MickeyBlog News for July 24th, 2023
Disney just confirmed several changes coming to EPCOT.
Also, we learned more about several after-hours events. Spoiler: don’t buy second-hand tickets!
I’ll explain in the latest edition of MickeyBlog News.
The EPCOT Disney100 Announcements
Disney had previously indicated that EPCOT would serve as the hub of the Disney100 event at Walt Disney World.
As a reminder, The Walt Disney Company celebrates its centennial anniversary on October 16th, 2023.
Disneyland Resort hosts the global event, but all Disney theme parks will commemorate this historic birthday in their own ways.
For Walt Disney World, the birthday party kicks off on September 22nd and will last through December 31st.
With EPCOT as the focus, Spaceship Earth will be integral to everything.
Each night, the beloved landmark will light up with a limited-time display that accompanies the theme for Disney100. It’s an updated rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star!
Disney has also confirmed that all four theme parks and Disney Springs will host character greetings as part of the festivities.
Also, Mickey & Minnie Mouse will wear platinum outfits as a tribute to Disney’s 100th birthday.
Similarly, platinum banners and other decorations will appear in several locations, especially at EPCOT.
Disney has also created several other unique offerings for the event. They include:
- A Disney100 Mickey Mouse statue at Dreamers Point
- A New Nighttime Presentation at World Showcase Lagoon
- A Platinum Mickey Mouse sculpture
- Disney100 tributes at World Showcase Garden
- An exclusive character greeting for Disney Visa cardholders
Also, while I’m mainly saving this one for next week, Journey of Water | Inspired by Moana is also ready for cast member previews!
So, EPCOT looks like the place to be during the second half of 2023! That’s especially true during Disney100, which starts on September 22nd!
Don’t Buy Scalped Tickets!
Photo: Disney
Remember the Oogie Boogie Bash debacle right before July 4th? Well, we might have learned what went wrong.
This past week, Disney issued a warning to fans about buying secondhand tickets.
When Disney sells its tickets, they are non-transferable. The company explicitly states this language on ticket sales pages.
Oogie Boogie Bash
Why does Disney do that? It’s legitimately for your protection. Disney doesn’t want heartless third-party vendors to scalp tickets and resell them.
In other words, Disney saw the Taylor Swift debacle coming MANY years ago and added legal protections to prevent that.
Photo: Disney
If Disney didn’t implement this rule, you’d never get to buy Oogie Boogie Bash or Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Tickets.
Shadowy ticket brokers would buy them all and then resell them to you at five times the price.
To enforce that policy, Disney takes a strict approach. It knows when tickets are resold, and the holders of such secondhand tickets WILL get in trouble!
You won’t get admitted to these events. Also, you’ll be out the money you paid the scalper! NEVER buy Disney tickets from a reseller!
You should always use a trusted vendor like the experts at MickeyTravels!
Other After-Hours Ticket News
Photo: Disney
Disney spent the past week updating details about various after-hours events.
For starters, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon confirmed the return of the popular H2O Glow After Hours event!
Also, Disney confirmed Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this fall!
Guests at official Disney Deluxe Resorts can hang out at the park after it closes to guests on certain dates in September and October!
Disney also revealed the nightly schedule during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Photo: Disney
The Boo to You Parade will start at 9:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. each night.
Then, Jack Skellington will host Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular at 10:15 p.m.
Photo: Disney
In case you’ve forgotten – and how could you?! – Clarabelle, Daisy, and Minnie will dress up as the Sanderson Sisters for this year’s parade. So, it’s a must-do!
By the way, in a different kind of park hours announcement, Disney also extended operating hours at Walt Disney World in August!
Disney Miscellany
We’ve covered several other stories at MickeyBlog this week.
For starters, Disney has released information about the upcoming Disney Treasure, the next luxury cruise ship.
The stern’s logo displays Peter Pan tormenting Captain Hook, and it’s delightful.
Photo: DIsney
The ship’s grand hall also appears gorgeous. Disney is using darker colors this time.
In park news, we just learned more about the impending debut of the “new” Adventureland Treehouse.
Photo: Disneyland
Disney has converted the former Tarzan Treehouse into something that pays homage to the attraction’s original IP, Swiss Family Robinson.
However, the new version follows Disney’s recent emphasis on play at the parks.
The new stylistic touches are perfectly in keeping with what we saw at Mickey’s Toontown.
Photo: Disneyland
By the way, something else happened at Disneyland, but we don’t quite know what yet.
Disney has settled the Magic Key class action suit with annual passholders.
We won’t learn the terms until August 31st, though. So, anything you’re hearing right now is sheer speculation.
Photo: Disneyland
Walt Disney World Miscellany
At Walt Disney World, we’re chronicling a few notable happenings.
A fun one involves Space Mountain, where Disney has jazzed up the ride photo with a new special effect. The new backdrop definitely pluses the picture!
Photo: Disney
At Disney Springs, Chopped judge Maneet Chauhan will open a restaurant serving Indian cuisine later this year. Its name is – I kid you not – EET!
In less happy news, the Bacon Brothers have canceled their Eat to the Beat concert performance this year.
Photo: The Bacon Brothers
Notably, one of the Bacon Brothers is Kevin, whom you may recall getting kidnapped during The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Presumably, Bacon felt uncomfortable performing this show at Disney during the SAG-AFTRTA strike. And Bob Iger’s comments probably didn’t help any.
America Gardens Theatre
The Bacon Brothers would have appeared on August 13th and 14th. A strike resolution appears unlikely by that time. So, it’s an understandable decision on his part.
Okay, that’s everything for now. Have a great week, everyone!
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Feature Photo: Disney
