Marty, Author at Uncle Walt's Insider - Page 3 of 173
The new Fantasmic "fire dragon" effect at Disneyland. Photo courtesy CNN.

Disneyland adds amazing new fire effect to Fantasmic show

Burn, dragon, burn! Disney inferno... ANAHEIM, CA -- Guests viewing the Saturday evening performance of Disneyland's Fantasmic show were given a special treat: the addition of a new fire effect! During the Maleficent dragon scene, rather than just breathing fire, the dragon itself turned into a spectacular, menacing "fire dragon," composed of flames from head to tail! Guests report that the effect was stunning and very unexpected. (Several Cast Members said the same thing.) While the new fire effect is amazing, insiders tell ... Read more
One of the many barricades in the Reedy Creek Autonomous Zone. Photo by Michael Rivera [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia.

Top other powers the Reedy Creek Improvement District gave to Disney

Just what Florida wanted, Disney having more power. ORLANDO, FL - As you may have heard, the Florida Legislature has stripped Disney of its control of its local quasi-government entity, the Reedy Creek Improvement District. But before the change took place, the outgoing board members voted to give most of the board's authority directly to the Disney company (perhaps improperly). But there's more than arcane legal maneuverings going on, we've found. Apart from the usual building permits and other boring stuff like that, ... Read more
We know it's cheaper to retheme an existing attraction... but why exactly is Mirabelle having a river adventure? Photo © Disney.

“Mirabelle’s River Adventure” opens in the newly rethemed Colombia Pavilion

No more Mexico Pavilion! Does Colombia have churros? WALT DISNEY WORLD, FL -- The "Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros," a/k/a the Mexico boat ride with Donald Duck and those two other birds, is no more. And neither is Epcot's Mexico Pavilion. We've known that a change was coming, since we figured Disney would want to freshen up the ride with a more recent I.P. than ¡Saludos Amigos! We of course predicted a Guardians of the Galaxy overlay, but then they built ... Read more
Disney chefs who are (mostly) virus-free. Photo by Loren Javier [CC BY-ND 2.0] via Flickr.

New Florida law gives Governor power to select Mickey & other characters

It's not just the Reedy Creek board DeSantis can appoint. TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill today giving his office the ability to appoint board members to the Reedy Creek Improvement District, effectively stripping Disney of its self-governance and special tax breaks. But that's not all the bill does! It turns out that bill gives the governor's office the ability to appoint specific Cast Members to "work with"* various Disney characters. We're not sure why he wanted this ... Read more
For these riders, it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Photo © Disney via Tron Wiki.

Tron Lightcycle Run “derezzes” guests; opening delayed

We'll miss them. Some of them. MAGIC KINGDOM, FL -- Guests visiting the Shanghai Disney Resort, Spa, and Re-education Center have enjoyed the Tron Lightcycle Run attraction for decades [Ed.: decades?]. And while it may seem "old and busted" in Shanghai, it is the "new hotness" at the Magic Kingdom, which of course is in the heart of Florida at the newly re-dedicated Walt Disney World Resort, Spa, and De-programming center. However, the opening of the attraction has been delayed, due to ... Read more