Ep 615 - Magic of Disney Animation Gets An Opening Date, D23 Update & Is Space Mountain Getting A Refurb?

We have got a LOT to cover this week and honestly the news just keeps coming. Let's get into it. First up, Magic of Disney Animation finally has an opening date and it is September 14th. This is the brand new experience coming to the reimagined Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios and it sounds like a really solid lineup. You've got Drawn to Wonderland which is a playground experience, Off the Page for character meetings, Olaf Draws which is a drawing class (yes please), the Once Upon a Studio Theater, and more. This feels like a real destination area and we are genuinely excited to check it out. Quick financial note for anyone who follows the business side of things: The Walt Disney Company drops their 3rd Quarter financial results on Wednesday August 5th at 8:30am Eastern via live webcast. Worth keeping an eye on. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party fans, heads up. October 13th and August 18th are the next two dates to sell out and they are moving faster than last year. If you are on the fence about grabbing tickets, stop waiting. Also interesting, both Beak and Barrel and Geo-82 went to walk-up lists last week, which is actually a first for those spots. The party crowd is hungry. Now let's talk D23 because things are getting really exciting. Neil Patrick Harris is going to host the Experiences Showcase and honestly the format sounds amazing. It's inspired by the Carousel of Progress, he'll be guiding the whole show, chatting with Imagineers and storytellers, and there are supposed to be announcements, special performances, and surprises. We are so ready. Also at D23, Leslie Iwerks is debuting a brand new documentary focused on Disney Parks. She made the Imagineering Story and Disneyland Handcrafted, so the pedigree here is outstanding. We also want to take a moment to acknowledge that her father Don Iwerks recently passed away at 96. Don was an absolute legend. He developed the 360 degree Circle Vision camera, built the film equipment used at the 1964 World's Fair, engineered the 3D film and effects for Captain EO, and built the projection system for Star Tours. What a career. What a legacy. And then there is the Space Mountain rumor that has everyone buzzing. Word is the attraction could be getting a very major refurbishment, potentially including a full track replacement, updated audio, and a redesigned ride vehicle that seats two across instead of single file. Nothing confirmed yet but this might be something we hear more about at D23 next month. So yeah, a packed episode. Drop your thoughts in the comments below. What are you most excited about? Are you ready for Magic of Disney Animation? What do you think about the Space Mountain rumors? Let us know! If you enjoyed this episode, hit that like button, subscribe to the channel, and make sure you tap the notification bell so you never miss a new episode of Capture The Magic. Find the full Capture The Magic Podcast feed wherever you listen to podcasts and make sure you are subscribed so you never miss an episode! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.