New Disneyland - Where?

According to this story in the Guardian, the government of Zimbabwe wants to build a new Disneyland in that country, near Victoria Falls.

Walter Mzembi, the tourism and hospitality minister, told New Ziana, the official news agency, that the government was planning a $300m (£193m) theme park near Victoria Falls, the country's top tourist attraction.
Mzembi was quoted as saying the resort would be a "Disneyland in Africa", although he did not appear to suggest that the statue of explorer David Livingstone, which overlooks the falls, would be supplanted by a jobbing actor in a Mickey Mouse costume.

 This news, assuming it is true, is being met with a less than enthusiastic response.  Zimbabwe is co-hosting a UN conference in an apparent bid to give the appearance of stability in order to attract tourists.  Here is one opinion of that effort...

 But the decision to award the conference to Zimbabwe as a co-host was condemned by the independent UN Watch human rights group as a "disgraceful show of support – and a terribly timed award of false legitimacy – for a brutal, corrupt and authoritarian regime.

 The capability of Disney to stop the use of their name for a "Disneyland" in Zimbabwe may be very limited.  Let's see if these plans go ahead and if the new attraction actually uses Disneyland in the name.

Rapid Fill Mugs

WDW is in the process of implementing the new Rapid Fill Mug program.  DIS News posted this report on the new mugs, which have an embedded RFID chip that enables you to get something out of the drink machines.  According to the post, the mugs will cost $7.99 for 1 day, up to $17.99 for 14 days. 

If you get a soft drink in a paper cup, those cups will have an RFID chip on the bottom.  The drink machine will inform you that you have 2 hours to get 3 refills, and the machine will keep track of your refill activity. Also, there will be an enforced time interval between fills. The mugs will work at multiple resorts that have the new Rapid Fill machines, but the system knows how many drinks you are entitled to.

Old mugs that have no RFID chip will not work in the drink machines.  The article states that coffee, tea and water are not affected- yet. 

Apparentl;y Disney feels that just because you spend almost $100 a day for park tickets doesn't entitle you to free soft drinks.   Granted that some groups with large families are reportedly "abusing" the free refill policy, but it's inevitable that many people will see this new system as yet another unwelcome development.

In my opinion, this is where the biggest impact of the Rapid Fill program is seen. Every paper cup that is purchased at a Rapid Fill-participating quick service location now contains an RFID sticker on the bottom. - See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/08/24/rapid-fill-mugs-at-wdw-resorts-faq/#sthash.50UO3Dck.dpuf

The price of each mug depends on how long you want to use it. There are four time options for purchase: 1 day ($8.99), 2 days ($11.99), 3 days ($14.99), or a Length Of Stay option which is good for any amount of time from 7 days up to 14 days, which costs $17.99. As of now, there are three colors to choose from – green, orange, and purple. I have a feeling that in the future we will see some new color options.
Because the mugs contain an RFID chip, similar to what is found in a MagicBand or the new Key To The World cards, they can be reprogrammed to add more time to them. This means that technically speaking, guests can re-use mugs for multiple stays. They would just need to bring back the mug to a Cast Member at the quick service location to add more time to it.
- See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/08/24/rapid-fill-mugs-at-wdw-resorts-faq/#sthash.50UO3Dck.dpuf

The price of each mug depends on how long you want to use it. There are four time options for purchase: 1 day ($8.99), 2 days ($11.99), 3 days ($14.99), or a Length Of Stay option which is good for any amount of time from 7 days up to 14 days, which costs $17.99. As of now, there are three colors to choose from – green, orange, and purple. I have a feeling that in the future we will see some new color options.
Because the mugs contain an RFID chip, similar to what is found in a MagicBand or the new Key To The World cards, they can be reprogrammed to add more time to them. This means that technically speaking, guests can re-use mugs for multiple stays. They would just need to bring back the mug to a Cast Member at the quick service location to add more time to it.
- See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/08/24/rapid-fill-mugs-at-wdw-resorts-faq/#sthash.50UO3Dck.dpuf

Escape from Tomorrow makes it to theaters

In January 2013 I posted a story about a movie titled "Escape from Tomorrow" that was filmed in secret at WDW.  The movie's creators went to great lengths to disguise what they were doing so as not to arouse the suspicions of Disney security. The film will be released in a few theaters and also as a cable movie in October 2014.

Director Randy Moore created the edgy film, which "follows a businessman who struggles to enjoy the last days of his Disney vacation with his family after he's fired on the phone, leading to all kinds of surreal and uncomfortable situations."

