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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Walt Disney World vs Disneyland)

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The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Disneyland vs Walt Disney World) Side by Side

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Disneyland vs Walt Disney World)
An attraction based on Winnie the Pooh dates back to 1977 and the “Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” Animated feature.  Imagineers made multiple attempts to bring pooh Bear to Disneyland – but Pooh Bear didn’t make the cut for Disneyland’s new fantasyland in 1983 or Mickey’s Toon town in 1993.  In fact, Roger Rabbit’s cartoon spin was based on a “spinnable” honey pot designed for a Winnie the Pooh attraction that never happened.
you can ride the many adventures of Winnie the pooh in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the attraction replaced Mr. Toad in Florida and Country Bears in California.  But you can still ride Mr. Toad in California and watch country bears in Florida.  Go it?  Good!
A resurgence in Pooh’s popularity in the mid-1990s, and the New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh animated series,  led to the development of a Winnie the Pooh attraction in Walt Disney Worlds magic kingdom.   The Many Adventure of Winnie the pooh would open in June of 1999, replacing the popular Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.  You can find a hidden Mr. Toad in the Walt Disney World Attraction, a framed photo of Mr Toad passing the dead for the building to Owl.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Disneyland vs Walt Disney World) Side by Side
Three years later in 2003, The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh would move into Disneyland’s new Critter Country, the renamed Bear Country.  Like it’s Walt Disney World cousin, you can find a reference to the Country Bears in the Disneyland version of The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh.  Directly behind you toward the end of the attraction, you can spot Max, Buff and Melvin on the wall, waiting for the next performance of Country Bears.
So while you can ride the many adventures of Winnie the pooh in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the attraction replaced Mr. Toad in Florida and Country Bears in California.  But you can still ride Mr. Toad in California and watch country bears in Florida.  Go it?  Good!
In this episode of SamsDisneyDiary we take a side-by-side ride on the Walt Disney World and Disneyland version of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh!  Which is better?  Let me know in the comments – and Thanks for Watching.
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Sam’s Disney News July 2021

