Somebody wring me out, already! I don’t think it’s rained this much since the storm of ’78! Back in the day, Imagineers Bruce Gordon and David Mumford used to wax poetical about how lovely it was to see Main Street, U.S.A. flood every time it rained at Disneyland, because that was the best time to go and enjoy an empty park. Let me check my MouseAddict app…Hyperspace Mountain’s red. Sigh. Oh, the Castle’s still covered with icicles! (Pause while I make the app look like the opening of Wonderful World of Color, then peruse the 1955 and 1960 maps.)
As Jack Wagner said, “The weatherman has a favorite saying: ‘Into every life, a little rain must fall’, and it looks as though today is our day;”
FastPASS to the Max
Yesterday, Erin Glover, who is pretty much us (we?) West Coasters’ main source of information straight from the Mouth of the Mouse on the Disney Parks Blog, gave us a little info about the next generation of FastPASS, something that has been grist for the gossip mill for – literally – decades, called Disney MaxPass – technically, it’s an expansion upon FastPASS.
It’s fairly common knowledge that due to Disneyland’s age and location, Walt Disney World’s version of MyMagic+ would not be do-able out here. We’re just not capable of handling the technological infrastructure needed for MagicBands, which KILLS me because I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!! I still feel a cold, naked, empty spot on my left wrist every time I approach a Disney pos.
So anyway, the Sorcerers’ Apprentices and such figured that they could forego the MagicBands but still work with the app like MyMagic+ does…so that’s what they did! Soon, for $10 per day, or a nominal fee added to your annual pass, you’ll be able to make same-day FastPASS reservations from the Disneyland App on your smartphone or tablet. But that’s not all! You’ll also get UNLIMITED, high-resolution downloads of all of your PhotoPass photos for the day. That’s worth the cost several times over right there – plus the convenience of being able to get your FastPASSes from wherever you are inside the Parks.
So, can you get a FastPASS for Splash Mountain if you are over in Paradise Pier? If you are within your FastPASS window, YES.: If a guest is within the FASTPASS window (meaning able to reserve their next one), they can reserve a FASTPASS for Disneyland park if they are in Disney California Adventure and vice versa. I clarified this with Disneyland PR, and this is the official word from them.
What do you think of Disney Max Pass? Will this be something you think you will use? Why or why not? Is there any hope for some sort of themed wristwear to go with it? Let me know in the comments below.
Fab News is sponsored by DVCResaleMarket.com
Iron Man Experience Opens!
“Stark Industries’ creations set the scene for high-flying adventure
Following the previous showcase in New York in 2010, Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) has selected Tomorrowland in Hong Kong Disneyland to host the new Stark Expo to show off the latest high-tech creations of Stark Industries.
The innovations are extensively displayed in four exhibition halls: the Hall of Legacy, the Hall of Protection, the Hall of Energy and the Hall of Mobility. Iron Man’s artificial intelligence computer system J.A.R.V.I.S. and Wendy Wong, vice president of Stark Industries Asia, are guides taking guests through the impressive range of exhibits, from Captain America’s prototype shield to Iron Man Mark III suit, the first miniaturized Arc Reactor, the unbreakable Stark Everglass, the MyJARVIS intelligent home system, StarkVision Glasses and a collection of Iron Wings designed for different functions.
Guests will then board Tony Stark’s latest innovation — the Expo Edition Iron Wing Mark VIII, to embark on the once-in-a-lifetime Iron Man Experience.”
Here’s some photos from the opening:
What IS it with the Asian Disney resorts and doing cool Hotel room stuff?
More Fun Festivals on the Way!
I missed out on actually getting to really enjoy the Festival of Holidays at DCA, other than a quick walk-through to take photos. My pass was blocked out for the majority of the time it ran. It’s too bad they couldn’t make an “after 4PM” exception or something so that Annual Passholders could continue to enjoy the Festival. It seems to me like those are the people who keep coming back for more – but I don’t keep the books, so I could be completely wrong here. Next year, I’ll make it a point to come early and get Noe a Sticky Toffee Pudding. He’s never had it!
Things friends whose opinions I trust have said: “OMG the tamales!” “The beers were better than the wines.” “The prices are higher than at Epcot.” (This was repeated about 20 times). A fair few said they didn’t buy anything because it didn’t match up with Epcot Food & Wine Festival pricing. I’ve volunteered at several Food & Wine Festivals, and it’s higher than some, and just about even with one or two high-end ones. The desserts were a good deal, though, even with any other festival, and better than most, when you leave plating vs. cost out of the consideration (Ask me about Honolulu Symphony, the three berries and the swirl of ganache for $12 sometime. It makes this Chocolatier blush!)
