Papi Chulo's BLOG

Talk of the Town :: German Tourist Arrested in Walt Disney World Bomb Threat

A German tourist was arrested and charged with making a false bomb threat while visiting Walt Disney World.

Jochen Naumann (of Leipzig, Germany) was going through the Magic Kingdom's security checkpoint on Sunday when he told a Disney employee that he had two bombs in his backpack. The Disney employee questioned the 37-year-old man and he repeated the bomb threat.

An Orange County sheriff's deputy had a bomb sniffing dog check Naumann's bag. No explosives were found in it.

Naumann claimed he was only kidding about the devices. He was arrested on the spot and charged with making a false report of a bomb. He was taken to the Orange County Jail. Bond was set at $10,000.

~Papi Chulo~

Magic Kingdom's The Haunted Mansion Full Ride-Through

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Vanessa Carlton Drops F-Bomb, Gets Removed From EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival "Beats and Eats" Concert Series

Vanessa Carlton was asked not to come back to perform at the Walt Disney World resort on Thursday, October 22 after she uttered profanity during her performance at EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival's "Beats and Eats" concert series.

Carlton dropped the F-word during her first and third sets on Thursday. She was asked to watch her language by officials after her first set. Carlton apologized and promised not to do it again. Apparently, she did it again.

Carlton was due to perform on Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23. A local band was asked to play in place of Carlton for Friday's performances.

~Papi Chulo~

D23 Expo :: "Imagineering Pixar for the Parks"

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D23 Expo :: "The Future of Disney Parks and Resorts"

~Papi Chulo~

Buzz Lightyear Returns to Earth After 15 Months in Space

TO INFINITY... AND BACK!

Buzz Lightyear returned from space on September 11, 2009 aboard the space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission. The toy Buzz Lightyear that was sent into space on May 31, 2008 posed in front of space shuttle Discovery on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.

Buzz will be welcomed back to earth with a ticker-tape parade with his International Space Station crewmates and former Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin on October 2, 2009 at the Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom.

~Papi Chulo~

D23 Expo :: Star Tours 2

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D23 Expo :: Fantasyland Expansion

~Papi Chulo~

D23 Expo Recap

The first annual D23 Expo was held over the weekend and so much wonderful news came out of that four-day event. Disney geeks are still talking about all the phenomenal new television, film and theme park projects Disney will be working on in the next couple of years. Let us recap all the major news coming from the Expo.

Disney kicked off the Expo with a special screening of 30 minutes from The Princess and the Frog. Anika Noni Rose also sang one of the film's songs. Also on Thursday, guests were allowed to see large-scale models of Disney's California Adventure's Carsland. A model for Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor was also out. The annual Disney Legend Awards were held as well.

On Friday it was announced that the Disney Cruise Lines will start taking trips to Alaska in 2011. Timothy Dalton was announced to voice a character in Toy Story 3. Guillermo del Toro's "Disney Double Dare You" was announced as a new line of family-friendly horror films. The Muppets arrived on stage to sing and announce the title of their latest film, The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! And Johnny Depp arrived as Jack Sparrow to announce the title of the fourth Pirates film. Coming to theaters during the Summer of 2011 will be Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Disney also announced that they would be remaking The Beatles' animated classic Yellow Submarine. Tim Burton will create a feature-length version of his short film Frankenweenie.

On Saturday, Disney announced their first Disneynature 3-D film Ocean World. Disney also announced that the leaked Fantasyland blueprints were real. The Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland will double in size by 2013. In 2012, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Adventure, a brand-new dark ride, will open. The Be Our Guest restaurant and Gaston's Tavern quick-service eatery, and Princess Aurora, Cinderella, Belle and Ariel meet-and-greets as well. In 2013, Dumbo's Circus and Pixie Hollow will open. Disney Parks also confirmed that Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios would receive a new version of Star Tours by 2011. The ride will be in 3-D.

