Disney Welcomes the Birth of Rare African Antelope
Disney has just welcomed the birth of a rare African antelope at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The exciting news was shared this morning by Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President, Disney’s Animals, Science & Environment.
With a gentle, golden sunrise in the distance, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge welcomed the birth of a rare species of African antelope during the early morning hours on Sunday. Arriving a little earlier than expected, addax Lavender just gave birth to her second calf. And what better way to inspire our guests and cast than the magic of nature and the miracle of birth!
Mom and calf are doing well and resting safely together under a shaded and protected canopy under the watchful eyes of our dedicated veterinarians and animal keepers. The pair are nuzzling, nursing, and bonding and the calf join four other addaxes at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Guests staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge got to experience the wonder of nature firsthand and see some of the special moments leading up to the calf’s delivery.
Once widespread across North Africa, the critically endangered addax population has been severely reduced due to overhunting and long periods of drought. The birth comes as a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) cooperatively managed Species Survival Plan with Disney.
New York’s White Rabbit Dessert Experience plans new location near Disney World
New York’s White Rabbit Dessert Experience is opening two new locations in Florida. One of the locations will open in Spring 2023 near Walt Disney World. The location will be at Disney’s Flamingo Crossings.
The White Rabbit Dessert Experience is a family-friendly dining experience. The menu offers delicious options like Crepes & Waffles with Ice Cream, Cake with Ice Cream, Banana Splits, Milkshakes & Smoothies and so much more.
White Rabbit drink options include an Espresso Bar with Heavenly Hot Chocolate, Nutella Hot Chocolate, House Blend Coffee, Americanos and Espressos. There are also gluten-free options like Flourless Chocolate Cake and Gluten Free Waffles.
If you’d like to visit this new location when it opens next spring, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.
Sneak Peek at Boulder Ridge Refurbished Villa Design
A refurbishment is underway on the Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Disney Files Magazine has shared a sneak peek at the newly refurbished design.
The 1- and 2-bedroom villas have new Innova pull-down sofabeds along with a brightly colored area rug, curtains and artwork. Fake travel posters can be seen above the dining table. They are for places like “Whispering Canyon,” “Lake Elias,” and “Big Basin.”
The wilderness motif can be seen throughout the villas. The design continues in the master bedroom with a custom wallpaper, drapes, and a colorful throw pillow. There is an updated tub in the master bathroom with a mural displaying Mickey and Minnie Mouse paddling in a canoe.
Deluxe Studio villas also have new pull-down beds and artwork. Another pull-down bed is beneath the flat-screen TV, as an extension of a new storage unit.
If you’d like to plan your next visit to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel and my services are complimentary.
Disney shifts booking window for South Pacific & Hawai’i Cruise Line Sailings
Due to operational impacts from Hurricane Ian, Disney Cruise Line has shifted early booking dates for cruises through the South Pacific or around the islands of Hawai’i to Oct. 10 – 13, 2022. This allows teams to focus on assisting guests who are scheduled to sail soon.
Disney Cruise Line will continue to offer early bookings for the most loyal Disney fans before opening to all guests on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. The new early booking dates for these South Pacific & Hawaii sailings are:
Monday, Oct. 10, 2022: Platinum Castaway Club Members & Golden Oak Members
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022: Gold Castaway Club Members
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022: Silver Castaway Club Members, eligible Disney Vacation Club Members and Adventure Insiders
Disney Cruise Line is bringing the magic of a Disney vacation to families and fans in Australia and New Zealand during limited-time “Disney Magic at Sea” cruises that immerse guests in Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars stories beginning in late October 2023.
Repositioning cruises for the Disney Wonder will be the first South Pacific voyages for Disney Cruise Line, giving guests the chance to experience destinations like Fiji and Samoa.
The Disney Wonder will embark on these “Disney Magic at Sea” cruises through Feb. 2024, ranging from two to six nights and departing from four home ports: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia; and Auckland, New Zealand.
If you’d like to sail on one of these amazing South Pacific cruises, contact me today! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan your next cruise!
Disney News Round-up: Test Track Canopy Missing, Spaceship Earth 40th Anniversary Beacon, Idina Menzel She-Hulks up, More Vans Spotted at Disney World. Even though it was a slow day here at Disney World, which was nice after all the craziness the day prior for Epcot’s 40th Anniversary, the news never stops. Check out all the articles you may have missed.
New Halloween Shopping Bags spotted in Disney World. We were over at the parks on October 1st, 2022 celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Epcot, and spotted the new Disney Halloween bag for sale. We have heard that the bag is now available around the Walt Disney World Resorts and Disney Springs.
The bag is reusable and can be purchased at any checkout counter.
As you’ll see depicted in this artist’s concept rendering, Mickey and Minnie are ready to go trick or treating! They, along with their pals, are currently busy sewing, crafting, and painting these charming, “homemade” looks that they all will be wearing for Halloween. Aren’t they cute? Can’t wait to show you what the other characters will be wearing, too!
Final Future World Sign Replaced in Epcot. On October 1st, 2021, the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resorts, and the 39th Birthday of Epcot, Disney changed Future World forever, or more specifically, removed the name. Changing the name of the front section of the Theme Park, from Future World to the new three neighborhood names, in an effort to unify the park.
So on October 1st, 2021, World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature joined the already named World Showcase. Bringing harmony to the Epcot gods (I guess), or at least to the Imagineering team who dreamed it up.
We have reported in the past of signs being removed from the Park that had anything to do with Future World, and now we can report on the last vestiges of Future World. The last sign has been removed. The last sign was at the exit of the Finding Nemo ride in The Seas building. The sign was in the air leading from the aquarium area, into the gift shop.
