The Happily Ever After fireworks are a fan favorite! Check out the new showtime details so you don’t miss out on the spectacular and heartwarming display. Happily Ever After Fireworks …
D-Tech’s MaDe kiosks at Walt Disney World now offer wall signs. Guests can choose a design and have the product printed on demand.
Wall signs are $29.99 plus tax.
There are currently “TRON,” “Star Wars,” Tomorrowland, and “Big Hero 6” designs available. Though most MaDe products are personalizable, these are not. They are all 10 square inches with holes in the corners for hanging.
“TRON” Wall Signs
This black sign features orange, yellow, and blue lightcycles racing across it. The TRON Lightcycle / Run logo is in the bottom left corner.
This wall sign is a blueprint with red drawings of a Recognizer. The “TRON” logo is in red at the bottom.
This sign is designed to look like the screen of the TRON video game, with red and blue lightcycles racing.
A Team Yellow driver is featured on this sign. It reads “Live to race.”
This sign features Team Orange members. It reads “Battle to the end.”
Team Blue lightcycles and a driver holding an identity disc are on this sign. It reads “Winning is our destiny.”
The last sign features Team Red and reads “Speed first.”
“Star Wars” Wall Signs
This black sign has the Imperial logo in red. Red lightsabers are on the sides and “The Dark Side” is along the bottom.
This sign looks like a collage of newspaper cut-outs. Darth Vader, clenching his first, is in the center in front of the Imperial logo. “Join the Dark Side” is across the top, “Fulfill your destiny” is on the right, and “It is useless to resist” is at the bottom. A TIE Fighter is also pictured.
This red sign reads “Darth Maul” in tall, thin black and yellow letters. Maul’s double-ended lightsaber is in the center and “Twice the Menace” is in small lettering next to “Darth.” Maul’s face is pictured over the “r.” His ship, the Scimitar, is next to his name.
A similar sign is inspired by Darth Vader. It’s black with red and white lettering. Vader’s helmet is over the “e” and “r.” His red lightsaber is on the left and the Imperial logo is on the right. A red Star Destroyer flies over the “a” of “Darth.” “Dark Lord of the Sith” is on the right.
This sign depicts Qui-Gon Jinn, Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan Kenobi fighting. The wordmark for “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” is across the bottom. A galaxy is in the background.
This artwork is featured on various 25th anniversary merchandise for “The Phantom Menace,” including other D-Tech products. A 25th anniversary logo is in the top right corner.
Darth Maul is in the center of this gray sign, which also honors 25 years of “The Phantom Menace” with the logo in the bottom right corner. “Star Wars” is across the top.
This sign depicts a young Anakin Skywalker wearing his podracing helmet and goggles. “Podrace” is in white lettering and “Anakin Skywalker” is in yellow. Podracing flags and Anakin’s ship are also pictured.
Tomorrowland Wall Sign
This wall sign matches recently-released Tomorrowland merchandise. It’s light blue with the Monorail, Space Mountain, Disneyland PeopleMover, TRON Lightcycles, Stitch’s spaceship, and Astro Orbitor pictured in orange and white.
This sign is white with a red image of the San Fransokyo skyline. Baymax is depicted flying straight up out of the city. “San Fransokyo” is in white English letters and Japanese kanji at the bottom.
The main characters of “Big Hero6” are pictured hugging on this sign. Images of different San Fransokyo locations are in gray bubbles behind them.
This last sign is red with a large image of Baymax making a hand heart. The skyline of San Fransokyo is in front of him and the city’s name is at the bottom.
MaDe kiosks are available in Tomorrowland Launch Bay at Magic Kingdom and in Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs.
As construction continues on Walt Disney World’s new Disney Vacation Club tower — Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows — crews are also adding new decorative elements to nearby Polynesian Village Resort buildings.
Island Tower Construction
During a recent boat ride across Seven Seas Lagoon, we saw a crane and lift raised next to the tower. A crew member in the lift was working on the frame of a large square window. On the roof, crew members were working on new silver piping.
