A new sign has been added to The Cake Bake Shop, the droid, Bard, has joined Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for “Fire of the Rising Moons,” an above-normal hurricane season is predicted — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Friday, May 24, 2024.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Disney has filed a Notice of Commencement permit to add a new sign to Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Magic Kingdom.

EPCOT

• The Mars structure outside of Mission: SPACE has been updated with new red panels in some places.

Disney Springs

• In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, there is a new mural by Emily Ding at the Disney Springs Art Walk.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Work on the Doubloon Lagoon pool, the Aquatic Play Area, and the Mardi Grogs pool bar at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter has completed, and they have reopened.
• We tried the new espresso croissant available at available at Riverside Mill Food Court and Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort and Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort.

New Merchandise

• A new magnet themed to the drone show, “Disney Dreams That Soar,” has debuted at Disney Springs.

Other Walt Disney World News

• A new sign has gone up for The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-normal hurricane season.
•  The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has begun exploring $100 million worth of roadway improvements around Walt Disney World.

Disneyland Resort

• Bard, the droid, has made his debut at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland Park.
• We tried the Fantasmic! Dining Package at Blue Bayou Restaurant and the food was less-than-impressive.
• The theme song to “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” has been added to streaming platforms.
• News of Bard’s arrival for “Fire of the Rising Moons” fireworks show broke today.

The Walt Disney Company

• The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger says people should “embrace” new technologies like controversial artificial intelligence (AI).

WDW News Today

Massive Animal Kingdom Overhaul Starting, Fantasmic! is Back!

That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

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The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger says people should “embrace” new technologies like controversial artificial intelligence (AI).

Bob Iger Embraces AI

Iger discussed new and changing technologies with Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins on Thursday morning at the Canva Create showcase. Iger is an investor and board member of the graphic design platform.

He praised Canva for incorporating generative AI tools and other cutting-edge technologies.

Walt Disney himself was a big believer in using technology in the early days to tell better stories. And he thought that technology in the hands of a great storyteller was unbelievably powerful.

Bob Iger, Canva Create

Iger said the current anxiety about AI replacing human labor is the wrong perspective.

“Don’t fixate on its ability to be disruptive — fixate on [tech’s] ability to make us better and tell better stories,” Iger said. “Not only better stories, but to reach more people.”

AI was a major issue discussed during last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Writers and actors demanded safety from being replaced by the technology and their writing/voices/images being used in AI without their consent.

Disney created an AI task force to evaluate future uses of the technology. Last summer, Disney and Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” caught flak for its AI-generated opening sequence.

At Canva Create, Iger said there is no option but to figure out how to make AI work to enhance movies, TV shows, music, and other content.

“You’re never going to get in the way of it,” he said. “There isn’t a generation of human beings that has ever been able to stand the way of technological advancement. What we try to do is embrace the change that technology has created, and use it as the wind behind our backs instead of wind in our faces.”

Bob Iger told Perkins to stay true to the company’s core ideals of simplifying tech tools and building architecture that helps power creativity. He pointed to Disney and Coca-Cola as examples of companies that were popular in the 1920s and still have recognizable brands.

“There’s this belief sometimes that adjusting your values is necessary to adjust to the world that has changed,” he said, noting he doesn’t subscribe to that. “Think about what Canva is today and the business you have today because of the values that were imbued in the brand and the company culture years ago. That value creation should be ongoing. Abandoning those core values that got you where you are is what, in my opinion, results in the extinction of brands and companies.”

Source: Variety

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A magnet themed to the new drone show, “Disney Dreams That Soar” has debuted at Disney Springs.

Disney Dreams That Soar Magnet – $14.99

We found the magnet, the first piece of merchandise themed to “Disney Dreams That Soar,” at DisneyStyle in Disney Springs. It is a midnight blue, to replicate the look of the night sky, and features Tinker Bell flying above the “Disney Dreams That Soar” logo. Small stars and smaller drone lights can be seen in the background. It joins a number of die cut magnet offerings found around Walt Disney World.

The show features 800 drones creating iconic Disney characters in the sky. The 10-minute presentation includes both beloved music and a new original theme song. “Disney Dreams That Soar” will be performed May 24 through September 2 above Lake Buena Vista on Disney Springs West Side. There will be two showings each night, at 9 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.

Watch our video of the show below:

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We spotted Bard on his first day on Batuu at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Bard, Tohan Lege’s droid takes his place on a platform above the Black Spire Outpost Spaceport. You can find him to the right of the Millennium Falcon.

Bard has been added as part of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge fireworks show, “Fire of the Rising Moons.” The modified R1-series droid has been included, though not physically seen, in the introduction of the show since its inception.

Beginning May 24, Bard will be there to help to present the show. “Fire of the Rising Moons” is an alternate viewing option of the Disneyland Parks fireworks. It began during Season of the Force, but will continue on after the event ends on June 2. It features John Williams’ iconic “Star Wars” score and can be viewed from Black Spire Spaceport and the TIE Echelon docking platform near First Order Cargo and the speeder garage near Droid Depot. You can watch the show (prior to the addition of Bard) below:

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