A Blog About Disney Stuff

A bit of normalcy this week. It was so wonderful to be able to see my social media timeline filled with Disney theme park goodness again!

This week, we learn just how much Hamilton helped to influence people to download Disney+, learn more about what’s going on with the NBA at Walt Disney World, and more.

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

It’s official. The Disney College Program has been suspended indefinitely, as of right now.

Well, it looks like The VOID may be no more, at least at the Disneyland Resort. Did you ever get to experience The VOID?

Wow! The total Disney+ downloads were up 74% thanks to a little thing called Hamilton. Also, I am still singing those songs!

This guy, Julian Bass, even caught the attention of Bob Iger thanks to his social media post. He does a pretty amazing job!

Tron 3….it’s supposedly going to be a thing, as rumors are indicating that the film is a go once again.

Get ready to restart the NBA with this special on ABC on July 25. (And because I’m a good wife, I must shout out Go Spurs Go!)

Want to see a first look of what’s going on with the NBA at Walt Disney World? The TODAY Show has a pretty good glimpse for us.

The Walt Disney Company now has a first-look deal with Colin Kaepernick. In addition, ESPN Films will produce an exclusive docuseries on Kaepernick’s life as part of the overall deal.

The post In Case You Missed It: News and Rumors – Week of July 10, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

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

With the Walt Disney World Resort starting to reopen, transportation has slowly resumed operations as well. Disney’s Friendship Boats will soon join the other transportation options available to guests. The boats will resume service starting July 29.

Right now the main forms of transportation at Disney World are buses, the monorail, and ferries. The Disney Skyliner will resume operations on July 15th.

The Friendship Boats travel through Crescent Lake between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They offer transportation to guests at Disney’s Beach & Yacht Club as well as Disney’s BoardWalk. The DVC components of these resorts have been open since June 22.

The rest of Disney’s Beach & Yacht Clubs will open on August 24, with the rest of the BoardWalk opening on October 1.

An update to Disney’s Beach Club Villas and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas on the Disney’s Experience Updates website page states: “Beginning the week of July 29, boat transportation will be available to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.”

Just like other transportation at Disney World, the Friendship Boats will operate under limited capacity as well as with new health and safety measures.

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Do and See, Parks & Resorts, Places to Stay, Resorts, Transportation, Walt Disney World, disney transportation, Disney’s Beach Club, Disney’s Boardwalk, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Yacht Club, Epcot, Friendship Boats, Walt Disney World Resort

Advanced Dining Reservations opened up to all guests for select Walt Disney World Resort restaurants earlier this week. Now reservations are available for Chef Mickey’s and California Grill as well!

Both restaurants are located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Chef Mickey’s is a character dining location and California Grill is a signature dining location.

Chef Mickey’s is only available for breakfast reservations right now starting July 10th for up to 60 days in advance. While this restaurant typically features a buffet breakfast, brunch, or dinner as a Character Meal, upon reopening it will only serve breakfast and will not have characters.

Disney’s website says breakfast will be “Chef Mickey’s Family Feast” and guests will “Enjoy a lively, all-you-care-to-eat family-style meal in a bright, happy space.”

California Grill, a popular signature dining restaurant, will also be accepting reservations starting July 10th. Dinner is the only meal available for reservations right now. The restaurant’s “Brunch at the Top”, which is typically offered on Sundays, is still listed as “temporarily unavailable.”

Who else is excited to get to dine at these Contemporary restaurants again?!

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Disney Food, Parks & Resorts, Resorts, Walt Disney World, Advanced Dining Reservations, California Grill, Chef Mickey’s, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are reopening at the Walt Disney World Resort next week. While things will be different upon reopening, there will still be character experiences for guests visiting.

Part of the magic of a Walt Disney World Resort theme park visit is seeing beloved Disney characters. With traditional parades and character greetings on hiatus to promote physical distancing among guests, theme park character experiences have been reimagined in new and different ways.

Character Experiences at Epcot (reopening July 15)

• “Mickey and Friends World Tour” – As guests travel around World Showcase, they may come upon Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, and Goofy all out sightseeing and waving to their friends.
• “Frozen Promenade” – Queen Anna and Elsa venture into the unknown around World Showcase, journeying from country to country and waving hello to guests along the way.

Character Experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (reopening July 15)

• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – While living their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away, guests are likely to come across some familiar faces as they explore Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu:
  o Heroes of the Resistance, including Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi, may be spotted on platforms above the garage in Black Spire Station or surveying activity around the spaceport where the Millennium Falcon has landed.
  o A contingent of First Order Stormtroopers join Kylo Ren in patrolling the landing platform at Docking Bay 9 beneath their TIE Echelon assault vehicle.
• “Pixar Pals Motorcade” – Some of the biggest stars from Pixar Animation Studios’ films arrive on Hollywood Boulevard, from The Incredibles to Toy Story pals and more. They’ll wave to their fans as they head down the avenue accompanied by a celebratory musical score.
• “Disney Junior Stars Motorcade” – Throughout the day, Disney Junior stars including Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins, and Vampirina will cruise down Hollywood Boulevard waving to fans from colorful custom convertibles.

Will you be visiting these parks when they reopen next week?

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: News, Characters, Parks & Resorts, Walt Disney World, character experiences, Disney Junior Stars Motorcade, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Frozen Promenade, Mickey and Friends World Tour, Pixar Pals Motorcade, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

As many of us sadly know, the Flower and Garden Festival was cut short this year. There is good news for those of us who missed out on Flower And Garden Merchandise because it will be available as part of the Taste of Food and Wine event coming to Epcot!

Flower And Garden Merchandise

An assortment of goodies from all of the special collections will be available. This includes Orange Bird’s Hello Sunshine Collection, Minnie’s Flower Cart, and the Spike’s Sweet as can Bee Collection. That also means we can look forward to picking up the Orange Birds Ears, and Spirit Jersey if we missed it!

The Disney Parks Flower and Garden Wishables will also return! The open-chase edition of Mickey Mouse, along with the blind bags with Minnie Mouse, Frushi, Figment Topiary, and Butterfly will be available for collecting!

Are you looking forward to the opportunity to purchase Flower And Garden Merchandise at the Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival this year?

From our friends at chipandco.com
Filed Under: Shop, Souvenirs & Collectibles, Festival Merchandise, Flower and Garden, Flower and Garden Merchandise, Food and Wine