Remember that episode of The Simpsons where the family gets to go to Itchy & Scratchy Land? If you don't it all ends up with the robots going rogue & attacking everyone in the park. If that sounds awesome you're in luck. Chip & Company has brought up a patent application Disney filed Thursday. It's contents? "Designing a robot that will move & physically interact like an animated character." With a picture that resembles Big Hero 6's Baymax, the patent also states the soft-bodied robots would be "designed for reducing collision impacts during human interaction." Obviously safety first, as the last thing we want is an incident even a fraction of the aforementioned Simpsons incident. Disney refused to comment on the patent or the robots. I find myself at a crossroads on this one. I've always somewhat envied the people who get to dress as my favorite cartoons & entertain the masses. On the same note though, I've had to agree with my daughters on the fact that none of our costumed friends talk. I'm also sure that you don't have to pay the robots is another plus for the house of mouse as well. Okay that said, I've gotta say, this does excite me. I'm for anything that further distorts reality & expands the magic. If that means I can have the same interaction with the cartoons that I do with the Princesses & Princes, bring it on! What do you think? Progress or not? Let us know in the comments.
Disney Announced Dates for Halloween & Christmas Parties
It's beginning to look a lot like the time of the year where Disneyworld starts to plan it's parties. They're the best place to celebrate the holidays, with special treats, character dance parties, awesome parades, & your favorite Disney characters all dressed up for the occasion. These are special events aside from regular park tickets, & guess what that means? Yup, shorter lines. So here are the official dates to get your holiday party on:
2017 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Schedule: August 25, 29, September 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31, November 1
2017 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Schedule: November 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26, 28, December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22
Two New Pandora: World of Avatar Videos Released
First, Disney Parks released a behind the scenes video where you get to hear about the world of Pandora straight from the creators. Disney Imagineers partnering with Lightstorm Entertainment have formed a "Super Team", & then went on to create a land that is literally out of this world. You can hear their excitement in what you can tell is an achievement they are not only proud of, but one even the creators themselves are in awe of. Check it out:
Second, Inside the Magic has put up a video of the unboxing of their press invitation & video for the homeland of the Na'vi. In it you get to see some of the detail to the storytelling involved in this land from previews of both ride attractions & a look at who the Na'vi are as a people, including language samples. The biggest highlight from the package though is a visitors reel hosted by Alpha Centauri Expeditions guide, Kam Demarco. These videos have me counting down the days until May 27. Check out this one too & let us know what you think in the comments.
Disney Announces Headless Horseman Meet & Greet
So, we went to Mickey's Not-so-Scary Halloween Party last year for the first time, and one of the highlights, besides the multitude of candy, was the Halloween parade being started off by The Headless Horseman barreling through the Magic Kingdom. Orlando Weekly reports that this year The Headless Horseman will get even more than just the honor of starting the parade. Select nights between September 29th and October 31st a Legend of Sleepy Hollow event will take place. This will have a meet & greet with the headless haunt of Ichabod Crane, along with a screening of the 1949 animated film. Guests will also receive a limited edition Headless Horseman collectible pin. As per the parks, there's an extra cost to attend. There's also a premium package for even an extra cost on top of that. It includes seating for the film in the first five rows, priority access to the meet and greet, and a special Sleepy Hollow treat bag to keep the multitude of candy we were talking about earlier in. All together sounds like a great addition to what was already a great party. If you're even thinking about putting this on your list to do, it is definitely worth going, & that was last year. With this addition, covering an all-time favorite story of mine, I might have to find a way to squeeze it in again this year. What do you think is everyone else is a Sleepy Hollow crazy as I am? Let us know in the comments, like, & share.
More On Pandora-The World of Avatar's Na'vi Translators
Want to go to Pandora but don't know how to speak the language of the natives? Disney Parks blog says don't worry they've got it figured out. They released more information on the Na'vi translator that will be available at "Windtraders" in Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They have merchandise product developer Cody Hampton saying this about the device, "This device was originally developed by Alpha Centauri Expeditions founder Marshall Lamm. The Na'vihave no written language, so the translator will be a helpful tool for any human visiting Pandora. Guests using the translator can learn how to pronounce 90 Na'vi words using interchangeable translation cards. The device also lights up at night, which makes it perfect for nighttime explorations on Pandora." The article went on to say that the translator will be sold in a set that comes with 15 translation cards, and that there will be additional cards sold in trading packs that will include 8 randomly selected cards. There will be nouns, adjectives, animals, landscapes, phrases, plants, and gear. They were all based on audio recordings from Lightstorm Entertainment and Dr. Paul Frommer, the creator of the actual Na'vi language used in Avatar. So, looks like we have one more thing we have to get when we go to Pandora. Official opening day is May 27th and we'll be there. I can't wait to tell you how this thing works. What do you think you think? Is this a cool addition for the park to be even more interactive? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to like and share.
Virtual Queues the Future for Disney?
While virtual queues may not be the future in the actual theme parks, the word from Chipandco.com is that Disney will be trying out a new virtual queue system in both of their water parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. They said this will not be like a "fast pass" where you can choose when you're coming back at what time, but more like waiting for a table at Olive Garden. In which it's a pager system where you're to be notified when it's your time to return to the queue. It's going to be unveiled on April 7th and is said to include Typhoon Lagoon's "Miss Adventure Falls" as well as "Summit Plummet" and the "Downhill Double Dipper" at Blizzard Beach. While this isn't going to be rolled out past the water parks as of right now, I know I personally would love to see this in the theme parks. What do you think of this new addition? Fast passes or virtual queues? Don't forget to like and leave a comment below to let us know.
