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EPCOT – The Magic of Possibility?

26 August 2019 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I was planning to update my D23 Expo post with all the Parks, Experiences, and Products news announced on Sunday, August 25, but there ended up being SO much EPCOT news, it needed its own post. For those who were not following along on social media or at the Expo itself, there were about 13 new announcements or opening dates revealed yesterday, so it was a bit overwhelming to take it all in! In previous years, we have been given some exciting news, like New Fantasyland, Galaxy’s Edge, and Toy Story Land among others, but 13 things about ONE park alone is unprecedented! Let’s break down all the news with the official Disney releases – and I’ll add some commentary along the way – all images are in most cases concept art released by and copyright Disney, some were taken at the presentation at the Expo by Scott, who was there representing Zannaland, but the content is of course, still Disney’s images:

New EPCOT 2019 — Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is undergoing an historic transformation, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences. The park’s entrance will be transformed with a reimagined fountain, new pathways, and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway while paying homage to the origins of Epcot.

“Epcot will be unified with four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world
and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery.
These neighborhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation
that take guests to new destinations, where the real is made fantastic in a celebration of
curiosity, hands-on wonder and the magic of possibility.”

World Showcase

• World Showcase will continue to be a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and
traditions – infused with new magic.
• The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary
Poppins. Guests will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house,
then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where their adventure will begin.

So this was probably the most shocking and exciting of the announcements. Many had speculated what the last “to be revealed on Sunday” attraction poster would be, since most of us assumed one of the two would be Brazil, which was NOT announced at Expo at all. Whether it will be announced in the future remains to be seen. Maybe at the WDW 50th celebrations? Maybe in another 37 years? Anyway, the Mary Poppins announcements were suitably vague in classic Disney style. Will it be a dark ride? A show? An interactive walk-through experience? Nothing official has been announced except the above, so we’ll just have to wait and see. It is interesting to note that the images in the poster and concept art both seem to be referencing the NEW 2018 version of Mary Poppins…hmmm.

Additionally, as an EPCOT Center kid and purist, it is strange to me to see a fictional place represented in World Showcase, which was supposed to be a World’s Fair-esque sort of cultural exploration of other countries and their traditions, food, and shopping…but that time has long passed, especially with the addition of Frozen to Norway, and of course Remy is on his way to France as well. So, as Bob Chapek shared both at this Expo and 2017’s, they are making EPCOT into a place where families “can see their favorite Disney stories come to life”. And yes, I would love to say “But that’s not what EPCOT is all about,” but as we all know, it hasn’t been about what it was about in 1982, for a long, long time. I think what is so difficult for us, as EPCOT Center diehards, to let go of; we know EPCOT *could* have been updated and plussed and kept current throughout the past 35+ years. Disney had the technology, the wherewithal, and yes, the money, to keep the heart, the soul, and the vision of EPCOT Center alive. Sure, some things would have had to change over time, but the message and the hope for the future could still have been there, instead ripping bits and pieces out over the years, and making it so the story of Future World no longer made sense. And that’s why we were all on pins and needles with these announcements, because it could have been the final crushing blow for a park we still held out hope for, or it could’ve been an amazing salvation and promise for the future of EPCOT. And what we got was a kind of “hmmm, oookaaay?” So without being too much of a Debbie Downer about this overall theme/feel change to my beloved EPCOT Center, I am cautiously optimistic about this and other changes to the park…but let’s move on, there’s a lot left to share!

• In 2020, following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS” will
debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will
celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying them away
harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of
artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces,
custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers
and more.

I am hopeful for the new HarmoniUS show, but most excited for EPCOT Forever. I realize Disney didn’t HAVE to give us any tribute to anything from the original EPCOT, so I am very grateful that they are, and plan on crying non-stop and going to as many EPCOT Forever shows as I can get to. I AM excited for the updated technology that will no doubt be featured in HarmoniUS, and look forward to seeing what unfolds.

• In summer 2020, the France pavilion will offer even more for guests to discover,
including the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, where guests
will shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild
adventure. Summer 2020 will also see the debut of a delicious new restaurant in the
France pavilion, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options
featuring a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse.

