#5 D23 Expo Recap - Walt Disney World Resort

The Disney Company has seen much success over the past couple years in their parks, movies and television shows. To continue this upward trend, Disney announced new additions, attractions and lands coming to their parks, updates to their cruise line and more details about their streaming service, Disney+, at the D23 Expo this weekend.

During the 3-day convention, Disney presented fans with a playbook of things to come - making it a very exciting time for Disney and their fans.

Here is what fans can expect to see coming to the Walt Disney World Resort in the coming years:

EPCOT Transformation & 4 Neighborhoods

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, EPCOT, will be undergoing a massive transformation. The park will be receiving a face lift that will return it to Walt Disney's original vision while bringing Disney's stories to life, according to Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek.

EPCOT will have 4 new neighborhoods, that celebrate the park, each with their own new additions:

1. World Showcase

• The United Kingdom pavilion will have a new Mary Poppins attraction.
• The largest nighttime spectacular in a Disney Park, HarmonioUS, will debut after a limited time run of Epcot Forever. This new nighttime spectacular will celebrate how Disney music inspires people throughout the world.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

• Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and a new restaurant, La Creperie Paris, will open in the summer of 2020 at the France pavilion. The pavilion will also add a Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along in the Impressions de France film in January of 2020.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

2. World Celebration

• New scenes and guide and an updated narration will be added to Spaceship Earth.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

• A new three-level pavilion will be added for signature festivals that provides a view of World Showcase.
• This neighborhood will feature gardens, interactive fountains, views at Dreamer's Points and a new statue dedicated to Walt Disney's legacy.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

3. World Nature

• Moana will finally be featured in Walt Disney World with a new area, Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana. This area feature magical, living water that guests can meet and interact with on the trail.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

• In January 2020, The Land pavilion will feature a new film, Awesome Planet.

4. World Discovery

• Later this year, a new restaurant, Space 220, will open at the Mission: Space pavilion. This restaurant will provide guests with panorama views of Earth from 220 miles away.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will have guests enter space in reverse as they embark on their adventure to Xander. The ride will rotate with the action.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

• A new pavilion will be opening in time for the resorts 50th Anniversary, the PLAY! Pavilion. This pavilion will have games, activities and experiences.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Mary Poppins Attraction

As mentioned earlier, Mary Poppins will be coming to the United Kingdom pavilion in World Showcase. It is the first Mary Poppins attraction at a Disney Park. Guests will walk down Cherry Tree Lane and enter the Banks' house.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway
The first ride attraction for Mickey and Minnie will open at Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2020. Disney also announced, the ride will open in Disneyland in 2022.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
Disney is calling this a first of it's kind experience, as it will be the most immersive experience at one of their properties. We have seen the Disney Parks get better each time with immersing the guests in what they see and do - from Cars Land, to Pandora - The World of Avatar and now Galaxy's Edge - so this is very exciting.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Guests will check-in to the Galactic Starcruiser for a 2-night adventure aboard the Halcyon. They will interact with characters and become participants in the story. Their galactic journey will be dependent on how they interact with the world around them.

Both children and adults will have the opportunity to wield a lightsaber like Luke Skywalker and face off against a training remote.

Tron Lightcycle Run
Disney announced that the ride in Tomorrowland will be named Tron Lightcycle Run. They also previewed the ride vehicles and what cast members will be wearing.

Credit: D23

Cirque du Soleil
At Disney Springs, Cirque du Soleil will be debuting a new show celebrating Walt Disney animation in the spring of 2020.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Disney released more details about the proposed Disney Vacation Club resort that is being built on the former site of River Country between Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness. The lodge is inspired by nature and artistry of Walt Disney. It will have treehouse suites, bungalows and a restaurant that overlook Bay Lake. The lakeside restaurant will be themed after "Princess and the Frog."

Disney Genie

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Disney is developing a new way for guests to plan and experience their trip, Disney Genie. This will debut in late 2020 and is supposed to make planning easier with customized itineraries. Guests will tell Disney Genie what they want to do and it will evaluate all the options and present them with their optimal day.

Target and Disney
Disney will be opening 25 stores within Target on October 4th, including stores in Philadelphia, Chicago and Denver. By October 2020, there will be 40 more Disney stores in Target. It was also announced that Target will be opening a store near the Walt Disney World Resort in 2021.

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

This is a wonderful time to be a Disney fan, with all these changes coming to the Walt Disney World Resort alone. We haven't even mentioned Disney+, which begins it's streaming service on November 12. We cannot wait to see what the future holds. Lest we never forget the words of Walt Disney: "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."

