Disney Dream Girls 109 - Awakening Summer for Star Wars and Frozen

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show 109 for Sunday 29th May 2016. Whilst you read these notes, why not click on the audio player below.

 
On this show, our Walt Disney World princess, Jeanie Gallo, shares what she found out at the Awaken Summer Florida Residents Media Event. In these notes, we will particularly focus on the Galactic Firework Spectacular coming to Disney Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom at night and the additions plus changes to the Norway pavilion at EPCOT. Further information, such as the quoted ticket prices, are available on The Princess Papers.

At the event, Jeanie had the opportunity to chat with Michael Roddy (the show director). Funnily enough, he is a friend of Jeanie's so she was able to speak, at some length, to him about the new nighttime offering coming to DHS, which starts on 17th June 2016. 

Jeanie Gallo with Michael Roddy

From the wonderful description given, this sounds like it will be the place to be on an evening! With fireworks, pyrotechnics, lasers, buildings being cloaked and projections this sounds like something definitely from a galaxy far far away. Testing of the show has been a massive success and the team are very pleased with it and can't wait for you to be immersed in the Star Wars story. Even as a non Star Wars fan, I'm, anxious to see this as it sounds bigger and better than anything I have ever seen at Disney before! Further details are on the podcast.

Concept Art Released by Disney

Additionally, Jeanie was able to attend an 'over the wall tour' of the construction area that soon will become the new Frozen based attraction. 

Concept Art Released by Disney

Personally, I have been a little wary of the whole idea of the introduction of Anna and Elsa into Norway however Jeanie's description (from the tour and discussions with production leads on the project), says I shouldn't be worried. 

Norway Pavilion, EPCOT

Everything externally is a faithful reproduction of buildings in Norway - with the Frozen theme being contained to the internal elements of the meet and greet and the new attraction (that replaces Maelstrom). There will be a new gift shop, entitled The Wandering Reindeer, bathrooms and new exhibits in the Stave church also.

New bathrooms, Norway Pavilion, EPCOT

Something that has already begun is the nighttime offerings at Disney Animal Kingdom. Jeanie got the opportunity to talk to show producer Laura Offerdahl.

In addition to the parks attractions being open well into the evening (and I can't wait to ride Expedition Everest), Discovery Island will become alive with Carnivale, an exuberance of dance, live music and a celebration of the night. 

Expedition Everest - Photo Credit Disney World Website

The Animal Kingdoms' park icon is the Tree of Life and each evening it will come alive and retell four fables. In the time in between, watch the tree closely for the arrival of fireflies that will 'awaken' the carved animals in animated imagery. Jeanie can not praise this highly enough urging everyone to plan on spending a couple of hours there to enjoy it. 

Stage Area The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic

Sadly, the Rivers of Light show has no scheduled start date. In the meantime, you can go and see The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic, which soft opened on 27th May 2016. 

The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic - Photo Credit Disney World Website

On the show, we discuss the dining options available at Tusker House and Tiffins Restaurant, which both come with reserved seating. Both Jeanie and I have reservations so a full review will be forthcoming.   Take a listen to our podcast, show 109; it has all the details on the above and much much more. Listening is easy; you can press play on the audio player above of find us on either iTunes or any podcast catching app.  

We will be back next week with some more Disney theme park fun.

Ways to contact the show:
email info@disneydreamgirls.com
Twitter @disdreamgirls
Find our Facebook by www.facebook.com/DisneyDreamGirlsPodcast
Support the show financially by clicking on Patreon Page for Disney Dream Girls  
Also, find lots more blogs from our Princess Jeanie The Princess Papers

Disney Dream Girls 086 - Minxmas with a Frozen Bedtime Story From Dis After Dark

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, episode 86, which is the eleventh day of twelve special advent countdown podcasts. Today's show is brought to you by Craig Lucas from the Dis After Dark Podcast.