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Sam’s Disney News July 2021

What’s Happening at Walt Disney World?   Here is your update for July 2021!
Fireworks are Back!!!   Both Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Epcot have restored the nighttime fireworks, with Happily Ever After returning to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot forever returning to Walt Disney World Epcot!  Covid-19 social distancing precautions have been relaxed, with attractions returning to full capacity – and Pre-Shows returning. Including Dinosaur, Mickey, and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, The Haunted Mansion and more! 
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Sam’s Disney News July 2021
Fireworks are Back!!!   Both Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Epcot have restored the nighttime fireworks, with Happily Ever After returning to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot forever returning to Walt Disney World Epcot!  Covid-19 social distancing precautions have been relaxed, with attractions returning to full capacity – and Pre-Shows returning. Including Dinosaur, Mickey, and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, The Haunted Mansion and more!    In California, Mickey’s Mix Magic returns to Disneyland to light up the night, celebrating Mickey and Minnie.
Additional dining offerings have opened at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It’s a long list at Disneyland, including Tiki Juice Bar, Alien Pizza Planet, Ogas Cantina, Docking Bay 7,  The hungry Bear, Refreshment Corner, Corn Dog Castle, and Trader Sams at the Disneyland Hotel.  Disney World Offerings include Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean beach, Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village, The Tusker House at Animal Kingdom, and the New BoardWalk Ice Cream Shop on the boardwalk.  Starting July 15th, guests can dine “underneath the lovely London Sky” in the newly reimagined Citricos at Disney Grand Floridian  Resort & Spa. The garden setting, inspired by Mary Poppins Returns, will be surrounded by the glow of decorative lamps and chandeliers.  Booking is available NOW! Trail’s end is reopening at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, and at Magic Kingdom, Casey’s Corner and the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor are set to open on July 7.  Along with Dino Diner and Eight Spoon Café at Animal Kingdom.  Disney Springs also announced that Salt & Straw, a popular location at Downtown Disney in California, is coming to Disney Springs next year.  Stay Tuned for more on that.
Sam’s Disney News July 2021
Disney announced additional details for the World’s Most Magical Celebration. The 18-month long event Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort starts on October, 1 2021. “Disney Enchantment,” a new nighttime spectacular, will kick off the celebration at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, Taking us on an adventure of wonder and empowerment, inspiring everyone to believe in magic.  The new show will bring immersive projections effects that extend from cinderellas castle down Mainstreet USA.  Over at Epcot, HarmonioUS will take center stage, the largest nighttime speculator ever created for a Disney park.  The show will bring the globe together at World Showcase Lagoon with a celebration of Disney Music.  A tribute to the stories and songs that unite us, embracing new technical magic that incorporates pyrotechnics, choreographed moving fountains, lighting and media in new ways. “HarmonioUS” will invite you to travel the globe through new interpretations of classic Disney songs as you’ve never heard them before, reimagined in more than a dozen languages by a diverse group of 240 artists from around the world.
October, 1st will also see new daytime entertainment at Animal Kingdom. “Disney KiteTails,” at the Discovery River Amphitheater.  Performers will fly windcatchers and kites of all shapes and sizes, with elaborate three-dimensional kites along the water depicting Disney animal friends, including Simba, Zazu, Baloo and King Louie.  The Kites will dance through the sky to the beat of favorite Disney songs in an uplifting, vibrant experience for the whole family.
Sam’s Disney News July 2021
Mickey and Minnie, our hosts for the 50th Anniversary celebratioin, will be joined by their pals Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, along with Chip ‘n’ Dale, all sporting their own custom-made EARidescent looks beginning October 1.  They will also be taking part in an all new “Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade” several times a day.
The celebration will also feature Disney Fab 50, 50 characters sculptures that will be displayed across all four theme parks along with surprising ways you’ll be able to interact with these beautiful sculptures as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
The end of the 2021 Epcot Flower and Garden festival, July 7, brings the opening of the 2021 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival just a few days later.  Beginning July 15 and lasting a incredible 129 days.  The Food and Wine Festival will feature Global Marketplaces with international flavors, including dishes from Hawai’i, Australia, Germany, Canada and Greece, along with some new spicy, savory and sweet plates.  Additional marketplaces will be added to Morocco and the American Adventure in July with even more added this Fall.
Over at the Magic Kingdom, Un Poco Loco a new musical number based on Disney and Pixar’s Coco will be added the Mickey’s Philharmagic.  The new addition will make its debut at Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Paris on July 17.  The new scene will be part of the 50th anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World.
Sam’s Disney News July 2021
We got a first look at the redesigned guest rooms at Disney’s Contempary Resort. All nine floors in the main building are being refurbished with a “dash” of the incrediables.  The new rooms blend a monorail motif with some favorite characters from the Incredibles, including Jack-Jack, Frozone, and Edna Mode. The resort’s lobby restaurant, The Wave… of American Flavors, is also scheduled to be refurbished before the 50th anniversary.  While Disney hasn’t confirmed anything just yet, it feels like the perfect place for an “Incrediable Steakhouse”
A new Baby Giraffe joins last month’s baby zebra on the Killamingello Safair over at Animal Kingdom.
Not to be left out, Disney Cruise Lines announced more Holiday Cheer than ever coming in the Fall of 2022.  The all-new “Halloween on the High Seas” and the “Very Merrytime Cruise” along with the first fall sailing on the all-new Disney-wish.
If you’re an attraction fan like me, don’t miss the premier of the New Original Disney+ Series Behind the Attraction.  The 10 part series dives into the amazing history of our favorate Disney attractions with never before seen footage and photographs directly form the Disney archives, including interviews with Walt.  Speaking of imagination, this month Disney introduced the Disney Imagination Campus designed to inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and doers  for more details visit disneycampus.com
Oh and Happy Birthday Donald Duck!!!  Who celebrated his 86th birthday with Make-A-wish Kid Sasha – You’re the best, Donald.
All that and more, this time on Sam’s Disney News

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Walt Disney World – The Hall of Presidents (a brief history)

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A brief history of Walt Disney’s Hall of Presidents

