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#DisneyMagicMoments: Joe Rohde and Jon Landau Celebrate the Third Anniversary of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Pandora – The World of Avatar

Sivako! We’re celebrating Pandora – The World of Avatar, which three years ago this week officially welcomed guests inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort for the first time. And as you may imagine, the story behind this lush, awe-inspiring place goes back … quite a bit further.

To tell that tale, we brought together two of the lead creative partners responsible for developing the land: Joe Rohde, portfolio creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, and Jon Landau, producer of “Avatar” and its sequels. These two visionaries assembled a team of thousands to turn a wondrous cinematic digital world into a complete physical environment that inspires and thrills.

I have a great level of respect and admiration for the creativity and the commitment to design that both Joe and Jon have brought to the entertainment industry through the years. Pandora – The World of Avatar is a wonder of our world and has truly ushered in a new era of immersive storytelling at Walt Disney World Resort.

As you listen to Joe and Jon, you’ll learn how Pandora – The World of Avatar meshes with Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You’ll hear them discuss the similarities between developing a themed environment and a major motion picture. And you’ll gain an understanding of how the stories of the film, the land and the park complement one another.

I’m so excited to share this #DisneyMagicMoment with you, I feel like I could … uh … fly. Enjoy!

For more #DisneyMagicMoments like this in the future, keep checking back with us here at the Disney Parks Blog.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Imagineers, Pandora – The World of Avatar, Video, WDW

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Disney Food Disney News Disney Parks Other

Disney Changes Booking Window for Disney World Dining Reservations

Disney World Dining Reservations

Disney has just changed the booking window for Disney World Dining Reservations on its website from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window.

Disney World Dining Reservations

It reads:

We will also shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window for dining and experience bookings going forward to allow Guests to make their plans closer to their visits.

We will reopen dining and experience bookings with more limited numbers closer to when the parks reopen.

We understand how much excitement, thought and time goes into planning a Disney vacation and realize some of these changes may be disappointing. Please know we will be here to help you, as we remain focused on delivering a wonderful experience for everyone who visits.

Please be sure to check back here for the latest information.

Our focus remains on the health and wellbeing of the entire Disney community—including the Cast Members who are caring for and securing our parks and Resorts during the closure. We’re currently evaluating new and enhanced safety measures to help us all stay well.

Last night all existing Dining Reservations were canceled, new reservations have been put on hold while Disney implements their new system.

Stay tuned to Chip and Co for more details…

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Disney Food, Walt Disney World, 180 Days, 60 days, Disney Dining, Disney World, Disney World Dining Reservations

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Disney Parks

43+ Questions We Still Have About Disney World’s Reopening

Disney recently unveiled the broad outlines of its Walt Disney World resort reopening plan. Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will reopen on July 11 and Hollywood Studios and Epcot will reopen on July 15. Additionally, some of the Disney Vacation Club hotels will be available to members and guests as early as June 22. An overview on the Disney Parks Blog filled in a few more details, like a temporary suspension of parades and evening spectaculars and a reservation system for park entry.

Welcome to the new normal. We have questions.

While this is vastly more information than we had a few days ago, there are still many questions about how the opening will roll out and what the new Disney normal will look like. Here are some that we have (in no particular order):

  1. Will there be social distancing measures implemented on the attractions? Will they look like some of our predictions?
  2. If everyone is mobile ordering quick-service food, how will they streamline the pick up procedures?
  3. How will mask use be enforced?
  4. Will there be rules for trying on or returning theme park merchandise?
  5. Since many of the international cast members returned home, how will the Epcot World Showcase pavilions be staffed?
  6. Will Disney’s buffet service restaurants be reconfigured to another form of service? If so, how long will this last?
  7. If character greetings are temporarily suspended (as mentioned in the Parks Blog), how will character meals be impacted? Will the pricing change for those venues?
  8. Will evening activities be added to the resorts?
  9. Will some resorts be temporarily closed or repurposed (stationing the NBA at Coronado Springs is one rumor), and if so, how will guests with reservations there be relocated?
  10. Will all of Disney’s internal transportation methods operate? If so, how will that work?
  11. Will MagicBand capabilities be altered in any way? For example, will non-resort guests be allowed to link a credit card for charging purposes?
  12. Will table service restaurant ordering be altered? Will disposable or online menus be used?
  13. Will there be limits to the number of guests allowed into park shops?
  14. Will guests be allowed to walk and eat without wearing masks? How will this impact things like popcorn and Mickey bar sales?
  15. Will the park trash cans be altered? Will guests be able to dispose of refuse without touching a trash can flap?
  16. How will characters be integrated into the parks if there are initially no meet and greets?
  17. How will photography work? Will guests be allowed to take off masks for photo ops?
  18. Will dining hours be altered?
  19. How will park reservations work?
  20. Will park hopping be allowed?
  21. Will paper maps and Times Guides be eliminated? What about other ephemera like stickers for kids or the welcome leis at the Polynesian?
  22. Given the reduction in entertainment, will ticket prices be changed in any way?
  23. Will resort pool seating be reconfigured in any way?
  24. Will resort lobby seating be reconfigured in any way?
  25. How will resort room cleaning practices change? Will they eliminate things like pens and the end of bed half-blankets?
  26. Will the new park rules be added to the resort room TV feed? Will Stacey explain them?
  27. When will things like the Biddidi Bobbidi Boutique and the Fancy Nancy makeover resume?
  28. Will backstage tours be suspended for a time?
  29. Will the August start date for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival be altered?
  30. Will the dates for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party be altered? Will the costume rules for MNSSHP change?
  31. Will the Epcot Kidcot Fun Stops be operational?
  32. How prevalent will the COVID-related signage be in the parks?
  33. Will the park entry security measures be altered? Will security cast members still touch guests’ bags, or will automated screening be implemented?
  34. How will temperature checks work? What happens if guests do not pass the temperature check? Will ticket refunds be allowed for medical reasons?
  35. Will there be any changes to Magical Express procedures? Will guests need temperature checks to board the Magical Express buses?
  36. Given the scrapping of the current FastPass system, will guests who previously had FastPasses be allowed priority access to the rides?
  37. Will fill-your-own candy stations in resort shops be eliminated?
  38. Will the resort refillable mug program be changed? Will guests be allowed to fill their own beverage cups?
  39. Will resort recreation rentals be altered?
  40. How will the pattern for interactive attractions change when everyone is wearing masks? Will there be new jokes for the Jungle Cruise, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, or Turtle Talk with Crush?
  41. If some queues move outdoors, how will guests be sheltered from the sun? Will there be umbrellas in the walkways?
  42. Other than masks for sale, will there be any other merchandise that addresses the virus situation? Jokey tees? Plush toys wearing masks?
  43. How will guests be instructed to social distance in resort bars and lounges?