The new sign leads guests to “Exit to World Nature”
Once your underwater adventure ends, encounter an ocean of fun at SeaBase. Get up close to clown fish, sharks and more in the massive 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium they call home.
Fun “fins-on” activities teach your guppies about marine biology, sharks, and more.
Eagle-eyed fans were curious to see Mary Sanderson’s iconic crooked smile switched sides in the sequel film, but actress Kathy Najimy explained the change in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“It’s on the other side mainly because it’s so hard for me to do it on the side I did it on 30 years ago.” Najimy continued, “We can justify it because there’s a scene at the beginning where Winnie slaps me, and my mouth goes to the other side, and then she slaps me again, and it goes to the other side and sticks.”
Did you notice the change or is this the first time you are noticing it? What other changes did you notice about The Sanderson Sisters in ‘Hocus Pocus 2’? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Company for updates and all things Disney!
The ‘She-Hulk’ filter turning users green has been going viral on TikTok, and newly inducted Disney Legend Idina Menzel used the filter tto give an impromtu performance form the hit musical ‘Wicked’ which Idina starred in as Elphaba and won a Tony Award for her performance. Check out the viral video below:
Elphaba isn’t the only character reference being made with the She-Hulk filter. Though many TikTok users are checking to see if they look like She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters with the filter some have noted they look like Fiona from Shrek while Halloween and TTRPG fans are using it to make themselves look like Orcs, Goblins, and Zombies!
Have you used the She-Hulk filter yet? We would love to see your photos in the comments. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Company for updates and all things entertainment!
The Lion King, called by the Associated Press, “the top ticket of all time,“ will kick off its 25th anniversary celebration this November. While two Broadway juggernauts have previously reached this milestone, The Lion King marks several historic firsts.
Never before has a show in its 25th year been playing in so many productions around the world simultaneously and placed in the Top 5 grossing Broadway shows this long – nearly 1,300 consecutive weeks and counting. Currently, 115,000 people enjoy the show in nine productions on three continents every week. There have been 28 productions over the life of the show, seen by a staggering 110 million people. That is more than the combined populations of Canada, Greece, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, and Australia.
The Broadway production opened on November 13, 1997, and has played through four NYC Mayoral administrations, five presidential administrations, and 11 Olympics.
Director, costume designer, and mask co-designer Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony Award® for Best Director of a Musical, remains actively involved in the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production.
Composer Lebo M and the Tony-winning choreographer Garth Fagan hold their own Broadway records; with The Lion King at over 9,700 main stem performances, they are the longest-running Black composer and choreographer in Broadway history.
Extraordinarily, many of the artists and craftspeople who launched the show remain an integral part of it. Lindiwe Dlamini has performed in the show since its first pre-Broadway preview in Minneapolis in the summer of 1997. Seven musicians have been in the orchestra pit since its Broadway opening, including Karl Jurman, who has been musical director since 2005. All told, 16 original staff members continue their vital work onstage and off.
Approaching 25 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues to ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), The Lion King has made theatrical history with two productions worldwide running 15 or more years and two others running 20 or more years.
Performed over its lifetime in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese), there are currently nine productions of The Lion King around the world: Broadway, London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, on tour across North America and the U.K. & Ireland, with a separate production touring internationally. The Lion King has played over 100 cities in 21 countries on every continent except Antarctica; its worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.
The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan), and Best Direction of a Musical. The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year, and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.
The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer; and music from “Rhythm of the Pride Lands,” an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to Lebo M’s rich choral numbers.
Elton John, Lebo M, and Hans Zimmer all collaborated on the 2019 version of the film, executive produced by Julie Taymor and Thomas Schumacher, which has gone on to extraordinary worldwide success.
The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated The Lion King feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), Anthony Lyn(associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Lisa Dawn Cave (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as co-producer.
Congratulations to the casts of The Lion King on this extraordinary milestone and anniversary! Be sure to check back here at Chip and Company for updates and all things Disney on Broadway!
We recently found more items from the Disney Vans Collection at Walt Disney World!
This time there were t-shirts, sweatshirts, bags, hats and a few pairs left of the popular Vans sneakers. So if you are looking for this collection, head over to the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs to get yours.
Our favorite thing we spotted was this t-shirt with the retro Walt Disney World logo on the front and vintage artwork on the back featuring Mickey and friends marching band and a retro Magic Kingdom flag! So cute!!
The kids version of this t-shirt just features the Mickey and friends marching band and Magic Kingdom flag on the front.
A drawstring bag with the same artwork is also available in this collection.
There is also a sweatshirt and t-shirt in red featuring Mickey and Minnie painting and a white ring tee with red trim and the retro Walt Disney World logo.
Another style of drawstring bag features white and red colors with the Walt Disney World logo. It has a more sporty design than the blue one.
So far these items are not available online yet but we hope to see them on shopDisney soon!
The new Disney Parks Collection from Ulta Beauty is truly magical!
If you love makeup and Disney than you definitely need this collection inspired in each one of the theme parks at Walt Disney World! It includes eyeshadow palettes, lip glosses, nail polish and makeup accessories you need to complete your look.
This magical set is inspired in the most enchanting park, Magic Kingdom! The eyeshadow palette packaging has the shape of Cinderella Castle with gorgeous colors.
The set includes a shimmering gloss with a light touch of pink for an extra touch of pixie dust to your look.
If brushes are more your thing, this set includes 6 brushes with a gorgeous blue metallic color to use for foundation, blush, powder and your eye makeup look.
