Sunday, December 29, 2013

Walt Disney World News and Rumors 12/23/13 - 12/29/13






News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.
 

News

Magic Kingdom

  • The Seven Dwarf's Mine Shop will be closing in early January.  
  • The Heritage House in Liberty Square at the exit of Hall of Presidents will be closing on January 4th.
  • A new FastPass+ kiosk area has been added near Stitch's Great Escape.
  • Night of Joy is scheduled to take place on September 5 & 6 and the Christian artists have already been announced for the event.  They are: 
    Friday, September 5
    • Hillsong United
    • Chris Tomlin
    • Matthew West
    • For King & Country
    • Mandisa
    • Building 429
    • Matt Maher
    • The Neverclaim
Saturday, September 6
    • Skillet
    • Casting Crowns
    • MercyMe
    • Israel Houghton & New Breed
    • Britt Nicole
    • Colton Dixon
    • Rhett Walker
    • We As Human
    • One Girl Nation



Rumors


  • The largest Apple Store in the world may be added as part of Disney Springs.
  • Waterfront dining could be headed to the Norway Pavilion.


Download the Guide to all the best Holiday Delights in Walt Disney World!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Year In Review: The Good and Bad at Walt Disney World 2013

Wow!  We're here already?  Didn't I just write up last year's best of the best of Walt Disney World?

So, it's now time to take a look at a few of the big things that happened at Walt Disney World for 2013.  It seems that while this year was very short on new attractions, this was indeed a year of change, as many new upgrades were added to the way we all vacation.  Here is a look at some of the things that I think we’ll all remember this past year for.  In order to do that, I thought I'd  rate them in a system that is lovingly borrowed from the former Betamouse crew…Win, Fail, Meh. (We miss you Betamouse!)  

Win



  • Starbucks:  Whether you love Starbucks or hate Starbucks, the fact of the matter is that there is now decent coffee in the Disney parks.  This was not something that was true just a few months ago.  It may have taken over some questionable areas, but for those who need a cup of coffee to get going, it is a welcome addition. 
  • Gardens Kiosk:  An incredible idea from the company who does more than any others to help those with dietary restrictions.  This new kiosk lets guests see what ingredients are in most of the dishes served within Animal Kingdom's gates.  It also sells treats for those who are on strict diets, like gluten free. I hope we see something like this rolled out to the other three parks soon.  


©Disney
  • Wilderness Explorers:  A perfect addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom, this new game takes guests throughout the park to earn badges (based on the movie Up) and in the process learn a bit more about the different animals that can be found in the park.  It makes people explore the park that many just breeze through.  With it's low tech introduction and it's heavy edutainment process, I think this is a fantastic addition to the park.  
  • Tangled Toilets:  Have you seen these?  They are fabulous!  Disney really added some amazing details in just a bathroom.  It proves that they are the king of the detail, if they do this much to just a bathroom.  You'll marvel at Rapunzel's tower and you'll be in awe of the lanterns at night.  (PS:  look for the hidden Pascals.)  
 
©Disney

  • Talking Mickey Mouse:  It's pretty incredible that Disney was able to get the technology to make this possible.  I am hopeful that Mickey will get to say more in the future.  If he doesn't this will head down to the meh category for me.  The technology behind it is amazing though, making it a win.  

©Disney
  • Food Booths Added To Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival:  Wow!  This was a great idea!  I love that they offer fresh items and things you'd expect to see in the springtime.  (Like Dole Whips, Strawberry Shortcake, and BBQ.)  I also like that there are only a handful of booths.  It's a great addition and I can't wait to see what the future holds for it.  
  • Jingle Cruise:  This Holiday overlay has seemed extremely popular.  Despite the fact that the decor was really only relegated to the boat dock, queue line, and the spiel, this hopefully sparked in Walt Disney World management that Holiday overlays are an amazing idea and CAN actually work at Walt Disney World.  Maybe we'll get back Country Bear Jamboree Christmas?  Or maybe they'll add It's a Small World Holiday or the grandaddy of them all the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay to Haunted Mansion.  I just hope that they see that overall, it was a success and that yes, those of us who visit the Orlando parks crave the overlays just as much as Disneyland locals do.  