These are just a few of the near infinite number of questions we have about the new Walt Disney World. What did we miss? What are you thinking about? Let us know in the comments.

The post 43+ Questions We Still Have About Disney World’s Reopening appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), coronavirus

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Disney Parks

Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts in this Haunted Mansion Inspired Bedroom

Beware of Hitchhiking Ghosts in this Haunted Mansion Inspired Bedroom. Disney Fans everywhere love to bring the magic of the Disney Parks home in many capacities, but some attractions are favored over others. One of the most beloved attractions from the theme parks is the Haunted Mansion.

Many fans clamor for decorations inspired by the spooky attraction, but others are just dying to immerse themselves in the experience. Recently, YouTuber, Cinema of the DEAD, shared an update of their Haunted Mansion themed bedroom. Equipped with Grave Keeper, Madame Leota, Singing Bust, Black Widow Bride, and more!

Check out the video walk through here from Cinema of the DEAD:

Hurry back… Hurry back… and be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for all things Disney!

Featured Photo Credit: Cinema of the DEAD/Disney

Source: Cinema of the DEAD

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Photos, bedroom, Haunted Mansion, The Haunted Mansion

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Disney Parks Other

Will Disney World Hotel Arcades Be Affected By New Policies?

The times they are a-changin’ for Disney resorts, and now there’s a new potential change to be thinking about.

Contemporary Arcade

Gamers, listen up! The global health crisis has had widespread effects on everything from your dining menu to the way you shop around stores and now it seems that another facet of entertainment is taking a hit. Health measures and concerns have started to have an effect on the arcade game industry — and this could affect Disney World following its reopening. Let’s take a look!

What’s happening with arcade games?

According to WESH-2 in Florida, the future of arcade games is uncertain thanks to the health crisis. In fact, businesses around the country have been putting in calls to have the machines picked up by the warehouses that rent out the games. Some have expressed uncertainty about when and if these rentals will go back out.

Extra seating during End Zone refurbishment in the arcade

Essentially, arcade games can get in the way of new health measures that businesses are implementing. They are high-touch surfaces so arcade staff would need to wipe down machines after each use, which may not be feasible in a highly-automated arcade setting. Many are opting to forgo the arcade concept altogether during this time.

Contemporary Resort Arcade

For restaurant/arcade concepts, games can also take up valuable space that locations need to properly distance tables. So the crisis is definitely affecting the way that arcades run — but how will we see this reflected in Disney World?

Click here to read about some of the changes we’re seeing in a partially reopened Disney World!

How could this affect Disney World?

Many resorts on Disney property offer small arcades. There are 20 arcades spread out among the Disney World resorts and all of them contain potentially-rented, high-touch games. As we’ve seen with other arcades affected, the ones in Disney World might not be exempt for new guidelines.

Arcade Area

On one hand, we probably won’t see games pulled to make room for more space. There aren’t any restaurant/arcade models in Disney World so they probably won’t be affected by distancing measures. Still, we have seen arcades used for extra space in the past during refurbishments so it isn’t completely impossible that these spaces may be used.

Even if the arcades are not used for space, Disney may keep the arcades closed initially to reduce health concerns. When and if they do open, we may see increased cleaning protocols between use for the machines.

Contemporary Resort Arcade

NOTE that Disney has not confirmed that arcades will be affected by their current policies. As we wait for more information about the Disney World hotel reopenings, we’ll keep you updated!

Arcades are a great option for kids during your resort day so the option may be more limited in the future. Plus, if you were dead set on setting a new Pac-Man record during your resort day, you might want to make other plans just in case.

For more information on Disney World’s reopening click here!

Do you think the Disney arcades will change? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

Related posts:

  1. News! Florida Aquarium Plans to Re-Open Next Week! How Do Their Re-Opening Policies Compare to Disney World’s?
  2. Shanghai Disneyland Is Already Making Progress Less Than Two Weeks After Reopening!
  3. How Reopening Theme Parks Could Mean LESS Profit For Disney

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney resorts, Featured, News, arcade, Arcade Games, disney parks reopening, Disney reopening, Disney World arcade, Disney World reopening, Disney World Resorts, reopening, video games