Speculation was that the film would never be released, for fear that Disney would send their lawyers after the filmmakers

According to an earlier report, the businessman starts to lose his sanity on It's a Small World and things apparently go downhill from there. The assumption is that this was filmed only at Magic Kingdom. It would be interesting to hear all the details of the secret filming and what activities were trying to be hidden.  Making a movie for public release without Disney's permission would be a problem, and there was one report that the film crew was somehow getting multiple people into the parks on one ticket. We'll have to see if the movie itself is worth watching, but the story of its production might be just as interesting.

Dancing Water Speakers

Now you can have your own World of Color dancing water with this Dancing Water Speakers.



Check out the video's YouTube page for links to various speakers similar to the ones you see in the video.

Zz.

Random WDW Picture

Rainbow over the Boardwalk resort.

Zz.

MyMagic+ instead of new attractions

This story in the Orlando Sentinel talks about the big difference in approach between Universal and WDW.  Universal is spending about $1.1 Billion on expansion and new attractions, and Disney is spending about the same amount on the MyMagic+ system.

The contrasting investments underscore the enormous bet Disney is placing on what amounts to the most expensive rewiring project in theme-park industry history. Disney has calculated that it can spur profit growth at Disney World — where it now has four theme parks, two water parks and two dozen hotels and time-shares — more by getting visitors to better manage their experiences than by building conventional attractions.

But some Disney fans say they have misgivings about MyMagic+. A few, looking wistfully at the new rides sprouting in Universal's theme parks, are openly hostile to the Disney project, calling it a naked attempt to squeeze more money out of guests by sucking the spontaneity out of their vacations.

Whether this is a strategic mistake on Disney's part remains to be seen.  This might be like some movies where a lot of money is spent on the special effects but the story is boring.  Certainly Disney is hoping that making it easier to spend money at the parks will offset the lack of new attractions.  But, how long will this work?

This ARC might fly

Back in June 2012, I posted a story about a planned monorail project for the city of Anaheim being shelved due to high cost.  The system would have made it easier for people to get to and from Disneyland and the convention center.

Now, according to this story at Aconnext.com, the project seems to be back off the shelf under the name Anaheim Rapid Connection (ARC).

Anaheim Rapid Connection is a fixed-guideway transit system currently in the Alternatives Analysis process that will connect Anaheim area destinations like never before. Starting at ARTIC, this new system will take visitors, high-speed rail riders, employees and area residents to and from the Platinum Triangle, The Anaheim Resort and the Anaheim Convention Center. With ARC it has never been easier for conventioneers to catch a ball game, out-of-towners to get to Disneyland, residents to dine at The Shops at Anaheim GardenWalk, or thousands of area employees to get to and from work – all without having to drive.

Work is currently underway preparing an Alternatives Analysis Report. Alternatives under review include an Enhanced Bus, a Streetcar and an Elevated Fixed-Guideway.

The project has a scheduled completion date of 2018.  Since it is just in the early planning stage, and alternatives are being studied, the exact nature of the new transportation system won't be known for a while.

Disney urban legends

TheFW.com posted this educational story about 7 persistent urban legends about Disney.  Here are 3 examples...

The Rumor: The oft-repeated legend states that Walt Disney arranged to have his body placed in cold storage after his death with the intention of being revived sometime in the future when medical science was up to the challenge. The details of the story range from the plausible notion that the removal of a cancerous lung more than a month before his death had Disney thinking about whether he would live long enough to complete his unfinished projects to the ludicrous idea that his body is currently being stored beneath the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland.

The Rumor: Disney prevents anyone from being declared dead while on their property allowing Disney to claim that no one has ever "died" at the parks.

The Rumor: Finland once banned Donald Duck because he doesn't wear pants.

  For the "truth" of these rumors and the other 4 urban legends, check out the story.

Disney previews films at D23 Expo

InsideTheMagic posted this story about the upcoming movies that Disney previewed at the D23 Expo.

The biggest presentation of the 2013 D23 Expo was held by the Walt Disney Studios on Saturday, August 10 to a packed D23 Arena crowd, filled to capacity in anticipation of celebrity guests and plenty of surprises.

One of the movies previewed was Into The Woods, based on a story written by James Lapine and music by Stephen Sondheim. The play was first performed in San Diego in 1986.

Then the “Into the Woods” musical cast was officially announced: Meryl Streep as the witch, Johnny Depp as the big bad wolf, along with Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, and Emily Blunt.