I will admit, I’m very excited for the Remy ride. Mostly because I’ve seen clips of how cute it is in Disneyland Paris, and I’m not heading there any time soon. I realize I’m being totally hypocritical about bringing Disney IP’s into EPCOT, but again, it’s a lost cause at this point. I’m excited for the Creperie, and think this will make France have the MOST food offerings in any pavilion?? Chefs de France, Monsieur Paul, Les Halls, Artisans de Glace, and now the Creperie. Is there another pavilion with more than 5? Let me know if I’m forgetting any. I also hope they have something I can enjoy there as a recent convert to a vegan diet from vegetarian. But France isn’t exactly known for healthy options haha.

• Also in the France pavilion, the classic Impressions de France film will be joined by the
new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” debuting in January 2020 and directed by
Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as
time.

Excited for Don Hahn’s involvement, but NOT happy about any remote possibility of Impressions de France being edged out over time. I will be heartbroken if that happens, but I hope it sticks around for us EPCOT Center fangirls and boys.

• “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020 in the Canada
pavilion with new scenes and a new story.

I’m totally ok with this. The other 360° movies in World Showcase have never really stood the test of time because they always had people in them and really showed things which easily looked out of date, whereas Impressions de France was always more of an art piece, sure parts are outdated, but it’s a beautiful time-capsule, not a caricature.

• In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey
across the country, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital
format.

Again, I’m okay with this. SOOO much has changed in China since the early 80’s (or late 70’s when it was probably filmed – I know they updated it once but still). I’m excited to see the modern look at China mixed with the historical past and cultural aspects.

World Celebration
• World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect guests to one another and the
world around them.

Ok, first of all, I’m really not a fan of these new names. World implies, well, the World, like World Showcase, but not everything relates to the entire world like that, especially if it’s going to involve Disney animated feature characters, but I guess their definition of “world” can be interpreted in many ways, like “the magical worlds of Disney animation…”. Anyway, I dunno, Celebration just seems the most out of place of those names. Nature and Discovery I get. Maybe Celebration could’ve been lumped in to Discovery and that way keeping Imagination and Spaceship Earth in that group would’ve made more sense? More on Celebration later…

• The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey
transforms to reflect the power of storytelling to unite the human experience. New
narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that
define the story of humanity. Guests will follow a magical “story light” that brings the
entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties
the entire journey together.

So this is another curious update, because we can all agree that Spaceship Earth needs some TLC and major updates, however, what’s most beloved about it is that it retains many of its original scenes and concepts. So I think the destruction of any of those will be very sad, but if those areas can truly be “plussed” with updated technology or effects that BLEND with the existing scenes, and maybe update the ending which is pretty much non-existent, that would be good. I’m also okay with having a ‘guide’ because Disney has certainly done that and done it well before, however, I don’t think there needs to be any Disney IP or characters within the ride. We all know the stories that Disney movies have to tell, but I’d be fine (and interested in) an historical view of storytelling in general, and how that’s changed over time. So I’m again cautiously optimistic with this one.

• A new pavilion will be the perfect place for live events, and the home base for Epcot’s
signature festivals. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal
spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. This beautiful three-level structure will
have one of the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park, featuring a
plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.

Ok so this is concerning to me. I mentioned right when I saw this concept art, I said, “Hmm, looks like that top area will be prime dessert party real estate…” and yes, it looks amazing, and yes, I’d love to go up there and get sweeping views of whatever’s happening at EPCOT, or watch fireworks. But let’s be real here, look at the last 5 years, separate ticketed, upcharge events have been more and more prevalent and I’m SURE this was designed with that in mind. I mean, what do I know, but that’s what I think anyway. It just makes sense. I hope that I’m wrong, and everyone can enjoy this new green space with spectacular views, but it just seems a little toooo perfect given Disney’s upcharge event tendencies lately. Time will tell (which seems to be the mantra with all of these updates)

• As guests exit Spaceship Earth, they will discover a breathtaking new view of World
Showcase from Dreamers Point. World Celebration will also feature a new statue
celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural
environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises,
including a wishing tree in an enchanted forest and a story fountain celebrating the
power and music of iconic Disney storytelling.

