Tag: Special Stuff

Ten ?Bizarre? Things You Never Knew You Could Do at Disney World

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 28, 2020

When people come up with their absolute “must do” activities at Disney World, most travelers think of things like riding Space Mountain, watching the fireworks, and enjoying a delicious Dole Whip.

Dole Whip from Marketplace Snacks in Disney Springs

But in addition to these fan-favorite attractions and activities, there’s an entire world of unique and perhaps a bit bizarre things you can do at Disney World! Follow along for 10 of the best!

Mail a coconut!

Why mail any old postcard to your friends and family back home when you can mail them a COCONUT!?

Coconut Postcard

You can purchase a painted coconut (postage comes included!) from Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar by Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom, BouTiki at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Calypso Trading Post at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. They’ll ship anywhere in the US!

Face coffee and beer

Personalized merchandise is one of the more popular souvenirs you can scoop up at Disney World. Getting your name embroidered on a pair of Mickey ears is one thing, but you can get personalized latte art designs at several Joffrey’s Coffee locations throughout Disney World!

Latte Art Sign

Most Latte Art locations offer classic designs like Mickey, but a select few locations offer WAY more variety!

Joffrey’s Reopened

Ripples is an app that lets you pick your favorite logos and designs for your foamy beverage! This also includes the ability to add an image of your very own FACE! Yes, you can get a Latte Selfie on your coffee!

Our Adorable Cast Member and Her Latte Selfie!

Aside from your morning cup of joe, we also recently discovered you can get a special design (as well as your very own FACE!) on beer, too!

Face Beer!

Next time you’re at Disney Springs, stop by Raglan Road Irish Pub to print your face on your next round of beer!

Get a silhouette of your pet on Main Street

Folks might know that you can get silhouette portraits of yourself and your family at the silhouette portrait cart in Magic Kingdom. But did you know you can also get one done of your PET!?

Mary Poppins Character Silhouettes

Just bring a photo of your furry friend and the artist can add them to your family’s collection of portraits! There are multiple carts around Disney World (that can sometimes be less busy than the Main Street location). Head to Liberty Square, the France Pavilion in Epcot, or to Disney Springs to find additional silhouette carts!

Purchase Shaq’s shoe!

There are tons of unique, one-of-a-kind merchandise items you can find throughout Disney World. For sports fanatics, you may want to stop into the NBA Experience in Disney Springs next time you visit for the opportunity to ‘score’ some special sports memorabilia!

NBA Experience Store

You can purchase Shaquille O’Neal’s size 22 “Shaq Attaq” sneaker, SIGNED, for $900! Or, you can get a basketball signed by Michael Jordan for the low entry price of $3,000!

Go fishing along the waterways of Disney World!

Disney World is home to tons of recreational activities for you and your family to enjoy outside of the theme parks! Non-park days are a great way to recharge and explore everything else that Disney World has to offer!

Port Orleans

One activity you can take part in is fishing! Guided catch-and-release fishing excursions are offered on several waterways around the resort, including Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, Village Lake, Crescent Lake, and even World Showcase Lagoon!

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Resort

If you don’t have time to head out on a boat, you can rent a casting rod and fish dockside at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside.

Go scuba diving

If fishing doesn’t fit your style and you’re looking for a little bit more adventure, why not swim WITH the fish? You can go scuba diving at The Seas in EPCOT!

Hidden Mickey in Epcot

This three-hour class includes 40 minutes in the water, as well as a backstage tour of the aquarium where you’ll learn all about how the team at EPCOT cares for their animals!

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

You must be scuba certified before enrolling in this experience.

Get a haircut

Next time you need to get a trim, wait until you’re on vacation and you can get your hair cut at Disney World! Harmony Barber Shop is located on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom and offers appointments for kids AND adults!

Harmony Barbershop ©Disney

Lots of folks may know about kiddos getting their “first haircut” at Disney World, but adults can get their hair cut there, too! Kid haircuts start at $18, and adult haircuts start at $19. Be sure to get some added pixie dust!

