Fantasmic Returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 3rd

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October 19, 2022

Fantasmic Returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on November 3rd

We finally know an opening date for Fantasmic in Hollywood Studios… The big day is November 3rd! Be there as the forces of good and evil battle it out in Mickey’s dream during this extravagant open-air nighttime musical.

Read on for all the Fantasmic Returning details:

Forces of good and evil will once again battle it out in Mickey’s dream as the long-awaited return of Fantasmic! debuts Nov. 3 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. The legendary nighttime spectacular invites guests into Mickey’s imagination for a larger-than-life show painted on a grand canvas of dancing water overflowing with silly and suspenseful surprises.

The elaborate 29-minute nighttime spectacular takes place nightly – a kaleidoscope of entertainment featuring thrilling stunts, dazzling special effects and a rousing score based on classic Disney animated films. Fantasmic! is just one of many new and returning live-entertainment experiences guests can enjoy during the Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary celebration.

“Fantasmic! is a show that will take you on a journey to see so many characters, so many villains and heroes,” says Melanie Gagne, entertainment proprietor for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “It’s one of our biggest shows, and many guests will plan their day or their entire vacation around Fantasmic!

The return of Fantasmic! will include the debut of an all-new sequence that will bring to life heroic moments from Disney stories such as “Moana,” “Mulan,” “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” and “Frozen 2.”

“In bringing Fantasmic! back, we have a brand-new scene that we’re calling our Disney Heroes scene,” says Matthew Hamel, show director for Disney Live Entertainment. “We get to see some new characters introduced to Fantasmic!, and we get to show their stories in a new, unique way utilizing a combination of projections, lasers and new lighting.”

Eye-Catching Visuals, Immersive Storytelling
The show combines live performers with stunning special effects, colorful pyrotechnic explosions, animation and dancing waters synchronized to the melodies of timeless Disney classics.

“It was extremely exciting to take advantage of technological enhancements that didn’t originally exist when the show opened in 1998,” says Katrina Mena Rick, broadcast creative producer for Disney Live Entertainment. “So, we [worked] with other disciplines such as special effects, lighting, lasers and music to ensure that our visual content was as exactly seamless and as beautiful as it could be.”

A Journey Beyond Guests’ Wildest Imaginations
Audiences are transported into a fantastical adventure with Mickey Mouse where his magic creates dancing waters, shooting comets, animated fountains, swirling stars, balls of fire and other amazing wonders. When Disney villains intrude on Mickey’s fantasy and turn his dreams into nightmares, he uses the powers of good to triumph over evil.

“Bringing back Fantasmic! here at Disney’s Hollywood Studios means so much to our guests,” says Mena Rick. “It was a task to not only preserve the legacy of the show but also introduce new characters for the next generation.”

Fantasmic Returning Fast Facts:

Fantasmic! originally opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on October 15, 1998.
The show features animation and characters from more than 25 films.
The moat surrounding the Fantasmic! island stage contains 1.9 million gallons of water.
Maleficent, in dragon form, is the final villain that Mickey Mouse battles, and she stands 40-feet tall.
In addition to Maleficent, 10 other villains appear in the show.
In the finale, Mickey Mouse and 35 other characters appear on a steamboat inspired by the one seen in “Steamboat Willie,”
Located off Sunset Boulevard, the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater seats 6,900 guests with additional standing room for about 3,000 guests.

Tips for Guests
Fantasmic! is performed nightly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests can enter the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater up to 90 minutes prior to the show’s start. Since it is an outdoor venue, the show is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Showtimes are subject to change. Beginning October 26, dining packages for select restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be available for dining beginning November 30, 2022.

Celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Jungle Book with new Photopass Magic shot

By

Sara

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October 19, 2022

Celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Jungle Book with new Photopass Magic Shot

To celebrate the 55th anniversary of Jungle Book, guests can enjoy a new PhotoPass Magic Shot! This special photo op is available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The Jungle Book celebrated its 55th anniversary yesterday, October 18. The film is a classic and was the last film that Walt Disney worked on before he passed in December of 1966.

Guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom can celebrate the film with a special Magic Shot featuring the hypnotic snake, Kaa.

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“Look deep into Kaa’s eyes 👀🐍… and slither over to #AnimalKingdom to celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Jungle Book with our Kaa Magic Shot.”

Will you be heading to Animal Kingdom for this Magic Shot?

If you would like to plan your next magical Disney vacation, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I would love to help you plan a wonderful vacation!

