On the Soapbox: Blackout for AP when attractions open?

Recently the Disney Fan community went beserk as news hit that Disney is thinking a new way to take advantage of their loyal Annual Passholders again. This time it's not by creating more tiers or increasing the price of the already steep cost of the Annual Pass. Disney began surveying guests at the parks asking how they would feel if Disney Parks Annual Passholders were given a 2 month black out period when new attractions and lands opened.
Of course this came to the shock to the Annual Passholders. I understand that Disney knows that when new attractions and themed lands open they see a huge uptick in attendance but this honestly just seems like a new way to take for granted their loyal Passholders. For years the Disney Parks relied on the APs and local park goers to keep the parks  attendance in the off season but the parks have become incredibly popular. As any AP or Disney fan knows, there really is not an off season anymore. While the parks now enjoy high park attendance year long, Disney now regrets having the Annual Passholder. Disney has begun to see an AP as a guest who frequents the parks and doesn't buy merchandise or dine. Just like allowing guests access to Fastpass for free, Disney regrets having the Passholders.
With Annual Passes costing over a $1,000, are they really worth the price if you get random blackout dates?

Return of the Poppins

Yesterday Disney announced that the long awaited Mary Poppins sequel is a go!
Entitled "Mary Poppins Returns" and starring Emily Blunt as Mary and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer and star of the Broadway smash hit Hamilton, and directed by "Into the Woods" director Rob Marshall.
A sequel to the 1964 Disney film has been long awaited. Walt Disney himself attempted to make sequel after the success of the film but P.L. Travers, upset with how she was treated and with the film, would never agree to another Disney produced Mary Poppins film.
Reportedly set 20 years after the original film and set in a depression era London. The film is expected to arrive in theaters Christmas 2018.

Agent P Adventure brings your smartphone to play!

Disney Parks blog announced that the Phineas and Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure at Epcot just got an update. No, they haven't gotten rid of it. Instead they have introduced using your own smartphone with the interactive adventure instead of getting the F.O.N.E. (Field Operative Notification Equipment or flip phone) from Disney.

While I applaud them for both updating this interactive experience and for bringing the use of your own personal smartphone with it to make it more interactive, I don't see the real purpose.

Phineas and Ferb was a great show but the thing is that it is gone now. Yeah the show just ended in 2015 but the park was meant to always be expanding. One of the biggest issues Disney has really faced is complacency. They love to just allow things to sit for too long or make 5 Pirates movies when all we needed was one. Now I'm not totally trashing the idea of updating a dead horse but I hope they have a long term plan of what to replace this great interactive experience with. 

Aladdin conspiracy confirmed!

Recently, in October of 2015, Ron Clements and John Musker, directors of Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Herecules, confirmed that the Peddler character who narrates the introduction to the film Aladdin is in fact the Genie. 

Robin Williams voiced the Peddler and as the directors shared originally the end of the film was going to reveal that the Peddler was actually Genie but it was later scrapped. 

So now we can all rest easy knowing that at least one fan theory is confirmed!

 

Disney Lego Minifigures are coming in May!

Disney recently announced via the Disney Parks Blog that the next set of the highly successful Lego Minifigure sets would be Disney characters.
Being a longtime Lego fan, I can attest that you will need to grab these minifigures quickly because they sell out fast!
Disney has announced they are expected to hit stores in May and will be $3.99 each. They will be at select retailers including World of Disney, Lego Store, and at Downtown Disney and Disney Springs.
I'm assuming that this will be like other Minifigure sets and will be blind bags. This will mean that you cannot tell who you are getting, unless you are like me and feel the bag for distinct pieces to ensure you get the desired Minifigure.

from the Disney Parks Blog

As you can see in the picture the set will include Syndrome and Mr. Incredible from the Incredibles, Ariel and Ursula from the Little Mermaid, Alice and the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Captain Hook from Peter Pan, Aladdin and Genie from Aladdin, Buzz Lightyear and Alien from Toy Story, Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, and Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse.

Personally, I am looking forward to Alice and Cheshire Cat and Syndrome. Which are you looking forward to?