Minxmas is a daily advent podcast and each day a different podcasting team have contributed a show for us to share in way of a daily Disney delight. This will run right up to Christmas. 
Even better, we have a fabulous competition - the prize is going to be something you will want to win but I wont announce it till 1st January. To take part, listen carefully to every Minxmas because at the end of the shows we have included a small snippet of a Christmas song. Write down the title, when you have listened to all of Minxmas 2015, email your list of songs to info@disneydreamgirls.com and we will pick a winner. Closing date will be the 4th January 2016.  
Ways to contact the show:

Email us info@disneydreamgirls.com
Tweet us @DisDreamGirls
Find our Disney Dream Girls Facebook Page  

Support us by clicking on Patreon Page for Disney Dream Girls 

Show 055 - Disney News Show

Welcome to the show notes that accompany podcast number 055 that can be listened to be either subscribing in iTunes (click here), Stitcher Radio, using a podcast catching app or clicking on the link below. 

On the show, we talk about the upcoming D23 event in Anaheim, which is on Friday 14th til Sunday 16th August 2015. Sarah shares her top tips and strategies to be able to see the hot tickets. If you wish to plan your own schedule, why not visit to D23 website.

Next on our news agenda, was Shanghai Disneyland. The park opens in 2016 and there will be six themed lands, plus a Disneyland and Toy Story Hotel, a Disneytown and a Wishing Star Park.

Pirates Cove - Photo Credit Disney Parks Blog

Both Sarah and Michelle agreed it looked awesome and also discussed rumours that some of the attractions will be coming across to the USA parks. 

Then, Michelle shared details of a brand new tour available at Walt Disney World, Fort Wilderness Resort, called Walt's Wilderness. This five hour tour costs $109 and whilst it showcases many of the things to do at Fort Wilderness it also connects everything to stories about Walt.  

Tri-Circle-D Ranch - Photo Credit Disney Website

Breakfast - Photo Credit Disney Website

Frozen Meets at WDW

What about the Ice Palace Boutique? This is offered at DHS for children age 3-12 for a Frozen makeover. Starting at $19.95 to $240 plus tax, there are a range of packages available from an Olaf glittery hairstyle and t-shirt to the deluxe package which has make-up, nails, hair pieces, photo op, access to the Ice palace Café and reserved seating at the ‘For the first time in Forever” sing-along, and an Ana or Elsa costume. The show seating is for up to 6 guests, and the higher end packages include entry to the Ice Palace Café with snacks whilst they wait to meet and greet. Available til 7^th September.

Photo Credit Disney Website

Also, Sarah discussed the 60th celebrations that occurred at Disneyland and her disappointment over the event only being 18 minutes long. Despite waiting three hours, Michelle got a better view from 5000 miles away! But Sarah did win out as she got to spend the day in Disneyland with her lovely husband, Richard, as well as try one of the 100,000 free cupcakes Disney gave away.

Photo Credit Disney Parks Blog

Finally, we recently received news that we had won a Disney Podcast Award - yay! We have now won the best foreign show two years in a row. We would therefore, like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful listeners because without you we are just girls talking Disney!

Show 49 - The Introduction of the Jedi Tink

Welcome to the show notes to accompany show 49, where we welcome to the team the wonderful Sarah Woloski from Skywalking Through Neverland Podcast.

Sarah Woloski with cartoon drawn by our very own Ciarán

News highlights this week:

• WDW we have Frozen meet and greet and ride details plus Star Wars Weekends ends
• Disneyland Paris announces 'Project Sparkle'
• Disneyland 60^th celebrations continue with prize givings!

Walt Disney World

The 'Royal Sommerhus' is going to exit and showcase the cultural arts and crafts of Norway as well as be the meet and greet area for Anna and Elsa. The attraction, 'Frozen Ever After' will open in Spring 2016 (replacing Maelstrom). However, the new attraction will continue to utilise the track and boats but there will new new scenes, audio-animatronics, music etc. No news on the Norway movie at the end...

Photo Credit Disney Parks Blog

Star Wars weekends comes to an end and although neither Michelle or Sarah personally visited, Sarah interviewed and discussed this at length on her podcast (Skywalking Through Neverland Podcast) throughout May and June. Incidentally, visitors to the Rebel Hangar all seemed to agree it was a great success and if you remember from a previous news show, the themed food was delicious.