Fail

 
©Disney

  • Limited Time Magic:  So, while there were a few events that were moderately successful, such as May the Fourth Be With You, The Villains Friday the 13th party, and Long Lost Friends, most events were quite lackluster.  The majority of events included some sort of dance party, treat (usually a cupcake), or an event that already takes place in the parks, just rebranded for the celebration.  It came in with so much potential, it left with so many people not caring.  Bye Limited Time Magic!  Most won't miss you.  
 
 ©Disney

  • Glow With The Show ears:  Touted as a huge event for the year 2013, the Glow With The Show ears don't seem to be catching on.  I think a lot of that could be related to the cost (who wants to spend $25 on ears that you can't see work their magic?)  The hats are only cool when a bunch of people are wearing them.  And most are not.  We'll see what happens over the next few years, but this one certainly is a bit of a snooze.  
  • Rapid Fill Mugs:  In a move that helped curb those who thought they could bring back their past Refillable Mugs, Disney introduced the Rapid Fill Mug system.  The only good thing about it is that you can pick the number of days you would like to have the mug work for.  The rest, sort of stinks, as you have to wait a few minutes to get more refills, it will fill your mug up for you (to a certain point on your mug) so you have no control, and it can't be microwaved any longer.  Even as someone who doesn't drink soda, this seems like a crummy deal. 

Meh

  • Grand Floridian DVC:  They did a fantastic job with the DVC property here.  (Again...amazing with the details).  I especially love the fountain that features the penguins from Mary Poppins. But overall, DVC just doesn't excite me.  It doesn't seem like the deal it was before.  I just can't justify spending the  money on that.  So, while lovely, it's just hard to convince myself that it's the best option for our family.  
  • Guest Assistance Card:  This card had to see some changes this year (too many people abusing the system, plus a national news article about the abuse means things need to change) but I am not sure that the changes are 100% great.  I think that Disney may still need to tweak things here and there to make this system fair for all.  Overall, I think overhauling the system is a win though.  
  • Princess Fairytale Hall:  For someone who doesn't get the meet and greet thing, I think this is just an ok addition.  Don't get me wrong, they did a gorgeous job with the new hug spot.  The details here are fabulous and it's obvious, via the wait times, that it's popular.  It has it's niche audience...I'm not part of it...that's ok.  

©Disney
  • Avatar Plans Released:  This year we saw a few pieces of concept art based off the upcoming land for Disney's Animal Kingdom.  While the concept art looks fantastic and I'm still remaining optimistic that this will be fantastic when it opens (even though I think Avatar is a horrible idea for a land at Disney's Animal Kingdom).  The strange thing was the fact that they announced the details in Japan at their D23, just a couple of months after the American D23 event.  (Which made the plans go live at midnight on a Friday...a strange time for those of us in the US.)  Some wonder if Disney just wasn't ready to announce anything (could it be because it's hard to deal with James Cameron?) and some claim that the Japanese crowd would be less critical, but either way, the art was released and it's intriguing, at the very least.  
  • Disney Springs Announcement:  We all knew that something had to happen with Downtown Disney.  This year, Disney announced that they would begin work on Disney Springs, a rebrand of the shopping and dining district.  Most details are short on what to expect.  Minus a few pieces of concept art.  I remain optimistic about the refurbished area, but it's not something that is super exciting to me either.  
  • Food Trucks:  A great idea, especially now that they're redoing Downtown Disney, but overall, not something I plan to make an effort to stop at.  The prices seem really high for items too.  

  • A Pirate's Adventure:  This game that was added to Adventureland is the Magic Kingdom was an interesting introduction.  I did a review on it and thought it was alright.  Kind of boring, difficult to find the locations sometimes, and not something to do when it's super hot out.  It is great for little ones though, so I guess I'm just not the target audience and maybe that's why I didn't love it.  

