Happy 30th Birthday to Disney MGM / Hollywood Studios.
Before digging into the current events around the Disney Parks, We just want to wish a very happy 30th birthday to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The park has certainly had its ups and downs over the years, but it has always held a special place in our hearts. We don’t agree with a lot of the recent decisions which were made here (including the new logo), but with Galaxy’s Edge and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway on the horizon, we are excited for the future of this park.
New Dining Package Announced For Cinderella Royal Table
Disney’s Take:
Starting today, May 2, you can reserve the new Signature Celebration Package at Cinderella’s Royal Table. In addition to enjoying a scrumptious dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table, you will be able to take advantage of reserved “Happily Ever After” fireworks viewing in the West Plaza Garden (a separate area for guests of this package) before joining the After Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. On top of all of that, you’ll experience unique and exclusive extras that make this an even more magical evening!
Our Take:
Bad news for those who previously enjoyed grabbing a spot in the west garden plaza (opposite of the dessert party reserved space) for Happily Ever After fireworks… both sides will now be reserved thanks to this new package.
The pricing seems steep here as well. For $199, you basically get dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table as well as the after fireworks dessert party… but you can just book them separately for $76 + $69 ($145 total). Is it worth an extra $54 for a glass of sparkling wine and a box of take home desserts?
New Baby Gorilla Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Take:
One of the things we love most at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is welcoming babies to our family, and the animal care team is delighted to announce the birth of a healthy baby western lowland gorilla!
Mom Kashata delivered the infant Wednesday morning, May 1, and both mom and baby are doing well and bonding onstage at Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail with the rest of the family troop. The entire family even joined in the celebration of the new baby’s arrival with a special enrichment tactic to reveal the baby’s gender.
Guess what – it’s a girl! And her name is Grace!
Our Take:
Baby Grace = cuteness overload. In all seriousness, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and zoos in general, don’t get enough credit for all the great work they do in animal conservation!
I also find it pretty incredible the way the mom gorilla is holding her new baby in the photo and how similar it looks to the way a human would do so. A mother’s love is strong, no matter the species.
New Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant Coming to Toy Story Land
Disney’s Take:
Using three cardboard boxes cut and taped together, Andy has created a new rodeo arena using some of his favorite toys, games, and play sets. And while some pieces are definitely western-themed, what makes this rodeo special is the broad assortment of toys that have been brought together to create a fun, colorful mashup-atmosphere that only a child could create.
Once inside, you’ll be surrounded by all of the rodeo festivities in-action as well as western town and train station play sets. And you just might spot some of your favorite Disney•Pixar characters scattered throughout the restaurant in the form of toys and game pieces including a toy version of Jessie riding on the back of a Trixie pull-toy and unique toy versions of Bo Peep and her sheep, all who appear to be performing in the rodeo together.
This immersive restaurant will surround guests with a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets, providing yet another unique, fun, family-friendly dining experience that could only be had in Toy Story Land.
Our Take:
Well, its better than nothing. The land desperately needs both shade and air conditioning and this will provide both. That being said, we wish that the land was not budget cut to death to begin.
This is going in the area where the western town was originally supposed to be in the original concept art. Across the way, there was supposed to be an Al’s Toy Barn as well. In a perfect world, the Toy Barn would provide an air conditioned shopping experience and Woody’s Lunchbox would have an expanded seating area with an covered awning (and more than 2 registers).
People seem to be wishing for a Pizza Planet here, but they seem to forget that would mean eating Disney quality pizza. To be frank, Disney pizza is horrible. Yes, the Pizza is pretty good at Via Napoli in world showcase, but that restaurant is not owned or operated by Disney. You wouldn’t be getting that level of quality here.
Disney does serve decent quality quick service bbq but we are hoping for a bit more than that here: something more a kin to the now closed Big Thunder Ranch BBQ at Disneyland. As far as the decor, its fine I guess. It’s certainly no worse than the rest of the land.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Delayed Until 2020 at Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Take:
With an original story and lovable theme song, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway uses state-of-the-art technologies and dazzling visual effects to transform the cartoon world into an incredible and immersive multi-dimensional experience.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is planned to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort in spring 2020.
Our Take:
This is, quite frankly, shocking to us. The main purpose of building this ride at Hollywood Studios was to add another E Ticket to try and draw crowds away from Galaxy’s Edge. I never would have guessed that this attraction would open at least 6 months after the new land.
What has caused the delay is anyone’s guess. Some seem to think that Disney is just stretched too thin with current construction projects right now, but this seems unlikely to us that this is the project the would choose to slow on if that was the case.
It’s also been suggested that Disney has purposefully pushed this back until next year so they can get another wave press post Galaxy’s Edge when it opens. The problem with this, is that Galaxy’s Edge hype isn’t going away any time soon. When this attraction opens next year it seems likely that nobody will care as all the talk will still be about the new Star Wars Land.
We do like the new marquee though! It’s clearly a nod to The Great Movie Ride.
Reservations Now Available to Visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park Between May 31 and June 23, 2019
Disney’s Take:
Here’s how to make a reservation:
- Beginning today, May 2, at 10 a.m. PT, visit the Disneyland reservation page.
- You will need to be logged into your Disney Account and have the names of everyone who will be part of your Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation (up to six guests total per reservation).
- All guests will be required to have valid theme park admission in addition to their Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation information and valid government issued photo ID. The guest who made the reservation (even if under 18 years old) and all guests aged 18 and over on the reservation will need to bring a government issued photo ID upon check in for your Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation. Guests under the age of 3 do not need a Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation. Only guests listed on the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation with proper ID will be admitted.
- Once you make your Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge reservation, no changes or modifications will be allowed. Reservations are void if transferred or sold. Unused reservations will be forfeited and not replaced
Our Take:
Good luck! These are going to be next to impossible to grab after the first minute or so, in which we fully expect the Disneyland website to implode!
Note, if you are staying at an official Disneyland Hotel, you will not need to make this reservation. Instead a time will be (or already has) been assigned to you and sent via e-mail. You will get 6 hours in Galaxy’s Edge for exactly 1 day of your trip.
(Update): Reservations are currently online with everyone in a big virtual pool that keeps refreshing every so often. It seems Disney is randomizing a “win” 1 out of 2000 refreshes.
(2nd Update): Reservations sold out in just under 2 hours. They are no more available at this time.
WDW Therapy: A Disney State of Mind 