Disney Changing Live Action Snow White Storyline Inciting Outrage
An upcoming live-action rendition of Disney’s Snow White is in the works, though not everyone is embracing the news.
In an interview with The Telegraph, David Hand, the son of one of the co-directors from the original 1937 animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, who was also named David Hand, has strongly criticized the new movie for not upholding the “respect” owed to the source material.
While a trailer for the film, set to release in 2024 and directed by Marc Webb (known for The Amazing Spider-Man), co-written by Greta Gerwig (renowned for Barbie), is yet to be unveiled, the cast includes Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. Zegler previously mentioned that they’ve given the character a more “independent” portrayal.
At 91 years old, David Hand shared his discontent with the project in his conversation with The Telegraph. He labeled the endeavor a “disgrace,” criticizing the attempt to introduce new elements to something that had previously enjoyed great success.
Hand expressed his disagreement, noting that the film’s approach represents a significant departure from the original narrative and character essence. He expressed his disapproval of the modernized perspective, describing it as “radical” and resulting in stories that deviate from the original intent. In his view, the alterations introduced are “woke” interpretations that lack appreciation for the foundation laid by Disney’s earlier work and his father’s contributions. He lamented the absence of reverence for the legacy of Disney and his father, suggesting that both would be deeply disappointed by the direction the remake has taken.
The highly-anticipated Mirabel Meet & Greet has been added to the Walt Disney World website
Fans of Disney’s hit film Encanto have been eagerly awaiting Marabel’s arrival at Magic Kingdom. Disney has finally added the Mirabel meet-and-greet to the Walt Disney World website-including an opening date!
Marabel is scheduled to begin greeting guests at the Magic Kingdom Fairytale Garden starting September 15, 2023. The location of the meet-and-greet is in the same area that Merida from Brave previously greeted guests. The area has been closed recently to allow for the Brave theming to be replaced by Encanto elements.
Mirabel serves as the main protagonist for the hit-film Encanto, which follows the family Madrigal. The only Madrigal without a ‘gift’ (aka power), Mirabel is tasked with saving both the magic and her family.
Mirabel’s Uncle Bruno will also be present in the Magic Kingdom, as the character has been added to the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade.
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The Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom is slated to be closed to undergo refurbishment this month
Walt Disney World Resort is a year-round vacation destination that experiences no seasonal closures. Because of this, the park must take rides off-line from time to time during normal operating hours in order to conduct routine maintenance. These refurbishments are noted on the park hours and events calendar section of the Walt Disney World website.
The Liberty Square Riverboat in Magic Kingdom has been added to this list of refurbishments, starting on Monday, August 21 and running through Tuesday, August 29.
Guests should not expect any major updates to the ride, which boards in Liberty Square near the entrance to the Haunted Mansion. These week-long closures are typically scheduled to perform standard maintenance on attractions, such as touching up paint and attending to scenes and ride elements that are not operating at 100%.
The riverboat was recently closed for several months in late 2020-early 2021 for a more extensive refurbishment, which involved draining Rivers of America and completely replacing the underwater track that the ride operates on.
The ride is currently slated to re-open on Wednesday, August 30th, however the schedule for these refurbishments is always subject to change.
About the Liberty Square Riverboat
Liberty Square Riverboat invites guests to climb aboard the colonial-era Liberty Belle riverboat and enjoy a relaxing half-mile tour around Tom Sawyer Island, as well as views of Haunted Mansion and Big Thunder Mountain. The 47-foot tall Liberty Belle is a working reproduction of the historic vessels that operated on the Mississippi River, including a working steam engine that converts water from the river into steam that powers the large paddle that in turn propels the boat.
The 17-minute attraction includes scenes from the early American frontier, such as:
An early American settlement and a Native American village
Harper’s Mill
Fort Langhorn
Wilson’s Cave Inn
Woodland animals
A narrator serves as the riverboat guide, speaking in the voice of Mark Twain and telling stories of Twain’s time on the Mississippi.
Ready to book your next magical vacation, but don’t know where to start? Want to enjoy a Walt Disney World vacation without the stress of planning, booking, and tracking trip changes and promotions? Contact me today! As an agent with Destinations To Travel who specializes in Disney destinations, I can help you stress less and enjoy your vacation more! The best part? My services are provided at NO ADDITIONAL COST when you book your Disney vacation package through me!
