Greetings Programs! We were at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World earlier and were able to grab a few pics of the progress on the upcoming TRON Lightcycle / Run. Work still continues on the attraction, most noticeably on the exterior canopy that will cover the exterior portion of the track, while work we can’t […]
The post Photo Update: TRON Lightcycle / Run Construction Continues at Magic Kingdom appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
A section of sidewalk has been blocked off for painting in Pandora – The World of Avatar, forcing the Na’vi River Journey queue to reroute. Due to physical distancing, the queue has been trailing out to the sidewalk in the past year. Half of the sidewalk is blocked off with green barriers. The land’s bioluminescent paint is being refreshed. Cast Members were helping direct guests through the rerouted queue. Inside, Na’vi River Journey has more physical distancing measures, including Plexiglass […]
The post PHOTOS: Na’vi River Journey Exterior Queue Rerouted for Ground Painting on Pandora in Disney’s Animal Kingdom appeared first on WDW News Today.
This week at Disneyland Resort we spotted this puzzle that shows art from one of the billboards in Pixar Pier over in Disney California Adventure.
The coolest part about the puzzle set is it comes with a plastic frame that looks like that actual billboard. It also lights up, which is such a neat feature.
Even more Disney x Jerrod Maruyama Home Collection pieces have been added at WonderGround Gallery. Here’s a coaster set featuring some favorite Disney theme park attractions.
Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme park icons, ride vehicles, and characters are shown all over this new bag.
This mug features not only a cute design, but a coaster with Disney characters and ride vehicles (such as teacups and Autopia cars).
The coaster surrounds the mug.
Here’s an interesting set that includes a water bottle with multiple lids. I guess you could use your favorite lit and display the other three at home. 
Also in WonderGround I spotted this Disneyland travel journal with some very nice art on the front.
Inside you’ll find pages with Disneyland icons and rides. There’s also American Adventure from Epcot for some reason.
Not every page is the same. Some of the pages feature Mickey & Minnie relaxing on a park bench.
I’m sure this isn’t new but over at the Lego Store I saw this display model that is a replica of the store. It even has miniature recreations of the huge Disney Lego models outside.
I really like this Disneyland mountains mug, even though it’s missing the Matterhorn.
In the Disney Home store I overheard someone asking a cast member if this was a personal defense item. The CM informed them it’s actually a tool you can open doors with when you’re out in public. You hook it around a door handle and then pull or push so you can use the door without actually touching it. That’s a pretty good idea.
There’s a lot of different designs, including Haunted Mansion’s famous wallpaper.
There was only a few new clothing items this week, one of them was this multi-colored Disneyland sweatshirt.
Keeping with the blue theme are these leggings with the Disneyland logo on the side.
Here’s a cotton candy colored Disneyland sweatshirt.
One more blue item, here’s a shirt with Sleeping Beauty Castle and Disneyland logo.
For $14.99 you can get a set of three “it’s a small world” Easter eggs.
The back features the rides 55th anniversary logo.
See anything you want? Let me know in the comments blow.
The post Disneyland Resort Merch Update – More New Disney x Jerrod Maruyama Merch, Pixar Pier Billboard Puzzles and More appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.
Disney has announced a new animation division, 20th Television Animation, that will be led by longtime animation executive, Marci Proietto. What’s Happening: As part of the Walt Disney Company’s reorganization, a newly launched animation unit, 20th Television Animation has been created and longtime studio executive Marci Proietto has been tapped to lead it. 20th Television […]
The post Longtime Studio Exec Marci Proietto Named Head of New Division, 20th Television Animation appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
Gil Bellows has joined ABC’s Women of the Movement which tells the story of Emmett Till’s mother Mamie Till-Mobley and her pursuit of justice following her son’s murder. Deadline reports that Bellows will play district attorney Gerald Chatham in the six-episode series. What’s Happening: Deadline has reported an exclusive on casting news for the upcoming ABC limited […]
The post ABC’s Limited Series “Women of the Movement” Adds Gil Bellows appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
A Disney World ride has reopened EARLY!
