Every Disney theme park is a unique and special place. There are a dozen different theme parks spread over six different cities across the world. However, the two places that were first are still the most popular locations.
VIDEO: Behind-the-Scenes Creating the Tower Slide at Disney’s Riviera Resort
Last week we shared a glimpse into the crafting of Disney’s Riviera Resort, the newest Walt Disney World resort and Disney Vacation Club property, projected to open December 2019.
The peek behind the scenes continues with an exclusive look at the making of the tower slide that will be a focal point of the resort’s feature pool.
The inspiration for Disney’s Riviera Resort came from Walt Disney’s travels throughout Europe and the Riviera region, and the art, architecture and storytelling he found there. Imagineers weave that storytelling into the details of the entire resort, including the tower slide. This exciting feature of the resort is inspired by centuries-old stone towers and rocky bluffs found along the European Riviera shores.
The 30-foot-tall tower will house a nearly two-story-tall corkscrew slide that will wind down into the feature pool also called the Riviera Pool. Containing nearly 105,000 gallons of water, the Riviera Pool will is sure to provide wonderful, waterful fun and a refreshing reprieve from delightful days of poolside fun in the sun.
Under construction and projected to open Dec. 16, 2019, Disney’s Riviera Resort will be inspired by Europe and imagined by Disney.
Bookings for Disney’s Riviera Resort are open now.
NBA Experience Grand Opening Is a Slam Dunk at the Walt Disney World Resort
It was a championship-worthy celebration earlier today at Disney Springs for the grand opening of NBA Experience! Amid cheering fans and celebrity guests, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger unveiled the first-of-its-kind destination, joined onstage by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and several current and former NBA and WNBA players.
“NBA Experience lets everybody who loves the game, live it,” Bob said. “We’re excited to open the doors to a fun and unique experience for fans of all ages.”
Hosted by ESPN personality Rachel Nichols, those in attendance were treated to a buoyant atmosphere reminiscent of a basketball arena, complete with a DJ, T-shirt tosses, fan-cam and a dance performance. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse cheered as confetti rained down toward the end of the ceremonial opening, which featured Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Grant Hill, along with NBA legend Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem and WNBA legend Swin Cash, now the vice president of basketball operations and team development for the New Orleans Pelicans.
“I want to thank Bob Iger and the Walt Disney Imagineering team for capturing the authentic NBA experience at this landmark destination at Disney Springs,” Adam said. “Disney creates memorable experiences better than anyone, and we are thrilled to share the excitement of NBA basketball with fans and Walt Disney World guests from around the world.”
In collaboration with the NBA, Walt Disney Imagineering developed NBA Experience as an immersive, interactive venue. The high-energy environment is packed with 13 different basketball-related activities across 44,000 square feet and two floors. Here, guests can experience what it’s like to be selected in the NBA Draft and step onto the court to make clutch shots and highlight-worthy slam dunks. NBA Experience also provides ample opportunities to learn more about the NBA and WNBA via interactive displays, films and trivia. The unique destination offers something for guests of all ages.
Amidst Period of Record Expansion for Walt Disney World Resort, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Contributed More Than 7,000 Jobs to the Central Florida Area
With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge set for August 29, Walt Disney World Resort continues its position as being a “force” for Florida and the economy, contributing more than 7,000 jobs to the Central Florida region since the beginning of the project in 2016. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, totaling 14 acres, is the largest single-themed land created in a Disney Park. It transports Guests to the planet of Batuu and pushes the boundaries of innovation and creativity, providing customized experiences to everyone who visits.
Among these new jobs are 1,700 operational roles, including leadership positions, entertainment performers, attractions engineers, and food and beverage and merchandise hosts and hostesses. These exciting expansions offer our Cast Members new opportunities to expand their skills and grow their careers all across our Resort. In addition, jobs were created due to the support of both small and large Florida-based companies contributing more than 5,500 local trade, artisan and construction roles.
“The anticipation for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is unlike anything else we’re experiencing at Walt Disney World Resort,” said Maribeth Bisienere, senior vice president, Walt Disney World Parks. “Our Cast Members make our parks uniquely special and we couldn’t create any of the memorable and immersive experiences for our Guests without their talents, passion and dedication.”
