MickeyBlog News and the Latest Disney Updates
Nightmares, pins, parties, beaches, and vans dominate the latest update of MickeyBlog News. Also, there’s some huge news about Jack Sparrow. So, let’s start with that and then we’ll get to some other Disney updates.
The Worst Part Is That He Needs the Money
The year was 2003, and a Walt Disney Pictures release opened to modest expectations that summer. The feature was based on a Disney theme park attraction, the same as a couple of projects that had come before it. Haunted Mansion had been a modest hit but performed below box office expectations, and only the most diehard of Disney fans even remembers the other project, Country Bears.
Where the other projects had failed, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl succeeded beyond everyone’s wildest expectations. It became one of the 17 most successful blockbusters ever to that point. Three years later, its sequel shattered the most important box office record with a historic opening weekend. Anchored by the charismatic Jack Sparrow, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has earned more than $4.5 billion in worldwide box office.
In recent years, the appeal of the films has diminished, though. Also, Johnny Depp’s personal life has led to some unpleasant headlines that Disney would rather avoid. His failed marriage to actress Amber Heard became tabloid fodder, with the actor still answering uncomfortable questions during the promotion of 2017’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The actor also had to sue his agent over the mishandling of $25 million, leaving the actor in dire financial straits.
Given the decline of the film franchise and Depp’s overhead, Disney movie execs faced a tough choice. This week, reports confirmed that Depp and his iconic character, Jack Sparrow, won’t be a part of the next Pirates of the Caribbean film project that’s currently in development. Speculation has naturally turned to the character of Redd, whose presence at Disney parks has escalated in recent months. It would make sense for Disney to do this in anticipation of her being a featured player in the next Pirates movie.
The Pumpkin King Is 25!
Speaking of modern Disney classics, A Nightmare Before Christmas (which my family re-watched today) turns 25 today! It was released on October 29, 1993 and immediately became a solid box office hit for Disney. Producer Tim Burton and director Henry Selick somehow made the stop-motion animated musical for a modest $18 million, while it earned $50 million during its original release. It has since grossed another $25 million in re-releases speaking to the sustained popularity and appeal of the project.
Disney wanted to honor the film for its continued popularity. Fittingly, they’re doing so at Disneyland, a place just down the road from Hollywood. For a limited time, you can take part in a couple of wonderful PhotoPass opportunities. Both of them are delightful.
The first is at Disney California Adventure. Head over to Buena Vista Street to take a Magic Shot…co-starring Oogie Boogie! How great is that? Are you more of a pet lover? Then, you should visit Disneyland instead.
Walk toward the giant pumpkin (there’s a request you’ll never hear again) on Main Street, U.S.A. When you take a picture here, a ghost dog will magically appear! Yes, Zero is the co-star of this Magic Shot and yes, you’ll want to take BOTH of these Magic Shots while you can. You only have through Halloween night to prove to your friends that you know Oogie Boogie and Zero.
Another Minnie Van Update
Sometimes, it seems like the introduction of MickeyBlog News has mirrored the Minnie Van service. Over the past 15 months, we’ve covered the genesis of the program through its current state, which covers almost every possible option at Walt Disney World. Until recently, the most glaring omission was airport transfer to and from Orlando International Airport. Well, Disney crossed that one off the list last month.
Until this week, the only remaining oversight in Minnie Van coverage involved Disney cruises. Guests who want to take a trip out of Cape Canaveral had to find their own way until now. As of this week, at least one booking service will transport guests from Walt Disney World to the cape.
The price for up to six guests (and their luggage) is $240. Hey, nobody said Minnie Vans were cheap. Disney’s got to pay for those polka dots. Within a few weeks, you should be able to book trips via the Lyft app like you usually would for Minnie Van transportation.
Winter Has Come
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re facing the start of November, my friends. Unless you’re reading this from Australia (hi, Wolverine!), the season has changed and summer has gone, even in Florida. Yes, we’ve reached the point on the annual calendar when Disney performs renovations on their water parks since they no longer need two in operation.
Disney will perform maintenance on Blizzard Beach this year. It’s closed from now until the start of 2019. When it returns, it will switch out with Typhoon Lagoon, which will then undergo repairs and enhancements. Walt Disney World winter will last until March, the time when Typhoon Lagoon re-opens. When both water parks are in operation, Disney fans know that spring has arrived, independent of what the calendar may say.
The only good news I have about Blizzard Beach’s temporary closure is that it means the holiday season has almost arrived. Also, you may find curling on television again soon. Yeah, there’s no sugar-coating it. Winter blows.
Achievement Unlocked
Have you used the Play Disney Park App any yet? Well, you should definitely give it a try over the next few days. Imagineers recently unlocked new features such as a special feature that only unlocks when you’re at Pandora – The World of Avatar. Plus, they’re now rewarding loyal players for in-game accomplishments.
For a short time, unlocking certain digital achievements on Play Disney will give you a special bonus. When you finish the line queue achievements at Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Toy Story Mania!, you get an unprecedented award. A (real-life) pin becomes available for purchase for $14.99. You can buy them at certain vendors near the ride exits, but you can ONLY do so if/when you unlock the achievement. The pin(s) will commemorate your excellence at Disney Play.
PS: I’m not really a pin guy, but I have to say that the Peter Pan achievement pin is all sorts of adorable.
Finally…
Let me warn you in advance. You shouldn’t read this item unless you have ready access to food. It WILL make you hungry. Disney has released the menus for the various Holiday Kitchens during the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays.
Disney Food Blog has kindly compiled the entire list. Some of these pictures look so scrumptious that I almost gnawed my computer screen. How does their Pastrami on Rye look so much better than the Pastrami on Rye that I make at home?