Category: Other

This week, we find out what you need to watch this weekend on Disney+, especially for park fans, see what Gerlyn has to say about the unfortunate news for Hong Kong Disneyland, and what thinks of the news about Black Widow being delayed, once again.

In Case You Missed It – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors

For more than 60 years, Disney theme parks have held the Four Keys, but soon they will be adding a Fifth Key. Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency have been the guiding principles of guest service and now, they will be adding Inclusion as the Fifth Key.

This is a major blow to Hong Kong Disneyland. According to Bloomberg, the resort lost an option to expand its site after local authorities decided not to renew an agreement to develop a neighboring plot of land. While Disney will still be able to invest in the current property, not having that extra land certainly isn’t a great thing.

Gerelyn shared: Hong Kong Disneyland is not going to be able to renew their land rights to expand. This will restrict their growth but they have committed to expand within the existing park by adding one new attraction almost every year through 2023. This should be interesting to see how they invest their current land.

While I’m trying to avoid most spoilers on this attraction, because someday I’d like to get to Tokyo Disneyland, a video of the new Beauty and the Beast attraction got posted to Twitter and the internet rightfully lost their minds. Um….I don’t know about you, but watching Belle and the Beast waltz is pretty darned amazing.

I am gonna be honest. I miss cruising. And maybe we are one step closer to being able to do so as the Cruise Lines International Association has come up with some mandatory core elements of health protocols that must be implemented and followed. If these things were implemented, would you feel comfortable getting on a cruise ship again yet?

We’ve got this weekend’s activity all planned! I don’t know about you, but I plan on having the new Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom fired up, which is an original National Geographic documentary that is narrated by Josh Gad and as Disney claims, you are welcomed to a place where wonder meets the wild.

Also, if you want to watch a combination of really unique Disney theme park content, here are some fantastic TV theme park specials from the past that are all on YouTube. I don’t know about you, but I’m intrigued. Which are you going to watch first?

The reshuffling of Disney films continues, as a number of films, including Black Widow will be pushed back. Now you won’t be able to see Black Widow until May 2021, a year after it was originally supposed to debut. Take a look at the full slate of what’s moved and what’s staying here.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I certainly wish that Genie would grant me one of these shirts! A t-shirt from 1992 that features the Genie sold for a whopping $6000! (Oh by the way, the individual originally bought the shirt for $500….I should really see what I have in my closets.) Take a look to see what the shirt looks like. (And hey! Maybe you have it in your closet and can make a pretty penny off it!)

Debuting this weekend during the Emmy Awards was the first trailer for WandaVision which will be airing on Disney+ later this year. It certainly looks like it will be interesting. The show stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, and it will officially be the first series from Marvel Studios that streams exclusively on Disney+. The series is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision—two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives—begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.

Julia let us know her thoughts about the trailer: I’m probably on the planet farthest removed from superhero movies. I don’t think I’ve seen any in. . . . more than 10 years? But I’m so excited for WandaVision because it doesn’t look like a superhero thing where guys with crazy powers save the world. It looks quirky, and I’m all aboard for that!

The post What We’re Talking About: Hong Kong Disneyland, Black Widow, & More appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: In Case You Missed It, What We’re Talking About

Great news for fans of Aulani! (Of which I count myself!) Guests will once again soon be able to visit Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina on the island of O’ahu in Hawaii beginning on November 1! This is due to Hawaii’s recent announcement of a pre-arrival testing program for those traveling from out-of-state.

The reopening will be a phased reopening and Disney will of course be focusing on the health and safety of their Guests, Cast and community. This gradual, phased reopening considers the guidance of local and national government and health authorities, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the U.S. Travel Association and Disney’s team of health and safety experts.

During the reopening process, Disney will be able to evaluate and adjust along the way, as circumstances and the recommendations of authorities change.

For those looking to travel to this island paradise, you can currently book reservations for 2021. So, get ready to once again say Aloha to this fantastic resort!

The post Get Ready to Say Aloha Once Again to Aulani – A Disney Resort & Spa appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Aulani, News, aulani, COVID-19

Over the past several months we have enjoyed sharing some Aulani Resort magic with you at home. We shared peaceful scenes from the resort to help you find your Zen, an inside look at Aulani Resort, Cast Member performances of hula at homeand celebrated national Lū‘au Month. Through it all, we have looked forward to welcoming families back to our vacation paradise when the time was right, and today we’d like to share our plans with you.

Given Hawaii’s recent announcement of a pre-arrival testing program for those traveling from out-of-state, we are working toward a phased reopening of Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa beginning on Sunday, November 1. And just like our other Disney destinations that have re-opened, we are using a measured approach that focuses on the health and safety of our guests, cast and community.

Our gradual, phased approach to reopening considers the guidance of local and national government and health authorities, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the U.S. Travel Association and Disney’s team of health and safety experts. This deliberate approach allows us to evaluate and adjust along the way, as circumstances and the recommendations of health authorities evolve.

Because each of us shares a responsibility for the health of our community, we will be making resources available to help make guests aware of our new policies, so they, too, can do their part.

We look forward to helping you make new memories with your family, friends and loved ones at Aulani Resort in the near future. Please continue to visit Aulani.com for updates.

View on the Disney Parks Blog.

The post Aulani Resort Will Plan to Begin a Phased Reopening on November 1 appeared first on Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

From our friends at dpep.disney.com
Filed Under: Aulani, Parks and Experiences, Walt Disney Imagineering

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, like almost all the other Disney Vacation Club resorts, is partially open. This results in a few interesting moments, including a limited amount of dining options. Only Kidani Village is open which leaves Sanaa and the Maji Pool Bar as the only dining options at the Lodge.

Sanaa Breakfast

Sanaa is one of the highest-rated restaurants at Walt Disney World; our readers give it a 94% thumbs up rating, and it is ranks at number 7 out of 103 dining options. Besides delicious dinner and lunch, Sanaa is also open for quick service breakfast. The options are not as impressive as their lunch and dinner, but there’s still some decent choices.

While Mobile Ordering is available for Sanaa at lunch or dinner To Go, it is not available for this quick-service breakfast. Each breakfast item has some exotic influence, but is still approachable enough for anyone who prefers more traditional flavors. Breakfast at Sanaa debuted in 2016 and has come and gone as seasonal needs change. The menu has changed since then too.

Beverage stations are set up near the front of the restaurant, and along the Lounge. Grab and go pastries and beverages are available too.

Maji Pool Bar

The other dining option currently open at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village is Maji Pool Bar. It has a limited casual food menu which is great for poolside dining, but leaves a bit to be desired as the only other dining option at the resort. A particularly disappointing dish is the Berber Black-Eyed Peas Harvest Salad with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, and red onion. While this chilled salad is refreshing on a hot day, it lacks flavor, severely.

The best food find of our team’s stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge is also the sweetest. Zebra Domes are the signature dessert of this Lodge. The silky desserts are made of Amarula Cream Liquor mousse with a light vanilla outer layer, white chocolate, and dark chocolate stripes. These iconic domes are available at Johari Treasures, the merchandise shop inside the Kidani Village lobby.

Zebra Domes have been available here for quite some time; the big news is our 30% annual passholder discount applied to them!

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What’s your favorite food find at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge?

The post Food Finds at Animal Kingdom Lodge appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Observations, Resorts, best disney dining, disney dining, disney sanaa, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Zebra Domes