©Disney
  • MyMagic+/FastPass+/My Disney Experience/MagicBands:  It really was the year of Magic and plus signs.  This year, Disney began testing it’s brand new NextGen project called MyMagic+.  While this system is still in the testing phase, many of us have now learned what these new terms mean and how it will impact our vacations.  (And trust me, it will for years to come.)  It seems like it was a super big fiasco.  I've heard from plenty of people it worked well, but for others, it worked splendidly awfully. It would have been in the Fail category, but according to Disney, it's still in the testing phase.  (Though, honestly, I would have expected for Disney to have more kinks worked out before they decided to roll out the system for guest testing, but I digress.) For 2014, it will interesting to see how things get tweaked here and there and what new surprises Disney has rolled up their sleeves in regards to this new system.  I expect that we’ll see a more full scale rollout in the next year. Hopefully, in 2014, this will be more of a success and end up in the win category, instead of teetering on the Fail one...which is where it is right now.  
Whew...that's a lot for the year!  But I know I missed something or got something wrong in your eyes, so let me know!   You can do so via Facebook or the comments section. 

Also, if you like this article, I shamelessly ask that you spread the word!  Share it on Twitter or Facebook...pin the photos on Pinterest, hit up the Google + emblem...just let others know about us here!  Also, make sure to LIKE our Facebook page and find me on Twitter, I'm @RikkiNibs!      
  

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Walt Disney World News and Rumors 12/16/13 - 12/22/13





News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.
 

News


Epcot

  • Disney released a few items that will be on the menu at Spice Road Table this week.  The items include dishes like lamb sliders, rice stuffed grape leaves, fried calamari, salted cod coquettes, and a tingis sampler.  The restaurant will now open in early 2014. 


Disney's Hollywood Studios


  • Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins will be joining the Hollywood and Vine Disney Junior character meal starting on Jan. 26th. 
  • From Dec. 24th to Jan. 4th the new food trucks from Downtown Disney will be located on the Streets of America.
  • Star Wars Weekend dates have been announced for 2014.  They are:
    • May 16 – 18
    • May 23 – 25
    • May 30 – June 1
    • June 6 – 8


Disney's Animal Kingdom

  • Part of the Creature Comforts will be turned into a MyMagic+ Service Center.  
  • Camp Minnie-Mickey will officially close on Jan. 6th.  The characters that meet there will be moving to different locations around the park.  Here's where you'll be able to find them: 
    • Pocahontas will be found along the Discovery Island Trail.
    • King Louie & Baloo from The Jungle Book will greet guests along Bradley Falls between Asia and Africa.
    • Chip ‘n’ Dale will move to Rafiki’s Planet Watch on the walkway from the train station to Conservation Station. In addition, musician Gi-Tar Dan will be relocated here.
    • Donald Duck will move to the Cretaceous Trail in DinoLand U.S.A., where guests can join him for a photo with Cory the Dinosaur.


Disney Resorts


  • The Wyland Gallery at Disney's Polynesian Resort will be closing on Dec. 31st. 
  • The End Zone Food Court found at Disney's All Star Sports resort has reopened from a lengthy refurbishment.  

General Walt Disney World News

  • Starting on Jan. 21st, service from the Express and the Resort monorail beam from the Transportation and Ticket Center will be severely impacted as Disney does scheduled maintenance on the two lines. The monorail will be unavailable to guests on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  During the monorail closures, additional buses and watercraft will be available for guest use. This work is expected to last until the end of March 2014.
  • New Disney Dollars have been introduced featuring the Magic Kingdom Mountain Range. 
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Sunday, December 15, 2013

Walt Disney World News and Rumors 12/9/13 - 12/15/13





News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.


News


Magic Kingdom
  • Tortuga Tavern will be offering an island buffet from Dec. 21st - Jan. 4th from 5 pm - 9 pm.
  • Stitch's FASTPASS machines have been removed.  


Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special will be taking place again this festive season from Dec. 21st - Jan. 5th.  The show plays in the Premier Theater and it will be an improv comedy show, with everything coming off the top of the performer's heads.  Showtimes are scheduled at 12:45 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. daily, with the exception of New Year’s Eve, when show times are scheduled for 3:00 p.m, 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m, 8:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. 
  • Taste Of Hollywood To Go will be back in the park again from Dec. 23rd - Jan. 5th and can be picked up at Min and Bill's Dockside Diner.  Those who purchase a meal will get reserved seating at Fantasmic!
  • At the ABC Sound Studio, from Dec. 22nd - Jan. 5th, Disney shorts will be shown from 10:30 am - park close.  

