Category: Uncategorized

A New Pixar-based Stage Show will debut at Hollywood Studios for a Limited Time!

by Guide4WDW

A New Pixar-based Stage Show will Debut at Hollywood Studios for a Limited Time! 

by: guide4wdw – Collin
In a somewhat surprising move, Disney has released that a new stage show will debut at Hollywood Studios in the coming months. The show, ‘The Music of Pixar Live!,” is described by the Disney Parks Blog as follows: 
“This summer, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will present “The Music of Pixar LIVE! A Symphony of Characters.” This limited-time concert event will showcase memorable music from Pixar Animation Studios films, complete with a live orchestra and appearances by beloved Disney•Pixar characters.
Starting May 26, “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” will be presented three times nightly at Theater of the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (following the regular daily performances of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage”). The show will also feature highlights from some of Pixar’s greatest scores, from films like “Toy Story” to “Cars 3.”
As you are probably aware, Hollywood Studios is undergoing a large scale construction phase while both Toy Story and Star Wars lands are being developed. As a result, many of the experiences and attractions that were once a part of the park have been removed. To combat the loss of a few attractions and other experiences, Disney has been making efforts to draw guests to the park despite construction. PizzaRizzo, Star Wars Launch Bay, and a variety of special fireworks shows have debuted recently, and this push to add a new show should continue to move that park in the right direction! 
If you liked this article, be sure to SHARE it with friends! Thanks! Are you looking forward to the new experience?   

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The Menu for Satu’li Canteen Has Officially Been Released! – Opening May 27th

by Guide4WDW

The Menu for Satu’li Canteen Has Officially Been Released! – Opening May 27th

by: guide4wdw – Collin

As the debut of Pandora draws closer, Disney has debuted the menu for the upcoming counter service location Satu’li Canteen. The menu (which Disney has recently revealed images of select items just a short time ago) is more expansive than originally expected. The location, which will be a similar dining concept to lunch at be our guest, will feature a system where guests can order their meal remotely and the items will be delivered to their table within the restaurant. 
For now, it looks as if Satu’li will only serve lunch and dinner. Also, the menu for both meals is listed on the same page, so there will likely be only one menu for both dining time frames. As for the food itself, it will continue the trend towards more unique counter service items with many offerings that will be interesting to try once the location opens. Many of which we have never seen on Disney property.  
Here’s a look at the full menu: 


Are you looking forward to the new location? Personally, I think many of these creations may be a bit too “creative” for younger audiences and picky eaters. If you liked this article, be sure to SHARE it with friends! Thanks! 

(Source: Disney and WDWNT)

An East Center Street Secret You May Have Overlooked

by Guide4WDW

by: guide4wdw – Collin

A Walt Disney World vacation is in many ways a multi-sensory experience. The sights, the smells, and the sounds truly develop an experience that is unlike any other destination. However, some parts of the experience aren’t simply about what you see and do, but rather about what you hear all around you.
Sounds play an extraordinary roll in the overall Disney experience, but today we’re going to focus on a simple element of Main Street U.S.A. which you could have overlooked for quite some time. 
When Walt Disney developed the concept of Disneyland and later Walt Disney World, it’s obvious that he made a certain effort to guarantee an experience for guests that went above and beyond their expectations. Everything had it’s purpose and every element of the parks featured a certain level of realism that has to be experienced to be fully understood. Walt seemed to inevitably have a certain eye for exquisite detail in nearly every regard. From the story the attractions portrayed, to the multidimensional lands his parks developed, everything had a level of detail that set his creations apart from the crowd.
So, today we’re taking a look at one of those seemingly simple details that develops the full experience of Main Street and helps portray a degree of realism that can astonish any guest.
As you tour the park, head right down the middle of Main Street U.S.A. and look for a smaller street that travels a short distance to the east (for reference, the castle is always north of Main Street geographically). Ironically, this is what is known as East Center Street. For years, this street was a small part of Main Street that was more about the small town atmosphere rather than the typical Mickey t-shirts that have taken over most of the shops today. However, one simple element of that immersive experience still remains today, the voice lessons high in the windows and just within the guest’s view.
Just above your head on the left had side of East Center Street, look for a window that is slightly opened and reads, “Voice and Singing – Private Lessons.” While this is certainly a clever detail all on it’s own, this is where the part of the Disney experience you can only hear comes to light! 
If you can find a fairly quite time of day (just avoid parade times), head to this area and simply sit down and listen. What you hear may very well surprise you. If you listen carefully, you’ll overhear a legitimate voice lesson flowing from the window above you. The sound is subtle (and actually coming from a speaker conveniently covered by a panel under the open window – visible to the right), but certainly one of those little details that is great to share with friends and family. 
Once you find it, this clever detail becomes one of those things that you can go and experience time after time. You get the chance to experience something that never had to be a part of the Main Street experience, but is something that truly develops the experience in a  way that other theme park destinations would simply overlook. As you sit and listen for just a few minutes, it’s neat to have that moment where you can recognize something that so many people around you are simply walking right past. It sounds simple, and honestly it is, but it’s something I guarantee you’ll remember long after your vacation ends. 
For those of you on the west coast, something similar, yet a bit less “enjoyable” exists at Disneyland. Rather than a voice lesson, a dentist drill can be heard outside of a window in a similar way! That’s something that you may not want to hear!  
Once again, there’s nothing overly exciting about these two windows, but it’s a small part of a land’s story that Disney could have easily left out. It’s something that goes above and beyond creating one of those little details that you can only find at Walt Disney World! 
If you liked this article or learned something new, be sure to SHARE it with friends!
If you like this type of article be sure to let me know in the comments down below and I would be happy to share many more “hidden gems” of the park! For now, be sure to check out the history tab at the top of the page for even more articles like this one!  