“When the Williams family decides to go on a family vacation, Kim suggests a road trip to Austin College and Dean proposes a stop at Disneyland. After meeting up with his old bandmates, Bill reflects on his life choices.”
The cast enjoyed every moment of filming at Disneyland as well as experiencing the “Happiest Place on Earth” for themselves.
Do you enjoy when TV shows have episodes at the Disney parks?
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Exclusive Magic Key Holder Mirrored Mickey-Shaped Sipper Coming to Disneyland
A new novelty item is coming to the Disneyland Resort for Magic Key Holders! A new Mirrored Mickey-Shaped sipper will be available beginning August 22, 2023.
This colorful new sipper is *key* for your summer vacay! Magic Key holders will be sipping in style with the mirrored Mickey-shaped sipper.
Available for purchase at various quick service restaurants and outdoor vending carts throughout Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, while supplies last.
Limit one per Magic Key holder, while supplies last. No discounts apply. Magic Key holder must present a valid Magic Key pass to purchase.
Is this a sipper you’ll be adding to your Disney collection?
Ready to plan your next Disneyland visit? Contact me for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are free, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
Disney Wish becomes inspiring classroom for Bahamian students
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish recently became a classroom for Bahamian students. The students got to learn first-hand about careers at sea from the best – Disney Cruise Line crew members.
More than 25 students, ranging in age from 10 to 13, recently participated in a two-week maritime summer camp sponsored by Disney Cruise Line at the LJM Maritime Academy in Nassau, The Bahamas. The students learned about the local and global maritime industry and gained a better understanding of career opportunities on board.
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has sponsored the program for many years, and this year, DCL worked with the LJM Maritime Academy to create a memorable and educational experience for the students aboard the Disney Wish. While the ship was in port in Nassau, the students toured the ship, learned from crew members in a variety of roles, met the captain of the Disney Wish and even had the special opportunity to visit the ship’s command center bridge.
“It was so fun to see the Disney Wish. When we were on the bridge, my jaw just dropped. We met the captain, the pilot and other crew members,” said Quinn, a student participating in the LJM Maritime Academy summer camp program. “I hope to continue to learn more, so that one day, I can be a captain on a ship like the Disney Wish,” added Quinn.
The students toured the ship’s beautiful theaters, incredible dining locations and interactive youth activities spaces, where they had the chance to play and meet Captain Minnie and other favorite Disney characters.
“We want to inspire young people, especially here in The Bahamas, to explore careers at sea. Sponsoring the LJM Maritime Academy summer camp program is one of the ways we’re introducing young Bahamians to maritime opportunities early on so that they know this is an option for them,” said Joey Gaskins, public affairs director, Disney Cruise Line. “We’ve invited these students aboard the Disney Wish to show them first-hand some of the incredible maritime careers available, and we want to encourage them to join our growing Disney Cruise Line team in the future.”
DCL invited former LJM Maritime Academy Cadet Antoinique “Summer” Lightbourn, who recently participated in DCL’s scholarship program, to join the students on the tour of the ship. While walking the students around the ship, she shared her experiences and favorite moments from working aboard the Disney Wish and encouraged the students to chase their dreams of pursuing careers at sea.
“Disney Cruise Line has continued to be an excellent partner to the LJM Maritime Academy, through its scholarship program and sponsorship of our successful summer camp,” said Dr. Brenda Cleare, Principal LJM Maritime Academy. “This camp is so important because it opens up new horizons for these young people as they begin to enter high school and think seriously about the direction they want their lives to go in,” she added.
Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has supported the LJM Maritime Academy for many years as part of its commitment to inspire the next generation of seafarers while creating a lasting positive impact in The Bahamas. Since 2019, DCL has sponsored LJM Maritime Academy cadet scholarships for young adults, like Summer, aspiring to become ship captains and shipboard leaders. The scholarships cover tuition for the three-year LJM Maritime Academy program, which includes two years of study at the academy and one year of service aboard a Disney ship.
As Disney’s fleet of ships expands, along with a new island destination opening in 2024 at Lighthouse Point in Eleuthera, Disney is committed to continuing to invest in programs supporting local youth, including the LJM Maritime Academy cadet scholarship.