Disney's Animal Kingdom
  • Disney is testing FastPass+ for all guests (both on-site, as well as off-site guests) starting on December 18th. Any off-site guest who wishes to take part in the test and make FastPass+ reservations will need to visit a FastPass+ kiosk in the park to reserve their ride times on the day they visit the park. These day guests will not be able to use the My Disney Experience app or website to make FastPass+ bookings at the moment. In addition, MagicBands are not available for non-Disney resort guests during this test.Legacy FASTPASS will not be available to any park guest and all guests will only be allowed 3 FastPass+ reservations a day.  No word on how long this test will last.  
  • A part of the Creature Comforts shop will be transformed to a MyMagic+ Service Center.  

Downtown Disney

  • The four different food trucks are now showing up at Downtown Disney's WestSide.  
General Walt Disney World News
  • This week's Limited Time Magic celebrates Mary Poppins and Saving Mr. Banks.  Guests will get to meet Mary and Bert at the UK Pavilion in Epcot from Dec. 16th - 22nd.   
  • Beaches and Cream at Disney's Beach Club Resort is now accepting Advanced Dining Reservations starting on Dec. 18th. 
  • This year's New Year's Eve is going to be fantastic at Walt Disney World.  At the Magic Kingdom, they will be showing two fireworks shows each night (both Dec. 30th and 31st) Holiday Wishes:  Celebrate The Season at 9 p.m. and then Fantasy in the Sky, which is scheduled for 11:50 p.m.  At Epcot, there will be a variety of DJs in quite a few of the different countries.  Also, two showings of IllumiNations will light up the sky on New Year’s Eve, ending with the Holiday Tag after the 6:30 p.m. show and the New Year’s Eve Countdown spectacular after the 11:40 p.m. show. At Disney's Hollywood Studios, enjoy performances during the Mulch, Sweat and Shears New Year’s Eve Spectacular. The fun starts at 6:00 p.m. and goes all the way to midnight, ending with the Lights! Camera! Happy New Year! Fireworks spectacular.
  • Three new Disney Dollars will debut Dec. 16th and will feature the three Magic Kingdom mountains.

Download the Guide to all the best Holiday Delights in Walt Disney World!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

The Mouse-standing List: Saving Mr. Banks - The Offical Multi-Touch Book

Ok...you all know how excited I am to see Saving Mr. Banks, right?  You don't?  I am absolutely, 150% geared and amped up to see this movie.  I'm actually sad that I'll be back home the weekend it comes out, so I won't get to see it for a good week to week and a half after it premieres.  (Unless I can sneak in a viewing at home...maybe I'll be that weirdo who goes to the movies in the middle of a Monday afternoon!  Haha!  I certainly won't get to see it during opening weekend though. Darn family obligations.)

I don't really know why I'm super stoked about this movie.  To be honest, I'm not the biggest Mary Poppins fan.  (I know...I feel that's blasphemous to say).  I think the movie is incredibly well done, the songs are fantastic, I'll watch it when it's on, but it's just never been a favorite of mine.  Hopefully this movie will influence my ideas and make me absolutely adore Mary Poppins.  There's just something about Saving Mr. Banks. Maybe it's the fact that I love Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, maybe it's the fact that it was shot partially in Disneyland, maybe it's because I absolutely adore the Sherman Brothers.  Whatever it is, I CANNOT WAIT!

So, imagine my delight when earlier this week, I found out about a brand new e-book that I thought you guys should know about too!  Called Saving Mr. Banks - The Official Multi-Touch Book, I was excited to check it out and it completely floored me by what was included. 

In checking this book out, there's a lot of pieces that make this book fantastic.  First of all, I think it really uses the e-book format in a creative way.  There's things you can click on that takes you further into the story.  These include fun facts, photos galleries, videos, and audio clips.  This is really one of the best mulch-faceted e-books I've seen.  To me, this is what e-books were created for.  It looks like it would be taxing, but once you get into it, you quickly understand. 


