Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2023 Edition

[HokieRaven5]

New Blue Signs and Traffic Patterns on Floridian Way Outside Magic Kingdom

These two new signs point guests to Magic Kingdom resorts, nearby golf courses, and the shuttle bus/rideshare drop-off.

The new northbound traffic pattern of Floridian Way should make it easier to reach Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, and Shades of Green.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Polynesian Village Resort Lobby Refurbishment Underway

View attachment 736489

Colorful New Rug Installed for Lobby Refresh at Polynesian Village Resort

 

[HokieRaven5]

‘Incredibles’ Character Frozone Spotted in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

View attachment 736700

Edna, and More Limited-Time Meet and Greets Begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for February 2023

Several surprise limited-time meet-and-greets began at Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, February 1, reportedly for the Valentine’s Day season.





Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl were greeting guests next to Echo Lake. Notice that the PhotoPass photographers with them are also in their new green costumes.

Clarice will also apparently be appearing with Chip and Dale on the lawn outside of The Hollywood Brown Derby. All of these character greetings begin today, February 1, with Goofy and Chip, Dale, and Clarice reportedly appearing through Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2023.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Great Music is in Bloom with Garden Rocks at the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

The series is jam-packed with talent from returning favorites like The Pointer Sisters, Simple Plan, and the Plain White T’s, along with fresh talent like legacy guitarist AJ Croce and GRAMMY award-winning Switchfoot. So many amazing diverse music styles in one festival; it was mint to be! Okay, I promise I’m done with the herb puns! View the full list of announced artists below and keep checking back at FreshEPCOT.com as more acts are revealed!

• March 3-4 – Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI
• March 5-6 – Daughtry
• March 10-11 – Tommy DeCarlo
• March 12-13 – Smash Mouth
• March 17-18 – Mike DelGuidice
• March 19-20 – Blue Oyster Cult – NEW
• March 24-25 – Berlin
• March 26-27 – The Pointer Sisters
• March 31 – Luis Figueroa – NEW
• April 1-2 – Piso 21 – NEW
• April 3 – TBD
• April 7-8 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
• April 9-10 – Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
• April 16-17 – Switchfoot – NEW
• April 21-22 – A Flock of Seagulls
• April 23-24 – Jo Dee Messina
• April 28-29 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
• April 30, May 1 – Kool and the Gang
• May 5-8 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
• May 12-15 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
• May 19-20 – A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce – NEW
• May 21-22 – Casting Crowns – NEW
• May 26-27 – Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago – NEW
• May 28-29 – Rick Springfield
• June 2-5 – Plain White T’s
• June 9-10 – The Spinners
• June 11-12 – The Commodores
• June 16-17 – Vertical Horizon
• June 18-19 – Tony Orlando
• June 23-26 – Simple Plan
• June 30, July 1 – Living Colour
• July 2-3 – Wang Chung

Beginning Feb. 9, guests can secure their spot for these rockin’ performances with a Garden Rocks Dining Package. Find out more by visiting FreshEPCOT.com. Keep following the Disney Parks Blog to find out more about everything sprouting up at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.

 

[HokieRaven5]

2023 Garden Rocks Dining Package Prices & On-Sale Reservation Date
Following the announcement of the 2023 Garden Rocks Concert Series lineup, Disney World has released details regarding the dining packages that guests can optionally purchase to reserve seating and enjoy a meal. Here are the details:

Fabulous food and great music go hand in hand! Festivalgoers can enjoy the best of both worlds by booking a Garden Rocks Dining Package, which includes:

• A meal at a participating restaurant
  • Spice Road Table: Includes 2 small plates, a shared dessert platter and a nonalcoholic beverage
  • All Other Participating Restaurants: Includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert or one (1) full buffet/family-style meal (where applicable), as well as a nonalcoholic beverage
• One (1) guaranteed seat per person to one Garden Rocks concert on the same day
• Explore participating restaurants and dining package prices, which exclude tax and gratuity:

Book online beginning February 9, 2023 to secure your spot for this limited-time experience. Advance reservations are highly recommended for table-service restaurants.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Global Dream Project: Meyer Weft Wismar Hiring Back Former MV WERFTEN Shipyard Workers

According to multiple similar reports out of Germany, the first employees at Meyer Werft Wismar have started their positions where they will work to convert the partially completed “Global Dream” cruise ship into a Disney Cruise ship. At this time, 75 former MV WERFTEN employees have been hired on. It is anticipated, there will be another 75 workers joining operations at the shipyard over the next couple months. MEYER’s longterm plans aim to grow the workforce to between 400 to 650 employees in Wismar, Germany.

MEYER Group will complete the build and conversion of the cruise ship under construction at the former MV Werften in Wismar for Disney Cruise Line. It was previously announced in November, MEYER WISMAR plans to employ several hundred former team members of MV Werften and will equip the ship with the some of the greenest technologies available together with companies of MEYER Group. The ship is expected to set sail in 2025.

 

[Haley R]

Great Music is in Bloom with Garden Rocks at the 2023 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival

The series is jam-packed with talent from returning favorites like The Pointer Sisters, Simple Plan, and the Plain White T’s, along with fresh talent like legacy guitarist AJ Croce and GRAMMY award-winning Switchfoot. So many amazing diverse music styles in one festival; it was mint to be! Okay, I promise I’m done with the herb puns! View the full list of announced artists below and keep checking back at FreshEPCOT.com as more acts are revealed!

