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Disney Parks Other

#DisneyMagicMoments: Runners who Inspire Us – Part 3

Heather Yang

Here is another #DisneyMagicMoment from the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend a few months ago, Heather Yang’s incredible story of hope and perseverance …

In 2018, Heather Yang was training to run her first half marathon when she was blindsided by a stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis. The disease derailed Yang’s training and led to five months of chemotherapy, but as a United States Army veteran and a first responder during the Sept. 11 tragedy, she knew she had the strength and determination to fight for her life.

In March 2019, Yang completed chemotherapy and began a new journey as a cancer survivor, which included getting back to one of the things she loves most –running. In January 2020, that love of running and eight months of training led to her fulfilling a dream when she completed the Walt Disney World Half Marathon.

Here’s a look at Yang’s magical experience. Keep checking the Disney Parks Blog in the weeks to come as we look back at more amazing, inspirational #DisneyMagicMoments from runDisney events!

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World Resort, runDisney, Video

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Disney Parks Other

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Recent Theme Park News via MEMES

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at theme park news via MEMES! With the recent announcement of the re-opening of the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks, we are getting close to the Florida theme parks we know and love about to embark into the “New Normal” going forward. What will that bring for us? We’ll see shortly, but before we get there, it’s time to take a quick look back at what has been happening over on DisTwitter over the past couple weeks…

# 6 – What did 2020 do to your plans?

It’s hard to believe that even though we are only in May, 2020 has officially been going on for 13 years. Many of us had a lot of big plans going into the year, but the coronavirus had other intentions for us. To play with that idea, a fun meme started with people putting a “before” and “after,” giving a much-needed humorous look at the theme park community.

Let’s take a look at some of our favorites, starting with a user reminding us all of the infamous 2018 Theme Park Turkey of the Year Awards, when Disney had a rough couple days of audio-animatronics losing their heads…

# 5 – Disney announces budget cuts are coming

To the surprise of no one, Disney announced some scary financial numbers during a shareholders’ conference call earlier this month. To help save money, the company said it would be reducing capital expenditures. What we don’t know is what projects will be affected by this new decree. Many feel that projects already well into construction – such as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster  in EPCOT – will be completed, but others not as far along (or not even started) may be stopped. This news had one DisTwitter member creating a graphic that brought back memories of the “Thanos snap” in Avengers: Infinity War, with one proposed EPCOT project fading away…

# 4 – Midsommar Shock

Recently, a meme took off which used a moment from the film Midsommar. The picture in question uses a stunned reaction from a character in the movie.

DisTwitter than speculated what these characters could be so shocked by…

From the official Disney signage Hall of Shame. (meme by @Super WeenieHtJr)
Donald Duck, at the end of Mickey’s Philharmagic. (meme by @nocontxtdsny)
Flick from It’s Tough to be a Bug. (meme by @TheMagicBlitz)
Everyone’s favorite cosmic crooner, Sonny Eclipse. (meme by @RedSoxRedShoes)
Stitch “TP’ing” Cinderella Castle. (meme by @escapedstitch)
GIANT Donald Duck from Shanghai Disneyland. (meme by @ParkscopeNick)

# 3 – Down the aisle

The coronavirus has unfortunately led to who-knows-how-many weddings being postponed, which has to be heartbreaking for the people who have put so much time into planning their special day. However, one popular meme trend showed that it’s not just brides and grooms who are looking forward to day when they can “walk down the aisle”…

# 2 – Disney Springs Re-Opens

When Disney Springs announced it would re-open on May 20th, becoming the first Disney location in America for guests to get their “Disney Fix” again, it was commonly assumed that no matter how soon this may be, the Orlando theme park bloggers hungry for content would descend on the dining and entertainment district like locusts. “The Child” of DisTwitter – @DisneyDweller – even brought back an appropriate old school meme to make his commentary…

Disney Springs Opening Day Issues

Last week we wrote about the re-opening of Universal CityWalk, with most people impressed by the standard of safety that Universal had set. Disney Springs did not re-open with that same level of confidence. Many guests reported that social distancing was not being enforced, a large amount of guests removed their “required” face masks, and in a story we’ll revisit later in the year for the 2020 Turkey Awards, one family thought it would be okay to grill their own hotdogs outside Cookes of Dublin.

Day One of the Disney Springs re-opening.
Day Two of the Disney Springs re-opening.

All of this led to another spot-on meme from @SuperWeenieHtJr.

# 1 – What’s in a name?

One of the more popular “games” on social media platforms is people taking the concept of changing just one letter in a Broadway show, music band, or movie title, to make it into something worse. The theme park community had some fun with that idea as well….

So there you have it: The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via MEMES! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles covering the latest from the Disney Outlet Stores. You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following: 

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 1)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 2)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 3)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 4)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 5)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 6)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 7)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 8)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 9)

The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Theme Park News via Memes (vol 10)

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will  enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

No lies detected…

The post The SATURDAY SIX Looks at Recent Theme Park News via MEMES appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

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Disney Parks Other

Disney surveying guests about the new COVID-19 policies at Disney Springs

Disney surveying guests

Disney is surveying guests who visited Disney Springs asking them about the new COVID-19 policies they have in place.

As you can see from the survey it is all focused around the new health and safety guidelines at Disney Springs.

No word on if this is going to change any of the policies they have in place or if they are just checking to make sure they are making guests feel safe and comfortable.

We were there on the opening day of Disney Springs. Check out our posts below for photos and video!