Trivia

Q: Mary Poppins debuted 55 years ago on August 27, 1964. Who authored the book that Walt Disney based the Mary Poppins film on?

Credit: Disney Parks Blog

A: P.L. Travers



Sources:
Disney Parks Blog & https://d23.com/d23-expo-2019/,

#4 "Welcome Foolish Mortals, to the Haunted Mansion"

Disney's Haunted Mansion opened it's doors to foolish mortals 50 years ago. The dark ride recently celebrated a milestone anniversary, first opening in Disneyland on August 9, 1969 and later in the Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. The rides were made at the same time, but the one at the Magic Kingdom had to wait for the official opening of the park.

For the last half century, grim grinning ghosts have been socializing throughout the mansion and the ride has become a Disney classic. It is a must-do ride when you visit Walt Disney World. From the time you enter the queue until you pass through the exit back into Liberty Square, you will be in for a surprise at every turn.

As you walk through the queue, be sure to read the tombstones that are dedicated to WED/Disney artists and animators, Imagineers and people that worked on designing the ride and Disney parks. The updated queue also has interactive elements in the graveyard to pass the time as guests wait to enter the mansion. 

Finally it is time to enter the Haunted Mansion, where you are greeted by your Ghost Host, voiced by Paul Frees. The Ghost Host will lead you into a stretching room and tell you a story of the Haunted Mansion. From here, you are led to the ride vehicles that are uniquely name "Doom Buggies." These ride vehicles are some of Disney's infamous Omnimovers. 

The Imagineers did a wonderful job turning the Doom Buggies to connect what guests are hearing with what they are seeing. The most memorable scenes include the floating staircases, coffin, knocking doors, the waltz and Madame Leota's floating head. All of these build up to the climax and most spectacular part of the ride, the cemetery. 

As soon as the Doom Buggies enter the cemetery, the music begins: "Happy haunts materialize and begin to vocalize. Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize." The room is so extravagant that you will see something new every time you go on the ride. The music and its lyrics are absolutely perfect. It is easily my favorite part of the ride, as I just sit in awe and try to take it all in as the Doom Buggies slowly move through the cemetery. 

As the ride comes to an end, you are reminded that the mansion has 999 happy haunts, but there is room for 1,000 if you want to volunteer. Right before you exit the ride, there may be a hitchhiking ghost that appears in the Doom Buggies.

If you have the chance to attend Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom, you cannot skip the Haunted Mansion at night. When the sun goes down and the Magic Kingdom is under the moonlight, you should make your way over to Liberty Square and approach the Haunted Mansion. If you are lucky, Madame Leota will be sitting outside of the mansion and there will be waltzing spirits. Do not be alarmed if the line is long, the cast members do a great job quickly moving guests through the queue and you will have an opportunity to listen to Madame Leota.

Yet again, Disney created a song that is catchy and recognizable. You will leave the mansion singing "Grim Grinning Ghosts" with your friends and family. Just as the Haunted Mansion ends so will this post, "hurry back, we would like your company."

Trivia

Q: Who is one of the ghost busts singing "Grim Grinning Ghosts" that is also the voice of Fritz in Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room?

A: Thurl Ravenscroft

#3 "Please Stand Clear of the Doors. Por Favor Mantengase Alejado de las Puertas."

When you go to Walt Disney World for the first time or the hundredth time, there are multiple ways for you to get to the Magic Kingdom. Everyone has their personal favorite or they simply pick whichever is most convenient to them. And no, you do not have the option to take use Tinker Bell's pixie dust or Aladdin's magic carpet, or take a ride with Dumbo, Herbie, Bullseye, Lightning McQueen or Iron Man. Even though this is Disney, those are unfortunately not an option. 

So how can I get to the Magic Kingdom?

For guests with a car, you have the ability to drive to the Magic Kingdom and park in the main lot for a daily fee. After parking you board Disney's tram that takes you to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), the main hub for the monorail, ferry and bus system throughout the resort.

To reach the park from the TTC, guests would board either the monorail or ferry. The monorail will also service the surrounding Magic Kingdom resorts (Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort). Guests staying at these resorts can board the monorail for quick transport to the park's entrance. You also have the option to take the monorail to EPCOT from the TTC. 

Once on the monorail, a safety announcement will be made before the doors close: "Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas." If you ride the monorail or have been on it before, this announcement is very recognizable. It will be stuck in your head from the rest of your trip and you may even buy a shirt or two with this safety phrase on it.