During another trip, we saw several crew members on balconies across this side of the tower. Balcony railings have yet to be installed as they finish painting the exterior.
There are still several areas that are still white with primer or gray concrete.
Crew members have added new sheathing to the framework of the square window.
Between the center of the building and the south wing is a row of balconies. There are now plastic tarps hanging across the openings of each balcony, with work lights visible inside.
New sheathing covers the metal overhang on the south wing.
The outdoor dining area has received more paneling and sheathing around its columns and round roof.
On the other side of the building, we saw crew members digging a rectangular hole. This is just a few feet from the edge of the construction site.
Dirt was piled up next to the hole. This is not for the tower’s swimming pool, which is located on the lagoon side.
Several steel beams were staged for installation at the front of the tower’s porte-cochère, which was erected earlier this month. Crew members were working underneath it, including in a lift raised to the ceiling.
This side of the north wing remains unpainted.
Other Polynesian Village Resort Buildings
Nearby buildings are being repainted and getting new decorative panels reportedly to better match the color scheme of the Island Tower.
For comparison, the above building with red walls is unchanged. It has a pyramid-shaped column with a brown, orange, and white color scheme.
This building is now a more orange-ish color. Its pyramid column has been painted shades of yellow, brown, white, and green.
The new decorative panels are on the dark brown balcony columns. They align with the second-floor railings and feature different patterns and colorways.
The colors vary from red to white to yellow.
The patterns are inspired by traditional Polynesia patterns. The one above features triangular shapes.
This one is made of thick red lines turning curling around each other.
The Hawaii building’s decorative diamond panels have been repainted.
The Tokelau longhouse is only partially repainted. The walls of the first floor are a pale yellow-orange, while the second and third floor walls are red.
Crews were still actively installing the new decorative panels. We saw a white one leaning against a wall near a ladder.
Through some ferns and tree branches, we saw a lift raised near columns with brand new panels.
The construction work is taking place around rooms that appear to be unoccupied.
We’re giving you an EXCLUSIVE first look inside the newest land at the Tokyo Disney Resort, dates have been announced for this year’s Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Disney has partnered with a competitor to offer a new streaming bundle.
All of the latest theme park news is coming up right now on DFB Guide.
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Let us know what you think about the latest Disney news in the comments below!
The NEW Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride is opening SOON in Disney World! Although we know it’ll open this summer, we’re still waiting for an official opening date (ahem…Disney, whenever you’re ready), but here’s the real question: Once the ride opens, how will you get on it?
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom
Some rides at Disney World use virtual queues instead of standby lines, some offer Lightning Lanes with Genie+, others have Individual Lightning Lanes, and still more have just standby queues with no option to skip the line at all. It’s fair to say that getting on certain Disney World rides is COMPLICATED. So what will Tiana’s Bayou Adventure use? Standby line or virtual queue? Genie+, Individual Lightning Lane, or no skip-the-line option at all? Here’s what we know so far and what we’re predicting for when it opens.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is not really a brand-new ride. Instead, it’s a complete re-theme of the old Splash Mountain ride. So, we can speculate about what will happen when Tiana’s opens based on what usually happens with new rides combined with what Splash Mountain used to have back in the day (and by “back in the day” we mean…like a year and a half ago ).
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure construction
First, let me give you a quick overview of the new ride so that you know what we’re dealing with here (and whether or not you want to ride it in the first place!). Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is opening this summer (2024) in Disney World. The Splash Mountain ride has been closed for about a year and a half now for the refurbishment.
The storyline of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes place just after the movie The Princess and the Frog. Tiana has made her dream come true by opening a restaurant, and now she wants to say thank you to her community of supporters by hosting a big Mardi Gras party. But OH NO — she realizes she’s missing a key ingredient for the event and needs your help to find it!
Guests join Tiana on an adventure through the bayou, where they’ll encounter familiar characters like Louis the alligator, Prince Naveen, Mama Odie, Eudora (Tiana’s mom), Charlotte, “Big Daddy,” the King and Queen of Maldonia, and Naveen’s younger brother, Prince Ralphie.