Universal Orlando Accident & Injury Report for 3rd Quarter of 2022

By

Sara

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October 19, 2022

Universal Orlando Accident & Injury Report for 3rd Quarter of 2022

The 3rd quarter Universal Orlando Accident & Injury Report has been released. Every quarter Florida theme parks report any incidents that cause a hospital stay of 24 hours or more. Universal Studios Florida reported five incidents between July and September of this year.

The incidents at Universal Orlando include:

51year-old man had chest pains on Volcano Bay’s Kopiko Wai Winding River attraction
50-year-old man experienced nausea on Poseidon’s Fury at Islands of Adventure
38-year-old woman had neck pain on Jurassic World VelociCoaser
36-year-old man had abdominal pain on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

No incidents were reported at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Legoland.

If you’d like to visit Universal Orlando, 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 wonderful vacation!

Theme Park Reservations Gone for Christmas Day and New Years Eve at the Magic Kingdom

By

Sara

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October 19, 2022

Theme Park Reservations Gone for Christmas Day and New Years Eve at the Magic Kingdom

Guests visiting Walt Disney World this holiday season better make their park pass reservations soon! Theme park reservations are now gone for Christmas Day and New Years Eve at Magic Kingdom.

Christmas Day, December 25, and New Years Eve, December 31, are completely booked for Magic Kingdom. As of publishing this article, Annual Passholders are the only tickets that can book reservations at Magic Kingdom on those days. All other ticket types are fully booked.

There is a possibility that Disney will release more reservations in the coming weeks but there is no guarantee. If you are planning on visiting Walt Disney World this holiday season, you will want to make your park pass reservations as soon as possible!

Contact me today to start planning your Disney World holiday vacation! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.

Menus announced for Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic

By

Sara

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October 19, 2022

Menus announced for Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic

The menus for the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic have been released! The event is taking place Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12. The menu lineup includes creative new dishes, returning festival favorites from the resort’s award-winning food and beverage team and a first taste of the resort’s new upscale restaurant Rosa Mexicano, opening in 2023.

Rosa Mexicano’s featured menu items will include:

Classic guacamole en molcajete with warm tortilla chips and roasted tomato salsa
Pork carnitas de cazuela with habernero-pickled red onions, shaved cabbage, avocado, salsa crudo, tomatillo pico de gallo and corn tortilla chips
Roasted mushroom taco: shitake, cremini, oyster blend, pasilla chile, green apple slaw, sliced avocado, queso fresco, corn tortilla
Chopped cheese alambre taco: certified angus ground beef, bacon, cheese, poblano peppers, tomato, onion, shredded lettuce, ketchup, charred jalapeno mayo, flour tortilla

Other new menu highlights from the hotel’s restaurants and Food & Wine Classic themed areas include:

Compressed late harvest watermelon with spiced labneh, marinated tomatoes, frisee and marinated feta cheese from Cabana
Shu Mein: Shanghai noodle, braised tofu, shiitake mushroom, bamboo, ginkgo nuts, vegan broth from Chinatown
“Plate Lunch:” Huli Huli chicken with steamed white rice and macaroni salad from The Pig & The Poke
Baked ricotta cheese custard with carrot, radish, tomato and pine nut “gremolata” from
Il Mulino
Johnstown “barbeque” chipped ham with secret sauce and soft roll from Fountain

Returning favorites include:

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Tuscan kale, toasted fregola sarda and Spanish caper sauce from the Swan Reserve
Dynamite shrimp with tempura fried crispy seasoned sushi rice, fried shishito pepper and tentsuyu sauce from Todd English’s bluezoo
Hearts of palm ceviche: thinly shaved fresh hearts of palm, citrus, bell pepper, fresh jalapeno pepper, bermuda onion from Hang 10
Roasted Linz heritage black angus beef tenderloin with organic mushrooms, pearl onion and sauce foyot from Shula’s Steak House
Dragon sushi roll from Kimonos

The Swan and Dolphin pastry team will showcase a delectable array of all-new desserts:

Banana split tart with nitro vanilla ice cream
66% dark chocolate tart with basil white chocolate cream, candied lemon zest and fried basil leaf
White peach-red currant melba with almond cake crumbs and peach meringue drops
Pumpkin hazelnut cheesecake with gingered cranberry compote

The event will take place outdoors on the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin causeway and surrounding areas.

The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic offers guests unlimited tastings at 25 food stations featuring culinary selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants and more than 100 beverages amidst a festive backdrop of live entertainment on the hotel’s scenic causeway.