Ok, I actually love the statue. I think perhaps it was put there to ensure that any naysayers of these new changes will be appeased by “Uncle Walt” but I’m still okay with that, true or not. I think there is a risk of people taking very weird photos if they are able to basically climb all over Walt (we all know no one reads the “do not climb” signs), but I just like the statue itself, the age of Walt they chose, his pose, etc. Does it belong in EPCOT? Probably not, because “Walt’s EPCOT” is not and never has been this EPCOT, but it IS created with his ideals in mind, so I get it. I like that it’s casual, a reminder that he was a real, human guy, with visions and dreams, like all of us.

As far as these other updates, I’m all about wishing trees and story fountains, y’all. That seems very EPCOT Center to me, both visually and description-wise. (Feels like it could’ve gone in an Imagination area but…)

• Epcot’s entrance plaza will be transformed with new experiences that connect guests
with the world around them, welcoming them with a reimagined fountain, new pathways
and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway. The design will pay homage to
the origins of Epcot.

Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” at Epcot will be the first attraction inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. (Disney)

World Nature
• World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance
of the natural world. It will include The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends
pavilions.
• Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” will be the first experience inspired by the hit
Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet
and play with magical, living water. The water will have a life of its own – just like
Moana’s friend, the ocean – and guests will learn about the importance of the natural
water cycle.
• The Land pavilion’s new film, “Awesome Planet,” which showcases the beauty, diversity
and dynamic story of the planet, will begin welcoming guests in January 2020.

I don’t have too much commentary on World Nature. It makes sense, it goes with the existing pavilions of The Land and Seas (with Nemo and Friends), and I think the Moana Journey of Water will be a nice addition, but again, I love any sort of water feature, and I think there are some great uses of technology that would work here, while sharing a conservation and ecological message as well. I’m hopeful, and excited.

World Discovery
• In World Discovery, stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come
to life.

This makes sense and works with the existing science/space theme that exists over on that side of things.

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase
pavilion at Epcot. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition
that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and
Xandar. Guests will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share –
until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the
cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney
Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the
action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.

This really speaks for itself, and all that’s left is for me to wonder how I will ever survive riding this attraction.

• An expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new restaurant Space 220 will be a
culinary experience featuring the celestial panorama of a space station, including
daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. Guests will board a special
elevator for a journey to a space station that is home to an incredible dining experience.
Along the way, viewports will give guests real-time perspective as they travel high above
the planet. Once they arrive, guests will enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in
views that are truly out of this world. Opening this winter, Space 220 will be operated by
the Patina Restaurant Group.

I’m excited for this. I hope it’ll be like a space version of the Good Turn, or Garden Grill restaurant. Very “vision of the future in a movie” kind of feel to it, and I like it.

• The PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In
this digital metropolis, guests will discover an interactive city bursting with games,
activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and beloved Disney
characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, guests
will have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the
world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by
Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.

I mean, anything is an improvement to Wonders of Life’s current state. This definitely has an early Communicore if they had the technology feel to it, and I’m totally okay with it (I hope it goes without saying that I realize me saying “I’m okay with it” is not to imply me not being okay with anything would have any effect at all on things, but simply sharing my opinions on each of the updates.)

Guests will be able to visualize these exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for
Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion.
They will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation,
energy and excitement driving the park’s future throughout this unprecedented period of
transformation.

While “Walt Disney Imagineering presents the EPCOT Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion” is perhaps the longest title we’ve gotten to date, I am excited for this space. I’m glad the Odyssey name is staying on that building, hopefully the exterior design will remain in all its 80’s glory, and I love a good preview center with models and concept art and all that good stuff. I anticipate spending a lot of time in here over the next few years.