As part of the opening, the 1,700-member team had unique opportunities to learn about the story of this amazing new land, received specialized name tags and could customize their costume by hand-selecting apparel and accessories from an array of Resistance- and First Order-themed options, creating a unique Batuuan look and fully integrating them into life on the planet.
“I have such pride in our Cast Members and am so confident in the opening team as they bring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life,” said Phil Holmes, vice president of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “This opening team is unparalleled and sets the stage in delivering out-of-this-galaxy experiences with guests traveling to Black Spire Outpost.”
AVENGERS: ENDGAME Blu-ray Review
The wait is over! Marvel Sudios AVENGERS:ENDGAME is available on Blu-ray and digitally. AVENGERS:ENDGAME is the 4th installment in the Avengers series and the crowning moment of the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe feature films. There was so much hype and anticipation for this epic event that there was a social media embargo so that no spoilers got out early. The Avengers themselves were part of a campaign called #DontSpoilTheEndgame. Now that it is officially the highest grossing film ever (domestically) with $2.79 billion, it is safe to assume that the majority of the population has viewed it and there are no more spoilers. BUT if by chance you have NOT seen it yet, please shut off your device, get to the store to buy the Blu-ray and WATCH IT!! For the rest of you, pop in your copy and re-watch AVENGERS:ENDGAME over and over. AVENGERS:ENDGAME picks up where we left off in AVENGERS:INFINITY WAR. (If you haven’t seen that either, please buy that Blu-ray while you are at the store.) Thanos has changed the world as we know it forever. We have lost many of our favorite characters and the remaining Avengers are at a loss for what to do next. Challenging Thanos again is high on the to-do list for sure. A plan is made, things don’t work out quite as we hoped, and we jump ahead to 5 years in the future. The movie has so many twists and turns that you will truly be riding on a roller coaster of emotion. I absolutely love the banter back and forth between the heroes. The audience can really feel the relationship they all have with each other off the set. There are surprises that will make you laugh or will have you reaching for the tissues. AVENGERS: ENDGAME delivers in every sense of the word Blockbuster. Be sure to watch ALL of the Bonus Extras. They are fantastic! It starts with Remembering Stan Lee. Here we get the chance to see Stan in many of his cameo roles throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He looks like he had a blast in every part even if he only had one line. He will be missed for sure. The Bonus Extras also include segments on the casting of Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man, creating Captain America, the women of the Marvel Universe, and the “alteration” of Thor. There are also deleted scenes and a gag reel. I love behind the scenes footage so I was hoping for hours of bonus material, but it was enough to satisfy my curiosity of what it is like to work with all of these amazing actors. AVENGERS:ENDGAME on Blu-ray and digital copy is a must have for anyone who loves movies. You may be sad to say goodbye to the characters that seem like family, but we can all smile brightly at the happiness these characters have brought us over the years. Marvel Studios has hit a grandslam with AVENGERS: ENDGAME. If Stan Lee were still here today, I am sure all of us fans would love to tell him, “I love you 3000.”
Photo – Jonas Brothers Get a Sneak Peek of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Pop/rock band the Jonas Brothers visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Thursday, Aug.8, 2019. (From L to R) Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas took a break from their world tour to experience the new land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that opens to guests Aug. 29. (David Roark, photographer)
What’s This? A First Look at the Jack Skellington-Hosted ‘Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular’ Fireworks!?
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties will return to Magic Kingdom Park on August 16 – and this year, guests will receive the “treat” of the brand-new “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular” fireworks show.
With just days to go until the big reveal, Disney Parks Live Entertainment has been putting the finishing touches on the spectacular – and our cameras were on-hand to grab a first look.