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Parks & Resorts, Disney Springs, Walt Disney World, disney, Disney Survey, Disney surveying guests, Disney World

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Disney News Disney Parks Other

Disneyland Reveals Plans for New DVC Property at the Disneyland Hotel

disneyland dvc

Earlier this year we shared info on the Disneyland Resort‘s plans to build a DVC tower at the Disneyland Hotel. Today we have new details on this Disney Vacation Club tower.

Here’s what we know:

  • The look of the new DVC tower will be in keeping with the retro look of the resort. It will be designed in such a way that it won’t be obtrusive to local residents.
  • The new tower will feature a spa, a pool, and some type of interactive water feature.
  • The tower will have 12 stories and an L-shaped design.
  • There is currently no timeline for completion, but the City of Anaheim is currently reviewing construction proposals. It was previously scheduled to open in 2023.

Twitter account @MagicAndWalnut shared that they, and local residents, were invited to a town hall webinar where details about the Disneyland Resort construction project were shared.

Magic & Walnut also shared a map that shows exactly where the new addition will be in the Disneyland Hotel complex. It appears that the 12-story hotel tower will sit in front of a single-story pool area and will be located next to the Frontier Tower.

This tower will be the second DVC property in California with Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa being the first. The tower will most likely be named after a section of Disneyland Park like the other three Disneyland Hotel towers.

While there is no set timeline for the project, The Walt Disney Company recently filed a construction permit for both demolition and construction for this project.

Are you looking forward to having another DVC property in Anaheim?

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Disneyland, News, Parks & Resorts, Vacation Club, Disney Vacation Club, Disneyland DVC Tower, disneyland hotel, Disneyland Resort, DVC

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Disney Food Disney Parks Other

Photos and Review: How Do Morimoto Street Food’s Bao Buns Compare to Pandora’s Cheeseburger Pods??

Morimoto Asia Street Food is now reopened in Disney Springs!

Morimoto Asia Street Food

Select third-party shops and restaurants began reopening at Disney Springs on May 20th. We were there on reopening day to share our experience, and we’re continuing to drop in to check out locations as they reopen. Today, Morimoto Asia Street Food joined the list of reopened locations at Disney Springs, so we stopped in to grab some lunch!

Ordering Process

Similar to other locations around Disney Springs, Morimoto Asia Street Food has social distancing markers set up to show guests proper spacing as they stand in line to order their food.

Social Distancing Markers

We noticed that the large overhead menu which used to be placed above the counter was missing. Instead, there was a copy of the temporary menu, with reduced offerings, displayed in front of the register.

Morimoto Asia Street Food

It wasn’t yet set up when we ordered, but by the time we left, a plexiglass guard was installed in front of the register.

Plexiglass Guard

They were accepting cash payments, although the Cast Member informed us that they are encouraging contactless credit card payments if possible. The self-serve condiment station has been removed, so the Cast Member handed us sauces, napkins, and silverware after we placed our order.

Morimoto Asia Street Food Cast Member

They informed us that they’ve placed an order for packaged silverware and napkin kits, but they hadn’t arrived yet.

Seating

The restaurant removed some tables and spaced out the seating to allow for social distancing while dining.

Seating at Morimoto Asia Street Food

There was also a hand sanitizer station set up by the seating area.

Hand Sanitizer Station

As we were eating, another party finished their meal and left, and a Cast Member immediately wiped down the table at which they were sitting. So, in our experience, the team was on top of sanitation procedures!

Eats

Okay, now for the fun part — FOOD! The restaurant was offering a temporary menu with reduced options.

Morimoto Asia Street Food Menu

First, we tried the BBQ Pork Bun. We were curious to see how it compared to the Cheeseburger Pods from Satu’li Canteen in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!  This was a soft bao bun filled with a creamy pork mixture for $7.

BBQ Pork Bun

We really enjoyed this BBQ Pork Bun! The texture was nice and fluffy, and the flavor was a bit sweet. So this might be a good choice if you’re trying to avoid excess spice! The bun by itself wasn’t super filling, but it would be great as a snack or a light lunch. It’s safe to say, in our opinion, this bao and Satu’li Canteen’s don’t disappoint! Both are filled with rich, meaty mixtures — it may just be a matter of whether you’re craving pork or beef!

BBQ Pork Bun

We also tried the Spicy Chashu Ramen, which had Soy Flavored Pork Broth, Roasted Pork, Scallions, and a Soy Marinated Egg. And as much as we enjoyed the bun, the ramen was the real winner for us! Fair warning, it was pretty spicy, so it’s probably best to avoid this one if you’re not a fan of heat.

Spicy Chashu Ramen

But, in addition to the spice, there was a ton of great flavors in the ramen. We really enjoyed the pork which was sliced super thin and cooked perfectly. The noodles did help balance the spice a bit, and we liked that we could taste the soy in both the egg and the broth. So, the ramen gets two big thumbs up from us!

Overall Experience

We really enjoyed our time at Morimoto Asia Street Food. Both of the menu items we tried were awesome (especially the ramen!) and we took notice of the many precautions the restaurant and its Cast Members were taking. As usual, it was an absolute delight dining at Morimoto Asia Street Food! We’ll definitely be back again soon — we’re still dreaming about that ramen! You can check out our pre-closure review of Morimoto Asia Street Food here!

Have you eaten at Morimoto Asia Street Food? Share your experience in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Counter-Service, disney restaurant review, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, bbq pork, bbq pork bun, disney springs, disney springs dining, disney springs reopen, disney springs reopening, Morimoto, Morimoto Asia Street Food, pork buns, Ramen, spicy chashu ramen