©Disney

The book is set up into 8 different chapters with 91 pages of content in all.  Each chapter is broken up according to how the story of Mary Poppins progresses, starting with PL Travers herself, to the story of Mary Poppins being worked on, to the filming of Mary Poppins beginning, as well as the premiere, to now, this movie, Saving Mr. Banks.

©Disney


©Disney

One of the unique pieces of this book is the trivia that's include.  It doesn't show up automatically, but if you press the umbrella button, up pops the fact. 

©Disney


What makes this book unique is that it includes lots of great artifacts and details that inform us all about the back story and creation of Mary Poppins.  It goes through the story chronologically, as Walt progressed in making his movie.

One of these artifacts is this.  Look, you see where the audio symbol is?  Press it and yep...it really is the actual Sherman Brothers recording. 

©Disney

This page shows some of the correspondence between Walt and PL Travers.  Great behind the scenes information.

©Disney


Also included are video interviews with members of the cast and crew of Saving Mr. Banks.  These help to enhance and tell more of the story by the actors own words.

©Disney

One of the other really neat pieces of this book are the galleries that contain concept and storyboard artwork from the film.  You can even click on the image to examine it in more detail. 

©Disney
©Disney


Overall, this book is a cornucopia of information and very much worth the download.

The question is, will this book ruin your experience at the movies for Saving Mr. Banks?  If you want to remain completely spoiler free, then save it for after you've seen the movie.  But most of us know the basics of how Mary Poppins came to light, so while there may be a few moderate spoilers, most of us have a good idea about this movie anyway.
 
Do you want to know the very best part that I saved for last?  It's a good one...Saving Mr. Banks - The Official Multi-Touch Book is FREE!!!!  Absolutely 100% free.  So what are you waiting for?  Why are you still reading this?  Head iTunes and download it! 

And Disney, if by on the off chance you're reading this, please create more of these e-books for future movies.  This was a fantastic idea.  I'm so glad you did it for Saving Mr. Banks.

Also, if you like this article, I shamelessly ask that you spread the word!  Share it on Twitter or Facebook...pin the photos on Pinterest, hit up the Google + emblem...just let others know about us here!  Also, make sure to LIKE our Facebook page and find me on Twitter, I'm @RikkiNibs!    


Sunday, December 8, 2013

Walt Disney World News and Rumors 12/2/13 - 12/8/13






News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.

News

Magic Kingdom

  • A new dance party is popping up in Tomorrowland.  This new lively party will take place on the Rockettower Plaza Stage and is called the Incredibles Super Dance Party.  It will feature Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible, and Frozone. 



Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • Two new Joffrey's Coffee kiosks have been added to both Pixar Place and the Streets of America. 



Walt Disney World Resorts

  • Disney's All Star Resorts are now providing MagicBands only to their guests.  Key To The World cards will be provided upon request, but will not be able to connect to Legacy FASTPASS machines.  Only FastPass+ can be accessed.  


General Walt Disney World News

  • A brand new photo package is available at Walt Disney World called Memory Maker.  This new package will allow guests to enjoy unlimited downloads of digital photos were taken during their stay at the Walt Disney World Resort.  The pre-purchase price is $149.00.  With Memory Maker, you'll be able to have any photos taken by PhotoPass photographers. Also included will be some candid shots, dining location photos, and attraction photos.
  • This week's Limited Time Magic sees guests celebrating Secret Santa week.  From Dec. 9th - 13th, guests will be able to stop by the Town Square Christmas Tree on Main Street, U.S.A. to meet up with Christmas Duffy.  Plus, when visiting other Disney friends in the park, you'll receive a specially decorated keepsake card.  
  • The Expedition Everest Challenge dates have been announced.  They are the weekend of May 3rd.   


Rumors


  • All Disney Resort guests will receive MagicBands in 2014, as Disney has seemingly indefinitely extended MyMagic+ beyond testing.
  • The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will feature an interactive pre-show filled with fun activities themed around mining. 
  • Doc McStuffins may begin meeting guests in early 2014.  She should be meeting at Hollywood and Vine replacing either Agent Oso or June.
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Top 7 Best Ways To Celebrate The Holidays At Walt Disney World

So, the Holiday season is now officially here!  (I'm a traditionalist...Turkey before Tree)  I've got the Disney Holiday music going on www.magicalmouseradio.com, getting the house decorated, buying presents, and being sad that I won't be down at Walt Disney World, yet again at Christmas.  Boo...  However, I can tell you with absolute certainty that it is a glorious time to be at the Resort.