For more than 25 years, Disney Cruise Line has introduced countless families to the beauty and spirit of The Bahamas. At the same time, the company has provided significant economic impact while demonstrating a strong commitment to the environment and the community. Several initiatives Disney Cruise Line has recently supported include teaming up with local organizations to build a backyard garden for the Ranfurly Homes for Children in Nassau, collaborating with students on the Eleuthera Junior Junkanoo competition and donating books to students to share the gift of storytelling. Together, these initiatives support the Disney Future Storytellers, The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to empowering the next generation of storytellers and innovators.
City Works Eatery & Pour House in Disney Springs Launches New Members-Only Perks
City Works Eatery & Pour House in Disney Springs is updating its members-only perks and rewards! Beginning this August, members of Bottleneck Management’s Reward Club will have exclusive access to hidden menu items, starting with churro pretzel bites.
This hidden sugar-coated gem will be available at all City Works locations throughout August until a new hidden menu item is available the following month.
HOW IT WORKS
Just Register a Card and Rack Up Rewards-That’s it. Pay your bill and get rewarded.
$10 reward just for joining
$20 reward for every $200 you spend
Birthday reward of $10 off your next purchase
Bonus rewards for referring friends
Special ongoing offers
You can find more information about registering here.
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We are closely monitoring Hurricane Hilary and making adjustments based on the latest information from the National Weather Service. Disneyland Resort theme parks will close early tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 20, with Disney California Adventure Park closing at 9 p.m. and Disneyland Park closing at 10 p.m.
The Downtown Disney District will close at 11 p.m. Our resort hotels will remain open to serve our guests staying with us on the property.
You can find the latest information about park hours, entertainment offerings and other impacts at Disneyland.com. Please continue to check back on our website for any updates.
Magic returns to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Guests can once again experience unforgettable attractions, see beloved Disney friends, shop for the latest merchandise, savor the world-famous food and drinks and cherish special magical moments at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. For the most current information, guests should visit Disneyland.com often. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
This Saturday, Hurricane Hilary underwent a weakening process, transitioning from a potent Category 4 hurricane featuring peak wind speeds of 145 mph to a less intense Category 2 hurricane, with winds measuring at 110 mph. Predictions indicate that it will approach land as a tropical storm on Saturday night or the early hours of Sunday. Anticipate notable occurrences of flooding and power disruptions that may persist until Monday.
The region of Southern California hasn’t experienced a tropical storm making landfall since September 25, 1939. Remarkably, there’s no record of any hurricane ever reaching California’s shores throughout documented history.
First-Time Cast Member Team Wins at Disneyland Resort Canoe Races
Disneyland Resort canoe races have been a summer tradition since 1963. This year, a first-time cast member team took first place in the races on the Rivers of American in Disneyland.
The 2023 races brought together 84 teams of cast members, crew members, Imagineers and employees from across The Walt Disney Company to see who could come out vict-OAR-ious as the fastest Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes paddlers on the water.
Some have competed for decades, but dozens of teams raced for the very first time—teams like the Rivers of FAMerica, comprised of cast from Disneyland’s Facilities Asset Management department. It was an opportunity for them to bond with one another while trying something new, but little did they know they would have a story to remember forever!
When the Rivers of FAMerica first took to the water in early July, they sailed in toward the lower end of the leaderboard. “We started off very slow,” said team member Rejean Fukuji. “In our first practice another canoe passed us. We were averaging about six minutes [each lap].”
To the team’s surprise, by finals week in August, they were soaring through the finish line as champions of their division, clocking a time of just over four minutes on their last lap. “This is definitely an underdog story,” said Carly Schwulst, team cadence leader. “We’ve worked hard to be here, and it’s been such an incredible opportunity to be able to bond with this team.”
Team captain John Mayen recalled that the team struggled to get enough people to row during the first few weeks of practice. Each week, he strapped a camera to his head, so the team could review the footage of their laps and see where they could improve.
“My favorite part of all of this is seeing how much we’ve bonded as a team throughout our journey,” said John. “Through this process we’ve been able to get closer as colleagues and seeing our improvement through the whole season has been really satisfying for us.”
The team joined the other division winners in a chilly victory lap, sprinkled with rain but pouring with excitement. As the teams cruised around the river one last time, they shared laughter, happiness and a sense of pride for all they accomplished the last two months.
