. 31, 2021.
Breakfast is returning at Chef Mickey’s restaurant in Disney’s Contemporary Resort on December 16, and Mickey Mouse and his best pals are bringing some new items to the menu inspired by their favorite dishes.
Along with traditional breakfast favorites, you will be able to try the new Mickey’s “Celebration” Pancake, featuring whipped cream, celebration sprinkles, shimmering pixie dust and more.
For something a bit more savory, we’re adding a new “Loaded” Potato-Cheese Casserole topped with smoked bacon crumbles and chives.
Last but not least, Goofy’s Banana Bread French Toast will combine unique flavors of banana bread baked in zesty orange-scented French toast batter, topped with Espresso-mascarpone cream, toasted bananas and chocolate crumbles.
If you can’t decide on which new item to try, you’ll be able to taste all three as part of an all-you-care-to-eat family style feast with other traditional breakfast favorites.
When Mickey and friends return, the experience may look a little different than the last time you visited, but you can still expect to smile, wave and make unforgettable memories with some of your favorite characters as they parade through the restaurant in their chef’s best.
Reservations for Chef Mickey’s character breakfast will open on October 17, based on availability. In addition, Disney Resort hotel guests can make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay (up to 10 days).
Disney World has laid off thousands this week and one cast member has taken it upon herself to help fellow cast members in need by creating a pantry.
Disney cast member Emily Lartigue created The Cast Member Pantry, which has been set up in a storage unit and is exclusively for Disney workers. It’s stocked with items for ranging from groceries and toiletries to pet food.
“Cast Member Pantry makes it quick and easy to receive free food essentials once a month per Cast Member,” Lartigue says in a post on Facebook as you can see below:
Are you or a fellow cast member you know in need of groceries during this difficult time?
Cast Member Pantry makes it…
“To be able to give back to them and to help out our fellow cast is really special,” said Lartigue, who has been collecting food since March.
Disney workers who want to visit the pantry to pick up food will need to schedule an appointment and can do so by sending an email to castmemberpantry@gmail.com. The pantry is doing appointment times in 15-minute increments to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Even though the pantry is just for Disney workers, others can still help. People have shown their support by donating money and non-perishable food.
The Coca-Cola Store at Disney Springs has a new exclusive collection that blends Coca-Cola and Disney World together in a refreshing new way.
The product developers were inspired by the timeless appeal and youthful optimism both brands represent and the design approach is all about bold simplicity—celebrating the iconic Mickey Mouse icon with the Coca-Cola script logo – where the world’s favorite soft drink meets the happiest place on earth.
You’ll find just about anything you might be looking for in the collection including a wide variety of t-shirts, sweatshirts, drinkware, hats, keychains, and more as you can see below:
From the opening of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, Disney and Coca-Cola began their partnership on Main Street, U.S.A when Coca-Cola sponsored the Refreshment Corner. The partnership continued to expand to Walt Disney World Resort at Magic Kingdom Park with their own Refreshment Corner (now Casey’s Corner). A few years later in 1982, Coca-Cola became the exclusive supplier of carbonated beverages at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and now the partnership has only continued to grow to other Disney Parks around the world.
Fast-forward to 2020 and the Coca-Cola Store at Disney Springs has become a guest-favorite destination and one of my favorite spots on property. If you haven’t stopped in before, this store is a must-stop for any shopper! The building is modeled after a 1920’s bottling plant and is filled with unique branded gear including their eco-conscious 5by20 collection, which includes handcrafted items from female artisans around the world.
You’ll also find merchandise that pays homage to other popular Coca-Cola drinks including Sprite and Fanta just to name a few and even a new line of exclusive Coca-Cola Loungefly bags and wallets.
“For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration,” is returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is a musical show based on Disney’s 2013 animated film Frozen and the songs from the film, located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Shanghai Disneyland Park. It was also formerly hosted at Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Park in Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Beginning Monday, October 5, you can once again join Erik and Aria, the Royal Historians of Arendelle, for their comedic retelling of the unique story of their kingdom, filled with delightful, sing-along moments from Disney’s “Frozen” and special appearances by Anna, Elsa and Kristoff.
