MickeyBlog Disney News for September 3
You can get good and drunk at Star Wars Land when the new themed land opens at Disneyland next year. Read the latest edition of MickeyBlog News to learn how that’s possible. Exciting updates about Artist Point, Caribbean Beach and Amazon Prime too!
Oga’s Cantina Is Coming
Black Spire Outpost is the hub of the upcoming Star Wars Land. It’s the smuggling outpost on the edge of civilization where mercenaries and criminals go to avoid the law. And what good would this kind of place be if it didn’t serve alcohol?
Yes, Disney released new details about one of the central hangouts at Black Spire Outpost. We now know that the premiere destination for pub service is Oga’s Cantina, and we also now know that it will serve the real deal. Yes, this bar will have alcohol. It brings an entirely new meaning to the concept of feeling the Force.
This is a bigger deal than you may realize. Since Disneyland’s opening 1955, the primary locations of the park have never served alcohol. Club 33 is the notable exception, but it’s an exclusive facility that few people ever enter. Not counting that restaurant, Oga’s Cantina will become the first restaurant ever to serve alcohol on the Disneyland campus. It’s such a dramatic and noteworthy change that mainstream media sources like CNN have covered the story.
By the way, we also learned that RX-24 will make a return engagement. Yes, Captain Rex from Star Tours hangs out at Oga’s Cantina now. In fact, he’s the deejay who will spin all the tunes at the bar. Given the fact that he almost got all of us killed on Star Tours, it’s a wise career choice.
Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre Has Closed
Disney surprised everyone with an unexpected announcement this week. Disney’s Contemporary Resort has been the home for a fun little aquatic center for roughly 20 years now. The facility, Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre, is right beside the main pool at the Contemporary.
With virtually no warning, Disney has revealed that it has permanently closed the watersports building. August 31st was its final day in operation. Apparently, the market for parasailing and waterskiing at Bay Lake has bottomed out. I’m not sure how else to explain the sudden closure of a fun little spot for water sports enthusiasts.
The question becomes whether Disney has plans for that section of the Contemporary’s campus. Could a pool expansion or new restaurant be on the way? Stay tuned…
Some Rumors Come True!
Only a few days ago, MickeyBlog discussed a rumor about Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. We mentioned the possibility that the Signature Restaurant may make a change in its composition. Despite its sustained excellence and glowing reputation, Artist Point has had trouble booking all of its tables in recent years. Open tables mean lost revenue for The Walt Disney Company.
In a blatant attempt to boost sales at Artist Point, Disney’s chosen to make a dramatic change to the dinner service here. From this point forward, it’ll be a character meal starring Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!
Thus far, there’s been no indication that dinner will switch from a Signature Dining experience to a standard Table Service one, which hints that the Snow White meal might cost two entitlements on the Disney Dining Plan. If that’s the case, it will become the second Prix Fixe character meal that Disney has added in 2018, following on the heels of the recently re-opened Be Our Guest.
Artist Point Will Be Magical
Either way, Snow White is the fable that trigged Disney’s entire movie industry. It was Walt Disney’s first animated motion picture, and it set the table for every beloved Disney story that came afterward. A character meal featuring Snow White and her nemesis, the Evil Queen, instantly becomes the most exciting character meal at Walt Disney World. It will start hosting guests in either November or December of this year.
More Details about Caribbean Beach Dining
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is currently undergoing a massive renovation. Due to its status as one of the less popular Walt Disney World resorts, it’s been in need of these upgrades for some time. As usual, Disney’s aggressively attacking any perceived shortcomings in its brand. The upgrades at Caribbean Beach are comprehensive and impressive.
Earlier this year, Spyglass Grill opened, and Disney recently elevated it in importance. This counter service eatery became the first non-theme park restaurant to accept Mobile Ordering. That seemed like the high point for the restaurants onsite this year.
Au contraire, mon frère! Disney just revealed additional information about TWO different restaurants coming to Caribbean Beach soon. Centertown Market is a new Quick Service restaurant that park planners indicate will have an “indoor street market atmosphere.” Think energetic bazaar with glorious Caribbean food options.
The bigger deal is the new Table Service restaurant, which is actually a rebranding of Shutters. The old hangout becomes a more tightly themed joint called Sebastian’s Bistro. Yes, that’s Sebastian from The Little Mermaid with his name up in lights.
His restaurant will fittingly reside on the waterfront, with gorgeous views of the surrounding area. As for the menu, it’s lots of seafood with a Caribbean vibe. Indications are that the restaurant will have pleasant Little Mermaid touches throughout the dining areas. Just to be clear, it’s not a character meal, however, simply one with a giant Sebastian statue out front.
Do You Have Amazon Prime?
Disney music lovers received an unexpected bonus last week. Amazon Prime entered into an agreement with Disney that has widespread benefits for Amazon Prime members. The gist is that Amazon’s music service has licensed more than 50 Disney soundtracks. You can see the full list on the official Amazon page here.
Some of the most important options are all three Toy Story soundtracks, Beauty and the Beast (2017), The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Moana, Frozen, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Descendants. If you prefer to hear the hits, you can skip straight to this page. It’s a playlist with 25 of Disney’s most famous songs including Let It Go, When You Wish upon a Star, Hakuna Matata, and Try Everything. If 25 songs isn’t enough for you, this link has 50 Disney classics including the 25 from the previous link.
I’m going to end this week’s MickeyBlog News right here, because you’ve now tuned me out in favor of listening to A Whole New World. And I can’t say that I blame you.