The iconic lighting at the Chinese Theatre now returns to Hollywood Studios.
The new nighttime lighting at Hollywood Studios will feature bright gold accents and all-new-energy-efficient LED lighting. But what is most exciting about the new nighttime appearance is the return of the legendary spotlights searching the sky as guests are welcomed to the Chinese Theatre at Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
After many years of hard work by the teams who worked on this project, guests can now experience a “premiere night, every night,” type of energy to this iconic piece of Hollywood architecture.
It’s through details like this where imagineers shine, and and their skills enhance the stories in the park, we can’t wait to see these lights in action!
Brightline direct train service from Miami to Disney will begin in 2022. The train station will be at Orlando Airport, but the next Orlando station is proposed to be Disney Springs. That means that travelers from southern Florida would be just a few short hours away from the ultimate Disney retail complex!
Approximately 1,000 workers are currently working on tracks from Miami to Orlando Airport. The work is on schedule to be completed by the projected date. Brightline has also been working on a design for a connecting train to Tampa. Upon completion of the Miami station, the train will also stop at stations in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. In the future, Aventura and Boca Raton stations will be stops as well.
According to Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline, “Brightline will offer a car-free connection to the millions of visitors from around the state and the world who plan to make Walt Disney World Resort part of their vacation plans. Our mission has always been to connect our guests to the people and places that matter, and Walt Disney World Resort is a tremendous example of this.” (The Next Miami)
Walt Disney World Resort president, Jeff Vahleis quoted as saying “We’re excited to work with Brightline as they pursue the potential development of a train station at Walt Disney World Resort, a project that would support our local economy and offer a bold, forward-looking transportation solution for our community and guests.” (The Next Miami)
The trip will take around 3 hours. The price will be around $100 per ticket. With trips beginning in 2022, we’re sure the business at Disney Springs will be better than ever! Are you planning on using the Brightline train when it’s finished? Let us know in the comments!
Johhny Depp’s attorneys are making a renewed effort to overturn a British court ruling by seeing a retrial. They are seeking a new determination in his libel case with The Sun publisher News Group Newspapers. The Pirates of the Caribbean actor is also claiming that Amber Heard did not donate all of her $7 million divorce settlement to charity.
The Hollywood star is seeking permission to appeal the November verdict in his libel lawsuit against The Sun newspaper for labeling him a “wife beater” in an April 2018 article. Depp lost the case following a three-week trial in July.
Now he argues he did not receive a fair trial and is offering “fresh evidence” he says could have affected the trial verdict.
High Court Justice Andrew Nicol ruled that lawyers for Sun publisher News Group Newspapers proved during the trial that the allegations against Depp, made in a April 2018 article, were “substantially true.”
Due to recently highlighted personal issues and allegations made against the famed actor, Depp has been dumped by many major film studios, including Walt Disney Pictures who helmed the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and is looking to create a reboot series or films.
The live action treatment of Disney’s Pinocchio is shaping up with quite the cast! Take a look at the list of cast members below!
The upcoming Disney+ movie is a mix of live action and CGI. The main character is the memorable puppet of course. He will be voiced by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth since the wooden puppet character requires CGI.
Also, Disney Casts Cynthia Erivo and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Live-Action ‘Pinocchio‘ Remake for Disney+. Disney has shared they have just cast Jospeh Corden-Levitt as Jiminy Cricket and Cynthia Erivo as The Blue Fairy for the upcoming live-action remake of ‘Pinocchio’. The movie will introduce new characters as well, such as Lorraine Bracco playing Sofia the Seagull.
Furthermore, the film stars Tom Hanks (Geppetto), Cynthia Erivo (Blue Fairy), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jiminy Cricket), Keegan-Michael Key (Honest John) and Luke Evans (The Coachman).
A synopsis of the film has yet to be shared by Disney. But we expect the main plot points to hold up to the test of time, with some modern updates sprinkled throughout the film. Pinocchio will premiere exclusively on Disney+ at a future date.