Tree of Life
Sometimes, Disney will shut down an attraction for some spiffying up. That’s what happened to Kali River Rapids, which closed in January for its typical winter maintenance. It was scheduled to reopen on April 2nd (and that’s what Disney’s official refurbishment calendar still says!), but shh: we’re gonna let ya in on a little secret. Kali River Rapids is ALREADY back open!
Now, you’re not gonna see this listed anywhere — in fact, the wait time isn’t even showing up on the My Disney Experience app yet. But you can go for a spin (pun intended!) on Kali River Rapids RIGHT now if you wanted to. And that’s exactly what we did! We joined the 35-minute wait and prepared to get soaked.
Kali River Rapids Wait Time
The line started a little ways down the path in Asia, to allow for social distancing. It seemed like plenty of people were eager to get a splash on this toasty day!
Kali River Rapids Line
We snaked through the normal queue, through the temple…
We enjoyed some shade in here!
…and back outside.
Almost there!
Then, after loading onto the raft, we were ready to go!
Let’s do this!
Social distancing seems to be spaced out with at least 1 seat between groups. We had 2 seats separating us from the party next door!
Kali River Rapids
As for the ride: nothing’s changed! But we’re happy to see it back up and running after its seasonal maintenance.
Kali River Rapids
The ride officially reopens April 2nd, but hey! Hop on a few days early and get a break from those HOT afternoons. We’ll keep bringing you the latest Disney news and updates, so stay tuned to DFB!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 
Are you excited to ride Kali River Rapids again? Let us know in the comments!
The post Shh! A Disney World Ride Reopened Early in SECRET first appeared on the disney food blog.
If you haven’t been to Disney World since the parks reopened, then you may be in for a shock when you show up.
Disney World
With new health and safety measures and lots of changes to the parks in general, things look a little different. However, the thing that has perhaps changed the most is the way that you ENTER the parks! There are several new steps, processes, and systems in place for park entry at Walt Disney World, and it can be kind of confusing to navigate them all! But today, we’re breaking it down!
Whether you remember how things “used to be” or you’ve simply never visited before, it’s important to wrap your head around just HOW you go about getting into a Disney World park now. We gotcha covered!
Nowadays, before you even arrive at the parks, you’ll need to make a Disney Park Pass (DPP) reservation to get in. The new Disney Park Pass system is Disney World’s way of controlling capacities, and all guests are required to “book” the park they want to visit in advance.
©Disney
To be clear, you still gotta buy your tickets THEN you gotta book your Park Passes. These reservations are made through your My Disney Experience account and must be made for each day of your trip. If you plan on Park Hopping, you only have to book a Disney Park Pass for the first park of the day. You won’t be able to get into a Disney World park without a Park Pass (unless you’re Park Hopping and you’ve already been to the first park) so don’t skip this step!
©Disney
A note on booking these guys: Park Passes are lumped into one of 3 categories: ticket holders, Passholders, and Resort guests. Each has different numbers of Passes available on any given day. Passholders can book up to 3 Passes at a time. Ticketed guests can book the number of days they have tickets. resort (hotel) guests can book as many days as they have tickets as well.
Annual Passholders Park Pass Availability ©Disney
If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you’ll fall into the Resort Guest pile, even if you bought tickets separately or have an Annual Pass. It’s all linked in My Disney Experience. The system needs to see you at least have tickets (and a hotel room, if so) and it will let you book the correct Pass.
We highly recommend making your DPP reservations as soon as you know what your plans are. Trust us, this is an EASY one to overlook. It can land in the “I’ll do it later” pile of your brain and then a week before your trip everything is booked up! They can be canceled and rebooked, so you have SOME flexibility, but if you’re traveling during a popular season, then the parks will fill up FAST.
