MickeyBlog Disney News Update – Pixar Pier Edition
There are MickeyBlog News updates, and then there are *MICKEYBLOG NEWS* updates. Today’s edition falls into the latter category. The Walt Disney Company just opened one themed land on the West Coast, and they opened another one on the East Coast on Saturday. It’s a good time to be a Disney fanatic. Let’s get the latest on what’s up at the parks.
Pixar Pier Is Here!!!
And let’s skip to the good stuff. Disney California Adventure Park (DCA) famously struggled during its early years. It had a questionable theme and some un-Disney-esque attractions, a couple of which closed quickly after opening. Since then, Imagineers have worked diligently to turn it into a worthy companion for the Happiest Place on Earth.
As of June 23, I can officially say, “Mission accomplished!”
Pixar Pier opened to the public for the first time. This conversion of Paradise Pier into a more desirable location has succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Pixar Pier consists of four different “neighborhoods,” each of which represents a different Pixar movie. The sections are Incredibles Park, Toy Story Boardwalk, Inside Out Headquarters, and Pixar Promenade. The first three tie into a specific film, while the promenade includes several different Pixar titles.
The seminal addition at Pixar Pier is the Incredicoaster, a re-themed version of California Screamin’ that blows the original roller coaster away…and I say that as a HUGE fan of California Screamin’. The Incredicoaster is a visceral thrill ride that added spectacular theming to tell a brilliant story. Fans of The Incredibles 2 will marvel at how perfect the ride is.
Pixar Pier is about more than great rides, though. Disney introduced several restaurants and shops, too. The theming of the restaurants will blow your mind. You can eat at Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums, where gigantic cookies are the entire menu. Alternately, you can eat at Angry Dogs, where the hot dogs come in two forms: Slightly Annoyed and Angry.
Do you prefer a frozen dessert? The Abominable Snowman is ready to cool you off on those sunny West Coast days. His shack even features a clever bit of rebranding. It’s Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats, home of It’s Lemon! *and* It’s Snow-capped Lemon!. The names of the foods alone will make you smile, and the stylish counter service restaurants have terrific settings. The detail of each is stunning, even by Disney’s lofty standards.
Are you all about Disney merch? You will love Knick’s Knacks so much that you’ll want to live there. Watch the video below to see all the great Pixar stuff you can buy. Look at the Dug stuffed animal with the Cone of Shame! Shut up and take my money, Disney!!!
The news at Pixar Pier wasn’t exclusively about the opening weekend sights to see. Park officials revealed that another brand new attraction is on its way next year! Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind will arrive in 12 months, repurposing the space previously used by Maliboomer. Yes, it’s the Inside Out-themed attraction that you’ve clamored for Disney to build since the movie’s release. Disney also announced that King Triton’s Carousel of the Sea will finally return in some form. Starting in 2019, you’ll know it as Jessie’s Critter Carousel. Since that ride closed in 2012, it’s a welcome return.
The amazing aspect of Pixar Pier’s opening is that it’s not even the only themed land debuting this month. It’s not even the only *Pixar* themed land we get in June. Toy Story Land debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this past Saturday, and MickeyBlog’s staff was onsite to cover the action. Check out some coverage here!
More Great Park News!
With two new themed lands in play, you may believe that’s all that Disney has going on at the parks right now. Ha!
Summer is when Disney has an ‘all hands on deck’ mentality. With so much park traffic, they pull out all the stops to entertain the high volume of guests. One of their tricks is to lure people to the water parks.
This summer, they’re doing it by adding PhotoPass services at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Yes, you’ll have photo ops at both water parks, with individual stands and backdrops in place to create magical memories. Some of the rides are even adding surprise photos!
Plus, Lilo & Stitch are available for character pictures and greetings. Some other Disney characters are likely to join them, although Disney hasn’t confirmed which ones yet. Presumably, they’ll have a rotation.
As long as you have Memory Maker, your water park pictures will automatically upload to your My Disney Experience account. With the My Disney Experience app, you can look at your treasured Disney photos within minutes of taking them!
More Italian Food!
Walt Disney World isn’t hurting for Italian food. You’ll find plenty of it at Disney Springs, and the Italy Pavilion at the World Showcase features a pair of delicious Table Service restaurants. Even one of the recent 2018 Disney Springs additions, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, is heavy on the mozzarella dishes.
One more Italian restaurant couldn’t hurt, though, right? Well, Disney hopes not, because Terralina Crafted Italian debuts at Disney Springs on June 28th. The Orlando Sun-Sentinel reports that the theming here will honor the northern lakes of Italy.
As for the food, James Beard Award-winner and Top Chef Masters contestant, Tony Mantuano, has crafted the, well, craft menu. This restaurant will serve lunch and dinner, and it’ll at least temporarily claim the title of “hot new place” at Disney Springs. Nobody ever seems to keep that title for long, though. Disney seems to add a new restaurant every quarter.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Gets Scarier
Every year, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) gets incrementally better, no small feat for something that’s already mostly perfect. For 2018, Disney decided to raise the stakes yet again. This year, some of the rides will have “spooky experiences” according to the Disney Parks Blog.
Three of the rides will get special Halloween features. Mad Tea Party will have mood lighting and effects that will accentuate brightly colored outfits. When you attend MNSSHP, keep this in mind. Pick out an outfit that will make you stand out on the ride.
Not to be outdone, Space Mountain gets a Halloween soundtrack and additional special effects. At Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney’s promising new pirates! These villains will interact with guests, attempting to coax Mickey Travelers to search for “Gunpowder Pete.”
While I can’t say that it sounds spooky, Disney’s also introducing something called Storybook Circus Disney Junior Jam. It’s a dance party featuring your child’s favorite, Doc McStuffins. And it sounds like an excellent way for your kid to work off some of the sugar rush that they’ll get during MNSSHP.
Look, this Halloween party is the best thing that you can do at Magic Kingdom during the fall. You want to visit, and Disney’s helped you out by offering more reasons than ever before to go. Talk to a MickeyTravels agent to book your trip. You will NEVER regret it. To the contrary, you’ll always remember the 2018 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Okay, that’s it for now. We will be back soon to recap the glory of Toy Story Land, though.
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