Of course there has to be some great music on the ride if it’s going to live up to the music in the film. The ride will feature a mix of songs from the movie and original music. One of the features that we’re MOST excited to experience is actually in the queue because Disney has promised that the smell of fresh beignets is going to be pumped into the queue as a nod to New Orleans and Tiana’s signature dish.
Queue
So are you convinced that you need to try out this new ride? Alright, good deal. Now, let’s talk about how you’ll get on it.
Virtual Queue or Standby Line?
There are only a couple of rides in Disney World that are currently using a virtual queue in place of a standby line: TRON Lightycycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. To get on those rides, you CAN’T wait in a normal, standby line. Instead, you must join the virtual queueon the app and wait to be called back when it’s your turn to ride.
Most new rides and attractions use a virtual queue when they first open in Disney World. Even the walk-through attraction Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana used a virtual queue for a couple of days once it opened in EPCOT. For that reason, we’re expecting Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to use a virtual queue for at least a little while when it opens.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
It’s possible that the virtual queue won’t last very long (it could even just be for the first week or so), but how long it lasts will likely depend on guest demand. Disney utilizes virtual queues to keep the wait time lower (so you’re not stuck waiting in a 5-hour line), but if not too many guests are joining the virtual queue, they might move it over to a standby line sooner rather than later.
If you’re going to Disney World within the first couple of weeks of the ride opening, though, you can probably expect to use a virtual queue to get on.
Individual Lightning Lane or Genie+?
So here’s the more complicated question: Will Tiana’s Bayou Adventure be part of Genie+ or have an a la carte Lightning Lane?
There are two different ways to skip the standby lines in Disney World. Lots of rides are part of Genie+, which you can purchase as a feature for any of the parks on the day of your visit. Using Genie+, you can reserve Lightning Lanes throughout the day, which means you’ll get to skip the standby lines.
Lightning Lane at Expedition Everest
Some of the most popular rides in Disney World, however, are NOT part of Genie+. Instead, their Lightning Lanes are available for purchase a la carte. You don’t have to buy Genie+ to buy Individual Lightning Lanes, and you don’t have to buy Individual Lightning Lanes to buy Genie+ — you can get either one, both, or neither.
Here are the rides that have Individual Lightning Lanes in Disney World:
You can buy Individual Lightning Lanes for up to two attractions per day. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel or at the Swan and Dolphin or Shades of Green Resort, you can buy Individual Lightning Lanes starting at 7AM on the day of your visit. Everyone else can start buying Individual Lightning Lanes at the park opening time.
There are a couple of reasons why the “Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane” question for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is more complicated than the virtual queue dilemma. One is that Splash Mountian was part of Genie+ — it didn’t have an a la carte Lightning Lane. It’s possible that will mean that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be part of Genie+, too.
Splash Mountain Lightning Lane
Another complication is that guests are limited to only TWO Individual Lightning Lanes per day, and there are already two rides with Individual Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run. If there are suddenly three options and the rule of only two per guest stands, then you’ll have to pick between the three and use either the standby line or virtual queue for the other one.
TRON Lightcycle / Run
So one option is that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will just be part of Genie+ when it opens, which would be a little bit surprising considering we’re expecting this to be a really popular ride and most of the popular rides have a la carte Lightning Lanes. However, this fits better into what previously happened with Genie+ in Magic Kingdom since Splash Mountain was part of Genie+.
The other option is that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has an Individual Lightning Lane, in which case Disney might make Seven Dwarfs Mine Train part of Genie+, or just have three Individual Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom.
We’ll be there on the opening day of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to bring you all the details and info you need to get on the ride ASAP. Stay tuned to DFB for all the updates!
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Are you hoping to get on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when it opens? Let us know in the comments!
The Disney Genie+ service has been divisive amongst park-goers since its introduction, and Cast Members also have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the service.