 Looking at known upcoming movies we see that Johhny Depp will be playing the BBW, Captain Jack and the Mad Hatter.  Quite a range.  There might be a common thread of insanity depending on how the BBW is portrayed.

Review of MyMagic+ System

DIS News has this post by the "DIS Unplugged Team" about their experience with using the new MyMagic+ system and the "MagicBands", from resort check-in to using the bands in the parks. 

The check-in process at Pop Century went smoothly, however since we did have a few changes to make to the reservation we ended up spending a while at the desk to get squared away. Pete, who was the original guest on th - See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/08/03/mymagic-review-magicbands-fastpass/#sthash.lSp9c1uj.dpuf

We learned that to fully take advantage of the MyMagic+ system, some pre-trip planning is definitely encouraged. First of all, it’s very important to have your Disney online account up-to-date and accessible on My Disney Experience, either through their website www.mydisneyexperience.com or one of their apps on mobile devices. - See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/08/03/mymagic-review-magicbands-fastpass/#sthash.lSp9c1uj.dpuf

We learned that to fully take advantage of the MyMagic+ system, some pre-trip planning is definitely encouraged. First of all, it’s very important to have your Disney online account up-to - See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/08/03/mymagic-review-magicbands-fastpass/#sthash.lSp9c1uj.dpuf

We learned that to fully take advantage of the MyMagic+ system, some pre-trip planning is definitely encouraged. First of all, it’s very important to have your Disney online account up-to-date and accessible on My Disney Experience, either through their website www.mydisneyexperience.com or one of their apps on mobile devices. - See more at: http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2013/08/03/mymagic-review-magicbands-fastpass/#sthash.lSp9c1uj.dpuf

No preview of Star Wars at D23 Expo

According to this post at the Yahoo movie site, the upcoming D23 Expo at Anaheim will not include a preview of the next Star Wars film.  Bob Iger seems to be enthusiastic about Disney having Star Wars, but said there won't be a preview at this event...

"We're speechless, at least we're going to be somewhat speechless at this expo," Bob Iger told a crowd of 4,000 gathered inside the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday morning. "Trust me. It's going to be fantastic. Come on. Star Wars and Disney together. How could it not be fantastic?"

Among the live-action films expected to be teased during a Saturday presentation are "Thor: The Dark World," ''Captain America: Winter Solider," ''Saving Mr. Banks" and "Tomorrowland." There might also be glimpses at "Maleficent," which stars Angelina Jolie as the "Sleeping Beauty" baddie, and new intergalactic and superheroic exploits from Marvel.

World's best water parks?

CNN has this story about the world's 12 best water parks, at least according to one person's opinion.  Notice anything missing?

New Disney Outlet Store At New Fashion Mall Outlet Outside Chicago

We went to the new Fashion Outlet Mall that opened yesterday in Rosemont, just outside of Chicago. There is a new Disney Outlet store inside the mall.

We got there just before they opened.

Once they opened, we made our way in (the cast member noticed my Disney shirt). It felt very much like a typical Disney Store. They have a few shelves that indicated that the items were Disney Outlet "Exclusives".

We saw these head pillows that were outlet exclusives.

We bought two of them, which are now on our sofa in the Family room.

I think the items that are not on sale may have the same price as the regular Disney Stores. As with the Disney Stores, there were a lot of merchandise for Adults. The focus here was clearly on kids/children. I'm disappointed that there were no Chicago-specific merchandise. One still has to go to the Disney stores in downtown Chicago to get such items.

Note: You can get the Mall's Green Savings Card at the Guest Services desk on the first level. It gives you discounts at many (most?) merchants at the mall, including 10% off for at least $40 purchase at the Disney Outlet store. The card costs $5, BUT... if you have AAA card, you get it for FREE.

Just so you  know, the traffic so far during the first few days have been horrendous. If you do wish to go during the next few weeks, go there very early in the day. Also, if you drive, the parking at the Mall's ramp can be a bit maddening. The lack of directions, especially adequate signs to point to the parking ramp exits is extremely puzzling. So give yourself a bit of time and a lot of patience.

Zz.

Outlet

At Disney outlet store in the new Fashion Mall in Rosemary outside of Chicago.

Walt Disney's private apartment tour at Disneyland above the firehouse

Here's a video of the tour, for many of us who haven't had the opportunity to do such a tour.



Zz.

Random WDW Picture

During a Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot.

Zz.

WDW Dowtown Disney construction

LaughingPlace.com has this post by Mike Neal showing the construction happening at Downtown Disney, soon to be Disney Springs.  Page 4 of the post has some aerial shots that must have been taken from the balloon.