Dateline Disney: Splash Mountain to be Re-themed to Princess and the Frog

Today we learned that Splash Mountain at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom will be rethemed to Princess and the Frog after an online petition was started to change it in light of the current events in the United States. Here is what was said about this new retheming on the Disney Parks Blog.

Today we are thrilled to share a first glimpse of a project Imagineers have been working on since last year. Splash Mountain – at both Disneyland park in California and Magic Kingdom park in Florida – will soon be completely reimagined. The theme is inspired by an all-time favorite animated Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog.” We pick up this story after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.

Tiana is a modern, courageous, and empowered woman, who pursues her dreams and never loses sight of what’s really important. It’s a great story with a strong lead character, set against the backdrop of New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou. In 1966, Walt himself opened New Orleans Square when it became the first new “land” added to Disneyland park, so it feels natural to link the story and the incredible music of “The Princess and the Frog” to our parks.

The voice of Princess Tiana and Tony Award-winning actress, Anika Noni Rose, shared, “It is really exciting to know that Princess Tiana’s presence in both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom will finally be fully realized! As passionate as I am about what we created, I know the fans are going to be over the moon. The Imagineers are giving us ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Mardi Gras celebration we’ve been waiting for, and I’m here for it!”

The approach to retheming or “plussing” attractions (as Walt Disney referred to it) begins with Imagineers asking the question, how can we build upon or elevate the experience and tell a fresh, relevant story? It’s a continuous process that Imagineers are deeply passionate about. And with this longstanding history of updating attractions and adding new magic, the retheming of Splash Mountain is of particular importance today. The new concept is inclusive – one that all of our guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit our parks each year.

Charita Carter, the senior creative producer leading the project at Walt Disney Imagineering shared, “Like Princess Tiana, I believe that courage and love are the key ingredients for wonderful adventures. I am delighted to be a part of bringing this fun-filled experience to our guests.”

For Imagineers, change is rooted in a tradition set by Walt Disney who encouraged new innovations, new ideas, new scenes and current storytelling. And the experiences they create can be enjoyed by guests who visit our parks from all over the world.

As part of the creative development process, conceptual design work is well underway and Imagineers will soon be able to conduct preliminary reviews and develop a timeline for when the transformation can start to take shape.

Stay tuned for more!

Dateline Disney: Everything opening at Walt Disney World post pandemic.

Below is a list of all the attractions, entertainment and shops that are opening with the parks on July 11 and July 15. No word on what food options will be open yet but Disney has announced that starting on July 15th with the opening of EPCOT, the International  Food and Wine Festival will begin in a modified form. This marks the earlier the festival has ever begun.

The Magic Kingdom July 11

Attractions

“it’s a small world”

Astro Orbiter

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Country Bear Jamboree

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Jungle Cruise

Liberty Square Riverboat

Mad Tea Party

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Peter Pan’s Flight

Pirates of the Caribbean

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Space Mountain

Splash Mountain

Swiss Family Treehouse

The Barnstormer

The Hall of Presidents

The Haunted Mansion

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Tom Sawyer Island

Tomorrowland Speedway

Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover

Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Entertainment

Main Street Philharmonic

Character Cavalcades throughout the day, with Guest-favorite Disney friends appearing along the parade route—which will include:

The Royal Princess Processional

Mickey & Friends Cavalcade

Fantasyland Friends Cavalcade

A Goofy Cavalcade

Tinker Bell & the Lost Treasure

Shopping

Arribas Brothers

Baby Care

Big Al’s

Box Office Gifts

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Photos

Crystal Arts

Emporium

Fantasy Faire

Hundred Acre Goods

Island Supply by Sunglass Hut

Main Street Confectionery

Memento Mori

Mickey’s Star Traders

Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar

Rubio Arts

Sir Mickey’s

Splashdown Photos

Strollers & Wheelchairs

The Chapeau

Tomorrowland Light & Power Co.

TTC Cart / Wheelchairs

Uptown Jewelers & Cinema

Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

Restaurant

Aloha Isle

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies

Be Our Guest Restaurant

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

Liberty Square Market

Liberty Tree Tavern

Main Street Bakery

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe

Pinocchio Village Haus

The Plaza Restaurant

Sleepy Hollow

Storybook Treats

Sunshine Tree Terrace

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant

EPCOT July 15

Attractions

Awesome Planet

Canada Far and Wide

Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival

Friendship Lagoon Boats

Frozen Ever After

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Impressions de France

Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Kidcot (modified)

Living with the Land

Mission: SPACE

Reflections of China

Soarin’ Around the World

Spaceship Earth

Test Track

The American Adventure

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience

Entertainment

America Gardens Theatre Presents… featuring popular EPCOT performers such as:

JAMMitors

Mariachi Cobre

Character Cavalcades throughout the day, featuring favorite Disney friends traveling around World Showcase promenade—including:

Frozen Promenade

Mickey & Friends World Tour

Princess Promenade

Shops

African Heritage

Arribas Brothers

Art of Disney

Baby Care

Canada Cart

China Kiosk

Disney Traders

Galerie Des Halles

Gateway Gifts

Glas Und Porcellan

ImageWorks

Karamell Kuche

La Bottega Italiana

Mexico Indoor Plaza

Mission: SPACE Cargo

Mitsukoshi

Mouse Gear Temporary Location

Pin Traders – Camera Center

Port of Entry

Puffin’s Roost

Sea Base Alpha Gift Shop

Strollers & Wheelchairs

Tea Caddy

Test Track Simporium

Wood Carver

World Traveler

Restaurant

Biergarten Restaurant

Choza de Margarita

Coral Reef Restaurant

Crepes des Chefs de France

Fife & Drum Tavern

Funnel Cake

Garden Grill Restaurant

Gelati

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Joy of Tea

Kabuki Café

Katsura Grill

L’Artisan des Glaces

La Cantina de San Angel

La Cava de Tequila

La Hacienda de San Angel

The Land Cart

Le Cellier Steakhouse

Popcorn in Canada

Refreshment Outpost

Refreshment Port

Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue

Rose & Crown Dining Room

Rose & Crown Pub

San Angel Inn Restaurante

Spice Road Table

Sunshine Seasons

Tangierine Café

Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival kiosks

Traveler’s Café

UK Beer Cart

Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

Disney's Hollywood Studios July 15

Attractions

Alien Swirling Saucers

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Muppet*Vision 3D

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Slinky Dog Dash

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™

Toy Story Mania!

Vacation Fun (at Mickey Shorts Theater)

Walt Disney Presents

Entertainment

Character Cavalcades throughout the day, with favorite Disney friends appearing along Hollywood Boulevard—including:

Disney Junior Stars Motorcade

Mickey & Friends Motorcade

Pixar Motorcade

Shopping

Celebrity 5 & 10

Crossroads of the World

Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities

Droid Depot Experience

Droid Depot Store

In Character

Legends of Hollywood

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Mickey’s Of Hollywood

Movieland Memorabilia

Once Upon A Time

Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind

Rock Around The Shop

Rubio Arts

Strollers & Wheelchairs

Tatooine Traders

The Market

Tower Hotel Gifts

Toy Story Mania Shop

Restaurant

50’s Prime Time Café

Anaheim Produce

Backlot Express

BaseLine Tap House

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

The Hollywood Brown Derby

The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano

Milk Stand

Oga’s Cantina at the Walt Disney World Resort

Peevy’s Polar Pipeline

PizzeRizzo

Ronto Roasters

Rosie’s All-American Café

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

Sunshine Day Bar

The Trolley Car Café

Disney’s Animal Kingdom July 11

Attractions

Affection Section

Avatar Flight of Passage

DINOSAUR

Discovery Island Trails

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Festival of the Lion King

Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail

It’s Tough to be a Bug!

Kali River Rapids

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Maharajah Trail

Na’vi River Journey

The Animation Experience at Conservation Station

The Oasis Exhibits

TriceraTop Spin

Wilderness Explorers

Wildlife Express

Entertainment

Character Cruises throughout the day, with Guest-favorite Disney friends appearing in boats around Discovery River—including the following:

Discovery River Character Cruise

Discovery Island Drummers

Donald’s Dino Boat Bash!

Mickey & Friends Flotilla

Shopping

Africa Hub Cart

African Heritage Wood Carving

Baby Care

Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures

Discovery Trading Company

Garden Gate Gifts & Strollers

Kilimanjaro Safari Cart

Mandala Gifts

Mombasa Marketplace

Out Of The Wild

Serka Zong Bazaar

The Dino Institute Shop

Windtraders

Restaurant

Anandapur Ice Cream Truck

Creature Comforts

Dawa Bar

Dino-Bite Snacks

Flame Tree Barbecue

Harambe Fruit Market

Isle of Java

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Mr. Kamal’s

Nomad Lounge

Pongu Pongu

Rainforest Cafe® at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Restaurantosaurus

Satu’li Canteen

Tamu Tamu Refreshments

Thirsty River Bar & Trek Snacks

Tiffins Restaurant

Trilo-Bites

Yak & Yeti™ Local Food Cafes

Yak & Yeti™ Restaurant

Resorts

July 10th:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

July 29th:

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

August 12th:

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

August 24th:

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts

September 21st:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

October 1st:

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

October 14th:

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Currently, no date provided:

Disney’s All-Stars Resorts

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Riverside

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (non-DVC)

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Dateline Disney: Big Day for Disney's Future

Today as the Disney owned stores open at Disney Springs we learned exactly when everything else will open. In fact, I sat in on the Orange County Governments meeting to vote on the opening which was unanimous.