Today, I thought we'd take a look at my Top 5 ways to celebrate and some are a little less conventional that you might think.  My goal is to really reach for some less obvious, mixed in with the slap you in the face must dos!

©Disney

  • Castle Dream Lights at the Magic Kingdom:  Ok, seriously....if you are in Walt Disney World AT ALL during the Holiday season, run to the Magic Kingdom and catch the Castle Dream Lights.  I don't even care if you catch the show that goes along with it (called Cinderella's Holiday Wish), but you NEED to see these lights in some form or fashion.  They are "cry because they are so beautiful" lights.  I know you are thinking...they are just twinkle lights on the castle...but trust me...these will simply blow you away in how gorgeous they are.  I couldn't even comprehend it the first time I saw them in person.  This is most definitely one of those situations where photos do not do this justice.  Yes, they are beautiful, but in person, you will be shocked just by how incredible they are.  
  • Grabbing a Holiday Treat:  The Holiday season is the time for gorging on cakes, and cookies, and fudge, and brownies, and...ahem....I've got to focus....Walt Disney World offers a bunch of options that will fulfill this need.  From Starbucks drinks, to cookies shaped like gingerbread men, to gingerbread waffles, to holiday fudge.  Holy wow....there's a ton of wonderful options available.  There is nothing better than grabbing a special treat, sitting down, and absorbing the Holiday atmosphere.  Which brings me to...

  • Enjoying Main Street USA:  Main Street USA has to be one of the most Christmasy places in all the world.  It's so perfect.  It's got the garlands hanging from the roofs of the buildings, the huge Christmas tree in Town Square (after the Christmas Day parade has taped), the Dapper Dans are singing Christmas Carols, the shops windows have the story of Mickey's Christmas Carol, the snoap, and Cinderella Castle lit up at night.  The sight of red and green permeate your eyes.  Just soak it all in.   
©Disney

  • Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights:  Speaking of absorbing as much Christmas as possible, one of the other perfect places to do so is on the Streets of America at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  This is just as cool as the Castle Dreamlights, except this completely surrounds you in a symphony of color.  What makes this delight even better?  When the lights start dancing to the music!  Holy cow.  You can't believe lights can do this, but they can. Oh...and I'm going to throw in meeting Santa Goofy here because, well, I mean how cool is that?  

  • Taking in the Decorations on Hollywood and Sunset Blvd:  The other thing I'm going to throw in is the fact that I LOVE that Disney's Hollywood Studios puts up tinsel decorations on Hollywood and Sunset Blvd.  I mean...how perfect for a park themed around Tinsel Town?  Seriously...I feel like this fact is missed by so many people.  How creative is that?! 

  • Looking at the Different Christmas Trees:  Did you know that each Christmas tree has a different theme to it?  One of the fun aspects of the Holiday season is going around looking at each different tree and trying to figure out what the theme could be.  Some are obvious, while others take a bit more detective work. 
©Disney

  • World Showcase:  I know what you're thinking...that's a large way to celebrate the Holiday.  The entirety of World Showcase at Epcot.  I mean, that's an entire section of the park.  You're right, it is a large reach, but it all ties together to make the perfect way to celebrate the Holidays at Walt Disney World.  You have each country decorated, celebrating in their own special ways.  On top of that, you have the Storytellers Around The World, where guests get to learn about what each country does to celebrate and how it compares to how we celebrate, both personally and as a country.  You also have the best example of how we should memorialize the season and that's the Candlelight Processional, the retelling of the Christmas story, which is the real reason for honoring the Holidays.  World Showcase is probably one of the most awesome ways to get your Christmas on!  It's full of fun edutainment! 
So, I have obviously missed a ton of great ways to celebrate the Holidays at Walt Disney World, but that's where I want your help.  Let me know in the comments or on the Facebook page what your favorite way to celebrate is!

