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What We’re Talking About: Disneyland Not Reopening Yet, Is Goofy a Dog, Universal Orlando’s New Housing Project, and More

This week, see what Dani has to say about the layoff of thousands of Cast Members, we find out why you need to see this new artwork that’s found in the Disneyland Resort, and what Joe thinks of how the VelociCoaster will change the Orlando area, plus more.

What We’re Talking About – Disney and Universal Orlando News and Rumors

It’s been an interesting back and forth. Right now, California Governor Gavin Newsom says that Disneyland and the other theme parks in the area are not going to be opening at any time soon. The governor is waiting until they see more stability in terms of the data that is coming in.

James has some thoughts: As someone looking forward to planning a trip to Disneyland upon its reopening, this news is a real disappointment, and my heart breaks for the thousands of cast members that still aren’t able to return to work as a result of the continued closure. With that said, I’ve been tracking this pretty closely, and it’s not particularly surprising given the blueprint California established for reopening businesses in the state. The way it’s structured, large theme parks like Disneyland would necessarily be among the last businesses to reopen in the absence of an exception being made. With THAT said, however, there’s an rising amount of increasingly public pressure being exerted for just such an exception, so we’ll have to see in the days and weeks ahead if that gains any traction.

The big discussion this week. I mean this is the news you’ve been waiting for….the age old question has been answered by the voice of Goofy himself, Bill Farmer….is Goofy a dog?

However, another odd bit came out from this article that has Natalie questioning things. She said: Farmer’s revelation that Goofy is not only NOT a dog but that he may have been involved with Jessica Rabbit is a bombshell I wasn’t prepared for, even in 2020. 

Jamie Foxx, returning as Electro in the next Spider-man film? But a different Electro than he previously portrayed? Is this all true? According to the Hollywood Reporter, it seems that would be the case. Would you like to see this character brought back in the new version of Spider-man?

Oh and speaking of Spider-man news….Benedict Cumberbatch is also slated to be in the film, as Doctor Strange.

Well this is stinking adorable. Combining Halloween and the Child is the greatest idea ever! Learn how to make a pumpkin themed after Baby Yoda!  I know what I’m doing this year!

This is definitely an interesting development. Universal is hoping to break ground a new affordable housing community in Orange County sometime in 2022.

Dani shares her thoughts about this potentially happening: I am happy to hear about the affordable housing. It is necessary in the attractions area, no doubt. It is important to remember the relationships that theme parks build with the local government. Last year Orange County commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a plan to give $125 million to Universal Orlando to build a new road.

This week, Universal laid off a number of their Team Members. Trust me when I say that my heart goes out to all the Team Members who were impacted.

In Case We Missed It

What did we miss? Attach your ideas to these unique Goofy Earrings and send it to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.

The post What We’re Talking About: Disneyland Not Reopening Yet, Is Goofy a Dog, Universal Orlando’s New Housing Project, and More appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: In Case You Missed It

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Today’s Wait Times: A Sign of the Apocalypse?

Here’s a quick look at the wait times across Walt Disney World for today, Thursday, October 8, 2020.  Over at the Magic Kingdom, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Astro Orbiter had their highest wait times of the week.  The most surprising thing, though, was at Mickey’s PhilharMagic, which had an average wait time of 27 minutes today. Not only is that the highest average wait of the week, it looks like it’s the highest average wait we have for the month … and the past year!

The high waits for those attractions were balanced out by relatively low waits at attractions such as Tomorrowland Speedway (next-lowest waits of the week and the month), Peter Pan’s Flight (#4 for the week), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (22 minutes, #4 for the week), and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (58 minutes, #3 for the week).

EPCOT Wait Times

The accuracy of posted wait times continues to improve over at EPCOT, with actual wait times sitting at around 70% of the posted wait times.  Attractions that were relatively busy today include Gran Fiesta Tour, Spaceship Earth, and Mission: Space (both Orange and Green). In fact, Mission: Space Green’s average wait time of 20 minutes today was the highest all month, and #36 over the past year.

 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wait Times

The headline story here has to be the 27-minute average wait posted over at MuppetVision 3D.  This attraction averages a posted wait of around 12 minutes, making today’s number the highest average wait of the past year.  The return of live shows such as the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage can’t come fast enough for the Studios, especially if it wants to increase capacity for the holidays.

The good news is that waits were relatively low for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (73 minutes, #6 for the week), Slinky Dog Dash (68 minutes, #5 for the week), Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (60 minutes, #5 for the week), and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (47 minutes, #6 for the week). Also, your actual wait in line was only around 60% of the posted wait shown at the rides.

Animal Kingdom Wait Times

Today was relatively uneventful over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Flight of Passage’s average wait of 57 minutes was #7 for the month, and Kali River Rapids’ average wait of 27 minutes was #4 for the past month. That was balanced out by 17-minute waits over at Kilimanjaro Safaris (#19 for the past month) and 24 minutes at Expedition Everest (#12 for the past month).

The post Today’s Wait Times: A Sign of the Apocalypse? appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

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Looking for Healthful Snacks at Walt Disney World? Go to the Kids’ Menu

Fueling yourself with the right food and drinks can make your time at Walt Disney World more enjoyable. If you’re looking for healthful snacks for yourself or your kids, look to the kids’ menu at many counter service locations across Walt Disney World.

