Indiana Jones and More Returning to Walt Disney World Resort

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 6, 2021

 

With the COVID positivity rate in Florida finally falling below seven percent this week (half of what it was back in August), it’s welcome news to hear about some of the entertainment returning to the Walt Disney World Parks in the coming weeks.  

 

At our house, the return of the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” at Hollywood Studios was cause for celebration, even if performances don’t start until December 19. (With the stunt show perennially rumored to be on the chopping block, it is a bit of a relief, actually!)

Courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog

Another relief is the October 14 return of “Yeehaw Bob” at the River Roost Lounge at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. It would be hard to imagine Disney without Bob!  The piano man’s high-energy and rollicking performances are always a ton of fun for the whole family.  He’s been sorely missed.

 

In addition to Indy and Bob’s returns, a number of live performance cast members are showing up in the parks. On October 1st, the first day of the 50th anniversary celebration, the Magic Kingdom kicked off the day with a new opening show, “Let the Magic Begin,” on the Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage.  Mickey and friends welcomed guests to the park with a short opening song and dance number, a feature missing since the park’s COVID reopening.

 

Over on Main Street, Casey’s Corner is once again home to the musical stylings of its ragtime piano player, entertaining visitors several times a day while guests chow down on their favorite Casey’s hot dogs. EPCOT has also seen the return of some of their live performers, including “Sergio” in Italy, “Alberta Bound” in the Canada pavilion, and the “Taiko drummers of Matsuriza” in Japan.  “Chakranadi,” “Kora Tinga Tinga,” and the “Tam Tam Drummers” will soon be returning to Animal Kingdom. 

Courtesy of the Disney Parks Blog

And perhaps of the most interest to families with small princess patrols in tow, Disney Parks Blog has announced that Princess Fairytale Hall in Magic Kingdom will once again be inviting pint-sized princess wanna-bes, and their grown-up sidekicks, to visit the Disney Princesses in their themed rooms, beginning in November.  The blog reports that while the visits will still be somewhat distanced, guests will be able “to have individualized time with some of your favorite characters, getting to visit with them in a themed location and snap a photo or two.” Though with COVID protocols, they still will not be able to collect an autograph or offer up a hug. Until now, most character sightings have been at a greater outdoor distance and unscheduled.  

 

In addition to Princess appearances at Magic Kingdom, November will also see Mickey Mouse back in residence at his backstage dressing room at Town Square Theater on Main Street, and guests will get to meet with him while he is wearing his 50th Anniversary EARidescent party clothes.

 

At Hollywood Studios, Minnie Mouse will greet folks at Red Carpet Dreams, and the stars of Disney Junior will meet you in Animation Courtyard.  And in case you are wondering, even though new character meet-and-greets are happening, the Character Cavalcades will continue to take place throughout the parks as well.

 

EPCOT’s nighttime show “Harmonius” has finally, after a years-long wait, debuted with the 50th anniversary celebration, and Magic Kingdom got a brand new fireworks-and-projections show, with its projections snaking their way all the way down Main Street.  Beginning November 7, Hollywood Studios’ “Disney Movie Magic” nighttime show will also return, adding a new sequence from Mulan. 

 

 Disney promises more news on live entertainment options soon.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

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50th Anniversary Statues Begin Arriving in the Disney World Parks

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 11, 2021

 

We are just shy of three weeks away from the October 1st kick-off to Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Florida parks, and the iconic Disney characters that have been fashioned into golden statues for the festivities have begun arriving.

Fifty golden characters, scattered across all four theme parks, are waiting for guests to discover their locations during “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”  

Among the characters to make their new homes in the Magic Kingdom this week were Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Chip ‘n Dale, Winnie the Pooh, and Cinderella’s mice.  

Keep an eye out as more character sculptures continue to pop up throughout the parks. The sculptures join the dazzling anniversary decorations on Cinderella Castle, which will be lit up each night during the new “Disney Enchantment” fireworks spectacular, beginning October 1st.  The parks will also be home to the nighttime “Beacons of Magic” adaptations as the four park icons light up the dark each evening. 

The 50th anniversary celebration will run for the next 18 months.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

Are Character Cavalcades Enough Fun For Now?

by Beth Keating

Feature Story

DisneyBizJournal.com

September 1, 2020

I’m not a thrill ride aficionado. While the rest of the family is coursing through the darkened galaxy on Space Mountain, or soaking themselves splashing down Chickapin Hill, I’m probably running around the park collecting character photos. Photopass photographers are my absolute favorite cast members in the whole park. Admittedly, I once booked a really crummy character meal, knowing it was going to be lackluster at best, just so I could get photos with certain characters in their special holiday outfits. (Yep, looking at you, Hollywood Studios…)

So, when Disney World reopened following its COVID-19 closure, I held my breath, waiting to see how the characters would re-materialize in their old haunts. I knew that in a socially-distanced world, character meet-and-greets would be a big no-no. 

