Disney News Round-Up: Wine & Dine Merchandise, Elton John on Disney +, Good Burger Sequal, also a New Fantasmic Sign in Hollywood Studios. Plus Blizzard Beach is reopening, Brightline is testing, and Give Kids the World Night of a Million Lights 2022 returns.
Cast in Bronze Returns to Walt Disney World for the Holidays. Disney Springs gets very lively at nighttime with music being played at various stages and locations. It just adds to the overall vibe. You can find a cover band playing the main stage in front of World of Disney, a guitarist over by the AMC 24.
This past week you could find a most unusual instrument and a musician playing West End, a Carillon. The carillon is the largest and heaviest musical instrument in the world. It is defined as an instrument of 23 or more cast bronze bells, played from a keyboard. Cast In Bronze is a touring version, who often is found playing Renaissance Festival, or joining other bands.
Charlie St.Cyr-Paul who is the instrumentalist aka the Carillonneur will be bringing this amazing sound and show back in the coming weeks for a show called “The Bells of Christmas” starting November 11th, 2022, and continuing nightly from 6-10 PM until December 25th.
Fresh Christmas tree smell in the air while decorating your home. Home-made personalized cookies, family gatherings, Macy’s Day Parade, The Rockettes, Ice Skating, classic movies, original holiday specials, opening one present Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass, Hot Chocolate, a Yankee swap, your favorite ski location… …it is now time to add one more tradition that you will never forget. THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS!!!! You will hear some of your favorite classics during this show at Disney Springs.
Once again, Shanghai Disneyland closes its park and offerings due to Covid-19. Starting October 29, the resort began operating with a reduced workforce so employees could comply with COVID-19 pandemic control measures. Then the park announced on October 31 that it was closing.
This is not the first time Shanghai Disneyland has closed or reduced capacity due to Covid. The resort released the following statement regarding its closure:
“In order to follow the requirement of pandemic prevention and control, Shanghai Disney Resort, including Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park will be closed starting Monday, October 31, 2022, with immediate effect. We will notify guests as soon as we have a confirmed date to resume operations.
We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide refund or exchanges for all guests impacted during this period.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!”
There is no set date for when the resort might reopen. Guests with tickets to visit Shanghai Disneyland on and/or from October 31, 2022, may choose to visit the park on any other day within the next six months from the park reopening day.
Will this closure impact your visit to Shanghai Disneyland?
Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Celebrate Halloween
The animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge celebrated Halloween yesterday with some spooky enrichment! The animals got to play with and eat some cute jack-o-lanterns and pumpkins.
If you’d like to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 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!
More dates have sold out for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is returning to Magic Kingdom next week and more dates have sold out! If you are hoping to attend this magical holiday event, you’ll want to get your tickets soon.
This brings the total number of dates sold out to twelve with twelve dates still available. If this event is like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, it is likely to sell out.
The Christmas Party will take place from 7 pm to midnight with guests being able to enter the park as early as 4 pm.
Will you be attending one of the party dates this year?
If you’d like to plan your holiday vacation to Disney World, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are free, and there’s still time to plan your magical vacation!
Nostalgia has been a big influencer in Hollywood for decades, but now we are seeing a surge of titles return that we never thought possible thanks to streaming services making new titles more accessible to fans. One such title is the rumored ‘Good Burger’ sequel starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, which is now confirmed to be in the works by Kenan himself!
While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Thompson shared, “It’s [Good Burger Sequel] closer than it’s ever been. So, I don’t think anything is gonna derail it … We had a reading, like a little private thing just to hear the script that we’ve been working on, out loud — just with a couple friends and a couple people from Paramount and Nickelodeon, and it was so funny.”
The 1997 fan-favorite movie was based on the hit skit series ‘Good Burger’ on Nickelodeon throughout the 90’s. The skits starred Kenan and Kel as Good Burger employees Dexter and Ed, who find themselves in unpredictable mishaps and miscommunications with customers visiting the fictional iconic burger joint. Many of the “customers” in the skits were celebrity cameo appearances. The 1997 film had a similar vibe and an impressive list of cameos including Shaq, Linda Cardellini, Carmen Electra, George Clinton, and more.
It is currently unknown if the ‘Good Burger’ sequel would premiere in theaters or exclusively on Paramount+, the home of Nickelodeon streaming titles. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Company for updates and all things entertainment!
Brightline to begin testing at Higher Speeds to Prepare for Orlando OPENING
Port Canaveral has shared that Brightline is to begin testing at higher speeds in preparation for its opening in Orlando. The testing will take place in Northern Brevard County.
Brightline will continue critical work on its Orlando extension with train testing in Northern Brevard County that will see trains travel up to 79 mph over the next week and increase to 110 mph in early 2023. The work, known as a signal and track cutover, will integrate a new second railroad track into the existing corridor and will take place along a 13-mile section of track, spanning 18 railroad crossings from Sharpes through Cocoa and Rockledge.
Flaggers will be present at all crossings continuously from 6 a.m., Saturday, October 29 through 6 p.m., Saturday, November 5 while the new rail signal system is commissioned and train testing up to 79 mph can be expected along the corridor. Work is expected to bring additional wait times at ALL railroad crossings. Stay off the tracks and never go around crossing gates.
Residents should be alert, follow the law around active railroad tracks and railroad crossings and be aware that once the second track is commissioned, rail traffic could run on BOTH tracks. Failure to follow the law could result in fines, points on your license or loss of life.
Are you looking forward to Brightline coming to Orlando?
If you’d like to plan your next trip to Orlando, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.
