MickeyBlog News for September 25th, 2023
Have you heard the one about the real, live bear in the tree at Magic Kingdom?
After more than six years of doing this, I can honestly say that MickeyBlog News can still surprise me sometimes.
Photo: Disneyclipart.com
Oh, and Disney just promised to spend $60 billion on theme parks this decade. Yeah, it’s a big week, so let’s get started.
This Was No Jamboree
Friends, I don’t want to make this story about me, but I can’t even take a vacation day on my birthday without something ridiculous happening at Disney.
On Monday, I started getting texts from friends. The gist was, “Happy birthday. What’s the deal with the bear at Disney?”
Photo: Playbuzz.com
My first thought was that a bunch of my friends had suddenly taken an interest in a Hulu series I’m always telling people to watch.
Instead, I quickly learned, thanks to the park reporters at MickeyBlog, that it was not a typical Monday at Disney.
Well, the day started normally enough, at least from the outside. Once our park reporters entered Magic Kingdom, they noticed an oddity.
Three themed lands weren’t operational when the park opened. Disney had closed Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square to guests.
Frontierland Closed
Well, technically, they never even opened that morning…and we quickly learned why.
Our first sign was a helicopter in the air at Magic Kingdom, which shouldn’t even be possible. It’s a no-fly zone.
Meanwhile, lines formed at the attractions that were open, as guests faced a limited number of options that morning.
As you’d expect, guests loudly wondered what had caused the closure of basically half the park.
A quick glance at a Magic Kingdom map hinted at the problem. The three themed lands that remained closed were in the same area.
Disney wanted guests to stay away from this section of the park because – and I cannot believe this is a real thing – a wild bear was roaming the park.
Photo: WESH
I consider this proof that every living being has a Magic Kingdom trip on their bucket list.
Hibernation Season Approaches
This seems like a good time to pull out some Disney True-Life Adventures knowledge and mention that many southern bears hibernate in late October.
For this reason, bears often spend the end of September foraging for food so that they’ll have enough supplies to last through winter.
Hi there!
This particular bear likely thought she’d struck the motherlode at Magic Kingdom. Disney serves food to thousands of guests each day.
A bear would view a Disney pantry the same way that a pirate would eyeball a bejeweled treasure chest.
Liberty Square Closed
Meanwhile, some poor Disney cast member started their day the same way as usual.
This past Monday’s opening procedures will be a story they recount for the rest of their lives.
Tom Sawyer Island
The cast member apparently discovered the bear (some say this happened at Tom Sawyer Island, but that’s unconfirmed) and probably backed away slowly.
I’d presume that what followed was an awkward call to their boss, followed by an even more uncomfortable conversation with Magic Kingdom’s leadership.
Photo: CNBC
Seriously, Disney should write a movie about this because literally every part of it is funny.
You have NO idea how much I’m biting my tongue by not joking about it.
Like, wouldn’t you want to watch the bear interact with a Country Bear Jamboree Audio-Animatronic?
That would be a Westworld moment for that bear.
Anyway, Disney eventually acknowledged the bear’s presence, caught the bear, and returned it into the wild.
Hopefully, Disney threw in a six-month supply of giant turkey legs to get the bear through the winter.
Photo: Disney
Folks, I can go ahead and tell you right now. The race is over for Strangest Disney Story of 2023. Nothing is topping this.
PS: In my head canon, that lady bear knows every lyric to All the Guys That Turn Me On Turn Me Down.
$60 Billion Would Pay for 60 Star Wars Lands
Photo:visitorlando.com
Here’s a story that’s lacking in specifics, but the headline is a jaw-dropper.
Disney has filed corporate paperwork regarding a significant expansion in its Parks, Experiences and Products (DPEP) division.
Photo: Getty
Specifically, Disney has officially stated on an SEC document that DPEP will spend $60 billion over the next decade.
I cannot stress this enough. This isn’t a Destination D23 scenario where Disney is making promises that aren’t sure to happen.
Once Disney filed that corporate document, it started a multi-pronged expansion plan for its Parks division.
Disney is stating that it’ll spend $6 billion annually on DPEP expansion over the next decade, which is twice as much as the past ten years.
Photo: WHO
Obviously, that statement comes with some caveats. For starters, the pandemic reduced some of Disney’s spending due to budget cuts.
Also, we all know that a dollar in 2023 isn’t as valuable as it had been in 2013 due to dramatic inflation.
Photo: Shutterstock
For these reasons, I’m viewing Disney’s filing as a promise to spend about 50 percent more at the parks than it has in the past.
Disney left itself a few legal loopholes that could prevent the expansion from happening, too. I’ll discuss those in detail in an upcoming article.
Photo: Wikimedia
These are nitpicky critiques, though. Overall, Disney just figuratively put its money where its mouth is when it comes to theme park expansion.
The company has told investors it’s gonna spend big on arguably its highest-margin business, which is theme parks.
Photo: Disneyplanning.com
As a fan, that’s music to your ears as it signals upcoming themed lands, E-ticket attractions, and, yes, possibly even entirely new theme parks.
While the bear story provides a lot of temporary amusement, this SEC filing hints at a reinvention of the Disney theme park experience in the coming years.
Miscellaneous Park News
Photo: Disney
First, let’s talk about the new discounts you’ll find at Disney right now.
Currently, Disney has offered 25 percent discounts on hotel stays at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.
Photo: The Points Guy
We’ve previously sung the praises of this slice of paradise. Here’s a video about it:
For those of you seeking a Walt Disney World stay rather than time in paradise, Disney has listed several new deals.
Photo: Disney
You’ll find offers for Floridians, annual passholders, and Disney Visa Cardholders.
Please speak with a MickeyTravels agent to learn which other deals might be available. As a reminder, their services are always free to you.
In other non-bear theme park news, Disney has thrilled many fans with the announcement that the 50th-anniversary golden statues are here to stay!
Disney will refresh the statues to make them timeless and not specific to the event. Woohoo!
EPCOT Parking Trams
During your next park visit, you’ll notice that the trams are back! Disney has restored tram service at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT!
Speaking of Hollywood Studios, we recently learned more about Holiday Fiesta En La Calle at Jollywood Nights. It looks amazing!
You should also stop by Disney Springs during an upcoming visit. The photo studio is hosting a delightful Haunted Mansion photo op!
Elsewhere in Orlando, Brightline service from Miami to Orlando has officially begun. Also, the company announced Brightline+.
Photo: janschroder.com
This service could revolutionize the way we reach Walt Disney World. So, it’s something important to keep in mind.
Meanwhile, Mickey’s Toontown is once again undergoing reports due to rough guest treatment of interactive activities.
Finally, just because it’s pretty, be sure to check out this article about Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure. Doesn’t it look gorgeous?
Have a great week, my friends!
Photo: MickeyBlog
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