Indulge in a manicure & pedicure

If you’re seeking the ultimate relaxation in Disney World, why not get a manicure and pedicure? Several Disney World Resort hotels have full-service spas that are open to anyone, not just guests at that particular resort.

©Disney

In addition to nail salons, you can get massages, facials, and a wide variety of hair services, too! Indulge in ultimate bliss and escape the hustle and bustle of the theme parks by booking a spa package! Call (407)WDW-SPAS to book any services.

(But note, if you’re looking for true luxury, we’d highly recommend using the spa services at the Four Seasons Resort on property in Walt Disney World. Disney World’s spas are OK, but pretty standard fare.)

Take surfing lessons

Ever wanted to learn how to surf? You can do so at Disney World! Surf lessons are available at Typhoon Lagoon on select mornings. Learn how to hang ten from a professional surfer!

Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool ©Disney

Surf lessons cost $199 per person and include a light breakfast and a photo!

Decorate a Christmas tree all year round!

Our next bizarre thing you can do at Disney World can be found at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square. Every morning, the first child in the shop gets to decorate one of the Christmas trees in the store with the ornaments available in the store.

Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

The decorator’s name is then added to the tree so everyone who goes into the shop that day can see who decorated the tree! If you’re craving the holiday spirit all year round, you can get your fill in Magic Kingdom!

We hope this list gave you some ideas on how to make your next trip to Disney World truly unique! Everyone knows about the four theme parks, but there are TONS of off-the-beaten-path activities that could add that extra bit of magic to your vacation that you should totally take advantage of! If you want to look for even more ideas, check out our video here:

How many of these activities have you taken part in at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Featured, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, Boutiki, Calypso Trading Post, caribbean beach, disney springs, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Epcot, face beer, harmony barber shop, Joffrey’s, Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea, latte selfie, Liberty Square, magic kingdom, main street u.s.a., NBA Experience, Pirates of the Caribbean, Polynesian, Raglan Road, scuba diving, senses spa, silhouette portrait, surf lessons, the seas, typhoon lagoon, Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

Disney Movies Disney Rumors & Gossip Other

Did You Know THIS School Has Cranked Out Dozens of Disney SUPERSTARS?

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 16, 2020

For many, working for Disney is a lifelong dream, and fans around the world look at the most successful Disney icons and wonder how they got their start!

You may be surprised to know that a trove of Disney directors, animators, and yes, even LEGENDS, all went to the same college! It’s no coincidence that California Institute of the Arts, or CalArts, happens to be an unofficial hotspot for Disney talent! Today we’re taking a peek at the place that started the careers of so many Disney superstars — and checking out some hidden Disney details.

Why are there so many successful CalArts alumni working at Disney?

CalArts, which is located in Valencia, California, was actually founded by Walt and Roy Disney back in 1961. Back then, it was a merger between two art schools in the area and became an official college in 1970. Walt’s vision was to create a school where emerging artists could hone their craft in a “community of the arts.” Walt wanted the school to be built around real-world experience as opposed to the traditional academic setting.

From left to right: Donn Tatum, Card Walker, Harrison “Buzz” Price, John Kelsey, Thornton Ladd with Walt Disney © CalArts

Since the college opened, it has been a hotbed for producing talented artists across multiple disciplines. But many know CalArts to be one of the best ways to get a foot in the door at Disney. The school quickly became known as “Mickey Mouse U.” for its outpouring of Disney elites. Its close proximity to the Disney headquarters in Burbank and Glendale also helped!

You may have seen a nod to this influential school from its alumni in a HUGE number of projects — both Disney-related and not! Ever heard of the A113 easter egg? This tradition became popular among CalArts grads to hide the term A113 in television and film productions as a nod to the graphic design and animation classroom that all of these grads went through at CalArts.

Believe it or not, you can find mentions of A113 in movies ranging from The Princess and the Frog to Avengers: Endgame and beyond! It’s in hundreds of movies and TV shows! The room number is quite popular in Pixar films and is even hidden in Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! (Hint: it’s near Woody’s Lunch Box!)