My family had a late summer trip planned, and with specialty events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party cancelled, and the Food and Wine Festival scaled back, we weren’t so sure about spending the money on the trip. Plus, is it really closing time at the Magic Kingdom if you haven’t seen the Happily Ever After fireworks?

We cancelled our trip, rationalizing that if we weren’t going to get the most bang for our buck, we’d wait out the virus and try again at a later date. Plus, you know, virus.

Well, late summer came, and I found myself unexpectedly in Florida on a research trip. I swear, I didn’t plan to head to the parks. I even told my son I wasn’t going. But the plane wheels had barely touched down at MCO before my car pulled into Disney Springs, all on its own volition. I took care of some business the next day, but the siren’s call of the Kingdom was too much for me. I was soooo close! I could very nearly see the castle from the highway… I made a last minute reservation, and off I went.

The princesses were there to greet me as soon as I crossed under the train station. Heading from the shadowed tunnel into that brilliant sunlight as you enter the “world of Yesterday, Tomorrow and Fantasy” (you know exactly where I’m talking about!), there was a socially-distanced crowd staring right back at me. I knew they couldn’t be there to greet me, since no one except the cast member at the reservation line knew I was coming, but why were all those people looking in my direction?

Turned out they weren’t looking at me at all. They were waving happily back at the princesses holding court at the top of the train station. Cinderella, Aurora, Jasmine, and Ariel, along with the Fairy Godmother, were welcoming guests to their Magic Kingdom day.   

I had barely made it to the hub when – cue the music – along came Tinkerbell spreading her pixie dust along Main Street. It was the first of several times I would see Tink’s float sparkling past the guests that day in an unscheduled “character cavalcade.”

Next it was off to Tomorrowland, to battle the evil Emperor Zurg. It’s always one of my first rides of the day when I’m in the Magic Kingdom. It was only fitting then that the first character I’d come across outside the ride would be Buzz Lightyear on the Tomorrowland stage. While I wasn’t able to get my picture with him, per se, Buzz was doing a great job entertaining the Space Rangers gathered at the foot of the stage without being huggably close. The Magic Kingdom was pretty quiet that day anyway, but each of the cadets assembled in front of the stage were able to get some individual attention from Buzz, with a pretty good angle for the Moms and Dads to get “selfie-esque” pictures with Buzz presiding in the background. Later in the day, Stitch would also show up, creating his own brand of mischief on the stage.  

So far, so good. I’d managed to see a few of my favorite characters, and I’d only been in the park a short time. I cut across the hub again on my way to Pirates, but I found myself pausing in front of the castle for another unscheduled cavalcade. This time, Goofy and company came parading through, with dancers and stilt walkers leading the way. Goofy would pass my way at least two more times that day.

The big moment came when Mickey and Minnie paraded their way through the park, complete with their 90^th Anniversary celebration outfits on. Later, Mickey and gang would replace the princesses on the train station balcony to interact with guests. I guess it was because it was time for the princesses to retire to their princess float so that they could go on a royal tour through the Magic Kingdom as they waved to miniature versions of themselves along their travel route. 

Hidden throughout the park were a few other special treats to see characters. Coming around the back side of the castle, I was surprised to hear a few raised voices. It wasn’t really shouting, but it was louder than your average park conversation. Looking up at where the commotion was coming from, I spied Anastasia and Drizella, Cinderella’s stepsisters, bickering with each other, and entertaining guests from the second floor balcony of the castle. It was a slightly different take on the character interactions, because this time the characters were “face characters” who had the ability to “chat” with guests.

Toward the end of my day, I also had the opportunity to hear the brass sounds of the Main Street Philharmonic as they paraded through Frontierland.

While I didn’t see them during my time at the Magic Kingdom, there are also cavalcades by the Hundred Acre Wood gang, Aladdin and his friends, and even a spot for Jack Sparrow to give his own brand of advice to guests. You won’t see these activities listed in your times guide, however, because they are meant to be “spontaneous” in order to keep crowds from forming and getting too close to each other. The cavalcades were fairly frequent, though, and perhaps even more magical than if I’d lined up an hour before to see a parade, simply because they did occur so unexpectedly. 