A brief history of Walt Disney’s Hall of Presidents
“One Nation Under God”.  That was the original idea for what would become Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents.  The original concept would have been an addition to Disneyland’s Main Street USA.  Library Street would have featured Edison Square and The Hall of Presidents, as seen on 1958 Disneyland park maps.   The original concept was wax figures of all the US Presidents, which lead to the idea of animating the models.  Those thoughts and beliefs lead to the first Audio-Animatronic figure in human form: Abraham Lincoln.That figure was the most advanced ever produced and featured in the Illinois Pavilion at the 1964 world’s fair.  The attraction relocated to Disneyland as Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and guests can still experience an updated version of that original.
With Walt Disney World’s construction in 1971, technology had advanced enough to complete Walt’s Original vision of the “Hall of Presidents.”  The plans from Disneylands Liberty Street and Edison Square were revised and reworked to become The Magic Kingdoms Liberty Square.  The original Hall of presidents featured all US Presidents through Richard Nixon, the sitting President when Walt Disney World Opened in 1971.
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A brief history of Walt Disney’s Hall of Presidents
The show remained unchanged, focused on the early history of the United States for 22 years.  In 1993 the show was completely updated and focused on more current issues.  In addition, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush were addicted to the Presidential lineup, bringing us up to date.  Since then, the Hall of Presidents has been updated for each new administration.  In 2001 George W Bush was added, and in 2009 Barack Obama lent his voice to the attraction recording a short speech and reciting the Oath of office of the Presiden to the United States.  The 2009 version also included an extensive update to the lighting and projection systems, the original Abraham Lincoln speech was restored, and George Washington became the third speaking President.  In 2017 Donald Trump was added, reciting the Oath of Office and a short speech.
This edition of SamsDisneyDiary features the 2017-2021 version of the attraction.  Presented for Historical reference, if history serves correctly, the Hall of presidents should see a scheduled refurbishment sometime in late January 2021 and reopen in time for the 4th of July 2021 with a new President.  But, the Covid-19 Pandemic has us living in uncertain times; either way, look for The Hall of Presidents to be on the refurbishment list at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom soon.  The refurb is a standard procedure and nothing out of the ordinary, though I’m sure we will see some attention-grabbing headlines “Hall of Presidents Closes.”  Be sure to subscribe to SamsDisneyDiary and we will have the latest updates as soon as possible.

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ALL NEW! Must Do Disney Resort TV (July 2021) No More Stacey?

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Must Do Disney July 2021

You made it, You’re here at the Walt Disney World Resort.  And if you like me, the first think you do is turn on that resort TV and tune to the Must Do Disney Channel.   The channel looks a lot different these days, in fact, completely different.   This is how the channel looks in July 2021.  Welcome to Walt Disney World Resort.
You made it, You’re here at the Walt Disney World Resort. And if you like me, the first think you do is turn on that resort TV and tune to the Must Do Disney Channel. The channel looks a lot different these days, in fact, completely different. This is how the channel looks in July 2021. Welcome to Walt Disney World Resort.
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‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration’ Begins Oct. 1 at Walt Disney World Resort

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New nighttime spectaculars, EARidescent moments and other surprises await guests during 18-month 50th anniversary event LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (June

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Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular (Star Wars Fireworks 2017)

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Star Wars Fireworks at Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular

Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular was a nighttime show at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios that debuted in 2016.  Based on the Star Wars franchise, the spectacular featured fireworks, projection mapping, fire, lasers, fog effects, searchlights, and more.  The Hollywood Studios Chinese theater is the background for the projections along with some surrounding buildings.  As the show evolved and the Star Wars franchise grew, the show was quietly updated with scenes from Rogue One, the Last Jedi, Solo, and The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular was a nighttime show at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios that debuted in 2016. Based on the Star Wars franchise, the spectacular featured fireworks, projection mapping, fire, lasers, fog effects, searchlights, and more.
The show begins with a brief narrated prologue of the 1977 premiere of Star Wars at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. The main show is divided into segments dedicated to battles, heroes, creatures, romance, and villains.
The dramatic opening shot from A New Hope begins the sequence showing various battle scenes from Takodana, Hoth, Jakku, the Death Star, and Starkiller Base.
The next segment, dedicated to the series’ heroes, features Rey, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and the Millennium Falcon escape scenes.  Three brief segments follow; a cantina segment dedicated to the creatures and aliens, a segment devoted to the Force with Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a romance segment with Han Solo, Leia Organa, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala.
A darker sequence follows, recreating the fiery lightsaber battle between Anakin and Kenobi on Mustafar. The scene segues into a segment dedicated to the series’s villains, including Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Palpatine, Supreme Leader Snoke, and Kylo Ren. The trench run attacks on the Death Star and Starkiller Base, Paying off as the finale sequence. The show concludes with a montage of all nine original Star Wars film poster art collaged across the Chinese Theater.
This version of Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is from 2017.  Thanks for watching, subscribe for more.
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