MickeyBlog News – Ralph, Lion King, Disneyland & More
You may take Thanksgiving off, but Disney never takes a break! A lot is going on in the latest edition of MickeyBlog News. And we won’t even make you put down all of those delicious leftovers to read it!
As Predicted, Ralph Wrecked It
A couple of huge Disney movies are the biggest news stories of the week. First of all, Disney dominated the box office again these past few days. Their latest release, Ralph Breaks the Internet, outpunched a worthy foe, Creed 2, in winning the Thanksgiving box office battle.
Disney Animation has owned Thanksgiving in recent years, and 2018 is no exception. The sequel to Wreck-It Ralph opened to an estimated $84.5 million in five days, the second-best performance ever. The only title that beats it is Frozen, which grossed $93.5 million in 2013. Ralph Breaks the Internet has bested Coco ($72.9 million), Toy Story 2 ($80.1 million), and Moana ($82 million), though. And Disney will definitely take that.
Unlike the other Disney films released during Thanksgiving week, Ralph actually faced substantial competition. Creed 2 earned $55.8 million, the best Thanksgiving performance ever for a non-animated movie. So, Ralph Breaks the Internet will claim a fascinating box office footnote. It was the anchor film during the biggest Thanksgiving holiday ever for the holiday, another cap in Disney’s feather during their unprecedented 2018 movie year.
To some people, however, Ralph Breaks the Internet is only the second most important Disney movie of the week. A new teaser trailer came out for Disney’s 2019 live-action remake of The Lion King. You will want to watch this clip. It will make you happy on a fundamental level.
PS: The funniest comment I saw online all week was, “I just realized I’m going to have to watch Mufasa die all over again.” I’m passing that along so that you can start mentally preparing. Remember, everything works out great in the end!
Did You Eat at Morimoto Asia Recently?
Okay, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. We try to keep things upbeat and positive here at MickeyBlog. This one is kind of important, though. The Florida Department of Health has discovered that a worker at a Disney Springs restaurant is a carrier for Hepatitis A. Anyone who has eaten at Morimoto Asia between November 6th and November 16th should get vaccinated for Hepatitis A.
If you’re not sure whether you’re afflicted, the Health Department indicates the signs as: “sudden abdominal discomfort, dark urine, fever, diarrhea or jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes).” None of that sounds fun, so please take care of yourselves, friends.
It’s Your Gran Destino!
The Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the most visually impressive hotel construction in recent memory. Ever since Disney broke ground on the new site, Disney fans have been clamoring for the opportunity to stay here. Well, I have great news, everyone!
Starting on November 27th, you could book a room at the spectacular 15-story tower! Contact an agent at MickeyTravels to book the best deal possible for your stay. This part of the hotel opens in July of 2019. By setting up your hotel reservations right now, you’ll have your pick of rooms and dates. The Gran Destino Tower will instantly become the hottest new place at Disney. Take this opportunity to beat the crowd and stay there first!
About the Disney Skyliner…
Disney officials recently confirmed several of the rumors floating around about the Disney Skyliner. The most important one for people familiar with Florida involves the sun. People have expressed concerns about the glare from the sky, particularly on the sunniest days. These fears were apparently baseless, as darkened/reflective window glass will protect you from super-bright sunlight.
The other key item involves the ventilation. As previously mentioned, the Skyliner gondolas won’t need air conditioning units. Due to the elevation and the design of the individual units, the air flow will be good enough to regulate the temperature throughout the year. Some questions still persist, particularly about what happens in the event of a gondola breakdown. Given the remarkable uptimes of gondola systems across the world, however, it’s a low probability consideration.
Disneyland After Dark Returns in 2019!
Ask any Disneyland annual passholder what their favorite event is. A good portion of them will say Dapper Days, of course, but a sleeper contender is Disneyland After Dark. Like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, it’s a special ticketed event. At Disneyland After Dark, Disney throws an after-hours party for anyone willing to pay extra to participate.
The two events in 2018 were incredibly popular, and park officials recently revealed that they’re hosting two more during the first quarter of 2019. On February 7th next year, guests can attend Sweethearts’ Nite and the event exactly what it sounds like.
Take someone you love to the park and then dance the night away! Various sections of Disneyland will play love songs, some of which are contemporary while others are Disney classics. There’s even a Royal Ball being held during the event! You’ll also have an opportunity to take a picture with many of your favorite Disney couples like Rapunzel & Flynn Rider and Mickey & Minnie Mouse.
Are you stubbornly single? If so, you may prefer the March 7th event. It’s 90s Nite at the Happiest Place on Earth! You’ll remember the days when boy bands walked the earth, grunge was briefly not a negative commentary about someone’s personal hygiene, and parachute pants were (very briefly) a valid fashion choice.
90s Nite at Disneyland will include character meetings with many of your favorite Disney characters from the era. To make the event feel more authentic, the fireworks presentation will pay tribute to classic Disney nighttime exhibitions from the 1990s! And yes, that horrible boy band music that defined the era will provide a soundtrack for the evening. So, while your passion for N’Sync and the Backstreet Boys might not have lasted 4eva like your notebook once said, you can still dance to your favorite auto-tuned tracks!
Tickets for both events go on sale on November 27th. They WILL sell out. Act now, or you’ll miss out on the relatively inexpensive fun. The cost per person is only $99, and both parties run from 9 p.m. through 1 a.m. My advice is to attend both! Disneyland After Dark is always a blast.