Universal Theme Parks See Record Highs in 3rd Quarter of 2022

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October 28, 2022

Universal Theme Parks See Record Highs in 3rd Quarter of 2022

Universal Theme Parks have set a record high for a third quarter with an 88.6% increase in the 3rd quarter of 2022! Universal Parks & Resorts performed extremely well last quarter due to growth at each of the theme parks.

Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood have both seen attendance and guest spending increasing year-over-year. Revenue from the theme parks has increased by 42.4%.

Comcast and NBCUniversal have seen no negative impact on the parks despite an uncertain economy. It appears investments the company made during the pandemic are paying off.

The overseas Universal parks had a strong quarter as well. Universal Beijing had its first profitable quarter since opening in September 2021 and Universal Japan is continuing to rebound from the pandemic.

If you’d like to visit one of the Universal theme parks, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan an epic vacation!

New Tiger debuts at Maharajah Jungle Trek in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

By

Sara

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October 28, 2022

New Tiger debuts at Maharajah Jungle Trek in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

A new tiger has debuted at the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Meet Conrad, the newest Sumatran tiger at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.

Dr. Mark Penning shared the following on Instagram:

“Introducing … Conrad, the “paw-some” new addition to Maharajah Jungle Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park!

🐯 Conrad came to us through a @Zoos_Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendation, which helps sustain healthy populations in managed care, including critically endangered Sumatran tigers like Conrad.

Pounce on the opportunity to see this cool cat right “meow” on Maharajah Jungle Trek! 🐾🐅”

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A post shared by Dr. Mark Penning (@drmarkatdisney)

Home Away From Home
Disney animal care experts have brought the magic of the rainforest to life—creating a natural and stimulating environment for our tigers.
Here’s a glimpse inside the life of a tiger at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park:

A Natural Setting: The tiger habitat features hills, pools, fountains, trees and logs that provide natural opportunities for the animals to communicate, rest, hide and explore.

Veterinary Care and Animal Training: Following a hand signal or verbal cue from an animal care expert, tigers present their tails and paws for a daily check-up, or position themselves for an ultrasound or blood draw.

Animal Enrichment: Enriching items are placed in the tiger habitat—like perfume-scented items and sacks filled with meat—to encourage natural behaviors like foraging, stalking, running and scent-marking.

Disney Conservation: Saving Tigers
Tiger populations have suffered a rapid decline due to habitat loss, reduction in large prey and increased poaching.

The Walt Disney Company is committed to saving wildlife and protecting the magic of nature together as a global community. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has supported nonprofit organizations working to protect tiger habitats, reduce poaching and collaborate with communities to encourage human-wildlife coexistence.

If you’d like to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see the new tiger, 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 alters showtimes for Fantasmic through 2023

By

Sara

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October 28, 2022

Disney alters showtimes for Fantasmic through 2023

Fantasmic is returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 3! The showtimes for Fantasmic have been altered for some upcoming performances, however.

From November 3 through 7 Fantasmic will be performed at 8 pm and 9:30 pm each night. From November 8 through 13, it will only be performed at 8 pm each night.

Previously, Fantasmic was going to perform at 9 pm November 14-16 but now it will perform at 8 pm those nights. Showtimes for November 17 through December 3 and December 5 through 25 are listed as 9 pm. For unknown reasons, Fantasmic will perform at 8 pm on December 4.

The nighttime spectacular will then switch back to an 8 pm performance from December 26 through January 6, 2023.

Do any of the showtimes for Fantasmic fit into your upcoming Disney World trip?

If you’d like to visit Disney World and experience Fantasmic, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.

Availability for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Wide Open for 2023

By

Sara

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October 27, 2022

Availability for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Wide Open for 2023

Availability for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is wide open for 2023! Demand for the new immersive Star Wars experience seems to have stalled a bit. Many dates are still open in 2022 and no dates are sold out in 2023.

Reservations for most of 2023 opened in August and as of now, all voyages are still available through September.

