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Disney Confirm Moana, Tron Coaster Name and a Bit More Star Wars

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Disney annual conference D23 kicks off this weekend and even before a visitor has stepped foot inside the convention centre in California Disney have dropped some some welcome news.

Epcot

Disney have big plans for Epcot, the development with be done over multiple years and will see new experiences added that will make the park more Disney, more family, more timeless and more relevant to the millions of guests who visit each year.

The reinvention of Epcot will include Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana,” will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.

And this October, guests will be able to visualize all of the exciting plans for Epcot at a new experience center in the Odyssey Events Pavilion, called Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience. Inside this first-of-its-kind offering within a Disney park, guests will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that allow you to step inside the relentless innovation, energy and excitement and see some never-before-revealed details driving the future of Epcot all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.

Tron

Disney also confirmed the name of the Tron ride coming to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in 2021.

Disney have confirmed the name will be Tron Lightcycle Run

Star Wars

Although not strictly theme park related I thought I’d also include the Start Wars hotel news.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship.  Once onboard, guests will interact with characters and become active participants in stories that unfold around them on their galactic journey. 

We’re expecting lots more information this weekend and as usual we’ll keep you in the loop.

Smiles included…

Jamie

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D23: Destination D – announcements!

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Check out everything that was announced for Epcot and Hollywood Studios during D23 ‘Destination D’ over the past weekend!

Hollywood Studios

  • The names of the 2 rides coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s edge have been announced!  Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run & Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Check out the videos Disney have released for these below:

  • New Nighttime experience ‘Wonderful World of Animation‘ will debut in May 2019 as part of Hollywood Studios 30th anniversary. It will use state of the art tech and take you through a journey through 90 years of Disney animation.

  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – construction is expected to be finished by fall 2019. The attraction will feature an original story and theme song as it takes guests into the wacky world of the award winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts.

Epcot

  • Not one, but TWO nighttime shows were announced for Epcot! The new nighttime spectacular will open in 2020 and will celebrate how Disney music inspires people across the world. There will be floating set pieces, custom built LED panels, moving fountains, lights and lasers. Before this unnamed show debuts guests will have the opportunity to see a limited time experience ‘Epcot Forever‘ starting in fall 2019 featuring classic Epcot tunes beginning with a spark of imagination that ends in an epic spectacle of fireworks, music, lighting and special effects.

  • The name of the Ratatouille attraction was announced! ‘Remy’s Ratatouille Attraction’ set to open in the France pavilion as a dark ride in time for the 50th anniversary celebrations.
  • Also coming soon to the France pavilion, a new Beauty and the Beast sing along was announced created by Don Hahn who is the producer of the animated classic and live-action re-imagining. 

The Gondolas for Disney’s Skyliner were also revealed.

Which one of these are you most looking forward to?

Smiles included,

Abby

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Everything We Learnt From Disney’s D23 Expo

Hey Thrill Seekers,

The annual Disney D23 Expo took place in Japan yesterday where Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts revealed a few new details to the official fan club.

Here’s all the info covering our favourite Orlando parks.

Guardians of the Galaxy

In Disney’s own words “we are going BIG with the “Guardians of the Galaxy”-inspired coaster”

Disney promised that this one-of-a-kind family attraction will be one of the world’s longest enclosed roller coasters when it’s added to Future World at Epcot.

It will include a unique story currently being created by Walt Disney Imagineering and feature a new innovative ride system that’s guaranteed to “wow” guests.

The most important thing for me is that its a ROLLER COASTER. Yay!!!

Opening date: By 2021.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature a new catchy theme song created especially for the attraction as well as a new experience that defies logic that we’re calling 2 ½-D. No glasses required.

On the attraction, the fun begins when you see the premiere of a new cartoon short with Mickey and Minnie getting ready for a picnic. As they head out, they drive alongside a train and find out that the engineer is Goofy. Then, one magical moment lets you step into the movie and on Goofy’s train for a wacky, wild ride.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will put you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of a Mickey Mouse Cartoon Short where you’re the star and anything can happen. And for the first time, we shared a preview of what the cars will look like when you board the attraction for a zany, out-of-control adventure filled with surprising twists and turns.

Opening date: 2019

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Bob Chapek shared an update on the progress of the highly anticipated land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and shared a sneak peek at the unique Toydarian merchandise guests will find exclusively in the land.

At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests will visit the planet of Batuu, a remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge that was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes. Here, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action at two attractions that take detail and immersion to the next level: one that lets guests take the controls of Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

Guests will also be able to explore a street market run by a Toydarian, a character first introduced in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.” Among his wares will be handcrafted toys made by local artisans, like those seen above.

Opening date: 2019

Incredible Summer Celebration

A new Pixar-inspired experience is set for multiple parks as Walt Disney World Resort readies its “Incredible Summer” celebration.

At Magic Kingdom Park, guests can visit Tomorrowland to party with characters from “The Incredibles” – including for the first time, fashionista Edna Mode.

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom – just in time for the park’s 20th anniversary – a new show inspired by “Up” will star Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his furry-friend Dug.

Toy Story Land is also set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer. When it opens, guests visiting this new land will “shrink” to the size of a toy and join in on the fun Woody, Jessie, Buzz, and Andy’s other beloved toys are having in Andy’s backyard. Here, guests can take a ride on the Slinky Dog Dash family coaster, take a spin on Alien Swirling Saucers, or visit a playful guest-favourite – Toy Story Mania!

Opening date: 2018

Star Wars Resort

https://www.facebook.com/orlandoattractiontickets/videos/1868739743137800/

Last summer, Disney announced plans for an immersive Star Wars-inspired resort to be built at Walt Disney World Resort. Yesterday Disney shared a few  more details on what this thrilling new resort, which will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will be like.

This first-of-its-kind resort will combine luxury with complete immersion into an authentic Star Wars story. Guests’ journey through space will start when everyone departs together for a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.

At the resort, guests immediately become active citizens of the galaxy and can dress up in the proper attire. Every resort window will also have a view into space. The opportunity for immersion at this resort will also stand out among all Disney resorts around the globe, as it will be seamlessly connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, allowing guests a total Star Wars experience.

Opening date: 2019 we think.

Some very interesting reveals from Disney and shows the future looks bright.

Smiles included…

Jamie

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Is Tron Lightcycle Power Run coming to the U.S?

Hey thrill seekers,

Rumours have it, Shanghai Disneyland’s TRON Lightcycle Power Run roller coaster may soon be making its way overseas to the major U.S. Disney parks! According to sources, budget and preliminary design teams for Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have been sent out to Shanghai to transform the idea into reality in the U.S.

The addition of a TRON ride to Disney’s U.S. theme parks would be a great addition to the new movie-themed coaster and attractions at Disneyland and Disney World. The Guardians of the Galaxy mission : BREAKOUT attraction is now under-construction at Disney’s California Adventure park, while the massive Pandora: The World of Avatar has recently opened in Animal Kingdom. Furthermore, Star Wars Land rides and attractions are currently being made ahead of their openings at Disney parks in both California and Florida. Therefore, it would make sense to announce another movie-themed coaster.

The Lightcycle ride momentarily places fans into the world of Tron in a lightening speed roller coaster. As seen in the video here, the experience is over in less than two minutes, but it still looks amazingly fun!

It is yet to be confirmed but with D23 just round the corner, we are left to ponder whether Disney will announce the coaster as soon as this weekend!

Let us know in the comments, what you think of this new coaster, which we could see in our parks within the next couple of years!

Smiles included…

Cameron-Jai