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August 2013

The Advantages of Park Hopping

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I’ll admit it right now: I’m a park hopper. Sometimes I’ll spend less than two hours in a park before I’m off to greener pastures (usually Epcot, because I want to eat) and then I visit a third park before the night is out.  A hopper lets me join friends in another park if I want or do extra magic hours in the Magic Kingdom then head over to Animal Kingdom before it gets to crowded.  Without question, it’s the most convenient ticket option, but I can understand why some people wouldn’t want to add it:  hopping takes up valuable park time and it’s expensive, at about $60 per ticket.  So is the extra cost worth it to you?

One of the biggest reasons to add the hopper option to your ticket is flexibility.  I know that this is blasphemy to say among Disney people, but I don’t want a ten page spreadsheet where I’ve planned out every detail of my trip months in advance. I want to be free to make changes as I go, based on everything from how I feel to what the weather is like that day.  I can do that with a hopper, but without one, I’m absolutely committed to staying in that one park, especially if I have dining reservations.Read More »The Advantages of Park Hopping

Princess Fairy Tale Hall Adds A Marquee

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Yesterday we looked in on the progress of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the last piece of New Fantasyland and scheduled to open sometime in 2014. But before that day arrives, there’s one other element of the New Fantasyland changes that is set to open. Disney’s Imagineers have been working on changing the interior of the Princess Fairy Tale Hall from it’s incarnation of Snow White’s Scary Adventures into a space worthy of a queen, or princess in this case.

The hall, which is set to open this fall, will be the home to two Disney Princesses, Cinderella or Rapunzel, to start. Each accessible via a separate entrance. Each princess will also have a special guest, usually another Disney princess.

This week Disney’s Imagineers started installing some of the exterior elements of the meet and greet. More photos below the jump:

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What ESPN Tells us about Disney’s Future

If you want to see the Disney Company succeed you might want to hold off on supporting that unbundling proposal or cutting the cord from your cable system. Disney’s fortunes have become almost inextricably tied to the success of ESPN and its related networks. In… Read More »What ESPN Tells us about Disney’s Future

Tomorrowland – Disney’s New Mystery Adventure Film Starts Shooting

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It’s a big day for the production team of Disney’s mystery adventure film “Tomorrowland.” Principal photography has begun up in Vancouver, BC. The much anticipated film had a big presentation at D23 Expo to excite the fans and we eagerly await the first footage from it.

Tomorrowland stars two-time Academy Award winner George Clooney (“Michael Clayton,” “Syriana”), Hugh Laurie (“Monsters vs. Aliens,” “Arthur Christmas”), Britt Robertson (“Under The Dome”), Raffey Cassidy (“Dark Shadows,” “Snow White and the Huntsman”) and Thomas Robinson (“The Switch”). The film is directed, produced and co-written by two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird (“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” “The Incredibles”). Damon Lindelof (“Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Prometheus”) and Jeffrey Chernov (“Star Trek,” “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”) are also producers. The screenplay is written by Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof from a story by Lindelof & Jeff Jensen and Brad Bird.

Disney also released the first synopsis for the film:

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Two New Character Posters for Thor – The Dark World

Hello. Marvel has released two new character posters with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) each getting their moment in the sun. Which do you like best? Look for the Gods of Asgard at your local theater on November 8th. Previously: Thor The Dark… Read More »Two New Character Posters for Thor – The Dark World

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Update – New Fantasyland’s Final Piece

But the mine entrance is taking shape

I made it back to the Magic Kingdom this weekend to film another Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster construction update. It’s great to see how much further its come since just two weeks ago. That said, there’s a lot left to do, but we are finally beginning to see some of the final shape the mountain will take.

This new mountain in the Magic Kingdom mountain range (yes, I’m calling it that) will be the last part of New Fantasyland to open. The exact date has not been announced, but it’s currently scheduled to welcome its first guest sometime in 2014. So cross your fingers and hope for good weather so we can all visit the gem mine as early in the year as possible.

Want more? Plenty of photos of the construction below the jump:

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Disney Princesses Sing for Equal Pay in Latest Viral Video

You’ve seen Disney Hipster Princesses on YouTube, which was very funny and definitely made a point. It seems activist Disney Princesses are now becoming something of a meme. The latest is very talented Jenny Joslin from Tex Pats with Ariel and her Disney Princess friends… Read More »Disney Princesses Sing for Equal Pay in Latest Viral Video

Voices of SeaWorld Video Series Launches

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has had a bit of a rough stretch recently. They had to report lower attendance numbers vs their competitors in Orlando (resulting in a drop in profits) and have had to content with a one-sided documentary that has helped stoke the… Read More »Voices of SeaWorld Video Series Launches