Some of CalArt’s most notable alumni

While there are countless names on the list of CalArts alumni who have gone on to have successful careers with Disney (too many to include in just one post!), there are a select few who have truly stood out and become icons in the film industry at large. Some of these alumni have even gone on to become Disney legends!

Tim Burton

Many Disney fans know the work of Tim Burton very well! Although most of his work has been outside of Disney, his work as the producer of The Nightmare Before Christmas remains to this day a revolutionary feat in stop-motion animation! But his career with Disney spans much further than one film!

Tim Burton © Disney

Burton was scouted out by Disney when the animated short he worked on while at CalArts, Stalk of the Celery Monster, caught their attention. He was offered an apprenticeship at Disney where he worked on Fox and the Hound, TRON, and The Black Cauldron. This was followed up with a stop-motion animated short Vincent, which brought Burton’s unique style front and center.

Screengrab from the animated short “Vincent”

His first full-length feature film with Disney, Frankenweenie (no, not the animated 2012 film he ALSO made with Disney — this was a different 1984 version!), actually resulted in him getting fired from the Company as the film was considered too dark and scary for children. Even when Burton returned to Disney to produce The Nightmare Before Christmas, it was produced under Disney-owned Touchstone Pictures due to its darker nature.

Frankenweenie © Disney

Burton has continued to have a working relationship with Disney to this day, which has included that animated re-make of Frankenweenie in 2012!

Glen Keane

Glen Keane graduated from CalArts in 1974 and started working for Disney that same year. Since then, he has gone on to work on classic Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Tarzan, and, more recently, Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph. He was inaugurated as a Disney Legend at the 2013 D23 Expo.

Fun fact — did you know Glen Keane has art in his blood? His dad was Bil Keane — the creator of the Family Circus comic strip — which Glenn’s brother, Jeff, still creates. Glen’s daughter Claire also got involved in filmmaking. You know all those whimsical paintings and drawings Rapunzel creates in Tangled? Those were her artwork!

Joe Ranft

Joe Ranft joined Disney in 1980 and worked in their animation department for over a decade. He worked on films such as Oliver and Company, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. In 1991, Ranft was hired by Pixar as their head of story. He worked on every single film produced by Pixar until his untimely death in 2005.

Joe Ranft © Disney

Like many other creative contributors at Pixar, he got involved in other elements of the films he helped create. In this case, Joe enjoyed contributing as a voice actor! You might recognize his voice as Wheezy in the Toy Story films or Heimlich in A Bug’s Life (“Oooh! A little butterfly!!”). He even voiced a character in another CalArt’s grad’s production — he was the voice of Igor in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Brad Bird

Brad Bird is a multi-talented filmmaker who was actually awarded a scholarship by Disney to attend CalArts. After graduating he began working for Disney, but he was ultimately fired for criticizing upper management for not taking enough risks.

Years later he was hired by Steve Jobs to work at Pixar. His biggest accomplishments include two Academy Awards for The Incredibles and Ratatouille.

Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof at the D23 Expo in 2013 © Disney

He also went on to create a couple of notable live-action films including one of the Mission: Impossible movies and the 2015 Disney film Tomorrowland. He also serves as part of the “Brain Trust” at Pixar of creatives who oversee all their films AND he’s lent his voice to a famous character you might not realize was him — Edna Mode from The Incredibles (“NO CAPES!”).

Danny Elfman

You may not know who this next guy is from looks alone but we guarantee you’ve heard him. He’s responsible for over 100 film and television scores including The Simpsons theme, the score for Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Batman, and so much more. He attended CalArts at the same time as Tim Burton…well, kind of.

Danny Elfman © Disney

While Danny Elfman technically never officially enrolled as a student at CalArts, he started sitting in classes and befriended a number of students, including Tim Burton. Ever since, Burton has used him as the primary composer for most of his films, including The Nightmare Before Christmas. Elfman was also the singing voice of Jack Skellington in the film! He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2015.

Even MORE Successful CalArts Alumni

There are way too many alumni to list who have gone on to have successful careers with Disney. But this list should give you an idea of the long-standing reputation of CalArts to produce some of Disney’s best and brightest artists.