On the kids’ menu you can find the Kids’ Disney Check Meals, which indicate a meal put together to meet a variety of health and nutritional needs. One such meal, is actually a snack pack. Let’s face it, many kids prefer to snack than to eat a meal. The Kids’ Power Pack available at many counter service locations at Walt Disney World is great option for kids who want to snack throughout the day, and adults too. Some of the included items, like the Dannon Yogurt Smoothie need to be refrigerated or put in a cooler, but others can get in your backpack and go along with you throughout the day.

Kids’ Power Pack at Hollywood Studios

The Power Pack comes with Dannon Danimals Smoothie, Apple Wedges, Baby Carrots, Cheddar Crackers, Apple-Cinnamon Snack Bar, and Choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Dasani Water. Minute Maid Juice Box, Small Nesquick Chocolate Milk, or Cookie substituted upon request. It is $6.19 which isn’t too bad considering you get five snacks and a small beverage. It is also available through mobile ordering at participating locations.

Kids’ Power Pack at Hollywood Studios Mobile Order

If you’re looking for locations that offer the Power Pack, just head to our Menu Search on our website or the Lines app. There you can search for practically any food item you wish and our site will show which locations have that item on their menu. You don’t have to be a TouringPlans Subscriber to access it, but if you’d like to say “thank you” for the research we do and want access to all our tools then sign up.

What’s your favorite Disney snack?

The post Looking for Healthful Snacks at Walt Disney World? Go to the Kids’ Menu appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Hollywood Studios, In the Parks, kids, Snacks, Disney food, disney healthy eating, disney kids, Disney Snacks

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PHOTOS: Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop Opens at Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney has been a popular destination for many people in the LA/OC area, so much so the parking lot and shopping district regularly close to new visitors for hours at a time. To add capacity to the area a new store has opened. Located in Stage 17, which is actually inside Disney California Adventure, the Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop features an assortment of merchandise from World of Disney, Disney Home, and The Disney Dress Shop.

The entrance is located to the left of Disney California Adventure. A queue is set up where the line for the Disneyland Resort ticket booths are usually located.

Signs advertising the Backlot Premiere Shop are impossible to miss. They’re everywhere in Downtown Disney.

Social distancing markers themed to the Hollywood Backlot. This is SO 2020.

Walking in to the Backlot Premiere Shop you’ll find yourself in an area that is usually off limits to guests. This is behind the PhilharMagic and Buena Vista Street buildings.

A red carpet awaits visitors who enter the new shop.

Inside the Backlot Premiere Shop is merchandise from the aforementioned shops found in Downtown Disney.

Haunted Mansion fans will find a lot of merchandise to choose from.

Most of items found in the shop are Halloween related.

A whole wall of Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise.

It wouldn’t be 2020 without a huge selection of face masks.

There’s a few items that are usually sold inside Disney California Adventure, such as these assortment of Guardians of the Galaxy items.

Baby Yoda shoulder plush and face masks.

An army of cast members and cash registers are ready to check you out.

This was fun. On the way out you can spot a bit of Disney California Adventure history. This was part of the sign when the building was used for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It! attraction in the early 2000s.

Will you be stopping by the Backlot Premiere Shop to check it out? Let me know in the comments below.

The post PHOTOS: Disneyland Backlot Premiere Shop Opens at Downtown Disney appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disneyland (CA), Merchandise, Downtown Disney

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Disney’s Halloween Festival at Disneyland Paris Returns with New Character ‘Selfie Spots’

Disney’s Halloween Festival has returned to Disneyland Paris with exclusive “selfie spots”  – a new way of interacting with your favorite Disney friends!  From now until November 1, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and others are dressed in their most wickedly colorful Halloween fashions to share some special not-so-spooky moments with visiting guests.

In the heart of Fantasyland, the Meet Mickey Mouse theatre is decorated in the colors of the season, welcoming guests of all ages to take an unforgettable selfie with Mickey and friends.

Selfies at the Studio Theater in Disneyland Paris

During this year’s Festival, popular Disney villains, including Maleficent, Ursula and Captain Hook are also taking over some iconic park locations.  Even villains like Jafar and Cruella de Vil are invading Studio Theatre at Walt Disney Studios Park to strike frightfully fun poses with guests.

Pumpkins at Frontierland in Disneyland Paris

The bravest guests can discover – or rediscover  – Disneyland Paris’ spookiest attractions as well. They can shriek in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Walt Disney Studios Park, seated in the elevator of the infamous Hollywood Tower Hotel, facing 13-story freefalls and enjoy other surprises. 

At Disneyland Park, guests are invited to join spirits and ghouls who enjoy nothing more than feasting and dancing in the dining room of Phantom Manor, nestled in a dark corner of Frontierland.

For the entire season, Disneyland Park is decorated in its most spooktacular Halloween decor from Main Street, U.S.A., to Sleeping Beauty Castle and beyond.  And in Frontierland, there’s a colourful Mexican-inspired festival complete with lively music and prancing skeletons.

This year’s celebration also includes enchanting sweet and savory flavors shaped like Disney villains and Halloween-themed merchandise at shops throughout the Resort.

Selfies with Mickey and Minnie at Disneyland Paris

As you can see, Halloween is being celebrated at Disneyland Paris with a witch’s hatful of surprises to discover. Even Disney Village has been taken over by pumpkins and ghosts!   

Disney’s Halloween Festival at Disneyland Paris began September 26 and runs through November 1, 2020.  

Also, did you know?

• 13,262 flowers make up the new garlands from Halloween to Frontierland.

• 175 meters of giant light strings illuminate the road to Frontierland.

• 3-meter-tall female “Catrinas” skeletons inspired by Mexican culture are highlighted in the decorations.

From our friends at disneyparks.disney.go.com
Filed Under: Disneyland Paris, DLP