Lightning Lane sign at Beauty and the Beast show
The Disney Genie service was introduced after the pandemic as a replacement for the old FastPass+ system. The service includes a complimentary planning tool, along with the option to add two additional options. These options are the Genie+ service and purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes.
Many Disney World fans have been vocal about their dislike of the new service, especially when comparing it to the old FastPass+ service, which was free and allowed you to book rides in advance of your trip. And while guests have been very divided over their opinions, Cast Members also feel a lot of the burden of this service. Cast Members on the frontline who are operating the attractions are the ones who often have to deal with a lot of the burden of this divisive service.
A little throwback to FastPass+
Before we get too far, let’s explain a bit about what Genie+ is and how it works. Genie+ is a paid, add-on service that you can add to your park ticket for the day. It can be bought for one or multiple parks each day, and the prices will vary based on the demand. Busy days will see higher prices, while slow days will see cheaper prices. Once you have purchased Genie+, you will use the My Disney Experience app to book your Lightning Lanes. You will be able to book almost any attraction in the park, except for a few major rides that you will need to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.
Soarin’ Around The World entrance
Each Lightning Lane that you book will have a certain return window, and when it is your time, you head to the attraction and scan in at the Lightning Lane entrance. The Lightning Lane provides a quicker line to experience the attraction, however, the only guarantee is that the line will be shorter than the standby line. It may be a five-minute line, or you may find yourself waiting upwards of 30 minutes if it is a particularly popular ride. While this service provides guests with an option to pay to skip the lines, it has also seen its fair share of critics. Now, let’s get to some of the frustrations of Genie+.
Those who are waiting in the stand-by line may have to see lots of Lightning Lane guests loading, or experience longer waits because of the Lightning Lane. As well, those in the Lightning Lane may feel as though their wait is too long, especially since they are now paying for this service. The Lightning Lane is also utilized by those with the Disability Access Service (DAS) and Rider Switches, and with the addition of those who purchased a Lightning Lane, the line can end up fairly busy. This can mean a longer wait for all parties involved, and while Disney tries to report wait times as accurately as possible, they are sometimes off. Cast Members often have to deal with upset guests who have been waiting a long time. The Cast Members are trying their best to be efficient and safe, while also following the ratios set for their attraction. It can be frustrating to end up waiting a long time, but sometimes that will be the case.
Lightning Lane doesn’t guarantee you won’t have to wait.
Another frustration is that when you book a Lightning Lane, you are given a specific window to return to the attraction. It is an hour-long window, and you can show up at any point during the window. However, sometimes things happen, and you may not make the window. Cast Members try their best to accommodate guests, but it is not always possible. The return times are there for a reason and are in place to help with line management. It can be frustrating to miss your window and be denied entry, but Cast Members are simply doing their jobs and trying to ensure the process is fair for everyone.
Cast Members want you to have a good time.
It is also possible that you may have selected a window, only for the ride to be down when you get there. This is something that is completely out of the Cast Members’ control. While definitely frustrating, the good news is that you will automatically receive a multi-experience pass that can either be used later in the day at the same attraction. Or you can view a list of additional attractions that the pass will work at. The multi-experience pass will allow you to tap through the Lightning Lane on one included attraction. You can wait for the original attraction to open again OR use it on a different attraction, not both. When an attraction does go down, you may notice a longer Lightning Lane wait once it reopens, as others will also be redeeming their Lightning Lane. Keep that in mind and be prepared to possibly wait longer.
Sometimes attractions go down!
While the service is still very divisive, understand that Cast Members are likely as frustrated by it as you are. They don’t have control over the Disney Genie+ service, and they also understand your frustrations. Cast Members are doing the best they can with what they have, while making sure everyone is being treated as fairly as possible, and trying to ensure guests have a magical trip. They are juggling a lot at once, so please be patient and kind. A great way to be prepared is to learn more about Genie+. We have lots of resources including this guide, as well as oodles of videos, like the one you can watch right here!
Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news and Disney World tips!
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Have you used Genie+ before? Let us know about your experience in the comments!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has new mugs, apparel, and a Na’vi translator inspired by Pandora – The World of Avatar.