On the final day of the Expo, Disney announced a new Winnie-the-Pooh film. Cars 2 was also confirmed. Ken (voiced by Michael Keaton) will join Barbie in Toy Story 3. Muppet Mobile Lab will return to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. It was also announced Disney's Hollywood Studios' Muppet Vision 3D will be updated to Disney Digital 3-D.

~Papi Chulo~

Disney Parks Unveil Princess Tiana, Announce Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!

Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose appeared at the 2009 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention in Tampa, FL on August 6, 2009 with the new Princess Tiana face character. Rose provides the voice of Disney's newest princess in The Princess and the Frog.

Starting October 26, Walt Disney World guests can see Princess Tiana in the colorful, jazz-filled live show Tiana's Showboat Jubilee! The same show will run in Disneyland starting November 6 to January 3, 2010.

Tiana's Showboat Jubilee! starts off as a Mardi Gras themed parade through the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. Guests will be led to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock. The festivities will move onto the Liberty Belle. Performers will sing and dance to songs from the film. The show will be performed 3-4 times daily.

Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the motion picture will also be available for meet and greets.

The Princess and the Frog opens in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on November 25, 2009. The film expands nationwide on December 11, 2009.

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Man Convicted of Battery for Groping Minnie Mouse

A 60-year-old grandfather was convicted of battery Tuesday after being accused of inappropriately touching Minnie Mouse at Walt Disney World on June 7, 2009 ... John Moyer wouldn't apologize for his actions ...

John Moyer: "I'm sorry they came up with the wrong verdict."

Brittney McGoldrick was on the job as Minnie Mouse in the Mickey's Toontown Fair section of the Magic Kingdom ... During a photo session, Moyer grabbed her breasts and rear end ...

Brittney McGoldrick: "I was doing everything I could to get his hands off my breasts. So, I did everything I could and pushed them down."

Moyer was arrested that day and charged with battery ... Disney threw him out of the park indefinitely ...

John Moyer said he was having fun with Minnie Mouse and she took it the wrong way ... A jury didn't think so ... Moyer has to serve six months supervised probation, community service and has to write a letter of apology to McGoldrick ...

John Moyer: "I am not guilty and I pray to Jehovah God that he has mercy on Ms. McGoldrick."

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Tyler Perry Takes Snubbed Philly Kids to Walt Disney World

Althea Wright started the non-profit organization Creative Steps ... The organization is geared to helping inner-city children be productive during the summer ...

Wright paid almost $2000 in membership fees so that the children could utilize the pool at the Valley Swim Club in Philadelphia, PA once a week through August ...

On June 29, 2009, 65 children of color were turned away from the swim club because of the color of their skin ... Shortly after the children arrived, they complained of racist remarks being said to them and they noticed that the white members were taking their children out of the pool ... The club revoked the organization's membership ...

Valley Swim Club President John Duesler said in a statement that there were "concerns for changing the complexion and atmosphere of the club motivated the Creative Steps Day Camp's suspended membership" ...

Tyler Perry heard the story and decided to take the children on an all-expense paid trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL ...

Tyler Perry: "I want all them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them."

Here is an image from @DisneyParks (Twitter) of Perry, the kids and the Fab Five ...

H/T: JR - On the Verge

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: New WDW Fantasyland Expansion Plans Reality? Or Just Fantasy?

Last week the interweb and Disney fan community went berserk when what appeared to be official blueprints of an expansion to the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland in the Walt Disney World Resort suddenly appeared on the net ...

The expansion blueprint pays emphasis on the north-eastern corridor of Fantasyland ... Fantasyland would be separated from the new area by castle wall ... Once you pass the wall you enter the new "Enchanted Forrest" area ... There will be special meet-and-greets, attractions and dining options ...

The blueprint calls for the moving of the popular Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction ... The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and the Mad Tea Party would be a part of this new area ... The blueprint also calls for the removal of Mickey's Toontown Fair (except for Goofy's Barnstormer) ...

