Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Adds Second Nightly Performance #106

Animal Kingdom’s new evening show, Rivers of Light, is proving to be a favorite among guests. Walt Disney World has responded to the popularity of Rivers of Light by adding a second nightly performance.
Starting this Saturday, March 11,Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be offered twice a night on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. On March 11th, an 8:30pm show has been added to the schedule. Daylight savings time takes effect the following day and show times will be 8:45pm and 10:00pm on the selected dates. Park hours on these nights have been extended until 9:30PM.

Disney Raises the Dining Plan Prices for 2017 #103

Following along with the other price increases we have seen across the boards in regards to the Walt Disney World Resort, Disney has increased the Dining Plan Prices for 2017.
Prices are effective immediately, and are priced as follows:
Quick Service Dining Plan per guest per night of your stay:
Adults- $48.19     Child- $20.88

‘Standard’ Dining Plan, per guest, per night of your stay:

Adults- $69.35     Child – $24.95

Deluxe Dining Plan, per guest, per night of your stay:

Adults -$106.68    Child- $38.75

I believe these prices are pricing rates for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Family vacation prices.

I would like to thank ChipandCo and Disney Parks Blog for this info.
So the next time you visit, bring your credit cards or extra cash to dish out for dining.

Summer of Heroes bring new Marvel Experiences to Disneyland Resort #102

With the conversion of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure into theGuardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout attraction, we were bound to see some new Guardians of the Galaxy attractions/interactions/experiences coming to Disney California Adventure theme park.

Inside the Magic has given us an inside look into what we can expect to see during the Summer of Heroes at Disneyland Resort:
If you are hoping to meet some new Marvel characters at the parks, then you won’t be disappointed. You’ll have the chance to meet Black Widow when you participate in the Avengers Training Initiative during the Summer of Heroes, while year-round you will get a chance to meet with Groot, who will be meeting alongside fan favorites Spiderman and Captain America at Super Hero Encounters.
Guests will be able to participate in the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance-Off! year-round as well, which we imagine is highly entertaining!

I want to thank ChipandCo. For this info.

DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE'S DISNEY JR. LIVE STAGE SHOW TO CLOSE APRIL 9TH 2017 #101

It seems that the puppeteers who work the Disney Jr. Live on Stage show at Disney California Adventure Park are going to be without jobs after April 9th. The show, which is based on current popular Disney Jr. Characters and storylines has been puppet-centric now for 14 years, since it opened in 2003.
Disney claims the show at DCA will close in April, and while it will re-open at a later date, that the puppets will be replaced by “new technology”, leaving the 28 puppeteers out of a job. The Disney Jr. Live on Stage show at Walt Disney World currently has no plans to close.

While we have seen Disney close and renovate many other attractions and rides before, the puppeteers say this new move to remove the puppets from the show is personal, and based on their desire to join a local union. The LA Times reports that Disney’s decision to end the puppet show comes after a contentious two-year period during which the puppeteers joined a union, the American Guild of Variety Artists. The 2 years were full of negotiations and turmoil, with the guild filing two National Labor Relations Board complaints against Disney in 2015 alleging the company reduced work hours and took other retaliatory actions against 29 puppeteers after they signaled they could unionize. Ultimately, Disney and the union settled the matter, leading to back pay for the workers.
When asked to comment on the issue, Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Suzi Brown said in a statement: “We constantly evaluate our entertainment offerings and make changes to provide compelling reasons for our guests to visit time and time again.”  She also added that the puppeteers would be free to apply for new positions within the updated show, which she claims will be heavily based on technology, which will allow them to change it up more quickly when there is a new Disney Jr. trend or character on the horizon.

While the National Labor Relations Act states that it is illegal for an employer to fire or demote an employee in response to that worker exercising his or her right to unionize, the employer may change it’s branding, business models, procedures, etc., or even close an aspect of their business and alter it to something different instead; which is what the puppeteers claim Disney is doing to get around the NLRA.

I want to thank chipandco. For this story.