So when you see this awesome cookie, you’ll be far more impressed:
So, back in the olden days, when Fab had a waist and great big hair so that she could be closer to Walt, Walt Disney World used to throw a Festival of the Masters at the Village Marketplace, which became the Downtown Disney Marketplace, which is now part of Disney Springs. Included was the oh-so-cool living pictures (just pray that Lorelai doesn’t flinch!) where volunteers dress up and act out, as in hold perfectly still and don’t move, breathe or flinch, for a minute, in recreations of famous masterpieces! It doesn’t mention if they’re bringing THIS to the Festival of the Arts (OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE) but what they WILL have sounds like a genuine ball: every weekend starting on the 13th of January (that’s this weekend!) until February 20, the weekend after Valentine’s Day if you want to buy your sweetie some art, there will be work from legends like Herb Ryman and Mary Blair as well as present-day artists like Don “Ducky” Williams, James C. Mulligan and Rob Kaz. Guests will be able to watch many of the artists at work throughout the festival.
Here’s a link to the full schedule. (And photos of the Figment-astic merch. Bless you, Steven Miller!)
The Performing Arts will be included as well…
In the inaugural year of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, a collaboration with Disney Theatrical Productions will bring an exciting new showcase of favorite music and Broadway talent to the America Gardens Theatre stage. Performances will be at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday through Monday of each festival weekend. Over the six weekends of the festival, park Guests will enjoy different pairings of phenomenal Broadway talent in concert, performing songs from some of Disney on Broadway’s award-winning shows, including The Lion King, Newsies, and Aladdin, to name a few.
As the Culinary Arts: “New Food Studios will showcase culinary creations so delicious and intricate, guests may not know if the menus are for admiring or eating. Disney chefs will surely encourage guests it’s the latter.”
Enjoy this gallery of sweet, sweet torture:
There are all sorts of hands-on experiences for the whole family during the festival, which is included in regular Epcot admission, and Disney characters will be there channeling their favorite artists in their own unique way. This looks like a lot of fun and is really going to help cement Epcot’s identity as a year-round International Festival, since the World’s Fair has sadly gone extinct.
Now what to do with my beloved Future World – or what’s left of it – how do you show off burgeoning technology when it advances and becomes obsolete seemingly before WDI can even get the first nail driven in an updated attraction? Days like this are why I’m happy it’s my job to say, “Oh, look! There’s something shaped like Kylo Ren and it’s dipped in chocolate! Hooray for Disney!” The nice thing is, though, I do actually mean it.
Your Fata Will be Sealed (in June)
Pixar alums Ken Mitchroney and Steven R. Boyett have finally finished writing Fata Morgana, for which their fans (not the least including me) have been holding their collective breath for, figuratively, CENTURIES already. It popped into Amazon for pre-order earlier this week with some great reviews from lucky folks along with it, and I’m spitting nails very, very happy for them, that they got to preview it.
Mitchroney and Boyettt are two of the most interesting people on earth, as well as being some of the greatest storytellers known to humankind. Look them up on IMDB and you’ll see what they’re credited for. If you knew all the stuff they’re NOT credited for, you’d be kicking your own jaw across the floor. Oh, and Ken Mitchroney’s also the fella spearheading the restoration of Ward Kimball’s engine the Emma Nevada at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris.
Great Kid Vid – I’m Not….(I can’t)
The Lion Guard: Life in the Pride Lands is out on shelves this week, and it’s another set of episodes from the fun animated tales of Simba and Nala’s adventurous cub Kion and his pals as they save the Pride Lands from minor scrapes and give parents some couch-and-singing time with their little ones.
Episodes:
- The Rise of Makuu (featuring guest star Blair Underwood as the voice of Makuu)
- The Kaputana Celebration
- Bunga and the King
- Never Roar Again
- The Imaginary Okapi
And here’s something cool: Bonus Material! Who else does that for episodic videos?
Music Videos:
- · A Trail to Hope
- · Teke Ruka Teleza
“It’s UnBungalievable!” Shorts
- · Who’s Quicker?
- · Who’s Hungrier?
- · Who Has Better Hair?
- · Who’s Cuter?
- · Who’s Louder?
- · Who’s Mightier?
I think it’s pretty sweet. And what about the toy? Is there a toy? NO! There are FIVE silicone bracelets in completely non-camouflage-friendly colors! Less fighting over stuff! Probably!
Cute Animals, Part Deux
This one’s for Noe, who adores big animals like hippos, rhinos and elephants but adores baby versions of the above even more.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed a baby elephant into its herd. Her name is Stella.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently welcomed a new female elephant calf, Stella (right). This is the third calf for Donna, (left) who has given birth to two other female calves. Stella raises the number of elephants in the Disney’s Animal Kingdom herd to 10, including three males and six females. Guests onboard the Kilimanjaro Safaris attractions can see Stella and Donna exploring the savanna. (David Roark, photographer)
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