The Force Awakens at Disney.....Well kind of

This weekend the net came alive with the announcement of the long rumored Star Wars Lands at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Disney's Bob Iger took to the stage at the D23 Expo to make the announcement official after an early "leaked" post on the same day on the Disney Parks Blog. "We are creating a jaw-dropping new world that represents our largest single themed land expansion ever. These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”said Iger to cheering fans.

While this announcement has been anticipated for well years, and it really is something to excited about; don't hold off on those vacation plans quite yet because the announcements were purposely vague and no time frame was given for the opening of the new Star Wars lands. So why get everyone in a frenzy and slightly Awaken the Force?  Well Disney has been under enormous pressure to find something to be an answer to Universal's extremely successful Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando and soon Hollywood plus well there is the those new movies that are coming out....

Here is what we know about Star Wars Land:
Theses items have no time frame
1) There are more rumors than facts circulating right now.
2) At Disney World it will go into Hollywood Studios and be 14 acres.
3) At DisneyLand it will be 14 acres also
4) It will be anchored by 2 new attractions.... that is right 2 new attractions
5) Star Wars Jedi Academy will get re-imagined which means Darth Vader is out(boo)
6) We got a couple nice looking concept art of what the lands may look like.

Without a doubt these are things to get excited about but as we had learned with the New Fantasyland and Avatar, things will change, not necessarily for the better, and this will take some time to build.

Here are some things that got buried under the giant news of the Star Wars land that you really should be excited over as they will be here much much sooner than Star Wars land!

Star Tours will receive an update in 2016 to add new destinations and characters from Star Wars: the Force Awakens!


In late 2015, we will get the Star Wars Launch Bay that will showcase a preview of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the Episodes I thru 6 VI. We don't know how long this attraction will stay open though.

In Spring of 2016, Star Wars Weekends appears to get a new name "Season of the Force" at Hollywood Studios and will also now happen at Disneyland. DisneyWorld will get a "new" Fireworks display scored to the Star Wars Movies on Weekend Nights. Disneyland will get an "overlay" Space Mountain as X-Wing fighter and new food experiences.

Disney World's Hollywood Studios will get Toy Story Land. It will feature a new family roller coaster that Andy assembled and teacup style ride based on the Alien Claw Game. This will take place in Andy's Back yard and will be an 11 acre expansion.

Disney's Animal Kingdom will get Sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris that will bring African Wild Dogs and Hyenas to a new expanded layout. Special lighting will be added to extend in the twilight hours and will open in the Spring of 2016.

Rivers of Light will debut in the Spring of 2016 bringing the next generation of nighttime shows to the Animal Kingdom. The will light the Animal Kingdom up and will be a sight to see!

Pandora- the World of AVATAR got an official name and we got a peak at the  new attraction for this land. Avatar Flight of Passage. No opening date.

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World will get a much needed new Restaurant Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen restaurant  in Adventureland.This will come in late 2015 and as the story goes, the skippers of the Jungle Cruise will moonlight here as waiters and there will be several theme rooms including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Hmmm this sounds like the old Adventurers Club from Pleasure Island.... I mean Downtown Disney.... I mean Disney Springs.... That is right folks.. Starting  right now Downtown Disney is Disney Springs.


And Finally both Epcot and Disney California Adventure will get Soarin Around the World as and updated version the popular soarin rides.

Over the next few months and years.... yes years... will get more info on the  Star Wars Themed Land and Disney is doing their best to keep your interest in their parks until the the lands are finished(or even started). Personally as a fan of Star Wars I am excited, but I am extremely glad and more excited that there are more experiences and attractions coming to the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resorts sooner than later.
What are you looking forward to? 

Before Duffy The Disney Bear there was The Disney Bear

Duffy the Disney Bear has taken DisneyWorld and DisneyLand by storm, becoming one of the must have souvenirs when visiting the mouse! Duffy has meet & greet photo ops and also has different outfits that can be purchased to dress him up. Duffy has become so popular, that limits have been placed on the number of outfits and number of bears that can be bought at one time. This is to ensure a fair chance for other guests to be able to dress Duffy up and also because one can make a small mint form selling the outfits to buyers over seas. Quite the feet for a Disney Character that has never been in a Disney Movie or cartoon. To bridge that gap he does have storyline here in the States that allows him to fit in the stable of Disney Characters. That story goes like this:

It is Duffy, how many hidden Mickeys can you find?

"One day, Mickey Mouse was getting ready to set sail on a long sea voyage. Minnie Mouse made him a special teddy bear to take with him so he would never be lonely. Minnie presented her hand sewn bear to Mickey in a duffel bag. Mickey loved the bear and named him Duffy.
As Mickey and Duffy sailed on their journey, they visited all sorts of exciting places and make new friends along the way. At the end of their travels, they sailed back home for a wonderful reunion with Minnie.
Mickey and Duffy shared their magical memories and photos with Minnie, who was thrilled that Duffy was such a great friend and companion for Mickey."

This hidden Mickey is on his bottom.

Our household has also caught the Duffy fever, so it is almost a guarantee that when we visit  Walt Disney World a new Duffy(or two) will becoming home with us along with several outfits.



Many people don't  know that before Duffy's debut in October of 2010 in the United States, he had a completely different back story,  look, and feel (little heavier, not so soft and course fur) in his first incarnation back in 2002 at Walt Disney World. Duffy was previously known as "The Disney Bear". His  original story was something along the lines of this:

" Mickey brought his favorite bear to the Magic Kingdom. Mickey sat in front of the castle wishing that he had a friend with him to share the excitement and magic of the park. Tinker-bell appears and sprinkles pixie dust on Mickey's bear, bringing it to life. Mickey then hugs the bear and a Mickey-shape appears on the bear's face, forever bonding Mickey and his new friend."

The story was presented on his tag and was done in nice story book fashion. Most of all it worked.(well on this Dad who made sure his daughter got one ....or two.) The story was not the only difference, the major difference was in the bear itself. It came in the colors of  Valentine red, pink, green, blue, lavender, grey, black, white, chocolate, caramel and  Duffy's current color honey gold.

Two of the Original Disney Bears..looks just like Duffy, feels much different.

Signature hidden Mickey on the bottom.

"The Disney Bear" was a flop though and disappeared from the parks by 2005, so if you arer lucky to have one these original bears with the story tag, you now not only have a souvenir but a souvenir that is a collectible and part of the evolution of Duffy. 

We are fortunate enough to have 2 of the bears that are gently used and will always have a home here at Matt's Firehouse Family Vacations Headquarters.

Duffy hanging with his cousins The Disney Bears!

 Do you have other Souvenirs that have evolved over the years? Maybe some Disney Bears of your own or a Pal Mickey(more to come on him later)? Tell us about them!!!