Closer Look at the CommuniCore Hall Construction in EPCOT. When CommuniCore Hall opens in World Celebration later this year, it will be the center of festival programming throughout the park. We got some updated images of construction, and below you can take a photo tour of the construction site.
This will be home to a new character greeting location called Mickey & Friends. You’ll be able to meet Mickey Mouse and some of his best pals in this colorful space.
CommuniCore Hall will also be the home of a dynamic exhibition space that will transform with each festival throughout the year, as you can see here in one possibility imagined for the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Playing with light, shapes, and reflections, the architecture of this building was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to celebrate the legacy of EPCOT and the original CommuniCore buildings.
New Working Digital Road Signs Now Visible Around Walt Disney World. Traveling through Walt Disney World Resort you can see a ton of road signs all over. There is a huge debate going on over the newest blue-colored signs, and the older purple signs. Now we can add digital signs to the debate.
On Epcot Center Drive we passed under one of the new working digital road signs. You cannot tell in the images very well, but each park has its own background color to make it stand out.
Previously we have seen these types of digital signs placed around Disney World for RunDisney events, but it appears Disney is going to be adding a slew of new digital signs all over the Resort.
First Water Taco Removed from EPCOT‘s Harmonious. My love for Harmonious keeps me from celebrating the removal of the water tacos removal at the World Showcase Lagoon, but I am in the minority on this one.
Others can be heard cheering the removal of the Harmonious barges. I do not need to go into the reasons why, but the majority had complained about the view across the lagoon as a main reason for the dislike of the barges.
The first harmonious barge has been removed as of this morning, and it looks like the others are very close to being removed within the next few days. Cranes are ready to go, and crews are working none stop on the large screens that also acted as fountains.
For now, Epcot Forever is the nighttime spectacular at Epcot, with Disney announcing they are working on a brand new show. Epcot will also be home to the Disney100 celebration.
Commemorating Disney100 at Walt Disney World
EPCOT will host the Disney100 celebration at Walt Disney World Resort to commemorate this monumental milestone later this year. As well as all the new attractions and experiences I’ve mentioned, there will be even more magic.
As we honor the legacy of Disney storytelling and unforgettable characters that have entertained and inspired people of all ages for a century, now is the time to relive those beloved Disney memories and delight in making new memories with friends and family in our theme parks.
Enjoy all-new experiences as we celebrate this momentous anniversary and the culmination of the EPCOT transformation – from meeting Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their platinum attire to snapping a selfie with a platinum sculpture of the one who started it all and watching Spaceship Earth illuminate the evenings with a special lighting design.
Plus, a new nighttime spectacular will debut at EPCOT later this year, inviting everyone to gather around World Showcase Lagoon for a show that will unite us through commonalities of the heart in a dazzling display of fireworks, lasers, music, and light.
Featuring an original composition along with select songs from the Disney songbook, this new spectacular will remind us that we’re more alike than different, connecting our hearts together as one.
Marquee Signage Updated Ahead of the Premiere of Rogers: The Musical Debut
The marquee signage on the Hyperion Theater has been updated to feature the new show coming to Disney California Adventure! Rogers: The Musical will debut this summer.
Rogers: The Musical will debut on June 30, 2023, and run for a limited time at the Hyperion Theater. The marquee now features the logo for the show along with Captain America’s iconic phrase, “I can do this all day”.
Rogers: The Musical will run approximately 30 minutes, from Tuesday through Saturday most weeks. The show will be super powered by music, including “Save the City,” from the Disney+ series “Hawkeye”; “Star Spangled Man” from the film “Captain America: The First Avenger”; plus, five new original songs written just for “Rogers: The Musical” at the Disneyland Resort.
Are you excited for Rogers: The Musical coming to Disney California Adventure?
If you’d like to visit Disneyland to see this new show, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are free, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
The Scripted Television Series Will Be A Faithful Adaptation Of The Beloved Original Harry Potter Books Written By J.K. Rowling
An all-new Harry Potter TV Series is coming to the small screen!
Max is thrilled to announce it has ordered an original “Harry Potter” scripted television series, it was confirmed today during Warner Bros. Discovery’s unveiling of the Max streaming service on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles. The series will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved “Harry Potter” book series by author and executive producer, J.K. Rowling. From Warner Bros. Television, the new Max Original series will be available on Max in (US) and globally once produced.
The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love, and care this global franchise is known for. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of fantastic detail, much-loved characters, and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over twenty-five years. Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.
“We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way,” said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content. “Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World. In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.”
“Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series,” said J.K. Rowling.
Max in association with Brontë Film and TV, and Warner Bros. Television. Executive produced by J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts. David Heyman is currently in talks to executive produce.
These coasters are inspired in Rapunzel, Tiana, Moana and Merida and a great piece to add some magic to girls night! Pair them with your favorite wine and have a fun time!
These cookie cutters are inspired in the beloved characters from The Lion King and a great to use for a themed party or just whenever you want to have a wild time in the kitchen! They are adorable!
Get ready to sip and savor at over 25 Global Marketplaces throughout EPCOT, including returning favorites such as The Fry Basket, Flavors from Fire, Canada, India and Spain. Several new Global Marketplaces will open later during the festival as summer turns to fall.
The fun doesn’t stop with the food, however. It extends to exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy!
Fans of Fromage can take part in Emile’s Fromage Montage, a fun way to try tasty cheese dishes from around the world. Grab your Festival Passport and purchase any five cheese dishes listed in the back of the Festival Passport to collect a stamp. Once you’ve collected five stamps, head to Shimmering Sips hosted by CORKCICLE to redeem a sweet treat unique to the festival.
