Disney World 50th Decorations to be Taken Down from Cinderella Castle this Weekend
The Disney World 50th decorations are going to come down off of Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom this weekend. The “World’s Most Magical Celebration” officially ended yesterday, March 31.
The 50th decorations had already started to be removed from the castle and other spots around Magic Kingdom. Disney has shared that the celebratory embellishments on the castle will be removed in phases starting this weekend.
The new paint job Cinderella Castle received before the celebration officially began is expected to remain. The castle should once again look like in the picture above.
What did you think about the 50th decorations on Cinderella Castle?
Want to experience all Magic Kingdom has to offer? Contact me today to start planning your next visit! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
New Berry Gradient Disneyland Starbucks Tumbler Coming Soon!
A new stunning Berry Gradient Disneyland Starbucks Tumbler is coming to Disney Parks soon! We have a first glance of the Disneyland version and we are in love already, a Walt Disney World version will also be available.
It features a gradient color of purple at the bottom and hot pink at the top, the Starbucks logo on one side and what makes this tumbler different than the other ones is the Disneyland logo in white and gold! Usually the park logo is in the same tone as the rest of the cup, so a great improvement in my opinion.
There is no set release date for this tumbler yet but is expected this year. Keep checking back as we update you with more details!
Toynk is releasing 8 new Geeki Tiki Mugs designs inspired in beloved Disney characters from Lilo & Stitch, The Lion King, The Nightmare Before Christmas and of course Mickey & Minnie!
You can pre-order them now and unlock a 20% off! They will officially release on April 3rd, 2023, so mark your calendars to get your favorite ones, take a look:
These tiki mugs remaster the famous mouse duo of Mickey and Minnie in a fun Polynesian style! They are 7.5 in tall and 6in wide and can hold between 16-17oz. The black and white color makes them look timeless!
Lilo & Stitch make their tiki mug debut with these designs in blue and green with purple and yellow interiors. Stitch is in his Hawaiian outfit and Lilo is ready to play some tunes with her ukelele! They are adorable.
Simba, Timon and Pumbaa are here to remind you to hakuna matata! Their famous catchphrase that is featured on the back of each mug.
They are 8.25in tall and 4.5in wide and can hold 28oz. A must have for sure!
Jack and Sally are also making their tiki mug debut! These spooktacular designs are 8.25in tall and 3.5in wide, they can hold 16oz of your favorite beverage.
New Dole Whip Loungefly Bag Available At Magic Kingdom!
Now you can take with you the most popular treat everywhere you go! A new Dole Whip Loungefly Bag is now available at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom for $75.
The bag looks exactly like a Dole Whip and features floral details all around, the handle is made to look like bamboo and the inside lining is orange with tiki birds and colorful flowers! It also comes with a yellow strap to use it as a crossbody bag.
You can take a closer look at it in our Instagram post:
Take a Trip Outside the Theme Parks to Promenade At Sunset Walk. We had to opportunity to take a tour of all the new shops and restaurants that have become tenants of Sunset Walk here in Kissimmee. Located literally around the corner from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We gotta admit they have done an amazing job filling the space and now it feels like a great place to take the families for meals, and a good place for adults to unwind at night.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these new tenants to our lineup of top-tier restaurants, entertainment experiences, and shopping venues,” Ray Stines, Vice President of Entertainment and Marketing at Promenade Sunset Walk said. “Our ultimate goal is to elevate guests’ experiences through new partnerships, making Promenade at Sunset Walk a one-stop entertainment and dining destination. The debut of these new and exciting venues is great, and we are excited for the future of the property.”
Fat Tuesday, known for its lively atmosphere and festive celebrations, serves up a variety of premium frozen cocktails with unique and delicious flavors like the famous 190 Octane® and Electric Lemonade. With its specialty frozen cocktails and good vibes, Fat Tuesday is set to be a hotspot for locals and visitors alike.
Bringing the tradition and flavor of Brazil to Promenade, BR77 Brazilian Steakhouse offers a delicious all-you-can-eat dining experience, using the finest ingredients sourced from Brazil and the U.S. Featuring prime meats, signature cocktails, and a vibrant ambiance, guests can choose from up to fourteen different cuts of meat served at the grill station on large skewers, including Brazilian favorites like Picanha, beef ribs, filet mignon and more, plus seasonal salads and additional hot plates. Additional menu items include traditional house-made desserts and cocktails.
