MickeyBlog News for September 18th, 2023
Fans of Encanto and Figment will love this week’s MickeyBlog News!
Let’s talk about the new character experiences starring your favorites!
Encanto Takes over Magic Kingdom
During Destination D-23, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro hinted at an expanded park presence for Encanto.
This decision is understandable, given the extreme popularity of the Encanto soundtrack and its sustained popularity on Disney+.


Photo: Disney
If not for the current Hollywood strikes, I would have expected Disney to announce an Encanto sequel during D23 as well.
Instead, D’Amaro indicated that Encanto will anchor a re-themed DinoLand, U.S.A. and could comprise part of the answer to what lies beyond Big Thunder Mountain.


Mirabel at her meet-and-greet
However, those changes are several years from happening. Fans want Encanto at the parks now, and Disney has obliged.
On Friday, September 15th, Disney posted the schedule for a new character greeting.
Later that morning, MickeyBlog encountered Mirabel at her new home at Fairytale Garden.
As you can see, Disney has perfectly encapsulated the character’s look and style, making for a joyful park experience.


Bruno!
However, Disney hasn’t stopped there. During the Disney Friends Adventure Cavalcade, another character from Encanto is appearing.
I’m not supposed to talk about which one, but you should be able to guess. There’s a new Disney Skyliner gondola, too!
Finally, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has gotten into the fun. This park has added a 3D Encanto photo op!
Oh, and more Encanto is on the way soon! Disney is currently casting for the role of Luisa!
I think we’re eventually gonna have all the Madrigals at Walt Disney World. Disney knows what its fans want.
Figment Debuts


It’s Figment!
During the Destination D23 event, Disney unexpectedly dropped the news that Figment would appear at EPCOT.
We already knew that would happen, but the surprise stemmed from the date. Figment arrived at EPCOT the next day!


We love you, Figment!
MickeyBlog’s staff excitedly rushed to the Imagination! pavilion last Sunday to hang out with our favorite semi-imaginary dragon.
While there, we noticed something quite odd. Figment is coming out of the same tunnel that many professional wrestlers have used!
Maybe that explains why Figment has struggled lately. On a couple of occasions, the delightful dragon fell on its face…err, snout? Beak?
Anyway, the point is that Disney quickly adjusted the surroundings so that the costumed cast members could see better.


Figment
Figment should be safe now. And you can visit the dragon at his character spot for the foreseeable future.
Nothing’s ever fully permanent at a Disney theme park, but Figment appears likely to remain at the Imagination! pavilion for the next several years.


Figment
Fans never understood why Disney ended this character interaction 15 years ago. Now that it’s back, Disney would cause an uproar by trying to remove it again.
For Figment and classic EPCOT fans like me, this is a great day!
Disney Park News


Photo: Disney
This week has come with a sneaky-large amount of news, some of which we’re still processing.
As I mentioned the other night, DisneylandForward updated its paperwork on the official Anaheim website.


Disneylandforward
You may wonder where I’m mentioning such bureaucratic nonsense, but it’s potentially one of the biggest Disneyland stories ever.
These filings suggest that as long as Anaheim voters and the City Council agree, Disneyland Resort will expand.
At the moment, all Disney will confirm is that one part of the Disneyland campus could add as many as six themed lands.
What Disney’s really saying is that a third theme park is in the offing! I’ll discuss the matter in greater detail in a few days, but this is real.
Disney California Adventure will add something new much sooner…as in tomorrow! That’s the date for the opening of Avengers Vault.
Management is also casting potential performers for Turning Red appearances at the park.
The most surprising ones are the fictional boy band, 4*Town! They’ll appear at “upcoming special events at Disneyland Resort.”
By the way, Disney has also released Rogers: The Musical as a soundtrack. It’s available now on your favorite streaming service.


Photo: Disney
Disney even thoughtfully provided the direct links for Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music!
Disney Park News


Photo: The Cake Bake Shop
We tracked several other park stories this week. First, Disney confirmed our suspicion that the Cake Bake Shop Baker by Gwendolyn Rogers is delayed.
The new restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk will open at some point in 2024 rather than its previous target of 2023.


Photo: Disney
Speaking of construction, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, you won’t be eating at Narcoossee’s for a while.
Disney will spend the next months or so renovating the space to bring it in line with other Grand Floridian updates.


Disney100 Sign
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, park officials announced Extended Evening Hours for November and December.
That’s been expected since other Walt Disney World parks will host after-hours events on some of those dates.
Speaking of other parks, EPCOT has introduced a new rideshare pickup area. If you’re like me, you’ll need to know this location.
At Magic Kingdom, Tron Lightcycle / Run has posted new signs to warn riders that the seats are a bit snug. Frankly, this should have been done in April.


Image: Disney
Walt Disney World also made one modest but vital change to Mobile Ordering this week. The app lists smaller booking windows now!
Speaking of dining at Disney, Wine Bar George won a prestigious honor. It won The World of Fine Wine’s award as The Best Wine Bar List in the World!
Theme Park Miscellany
Finally, let’s close this week by discussing a few international and non-Disney tidbits.
Disney revealed more about Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, which looks amazing!
NEW: Disney shared new on-ride video of Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs at Hong Kong Disneyland. The upcoming attraction in World of Frozen opens on Nov. 20. pic.twitter.com/LKxfpQ5RRv
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) September 12, 2023
Meanwhile, Disneyland Paris confirmed a reopening date of January 25th for the Disneyland Hotel!


Photo: janschroder.com
In Central Florida news, Brightline is finally ready to open its service from Miami to Orlando this week!
Depending on how you count it, this has been five-to-ten years in the making! It’s gonna revolutionize Floridian travel to Walt Disney World!
Speaking of which, Universal Epic Universe cut a back-room deal to ensure it’d get the Brightline stop in Orlando.
This past week, a Universal executive discussed the plans for Epic Universe.


Photo: Universal
Disney officials may be waiting until this park opens in 2024 before it reveals its next wave of expansion, thereby ensuring Disney’s updates are even better!


Photo: MickeyBlog
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