The other option is the ferry, which runs back-and-forth between the TTC and Magic Kingdom. It offers beautiful views of Cinderella's castle and Space Mountain as you cross the Seven Seas Lagoon. Off to the sides, you can see the monorail entering Disney's Contemporary Resort, the tiki torches on the beaches of the Polynesian Village Resort and the elegance of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. 

Speaking of these resorts, guests staying there, as well as Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort can take boats directly to the park. Each of the Magic Kingdom resort have a private dock for guest staying on site to take a boat to the Happiest Place on Earth. This is a perk for all guests staying at these resorts. In addition to the boats, guests staying at the Contemporary Resort can take a 10 minute walk across the street to the main entrance of Magic Kingdom. Currently, this is the only resort that offers this option. However, Disney is creating a walkway to the park from the Grand Floridian.

Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort property or anyone at a Disney Park or Disney Springs can board the Disney bus. This runs throughout the day and will drop you off right outside the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. The downsides to taking the bus are that the lines are always extremely long at the end of the night and during the day there can be a long gap between buses. If you time it perfectly and there is no line, the buses are the way to go, especially now that Disney World is upgrading the buses with USB charging stations and Wifi capability. 

The final way to get to the Magic Kingdom is by ordering a Minnie Van by Lyft, Uber or taxi. These are great options if you are trying to be at the park early for rope drop or need a quick way to hop to another park. Ordering a Minnie Van, Uber or taxi may be pricey when you compare it to the free transportation options that Disney offers, but if you do not want to miss a parade or you need to make your Fastpass time, you shouldn't hesitate. 

There are numerous ways for guests to transport around Walt Disney World and to the Magic Kingdom. The monorail's direct ties to Walt Disney and Disneyland, as well as the ability to go around the Seven Seas Lagoon, see three Disney resorts and hear the safety announcement make it my favorite form of Disney transportation. With that being said, I have used the bus the most to park hop and go to-and-from my resort. 

Hopefully, you have the chance to try each of these offerings and have your own favorite or maybe just one that helps you get around the resort the quickest.

Trivia

Q: The Walt Disney World Monorail System has operated since 1971. It is now one of the most trafficked monorail systems in the world. According to Disney, how many passengers does the monorail system average daily?

A: 150,000

#2 "Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls, The Magic Kingdom Proudly Presents..."

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
The Magic Kingdom proudly presents our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination, in thousands of sparking lights and electro-syntho-magnetic musical sounds - The Main Street Electrical Parade."

When it began to get dark in the Magic Kingdom, you waited to hear those words, the lights to turn off down Main Street, U.S.A and the electronic music to begin. The same music that would be stuck in your head all night. There were countless times where you would hear people whistling the tune on the monorail or Disney resort bus after a long day in the park.

This beloved parade is returning to Disneyland today for a limited time in all of it's glory, featuring numerous floats and live performers dancing down Main Street covered in over 600,000 LED lights, that are all synchronized to the music. And being Disney, it couldn't be a parade without some of our favorite characters - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, Alice, Pinocchio, the Seven Dwarfs and Pete with his dragon Elliot. The parade closes with an American tribute, which ties back to Walt Disney. He had a strong devotion to the country, as seen throughout the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.

The parade debuted in Disneyland in 1972 and continued dazzling guests through 1996. It last ran in Disneyland from January 20 - August 20, 2017. This was after it's final show in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on October 9, 2016, after running for over 6 years in the park. It had previously had two extended stints in Magic Kingdom (1977-1991, 1999-2001). 

This is an elaborate parade, from beginning to end. It may not have all the effects or new technology that Disney includes in other parades throughout their parks, however, The Main Street Electrical Parade is a timeless classic. Even without the bells and whistles or some of the newest characters, guests always lined the streets to watch the parade.

We can only hope that Disney decides to ultimately bring The Main Street Electrical Parade back to the Magic Kingdom, even if it is for a limited time. The 50th anniversary would be the perfect time to bring back the Magic Kingdom's longest running nighttime parade.

Who knows, maybe in October 2021 we will line the streets of Main Street, U.S.A. to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade followed by Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams. This is Disney World after all, where dreams come true!

Q: The Main Street Electrical Parade ran in Magic Kingdom from 1977-1991, again from 1999-2001, and finally from 2010-2016. What was the name of the Magic Kingdom's nighttime parade from 1991-1999/2001-2010?

A: SpectroMagic