“We put so much work, time and energy into this,” said John. “All the practice sessions, general meetings and analysis of our performance all came together for this final race. I’m incredibly proud of our team.”
Zero 30th Anniversary Popcorn Bucket Coming to Disneyland
A new Zero 30th Anniversary popcorn bucket is coming to Disneyland this fall. The popcorn bucket is shaped just like Jack Skellington’s ghost dog, Zero, in Tim Burrton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.
The popcorn bucket features Zero with his orange pumpkin nose, a brown coffin dog tag, and a purple carrying strap. The strap features the Disney Parks logo and other Nightmare Before Christmas designs. This super cute popcorn bucket also lights up!
Here’s where you can find the popcorn bucket at the Disneyland Resort:
At Disneyland park: Popcorn near Haunted Mansion
At Disney California Adventure park: Popcorn near Carthay Circle Restaurant, Popcorn at Pixar Pier, Churros near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and Outdoor Vending
The buckets are limited to two per person, per transaction, and no discounts apply. They will be available while supplies last.
Is this a popcorn bucket you will be adding to your list?
Ready to plan your Halloween visit to the Disneyland Resort? Contact me for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
Vanellope Meet & Greet in EPCOT Closing Permanently to Make Way for Figment
Today, the Vanellope meet and greet in Epcot is permanently closing to make way for a new meet and greet! Today is the last day to meet Vanellope von Schweetz from “Wreck-It Ralph” at ImageWorks.
Vanellope has been meeting guests in front of a cityscape background inspired by “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” When the meet and greet opened in 2019, Wreck it Ralph greeted guests as well. When character interactions returned post-Covid, Vanellope was alone and it has remained that way ever since.
The closure of the Vanellope meet and greet is most likely because other meet and greets are coming to the space. The Disney100 Mickey and Minnie meet and greet will be meeting at the pavilion starting September 22. Later this summer a new Figment meet and greet should be coming as well.
Will you miss the Vanellope meet and greet?
Ready to plan your next visit to Epcot? Contact me for a free vacation quote! I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are complimentary, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
New Teaser Trailer Released for Percy Jackson and the Olympians
In celebration of Percy Jackson’s birthday, Disney+ released a new teaser for the upcoming Disney+ Original series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” The epic series, based on Disney Hyperion’s best-selling book series by award-winning author Rick Riordan, will debut with a two-episode premiere on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 on Disney+, followed by new episodes weekly.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” tells the fantastical story of a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson, who’s just coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god, Zeus, accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. With help from his friends Grover and Annabeth, Percy must embark on an adventure of a lifetime to find it and restore order to Olympus.
The series stars Walker Scobell (“Percy Jackson”), Leah Sava Jeffries (“Annabeth Chase”), Aryan Simhadri (“Grover Underwood”) and features notable guest stars Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Hermes”), Megan Mullally (“Alecto” aka “Mrs. Dodds”), Toby Stephens (“Poseidon”), Virginia Kull (“Sally Jackson”), Jason Mantzoukas (“Dionysus” aka “Mr. D”), Jay Duplass (“Hades”), Glynn Turman (“Chiron” aka “Mr. Brunner”), the late Lance Reddick (“Zeus”), Adam Copeland (“Ares”), Charlie Bushnell (“Luke Castellan”), Dior Goodjohn (“Clarisse La Rue”), Jessica Parker Kennedy (“Medusa”), Olivea Morton (“Nancy Bobofit”), Suzanne Cryer (“Echidna”), Timm Sharp (“Gabe Ugliano”), Timothy Omundson (“Hephaestus”).
Renowned “Percy Jackson” creator Rick Riordan worked closely with the creative team and showrunners Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz to bring his books to life and deliver a series that stays true to his vision for these heroic characters that millions of book fans know and love. The first two episodes are written by Riordan and Steinberg and directed by James Bobin. Steinberg and Shotz serve as executive producers alongside Rick Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, The Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Bert Salke, The Gotham Group’s Jeremy Bell and D.J. Goldberg, James Bobin, Jim Rowe, Monica Owusu-Breen, Anders Engström and Jet Wilkinson.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series brand extensions will include a cross-category product line of apparel, accessories, stationery, and tie-in books available this fall at Hot Topic, Box Lunch, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers.
The Percy Jackson book series has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.