Also, if you like this article, I shamelessly ask that you spread the word!  Share it on Twitter or Facebook...pin the photos on Pintrest, hit up the Google + emblem...just let others know about us here!  Also, make sure to LIKE our Facebook page and find me on Twitter, I'm @RikkiNibs!    


Sunday, December 1, 2013

Walt Disney World News and Rumors 11/25/13 - 12/1/13






News and Rumors are gathered from various different sources. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.
 

News

Magic Kingdom

  • The Mine Trains for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster have been seen being tested. 


Epcot

  • A new act will take the stage for this year's Holidays Around The World event.  Known as the The Canadian Holiday Voyageurs, the group will have guests explore some of Canada’s holiday traditions through music. Included in their sets will be spirited renditions of holiday favorite “The Christmas Jig,” a traditional mummer’s carol, a medley in celebration of the feast of Le Réveillon, and more.
  • The Gospel group Joyful is back again this year, performing in Future World at 1:15pm, 2:25pm, 3:25pm, 4:25pm.  
  • The new gallery that gains it's inspiration from Frozen and can be found in the Stave Church in Norway is now open.  Items inside the exhibit include: an authentic hand-made bunad, the traditional costume of Norway; a hardanger fiddle, as well as other handmade instruments; hand-carved artisan furniture, including a carved wooden chair called a kubbestol; silver brooches; a small loom; a men’s Southern Sami outfit; and examples of rosemaling (traditional Norse decorative painting). 


Disney's Hollywood Studios

  • A few new "portraits" have been added to the Hollywood Brown Derby, which will be connected to the MyMagic+ experience soon where your photo could pop up on the magazine covers when your MagicBand passes by it.  



General WDW News

  • This week's Limited Time Magic has guests being able to help a child in need by donating $5.00 at Once Upon a Toy or the World of Disney and Disney will donate a Duffy Bear to Toys For Tots. 
  • All the parks are now completely turnstile free.  Entry into the parks are now all done via touch point entry system.



Rumors

  • Rumors were rampant this week that thanks to the MyMagic+ development falling behind schedule and being more costly than originally thought, that all future project development that is being developed for the parks is on hold for at least 90 days.  (Or some projects may have been outright cancelled.)


Download the Guide to all the best Holiday Delights in Walt Disney World!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Frozen Review: Non-Spoilery and Spoilery

©Disney





So, last night, my hubby and I went to see Frozen.  We went to a new theater that I absolutely loved.  It was a dine in experience and it was a great way to see a movie.  We'll be hitting up this theater again.  (Nothing like dinner and a movie all at the same time.)  But you didn't come here to hear about the movie theater that we went to.  No...you came to hear a review.  So let's get to it!


Non-Spoilery

Ok...so I hate reading reviews that contain spoilers.  It's why I avoid most reviews about any movie that I REALLY want to see.  I like to be surprised.  (It dates back to when I read a magazine article about Ross and Rachel from Friends that to this day still sort of ruins that episode.) Which is why with this movie, I avoided pretty much everything minus a few trailers and maybe a couple articles.  So, I had a few preconceived notions coming into it.  But not enough to ruin it.  Actually for those of you who have seen a few trailers, I can tell you that they really aren't like the movie.  So, that's a good turn of events.  (No spoilers...I promise!)

What I will tell those of you who want no spoilers is that this movie was a lot of fun.  It was well done and I can see why people are saying it's one of the best movies that Disney's done recently.

The movie was visually stunning.  There were pieces that you just go...how on earth can they animate that so it looks so realistic?  (Especially some of the scenes involving ice.) It's amazing how much color they can bring to a world that's mostly blue, gray, and white.  But Disney certainly does it and they do it well. 

In addition, the songs were quite fun.  I really enjoyed them immensely.  They are not traditional Disney songs, but modern twists on Disney songs, I think.  (And boy can Idina Menzel sing...I mean, I knew that...but when you hear it, you are just floored.)

I really liked the characters.  They were certainly likeable and I appreciated the character traits they possessed.  It made the movie feel like a contemporary Disney movie with a Princess touch.  Like the best of both worlds.  