New Maps Have Been Released for the Magic Kingdom

by Guide4WDW

New Maps Have Been Released for the Magic Kingdom  

by: guide4wdw – Collin
As expected with a new addition coming to the park in just a few short weeks, Magic Kingdom has rolled out new and updated maps for the guests. While the changes to the overall design are quite subtle, the map appears a bit less cluttered and provides a better looking overview of the park. It should be a bit easier for the first time guest to utilize without being completely overwhelmed by every little detail of the park. 

The new fireworks show ‘Happily Ever After’ is also featured on the map given that it will replace ‘Wishes!’ May 12th (assuming there are no delays to it’s debut). If you missed that article, be sure to check out: Wishes is Being Replace!: ‘Happily Ever After’ Nighttime Spectacular Coming to Magic Kingdom

Overall, the new design features a greater amount of detail, but in a more simplified design. Guests who utilize the maps will appreciate the changes, but quite honestly those of us who have the park layouts memorized will likely never pick one up. Either way, the new maps will be available in the park today!

Here’s a look at the new design compared to the old design (please excuse the slightly blurry images: new documents will replace these once they have been released on Disney’s site):  

New:


Compared to the Old Map:
If you liked this article, be sure to SHARE it with friends. Invite them to join this Disney online community!  

(Source: chipandco.com)

Planet Hollywood Observatory Set to Increase Celebrity Appearances and Create a Quick Service Addition

by Guide4WDW

Planet Hollywood Observatory Set to Increase Celebrity Appearances and Create a Quick Service Addition 

by: guide4wdw – Collin
As many of you may know, Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs has recently completed a massive redesign into the Planet Hollywood Observatory. However, they’re looking to change one more aspect of the experience to increase their outstanding success to an even greater extent. 
(Photo: Planet Hollywood Observatory – Facebook)
According to the founder of the dining location, Robert Earl, the Planet Hollywood experience is going back to it’s roots and creating a new connection with guests through celebrity appearances which haven’t occurred in quite some time on a regular basis. As promised, appearances began this week with Britney Spears making a showing and Reese Witherspoon appearing Friday. Personally, I think this simply fits the persona of the experience the Observatory is trying to portray and should make a huge difference in the guests response to the dining establishment. It should truly bring the “Hollywood” back to the Planet Hollywood name! 
In related news, Earl hinted at an upcoming addition of a quick service location to the Disney Springs area, also developed under the Planet Hollywood name (possibly attached to the current location in some way). While no extensive details were released about that development or possible addition to the property, it is already confirmed that Disney Springs has granted permission for the development.
So, what are your thoughts on the “new” Planet Hollywood? Will you give it a try in the near future? As always, if you liked this article SHARE it with friends! Thanks! 