• March 3-4 – Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI
• March 5-6 – Daughtry
• March 10-11 – Tommy DeCarlo
• March 12-13 – Smash Mouth
• March 17-18 – Mike DelGuidice
• March 19-20 – Blue Oyster Cult – NEW
• March 24-25 – Berlin
• March 26-27 – The Pointer Sisters
• March 31 – Luis Figueroa – NEW
• April 1-2 – Piso 21 – NEW
• April 3 – TBD
• April 7-8 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
• April 9-10 – Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
• April 16-17 – Switchfoot – NEW
• April 21-22 – A Flock of Seagulls
• April 23-24 – Jo Dee Messina
• April 28-29 – Ambrosia with Peter Beckett, The Voice Of Player
• April 30, May 1 – Kool and the Gang
• May 5-8 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
• May 12-15 – The Orchestra starring former members of ELO
• May 19-20 – A.J. Croce: Croce Plays Croce – NEW
• May 21-22 – Casting Crowns – NEW
• May 26-27 – Jason Scheff, longtime lead singer of Chicago – NEW
• May 28-29 – Rick Springfield
• June 2-5 – Plain White T’s
• June 9-10 – The Spinners
• June 11-12 – The Commodores
• June 16-17 – Vertical Horizon
• June 18-19 – Tony Orlando
• June 23-26 – Simple Plan
• June 30, July 1 – Living Colour
• July 2-3 – Wang Chung

Beginning Feb. 9, guests can secure their spot for these rockin’ performances with a Garden Rocks Dining Package. Find out more by visiting FreshEPCOT.com. Keep following the Disney Parks Blog to find out more about everything sprouting up at the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival.

Switchfoot is a good one! Might have to try to see them

 

[Gary Stocker]

I get Simple Plan and Living Colour on my late June trip...I remember seeing the Orchestra when I was there for Food and Wine in 2021. This child of the 70s loved it!

 

[Jennasis]

Does anyone remember what are the different available.show Times?

 

[Haley R]

Does anyone remember what are the different available.show Times?

5:30, 6:45, and 8

 

[HokieRaven5]

Edna, and More Limited-Time Meet and Greets Begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for February 2023

Several surprise limited-time meet-and-greets began at Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, February 1, reportedly for the Valentine’s Day season.

View attachment 736723

View attachment 736722

Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl were greeting guests next to Echo Lake. Notice that the PhotoPass photographers with them are also in their new green costumes.

Clarice will also apparently be appearing with Chip and Dale on the lawn outside of The Hollywood Brown Derby. All of these character greetings begin today, February 1, with Goofy and Chip, Dale, and Clarice reportedly appearing through Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2023.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1620855524458917890

 

[huskies90]

Switchfoot is a good one! Might have to try to see them

Switchfoot is the weekend I am there. I have never heard of them. Seems like they are a Christain Rock band? I was really hoping for Don Felder. It seems like Switchfoot and Don Felder should switch so Switchfoot can be there for Easter and I can see a former Eagle.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

I always wanted the RnR to be rethemed to Monsters INC door scene.

 

[soniam]

I get Simple Plan and Living Colour on my late June trip...I remember seeing the Orchestra when I was there for Food and Wine in 2021. This child of the 70s loved it!

Living Color! Saw them at the first Lollapalooza. They are so good live and very inspirational as one of the first punk black bands.

 

[MidnightMeeko]

Switchfoot is the weekend I am there. I have never heard of them. Seems like they are a Christain Rock band? I was really hoping for Don Felder. It seems like Switchfoot and Don Felder should switch so Switchfoot can be there for Easter and I can see a former Eagle.

Technically a Christian Rock band, but not preachy in any way shape or form if that's what you are thinking. We saw them last fall opening for Collective Soul. They do a fantastic cover of Beastie Boys Sabotage.

 

[Haley R]

Switchfoot is the weekend I am there. I have never heard of them. Seems like they are a Christain Rock band? I was really hoping for Don Felder. It seems like Switchfoot and Don Felder should switch so Switchfoot can be there for Easter and I can see a former Eagle.

Switchfoot is great! We aren’t religious and I like their music a lot. I’m super excited they’ll be playing when we aren’t blocked out since we have pirate passes

 

[afan]

Switchfoot is great! We aren’t religious and I like their music a lot. I’m super excited they’ll be playing when we aren’t blocked out since we have pirate passes

They are played on main stream rock stations. I had no idea they fell into this genre and I have seen them live and have their CD somewhere.

 

[HokieRaven5]

‘Encanto’ Theme for 2023 runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon

 

[HokieRaven5]

Disney remains 'Most-Admired Media and Entertainment Company' according to Fortune

For the 20th consecutive year, The Walt Disney Company has been recognized as the top-ranked media and entertainment company on Fortune's annual list of the "World's Most Admired Companies." Disney ranked No. 6 overall among the 324 listed companies from across the globe.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Refurbishment Planned for Disney’s Vero Beach Resort Pool in Early 2024

From January 8, 2024 thru “late March” 2024 the Vero Beach Feature Pool and Pirate’s Plunge Pool Slide will be closed for refurbishment. As a result, the Tiger Lily Wet Play area, Port Holes Miniature Golf, and the whirlpool spa will also be closed during this time.