Families can embark on Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak – a “Ratatouille”-inspired adventure that’s très magnifique! Guests of all ages can search for Remy throughout World Showcase and the Global Marketplaces.
And to celebrate the Halloween season grab your gourd-eous group and partake in Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, a special pumpkin scavenger hunt from September 29 through October 31.
The festival will also welcome back the popular Eat to the Beat Concert Series presented by Florida Blue Medicare at America Gardens Theatre. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details about this year’s lineup.
And don’t forget to commemorate your EPCOT visit by bringing festival magic home with official event merchandise including apparel, home décor, trading pins and more.
Splash Mountain in Disneyland to Close for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the End of May
We have some sad news to report. We finally have the closing date for Splash Mountain in Disneyland. Originally it was reported that Splash Mountain would close at the beginning of May however that news was false.
Today Disney shared details on the closing of Splash Mountain for the retheme to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure builds on the story of Princess Tiana, a character whose pride and perseverance remind us of a universal truth: within us lies the potential to make our dreams come true. This all-new adventure will bring Disney Parks guests into Princess Tiana’s world like never before when the attraction opens in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in 2024.
To make room for this new magic, Splash Mountain at Disneyland will be closed starting May 31st, 2023, so we can begin the next phase of development for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
So guests will have till just after Memorial Day Weekend to experience Splash Mountain before it closes for the retheming of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
New Details Revealed for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure coming to Disney World & Disneyland
This is gonna be good! Disney shared new details for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure that is coming to Disney World & Disneyland in 2024.
The enchantment of the bayou will illuminate with a celebration during Mardi Gras season hosted by Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen. And today, we are thrilled to announce that Mama Odie will reprise her role in this all-new Disney Attraction!
As depicted in this newly released rendering (above), Mama Odie jokes with guests along their journey after a special display of her magic. The two-hundred-year-old Bayou Fairy Godmother, with her eccentric belongings and “seeing eye snake,” Juju, is comically eccentric, yet wise and all-knowing, throughout the adventure. We’re so delighted that legendary actress Jenifer Lewis, who starred as the voice of Mama Odie in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog,” is once again returning to her role for the attraction.
If Mama Odie is a catalyst to the magic, then Sharika Mahdi is a catalyst to the Imagineers’ creations. This New Orleans artist and YAYA Arts Center alumna has inspired our work on the attraction with a local’s perspective. As we bring our attention to Mama Odie and the important role she plays in Tiana’s story, I’d like to share the latest in a four-part series commissioned to Sharika: a tribute to our wise and whimsical keeper of the bayou.
Notice how the long, flowing brush strokes offer visual cues for the floating journey that lies ahead in Tiana’s premier attraction. Along with “The Princess and the Frog” film, our team continues to use Sharika’s latest piece as inspiration for how Mama Odie will appear throughout the attraction. You may see evidence of this in the resemblance of the images above depicting Mama Odie.
Mama Odie joins a cast of friends – familiar and new – in Princess Tiana’s debut attraction. Here’s a sample of what to expect from this musical adventure:
A brand-new cast of original Disney characters with distinct names and personalities
Dozens of entirely new Audio-Animatronics figures
Adorable critters with incredible talent, bringing the diverse flavors of musical gumbo found in New Orleans!
New, original music alongside favorite tunes from the film
Do you love beignets as much as Louis? Well, you’re in luck because the alluring scent of beignets being prepared for the party will be part of the attraction queue!
Additional talent voices from the film reprising their roles, including Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Michael Leon Wooley as Louis, and the one and only Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana
Familiar faces from the film such as Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Mama Odie, Louis, Eudora, Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” the King and Queen of Maldonia and Prince Ralphie
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure builds on the story of Princess Tiana, a character whose pride and perseverance reminds us of a universal truth: within us lies the potential to make our dreams come true. This all-new adventure will bring Disney Parks guests into Princess Tiana’s world like never before when the attraction opens in Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in 2024.
You can get a closer look at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure from the D23 Expo here:
To make room for this new magic, Splash Mountain at Disneyland park will be closed starting May 31, 2023, so we can begin the next phase of development for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
We reported the news back on April 1st that Club Cool in EPCOT was out of all flavors except Beverly. This was no April Fools Joke almost all flavors were gone. Don’t believe me check out the photos in the link below.
Today while visiting EPCOT we decided to drop by Club Cool to see if they were still out of all of the Coca-Cola flavors and low and behold almost all but 2 flavors have returned!
Disney nor Coke mentioned why they were out of all of the flavors for almost a month.
The “Avengers” star stepped out on the red carpet with a slew of family support most notably his 10-year-old daughter Ava at the Los Angeles premiere of his Disney+ original series “Rennervations” at the Regency Village Theatre on April 11th.
Disney+ and Jeremy Renner celebrated his new Original series Rennervations with a red-carpet premiere, FYC panel, and block party reception this evening in Los Angeles. ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Hawkeye’ star walked the red carpet to celebrate the new series produced by Disney Branded Television, streaming tomorrow, April 12th on Disney+.
Joining host and star Jeremy Renner on the carpet were his co-host, business partner and friend Rory Millikin, executive producer Romilda De Luca, executive producer and showrunner Patrick Costello, and members of the building crew featured on the series, including Roxy Molohon and Rob “Bender” Park. Special guests included members of the charities featured in the series, including The Base Chicago,Big Brothers Big Sisters Northern Nevada and Casa Hogar.
The premiere event also featured a “block party” reception which included the mobile recreation center Renner and the team built for Big Brothers Big Sisters Northern Nevada and the mobile music bus built for The Base Chicago in the series.
