Disney News

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  • Disney World FastPasses Now Available for June

    Disney World FastPasses Now Available for June

    With no idea when Disney World will finally reopen, many fans are looking for a little magical news and they may have just gotten some. It appears that you can now book Fastpasses for June on the My Disney Experience App.

    If you take a look at the app, guests with a valid park ticket – including Annual Passholders – can select FastPasses 30-days in advance beginning in June. This goes for guests with or without a Disney Resort room reservation.

    Take a look below at the FastPass availability we were able to find:

    There has been no official word from Disney on when they plan to reopen, but a task force referred to as the Orlando County Economic Recovery Task Force, made up of appointed officials, met up virtually last week to develop a preliminary set of guidelines that will be implemented when the parks eventually get the green-light to resume operations.

    Some analysts suggest the the parks may not reopen until Jan. 1, 2021. Stating that, “all aspects of Disney are at risk because of COVID-19, from their movie releases to their theme parks.”

    Again there is no official word from Disney so we’ll just have to wait and see.

  • Disney Closing Down Disney Channel Stations Around the World Due to Disney Plus Success

    Disney Closing Down Disney Channel Stations Around the World Due to Disney Plus Success

    Disney’s streaming service Disney Plus launched in November giving fans a new outlet for their favorite Disney content, but it also left many wondering what the future of the long-running Disney Channel and its subsidiaries, Disney Junior and DisneyXD would be.

    With Disney+ rolling out around the globe, it’s having an impact on the delivery of Disney content and in some countries a number of Disney Channels have closed down.

    According to What’s on Disney Plus, over the past few days several Disney Channels have had to close down due to the success of Disney+:

    • Disney Channel (Italy)
    • Disney Junior (Italy)
    • Disney Channel (Australia)
    • Disney Junior (Australia)
    • Disney XD (Germany)
    • Disney XD (France)
    • Disney XD (Spain)
    • Disney XD+ (UK)

    Disney has been closing down multiple Disney themed channels in different countries, including New Zealand, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Australia and the UK.   Content was also slowly being removed from many video on demand platforms such as Sky and Foxtel, ahead of the Disney+ launch.

    This is one of the big reasons why Disney+ is being offered through set top boxes like Sky Q, to allow traditional satellite and cable viewers to continue to get access to Disney content.

    Children’s TV has been suffering from a massive shift as viewers embracing video on demand, with viewing figures dropping drastically, year on year.  Which is why Disney+ has become so important to the Walt Disney Company.

    As Disney+ continues to pull in more subscribers, its likely more Disney Channels are likely to close.

  • Man Found Camping at Disney World’s Discovery Island During Coronavirus Closure

    Man Found Camping at Disney World’s Discovery Island During Coronavirus Closure

    A man has been charged with trespassing after he was found camping on Walt Disney World’s Discovery Island, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

    Police arrested Richard McGuire, 42, after he was allegedly caught camping out by Disney World security. McGuire told police he was “unaware” that his visit to the abandoned island was trespassing, while describing the island as a “tropical paradise.”

    McGuire is from Mobile, Alabama, according an arrest affidavit. He told authorities that he had gained access to the island on Monday or Tuesday and planned to camp there for about a week. He was later spotted by security and before being detained law enforcement had searched for him using helicopter and boats, as well as on foot.

    Numerous “no trespassing” signs are said to be visible on and near the island. Before he was arrested on Thursday, deputies used a loudspeaker system at the resort to inform him he was trespassing and needed to leave, with no response.

    Discovery Island has been closed to the public since 1999, having been used as a Disney wildlife park for the previous 25 years. However, the company left all of the original buildings on the island, one of which McGuire was believed to have been staying in when he was discovered.

    All Disney parks have been closed indefinitely since March 16 due to public health concerns caused by the pandemic. Although it is unclear when Disney World will be back in business, on Tuesday a Florida task force recently gave the company guidelines to reopen in phases, beginning at 50 percent capacity.

    McGuire was charged with one misdemeanor count of trespassing and banned from Disney properties.

