MickeyBlog News for May 29th, 2023

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, everyone!

This past week, The Galactic Starcruiser story changed again, Ariel won our hearts anew, and Disney’s Pixar Pier Hotel plans came into focus.

Photo: Disney

We’ll explain everything in MickeyBlog News!

The Little Mermaid Returns

The biggest news this weekend involves the return of The Little Mermaid to theaters.

Nearly 35 years ago, Disney unveiled the original version, which would set a new standard for hand-drawn animation and start the Disney Renaissance.

Over the past few years, Disney has created live-action remakes of some of its most beloved films.

Photo: Giles Keyte/Disney

While some Disney fans hate the idea of these reboots, the box office results speak for themselves.

For example, the 2019 release of Aladdin earned $116.8 million on Memorial Day Weekend.

Photo: Disney+

Disney’s latest release has modestly surpassed that total, which is actually quite impressive given the current box office landscape.

The Little Mermaid netted an estimated $117.5 million during the holiday weekend.

Photo: Disney

That’s Disney’s best performance to date for a live-action remake on Memorial Day Weekend, but the good news definitely doesn’t stop there.

Actress/musician Halle Bailey’s turn as Ariel earned an A Cinemascore from opening weekend audiences.

Photo: Disney

The Little Mermaid also currently claims a scintillating Audience Score of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

At the parks, Disney unveiled the new Ariel character greeting, which is spectacular. Here’s a video of our first visit:

Disney has also introduced tons of new merchandise and treats based on the character. And I must say that Disney has really outdone itself here.

Here is some of the merch on sale. Among the treats, you’ll find milkshakes, bubbly drinks, a Dole Whip, and the world’s greatest Petit Cake.

Meanwhile, TikToks like this one reinforce the significance of the new Ariel:

Admit it. Your heart just grew three sizes this day.

The Galactic Starcruiser Saga Takes Another Turn

Disney revealed a marketing lesson this week. The quickest way to sell something is to prove scarcity, which has been Nintendo’s business model for decades.

Photo: Disney

When you tell a customer that something has sold out of it or can prove it has limited availability, people will flock to the store…or, in this case, hotel.

Yes, a few days after Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser announced that it would close forever at the end of September, the remaining itineraries went back on sale.

Photo: Disney

Within a few hours, all Star Wars cruises had sold out, even the ones starting this week.

People threw their existing plans out the window in an attempt to experience this inimitable Star Wars adventure before it shuts down forever.

Credit: Kent Phillips, photographer/Disney

Thus far, Disney has shown no indication that it will add other dates after it had previously dropped from three to two weekly itineraries.

So, we know who will and won’t get to visit Galactic Starcruiser during what will be a 19-month run.

(David Roark, photographer)

In the aftermath of the closure announcement, we’ve learned more about what transpired behind the scenes.

Apparently, Imagineers walked the grounds of the Star Wars Hotel last week and debated the best uses for the facility.

(Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Disney apparently contemplated a re-theming, which may yet happen. The complex accounting nuances in play here will drive the decisions.

However, Bob Iger himself reportedly chose to take the tax write-down/write-off rather than keep the current premise afloat.

Photo: Disney

There’s also been at least some talk of a Mandalorian experience instead. Saving Baby Yoda (Din Grogu if you prefer) sounds like a money-making proposition.

Alas, that apparently won’t happen, either. Instead, we’re all left to debate the reasons why Galactic Starcruiser failed. 

(Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Still, a lot could change between now and the final voyages in September. Stay tuned!

Disney News and Notes

I realize that this is a holiday weekend (happy Memorial Day!), so I’ll be briefer than usual.

The two significant remaining stories at Walt Disney World involve a photo op and the return of a ride.

At Magic Kingdom, you can now take pictures in front of Cinderella’s carriage! It’s a gorgeous backdrop for a photo!

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith unexpectedly reopened this past weekend.

Obviously, the Memorial Day Weekend crowds encouraged Disney to operate another E-ticket attraction.

Still, this reopening occurred several weeks ahead of schedule. And yes, it’s kept the Aerosmith theming!

We must wait until the next refurbishment to start up the rumor mill once again about a new theme.

At Disneyland Park, we learned that Peter Pan’s Flight won’t require such an extensive refurbishment.

Photo: Disney

This ride will close on June 5^th but then reopen on June 30^th! As always, such timelines are subject to change, but that’s the current plan.

Of course, the big story at the park is that Splash Mountain closes this week.

Photo: Disney

MickeyBlog is pleased to say that we’ll have people on the scene for the big event!

You may recall the epic finale of Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain, which ended with a fitting climactic ride by the attraction’s cast members.

Photo: Disney

I expect something even more powerful when Disneyland’s Splash Mountain closes. It’s the last American version of the ride.

One will remain at Tokyo Disney Resort. And that park should already be on every Disney fan’s bucket list.

Photo: D23

Finally, Disney has provided a more detailed look at Pixar Pier Hotel…and the changes are breathtaking!

Photo: MickeyBlog

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