For 2022, the remaining dates in October still have availability along with 10 dates in November and some in December. The last two weeks of December are pretty full, however.

October, November, and December 2023 are not yet open for bookings. Stay tuned if you are hoping to visit during those months.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a revolutionary new 2-night experience where you are the hero. You and your group will embark on a first-of-its-kind Star Wars adventure that’s your own. It’s the most immersive Star Wars story ever created—one where you live a bespoke experience and journey further into a Star Wars adventure than you ever dreamed possible.

This Star Wars experience does come with a hefty price tag with trips starting at $4,809 for two guests for a standard cabin. We aren’t certain why availability for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is so open but that price could be a factor.

Are you interested in taking a trip on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser?

If you’d like to check out the Galactic Starcruiser, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.

James Gunn Done with Disney Takes on New Role at DC Studios

By

Kevin Koszola

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October 27, 2022

James Gunn and Peter Safran will be the next co-heads of Warner Bros. Discovery’s DC Comics film and TV unit. This signals a huge change for James Gunn as he exits Marvel to focus on DC Comics characters in film.

In his new role, Gunn is exclusive to Warner Bros Discovery/DC. No more Marvel. He can only direct TV series and movies for Warner Discovery/DC.

James Gunn actually came to Warner Bros. and DC as a result of Disney firing him over raunchy tweets a few years ago. However, Gunn was eventually brought back to Disney and Marvel, said to be thanks to Kevin Feige and the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy.

Zaslav has been looking for someone to steady the ship at the DC film division, home to superheroes such as Wonder Woman and Superman, as Warner Bros. Discovery aims to capture the kind of consistent success enjoyed by Marvel Studios.

Both Gunn and Safran have experience with the superhero genre and have brought heroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe to the big and small screens, including “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “The Suicide Squad” and “Peacemaker.”

“DC has among the most entertaining, powerful, and iconic characters in the world and I am thrilled to have the singular and complementary talents of James and Peter joining our world-class team and overseeing the creative direction of the storied DC Universe,” Zaslav said in a statement Tuesday.

The pair will be responsible for the creative direction of the franchise across film, television and animation.

As far his remaining Marvel projects go, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is releasing on November 25th while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters next May. Both of the first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies are now streaming on Disney+.

Come back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!

Photo Credit: Marvel Studios

Anne Hathaway Really Wants Princess Diaries 3 to Happen

By

Kevin Koszola

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October 27, 2022

Anne Hathaway, who plays the Queen of Genovia in the “Princess Diaries” franchise, says that she is still on board to make a third movie.

The actress recently sat down with ET’s Rachel Smith to discuss her upcoming movie, Armageddon Time, but also took a moment to speak about the possibility of making a Princess Diaries 3 and the chance to work with the “magnificent” Julie Andrews once again.

“I would more than entertain it, I’m pulling for it,” Hathaway shared. “If there’s any way to get Julie Andrews involved, I think we would make it work. We would go to where she was and put a green screen behind her and just make it happen.”

Back in 2019, reports indicated that the script for a third Princess Diaries movie was written, and was dependent on Hathaway and Andrews returning. However, in an interview earlier this year, Andrews hinted that she would be hesitant about the idea, especially following the 2016 passing of franchise director Garry Marshall.

But, there are many novels left to adapt, and Mia’s story is unfinished, since viewers have barely gotten a chance to see her in action as a legitimate, independent ruler. If Hathaway does manage to get Andrews on board, viewers may finally get to revisit the fictional kingdom of Genovia.

Would you like to see a third movie in the Princess Diaries franchise? Let us know in the comments!

Come back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!

Tim Allen Returns as Santa in the Disney+ sequel series ‘The Santa Clauses’

By

Kevin Koszola

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October 27, 2022

Disney+ debuted a new trailer for the upcoming Original series “The Santa Clauses.” The first two episodes of the six-episode series will premiere Wednesday, November 16, exclusively on Disney+.