(Source: wdwinfo.com) 

  

Disney Releases a Closer Look at How ‘Pandora – The World of Avatar’ Fits With the Animal Kingdom Story

by Guide4WDW
Disney Releases a Closer Look at How ‘Pandora – The World of Avatar’ Fits With the Animal Kingdom Story 
by: guide4wdw – Collin
As opening day for ‘Pandora – The World of Avatar’ draws closer, Disney has revealed more and more detailed looks inside the new land. This week is certainly no different. However, this week’s short segment focuses on an element of the land that is key to the overall Disney experience, the story.  
Throughout the Disney parks, each attraction has always featured a unique tie in to the area or theme it is supposed to represent. In one way or another every attraction fit the land it intended to develop, but on a larger scale that land played a unique role in the overall parks design characteristics. Disney has always been a place where story is king and thankfully this new land appears to be following that trend despite a wide variety of speculation.
Pandora, which seems to be an obscure fit for Animal Kingdom, is explained as essentially an opportunity to learn and develop a sense of conservation and rehabilitation of land that has been abused. As with the Avatar film, Pandora is set to feature a look at an area trying to return to its natural state after fighting an unnatural circumstance that took a toll on the areas development. For an official explanation, be sure to check out the video below explaining what Disney is calling “Placemaking.” It was just recently released!    
If you follow along with the site, you may have noticed a short break in our articles. We just got back from a short vacation and new articles should start rolling out regularly once again! Thanks for understanding!  
As always, if you liked the article, SHARE it with friends! Thanks! 

VIDEO: The View’s Whoopi Goldberg Takes a Tour of Pandora With James Cameron!

by Guide4WDW

VIDEO: The View’s Whoopi Goldberg Takes a Tour of Pandora With James Cameron!

by: guide4wdw – Collin
As promised, here’s another video that has just debuted of Pandora – The World of Avatar. This time, different from the coverage by Good Morning America, The View takes a trip through pandora and explores the Na’vi River Journey attraction. Along with the clip of the new attraction, a small part of the massive Pandora land expansion, Whoopi Goldberg gets a short tour throughout the land land with James Cameron himself! 


What stood out to me the most in this clip is the apparent “never ending” scale of the land! It truly looks like a huge expansion! The forced perspective must be unreal!      

Here’s a look at the video: 
       
So, what do you think? Like this video? SHARE it with friends! Thanks! 

(Source: The View – Youtube)

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VIDEO: Good Morning America Gets an in Depth Look at Pandora!

by Guide4WDW

VIDEO: Good Morning America Gets an in Depth Look at Pandora!  

by: guide4wdw – Collin

It’s finally here! An inside look at Pandora has debuted on good Morning America and it does not disappoint. We don’t get a look from a distance, but the pieces of the area that we get to see are much larger than life, and truly surround the guest in an immersive environment! Personally, I think this looks outstanding, but I’ll have to see it for myself to create a final judgement. For now though, anticipation builds and we finally get a look at some of the details Imagineering has been raving about for months! 


This debut is a portion of a series of new details which are releasing today across a variety of ABC programming. We’ll keep you updated on any new information! Here’s a look at the clip from Good Morning America this morning:


If you like this article, be sure to SHARE it with friends! Are you looking forward to Pandora? I know I am!  

(Source: Good Morning America: Twitter)

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Our Top 5 Snacks Under 5 Dollars at Epcot!

by Guide4WDW

Our Top 5 Snacks Under 6 Dollars at Epcot!  

by: guide4wdw – Collin
Just a few short months ago, we brought you a closer look at 6 Snacks Under $6 At Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Today, we’re continuing that trend but moving on over to Epcot for a journey of flavors as we travel around the World Showcase! This time though, we’ve lowered the budget to 5 dollars for an even more price conscious list! 
If you follow along here (and if you do, Thanks!) you know that in my opinion, food is a key part of the overall Disney Parks experience. Some may say (and by some, I mean me) that it’s one of the greatest aspects of the Disney parks. Now, to experience the best of the best snack offerings, you may have to look in a few of the more unlikely places. Avoid the temptation to head to the typical snacks and take a look at some of these outstanding, budget friendly options! 
1. Cronut 
At $4.99, the croissant donut, or “cronut”, is one of the best snacks you can experience and an outstanding option for a quick grab and go dessert as you tour the World Showcase or race off to your next fastpass+ selection. I put this option first on my list because it is certainly a personal favorite and one that appears time after time at the top of my food lists. Don’t just take my word for it, try a cronut for yourself and you’ll never look back! 
It’s every good thing about a donut combined with the light and flakey qualities of a croissant. After the first bite, you’ll certainly be hooked! There’s nothing quite like it and the cinnamon sugar dusting really rounds out an outstanding experience. All for under 5 dollars!
If you’re looking to pick up a cronut for your own personal enjoyment, stop by the Refreshment Port along the front edge of the World Showcase. If your coming from Future World, take a right and travel toward the Canada Pavilion and you’ll find it on your right!     

