Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2022 Edition

[rangerxenos]

Disney preparing for the imminent return of non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World​

Disney is currently preparing for the return of regular, non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World.

According to those familiar with the preparations, we can expect to see guests once again hugging and interacting with characters starting just after the Easter weekend.

 

[mrsap]

EPCOT’s Connections Café and Eatery has Received its Starbucks Signage!​

 

[mrsap]

A look at the 160ft long 'Global Gathering' mural inside EPCOT's upcoming Connections Cafe and Eatery​

This original piece, titled “Global Gathering," is a celebration of various food and beverage staples from around the world, and how we are all connected by enjoying a meal together. Highlighting eight distinct regions of the globe, this vibrant installation depicts people cultivating or gathering around food, such as potatoes from the Andes Mountains in Peru or black pepper from the Malabar Coast of India. The piece also evolves from sunrise in the east to sunset in the west across the full span of the eatery – culminating in one of the largest art installations Imagineering has created. That scale and stunning vibrancy celebrates global diversity with a simple, universal concept: the moments we have in common around food, meals, traditions and memories.

The creative concept for this piece was developed over the last few years, with consultants from around the world. It was then hand-painted in a series of panels and recently installed by our site teams at EPCOT. Here we see Abdul from our Character Paint team, working alongside a team of artisans to provide final touch-ups in the field.

 

[Shelby Schroepfer]

A look at the 160ft long 'Global Gathering' mural inside EPCOT's upcoming Connections Cafe and Eatery​

View attachment 658719

This original piece, titled “Global Gathering," is a celebration of various food and beverage staples from around the world, and how we are all connected by enjoying a meal together. Highlighting eight distinct regions of the globe, this vibrant installation depicts people cultivating or gathering around food, such as potatoes from the Andes Mountains in Peru or black pepper from the Malabar Coast of India. The piece also evolves from sunrise in the east to sunset in the west across the full span of the eatery – culminating in one of the largest art installations Imagineering has created. That scale and stunning vibrancy celebrates global diversity with a simple, universal concept: the moments we have in common around food, meals, traditions and memories.

The creative concept for this piece was developed over the last few years, with consultants from around the world. It was then hand-painted in a series of panels and recently installed by our site teams at EPCOT. Here we see Abdul from our Character Paint team, working alongside a team of artisans to provide final touch-ups in the field.

WOW! Is this another Zach Riddley? He is incredible.

 

[Brocktoon]

That's 100% true but the scenes they edited don't make sense. What faux Captain America does with the shield is 100X darker. I thought that was the scene that was edited because even for me that was too much. Just seems unnecessary overall.

Yep ... I figured the John Walker shield scene would have been the edit ... but that scene is very important to the actual plot. I wonder if they needed to edit a certain number of scenes to hit the TV-14 rating and they chose less important random edits to keep more important stuff in.

 

[BrianL]

Yep ... I figured the John Walker shield scene would have been the edit ... but that scene is very important to the actual plot. I wonder if they needed to edit a certain number of scenes to hit the TV-14 rating and they chose less important random edits to keep more important stuff in.

Maybe. To reiterate, I feel that sometimes violence in a scene is important and effective as a way to convey a specific tone to the viewer. I would be against changing that. But a little random blood here and there, to me, just doesn't matter - changing it is fine. I don't think though that this show has a high-level of violence anyway, nor should it.

 

[mrsap]

First Look at Connections Eatery Menu in EPCOT

View attachment 658689

Quoting myself…

Full menu and pricing for EPCOT's Connections Eatery​

 

[OKW Lover]

I guess my point was more around with each hotel that is added, you add more places for people to stay and therefore more bodies. Made up numbers here, but if you have 10 hotels (on or off property or both) that hold 1000 people each, then you add two more hotels, that's an additional capacity of 2000 more bodies. Holding locals within driving distance constant. But from what I understand, the Orlando area has also been growing so I guess you can also argue that the local population going to the parks has probably also increased.