And with that, we complete our EPCOT updates have drawn to a close. It’s a LOT right? Honestly, it took me writing all of this out to really process all of the info and digest the changes. It’s very easy to get excited by “NEW UPDATES FOR EPCOT” and not stop and realize what it means and how it fits into the overall feel and message of the park. So that’s what I tried to do here. My opinions are, as always, my own, and may differ greatly from yours. I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this news. What are you most excited about and what are you most worried about? If you don’t want to leave a comment here, feel free to track me down on instagram, twitter, facebook, youtube, my cell if you have it…haha I kid, but I’d love to hear from you and what you think. Thanks as always for reading, and for visiting Zannaland. <3 If you need to say goodbye to EPCOT Center, read my Love Letter to EPCOT, written in 2013, and updated today. Because we all need to remember.

D23 EXPO 2019 Announcements and News

23 August 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Well if nothing else, the D23 Expo always keeps us on our toes…or Disney in general does. Even though the 2019 D23 Expo doesn’t begin until today (Friday 8/23), and the Disney Parks & Resorts session isn’t happening until Sunday, Disney sent us a surprise update last night on twitter and the Disney Parks Blog with some Parks announcements. We will share them all below, and update this post throughout the Expo. So bookmark this or keep it up in a tab, and keep checking back for details as we get them – and add your comments, predictions and opinions below too!

DISNEY PARKS & RESORTS:

Disney Parks Pavilion at D23 Expo 2019

Disney Parks Pavilion D23 Expo 2019 — Disney Parks Pavilion at D23 Expo 2019

STAR WARS HOTEL –

We now have a name for the new “Star Wars Hotel” we heard about at the last Expo: “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship. Once onboard, guests will interact with characters and become active participants in stories that unfold around them on their galactic journey.” – Disney Parks Blog

This is a very interesting twist, and the rumored price-points of this unique experience were also shared on twitter earlier last week…coming in at a whopping $3300 for the required 2-night stay with a cabin for 5 running $7200 (pricing as seen on WDWNT.com fansite). Again, these prices are just rumors and may (and probably will) change when they are officially announced. The pricing is all-inclusive, but we aren’t sure what exactly that means at this point.

We’ll have more on this as our Zannaland correspondent gets a view at this display within the Expo show floor and after the Parks & Resorts presentation on Sunday!

EPCOT

Boy oh boy, EPCOT is such a valuable and precious place to so many (myself included), and the rumors and plans and conjecture on what will be changing are keeping all of us die-hard fans on the edge of our seat and probably creating a bit of an ulcer in some cases. The bottom line is, Disney could, at any moment, just change everything. Get rid of Imagination and Figment, change it all to IP attractions, all beer, all merch, all festivals all the time…We are of course hoping that that does NOT happen, and the promise 2 years ago of attention and refresh of EPCOT to some form of its former glory, gave us all hope. We have now been given some updates that keep that hope alive. The fact that we are now reverting to spelling it EPCOT makes my tiny 80’s heart sing!

EPCOT ATTRACTIONS POSTERS –

Some folks were granted access early to the D23 Expo show floor, and one Disney Twitter fan captured photos of all the new EPCOT attractions posters – there will be a couple revealed on Sunday but have a look now:

AMAZING, right? Which is your favorite?

MOANA WATER PAVILION –

Announced last night on the Parks Blog – “The reinvention of Epcot will include Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana,” will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.” If it’s one thing we love here at Zannaland, it’s Disney and water features, so this is very exciting and promising. We will share more as we learn it!

I’m also excited that we will get a new preview center at the Odyssey Pavilion (formerly the Odyssey restaurant and festival event space) so we can check on EPCOT’s coming soon projects and “…discover engaging and interactive exhibits that allow you to step inside the relentless innovation, energy and excitement and see some never-before-revealed details driving the future of Epcot all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.” I do love a good model, so can’t wait to see this in person! Read all the EPCOT updates here.

Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience at the Odyssey Pavilion

AVENGERS CAMPUS – DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE –

The Disney Parks Blog shared, “When guests visit Avengers Campus, they will become part of an interconnected, global story that spans from California to Paris to Hong Kong with the Avengers recruiting new extraordinary people to join them.” We’ll have more on this as we get updates!