Disney Announces $1 Million Multi-year Grant For Disney Future Storytellers Program at Florida A&M University
The Walt Disney Company just announced a $1 million grant to Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC), over the next five years, for the establishment of the Disney Storytellers Fund at FAMU.
The grant is part of the Disney Future Storytellers program, an initiative aimed to increase access to careers in storytelling and innovation for individuals from historically underrepresented or marginalized communities. Over the course of five years, the donation to SJGC will provide the selected students with tuition and housing scholarships, a stipend, specialized programming, mentoring, leadership development and more.
“Across Disney’s iconic brands, we are committed to increasing representation, inclusive storytelling, and opportunity,” said Jennifer Cohen, executive vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, at The Walt Disney Company. “The Disney Storytellers Fund at Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism and Communication will help empower the next generation of Black journalists, news and media executives while also building on the rich legacy of creativity and innovation that the University has cultivated for decades.”
The announcement was made by ABC News President and FAMU alumna Kim Godwin on behalf of Disney during the University’s Homecoming Convocation. Established in 1982, FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary throughout the year.
“Florida A&M University changed my life. I first set foot on campus as a shy 16-year-old girl, but graduated as a confident journalist prepared to tackle the biggest news stories,” said Godwin. “FAMU gave me the tools I needed to get to where I am today, and I am truly grateful. I hope that this donation from The Walt Disney Company will allow the next generation of bold, straightforward journalists to uncover their potential and achieve their dreams too.”
“For 135 years Florida A&M University has been in the business of innovation and transformation through teaching, research, and service. From 2 instructors and 15 students on October 3, 1887, to nearly 10,000 enrolled today, student success continues to be our primary focus. Establishing partnerships that provide support for our students and expose them to the world through internships and employment will ensure that our tradition of “Excellence with Caring” extends well into the future. I am tremendously grateful for this generous gift from the Disney Company and to have them as a key partner with us in changing lives, creating new opportunities, and producing tomorrow’s leaders,” said Dr. Larry Robinson, President, Florida A&M University.
What an amazing way Disney Gives Back to the Disney Future Storyteller Program!
Work Continues to Ramp up in World Nature and World Celebration of Epcot
Work is ongoing in Epcot as the park is reimagined and updated. Walt Disney Imagineering shared an update on World Nature and World Celebration coming to Epcot on Instagram.
Construction has been happening at Epcot turning its two lands into four neighborhoods. What once was Future World and World Showcase is becoming World Showcase, World Discovery, World Nature and World Celebration. Walt Disney Imagineering shared the following update on Instagram recently:
“Work continues to ramp up in the World Nature and World Celebration neighborhoods of EPCOT. Our Imagineers are always looking to add and refine the smallest details when bringing these experiences and spaces to life in our parks. We look forward to the opening of these new areas – including CommuniCore Plaza, CommuniCore Hall, and Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana – to guests in Late 2023!”
First Look at Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Merchandise
The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is just a few days away! The event takes place at Walt Disney World from November 3 through 6 and we’ve got a first look at the merchandise attendees can purchase.
You’ll want to be sure to commemorate your accomplishments with official event weekend merchandise and today we are sharing a sneak peek at just a few of the offerings coming to the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo! Take a look:
We’re strumming up excitement for this year’s event merchandise collection which melodically showcases the Disney characters from each race in a variety of logo performance apparel and “I Did It!” Finisher products, including shirts in multiple styles and jackets.
Whether you’re taking on 3.1 or 19.3 delicious miles, runner’s participating in the weekend events will find something worth taking home. Other exciting products include commemorative pins and pin sets, race weekend-themed drinkware and so much more!
Be sure to finish your race day look with a perfectly paired set of Shokz! As Disney’s official race weekend sponsor, Shokz is an open-ear bone conduction headphone company on a mission to make listening to your audio safer.
Be on the lookout for these commemorative items and more during the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. All guests are invited to attend during the following dates and times:
Thursday, November 3, 2022: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, November 4, 2022: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 5, 2022: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
New for this year, rather than waiting in a standby line, you can access the first day of the runDisney Merchandise Shop from the comfort of your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel or home by joining our virtual queue! Keep in mind, the virtual queue will be the only way to access the shop on the first day of the Expo.
Will you be attending the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend?
If you’d like to plan your next Disney World vacation, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation!
Disney News Round-Up: Opening Day Team for Tron, Iron Man comes to Disney Springs, Fuzzy Merchandise, 2022 Holidays on ABC Television. Plus Lands announced for Tokyo DIsney, and Breakfast with Santa at Marie & Enzo’s.
Festival of Trees Orlando Tickets are Now on Sale. There is something magical about the Holiday season in Orlando, but if you combine it with the Orlando Museum of Art, the whole season becomes even more so. The Council of 101 was founded in 1965 to financially support the Orlando Museum of Art and to encourage the cultural development and education of the visual arts in Central Florida, and they are bringing back this new Holiday Tradition to Central Florida.
Strolling through the museum gallery, guests will be transported to a time of old-fashioned holiday gatherings. Elegance will be on full display while guests truly embrace the reason for the season. Gifts of the Season celebrates the gifts of time, talent, and heart from the Central Florida community.
During the Festival of Trees, visitors can see more than 50 designer-inspired decorated trees, all available for purchase, exceptional gingerbread houses, wreaths, and more. In addition, there will be a holiday shopping experience, pop-up shops, and live entertainment.
Festival of Trees Orlando
A variety of special events, including the Opening Night Gala and Tree Lighting, Breakfast with Santa, and a children’s Reindeer Romp party will add a special holiday touch to this year’s Festival of Trees.