With a variety of restaurants and lounges and a distinguished culinary and beverage team, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin continually earns national recognition for its food and beverage program. The resort boasts numerous certified wine sommeliers and 1,400 wine selections.

If you would like to visit Walt Disney World for the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, a Disney Earmarked agency, my services are complimentary, and I would love to help you plan a magical vacation!

Disney World Accident & Injury Report for 3rd Quarter of 2022

By

Sara

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October 18, 2022

Disney World Accident & Injury Report for 3rd Quarter of 2022

The Disney World accident & injury report for the 3rd quarter of 2022 has been released. Each quarter, Florida theme parks submit an incident report to the state of Florida as part of their regulation process. These reports detail incidents that resulted in hospitalization for 24 hours or longer.

The third quarter of 2022 includes incidents that happened between July and September. There were six reported accident and/or injury incidents in that time period.

In July, a 47-year-old man passed out “after experiencing the green side” of Mission: Space in Epcot.

Last month a 27-year-old woman went into labor after exiting the Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom.

An 83-year-old man was ”briefly unresponsive” on Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in September.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios last month a 59-year-old woman “sustained injury to toes” on Alien Swirling Saucers at Toy Story Land.

The worst incident reported this quarter is an 83-year-old man who died after riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover in Magic Kingdom. The man had a ”cardiac event” and passed out on the attraction. He was taken to Celebration Hospital, where medical staff tried to save his life for 30 minutes, but he sadly passed away.

Have you ever been involved in an accident or injury at Walt Disney world?

Martin Short, Shania Twain and David Alan Grier confirmed for Beauty and The Beast: A 30th Anniversary Special

By

Kevin Koszola

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October 18, 2022

Martin Short, Shania Twain and David Alan Grier are confirmed for ABC’s upcoming special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Anniversary, playing Lumière, Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth, respectively.

Josh Groban, who previously recorded a song for the 2017 “Beauty and the Beast” live-action movie, will play the baneful Beast. Tony- and GRAMMY-nominated acclaimed Broadway star Joshua Henry has been tapped to play antagonist Gaston, while EGOT winner and legend Rita Moreno will serve as the night’s narrator, taking viewers on a journey through the classic enchanted tale. Presented by The Wonderful World of Disney, the highly anticipated two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of “Beauty and the Beast” will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air THURSDAY, DEC. 15 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC and on Disney+ the next day.

As previously announced, five-time GRAMMY- and Academy Award^®-winning singer-songwriter H.E.R. will play the role of Belle, with Jon M. Chu set to executive produce the special, and Hamish Hamilton set to direct. Additional talented cast, whose performances will be seamlessly woven through the original feature film, will be announced at a later date.

Tony, EMMY, and four-time GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist Josh Groban possess one of the most outstanding and instantly recognizable voices in music. Moreover, he continues to captivate fans everywhere as both a powerhouse vocalist and dynamic renaissance man. He has sold over 35 million albums worldwide, headlined legendary venues on multiple continents, and entertained audiences with acclaimed film and television appearances. His catalog spans a series of chart-topping blockbuster albums, including “Josh Groban” (five-time platinum), “Closer” (six-time platinum), “Noël” (six-time platinum), “Awake” (two-time platinum), “Illumination,” “All That Echoes” (gold), “Stages” (gold), his first UK No. 1 album, “Bridges,” and his most recent release, “Harmony.”

This year, 2022, marks the 30th anniversary of when Disney Animation’s “Beauty and the Beast” became the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The film went on to win the Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, while the theme song “Beauty and the Beast” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1992.

“Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” is produced by Done+Dusted in association with Walt Disney Television Alternative and Electric Somewhere. Executive producers are Jon M. Chu, Caitlin Foito, Hamish Hamilton, Raj Kapoor, Richard Kraft, and Katy Mullan. Hamish Hamilton will serve as a director. H.E.R. serves as a producer.

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

Disney News Round-Up: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Reopening, Tusker House going All You Can Eat, Seaworld Announces 7th Coaster, and Mcdonald’s releases Spooky Buckets

By

Greg Gately

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October 18, 2022

Disney-News-Round-Up-16 — Disney News Round-Up

Disney News Round-Up: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Reopening, Tusker House going All You Can Eat, Seaworld Announced 7th Coaster, and Mcdonald’s releases Spooky Buckets. A lot of sit-down restaurant news today from Disney, reopenings, all-you-can-eat coming back, and Kona will finally reopen after refurbishment. Plus, we got to Seaworld for the announcement of their 7th coaster. News, Shopping, and Entertainment all in one place.