Take a Trip Outside the Theme Parks to Promenade At Sunset Walk
Looking for healthier options? SoFresh has it all with its “fast-casual fresh” cuisine, from signature hot bowls like the Sriracha Veggie and Teriyaki Stir Fry bowls to unique wraps and quesadillas like the Tulum Quesadilla made with grass-fed steak. Additional items include fresh smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and gluten and dairy-free baked goods. Dishes are filled with delicious superfoods and sustainably sourced ingredients — all served in a lively, welcoming setting, celebrating a fresh-dining lifestyle.
Calling all chicken lovers! Cowboy Chicken, the casual dining destination, specializes in wood-fired rotisserie chicken and homestyle sides in a casual, Western-themed atmosphere. Signature dishes include quarter, half, and whole chicken, slow-roasted over locally-sourced Oak wood and seasoned in Cowboy Chicken’s secret dry rub, accompanied by a variety of homemade sauces for dipping. Additional menu items include savory, handmade side dishes and beverages.
Guests can prioritize self-care at Naples Soap Company, a retail destination best known for their high-quality skin and hair care products that are made with natural and organic ingredients. Founded in Naples, Florida in 2009, this company offers premium products that are formulated to stimulate the senses, soothe the skin and pamper the soul. Best sellers include creamy body butter, exfoliating sea salt scrubs, eco-friendly shampoo bars, luxury bath bombs, and cleansing natural soaps. Shoppers are encouraged to experience these products with hands-on, in-store demonstrations.
For those looking for a high-adrenaline experience, Escapology offers exciting and immersive experiences, where players are locked inside a highly-themed room for 60 minutes, needing to crack codes, solve challenging puzzles and find hidden clues to escape. Rooms available for booking include thrilling murder mystery experiences like Murder on the Orient Express, as players must solve the mystery, discover the killer and stop the train before it’s too late. More family-friendly options include the Scooby Doo and the Spooky Castle Adventure, where guests decipher clues to unveil the monster and ghosts terrorizing the town.
Promenade at Sunset Walk also hosts recurring events throughout the week, including Fired-Up Fridays, The Street Market, Show Car Saturday Nights, and more. Visit sunsetwalk.com to stay up to date with the latest seasonal events and tenant additions, or check @promenadeatsunsetwalk on Instagram, @PromenadeatSW on Twitter, and their Facebook for the latest news.
Thomas Kinkade Studios Showcase Returns to Disney Springs for Limited Time. The Art of Disney is one of our favorite stops during our time at Disney Springs. Now we have even more reason to go.
Artists Allison Ataman, Jenna McMullins, and Joseph Yakovetic will be appearing to meet Guests and sign art pieces. A Thomas Kinkade Representative will also be on hand to showcase the special assortment of art available at the event.
Thomas Kinkade captured the timeless magic of classic Disney stories and their captivating characters through the style of “narrative panoramas.” Each painting tells the entire story of a Disney film in one image, taking inspiration from art, sketches, and other historic documents from the Disney Archives.
Event Details: The Thomas Kinkade Studios Showcase will take place at The Art of Disney from open to close in Disney Springs on the following dates:
March 30 to April 2, 2023
May 25 to 29, 2023
About the Artists
Artist Allison Ataman Allison Ataman grew up on the east coast of Florida––not far from Walt Disney World Resort. As a child, Allison spent her days scribbling with crayons until these images came to life. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Sales/Marketing, and then later pursued her MBA in Information Technology Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. Allison’s family and friends play a significant role in her life, and she couldn’t have gotten to this point without their support. Allison always aspired to fulfill her dream of being an artist and is proud to be a member of the Thomas Kinkade family. She is excited to see her lifelong dream brought to fruition and to see how her relationship with art can grow in the future.
Artist Jenna McMullins Jenna McMullins began her art career in 2017 after graduating with a degree in Design and Illustration. She has designed work for small businesses across the US, and just recently began making officially licensed prints for Lucasfilm Ltd. Her passion for Star Wars and Disney has driven her growth as an artist and continues to inspire her work. Jenna was introduced to Thomas Kinkade’s work in college, and that became her new inspiration, and her dream company to create for. One of her favorite uses of her artistic abilities is to raise money for charities through the sales of her prints.