Overall, it's a solid movie and one you should certainly go see.  The plot is enjoyable and it has portions that are perfect for the kiddos, but the adults will certainly get a laugh or two out of it.  Make sure you don't let this movie melt out of theaters before you go see it.

(By the way, it's super hard to write this review without spoiling too much!  I think that could be why Disney promoted it the way they did.  You just need to go see this movie!)



Ok...so for those of you who do not want spoilers, stop reading now.  Because the next portion of this post will be FILLED with them.


I have given you fair warning.....


Completely Spoilery

Ok...I hope you're ready for spoilers...because here is my real review of the movie. 


I really did like this movie.  I thought it was extremely well done, especially considering all the troubles this movie has had getting of the ground.  (I mean, it's famously been a movie that Walt thought about doing, YEARS ago, but they could never get it just right.)  I really can see why people are calling this one of the best Disney movies in years.

I have to say, I absolutely did not see the bad guy twist, which I loved.  Before, with the trailers, I actually thought Elsa was considered to be the bad character.  Then as I watched, I totally fell for the Duke of Weselton being the evil one.  It really was a nice reveal that Hans was the true evil one.  (I almost wished we would have had more opportunity to explore his evilness, so I could have spent more time hating him...kinda like they did with Lotso in Toy Story 3.  You didn't know at first that he was the evil one, but once you did, you had plenty of time to hate his guts.)

Can I also say how glad I am that Olaf was not super annoying or overbearing?!  I really hated him in the trailers and personally, think that Josh Gad is sort of grating, but for this, it just worked!  I thought he had some great one liners and he really made me chuckle out loud at some points.  (I've been impaled.)    Olaf was really the star of the movie.  He worked a lot like Pascal did, the only difference is he could talk.  And can I just say, he had the BEST line in the movie with some people are worth melting for.  Ugh...my heart melted and I think that was the moment I really fell in love with him too.  

Speaking of being in love, I wholeheartedly loved the way they broke the spell!  For the first time ever in a Disney princess movie, you didn't have a guy saving the day!  While I'm certainly not an uber feminist, it was so wonderful to have true love be that of a sister's love and not rely on a guy to save the day. Again, a nice twist that I didn't see coming and a wonderful change of pace.  What a great plot decision.

I loved how they characterized Anna.  She seemed like such a modern Disney princess.  She had spunk, was awkward, and relatable.   It also makes sense why Elsa was calm, cool, and collected...she had to be...and as the older sister myself, I understand how she acted.  You have to be the mature one...especially when you have special powers. It was nice to see her relax a bit at the end though. 

Also...two words...Idina Menzel....

Seriously...she could sing the phone book and I'd be freaking happy.  "Let It Go" is amazing and she was meant to sing it.  Also, as silly as it was, the other song that really stood out to me was the song the trolls sang.  Silly and not crucial, yes, but darn entertaining.  I also really liked Olaf's "In Summer" song.  Again...just fun.

With all that said, personally, I felt like there was just something a bit off...I think it was the pacing.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I thought they did just fine with the story, but it almost felt a bit rushed, almost like there was too much of the story that they wanted to tell, but they didn't have time to do it.

Or maybe that was just me, as I could have sat there greedily consuming more of this story!  I wished that we could have seen a bit more of Elsa and her character development.  I would have maybe loved throwing some flashbacks in there to tell more of the story.  But I'm well aware that these animated movies are geared towards kids, so I understand that they only had a short window for attention span and that a 2 plus hours certainly would be well past the limit.  I'm just saying that I would have been more than happy myself to have given it.

Overall, I thought it was a solid movie.  I'm not yet sure how it stacks upf for me against Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph.  Both of those I seem to enjoy with each additional viewing.  I'm sure that I will only grow more in love with this one as time goes on.

If you haven't seen the movie yet and you've read this incredibly spoiler laden review, then you definitely need to see it.  It has a lot of heart and excitement, as well as a fascinating story.  Even though I felt it was a bit rushed and would have loved to have the opportunity to explore the story more, I strongly suggest seeing it.

Bravo to the artists and everyone who helped to finally bring this long labored over story to life.  Thanks for creating another movie that's worthy of the Disney name.

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