Right now, guests visiting a Walt Disney World theme park or Disney Springs are required to have their temperature checked before entering. If you have a fever of 100.4˚F or higher, you’ll be given a few minutes to sit and relax in the cool-down tents nearby.
Temperature Check at Blizzard Beach
If, after your cool-down period you still test high, you and all the members of your party will be denied entry. This process is usually pretty quick, as it only takes a few seconds for Cast Members to scan your forehead with the thermometers, however, long lines can develop during busy times — like when parks first open in the morning and around dinnertime at Disney Springs.
Even then, this process is actually very quick and we don’t find it slows down our day. Keep in mind you DON’T need to go one at a time if you’re with your family. You can all approach together, especially if you have kids with you who might be alarmed by what’s happening.
When the parks reopened, Disney changed up their security procedures quite a bit! Pre-COVID, security guards would manually search each bag and stroller headed into the Disney parks, which took quite a while. Nowadays, there are fancy new scanners at each park entrance and Disney Springs!
Checkpoint at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
With these new scanners, guests simply walk through with all of their belongings. If you have umbrellas, metal water bottles, aerosol cans, or large portable chargers, you’ll want to remove them from your bag (they tend to set them off), but other than that you’re good to go! If the scanner beeps when you walk through, you’ll be pulled aside for an individual bag search.
New procedures for security screening.
The process is much quicker and much more smooth than before and often runs even quicker than the temperature checks do. It’s hard to imagine that a year ago, we could’ve waited in line for bag checks for AGES! Now we just breeze right through the line! Keep an eye out — if you find yourself queuing up to go through security, there are usually open scanners nearby. Guests tend to form a line and stick to it, but open scanners may be steps away. Watch Cast Members for cues!
While you can still use MagicBands to scan into the parks, there have been some BIG changes with them in the past year. Disney Resort guests no longer get MagicBands free with their stay, but they can purchase select styles at a discounted rate.
There are a TON of colors and styles to choose from!
Annual Passholders have a few free choices for bands, and anyone can purchase them at their regular prices in gift shops around the resort. If you don’t want to pay for a MagicBand, you can pick up a free Key to the World ticket card for each guest at the front desk of your resort and scan in using those. But what if you want to forgo MagicBands or cards entirely?
If MagicBands and Key to the World cards sound like too much hassle, then you need to check out Disney World’s newest way to scan your tickets — on your phone! The new MagicMobile service just launched and offers a way to add your park tickets to the Wallet on your phone or device.
©Disney
The feature works similar to MagicBands, you’ll just have to hold your device near a touchpoint. You’ll set up this new feature in the My Disney Experience app ahead of your visit and you’ll be able to choose personalized icons for each person’s pass. If you can’t decide whether or not you’d like MagicMobile, the good news is that you can swap back and forth between using it, MagicBands, and Key to the World cards.
The latest change to Walt Disney World is a new option that’s currently being tested in Magic Kingdom…facial recognition. Right now, participation is completely optional and Disney hasn’t made any announcements about the future of the new technology.
Facial Recognition is currently being tested!
If you’d like to try it out, it’s available at select entrances to Magic Kingdom for a limited time. You walk up, scan your park ticket like usual, and then face the new screens above the ticket scanners. Once your face is scanned, it’s assigned a number which is then associated with your ticket. In the future, this could be an alternative to the finger scan, but like we said, Disney hasn’t shared many details on its ultimate plans for this technology at this time.
Let’s Get Scanning!
So, it’s easy to see that there are a lot of changes to deal with when entering Disney World right now! If you haven’t been in a while, make sure to read up on the latest news before you go. The best way to do that is to stay tuned to DFB for all the updates and changes that you need to know!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
Have you been to Disney World since the parks reopened? Tell us in the comments!
The post If You Haven’t Been to Disney World In a While, Buckle Up…It’s Weird first appeared on the disney food blog.
You don’t have to be in Disney World to be decked out in Disney clothes and accessories!