  • Live-Action Hercules in the Works at Disney

    Live-Action Hercules in the Works at Disney

    Disney is once again going from zero to hero with another live-action remake. The studio is in early development of a live-action remake of its 1997 animated movie “Hercules.”

    No director has been attached yet, and casting is still a ways off, but Hercules seems like an obvious choice to join Disney’s ever-growing list of live-action remakes.

    There have also been casting rumors in recent weeks, partially spurred on by Ariana Grande’s performance of the movie’s “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” during The Disney Family Singalong, which engendered a petition on Change.org for her to play Megara, the female lead. Also, Idris Elba and Ryan Gosling’s names have also been floated by enthusiasts.

    Anthony and Joe Russo are producing and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings screenwriter David Callaham tapped to write.

    The original “Hercules” followed the title demigod as a youngster (voiced by Tate Donovan) who has to prove he’s worthy of hanging with the gods on Mount Olympus and runs afoul of the evil fast-talking king of the underworld, Hades (James Woods).

    “Hercules” was Disney’s prime 1997 summer animated toon grossing $99.1M domestic, and over $153M world wide.

  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios Celebrates 31st Birthday amid COVID-19 Closure

    Disney’s Hollywood Studios Celebrates 31st Birthday amid COVID-19 Closure

    Hollywood Studios is celebrating its 31st anniversary today and to celebrate, Walt Disney World President Josh D’Amaro visited the iconic park and made the now-empty space a little louder.

    The Disney Parks Blog posted on its Instagram a video of D’Amaro saying he’s heard from many people asking how it sounds inside the Disney parks, so for just a few minutes, he wanted to share a little music and magic from inside Hollywood Studios with the world on its birthday.

    Take a look at the video below:

    The video ends with D’Amaro saying he can’t wait for the time when he can share the parks with everyone.

    Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened to the public on May 1, 1989, as Disney-MGM Studios.

  • Disney World Receives Social Distancing Guidelines for Reopening Once Coronavirus Crisis Improves

    Disney World Receives Social Distancing Guidelines for Reopening Once Coronavirus Crisis Improves

    The “happiest place on Earth” has been closed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic since early March and now Walt Disney World has been given Social Distancing Guidelines for reopening once Coronavirus Crisis improves.

    A task force referred to as the Orlando County Economic Recovery Task Force, made up of appointed officials, met up virtually on Tuesday to develop a preliminary set of guidelines that will be implemented when the parks eventually get the green-light to resume operations.

    In Phase 1, the parks would be allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity. In Phase 2, operational capacity would be bumped to 75-percent capacity.

    The other guidelines seem to adopt best practices used by grocery stores and essential businesses since the pandemic began spreading.

    Tape markers will encourage social distancing of six feet for park-goers waiting in line for rides.

    Staff will be required to wear face masks and manage the cleanliness of the park by regularly wiping down surfaces and railings used by park-goers.

    Prior to starting their shifts, employees will have their temperatures taken. Anyone who has above 100.4 degrees will be sent home.

    Employees with flu-like symptoms will be encouraged to stay home. Also encouraged to stay home will be visitors who are 65 and older or with pre-existing conditions that put them at a higher risk for contracting the novel virus.

    To ensure everyone’s safety, touch-less hand sanitizing stations will be added to every ride’s entrance and exit, ticketing area, and turnstile.

    Since the pandemic is so unpredictable, it’s hard to establish a time frame for re-opening.

  • Disney Introduces Baby Yoda Cloth Face Masks On ShopDisney

    Disney Introduces Baby Yoda Cloth Face Masks On ShopDisney

    These are the masks you’re looking for! Following the CDC’s recent recommendation to wear cloth face coverings in public settings, Disney is introducing non-medical, reusable cloth face masks featuring favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters.

    In the U.S., they are available for pre-order now on shopDisney.com for $19.99 for a four-pack, and feature a wide range of fan favorite characters, including: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Anna and Elsa, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, The Avengers, the Child – affectionately known as Baby Yoda – and more!

    Take a look at some of the cute designs below:

    • disney face masks
    • disney face masks
    • disney face masks
    • disney face masks
    • disney face masks

    To further help those in need, Disney is donating one million cloth face masks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S., including California and Florida, that will be distributed by MedShare.