And again, more places to stay doesn't equate to more people in the parks. I am local, living only a couple of miles from the Castle and the number of new housing developments in the area from when we moved here 8 years ago is just astounding. But that doesn't have an effect on the number of people in the parks either.

 

[rangerxenos]

Quoting myself…

Full menu and pricing for EPCOT's Connections Eatery​

Wow, I thought they'd have a little more variety?

 

[soniam]

With this news, I am hopeful that Winnie the Pooh and Friends will be coming back to the Crystal Palace.

Geez and maybe breakfast too. Desperate for more breakfast choices.

Disney+ Edited The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to Censor Violence​

This urks me. I am glad that I saw it before the changes. I don't mind if they have a gated version with the original, unedited scenes and then an edited version that's available to everyone. I think editing stuff like this is sneaky and sort of dishonest. I remember when Blockbuster was around. I had heard from friends that worked there that some movies were edited to make them more family friendly. I don't ever remember seeing anything in the stores that said this or on the films themselves.

 

[starlite_]

This urks me. I am glad that I saw it before the changes. I don't mind if they have a gated version with the original, unedited scenes and then an edited version that's available to everyone. I think editing stuff like this is sneaky and sort of dishonest. I remember when Blockbuster was around. I had heard from friends that worked there that some movies were edited to make them more family friendly. I don't ever remember seeing anything in the stores that said this or on the films themselves.

Agree. Sure, censor it for kid accounts or give an option to everyone about which version to show but how real it was was part of what I liked about this show, it felt like real consequences. IMO it does take away from it to sensor that.

 

[ejgonz2]

Disney preparing for the imminent return of non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World​

Disney is currently preparing for the return of regular, non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World.

According to those familiar with the preparations, we can expect to see guests once again hugging and interacting with characters starting just after the Easter weekend.

We arrive the day after Easter!!

 

[Naomeri]

Good news for runners: the medals have arrived in Disney World!!

 

[helloconnie]

Bob Chapek’s Missteps Fuel Confidence Crisis at Disney​

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/b...k-missteps-fuel-confidence-crisis-1235122002/

 

[mrsap]

@naomeri - Good news for runners: the medals have arrived in Disney World!!

runDisney Medals Arrive In Time for Springtime Surprise Race Weekend

Crisis avoided. The clang of medals from accomplished runners will fill the air at Walt Disney World after runDisney confirmed that their shipment of medals has arrived!

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Bob Chapek’s Missteps Fuel Confidence Crisis at Disney​

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/b...k-missteps-fuel-confidence-crisis-1235122002/

I read this article earlier today. I think Staggs would be a good replacement. But there is still a lot of time on the current contract. A lot can happen in a year

 

[Helvetica]

Disney preparing for the imminent return of non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World​

Disney is currently preparing for the return of regular, non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World.

According to those familiar with the preparations, we can expect to see guests once again hugging and interacting with characters starting just after the Easter weekend.

I hope so… I desperately want Disney World to return to normal. Hopefully Cinderella’s Royal Table and Trattoria Al Forno get their princesses back soon. Akershus still needs to come back too and I’m sure there’s plenty of other stuff that needs to return.

I’m sure there’s going to be a really long line to see Mickey Mouse the day it finally comes back.

 

[PurplePigment]

Disney preparing for the imminent return of non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World​

Disney is currently preparing for the return of regular, non-distanced character meet and greets at Walt Disney World.

According to those familiar with the preparations, we can expect to see guests once again hugging and interacting with characters starting just after the Easter weekend.

I'm super excited, and very hopeful that this will mean the character dining goes back to normal, soon, too.

 

[HokieRaven5]

The official announcement will be coming tomorrow regarding the Character Meet and Greets. Sneak peek to that from the…

Disney Parks TikTok

Disney Parks Instagram

 

[Naomeri]

The official announcement will be coming tomorrow regarding the Character Meet and Greets. Sneak peek to that from the…

Disney Parks TikTok

Disney Parks Instagram

I don’t believe I’ve ever hugged a character on a Disney trip, even when I was a kid. But if they restart hugging before I leave next week, I’m going to.