DISNEY+:

Last night at D23 Expo, Ricky Strauss, president, Content & Marketing for Disney+ and Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts announced One Day at Disney, a spectacular collaboration between Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney’s new streaming service. The new, 224-page coffee table book and the documentary series will both arrive on December 3, highlighting the talented men and women who bring life to some of Disney’s most beloved stories.

On February 21 of this year, 76 unique photo shoots took place around the world, as Disney dispatched photographers to capture images of the employees and cast members who drive creativity and innovation at The Walt Disney Company. From Shanghai Disneyland and ESPN to Pixar and the set of Modern Family, these spectacular photographs—and the stories behind them—will be featured in the hardbound, collectible book, written by Bruce Steele, which is now available for pre-order.

On December 3, the same day the book arrives in stores, Disney+ will debut its new, 52-episode short-form series One Day at Disney, launching with a feature-length documentary. This exciting new series takes an in-depth look at the unique and surprising roles these men and women call their daily jobs. The series and documentary are from Endeavor Content’s Non-Scripted Division and executive produced by Michael Antinoro and David Chamberlin and produced by Victoria Chamlee.

Following the debut of the special, which features such talent as Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and legendary animator Eric Goldberg, more than 50 One Day at Disney shorts, ranging in length between 4 to 7 minutes long and each profiling a single remarkable person and their fascinating job, will debut each week.

Disney+ Programming Line-up –

Lucasfilm’s Untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi Series Starring Ewan McGregor
New Marvel Studios Series “Ms. Marvel,” “Moon Knight,” and “She-Hulk,”
New “Lizzie McGuire” Series Starring Hilary Duff,
“The Muppets” Short-form Series

The above series join the lineup of originals from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic that have been previously announced. We’re really excited for some of these and will have more updates and photos soon!

World Premiere Trailers Released for Launch Titles:

“The Mandalorian” – this looks very promising. I’m excited. see the trailer!
“Lady and the Tramp” – I seriously teared up just at the TRAILER, I can’t wait for this full movie!!
“Noelle”- um, this is ADORABLE and I can’t wait to watch it with my daughter (and the whole family)- see the trailer!
“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” – I will admit to having little to no interest in this but I was too old for the original and the new one is not for my age bracket anyway lol – see the trailer!
“The World According to Jeff Goldblum” – this needs NO explanation – see the trailer!
“Encore!” a reality series where high school theatre kids are now adults and re-create their musical performances. I swear I saw a show that did this same thing but can’t remember what it was now. Anyway, this is very much in my wheelhouse! – see the trailer!

Disney+ releases November 12, 2019 and you can learn more at DisneyPlus.com.

VLOG: A Quick Preview of Food & Wine 2019 (featuring Joey Fatone!)

18 August 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

We were able to check out this super quick preview of Epcot International’s Food and Wine Festival for 2019, and MAY have made a very special new friend! This preview was pretty brief because we also got to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, so we will DEFINITELY be back when the Food & Wine Festival begins on August 29. Subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss it!

Disclosure: Disney invited us out to this event, but these opinions are our own!

VLOG: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party AND Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way 2019

17 August 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

Last night was the very first night of 2019’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, and we got to check it out! As a bonus, we also got to check out the brand new add-on party, Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way. Let’s see what 2019 has to offer at these great events!

Disclosure: Disney invited us out to this event, but these opinions are our own!

VIDEO: Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular FULL SHOW

17 August 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

At this year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Disney debuted a brand new firework show, the Not So Spooky Spectacular! This is the full show, and more content from the Not So Scary party this year will be coming to our channel VERY soon, so be sure to subscribe so you never miss a thing.

VLOG: NBA Experience Grand Opening

12 August 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

The brand new NBA Experience opened at Disney Springs today in the space where Disney Quest used to be! Join us as we check out what exactly there is to do or not do there. And be prepared to see how humiliatingly bad I am at all things basketball related.

Disclosure: Disney invited us out to this event, but these opinions are our own!