The Disneyland horses pull vintage trolleys along Main Street U.S.A. They are expected to ferry Disney characters along the entry promenade when the parks reopen. According to MiceChat, the horses have been doing practice runs.
“The happiest horses on earth have been practicing their route a few days a week for a while now,” according to MiceChat. “We don’t know if the trolley will be returning with the park or not, but it’s still neat to see this little bit of Disneyland life that we all remember so well.”
We can’t wait to experience all of the magic that returns to Disneyland when the parks reopen!
They are super portable and convenient to eat when you’re on the go, plus they are super easy to make. Just follow this recipe from Disney Family and have fun!
WINNIE THE POOH HAND PIES
INGREDIENTS:
Pies
1 package refrigerated, premade pie dough
Yellow, light and dark pink, orange, purple, beige, and black gel food coloring
Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Roll out the pie dough and divide it into 4 equal rounds. Using toothpicks, color each mound of dough with the colors of each character and knead until colors are incorporated. Use the yellow for Pooh, pink for Piglet, orange for Tigger, and purple for Eeyore. For Piglet’s ears, color a small amount of dough with the deep pink.
Flatten the dough and cut out circular shapes with a 3 1/2″ cookie cutter. Then using a small knife, cut out the shapes of each character’s ears and feet. You will need 2 shapes of each character in order to form the top and bottom of the pies.
Spoon about half a tablespoon of jam (this one is mixed berry jam) on top of each cutout and cover with the other half.
Crimp the edges of the pies with a fork. Repeat with the remaining pies.
Move the pies to the prepared baking sheet. Bake them for 15 minutes, until the pastry is slightly puffy and let it cool.
Whisk the icing sugar and cream together to create an icing. Divide it and make the following colors for the details using the food coloring: black, pink, beige and yellow.
Use the various icing colors and toothpicks to draw the details onto each character.
Since the parks at Walt Disney World reopened last summer, character meet and greets have been different. Characters are still out in the parks but they’re socially distanced from guests.
Now, our favorite Disney couple, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, are interacting with guests in a new spot in Epcot!
A plant barrier separates Mickey and Minnie from guests but they are waving and posing for photos. Minnie even shows her love for guests with virtual hugs and blowing kisses.
The production of Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers has officially started! The upcoming Disney+ movie will give viewers a brand new adventure featuring the popular chipmunks. The Lonely Island confirms the start of filming for the Disney live-action/CGI hybrid movie.
“Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers, a hybrid live-action-animated feature for Disney+, is in development. Akiva Schaffer (“Popstar”) directs, and John Mulaney and Andy Samberg are set to star in the title roles with Seth Rogen doing a cameo. Chip N’ Dale: Rescue Rangers is slated for spring 2022.
Coming soon to Disney+
Chip and Dale have been causing mischief for the classic Disney characters since 1943, but became the Rescue Rangers in 1989 with the release of Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers. The film was a success and sparked a 3 season television series, with the characters wearing outfits inspired by Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Magnum P.I (Tom Selleck).
Currently the only listed casting choices include the comedians Mulaney, Samberg, and Seth Rogen. Producers of the film, David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman, who also produced The Muppets and Beauty and the Beast, announced Akiva Schaffer will direct the new film starring our mischievous chipmunks, Chip and Dale. The film will be a “Meta” based story. But all other details on the film are being kept air tight by the studio and crew.
Shanghai Disneyland Resort, the first Disney resort in Mainland China, officially opened its gates on June 16, 2016, bringing the wonder and imagination of Disney to fans and guests in magical new ways. In the five years since, the resort has become one of the most popular global vacation destinations, with innovative experiences and expansions, including new lands, stories and characters continuing to attract new and returning guests every day. Today, Shanghai Disney Resort announced that starting April 8, 2021, guests will be immersed in a “Year of Magical Surprises” as the resort raises the curtain on its milestone Fifth Anniversary and birthday celebrations.