School of Art – Graphic Design

Amanda Lui (BFA 14), graphic designer, Walt Disney Imagineering

School of Film – Character Animation

Mark Andrews (BFA 93), animation writer-director (Brave) — Academy Award

Chris Buck (78), animation writer-director (Frozen) — Academy Award

Brenda Chapman (BFA 87), animation writer-director (Brave, The Prince of Egypt, The Lion King) — Academy Award

©Disney

Pete Docter (BFA 90), animation writer-director (Inside Out, Up, Monsters, Inc.), Pixar Brain Trust — 2 Academy Awards

Ralph Eggleston (86), animation writer-director (For the Birds), production designer (Inside Out, WALL·E) — Academy Award

Mike Giaimo (78), animation art director (Frozen, Pocahontas)

Jennifer Hager (BFA 05), animation supervisor (Zootopia)

Don Hall (BFA 95), animation director (Big Hero 6) — Academy Award

Minkyu Lee (BFA 09), visual development artist (Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph), writer-director (Adam and Dog)

©Disney

Rob Minkoff (83), animation and live-action director (The Lion King, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, The Forbidden Kingdom)

Rich Moore (BFA 87), animation director (Zootopia, Wreck-It Ralph, Futurama) — 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, Academy Award nomination

John Musker (77), animation writer-director (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog) — Academy Award nomination

Shane Prigmore (99), character designer and visual development artist (The Lego Movie, The Croods, How to Train Your Dragon, Coraline), VP of Creative Affairs, Disney Television Animation

Alonso Ramirez Ramos (BFA 10), character designer, storyboard artist (Gravity Falls, Mickey Mouse) — 2 Primetime Emmy Awards

Peter Sohn (BFA 99), story animation director (The Good Dinosaur), voice actor

Andrew Stanton (BFA 87), story animation and live-action writer-director (Finding Nemo, WALL·E, Finding Dory), Pixar Brain Trust — 2 Academy Awards

Genndy Tartakovsky (cer. 92), story animation writer-director (Hotel Transylvania), creator of Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars — 3 Primetime Emmy Awards, Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award

Gary Trousdale (82), story animation writer-director (Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Kirk Wise (cer. 85), story animation writer-director (Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

School of Film – Experimental Animation

Henry Selick (MFA 77), stop-motion animation director (Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas) — Academy Award nomination

Jack and Sally Meet and Greet

School of Theater – Performance

Michael Jung (MFA 94), director, VP of Theatrical Development, Walt Disney Imagineering

Paul Reubens (73), screen actor, creator of Pee-wee Herman and Pee-wee’s Playhouse — 3 Primetime Emmy nominations, also the voice of R3X on the original Star Tours and DJ R3X in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!)

DJ R3X at his new home in Galaxy’s Edge!

When it comes to a career at Disney, there are MANY ways to get your foot in the door! The school was created specifically to produce well-rounded artists — just like what Disney is looking for in its hires! It’s clear that many of the students that make it through the programs at CalArts are primed to go on to careers with Disney. Saying you attended the school Walt Disney had a hand in creating certainly helps!

Are you a Disney history buff? How many of these CalArts alumni did you know about? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Entertainment, Featured, History, Special Stuff, brad bird, CalArts, California Institute of the Arts, danny elfman, disney legend, glen keane, joe ranft, Pixar, Tim Burton, Walt Disney

Tags brad bird, CalArts, California Institute of the Arts, danny elfman, Disney Entertainment, disney legend, Featured, glen keane, history, joe ranft, pixar, Special Stuff, Tim Burton, Walt Disney

Disney Lists

6 CRAZY RARE Things You Can See in Disney World (And When You Can Spot Them)!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 13, 2020

Disney World is definitely the Most Magical Place on Earth — at least we think so! While the parks already sprinkle pixie dust on your vacation regularly, they’ll even go the EXTRA mile with a few surprises!

Festival of Fantasy Parade

Although you might be able to meet Mickey or watch the Festival of Fantasy parade on a normal basis, there are a few rare things that happen in Disney World that most people don’t get the chance to see…unless you know where (and when!) to look!