VLOG: Haunted Mansion’s 50th Birthday

10 August 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

Disneyland Resort’s Haunted Mansion attraction turned 50 years old, but that doesn’t mean all the fun has to happen on the west coast! Let’s check out everything Magic Kingdom has to offer for the special occasion.

https://youtu.be/t9bMIgII54E

VLOG: Christmas in July at Disney!

25 July 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

We got to preview some of the amazing festivities and events taking place this holiday season at WDW! Join us as we look at some of the new snacks, merchandise, and more!

Disclosure: Disney hosted us for this event, but these opinions are our own!

Lion King Synergy to Protect the Pride in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

24 July 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

While our roving movie reviewer Christian may not have felt The Lion King2019 edition was worth spending your money on, Disney IS putting their money to good use with several initiatives sending money to where real-life lions need it the most and Protect the Pride. And while I will be the first to admit, Disney tends to go overboard with the merchandise and promotion of all of their films, in this case, it is actually doing good along with the usual profits.

Disney recently invited us out to see some of the in-park celebrations and programs they have coordinated with the July 19th release of The Lion King. They hosted us for a day in the park and treated us to lunch as we experienced some of these offerings. As always, my opinions and views are my own, and I am posting about these initiatives because animal conservation is something near and dear to my heart, as is Animal Kingdom in general (and I get a bit defensive when people don’t enjoy the park on its own!).

Protect the Pride

It’s hard to believe, but in the 25 years since The Lion King first came out, half the lion population has been lost, and only 20,000 remain. To counter these facts, Disney launched The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund in an effort to double the lion population by 2050.

But this isn’t a new effort for Disney – since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has directed up to $75 million ($13M to projects across Africa) to save wildlife and protect the planet. Disney has already donated more than $1.5 million to the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund and its partners. Now to celebrate the newest release of The Lion King, Disney is asking fans to help by taking part in The Lion King Celebration happening at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and The Lion King Protect the Pride campaign.

So How Can You Help?

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – For every guest who rides the Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida during opening week of The Lion King film (July 19 – 25, 2019), Disney Conservation Fund will donate $2 (up to $350,000) to the Wildlife Conservation Network in support of the Lion Recovery Fund’s efforts to help double the number of lions across Africa by 2050. (Theme park admission is required.)

Disney Stores & U.S Parks – 40,000 Special Edition The Lion King 2019 Simba and Nala plush lions are available for purchase at Disney stores across the globe. Each of the 40,000 plush represents one of the lions for which Disney and the Lion Recovery Fund are working to ensure a future. For each Special Edition lion sold, Disney will donate US $5 to the Wildlife Conservation Network in support of the Lion Recovery Fund and its local partners. Visit Disney.com/LionKingProtectThePride to learn more.

More Lion King Celebrations

The Lion King fun doesn’t end there. In addition to Protect the Pride, there are a lot of new offerings at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to help celebrate and really commemorate the spirit of The Lion King. The Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party (which is REALLY fun and I’m not usually a dance party kind of girl), photo opportunities featuring dimensional backgrounds (some you can see in this post), and “Rivers of Light: We Are One,” which is now reimagined with familiar animals from Disneynature films and classic moments from Disney animation. I have not personally seen the new show yet, but did love the original Rivers of Light when it first debuted.

Lion King Merchandise

A new Dooney & Bourke collection will be available at Mombasa Marketplace and Discovery Trading Company. The collection includes a satchel, crossbody and tote with a pattern featuring beloved characters such as Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa. These handbags are available now while supplies last.

And of course, those adorable Simba and Nala collectible plush where $5 goes toward saving lions:

The Lion King Scavenger Hunt

With the great success over in Epcot, there is a new hunt themed to, you guessed it, The Lion King. Characters from The Lion King are hidden around Harambe Village. We saw some on our visit and they are really cool but I won’t spoil their locations! Each time you spot one, add the corresponding sticker to your map. The map is available at the Outpost Shop, Discovery Trading Company, Island Mercantile, and Mombasa Marketplace for $6.99. Return your map to Mombasa Marketplace or The Outpost Shop by 9/28/19 or while supplies last for a “savanna surprise”. (which is actually a really cool hand-painted collectible!). If you just want to get the prize at the end, you can purchase the three for $6.99 a piece.