Even your headphones can be Disneyfy-ed
Whether it’s enjoying our morning cup of coffee in a Disney mug or carrying around our essentials in a Disney bag, we love finding new ways to add some Disney into our everyday routine. And, if you can normally be found listening to music, we found a Disney accessory for you!
As we were making our way around Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we stopped into The Darkroom and spotted new headphone cases! These are for use with Apple AirPods Wireless Headphones, so your favorite Disney characters and icons will keep your buds safe when you’re not jamming out! There are quite a few new cases so buckle up!
First up is the Spaceship Earth Headphone Case. Ummm…WHAT? SO cute, right?? This miniature version of EPCOT’s park icon features all the little details including the legs and pattern you’d find in the park!
Mini Spaceship Earth gives the real one a run for its money
If you’re a big fan of Pixar’s Up! you can turn your headphones into an honorary Wilderness Explorer with the Wilderness Explorer Backpack Headphone Case. It’s literally a backpack for your AirPods!
Make your headphones honorary Wilderness Explorers
All you Star Wars fans can store your headphones in the most secure technology form with the BB-8 Headphone Case. Droids have been known to take good care of anything you program inside of them, so your headphones will be in good hands. Well, maybe not hands…but you get the idea!
BB-8 will protect your music
And, if you’re a fan of classic Disney characters, you’re in luck! We found two Minnie Mouse Headphone Cases as well. There’s no mistaking these Minnie-inspired headphones for any other character with the iconic polka-dot pattern and red bow with ears on top. The two sizes are for the different versions of the Apple AirPods Wireless Headphone so you’ll want to be sure you pick up the right one.
These cases are classic
These cases cost $19.99 each and can be found at Hollywood Studios and some other locations around Disney World! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney merchandise updates!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
How do you add Disney to your daily routine? Let us know in the comments!
The post Mini Spaceship Earth is Giving the Real One a Run For Its Money in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog.
We’re gearing up for Disney World’s 50th anniversary this year, and it’s got us thinking about other celebrations in the parks.
Cinderella Castle
Mickey’s 90th birthday celebration seems like forever ago, doesn’t it? But guys, it was just THREE years ago, in 2018! And while we’re getting pumped for the park transformations and ride openings for Disney World’s 50th anniversary this October, we wanna take a trip with ya down memory lane. We dug up the cutest video, and we’ve GOT to show you.
All right, people, let’s throw it back to 2018! To celebrate the main Mouse’s big day, random characters would pop into Magic Kingdom. There were also fireworks, a castle show…and Chicken Little, is that you?!
Chicken Little made an appearance!
That’s right — Chicken Little appeared one day for a spontaneous meet and greet. But what he DIDN’T realize was that some fireworks were goin’ off around the same time! And if you know Chicken Little, you know he immediately jumped to conclusions…and thought the sky was falling. Yikes. Poor little guy! Luckily, he had plenty of friends to let him know everything would be a-okay.
Let’s remember that time when Chicken Little saw fireworks
and thought the sky was falling!
: 2018 during Mickey’s 90th Celebration pic.twitter.com/r5lyCLvZhq
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 30, 2021
You may run into some socially distanced characters in the parks, though!
We’re just glad we’ve got this video to look back on! We hope it made ya smile. As always, we’ll keep an eye out for more characters doin’ their thing in the parks. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
Who’s the rarest character you’ve seen in Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
The post This Is the Most Adorable Thing You’ll See Today. Don’t @ Us. first appeared on the disney food blog.
Naveen Andrews has been cast in the Hulu series The Dropout. What’s Happening: Variety has reported that Naveen Andrews has joined the cast of the Hulu series The Dropout. He will play the role of Sunny Balwani, Elizabeth Holmes’ business partner and secret boyfriend. Andrews is known for his role in ABC’s Lost where he played Sayid Jarrah. […]
The post Naveen Andrews Joins the Cast of Hulu’s “The Dropout” appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