While I was only visiting the Magic Kingdom that day, each of the parks has their own style of character appearances to enchant guests, including floating parades on the river at Animal Kingdom.

It may not have been a personalized autographed session with Mickey, or a buffet with “the Fab 5,” but Disney certainly did a better job than I was expecting of incorporating character appearances into the parks.  Character sightings were more abundant than I had anticipated, and while things may be different during the recovery from COVID-19, I was happy to see that our favorite characters hadn’t gone far.

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

Are You Missing Having Fun with Disney Park Characters?

by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

July 5, 2020

With the Florida, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai Parks reopening with limited character interactions under COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, you might be missing giving Mickey a hug or dancing with Goofy at Chef Mickey’s. (That’s a double whammy….No buffets and no character close-ups right now!) Enchanting interactions with the characters are what make waiting in meet-and-greet lines for an hour worth the wait (or make paying astronomical prices for mediocre buffet food worth the investment of time and money)!

If you need a quick shot of characters doing silly stuff with actual humans, check out this short (six minutes or so) compilation of character exchanges with Gijs Van Winkelhof. We’ve featured Gijs on this site before. He’s the extraordinary, self-taught piano player from the Netherlands who performs at the Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland Paris. (See our DisneyBizJournal review of his performances here.)

Gijs offers us a peek at his shows at Café Fantasia in Paris, with a half dozen Disney characters who randomly pop in to visit. The Fab Five unexpectedly show up at various times to try to steal the show, and a few even attempt to play the piano with Gijs. There’s a fair amount of dancing going on as well, with characters visiting with guests in the lobby of the Disneyland Hotel while Gijs keeps the music going. Among the songs featured are “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Mickey Mouse Club March,” “Part of Your World” (The Little Mermaid), and “A Whole New World” (Aladdin), while Tigger and Goofy, Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Pluto do what they do best. Goofy especially has a good time with “Jingle Bells.” 

Sadly, this is as close as we may get to a character interaction for the time being!  Disney has promised character appearances in the park, but from what we’ve seen in the already-opened parks, these character sightings are being done in creative ways to allow guests to see their favs, while still keeping the “stars” at a protective distance for both families’ and cast members’ safety.

Thanks to Gijs for sharing these guest videos of his piano performances with his Disney buddies. Hopefully, it will tide you over while you wait for your own chance to interact with the Disney crew.

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

Add Some Pixie Dust to Your Kids’ Bedtime Routine

by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

April 17, 2020

I am of a certain age that I remember being able to call into NORAD in the weeks before Christmas to listen to Santa each night, telling me about one of the countries he would be visiting on Christmas Eve. It was immensely exciting as a kid to hear Santa’s voice, and I would wait all day, barely finishing dinner before begging to make that night’s phone call.

Beginning on April 17, and running until April 30th, you can add that kind of excitement to your children’s bedtime routine. The Disney Bedtime Hotline will help bring your kids a magical nighttime message from either Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, or Goofy. Parents dial in to (877)7-MICKEY, and punch the appropriate menu selection to hear the character of their choice wishing the kiddies (or you!) goodnight.  (The number is only available in the United States.)

Source: shopDisney.com

Brought to you by shopDisney.com, you can also go to the shopDisney website and download free sleep activity cards and sleep progress charts for those of you that (ahem) might be having a little challenge getting everyone into new routines these days. One set is based on Mickey Mouse and His Spaceship and the other is Minnie Bow-Bot Robot. It’s a little like the ubiquitous gift shop at the end of the rides at Disney World, however, as there are the adorable PJs, storybooks and plushies at the bottom of the page for your consideration. (The free activity cards are also a convenient sample of what’s available in the Disney Bedtime Adventure Box, available as a subscription service.) Either way, the activity cards will provide your family with a way to turn “bedtime into fun time.”

Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

Livestream of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Tonight!

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 3, 2020

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway officially opens to the public on Wednesday, March 4, but the Disney Parks Blog will be livestreaming a special dedication ceremony tonight (March 3) at 7:25 PM EST.

Just tune in at the Disney Parks Blog and enjoy!

Disney describes the adventure as follows: “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway takes you inside a 'Mickey Mouse' cartoon short, where anything can happen aboard a train ride through Runnamuck Park. You’ll join Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and more on a family-friendly adventure featuring dazzling visual effects, a lovable theme song, and surprising twists and turns.”

The attraction will open at Disneyland in California as well in 2022 at Mickey’s Toontown.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.