Featuring an exciting lineup of exclusive experiences across Shanghai Disneyland, the resort’s two themed hotels, Disneytown and beyond, this spectacular year-long celebration will start from April 8 when the newly decorated resort will begin warmly welcoming guests to join the birthday festivities of this authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese resort.
“We are so humbled to have been welcomed with such passion, enthusiasm and love from tens of millions of guests during our first five years,” said Joe Schott, President and General Manager, Shanghai Disney Resort. “Our success would not have been possible without the incredible support of all of our partners, the local government, community friends, guests and fans, as well as our amazing Cast Members. With our upcoming 5th Birthday Celebrations, we look forward to delivering a range of magical experiences that our guests will love, with surprises waiting around every corner!”
Surprises Await Guests with Each Magical Visit to This Happy Destination In honor of this historic milestone, starting April 8, Shanghai Disney Resort will invite every guest to uncover birthday surprises around each corner during their visit.
From big to small, to everything in between – surprises of all kinds await guests across Shanghai Disneyland and on the resort’s official app! Shanghai Disney Resort’s official app will soon debut a new look with its icon featuring its 5th Birthday logo, and starting April 8, an all-new “Tap for a Magical Surprise” feature will allow guests to enter into a digital lucky draw to win a special prize upon entering the theme park! From digital autographs from one of your favorite Disney friends and dining and merchandise vouchers for popular offers, to priority access to popular attractions and reserved viewing areas for world-class live entertainment, there’s a unique surprise in store for everyone during Shanghai Disneyland’s 5th Birthday Celebrations!
In the park, a Surprise Squad comprised of Cast Members will appear at different times and locations throughout the day, randomly greeting guests and unveiling additional exciting surprises, including birthday souvenirs or an opportunity to be invited to the specially designed Disney “Surprise!” Show – performed up to four times per day on the Pepsi∙E-stage in Tomorrowland. These lucky guests will be able to spin the “Disney Surprise Wheel” during the show and win an incredible prize such as a 37-inch StellaLou Plush, a dining experience at the Royal Banquet Hall, hotel stays, park tickets, Annual Passes and much more. On most days during the celebration, a grand prize – the “Magical Star of the Day” – may be presented to one guest among those in the show, who will receive a “Golden Key” that allows the guest and their party onsite (up to four) to enjoy a series of exclusive new offerings at Mickey’s Magical Star Lounge – located at the park’s prestigious Club 33.
Detailed Terms and Conditions for the resort’s 5th Birthday offerings will be available on the resort’s official website and app at a later date.
New Experiences and Birthday Surprises Deliver Eye-Opening Magic Starting April 8, Shanghai Disney Resort will draw on Disney Park’s 65-year history of innovation, creativity and storytelling to deliver an unforgettable birthday celebration with a wide variety of exciting new experiences that will bring guests’ dreams to life:
A breathtaking new nighttime spectacular – ILLUMINATE! A Nighttime Celebration With brand-new content, amazing storytelling, and some of the world’s most cutting-edge technology, this all-new nighttime spectacular is a highlight of the resort’s 5th Birthday Celebrations. Presented on the world’s largest and tallest Disney castle, ILLUMINATE! will spark wonder and joy in the hearts and imaginations of guests of all ages as it lights up the night in celebration.
Mickey’s Storybook Express enjoys a fresh look with a new pre-parade In celebration of five magical years, Mickey’s Storybook Express will be preceded by a 5th Birthday pre-parade, featuring an all-new three-layer birthday cake float that rises over four meters tall – Disney Surprise Cake Float. The parade itself will get an all-new birthday overlay, with each parade float featuring hidden 5th Birthday elements for guests to discover as the procession winds its way along the longest Disney parade route in the world. Special celebratory bunting and “5” icons will also be added to the opening float, Casey Jr., ridden by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, followed by a train car for Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale. The décor will also feature on the finale float that features Duffy and his friends.
A dazzling new look for the entire resort Enchanting decorations will illuminate the beautiful themed lands of Shanghai Disneyland, while 5th Birthday decorations will line the streets of Mickey Avenue. The resort’s two hotels and Disneytown will also be receiving a memorable magical makeover!
