Yesterday we took a walk around the construction site for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster. Lots of work being done, even if it’s slow. Slow is the theme for the rest of the Magic Kingdom as well. Lots of stuff going on, but nothing much is happening fast.
So let’s head out on our photo update and see what’s new since our last trip around the park:
Read More »Magic Kingdom – Photo Update, The Slow Pace of Change
The Walt Disney Company has a long tradition of supporting youth performers, from the original Mickey Mouse Club showcasing some of Hollywood’s best talent to Magic Music Days giving school kids the chance to perform in a Disney theme park. For one week during its Limited Time Magic promotion, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is extending that idea to the American Idol Experience.
The age limit for performing at American Idol Experience has always been tied to the TV shows eligibility requirements. If the winner got a dream ticket they couldn’t use, that would make no sense right?
From August 12-18, Disney will have one Juniors Show, where contestants aged 6-13 can perform. They won’t get a dream ticket, but they will get an amazing experience.
The special taste of showbiz will begin with an audition in front of a Disney producer, just like the regular show. The three contestants chosen for the Juniors Show will get a Hollywood-style showbiz treatment including cosmetology, a vocal training session and walk-through rehearsal before taking the stage in front of the live audience. The three finalists will also get feedback from the panel of judges. It’s not mentioned if the audience will vote for a winner or if some other ending will be involved.
If your child wants to enter, we’ve included the list of songs choices below the jump. Better get rehearsing right away.
Read More »American Idol Experience Opens to Junior Performers for Limited Time Magic
Disney once famously refused to acknowledge that they were building a new Disney Vacation Club resort next to The Contemporary even-though the blueprints had leaked months prior and everyone who flew by on the monorail every day could plainly see a multi-story building going up,… Read More »Festival of The Lion King decamping to Africa in 2014
Universal Studios Florida has an expansion of its own going on at one of its popular lands based on The Simpsons animated TV show. Sure, it’s not New Fantasyland, but it does make you feel like you’re in the city of Springfield. In addition to… Read More »The Simpsons Kang and Kodos’ Twirl ‘N’ Hurl Testing at Universal Studios Florida
Megan McArdle, a business and economics blogger recently made the jump from Newsweek to Bloomberg. During that time off she indulged in one of her passions – roller coasters. I knew there was a reason I liked her. One of her insights from the trip is about how guest services like Quick Queue, Fast Lane, or Fast Pass are impacting the enjoyment of theme park guests, and, perhaps, even symbolize something that’s gone wrong with our nation over all.
McArdle observes something many theme park fans have noticed before. Even though Fastpass is free, and other systems aren’t that outrageous as a percentage of the overall vacation, some families just don’t use them.
I find it hard to believe that the problem is a lack of awareness; all three parks prominently hawked Quick Queue or Fast Lane passes at concession stands.
Perhaps the problem is the price — though with the bucks people were dropping on concessions, I can’t believe that this is the issue. No, I think the answer is in the hard stares we got as we walked through the fast-pass gate. People just don’t like fast passes. It doesn’t feel right.
I had never really thought about it that way. But it makes sense to me.Read More »How Fast Passes Are Ruining Our Nation, Hyperbole… or Not?
August at Disneyland is going to be amazing. D23 Expo will be held right across the street and there’s a whole list of merchandise and art events scheduled. Most are at the WonderGround Gallery, but D23 will have an event as well.
August 3-4: Matt Spangler will be on hand at WonderGround Gallery at the Downtown Disney District from 1 – 4 p.m. to showcase some of the latest pieces in his Robot Art collection. From riding motorcycles to dancing, Matt’s robots pretty much do it all. Learn more here.
August 9-11: Tickets to the D23 Expo – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event are still available, so don’t miss out! If you are planning on attending, then be sure to take check out what’s on the auction block for the D23 Expo 2013 Silent Auction.Read More »Disneyland Hosting Flurry of Merchandise Events in August
I came across this rumor recently (thanks to “The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia” Facebook page) regarding the glass pyramids of Future World. Supposedly, the entire Imagination pavilion will close on Jan. 2nd 2014. The rumor states that Captain EO will close for good, but the store… Read More »Rumor Mill: Imagination Pavilion closing entirely in 2014?
As Walt Disney World moves closer to fully implementing it $2 billion Next-Gen technology MyMobile Magic, having high speed internet connection for your mobile phone becomes more important than ever. So I’m not at all surprised that Disney and AT&T have reunited in an agreement… Read More »AT&T Becomes Official Wireless Provider of Disney Parks