This Week in Disney Headlines for May 22, 2021
When you visit Star Wars Hotel, will you ever want to leave? And can you?
We can answer one of these questions and take a look at the week in Disney Headlines.
(David Roark, photographer)
You Can Check Out Anytime You Like
The other day, I wrote about everything Disney just revealed at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
I didn’t touch on one aspect that’s gained some attention since then.
When you visit Star Wars Hotel, Disney will control your itinerary. Now, we don’t know how much yet, but it sounds like a lot.
Imagineers have planned a three-day, two-night vacation that’s the equivalent of a cruise on land.
You know how cruises work, right? You board a ship and set sail, leaving the outside world behind for a few days.
The catch is that you cede all planning, as you’re vacationing elsewhere. Someone else plans your days, albeit with plentiful options for you.
When Disney says that Galactic Starcruiser will work the same way, take it seriously!
Yahoo! is reporting that guests won’t get to leave the hotel after they check in.
Yes, you can cue the Eagles music. It’s like Hotel California in that you can never leave.
As part of the premise, you’re staying on a luxury intergalactic cruise ship where everything isn’t quite what it seems.
You’re a member of The Resistance. In fact, you’ll even receive something akin to a smartphone when you arrive.
This device will allow you to know when and where Resistance meetings are happening.
You can safely expect some of them to go poorly. Disney has all but openly stated that The First Order will board and interrogate tourists.
The immersion here qualifies as unprecedented. So, anyone who left the hotel to do something else would mess up Disney’s carefully laid plans.
As such, Disney will strongly encourage guests not to leave. Don’t get me wrong. You can exit the hotel if there’s an emergency or whatever.
Cast members at Star Wars Hotel will discourage the breaking of the storytelling illusion, though.
@DLPReport on Twitter
Are MagicBands a Dying Breed?
Earlier this year, I asked whether guests still need MagicBands at Walt Disney World.
Opinions on the subject varied dramatically, with some tourists embracing the MagicBand replacement, MagicMobile.
Image Credit: Disney
Others swear by their MagicBands and will riot if Disney ever tries to take them away.
Alas, some changes at the parks this week hint that MagicBands have turned into more of a luxury item.
We received two different forms of confirmation on the topic this week.
First, Disney announced that annual passholders will no longer receive free MagicBands.
Disney emailed its most loyal customers to update them on the planned changes.
Anyone who purchases an annual pass on or after August 16th, 2021, is out of luck. You no longer receive complimentary MagicBands.
I speak from experience here when I say that this is quietly one of the best perks of the annual passholder program.
My closet includes an entire shelf of MagicBands, which is likely the problem from Disney’s perspective.
People keep asking for new ones, even though they already own MagicBands. That’s a waste of resources for Disney.
So, Walt Disney World will phase out the practice of free MagicBands entirely by mid-August.
That’s only half the story here. MickeyBlog also confirmed that the price of MagicBands has increased by $5 at the parks.
The entry models now cost $19.99, up from $14.99 the other day. The mid-level models have increased to $29.99, while the most expensive ones are $34.99.
So, from now on, when you want a MagicBand, you will have to pay for it…and the price keeps going up.
By taking this approach, Disney can encourage more customers to try MagicMobile, the more future-proof technology.
Image Credit; Disney
The Disney Knees?
Olivia Rodrigo is currently prepping to take on the role of a lifetime. I’m not talking about any particular gig, just more of a title.
Rodrigo appears poised to turn into the next great Disney superstar, a child actor for the company who broke out into the mainstream.
Previous examples include Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Demi Lovato.
Recently, Rodrigo released the video for her song, Good 4 U, which you can watch here.
Fans immediately recognized the homage to Jennifer’s Body. However, another one pointed out something hysterical.
Rodrigo has become the latest in a long line of teen divas to display the Disney Knees. Here are some examples:
This song + the “Disney knees” 🖤😈 pic.twitter.com/3pCFg5BY6Q
— E S M E R A L D A (@Iamezmiy) May 18, 2021
And here’s one of the most famous examples:
Them “Disney knees” 💀😭😭😭 https://t.co/bnMm8dT9lR
— AQUAMAN (@dodhysaint) May 17, 2021
In a matter of 24 hours, Disney Knees went from a curiosity to trending across social media. It’s gonna be a thing. Thanks, Olivia?
Disney Entertainment News
Have you watched The Owl House yet?
THE OWL HOUSE – Key Art. (Disney)
Wendie Malick is having the time of her life as Eda Clawthorne, the house witch who is training Luz, the protagonist.
The Owl House comes from one of the storyboarders from Gravity Falls, Dana Terrace. In fact, that show’s brilliant creator, Alex Hirsch, voices King.
So, The Owl House feels like a Gravity Falls spiritual successor.
The show has also gained awareness for its representation, as Luz is the first openly bisexual Disney Channel character.
LUZ, WILLOW, GUS
Fans have fallen for all the quirky characters and their misadventures throughout the Boiling Aisles. Meanwhile, Luz has avoided her home realm.
During season two, that storyline becomes more of a factor, and you’ll get to watch it soon! Here’s Terrace on the return date:
#TheOwlHouse returns Saturday, June 12 on the Disney Channel.
🦉🔥 pic.twitter.com/jATQaHOl6V— Dana Terrace (@DanaTerrace) May 17, 2021
Yes, we’re only a few weeks away from its June 12th return!
Sadly, right after I got your hopes up, I must dash them a bit. Disney Channel has renewed The Owl House for season three…sort of.
THE OWL HOUSE – “Key Art” (Disney Channel)
The series will end with “season three,” which isn’t really a season. It’s a series of three 44-minute mini-movies.
Terrace’s later tweets suggest that she remains hopeful for an extension beyond these concluding episodes.
This has been said by many creators before but the idea's still the same. If you want more Owl House let Disney know! Watch it on Disney+! Send physical letters bc they still read those for some reason! Have your own House Demon? Make them stare uncomfortably at ppl having lunch!
— Dana Terrace (@DanaTerrace) May 17, 2021
That sure sounds like Disney has canceled the show. However, Terrace believes that the execs could change their mind if it does well on Disney+.
You know what you must do, The Owl House fans!