Artist Joseph Yakovetic Joe has a long history of rich experience as a contributor to the creative content of The Walt Disney Company—from costume and set design to caricaturing and pumpkin carving. In 2006, Joe began a new career as a featured artist for the Disney Galleries. Due to placing shadows and hidden images in his paintings of Disney films and attractions, he was dubbed “The Painter of Shadows,” by Guests. These pieces are highly prized Disney collectibles throughout the world. Joe represents The Walt Disney Company as a sketch artist, performing live sketches of Disney characters for groups all over the world.
On April 1, 2023, a Newly Reimagined Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will reopen. Today we have a first look inside this reimagined restaurant… and YES the Pation is still there with Magic Kingdom Fireworks viewing!
Delight in elegant coastal offerings from land and sea at this waterfront hideaway. Narcoossee’s serves a spectacular, innovative selection of fresh seafood from both local waters and around the globe.
For land-based fare, savor options like Prime New York Strip and the Dry-Aged Pork Ribeye. Or, enjoy the best of both worlds with a surf-and-turf dish that features Filet Mignon and a Butter-Poached Lobster Tail.
And for a perfect ending to any feast, treat yourself to our pastry chef’s sumptuous signature dessert—Almond-Crusted Cheesecake with Lambert Cherry Sauce.
With the new retheming, there is also a new menu. Let’s take a look at some of the new menu items.
This restaurant is a Disney Signature Dining experience offering fine dining with a distinctly magical flair. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in attire that respects the restaurant’s sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Clothing should be clean, neat and in good condition. Please no swimwear.
Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez Created a Full-Fledged Musical for Hulu
The husband and wife duo behind some of the biggest musical hits of all time are creating a brand new musical for television. Up Here, which premiered on March 24, is the latest collaboration for this award-winning Duo. Robert Lopez has achieved two-time EGOT status. Kristen Anderson-Lopez is only a Tony Award away from joining the exclusive group of artists to earn an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Up Here is based on their 2015 theater project, also co-created for HULU, which features eight musical episodes. The show follows Mae Whitman, Carlos Valdes, and a Greek Chorus of voices around New York City. The duo recently sat down with TheaterMania to discuss the significant step in their careers.
Robert Lopez said, “The seed of the idea for the stage show went back a long time to when I really first started in the BMI workshop. I wanted to tell a story about an introvert in New York City like me. That’s when it dawned on me, what if you set a show in the character’s mind, and externalized the internal obstacles? Kristen and I met in the workshop, and she was the one who said to make it a romantic comedy, because when two soulmates collide, they really challenge each other.”
Kristen-Anderson Lopez added, “They say that when you meet your soulmate, it’s not that everything’s going to be great. Actually, a soulmate holds a mirror to the part of yourself that you could grow into, and you can become your best self. There are these things that you want to bring out in each other, like wanting to be better, wanting to learn how to communicate more. That’s why I thought it would be a great way to bring up conflict.”
Up Here on HULU is radically different from the staged version says Robert Lopez. “We chucked everything about the stage show, the characters, the story. There’s a little bit of musical material that overlaps. Some songs have the same music, some have the same hook. And thematically, there’s some similarity, but there’s almost nothing that survived.”
Their work on Up Here has reinvigorated the duo’s love for theater. Kristen Anderson-Lopez added that “working in TV makes me love going to live musicals again, and then working live musicals makes me love going to TV. And we’re very, very lucky that we never get to feel like we’re stuck in one place. We get to keep growing and learning.”
Check out their latest collaboration now on HULU starting March 24th. We look forward to more musical synergy from the dynamic duo in the upcoming future. Have you had a chance to check out Up Here? What do you think of this brand-new show? Share your thoughts in a comment.
The “Buy a Day, Get 2 Days Free on a 2-Park, 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket” affords Florida residents the ability to purchase a 2-Park, 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket and receive an additional 2 ticket days at no additional cost.
The best part? The tickets can be used on non-consecutive days through September 29, 2023, allowing you to stretch the Universal fun throughout the summer season!