But, we’re giving YOU all the details, so you can keep an eye out for these uncommon sights the next time you’re in the parks!

No Strings Attached Pass (AKA a Pinocchio Pass)

You may have received a “Multiple Experiences” FastPass in Disney World if a ride you’re waiting for breaks down, but the “No Strings Attached” Pass, otherwise known as a Pinocchio Pass is like the HOLY GRAIL of passes. This golden ticket can get you anything from a free FastPass to a snack item and even some new merchandise!

Pinocchio Pass

Unfortunately, though, Pinocchio Passes are usually given out when something goes wrong during your trip (so don’t expect to be able to ask a Cast Member for one whenever you like!). If a Cast Member wants to add some extra magic to your day to try and fix a problem, you might be given one of these to rectify a problem. It’s a really wonderful way to brighten your day, especially since unexpected things happen on vacations all the time.

Rainy Day Cavalcades

Florida gets a LOT of rain, so there’s bound to be more than a few days when the weather gets in the way of outdoor entertainment in Disney World. While fireworks might be canceled altogether if the weather prevents them, there is actually a version of the parades meant for these kinds of circumstances! Although the parks will usually delay the parades first to see if the rain will subside, the “normal” parades may be canceled if the floats or costumes could be damaged.

Minnie Mouse in the Rainy Day Cavalcade!

They’ll send out a Rainy Day Cavalcade instead so you can still spot your favorite characters! Recently at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, we witnessed a cavalcade in the rain where the pirates carried mops! So, basically, it was the cutest thing ever!! And, we’ve seen Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party showcase a few characters in their holiday best, waving to guests on Main Street from a trolley.

It might not be the parade you were expecting, but it still is so much fun to watch!!

Rain-Check Voucher

Speaking of rain, sometimes Disney has to make a few changes to their own schedules due to unforeseen circumstances. During one of the last Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events we attended, it was VERY rainy — like raining cats and dogs, you guys. Even though we had a great time, it did affect the party’s entertainment, attractions, and characters.

Magic Kingdom Rain Check Voucher

When we were leaving, we received a “rain-check voucher” as a way of making up for the major changes the rain caused during the party. It basically stated that we would automatically receive a 1-day Disney Park ticket OR we could call Disney to have our ticket switched to another Magic Kingdom hard ticketed event in the future.

Magic Kingdom Rain Check Voucher

Pretty neat, right?? BUT, there wasn’t much of a notification about this! A lot of guests left the park without realizing that they received a “rain-check voucher.” So, you’ll want to ask at guest relations if your event gets rained out or check your My Disney Experience app to see if a voucher has turned up.

An Empty Disney World

With all the wonderful Cast and Crew Members, along with the crowds of guests visiting the parks, it’s pretty hard to imagine an empty Disney World. Although it’s rare, it DOES happen from time to time! Here are a few ways you can possible experience a (mostly) empty Disney park.

Kiss Goodnight

If you stick around after the fireworks to let the crowds thin out before leaving, you may get a chance to see the “Kiss Goodnight” show that the Magic Kingdom puts on. The castle puts on a brief light show with music and a sweet announcement that the park has closed for the day.

Main Street, U.S.A. at the End of the Night

During this time, the park is usually mostly empty (so it’s perfect for those Nighttime Magic Shots in front of the castle without anyone around).

Passholder Previews

Sometimes when there is an Annual Passholder preview for a new land, there’s a limited amount of people that are allowed in that section of the park. When Pandora opened early for Passholder previews in 2017, we just WALKED ON to Flight of Passage without a huge line (unheard of nowadays!!).

Pandora

Plus, we practically had no wait to get a Pongu Lumpia and a Night Blossom to go along with it at Pongu Pongu.

After-Hours Events

The After-Hours events are also a GREAT way to take advantage of MUCH shorter lines, exclusive entertainment, and fewer people in the parks! There aren’t as many people who attend these hard-ticketed events so you can see and do more things than you’d typically be able to during the day. The downside to this though — these events do cost a pretty penny, so if you’re interested, see if your budget can fit an After-Hours event.

