Melanie Hewitt - The Traveling Mouse Company

04/02/2025

When the team at Pixar Animation Studios start dreaming up new worlds and places to visit in the movies, there’s a little voice inside their head (an emotion, maybe) asking, “Is this something Imagineers could create, and we could walk into?” If the answer is no, they keep working.

But if the answer is yes… well it’s time to partner with the team at Walt Disney Imagineering to see if it’s possible to bring that space to life in one of the Disney Parks around the world.

Taking to the stage during The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at SXSW, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter and Imagineer Michael Hundgen walked the crowd through their latest upcoming immersive space to occupy Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Monstropolis.

First announced at last year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Imagineers are hard at work bringing the world of Pixar Animation Studios’ Monsters, Inc. to life — and that includes its monster inhabitants, James P. Sullivan, Mike Wazowski, and more. While getting to walk through the streets of Monstropolis is exciting enough, the land will include a signature attraction where guests embark on a thrilling roller coaster ride through the Monsters, Inc. door vault.

“Imagineers have been itching to turn that moment into an attraction ever since we saw it for the first time,” Hundgen teased.

While many details about the attraction are still locked up in a laugh canister, the Imagineering team is ready to reveal the load area for the attraction. The upcoming door ride will feature the first-ever suspended coaster at a Disney Park, and the first-ever vertical lift. Get ready to scream — not out of fright, but fun.

Showing off a new animatic of the attraction, guests will board the vehicle before being hoisted into the air (just like in the movie!) to zoom into the door vault. It’s going to be, “an experience that’s as memorable and fun as the film,” Hundgen continued.

“I can tell you that everyone at Pixar is excited about how this is coming together,” Docter told the crowd. “It really is like a dream come true for us.”

04/02/2025

Families will discover even more magic at Walt Disney World during our Cool Kid Summer, beginning May 27! Get ready for all-new experiences including:
🧜‍♀️ The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure
🎭 Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After
✨ Limited-time character encounters with Early Theme Park Entry
❄️ Cool Kid Spots in theme parks through Sept. 1..and more!
Plus, look out for additional amenities and activities coming to select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, and special offers going on sale beginning March 27!

04/02/2025

Calling all Space Rangers! Exciting updates are on the horizon for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, including a new show scene, updated ride vehicles and gameplay enhancements. Here’s what you can expect from this iconic Tomorrowland attraction next year.

Brand New Scene
As their adventure begins, guests will now be greeted by an all-new character! This friendly robot — aptly named “Buddy” — was created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios to play a key role on the Star Command team. As a support-bot, Buddy makes sure departing Space Rangers are fully prepared for their mission, enthusiastically providing encouragement, final system checks on their Star Cruisers and a chance to hone their blaster aim. This will be a great time for guests to check out some of the new, interactive target features before blasting off to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg and save the galaxy.

New Ride Vehicles
Star cruisers will also receive a face lift with a new design inspired by the colors of Buzz Lightyear and Star Command. Each enhanced vehicle will also now come equipped with video monitors that provide real-time scoring updates and other exciting features.

Handheld Blasters
Each ride vehicle will now include handheld blasters for better aim, helping guests to score even more points. These new blasters will be perfect for our younger riders, allowing them to participate more in the experience. And, if you’ve ever wondered where you’re aiming (don’t worry, you’re not alone), these enhanced blasters will now include an always-on laser and come in two different colors per star cruiser, in addition to new lighting, sound and vibration effects, so players know where they’re aiming throughout the mission.

Interactive Targets
The static Z targets found in the attraction today will be upgraded with new technology that will allow them to react and light up when hit. It also opens the door for a few other ideas Imagineers have in mind.

Work on these updates recently passed an important milestone, as fellow Imagineers were invited to participate in a playtest of the new targets, blasters and gameplay ideas. Playtests are a critical part of the design process, where the project team is able to try out variations of a concept in a real-world setting, gaining critical insights into which ideas work best and how the experience can be improved. It’s all part of delivering an out-of-thisworld experience for our guests.

“Everyone had a great time, and our team learned a lot,” project creative director Justin DeTolla said. “We’ve been working on this project for quite some time now, so it was exciting to see it all come to life for the first time in the field.”

To prepare for these updates, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will temporarily close in August and reopen next year. Star Command, over and out!

04/02/2025

Two new shows are coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios this summer! ✨
Catch Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure when they debut at Walt Disney World Resort May 27, 2025.

04/02/2025

Celebrate Summer at Walt Disney World Resort: Exciting New Offers Now On-Sale!

Beginning today, Guests can book new ticket, hotel and dining offers for Summer 2025 at the Walt Disney World Resort! The following offers are now bookable:

Get a FREE Dining Plan with This Delicious Deal

Enjoy a FREE dining plan when you purchase a nondiscounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resorts Collection hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option—for arrivals most nights from:

June 29 to September 30, 2025
October 20 to November 1, 2025
December 6 to December 22, 2025
Full offer details, including a list of eligible resorts, are available here.

Kids Get 50% Off a 3-Day or Longer Standard Theme Park Ticket

Families can save on summer fun! Kids (ages 3 to 9) get a 3-day or longer standard Walt Disney World theme park ticket for 50% off—for ticket start dates from May 27 through September 20, 2025.

Full offer details are available here.

Celebrate Summer with a Special 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket to Select Parks

Enjoy summer fun with a specially priced 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket that’s valid for admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park only—starting from $89 per day, plus tax (total price starting from $267, plus tax).

Full offer details are available here.

Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Select Disney Resorts Collection Hotels When You Stay 5 Nights or Longer

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays. This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.

Full offer details, including a list of eligible resorts, are available here.

Florida Residents: Save Up to 35% on Rooms at Select Disney Resorts Collection Hotels When You Stay 4 Nights or Longer

Florida residents can save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 4 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays. This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.

A similar offer is available for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders.

03/26/2024

It's finally happening! The long awaited adventure begins at Walt Disney World THIS summer!
Tiana's Bayou Adventure is set to open this summer. Here's a sneak peek of one of the dozens of animatronics we will be seeing along our adventures in the bayou.
Book your trip today!

03/26/2024

The drones are coming!!!
To Disney Springs anyway :)
That's right! From May 24- September 2, you can see a showcase of Disney stories above Lake Buena Vista that will appear nightly for these limited dates.
Don't miss out on the drone magic! Book your trip today!

03/26/2024

What's one ride you have never ridden at Disney Parks? Why?
I'll go first-
Tower of Terror.
I am a wimp and HATE huge drops. I remember riding Sky Screamer at Astroworld in Houston growing up and I was traumatized from that drop. Even though ToT appears to have several smaller drops and not one big one, I have yet to find the courage to get on (even though I LOVE Twilight Zone and Guardians!)
Maybe next time......( like I say EVERY time)

01/30/2024

Happy National Plan a Vacation Day!
What a better way to plan a fantastic and MAGICAL one than to have me plan it for you! There is no batter time than now to plan a fun filled Disney vacation for your family. Let me do all the work while you sit back and relax and dream of your fun filled days filled with pixie dust, snacks and over the top magic! Contact me now!

01/20/2024

01/20/2024

More means …. MORE! 🤣

01/17/2024

Love Disney? Love to eat? Love to eat at Disney?? 😂
Ask me how you can do that FREE!!!!!
Book your vacation with me and I will tell you all the secrets! 😍😘