Parks and Resorts Archives - Page 77 of 137 - Uncle Walt's Insider
The newest stage production at Disney's Hyperion Theater. Photo by VillageTheatre [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia.

Les Misérables will replace Frozen at the Hyperion Theater

It was only a matter of time. ANAHEIM, CA -- The Hyperion Theater at Disney's California Adventure & Spa has struggled for years to find an audience. The current production, Frozen - Live at the Hyperion, has been running since approximately 1972 (oddly predating both the movie Frozen and the park it's in). And yet Frozen is deeply unpopular. Its showings are mostly empty, with only a few lost stragglers staying to watch the adventures of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Skippy the Wonder Lizard. So ... Read more
The Disneyland Band plays royalty-free music "Carefree" by Kevin MacLeod. Photo by Loren Javier [CC BY-ND 2.0] via Flickr.

Disney parks switching to royalty-free music

The cost of licensing Disney songs was just too high. BR'ER BANK, CA -- Disney parks will no longer feature Disney music. That's the word from Disney Parks and Resorts and Spas president Bob "Bob" Chapek. Apparently the Disney Company charges quite a bit to license its music, and "it's just cost-prohibitive to pay for it any more." Another source "Fortunately, there's an abundance of public domain, royalty-free generic music online," says Chapek. "You can hear it in almost every bad YouTube travelogue out there ... Read more
Donald's Boat at Disneyland. Photo by Tours Departing Daily [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0] via Flikr.

Donald’s Boat to offer shore excursions

Disney Cruise Line brings a little corporate synergy to Anaheim. DISNEYLAND, CA-- Donald's Boat, a watery attraction at Disneyland's Toontown, will soon offer extra-cost shore excursions for its guests! The Boat, which recently reentered service after sinking last year, has been struggling to attract passengers after the mishap. Disneyland is hopeful that adding extra options for its guests during their cruise will entice them to return. Lots of, um, limited options! In a joint venture with Disney Cruise Line announced yesterday, guests will soon have ... Read more
Steven Tyler, before and after finger reattachment surgery. Photo from reddit & @cabel via Twitter.

Disney history: three years since Steven Tyler’s finger was surgically reattached

Losing his finger was a real shocker. WALT DISNEY WORLD, FL -- This month marks the third anniversary of Steven Tyler having his ring finger surgically reattached! Each and every day Steven Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith shock thousands of guests as they are welcomed, by the band themselves, to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. (Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, as you may recall, was only built after the plans for a Newsies-based ride fell through.) And for ... Read more
The new Disney/Google WDW Virtual Marathon! Photo © 2019 Disney & Google Street View.

Disney, Google Street View announce first ever WDW Virtual Marathon

Finally, a marathon for the rest of us. WALT DISNEY WORLD, FL -- Disney excels in providing races and events for athletic fans, and even some for slightly-less-athletic fans. But there have been no events for the couch potatoes among us -- until now. RunDisney.com has announced its 2020 slate of races at the Walt Disney World Resort and Spa and Track Arena, and for the first time, there is a "Virtual WDW Marathon" available for non-runners! Guests at large "We are very excited ... Read more