In “Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular,” Jack Skellington from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” serves as host and has come to tell a “not-so-scary” story about how anything can happen on Halloween night. His ghost dog, Zero, flies off carrying everyone along on a trick-or-treating adventure, where four friends – Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – find themselves drawn into a mysterious haunted house. Their journey takes them from one room of the house to another, encountering dancing skeletons, waltzing ghosts and a whole series of troublemaking Disney villains. The show will also include state-of-the-art projections and lasers, plus lighting and dazzling fireworks that will fill the sky above Magic Kingdom Park.
Reservations Now Open for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
If you are planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning Aug. 29, 2019, you can now make reservations for several galactic experiences.
Whether it’s customizing their own legendary lightsaber, building a droid at Black Spire Outpost’s industrial depot or hanging out at Oga’s Cantina, there’s much to explore as Guests become part of the Star Wars story.
Craft a Lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop – Constructing a lightsaber is a rite of passage in the life of a Jedi, as this elegant weapon from a more civilized age is attuned to its wielder through the Force. Inside Savi’s Workshop, you will feel the presence of the Force as they craft their own lightsabers, customizing them with various hilts, accessories and the all-important kyber crystals.
For the Savi’s Workshop experience, there will be limited walk-up availability but reservations are highly recommended. A credit card deposit of $199 is required for each reservation. Cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; any no-shows will be charged the full price of the experience. Guests can also bring one guest to observe the experience.
Build a Droid Inside the Droid Depot – Droids can be some of the most loyal companions in the entire Star Wars galaxy, and now you can have the chance to build and customize their own astromech friends at the Droid Depot. Patrons pick pieces and parts off a conveyor belt to construct one of two core models (R-series or BB-series), which can then interact with elements throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
At Droid Depot, reservations are highly recommended and there will be limited walk-up availability. Cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; any no-shows will be charged the full price of the experience. Guests may also bring one person along for the build experience.
Hang Out at Oga’s Cantina – Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the notorious watering hole where smugglers, bounty hunters, and weary travelers of all ages can come partake in some out-of-this-world refreshments. To make trip planning easier, Oga’s Cantina will follow the 180-day reservation process currently offered for restaurants and experiences requiring reservations. While there will be limited walk-up availability, reservations are highly recommended. And like our other experiences, cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; however, any no-shows will be charged.
Reservations for the experiences above can now be made through My Disney Experience app or on Disneyworld.com. Reservations will be available for dates up to 180 days out.
*Reservations for the above experiences in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are highly recommended. Walk-up availability may be limited.
Watch to See a Sneak Peek at the Crafting of Disney’s Riviera Resort
The newest Walt Disney World resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, is currently under construction and is opening for guests to enjoy beginning Dec. 16, 2019.
Now is your chance to get a sneak peek at the crafting of Disney’s Riviera Resort in a new special. The Art of Inspiration is an exclusive first look into the creation of the newest Disney Vacation Club Resort. You can view this online, on-demand show now through Oct. 8, at ArtofRiviera.com.
As we know, Walt Disney was always interested in fellow artists – where they studied, who their influences were and how they brought their creations to life. In The Art of Inspiration, this great tradition of artistic inspiration and storytelling is revealed as you hear from Imagineers and artisans who helped develop the resort. They will share their influences including their love of Disney and European artistry, and just how they are making Disney’s Riviera Resort into a place that both inspires and feels like home.
In the special, you’ll also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the making of the Disney Skyliner. Coming fall 2019, Skyliner will connect Disney’s Riviera Resort to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and other Walt Disney World Resorts.
VIDEO: Tasting Blue Milk at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
By: Disney DestinationsAugust 8, 2019
The remote planet of Batuu is filled with new and exotic flavors from a galaxy far, far away. While exploring Black Spire Outpost inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park, you will most likely come across the Milk Stand, serving local delicacies – Blue Milk and Green Milk.
Direct from Bubo Wamba Family Farms, Batuu’s legendary blue and green treats offer travelers an invigorating, refreshing drink. These frosty confections are delicious blends of exotic tastes and fruity accents.
Ever since Luke Skywalker sat down for a family meal in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” Star Wars fans have wanted the answer to a question four decades in the making: What does Blue Milk taste like? So, we set out and asked guests this burning question!
No trip to Batuu would be complete without tasting Blue (or Green) Milk.