Cinderella would receive her own area ... The map labels it "Cinderella Attraction" ... The area will most likely be a meet-and-greet area for the popular Disney princess ...

The plans also call for Princess Aurora to receive her own area as well ... The building will more than likely be a meet-and-greet similar to Cinderella's ...

Belle will receive an area as well ... It appears to be more expansive than Cinderella's or Aurora's ... The area will replicate Belle's small French town ... and the Beast's castle ... There will be what appears to be a quick-service restaurant called "Gaston's Tavern" ... a full-service restaurant called "Be Our Guest" ... as well as a Beauty and the Beast dark ride, meet-and-greet and shops ...

Ariel receives her own area as well ... The show building will house the Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction, a meet-and-greet and shops ...

Other parts of the expansion include Pixie Hollow (a meet-and-greet for Tinkerbell and her fairy friends), a Winnie-the-Pooh meet-and-greet in front of the attraction and a Dumbo area ... The Dumbo area will house two Dumbo the Flying Elephant attractions ...

Of course all of this is speculative ... Disney has not confirmed anything (including the blueprint's authenticity) ...

If they will announce anything it will be at the first D23 Expo in September ...

~Papi Chulo~

The Hall of Presidents Re-Opens at the Walt Disney World Resort

After closing nine months ago to undergo an in-depth refurbishment ... The Hall of Presidents in the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida officially reopens today ...

The Hall of Presidents brings together masterful storytelling, powerful imagery and cutting edge technology to draw theme park visitors in and entertain while educating ...

The first obvious change in the attraction is that the building received new signage outside the attraction ... as well as an updated name "The Hall of Presidents – A Celebration of Liberty's Leaders" ...

Once you enter the building, the pre-show area features new Presidential portraits and memorabilia ... It also features for the first time an area devoted to a display of First Lady dresses ... Currently there are dresses from Edith Roosevelt, Elizabeth Monroe and Nancy Reagan ...

The attraction's opening film is digitally projected and is narrated by actor Morgan Freeman ... The opening film showcases the presidents more this time around (rather than focusing on America's history) ...

After the first part of the film ... a spotlight shines on Abraham Lincoln sitting in a chair ... Lincoln rises and gives the Gettysburg Address ... Lincoln sits back down and the film and narrative continues with a focus on the struggles that all Presidents face ...

The curtain rises and all of the Presidents come into view ... The are introduced to the audience one at a time in the order of their presidency ...

Once the intros are over ... George Washington stands and addresses the audience ... This is the first time Washington has spoken in the attraction's history ... Washington reminds the audience of the importance of a sacred oath each President must take and uphold ...

Washington introduces President Barack Obama who repeats the Oath of Office and then gives a short speech which was written specifically for the attraction ...

Annual passholders were given a preview of the attraction this week ... and yesterday 1,000 immigrants were sworn in in front of Cinderella Castle and given a special preview of the attraction ...

Here is a clip from the naturalization ceremony ...

Here is a clip of President Obama recording his speech for the attraction ...

Here is a behind-the-scenes clip showcasing the President Barack Obama Audio-Animatronic ...

The Hall of Presidents runs continuously during park hours ...

~Papi Chulo~

FLASHBACK :: Captain EO

Do you remember Captain EO?

Captain EO was a 3-D film that debuted on September 12, 1986 at the Epcot theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort ... and September 18, 1986 at Disneyland's Tomorrowland ...

Captain EO was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, executive-produced by George Lucas and stars Michael Jackson ...

The 3-D film boasted high-tech (for its time) special effects that extended into the audience ... The effects were lasers, laser impacts, smoke effects and starfields that filled the theater ...

Captain EO included two songs ("We Are Here to Change the World" and "Another Part of Me") performed by Michael Jackson ...

Jackson starred as Captain EO ... The film followed Captain EO and his ragtag crew as they delivered a special gift to a wicked alien queen known as the Supreme Leader ... The Supreme Leader is played by Anjelica Houston ...