We found all of this new merch in Island Mercantile.
Travel Poster Mug – $16.99
This mug is white with a blue stripe around the bottom. The top of the stripe is jagged with a tree sticking out of it, representing a natural landscape. Floating mountains are pictured on the white section with two flying ikran. “Pandora Valley of Mo’ara,” the setting of the Animal Kingdom land, is printed in white on the blue section.
The other side of the mug also features floating mountains and ikran.
The inside of the mug is light blue.
Banshee Mug – $24.99
This mug is sculpted like a cartoon-ish ikran (or banshee). It’s light blue with white on its wings. It has two pairs of yellow eyes.
Purple spots are on the creature’s forehead. Its antennae have red tips.
The tail acts as the mug’s handle. It also has a red tip and purple stripes.
Floating Mountains Mug – $24.99
The third new mug is sculpted to resemble a floating mountain. It’s gray with a brown handle resembling a tree trunk. More tree roots appear to cut through the rock.
A detailed blue and green ikran is pictured perched on one root. The opening looks like it’s rimmed with green moss.
Another ikran is pictured flying pass a waterfall.
The inside of the mug is gray.
Youth Tee – $26.99
This youth tee is light purple. “Pandora is harmony” is on the chest with a blue image of the aquatic ilu. The tee glows in the dark.
Tie-Dye Tee – $34.99
This adult shirt features a black-gray tie-dye pattern.
The whale-like tulkan is pictured splashing in water in front of a blue-pink sky. “Pandora The World of Avatar” is in yellow lettering along the bottom of the design.
Woodsprites Tee – $34.99
This shirt is blue with white and light blue woodsprites pictured across it.
The sprites near the top are bigger than the ones closer to the bottom of the shirt.
The land’s name is in light blue lettering on the left sleeve.
Crew Neck Sweatshirt – $59.99
This pullover is dark blue. It features the same design as the tie-dye shirt on the back.
“Pandora The World of Avatar” is in yellow on the left breast.
Button-Up Shirt – $64.99
The button-up shirt is light blue with darker splotches and green saves, making it resemble an ocean. There are white schools of fish and black images of larger aquatic creatures.
The buttons are white. It has a breast pocket and collar.
Na’vi Translator Set – $29.99
When Pandora – The World of Avatar first opened in 2017, it had a Na’vi translator with trading cards. A new version of the translator is now available with new trading cards included and other cards available in individual packs.
The set includes a gray-silver translator with light and sound effects. It includes a cord to carry the translator.
15 translation cards are included. When users insert the card in the translator, it recites the corresponding word, demonstrating the pronunciation.
The cards feature pictures of different creatures, Na’vi people, and natural elements to represent the words. The word is displayed in Na’vi and in English.
Na’vi Translation Trading Cards Pack – $9.99
A card pack includes eight cards not included in the translator set.
There is a series 1 and series 2 with different potential cards.
The newest pin in the Walt Disney World Parades series is inspired by the Country Bear Jamboree. We found it at Frontier Trading Post, right next to Grizzly Hall, although the attraction is currently closed to become the Country Bear Musical Jamboree.
Walt Disney World Parades Country Bear Jamboree Pin – $19.99
The pin resembles a Country Bear-themed parade float. Big Al sits on the front of the float, which resembles one of the small platforms of the Grizzly Hall stage. A beehive is on the side of the float. Behind Big Al is Zeke, one of the Five Bear Rugs, playing a banjo. He’s in front of a woodsy background framed by red curtains.
The pin has a limited edition size of 3,000.
Two of the previous pins in this collection featured Figment from Journey Into Imagination and Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid.” The pins can be connected to each other with golden hooks on each of them.
GMA3: What You Need to Know has announced their guest list for the week of May 13th-17th Among those joining for a virtual or in-person visit are chefs, doctors, public figures and more who will discuss current projects, and some of the popular topics facing our nation. What’s Happening: Every afternoon, ABC’s news program, GMA3: What You […]