Walt Disney World

Disney Shopping

Disney News Round-Up

Outside Disney

Disney Changes the release date for Disenchanted

By

Kevin Koszola

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October 18, 2022

Disney has a new release date for ”Disenchanted.” The movie now premieres on Disney+ November 18th.

The eagerly-anticipated sequel to “Enchanted,” which reunites original cast members Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and James Marsden and also stars Maya Rudolph, Gabriella Baldacchino, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jayma Mays, is directed by Adam Shankman and features new songs from Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. “Disenchanted” begins streaming on November 18, exclusively on Disney+…just in time to brighten up the holiday season.

It has been 15 years since Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city, so they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life. Unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she had hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Maya Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever. Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.

“Disenchanted stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Maya Rudolph, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jayma Mays, Gabriella Baldacchino, with Idina Menzel and James Marsden. Directed by Adam Shankman from a screenplay by Brigitte Hales and a story by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss and Richard LaGravenese, “Disenchanted” is produced by Barry Josephson, Barry Sonnenfeld, and Amy Adams, with Jo Burn, Sunil Perkash, and Adam Shankman serving as executive producers. The movie features songs with music by 8-time Oscar®-winning composer Alan Menken and lyrics by three-time Oscar-winning lyricist Stephen Schwartz, whose work on “Enchanted” garnered three Academy Award® nominations and a score by Alan Menken.

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

83-year-old Guest at Disney World died after riding the PeopleMover in the Magic Kingdom

By

Sara

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October 18, 2022

83-year-old Guest at Disney World died after riding the PeopleMover in the Magic Kingdom

An 83-year-old guest at Disney World died after getting off of the PeopleMover in Magic Kingdom. According to The Orlando Sentinel, the elderly man suffered a ”cardiac event” after passing out while riding the attraction.

The incident happened on September 25, 2022. This is the first death of a guest at a major theme park in the state of Florida since May 2021. In May 2021, a nearly-60-year-old man died after riding Spaceship Earth at EPCOT. He subsequently lost consciousness after exiting the attraction and later died at the hospital.

The 83-year-old gentleman who passed away after riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover was identified as Joseph Masters and had a pre-existing condition that led to the cardiac event.

The most recent death was listed on the State of Florida’s most recent theme park injury report. Every three months, theme parks in Florida that have more than 1,000 employees self-report injuries that take place on parks property and require at least a 24-hour hospital stay.

Joseph Masters was a retired Army National Guard veteran and volunteer firefighter who enjoyed riding motorcycles, spending time with family, and visiting Disney World. He is survived by his wife, two children, and two granddaughters.

You can read the statement issued by his widow here.

Our hearts go out to the family of Joseph Masters who passed away last month.

Twister Sequel in the works with filming to begin next year

By

Kevin Koszola

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October 18, 2022

Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment are planning on making a sequel to ”Twister.”

Twister starred Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton and became a hit earning over $494 million at the worldwide box office. It was directed by Speed director Jan De Bont, executive produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton.

“Twisters” will have viewers chasing the storm again with a screenplay written by “The Revenant” screenwriter Mark L. Smith, according to Universal. Frank Marshall is also set to produce the film, according to Universal, though the film does not yet have a director.

The movie followed Hunt’s character, Dr. Jo Harding, and a team of students preparing to test a new data-gathering device in a powerful tornado. It was lauded for its groundbreaking special effects and inspired a theme-park ride at Universal Studios.

Universal did not give any details on what the sequel would center around, though Deadline reported the sequel will focus on Hunt’s character’s daughter, who has the same storm-chasing bug as her parents.

Industry experts say filming is expected to begin in Spring 2023.

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

Photo Credit: Universal

Dumbo The Flying Elephant Ear Headband From Mickey Mouse The Main Attraction Spotted At Disney World!

By

Ana Leal

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October 18, 2022

Dumbo The Flying Elephant Ear Headband from the Mickey Mouse The Main Attraction Series spotted at Disney World!

The 8th release of the Mickey Mouse The Main Attraction series is inspired in the Fantasyland attraction Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the 1941 animated classic.

This ear headband features silver sequin ears on the front and blue velvet on the back with the Walt Disney World 50 logo embroidered in gold. A ringmaster hat inspired in Timothy Mouse who directs the parade at the classic Dumbo attraction is also featured in the middle with red, blue and gold colors and a big white feather.

We spotted this Dumbo The Flying Ear Headband at The Emporium in Magic Kingdom for $34.99. It is also available on shopDisney so you can order yours now!

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