This new Florida resident discount is coming at the perfect time since it affords you the ability to check out the all-new Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast that is coming to Universal Orlando Resort this summer. While at the resort, be sure to take a spin on Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Florida’s fastest and tallest launch coaster, before heading over to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter which spans both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida.
Ready to book your next epic vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Universal Orlando vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel who specializes in Universal destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Universal vacation package through me!
Carl Moves on Without Ellie as Up Gets a Sequel Ahead of Pixar’s Elemental
It seems Carl is moving on with his life without Ellie in Disney’s latest short Carl’s Date which will be featured before Pixar’s Elemental movie.
Pixar is paying homage to the late Ed Asner, the iconic voice of Up‘s Carl Fredricksen, in one of his final performances.
Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, the new short finds Carl reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend, but with no idea how dating works these days. Dug steps in to help calm Carl’s pre-date nerves and offers up some “tried-and-true tips for making friends if you’re a dog.”
More than 50 digital artists and animators have been working to bring Happily Ever After to life in a new way
Monday, April 3 is a date for the Disney history books, as it marks the return of Happily Ever After to Magic Kingdom. Fans have been calling for the return of the beloved nighttime fireworks spectacular since it was replaced by Disney Enchantment on October 1, 2021. When Happily Ever After again takes over the sky’s above Magic Kingdom, fans will note a new twist, one that is being brought to life through the hard work of over 50 digital artists and animators.
When Disney Enchantment premiered, it brought with it some new tech: projections down Main Street, U.S.A. that allow guests watching from behind the hub to be immersed in the show. The return of Happily Ever After will incorporate this projection technology, which is where the work of these digital artists and animators comes in.
For Lead Animator Ana Beltran, working on Happily Ever After was truly a family experience, as she was able to work on Happily Ever After alongside her father, who is also an animator. Beltran told Disney Parks Blog “To borrow a term from “Inside Out,” working on this show with my dad will always be a core memory for me.”
Katrina Mena Rick, Creative Producer for the nighttime spectacular, noted the projections will be featured on 25 different buildings along Main Street, U.S.A. in a manner that immerses “you in these beautiful character worlds while ensuring that Cinderella Castle remains the main storyteller throughout the show.”
The addition of the Main Street U.S.A. projections also allowed for new characters to be introduced to the show, including Miguel, Mirabel, Raya, Luca, Rapunzel, Elena, and Meilin. Meilin, from Pixar’s ‘Turning Red,’ was artist J.P. Perez’s favorite character to create, since “seeing her story take place in my generation at that age really makes me connect with her.”
Rather than grabbing a spot in the hub, you may want to consider enjoying Happily Ever After from further back on Main Street to take in these new projections created by Ana, Katrina, J.P, and all of the other digital artists and animators. No matter where you want to watch, be sure to grab a spot early, as the showings of Happily Ever After are certain to be popular for the next few months!
Photos: Disney Parks Blog
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel who specializes in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
Disney Layoffs hit ABC News as Several Top Executives Let Go
ABC News is next on the chopping block as Disney Layoffs are expected to cut around 50 jobs including high-profile senior executives in the first wave of cuts.
“Throughout the company, teams are being impacted by the downsizing that was announced several weeks ago, including our own ABC News family. While these actions are never easy, they are a necessary step to ensure we’re on solid footing for the years ahead as we chart a sustainable, growth-oriented path forward for the entire organization,” Godwin wrote in an internal memo. “While this is a difficult time for all of us — particularly those directly affected by these tough decisions — it’s important to remember that together, we are resilient, and will emerge from this period of transition stronger than before.”
As part of the changes, a number of senior ABC News staffers are leaving the company, including senior vp newsgathering Wendy Fisher; senior vp talent Galen Gordon; vp talent Mary Noonan; vp corporate communications Alison Rudnick; senior executive producer Chris Vlasto; executive editorial producer Heather Riley; and Los Angeles bureau chief David Herndon.
The cuts are a part of the layoffs announced by CEO Bob Iger earlier this week, with a first-round taking place now, and larger round coming in April and a third round before summer begins.
Bob sent an email to employees under the Disney Umbrella detailing the upcoming layoffs. You can read that memo here.