Scott Calvin is back! After being Santa Claus for nearly thirty years, he’s as jolly as ever. But as Christmas declines in popularity, so does his Santa magic. Scott struggles to keep up with the demands of the job, as well as being there for his family. Upon discovering there is a way to retire from his post, Scott considers stepping down as Santa Claus and finding a worthy successor so that he can become a better father and husband.

You can watch the new teaser trailer in the link below!

The series stars Tim Allen as Scott Calvin/Santa Claus, Elizabeth Mitchell as Carol/Mrs. Claus, Elizabeth Allen-Dick as Sandra, Devin Bright as Noel, Austin Kane as Cal, Matilda Lawler as Betty, Rupali Redd as Grace and Kal Penn as Simon Choksi.

Award-winning Jack Burditt (“30 Rock,” “Modern Family,” “Frasier,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) is the executive producer and showrunner and Tim Allen, in addition to starring, Kevin Hench (“Last Man Standing”), Richard Baker and Rick Messina will also serve as executive producers along with Jason Winer and Jon Radler for Small Dog Picture Company.

Come back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!

More Concrete work being done on Tron Lightcycle Run in the Magic Kingdom

By

Greg Gately

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October 27, 2022

More Concrete work being done on Tron Lightcycle Run in the Magic Kingdom. We have been reporting on a lot of construction work going on over at the Disney World Parks lately. Like the Walt Disney World Railroad, or Moana Journey of Water. Most are coming down to the final days, and it is getting exciting. One of the projects that are wrapping up is Tron Lightcycle/ Run in the Magic Kingdom.

Crews have been adding landscape touches, like trees and shrubbery. They are diligently working on finishing the concrete now that will lead guests into the entrance of Disney’s newest coaster. With the main walkway done, crews are pouring the last of the walkways leading around the backside of the ride. Furthermore, they are working on the pathways leading to Tomorrowland Power & Light Co, along with the walkways over the Train tracks.

LIMIT: NOT FOUND_

Lean forward into the ultimate race of survival! Leave the real world behind and join Team Blue in an epic quest across the Grid—the dark, computerized world with no horizons from TRON. Here, there’s no limit to the excitement.

Climb aboard your very own Lightcycle and take off on a high-speed adventure, racing against the Grid’s most menacing Programs. Surge past your fierce opponents as you attempt to cross through 8 Energy Gates and secure your team’s victory—so you can survive to race another day.

Scheduled to open in Spring 2023, TRON Lightcycle / Run will be one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park in the world.

Tron Lightcycle Run in the Magic Kingdom

First Holiday Decorations show up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By

Greg Gately

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October 27, 2022

First Holiday Decorations show up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Well, it is about that time that you will start seeing a lot of articles about Disney Holiday decorations. We are here for it all, being that it is our favorite time of year at the Walt Disney World Resort. The best part about this article though is that it is the first one of the year!

Hollywood Studios is normally the first holiday decorations we see get put up, and this year is no different. Sunset Boulevard always gets the Stars hung up on the poles, and that is our first sign that the Holiday Season has descended upon us down here. This year Disney is a week later than normal, by this time in years past we have already seen these up and the giant tree in Echo Lake.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Embark on yuletide adventures and create memories you’ll cherish all season long. You’ll encounter all sorts of holiday touches during the 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort.

Highlights include:

Sunset Seasons Greetings – Gaze in wonder as the Hollywood Tower Hotel is transformed nightly by holiday projections, alternating with the Beacon of Magic.
Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood & Vine – Don’t miss Minnie’s merry mealtime at this popular restaurant. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Santa Claus Motorcade – Catch the Santa Claus Merry Motorcade, where old St. Nick will travel up Hollywood Blvd. in his candy-apple red convertible, packed with a sack of presents!
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration – Look forward to an unforgettable holiday finale featuring everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf.
Dazzling Holiday Décor – Discover seasonal style at every turn—including special holiday touches in Toy Story Land.