Lion King Snacks

There are some snack and drink options that will really make you roar. These special drinks and snacks will be available through the end of the summer. All of the images below are ©Disney (except the first one, obviously not up to Disney quality haha). Most all of these snacks are extremely sweet, so go prepared to experience an extreme sugar rush. Not pictured are Simba and Nala waffles from Tusker House for breakfast, and the SImba Cupcake from Pizzafari.

I’m shocked by this Simba Swirl of pineapple Dole Whip with coconut, watermelon, and strawberry syrup!
Shaved ice topped with watermelon and passion fruit-mango syrup.
Vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies and decorated with a chocolate tail and an image of Simba.
Lion King latte art from Joffrey’s Coffee
Chocolate soft-serve ice cream in a green cone with cookies and cream “dirt” crumbles, gummy worms, and a chocolate beetle — at the Anandapur Bus and Trilo-Bites.

Also recently added to Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the return of Animation Academy, which we all miss from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The “new” Disney’s Animation Experience is over in Rafiki’s Planet Watch, accessible by train from Harambe and a short walk from the station. This is now the only thing in the building, so you must wait for the next session to start before being let in to choose a seat and a clipboard with paper and pencil. The seating is very tight and cramped but if you’re lucky, they’ll let you spread out so you have a little elbow room.

During our session, we drew Simba and it was much “easier” (if that’s possible for a total non-drawer like myself) with some lines and the main face circle already printed on the paper. If you love to draw, and love to pet animals like goats and pigs and llamas, definitely head over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and stop by the petting zoo while you’re there.

Animation Experience Rafiki's Planet Watch — How’d we do?

All in all, I think this is a great example of Disney synergy used for good. Yes, there are new purses and snacks and even an extra ticketed event. [Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night – an after-hours progressive dining event where each course is themed to a different African animal, with amazing desserts, and the opportunity to enjoy a Virtual Reality experience with the resident lions from Kilamanjaro Safaris – for $125 per adult on select nights]. Despite all of that, Disney is also highlighting the importance of conservation of lions and all endangered animals. What these new offerings did was allow me to experience Animal Kingdom in a whole new way. This is always great for a jaded local who was there on opening day. If it helps Protect the Pride, all the better.

What about you? Will you experience any of these Lion King Celebration activities? If you can’t make it down for the summer, what’s a favorite memory you have from Animal Kingdom? I’d love to hear it!

Disclosure: As mentioned above, Disney invited us to this event. They provided admission to the park, lunch, and gift cards to purchase snacks. Again, my opinions are my own. I think it’s important to note that I have an annual pass. I have also paid on my own to dine at Tiffins many times. If I didn’t like something, you’d know. But I also have to assume, if you are reading this, you are probably a Disney parks fan too. Thanks for reading!

REVIEW: There’s a New King in Town

11 July 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

… Or is there?

Before I begin, I think it’s important I say that, like all of the most recent films produced by Disney, I wanted this to do well. I want nothing less than the next great film from the most successful media company there has ever been. That being said, these are my opinions.

To start this review, I actually want to digress into a quick anecdote. One of my favorite new modern bands is a group called Greta Van Fleet. They’re a rock band that sounds pretty similar to Led Zeppelin. However, to quite a lot of people – including one notably scathing review on Pitchfork – they’re just a cheap Zeppelin knock-off, mooching off the successful sound of Robert Plant and the like. I personally like the band, and didn’t really understand why these people had such a strong hatred for them. That is, until I saw 2019’s The Lion King.

There’s no need to worry about spoilers in this review, as this is, beat-for-beat, exactly the same movie that was released 25 years ago. Visually, it obviously does look very different (and we’ll get to that in a second), but at least 95% of the scenes in this are unchanged from the original, even going down to random establishing shots that could have been completely unique.

Can you feel the love tonight…?

THE LION KING – (Top to Bottom) Timon and Billy Eichner, Pumbaa and Seth Rogen and Zazu and John Oliver. Photo by Kwaku Alston. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Before we get much farther, it’ll be important to note that this review is much harsher than those I usually write. This movie made me mad that it exists. This is equally as much a review of The Lion King as it is a review of Disney’s presence in the modern box office. I can justify that because very little changed between this and the original, leaving very little to review – though I’ll go over what I can.