Villains After Hours

Plus, who wouldn’t want to party with ALL THE VILLAINS or go on a late-night waterslide trip at Typhoon Lagoon with glow sticks??

Hurricane in Disney World

Even though it’s smack dab in the middle of hurricane central, did you know that Disney World is actually deemed one of the safest places to be during a hurricane in Florida? If you happen to visit the parks during hurricane season, you might need to know that your vacation could change in some weird ways (it helps to have some pro-survival tips!).

Oh no! It’s raining in the Magic Kingdom!

While the parks might be a lot emptier before possibly closing as a safety precaution, hotels even have specific set-ups for hurricanes. The resorts plan activities to keep guests of all ages entertained as they’re kept inside during the hurricane, and they’ll even typically bring out some fan-favorite characters to meet with guests!

Polynesian Village

And, in case you wonder what happens to the Disney Skyliner during a storm, the gondolas are taken off the lines and stored (so no gondolas swinging in the wind!).

Disney Skyliner Preparation for Dorian

The parks can close in an abundance of caution, but they try to reopen as quickly as safely possible. Visiting during a hurricane may not seem ideal, but it can be a very unique experience.

RARE Characters!

Don’t get us wrong, folks! We LOVE see classic characters like Mickey and Cinderella when we’re visiting Disney World. However, sometimes you can spot some SUPER RARE characters during your visit.

Character Palooza

Every once in a while, an unadvertised event can happen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios called Character Palooza! This is hard to pin down and can change locations and times each day, so it really is all about being in the right place at the right time! During this awesome meet-and-greet, upwards of 10 characters, usually the characters on the steamboat at the end of Fantasmic, will gather in this one spot to briefly meet guests!

Fantasmic!

Sometimes a smaller version of Character Palooza will even pop up at the International Gateway over in Epcot with Mickey and Minnie or even princesses and villains, if you’re lucky.

Holiday-Exclusive Characters

The holidays may be a great time to visit Disney World in general, but they also bring out some AWESOME character costumes that are only seen during these events! We’re not just talking about Halloween and Christmas — you can also spot them during the 4th of July, Easter, and more!

Mr. Easter Bunny and Mrs. Easter Bunny

Many of the characters will greet in the resorts or even special spots in the parks (like the American Adventure Pavilion for the 4th of July).

Unscheduled Character Appearances

Did you know that sometimes characters will even ride attractions inspired by their films?? It’s not super common to see it, but sometimes Alice or the Mad Hatter will hop on the Mad Tea Party, Cinderella or her stepsisters will wave to guests on Prince Charming Regal Carousel, and Aladdin or Jasmine will fly on the Magic Carpets.

Wanna Take a Carousel Ride With Drizella??

These special character rides happen on SUPER rare occasions but if you happen to be in the right spot at the right time, you could make a REALLY unique memory!

Even though you might not see these things very often in Disney World, they make for some pretty special memories if you have! Keep your eyes peeled when you’re navigating Disney World — you never know what unique experiences you might walk right into!

Have you seen any of these rare things in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney Entertainment, disney parks, disney resorts, Featured, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, after-hours event, annual passholder previews, character palooza, cinderella carriage, Disney, disney hurricane, disney news, Disney World, empty park, golden ticket, H2O Glow Nights, Hurricane, kiss goodnight, no strings attached pass, pinocchio pass, rain check voucher, rainy day cavalcade, rare characters, villains after hours

Disney Merch Disney Parks

Here’s What’s Happening With Disney World Pin Trading Right Now.

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 10, 2020

In recent weeks, we’ve seen how Disney World is changing LOADS about the theme parks and adapting to current state and national health standards. These changes are to keep their Cast Members and guests safe. One topic we’ve heard a LOT about from our readers has been the future of pin trading in Disney World.

French Quarter Pin Board

Pin trading is a close-contact activity between guests and Cast Members, so does this mean that pin trading as we know it will become a thing of the past at Disney World? Let’s take a look at what the concerns are surrounding pin trading and what might change moving forward.