2. Caramel Corn 
Caramel corn at Epcot’s Karamell-Küche is unlike any other popcorn you’ve tried! It’s based on a light and crisp popcorn, but the real treat is the thick and plentiful caramel that is mixed right in front of the theme park guests. The store, which is listed as a retail location rather than a dining location, is one of the best “hidden gems” of the Germany pavilion. 

As an added bonus, the popcorn is fairly reasonably priced as well. At just $3.99 for a small size and $5.99 for a large size that is sharable across a small family, it’s hard to beat this freshly prepared treat! 

3. Mousse au Chocolat
As you travel on around the showcase, be sure to stop in at yet another wonderful location, Les Hales Boulangerie-Patisserie. This little bakery, deep in the France pavilion was a hidden gem of the parks for years, but has recently become vastly more popular due to a large expansion. The French bakery and counter service location offers one of the most extensive menus of pastries, sandwiches, and other “authentic” delights that you’ll find in the world showcase. However, one item stands above the rest in my own opinion, Mousse au Chocolat. 

This glorified chocolate mouse is one of the best desserts you can taste in the World Showcase. It’s simple, so even the most picky eater can try it. It’s rich, so you can share it if you would like. And, it’s extremely budget friendly at just $4.50!

The location itself is rather tricky to “stumble upon,” but head to the very back of the France Pavilion and you’ll end up walking right into this unique bakery. At one point, a shop of the exact same name and a near identical menu existed where the current French ice cream shop is today. Fortunately, after the location became vastly popular, Disney decided to move  the shop and expand the offerings to better accommodate the crowds. A new seating area was also developed, but it still remains incredibly crowded a majority of the day. Personally, I recommend walking the short distance out to the main promenade and there should be a few stand up tables out near the waters edge (or the old faithful top of a trashcan works as well!)

4. Churros 
I know what you’re thinking, “Why are churros on this list?” Honestly, these churros put most of the others to shame. This simple take on the classic item is found at no other location except La Cantina de San Angel. For those of you who may not be regulars to the park, the Mexico pavilion features a dining location just outside of the pavilion itself (which is largely indoors). The location, which sells quick service nachos and other classic Mexican cuisine, is an outstanding place to catch a quick meal that is filling yet fast. 

However, many guests overlook the Churros! This wonderful dessert is unlike others given that these churros are looped so that they are much easier to dip in the wonderful caramel sauce that comes with the item. At just $4.25, these are an outstanding snack to enjoy before Illuminations or even a good excuse to stake out an early spot for the show and enjoy a snack while you wait. The seating area offers excellent views of the lake and makes for one of the best ways to experience the beauty of the lagoon without having to pay the high prices of table service dining in many cases.

5. Flavored Popcorn  
This option is even fairly new to me! At just $4.75, you can enjoy one of three different unique popcorn flavors exclusively at one particular cart in Epcot. The popcorn, which comes in flavors such as: Cheddar Cheese, Buffalo Bleu Cheese, and Sour Cream and Chive are truly a wonderful change of pace in the realm of Disney popcorn. Each of the flavors are really quite impressive and leave you wanting more! 

Personally, I was always a fan of the classic popcorn that has been sold for years on Main Street U.S.A. so I was skeptical of the new offerings at first. Fortunately, after trying it for myself, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. Of course, the flavors may change in the future, but I do believe Disney has a winner on their hands with this offering! 
If you’re looking for these unique flavors, be sure to stop at the one location currently serving these particular flavors right outside of Journey Into Imagination with Figment (one of the most underrated attractions in my opinion). Flavors are certainly subject to change, but based on the high level of success flavored popcorn has had in Tokyo, I’m sure this will slowly move on to other parks and possibly resorts in the future!     

Did you like our list of offerings under 5 dollars? Did we leave out your favorite? Let us know down below and be sure to SHARE this post with friends if you enjoyed it! 
    