Take home a touch of magic with exclusive new merchandise A 5th Birthday only rolls around once in a lifetime, and as part of the resort’s year-long celebrations, guests will be able to immortalize their trip to Shanghai Disney Resort by taking home a selection of over 200 amazing 5th Birthday souvenirs, including a range of exciting limited-edition items.
A lineup of new menu items await! With the resort’s restaurants filled to bursting with delicious snacks, treats, meals and delicacies, guests are spoilt for choice during the 5th Birthday Celebrations. From Asian cuisine and Western fare, to seasonal specialties, and a spectacular selection of ice cream, so many delicious options await to help keep guests happy and full of energy during every moment of their celebrations!
Energetic new songs to take guests on exciting new adventures No immersive experience would be truly complete without a scintillating soundtrack, and in celebration of the resort’s 5th Birthday, a new selection of songs will fill the air during Shanghai Disneyland’s daytime and evening entertainment. From all-new compositions, to fresh takes on Disney classics, the new high-energy songs are sure to get guests in the spirit of the celebration.
Disney Characters Dress for the Occasion as the Hosts of the Year of Magical Surprises As hosts of the “Year of Magical Surprises” birthday celebration, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and other beloved Disney Characters will be dressed to impress in all-new outfits – welcoming guests to the big party. Custom-made for Shanghai Disney Resort’s 5th Birthday, their new looks perfectly capture the essence of the grand celebration, highlighting beautifully designed celebrative elements of ribbons, a color palette of ivory and champagne gold, as well as hidden details in the shape of a “5” in celebration of the resort’s special occasion. Many rarely seen Disney Characters will also make surprise appearances in the park throughout the year, providing an extra sprinkling of Disney magic for guests.
Shanghai Disney Resort Cast Members will also be joining in on the celebration with a brand-new 5th Birthday nametag featuring a glittering array of golden stars and the resort’s unique “5” logo. Cast across the resort are excited to participate in the celebration by sharing their joy as they demonstrate legendary Disney service by consistently going above and beyond to ensure a lifetime of magical memories accompanies each guest’s visit to this one-of-a-kind destination.
More surprises and details about Shanghai Disney Resort’s 5th Birthday Celebrations will be announced in the near future. Tickets and Annual Passes for entry to Shanghai Disneyland are available via the resort’s multiple official channels.
Marvel Studios’ “Loki” features the God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother’s shadow in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.”
Tom Hiddleston returns as the title character, joined by Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku and Richard E. Grant. Kate Herron directs “Loki,” and Michael Waldron is head writer.
Are you looking forward to checking out Loki on Disney+ this summer? Let us know in the comments!
It’s almost hard to believe we are now past the one year anniversary of when Walt Disney World Resort closed. The last day of operations was March 15th for of the Florida Disney Parks. The Twitter user @bioreconstruct is sharing photos of last year when all of the Disney World parks were closed during March 16th, 2020.
Seeing these images of Magic Kingdom reminds us of how quickly things changed for all of us last March. The temporary closure lasted four months in 2020.
Even the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios look quite different being empty. The park opened two major attractions prior to the pandemic closure. Both Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway are two popular favorite attractions now.
Last year’s Flower & Garden Festival got cut short, too. It’s certainly amazing to see how empty Epcot looks during the daytime for this festival period.
Get ready to sip on the go with magic! You can now grab the colorful clear Disney Parks Starbucks tumblers on shopDisney! There are two different versions to choose from Disneyland, and Walt Disney World!
You’ll be sipping with a smile while using this Starbucks tumbler topped with a straw and twist-tight lid. This specially designed on-the-go cup is perfect for your favorite cold drinks.
Cold beverage double-wall tumbler
Art inspired by Disneyland and Disney California Adventure locations
Starbucks logo and drink customization options
Twist-tight lid with hole for straw
Matching reusable straw flares at the bottom so it won’t fall out
Part of the Starbucks Collection developed exclusively for Disney Parks