Pin trading is serious business for many Disney fans and collectors. There are countless pins available at the parks and resorts for folks to purchase. Special events like Epcot’s festivals or the holiday season will often have a series of limited edition pins for guests to collect. In short, a lot of people LOVE collecting and trading pins.

2020 Magic Kingdom Pin

The act of pin trading typically involves a Cast Member wearing a lanyard or pouch covered in pins. The guest chooses which pin they would like, and then trades one of their pins in exchange. Some retail locations, front desks of resorts, and Guest Relations locations have pin boards or books from which guests can also select what they would like to trade for.

Galaxy’s Edge Lanyard with Pin

Disney understands the popularity of pin trading and collecting. It used to be that many pins, including limited edition ones, could only be purchased in the parks and resorts. Since Disney World and Disneyland closed their gates mid-March, specialty pins started to appear on shopDisney for folks to purchase.

Cinderella 70th Anniversary Pin

So, what is the main concern with pin trading in these current times? The act of trading pins means that you are touching an object that was just touched by someone else. If a Cast Member has a pin that was previously given to them by a different guest, and now YOU are touching that pin — there’s an obvious health and sanitation concern.

Caribbean Beach Pin Trading Board

In Disney Springs, one of the most common locations for pin trading is at World of Disney. When we spoke to Cast Members before the store reopened on May 27, we heard that there would most likely be some form of pin trading taking place, but modified from previous experiences.

World of Disney

Disney announced that several merchandise experiences would be modified as more retail locations reopen. When it comes to pin trading, Guests can continue to trade through pin boards in select locations. For the time being, to promote physical distancing, Cast Members will NOT be wearing lanyards with pins.

Disney’s Statement on Limited-Release Merchandise

At this time, it’s unclear how long these measures will continue once the parks reopen. The only constant at Disney World is change and protocols could be updated or altered at any moment. For now, we know that pin trading is not COMPLETELY gone, but our pin trading experience will look different from before the park closures.

Pin Trading Board

What remains to be seen is how pin trading will be monitored or controlled. For example, you may not be able to touch a pin until a Cast Member sanitizes it for you, or we may see Cast Members putting on gloves before handling any pins. This is currently speculation and, until we see for ourselves what pin trading is like, we can only guess! (Currently, no pin trading is taking place, not even at the reopened Pin Traders location in Disney Springs)

Pin Trading Mickey

Disney is also probably aware that they cannot eliminate pin trading that takes place between two guests. Pin trading extends beyond just guests and Cast Members, and many folks love to swap pins if they see someone else wearing one that they may want to add to their collection.

It seems likely Disney will have a calculated plan in place before the parks reopen. Pin Trading is quite popular with a significant enough number of guests that eliminating it entirely isn’t feasible, so a new method of distribution and trading that takes health concerns into consideration will have to be implemented. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more concerning the state of pins in the Disney Parks.

What do you think the future of pin trading will look like at Disney World? Will you continue to pin trade in the immediate future? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: disney merchandise, Featured, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, cast members, Disney merchandise, disney springs, Disney World, pin board, pin book, pin trading, pins, World of Disney

Tags cast members, disney merchandise, Disney Springs, Disney World, Featured, pin board, pin book, pin trading, pins, Special Stuff, Walt Disney World, World of Disney

Disney Merch Disney Parks

Check Out Some Of The WEIRDEST Disney Merchandise We Found Online!

Post author By disneyfoodblog.com
Post date June 9, 2020

Some of the Disney merchandise you can find online are items we all know and love: there’s no shortage of spirit jerseys, Minnie ears, and all the Baby Yoda swag.

And while there are some truly UNIQUE items out there like those designer ears and the Main Attraction series, they’re still not really that strange.

But if you look deep, deep, DEEP on the internet, you can find some pretty spectacular (and perhaps some bizarre) Disney merchandise! Here’s a roundup of some of the more eyebrow-raising treasures you can shop for!

Weird things to put on your wall

We all have that one piece of ‘dead space’ on our wall that we just don’t know what to do with! We finally found the solution: cuckoo clocks. These wonderfully unique and functional timepieces will definitely be the subject of conversation next time your family comes over.