    Disney will also donate all profits from the sales in the U.S. of Disney’s cloth face masks to Medshare, up to $1 million, now through September 30, 2020. 

    “Disney’s donations will make a tremendous impact in the communities we serve,” says Charles Redding, CEO and president of MedShare. “Their contribution of one million Disney cloth face masks will be provided to families in underserved communities and organizations working to limit the spread of COVID-19, while their monetary donation will be used to support the medical community’s ongoing efforts to provide lifesaving care to those who need it most.”

  • Disney Introduces Cloth Face Masks with Your Favorite Characters

    Disney Introduces Cloth Face Masks with Your Favorite Characters

    Following the CDC’s recent recommendation to wear cloth face coverings in public settings, Disney is introducing non-medical, reusable cloth face masks featuring favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters in the U.S., available for pre-order now on shopDisney.com. 

    The cloth face masks are available for $19.99 for a four-pack, and feature a wide range of fan favorite characters, including: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Anna and Elsa, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, The Avengers, the Child – affectionately known as Baby Yoda – and more!

    Take a look at some of the cute designs below:

    To further help those in need, Disney is donating one million cloth face masks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S., including California and Florida, that will be distributed by MedShare.

    Disney will also donate all profits from the sales in the U.S. of Disney’s cloth face masks to Medshare, up to $1 million, now through September 30, 2020. 

    “Disney’s donations will make a tremendous impact in the communities we serve,” says Charles Redding, CEO and president of MedShare. “Their contribution of one million Disney cloth face masks will be provided to families in underserved communities and organizations working to limit the spread of COVID-19, while their monetary donation will be used to support the medical community’s ongoing efforts to provide lifesaving care to those who need it most.”

  • ‘The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II’ to Air this Mother’s Day on ABC

    ‘The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II’ to Air this Mother’s Day on ABC

    Earlier this month, millions of people across the United States joined together in spirit and song for ABC’s “The Disney Family Singalong,” and today, Disney announced an enchanting reprise will air this Mother’s Day with even more celebrities bringing Disney magic directly into your home once again.

    ABC will broadcast “The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II” on Sunday, May 10, at 7 p.m. EDT, with Ryan Seacrest returning as host. “Volume II” will feature new star-studded performances, inventive at-home choreography and even more Disney magic.

    The animated Mickey also returns, guiding you through on-screen lyrics so you can follow along in perfect harmony with celebrities performing beloved Disney tunes. The special will then be followed by a new episode of “American Idol,” following in the innovative remote format that debuted this past Sunday when audiences voted for the Top 10 finalists.

    The new singalong special will also continue to raise awareness about Feeding America’s vast network and resources for people across the United States who are finding themselves in unfamiliar circumstances and facing hunger for the first time.

    Performers for “The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II” will be announced soon, and we’ll share the highly anticipated lineup with you as soon as we can. In the meantime, if you’re looking for some more Disney magic, visit DisneyMagicMoments.com to discover entertaining stories, videos and activities from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic.

  • Mickey Mouse Pool Float Ear Headband Making a Splash on shopDisney

    Mickey Mouse Pool Float Ear Headband Making a Splash on shopDisney

    Beaches are reopening at a swift rate in some of the United States’ sun-soaked southern states and whether you are headed straight to the beach or quarantining a little longer, Disney has released new Mickey Mouse Pool Float Ear Headband that are sure to make a splash this summer.

    Sweet fun awaits! Dive into some warm-weather adventure with these fruity pool float Mickey Mouse ears. The translucent green ears will keep your thoughts light as you drift through the Disney Parks.

    Each ear is covered with different kinds of snacks including watewatermelon, bananas, cherries, blueberries, and so much more! The magic is in the details. Take a look below:

    Created especially for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort

    • Inflated pool float ears
    • Allover fruit pattern on translucent green plastic
    • Blue faux leather-covered headband
    • ”Sweet summer” screen text on side
    • Green velour non-slip liner

    If you’re ready to dive head first into the summer fun you can grab these new ears online for $29.99.