"Beastly Kingdom" – A Look at What Pandora Could Have Been!

by Guide4WDW

“Beastly Kingdom” – A Look at What Pandora Could Have Been! 

by: guide4wdw – Collin

Have you ever noticed something strikingly unique about Animal Kingdom’s logo at Walt Disney World? If you haven’t found it before, take a look at the image below and see what you find “hidden” in plain sight:

(photo: diszine.com)
Did you find it? If not, look front and center in the line of animals stretching across the design. They all seem to fit with a certain attraction found throughout the park, with the exception of one. Right in the middle of the logo is a dragon, and there’s no doubting that it is in fact a dragon! 

Even Michael Eisner’s dedication of the park on opening day (April 22nd – ‘Earth Day’) mentioned dragons! 

 “Welcome to a kingdom of animals… real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn.“

For years I never took the time to recognize this simple aspect of the design as I toured the park time after time. While this could appear to have simply been a design choice if you’re looking from an outside perspective, if you take a look back in Disney’s vast history the reasoning behind the dragon becomes quite apparent.

In the early days of Animal Kingdom’s development (late 1990’s), A concept was developed for a mythical land called “Beastly Kingdom.” Unfortunately, the land was never built and only a few minor design characteristics arrived at the park on opening day in 1998.       

(photo: disney.wikia.com)

The concept, which was grand in scale, would feature an attraction known as Quest of the Unicorn, one called Fantasia Gardens, and a main “E-ticket” attraction called Dragon’s Tower. Each of these attractions were set to focus on an aspect of “nature” that was essentially imaginary and “impossible” in real life. Quest of the Unicorn was going to be an elaborate maze which focused on a mythological setting of twists and turns leading guests to a unicorn at the end of the attraction. Fantasia Gardens, a similar ride concept to what has become known as a the classic Disney dark ride design, was imagined up to lead guests through the world of Disney’s legendary Fantasia, complete with dancing hippos, pegasus, elephants, and much more to develop a musical tale for guests of all ages to enjoy. 


The most anticipated attraction was what became known as the Dragon’s Tower. As the expected “E-ticket” (or essentially most popular in today’s terms) attraction of the area, it would be a daring rollercoaster type of experience where guests would come face to face with a larger than life fire breathing dragon, race through the castle domain, and enter a quest to protect the treasure within the castle ruins! Along the way, the guests train would reach speeds of near 50 miles per hour and encounter thrills across a series of twists and turns! For many, this was the attraction they wanted to see develop the most! 

While the overall area was a “battle” between good and evil, the conceptual design was initially dropped due to rumored budget constraints in the Animal Kingdom development. However, for many years, it is believed that the project was simply put on hold. In the mean time, Camp Minnie Mickey was established and became home to experiences such as Festival of the Lion King (which has now relocated) and multiple character meet and greet locations. (photo: themparktourist) 

Unfortunately, the project was ultimately accepted as abandoned after several years of Camp Minnie Mickey continued. In Spring 2011, Bob Iger (CEO of Disney) began talks of partnering with James Cameron to develop a land based on one of his films which later developed into Pandora – The World of Avatar (set to debut in the next few months). Sadly, even in as early as 2000 a key creator of Animal Kingdom, Imagineer Joe Rohde, remarked: 

“We had a vision and now it’s become a placeholder. We have all kinds of ideas and not all of them fit with the theme of Beastly Kingdom. I’m not even convinced there will be a Beastly Kingdom.”

However, in typical Disney fashion, a good idea never truly dies in the world of Imagineering. It may be years before pieces of the concept may develop or they may never see the light of day. The second of those two options is probably the more likely, but there’s no telling what the future holds for Disney’s theme parks. What we do know for sure though is the space initially set for the land is no longer available, but a new experience will soon debut that will transform the Animal Kingdom experience. Pandora will change the way we view the park and that should be something outstanding to experience in the coming months. As is typical with these type of posts from us, while these experiences aren’t likely to develop, it’s interesting to see what truly “could have been.” It brings a better understanding to the overall Disney experiences and helps you appreciate the years of dedication many of these unique projects take to create. 

Next time you’re at Animal Kingdom, look for some of the subtle nods to this never developed aspect of the park and be sure to share what you’ve learned with friends! If you liked this short little post about what “could have been” be sure to like our post on Facebook and share the article on social media! Thanks!   

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