Starting off with this Mickey Mouse cuckoo clock, our favorite mouse can be seen “throughout the years,” from Sorcerer Mickey to his classic “shorts” look.

And for all you Nightmare Before Christmas fans…“What’s this?” We couldn’t possibly leave you out of the fun! In addition to the Mickey wall clock, we also spotted this cuckoo clock, starring all your favorite characters like Jack, Sally, and Zero when he appears ‘popping’ out of the clock every hour!

It’s almost like having your own way to commemorate the passage of time until the NEXT Halloween!

Remember those old Felix the Cat wall clocks? Now you can have your very own Mickey Mouse motion clock! As the seconds pass, his eyes will dart back and forth and his tail will wag.

He’s such a cutie.

Unique Treasures to Fill Your Home

When your friends and family can finally come back to visit your home, WOW them with all the bizarre Disney merchandise you’ve collected! First off, how’s about a $1000 Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal? You heard us – one thousand jars of honey.

Did you ever think you could find a Winnie the Pooh plush that cost so much? Well, leave it to the luxury brand Steiff to come up with a plush that’s the size of a small child.

For the Star Wars lovers in your household, how’s about a levitating Darth Vader helmet? Looks like the laws of physics have been DEFIED with this fun collector’s piece. Set it on your bedside table, or on your fireplace mantle and have your guests “ooh and aah” at it. The force is certainly strong with this one.

Have you ever dreamed of wearing Iron Man’s suit? Well now your wish can come true with this fun, if not bizarre, Iron Man robot. At first glance this seems to be like any other interactive toy.

But when you open his helmet, you’ll discover that you can actually upload your own FACE onto the robot, making it appear as though YOU have become Iron Man! Pretty cool, right? Maybe a little weird? Maayyybeeee. Either way, you can tell all your friends that you’re Iron Man, and technically you won’t be lying!

So now that your guests are super perplexed as to why you have a giant Winnie the Pooh plush and an Iron Man robot with your face on it, how about you pour them a drink? Why not do it in a MASSIVE Star Wars tiki mug?

Toynk Toys has been our favorite site lately for the latest and greatest in tiki mugs, and boy have they gone above and beyond with this next set of items. Did you know your cabinet was missing a 40 OZ Jabba the Hut tiki mug? Well now you know! 40 OZ is a LOT of tiki mug! And he even comes with a Bib Fortuna mini 2 oz muglet! What in the world is a muglet?

We found another pair of large & tiny tiki mugs to add to your collection of curiosities! This set features a 40 OZ rancor with his little 2 oz Oola mini muglet friend. But here’s the thing that has us puzzled — is the mini muglet for the rancor to drink out of? Look at how he’s holding her! What happened to poor Oola that she’s now being used by a rancor? Someone help her!

And finally, we lurve some stained glass lamps, and now your Disney devotion can also = high FASHUN! The first one up is this Snow White stained glass lamp…

…and there’s also this adorbs Eeyore (we can all relate to him some days, right?). Well, luckily he can shine bright as this stained glass lamp. As Eeyore would say, “Some days look better upside down.” Truer words were never spoken, especially these days!

Not all Disney merch has to be Minnie Ears and spirit jerseys! If you dig a little deeper you can find some really crazy, weird, and cool items you may never known existed! We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the next batch of Disney goodies the internet is hiding. But first, going to order a Snow White stained glass lamp, BRB!

What bizarre piece of Disney merchandise are you the proud owner of? Share with us in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Cult Favorites, disney merchandise, Featured, Special Stuff, cuckoo clocks, darth vader, disney clocks, Disney merchandise, Eeyore, iron man, Mickey Mouse, nightmare before Christmas, snow white, tiki mugs, Winnie the Pooh

Tags cuckoo clocks, Cult Favorites, darth vader, disney clocks, disney merchandise, Eeyore, Featured, iron man, Mickey Mouse, Nightmare Before Christmas, snow white, Special Stuff, tiki mugs, Winnie the Pooh