The vocal performances (acting-wise) feel very lazy. This is embarrassing, because this has got to be one of the most expensive casts for any movie outside of the MCU lately. Something about this movie makes the completely star-studded cast feel like a B-Team. This is not without exceptions though. Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen steal the show every time they’re on screen. But notable greats like James Earl Jones and Chiwitel Ejiofor feel like they delivered one pass on their lines and left the studio. Everyone else falls very flat.

Song-wise, I really can’t complain. The songs are good regardless of who’s singing them, and since the two leads double as Grammy-winning vocalists, it’s no surprise that they’re good. The songs are actually where I would have wished they’d stayed true to the original. The original soundtrack is fantastic, and the Broadway score only brings more life and material to it. I did enjoy the new Beyoncé track, I just thought it was oddly placed. And the lyric changes to Be Prepared weren’t really terrible, it was just weird that they chose to change that, but leave in the exact same shot of Simba walking past a spiderweb in the Elephant Graveyard.

… because I could not.

THE LION KING – Featuring the voices of JD McCrary as Young Simba, Billy Eichner as Timon and Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Disney’s “The Lion King” is directed by Jon Favreau. In theaters July 19, 2019. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The animation is something that will come up often in discussions about this film. I recently watched Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book for the first time, and it felt weird to me because of the juxtaposition between a human actor and uncanny valley animated creatures. The Lion King feels as weird somehow, without the use of a human actor.

I want to pause and say that while I have studied and practiced a bit of animation, I am by NO MEANS a professional. I didn’t care much for this movie, but I do give all the credit in the world to the incredible animation team. A lot of this movie does look absolutely amazing. I kept thinking that this would be a great demo reel for Samsung displays or something in the future. That being said, animators, please don’t kill me for the next section.

A lot of the problems I had with the vocal performances were that they were delivered as if it were a typical animated film. If you closed your eyes while watching this movie, I don’t think it would really feel out of place. The problem becomes introduced when the characters are hyper-realistic animals, which in the end, cannot convey complex emotion very well. The original Lion King works as an emotional experience (as do all hand-drawn films) because of how expressive the characters can be, even if they’re animals, or sometimes inanimate objects. When you take all of that facial expressiveness and cartoon performance out, it can be very difficult to connect.

Undoubtedly, people will feel emotions while watching this. Baby Simba is cute. Mufasa dying is sad. But that’s just the nature of animals themselves. I could have walked into the theater and been shown just a still-image of a baby lion, and still would have said, “Aw, cute”.

Long Live the King.

A FUTURE KING IS BORN – In Disney’s all-new “The Lion King,” Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. Featuring JD McCrary and Donald Glover as young Simba and Simba, “The Lion King” roars into U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019. ©2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

I really don’t understand why this was made the way it was, or who it’s for. Most of the audience watching this movie will remember the entire plot of the original, whether they grew up watching it, or just because it’s a big enough piece of pop culture to be ingrained in the minds of anyone who knows its name. So why, then, is it just exactly the same as the original?

My lasting impression was that it was just to make money off of people’s nostalgia, in the laziest (from an executive standpoint) way possible. The acting felt lazy and half-done. The screenplay was just copy/pasted by a temp. The score was legitimately just the original score with one or two new songs, which were moved to the credits.

There have been “live action” remakes in the past, and no, none have really been very good. But this one just feels like the most cruel of all. But they make them because they do make money. There definitely is an audience for these movies (whom I have not met). All I’ll say is that you vote with your wallet. Seven years ago, before it was even announced, I never thought I would be advising people against seeing a remake of one of my favorite Disney movies, but here we are.

Ultimately, this movie felt, to me, like a film-student’s final project. The animation is nice to look at, but it serves more as a weird gimmick than an entertaining movie. I could imagine myself scrolling through reddit and finding a post where someone re-animated The Lion King in Cinema 4D, and then it’s just the entirety of The Lion King (2019).