Captain EO closed at Epcot on July 6, 1994 ... and then on April 7, 1997 at Disneyland ...

Here is a peak back at yesterland ...

~Papi Chulo~

FLASHBACK :: Delta Dreamflight

Do you remember the Delta Dreamflight attraction located in the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland?

Delta Dreamflight opened on June 23, 1989 ... The attraction was located in the building currently occupied by Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin ...

Dreamflight was a pop-up book version of the history of flight ... The attraction included some Audio-Animatronics and projection effects ...

Passengers "boarded" omnimovers to travel through barnstormers, an M-130, Tokyo and Paris in the 1930s, the jet age and the future of air travel ...

Delta Air Lines ended its sponsorship of the attraction on December 31, 1995 ... From January 1, 1996 and June 4, 1996 the attraction was just known as Dreamflight ...

Here is a peak back at yesterland ...

~Papi Chulo~

FLASHBACK :: Disney-MGM Studios Entertainment

Do you remember the Disney-MGM Studios' daily entertainment offerings?

On January 7, 2008 the Disney-MGM Studios officially became Disney's Hollywood Studios ... The theme park recently celebrated its 20th anniversary ... Below is a peak at some of the Studios' beloved entertainment offerings from the past ...

Here is a peak back at yesterland ...

Sorcery in the Sky
Toy Story Parade
Aladdin's Royal Caravan

~Papi Chulo~

AI's Kris Allen is "Going to Disney World"

American Idol winner Kris Allen appears in a new commercial spewing the classic victory cliché ... "I'm going to Disney World!" ...

The ad is part of the promotion campaign for the Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction The American Idol Experience ...

In the ad ... Kris also sings the classic Disney song "When You Wish Upon a Star" ...

Here is the ad ...

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Obama Audio-Animatronic Debuts in July at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World's Hall of Presidents attraction is the only show that features Audio-Animatronic figures of all U.S. Presidents interacting with one another ... The stage show opened on October 1, 1971 in the Liberty Square section of the Magic Kingdom ...

The Hall of Presidents is currently going through a usual refurbishment in which President Barack Obama will be added to the show ... Another change being made is the addition of a speaking role for George Washington ...

An audio-animatronic has already been created ... President Obama supplied "not just his measurements" ... He also recorded a speech specifically for the attraction ... and a recitation of the oath of office ...

Barack Obama isn't the first living president to lend his voice to the Walt Disney World attraction ... George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also had speaking roles during their terms ...

But ... with the addition of the "Robobama" ... the attraction is receiving its biggest refurbishment since opening day ...

The attraction will have a new opening film (narrated by Morgan Freeman) ... Abraham Lincoln will address the address the audience and read his Gettysburg Address in its entirety ... George Washington will also address the audience for the first time ... Barack Obama will address the audience and read the oath of office ...

The Hall of Presidents reopens on July 1, 2009 ...

~Papi Chulo~

Disney Parks Plan Star Tours 2.0

Star Tours has been taking Disneyland Park and Walt Disney World Resort guests through the world of Star Wars for over two decades ... The Disney Parks are currently working on a major overhaul of the simulator attraction ...

The ride really hasn't been updated since it opened in 1987. It's not the total podracer reboot that was rumored a few years back, thank God. I'm hearing that it's essentially the same ride but updated. It sounds to me like they might be shooting the footage in 3D, but I'm not sure.

Our source reveals that the revamp will incorporate prequel characters (like Naboo citizens and Geonosians) along with many aliens from the original trilogy (Aqualish, Bith, Rodians, etc). In the action sequence, the Star Tours vehicle is now going to be chased by Boba Fett. C-3PO and R2-D2 are still the hosts, and Anthony Daniels will be recording his parts this week. Admiral Ackbar holographically communicates with the Star Tours vehicle. Right now they're shooting mostly green screen footage, as it is the middle part of the production timeline.

~Papi Chulo~