Disney said is a blog post that the Frozen Sing-Along “will be the same incredible show guests have loved for the past six years, with some adjustments to staging and audience seating to allow for appropriate physical distancing.”
The show originally premiered at the Premiere Theater in the Streets of America section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the 2014 Frozen Summer Fun on July 5, 2014. The show moved into its current location at the Hyperion Theater in Echo Lake on June 17, 2015, the former home of The American Idol Experience.
Walt Disney World has shared a first look of the upgrades coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and it looks amazing!
That arrival experience is about to take on a whole new look with an enhanced entryway that will debut just in time for the resort hotel’s 50th anniversary.
One of the biggest changes will greet you right up front – a new porte cochere will showcase the iconic mid-20th century architecture the Polynesian is famous for.
The team from Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney World have crafted a design inspired by colors, patterns and textures found throughout the resort. This new entry features a high-pitched, open-truss roof covered in a thatch style. There’s also a bold façade that features pops of color complementing the Longhouses found throughout the resort.
Along the Monorail station, bold new wooden screens will be covered with geometric patterns in bright, tropical colors that complete an exciting new composition that will greet you when you arrive.
Enhancements will also be made to the lush gardens and fountains that have welcomed guests to the resort since opening day.
The open and airy design of the entryway will feature dramatic lighting elements, including beautiful chandeliers inspired by glass floats, fishing nets and oversized bamboo elements. The new chandeliers will match the existing grand chandelier in the resort lobby, artfully bridging interior and exterior spaces.
While work is underway over the coming months, guests can still enjoy access to the Great Ceremonial House and its operating dining and retail outlets.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has been a favorite destination of guests and cast members since its opening on Oct. 1, 1971, this beloved resort hotel immerses you in an oasis straight out of the South Seas with a sense of aloha that embraces you from the moment you arrive.
The new arrival experience is just the beginning of what guests will discover when the resort reopens in summer 2021. All of the resort’s guest rooms are being beautifully redone too.
Disney World scaled back its September hours, but as they prepare for the holiday season they recently revealed they will temporarily expand their hours for the holidays.
During the first five days of December, the Magic Kingdom will open at 9 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Epcot will open at noon and close at 8 in the evening.
According to the Walt Disney World website, the Magic Kingdom will open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m, during the first week of November. The following week, starting on the 8th, it will stay open until 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, Epcot will open at 11 a.m. and close 7 p.m. for the majority of November (last November, Epcot was open from 9 in the morning until 9 in the evening). It will switch to its December hours starting on November 27th.
Hollywood Studios is opening one hour later at 10 a.m. and closing two hours earlier at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Animal Kingdom will be closing at 5 p.m. Both of these parks will have these hours throughout the month of November and into December.
These hours show a change in Disney’s scheduling and marks the first time since the coronavirus pandemic that the Magic Kingdom will not see a reduction in its operating hours from the previous year. Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios will apparently still be running on reduced hours during the first few days of December.
You may be able to make a splash in Disney World this coming spring break as the resort plans to reopen at least on of it’s water parks in March.
“While Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park remain closed at this time, pending government approvals, we currently plan to reopen one of the two Disney water parks on March 7, 2021,” reads a message posted to the Disney World website in an update on the “Know Before You Go” page.
Disney Park acknowledged, however, that this proposed reopening date may be subject to change amid an uncertain future.
“We will continue to monitor the constantly changing environment and its impact on the state of Florida as we find the right time to welcome back even more of our Guests and Cast Members,” officials said.
Disney World shut down in mid-March soon after the coronavirus outbreak was declared a global pandemic and reopened in July at reduced capacity and with enhanced health and safety protocol in the fight against COVID-19.
Disneyland in California remains closed until further notice, however Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested earlier this week that an announcement on the reopening of theme parks in the Golden State was imminent.