CEO Bob Iger Favors AR Over VR in Disney Parks
LA Times reports that Bob Iger, CEO of Walt Disney Company, while speaking at a USC Marshall and Annenberg event in Santa Monica on Thursday said no way to virtual reality. A lot of parks in the states are using virtual reality to soup up all their old roller coasters that no one's really riding anymore. Much like myself, he favors an augmented reality over a virtual reality opening your view to the world where you can look around yourself, & not be closed off to what's around you. He went on to enlighten us on the fact that he spends each Tuesday afternoon at a Disney engineering lab sporting a head worn device that enables him to hold a lightsaber and duel away with a stormtrooper. I know this would be a personal dream of myself. Yet it also makes me wonder how he gets anything else done with the abilty to do this? The only other details was his want to make the device lighter & smaller. Stupid question, but would you want to fight stormtroopers with lightsabers in AR?
"The Music of Pixar Live" Coming to Hollywood Studios
Diskingdom.com reported that Disney has announced "The Music of Pixar Live!: A Symphony of Characters". This show will happen in Hollywood Studios starting May 26. It will be 3 times a night following the daytime performances of "Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage". It will feature a live symphony playing your favorite songs & score segments from every Pixar movie from "Toy Story" to "Cars 3". They will also be accompanied by appearances from various Pixar characters. Sound exciting? I'm pumped. What do you hope this symphonic event includes? Characters? Songs? Let us know in the comments...
Egg-stravaganza Returning to Disneyland
Disneyland is bringing back the Egg-stravaganza for the fifth year. Basically a Easter egg hunt on steroids, it will take place from April 1-16, 2017. Cost for the event taking place at Disneyland Park, California Adventure Park, & the Downtown Disney District is 5.99 plus tax, not including Park ticket prices of course. That gets you a map & stickers to search for Disney & Pixar themed eggs. When you find them you attach the correspondingsticker to the map. Afterwards you take your map to a redemption location for a surprise. Florida, they didn't forget you as the Egg-stravaganza is also a part of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival through May 29, 2017 as well. I haven't done this particular one, but I have done a few of these scavenger hunts around the parks. They are definitely fun for the whole family & give yet one more aspect to enjoying the Happiest Place in the World.
What's To Eat In Pandora: World of Avatar?
Disney let out some details of the various refreshments & nourishments that will be available in Pandora: World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They kept Pongu Pongu tight lipped in only letting us know that the name of the refreshment bar means Party Party in it's native Na'vi. They also let us know it will feature indigenous beers, an exclusive sweet snack, & even more curiously, a "bioluminescent" frozen cocktail.
Disney was more forthcoming about Pandora's fast-casual restaurant Satu'li Canteen even displaying some pictures which I've collaged together at the bottom. The Satu'li Canteen will feature wholesome grains, fresh vegetables, & hearty proteins with an on stage grill.
They give us a little backstory on the place letting us know it was the main mess hall of the Resources Development Administration base in the Valley of Mo'ara. It's now been beautifully redesigned into a dining room decked out with various Na'vi items filling every nook & cranny.
An interesting menu to say the least invites diners to start with quinoa & veggie salad, red & sweet potato hash, mixed whole grain & rice, or romaine & kale salad. Starring wood-grilled chicken, slow roasted beef, sustainable fish, or chili-spiced tofu. The bowl is then topped off with charred onion chimichurri, black bean vinaigrette, or creamy herb dressing. On a stranger, more unique note, they'll have steamed "pods" - Bao buns with cheeseburger or veggie curry served with root veggie chips & crunchy vegetable slaw. Don't despair kiddies, there's something for you too. Kids will have grilled chicken or beef, fish or tofu with greens or rice, a hot dog wrapped in dough, cheese quesadilla, or a steamed "pod" (cheeseburger).
Originally coming from Chipandco.com, they also went on to mention that Satu'li Canteen will be the first in the park to offer mobile order with the "My Disney Experience" app. This lets guests preorder their food & bypass what will surely be some long queues. After ordering they will hit "I'm Here" on the app & then be alerted to pick up their food from a designated window. This feature is supposed to roll out among other eateries later this year.
So there you go. I'm excited. Like I said Snipes n Snarfblatts will be there opening day & now I have even more to look forward too. Can't wait to share it with y'all, but until then what sounds the like the most yummy, can't wait for, item to you? I gotta have a "pod". Write yours in the comments & don't forget to like & share.
AT-ATs Begin to Emerge At Disney Parks
Here's some future Star Wars park action from Disney itself. The house of mouse released this today as a kinda, by the way remember the whole Star Wars park thing. It still feels like an eternity until it arrives in 2019, but it's nice to see things like this. Mainly because of the feeling of WOW, this is really happening.
ABC Features Pandora in Disney's Animal Kingdom
ABC put up a first look at Avatar. Coming soon to the Animal Kingdom, Pandora will be a good portion of the Animal Kingdom representing the land of James Cameron's Avatar. From the glowing plants to the floating mountains Pandora has been painstakingly recreated to every fine detail. It's told almost everything in the park is an amazing piece of special effects technology. We're getting a fast-casual restaurant, 2 attractions, a store, & a spot for drinks. All surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Na'vi people. Pandora opens on May 27 of this year & we're trying to be there opening day. Until then, here's a link to ABC's first look: