Avengerail debuts at Disney World

In preparation for the upcoming Marvel Studios film, The Avengers, the Avengerail recently debuted at Walt Disney World. Unlike the Tronorail, this one runs on the Magic Kingdom line. According to Inside the Magic, the Avengerail cannot run on the Epcot line for legal reasons, possibly licensing issues with Marvel character-based attractions inside a Disney park, since the Magic Kingdom line doesn't actually enter the Magic Kingdom.

Could this be what CEO Bob Iger was referring to a few weeks ago when he mentioned Marvel coming to Disney Parks?

Pretty cool, but wouldn't mind seeing something like this at the Disneyland Resort.

Here's a cool video from Inside the Magic:

Disney getting strict on FASTPASS

Touring Plans is reporting that WDW will be enforcing FASTPASS return times. Apparently, Cast Members have been informed to begin the enforcement March 7th. There is no word on if or when Disneyland may start this enforcement.

The new enforcement means you will no longer be able to return after the end of the hour-long return window, as was the unwritten rule in the past, although there will apparently be some buffer with 5 additional minutes at the beginning and 15 minutes at the end of the time.

So what does this mean for park-goers? Well, it simply means a little more planning will be involved in riding attractions. Gone are the days when you can run over to that popular attraction, get a Fastpass, and just come back later in the day.

Now, let's not forget that this has always been the rule concerning Fastpass return times, and it was even enforced early in the history of Fastpass. Disney has simply been lenient and accommodating to people's schedules and ability to return at their assigned times. But the time has now come when the rules need to be enforced again. With the future of pre-scheduled vacations with pre-scheduled ride times, the parks can no longer afford to let people return whenever they want.

While I do think it will take a little bit to get used to, especially for those who follow the guidebooks, which by the way have all been teaching the method of getting a pass early and returning later and therefore will all need to be rewritten, I do think it will help to keep Fastpasses for the more popular rides from "selling out" so fast. It will also help keep the Fastpass return lines more even, since they will actually be able to plan how many people return for a ride during a given hour. All in all, this will be a good thing for the parks and crowds, once everyone gets used to it.

The Magic, The Memories, and You

Courtesy of disboards.com, here is the premiere of "The Magic, The Memories, and You" on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom Park on January 18, 2011

Mickey's Christmas Party coming to DLR?

Al Lutz from Miceage recently reported what we have already suspected.  Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland Park was a huge success. A lot of local annual passholders were upset at the increased cost associated with the hard ticket party, especially with it being the only way to view the wildly popular Halloween Screams fireworks show.  But with the decreased crowds, especially on Main Street for the fireworks, where a lot of past traffic flow problems have occurred, Disney has shown that the party works.  Having gone to one of the parties this year myself, I can say that while of course the cost is an issue, it is worth it for the trick or treating, atmosphere, and the ability to see Halloween Screams without being trampled.

Which of course begs the question: How long until they bring Mickey's Christmas Party to Disneyland Park?  For the past 11 years, Disneyland has had the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks.  The past 16 years, they have had the Christmas Fantasy Parade.  Both have been free with admision to the park, including the snow on Main Street after the fireworks.  All hugely popular.

How hard would it be to create a hard ticket party including all these things.  I guarantee they would be as popular, if not more so, than the Halloween parties.  And let's not forget, Disney World has been having hard ticket Christmas parties at the Magic Kingdom for years involving pretty much all the things Disneyland has been giving away essentially for free: Fireworks, parade, snow on Main Street.  It was bound to happen, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see a ticketed Christmas Party at Disneyland Park next year.

Duffy the Disney Bear

Duffy the Disney Bear is Mickey's stuffed bear. Minnie gave him to Mickey before he left for a long voyage. Duffy first made an appearance in the US at WDW, but failed to meet disney's expectations. When he was brought to Tokyo and Hong Kong, he became a major hit, prompting Disney to try him out in the US once again. Duffy can now be found at Epcot in WDW and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim with an assortment of costumes in the spirit of Build-a-Bear. He also has his own meet-and-greet in each park. The bears are sure to be hit with kids in both resorts, and I'll probably snatch one up when I visit WDW in a month.

C-3PO to pilot Starspeeder 1000!!!

Tom Fitzgerald of Walt Disney Imagineering just announced that while Ace is supposed to be the pilot of the Starspeeder 1000, "by the time we actually take off, the droid sitting in the pilot's seat is none other than...C-3PO!"

Halloween Time at Disney Parks

Halloween is one of those holidays, along with Christmas, that people 
love to celebrate. A lot of people don't even know what the holiday 
represents, but they like the fun that comes with decorating, dressing 
up, and handing out and collecting candy.
Disney is no exception. This month they have been hosting Halloween 
Time at the parks including Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland Park
and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park.

At the parties, guests can dress up like on Halloween and go trick or 

treating in the park. My family attended one of these parties at Disneyland Park and 
absolutely loved it. We watched the Halloween Screams fireworks from a 
great spot right in front of the castle. It was awesome! There were 
characters everywhere to take pictures with, a lot of villains that 
don't normally make an appearance.

And just the idea of going trick or  treating in Disneyland made the night complete.

The one thing we were slightly concerned with was the costume choices
of some of the guests. The special event tickets specifically said the 
costumes must be appropriate. The question becomes: What is 
appropriate? One would assume that, Disneyland being what it is, a 
family park, it would not be appropriate to where a skimpy costume 
that barely covers anything. Yet we saw far too many Disney Princesses
with skirts so short their butts were hanging out and tops so low 
their chests were hanging out. With kids all around and 2 young boys 
with us, we were pretty appalled by some of the costumes. And cast 
members didn't seem to care.

Star Tours 2 update

The Disney Parks Blog recently released some pictures from April of 
2009 when presumably the preride video was recorded. The pictures show 
C-3PO and other Star Tours workers preparing the Starspeeder 1000 for 
the upcoming trip.

Anthony Daniels was brought in to perform the scenes as C-3PO

Disney has previously released information about the new backstory of 
the ride. It will take place between Episodes III and IV. With this 
new timeline, we get an older version of the Starspeeder, the 
Starspeeder 1000. Also, since it was Rex's first flight and was still 
getting used to his programming, we get a new pilot, Ace.

We've also learned of a new droid, Aly San San, voiced by Allison Janney, who will presumably be the new flight attendant droid in the preboard informational video.

The other big news is the the new ride will have 54 different 
variations. With different destinations, and different beginnings, 
middles, and ends, it will truely be a different ride every time.

And of course, just like everything nowadays, the new ride will be in 
3-D.

While I don't necessarily think the ride needs to be in 3-D, I love 
that there are multiple variations and destinations, and the new 
droids look awesome. I can't wait for Star Tours 2 to open and 
definately plan on being there for the opening at Disneyland.