Disneyland Paris News

Ten attractions are to be up-levelled under 'Project Sparkle. These are:

1. Space Mountain: Mission 2 Opens mid July under phase 1, which sees a single rider line and phase 2 in 2017 will see new ride vehicles,
2. Videopolis,
3. “it’s a small world”,
4. Big Thunder Mountain, an approximate years closure promising “explosive surprise”
5. La Cabane des Robinson,
6. Peter Pan’s Flight, no mention of interactive queue but in Jan 2016 a 6 month programme will see improved lighting
7. Pirates of the Caribbean, Early 2017 sees the arrival of Jack Sparrow
8. Animagique,
9. Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic sees new scenes being added August 2016-2017 possibly one scene (dinotopia) may be Star Warsified
10. Star Tours still on version 1 but 2016 to 2017 sees a long closure 

Disneyland 60th

Have you seen the amazing bling in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure? What are your thoughts? The new parade and fireworks are sensational and infant there is so much to do both Sarah and I agreed, we didn't know where to look!

Photo Credit Disneyland Website

For more information on the Diamond Days promotion, visit https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/diamond-days-sweepstakes/

We will be back with the next podcast on Sunday 21st June 2015. 

Show 44 - DDG Doing The News

Michelle and Jayne chat through the news on this weeks podcast and below you can find some of the details discussed together with pictures. Remember, if you want to help us please leave an iTunes review for us.

First item in our news, was the announcement of some of the presentations that will be happening during D23 at Anaheim between 14th and 16th August 2015. 

The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, will kick off the Expo on Friday, August 14. Later that same day, The Walt Disney Studios will give fans a sneak peek at all the latest from Disney Animation and Pixar.  To accommodate more attendees, Disney is creating “Hall D23,” a new 7,500-seat venue located in Hall D of the Anaheim Convention Center, so that more guests than ever can see the presentations live and in person. Do you have plans to attend? Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price until June 30, 2015. Adult one-day adult admission is $67 but if you are a D23 member you will only pay $58. Multi-day tickets are also available. For more information, visit their website.

Now, lets move to Tokyo. The Disneyland Resort, which is operated by the Oriental Land Company, has announced major expansion to the parks.

Concept Art - Alice in Wonderland
Photo Credit - Disney Parks Blog

Concept Art - Beauty and the Beast
Photo Credit - Disney Parks Blog

Disney Sea is to get a Frozen-themed area and this will be part of a land based on Scandanavia. This area will make the resorts 8^th port. Disneyland Park will have an expansion to double the size of its Fantasyland with a new elements themed on Beauty and the Beast and Alice in Wonderland. Exciting times ahead!

The last piece of news we are sharing in this post, is Star Wars Weekends related.  Star Wars Dining Experience Announced has announced there is going to be a Rebel Hangar and it sounds like it is going to be the place to find shelter and good quality food and drink during Star Wars Weekends. Rumour has it, this lounge experience was once a place for all the cool rebel pilots, aliens and smugglers to kick back. This will take over part of the Backlot Express area at Disney Hollywood Studios and requires a reservation. 

Photo Credit - Disney Parks Blog

Above, you will see the Fruit and Cheese “Sabers” featuring Tillamook cheddar, Brie, goat cheese, pickled vegetables, crostini, cheddar crackers, blueberries, raspberries, honeydew melon, strawberry, olives and gherkins

Finally below, is the trio of Star Wars mini cupcakes, including Mini Darth Vader (chocolate-peanut butter), Mini Yoda (chocolate-hazelnut), and Mini Jabba the Hutt (salted caramel latte) served in the Han Solo Carbonite Souvenir Box. 

Photo Credit - Disney Parks Blog

Prices range from $5.49 and and $16.99 I gather there will not be any characters wandering around but it does add – you never know who might be dining there!

For more photos and Disney news, remember to like our Facebook page but until then, it is goodbye from us.