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First Holiday Decorations

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Video: Testing is underway for the Walt Disney World Railroad

By

Chip

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October 27, 2022

Testing is underway for the Walt Disney World Railroad

While no official reopening date has been announced YET… The Walt Disney World Railroad testing is underway at the Magic Kingdom.

Disney just released the following teaser video to help stoke the fire… Get it? lol

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A post shared by Disney Parks (@disneyparks)

Earlier this week the Walt Disney World Railroad was spotted on video both inside & outside of the Magic Kingdom. Click here to check it out.

Railroad fans around the globe are patiently waiting for the official announcement of the return of the Walt Disney World Railroad.

What we do know is that the Disney World Railroad Tracks are Now Complete at Tron Lightcycle Run, and back in July Disney Cast Members began Walt Disney World Railroad Training.

The Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed for refurbishment since December 2018,

Stay tuned to Chip and Company for more details as we get them!

New Fuzzy Zootopia Loungefly Backpack Spotted At Walt Disney World!

By

Ana Leal

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October 27, 2022

New Fuzzy Zootopia Loungefly Backpack Spotted At Walt Disney World!

Add a wildly fun touch to your style with this fuzzy Zootopia Loungefly backpack we spotted at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom for $85! It looks super cute and cozy, perfect for this fall and winter.

The backpack features an off white soft sherpa fabric with patches of Judy Hopps, a carrot and the ZPD police batch on the top part and Nick Wilde and his tie patches at the bottom.

It also features a front pocket compartment with silver hardware and orange details.

On the sides we can see Priscilla and Flash patches as well, super cute!

The back features an orange/brown faux leather material and artwork with a quote reminding us to “Take It Easy”! This backpack is cute, unique and a great addition to your collection for sure.

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Festive BaubleBar Disney Holiday Collection Available On ShopDisney!

By

Ana Leal

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October 27, 2022

Festive BaubleBar Disney Holiday Collection Available On ShopDisney!

Get ready for the holiday season in style with this new festive Disney collection by BaubleBar! it features earrings, a bracelet and an adorable bag charm to carry with you everywhere you go.

So start making your Christmas wishlist or treat yourself to some of these gorgeous BaubleBar Disney holiday collection pieces available now! You won’t regret it.

MICKEY AND MINNIE MOUSE HOLIDAY EARRINGS

How adorable are Mickey and Minnie in these earrings featuring them dressed in their holiday outfits with encrusted sparkling rhinestones dangling from red and white hearts!

CHIP AND DALE HOLIDAY EARRINGS

Chip and Dale are happy to dress up your ears this holiday season! This pair features our favorite nutty duo with red and green hats and rhinestones details. Super cute!

DONALD AND DAISY DUCK HOLIDAY EARRINGS

Daisy and Donald are ready to join you this holiday season! They are all dressed up for Christmas and even brought some nice presents. The top part of the earrings feature gold hoops with encrusted white rhinestones giving this pair a fancy touch.

DISNEY HOLIDAY EARRING SET

If you prefer a more subtle touch of Disney magic this holiday season, this earring set is perfect for you! It comes with 3 pairs of earrings featuring Christmas wreaths, Disney castle and Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies, a must have for sure.

MICKEY AND MINNIE MOUSE HOLIDAY CHARM BRACELET

If earrings are not your thing, what about this bracelet? It comes with five charms of a Mickey Mouse gingerbread cookie, candy cane, Mickey shaped popsicle with a Santa hat, a Disney castle and Minnie Mouse. A great piece to add a festive touch to your outfits!

MICKEY MOUSE PEPPERMINT TWIST BAG CHARM

Mickey is bringing a refreshing twist to the holidays with this bag charm featuring articulated arms and legs, bold red and white diagonal stripes and a goldtone clip to attach him to your bag!

Happy Holidays!

Credit: shopDisney