The moment the vote was cast.

So when will everything open let's take a look. Just keep in mind the parks will be opening with reduced capacity and many new restrictions in place including temperature checks and requiring masks. Let's hope we can find an end to this virus in the next 12 to 18 months so we can get all the parks back to normal soon.

The Magic Kingdom - Saturday, July 11

Disney's Animal Kingdom - Saturday, July 11

EPCOT - Wednesday, July 15

Disney's Hollywood Studios - Wednesday, July 15

Disney Vacation Club Resorts and Fort Wilderness - Monday, June 22

Disney World Resorts - Saturday, July 11

Dateline Disney: Hamilton An American Musical to be released on Disney+ in July

Disney announced today that Hamilton An American Musical will debut July 3rd. Just in time for Independence Day. This is the filmed version of the original Broadway cast that was supposed to be released in theaters next October. The Original cast includes Leslie Odem Jr., Daveed Diggs, and staring the Creator of Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda. It's safe to say this is one positive outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic. This musical is a great offering for Disney to have and one that I hope finds it's way into Disney Parks in some shape or form in the future.

Dateline Disney: Horizons Week Extended.

So this week has been very crazy for me, including starting a new job. So yesterday and today's post have been missing. So Horizons week is being extended to two weeks. But to still get a post out everyday our 60 Days of Disneyween will come out everyday. Thanks for your patience and look forward to some great Horizons posts.

Dateline Disney: Toy Story Land

So we all know by now that Toy Story Land was announced at D23 last month for the Hollywood Studios. What we don't know are many facts about what when and where. So lets look at what we know so far. Lets start with What. We know that it will be themed to look like Andy's Backyard. We are getting two new attractions Slinky Dogs Roller Coaster and Alien Flying Saucers that as far as I can tell are a double set of tea cup rides. We are also getting a second track for Toy Story Midway Mania to try and get that wait time down below a 3 day wait. So that leads us to where. It's all taking place on the right hand side of the park with Midway Mania being on the lands far left hand side. So this means no more sound stages in the Studios. Also with Animation and the Back Lot closed and if the rumors are true Little Mermaid and One Mans Dream Closing this month we can Guess the Entrance would start right off the hub. And then we get to When. Well we don't know they didn't give us any idea. But if i had to guess it will go like this. both Star Wars and Toy Story will start construction around the same time. However Star Wars will begin with construction in back stage areas leaving the left hand side of the park untouched to guest till Toy Story is done as to not impact the park to bad. I would say from groundbreaking till open Toy Story should not take more then a year and a few months. Well that's all opinion we'll just have to wait and see.

Dateline Disney: Star Wars Land

The tag line to this article should be " Complete Merger of my childhood" or "I can die happy now" or "Just take my money now". All three of those would work great cause this is kind of a big deal. This past weekend at D23 it was announced that both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios would be getting the Largest park expansion in history Star Wars Land. Not many facts are out yet but we know that we are getting two brand new areas themed to new locations in the Star Wars Universe. We can look forward to drinking blue milk as there will be a cantina. We will get to ride in the Millennium Falcon all though how is still unclear, hopefully some new ride tech and not the crutch of video projection that they have relied on with two many new attractions. And we will meet all sorts of new creatures and old faces as we travel these new areas. I for one and very excited though a little worried to see what will be lost to this expansion. We know Thunder Ranch is going away which is sad i liked that little area but i understand the need. Will Indianan Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular be gone at Studios also it's been a rumor as long as Star Wars Land has been one over  a decade ago. Time will tell but you can bet I'll cover it here at Manifesting the Magic so stay tuned.

Dateline Disney: 2015 Disney Legend Inductees

The Manifesting the Magic Blog would like to take a moment to recognize the Disney Legend Class of 2015. Thanks for your commitment to excellence and making the Disney name ever stronger.

George Bodenheimer, Administration & Television

Andreas Deja, Animation

Johnny Depp, Film & Parks and Resorts

Eyvind Earle, Animation Blue ribbon

Danny Elfman, Music

George Lucas, Film & Parks and Resorts

Susan Lucci, Television

Julie Reihm Casaletto, Parks and Resorts

Carson Van Osten, Consumer Products

Dateline Disney: Jungle Skipper Canteen

A brand new place to dine at the kingdom was just confirmed at D23. The Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen .  Opening later this year you can enjoy some "World Famous Jungle Cuisine."
Taking over the old Adventureland Veranda this new dining destination will have themed rooms and the servers will be dressed as skippers of the jungle cruise, Look forward to hearing more about this new location as the details come out.