HSM at WDW and DCA & More

With the record-setting success of High School Musical, it is no surprise that Disney's park division wants a little piece of that pie as well. A live show based on the original movie will close on both coasts to make way for a brand new one inspired by the sequel. HSM 2 will be performed daily at both Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim and the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando. And sorry, guys and gals, but Zac Efron will not be in it.

Also at the park that will soon be known as Disney's Hollywood Studios, rumors are swirling around my beloved Great Movie Ride, including the removal of Johnny Weismuller's Tarzan (who does swing both ways) and the replacement of the Alien scene with one from ... The Lord of the Rings ??!! Elsewhere in the Studios, word has it that a Ratatouille-themed coaster (in the style of the Finding Nemo one at Disneyland Paris) may make its home in the newly christened "Pixar Place" area of the park.

Big changes are underway over at Epcot, which will reportedly revert back to its original moniker "EPCOT Center" in the near future. Martin Short is the star of the new Canadian Circlevision film and the "Muppet Mobile Labs" recently made an appearance prior to jetting over to Hong Kong Disneyland. Plus, during the International Food and Wine Festival, guests will be able to enjoy "Beats While You Eat", with such live musical acts as Sheena Easton, Juice Newton and ... the Village People ??!!

In more Disneyland news, Tomorrowland may get yet another makeover, this time themed to Star Wars. And don't forget the park's "unofficial" Gay Days are coming in October.

And finally: Both US Universal Studios theme parks have closed their Back to the Future rides in preparation for the upcoming Simpsons-themed attraction. D'oh!

Links via Screamscape.com, OrlandoSentinel.com, RCDB.com, TheDisneyBlog.com, LaughingPlace.com and GayDaysAnaheim.com.

Horray for Hollywood - Disney Style

Well, it finally happened. Finally.

Ever since it opened in 1989, the Disney-MGM Studios has been dogged by rumors of a name change. Such possible names as "The Disney Studios", "Walt Disney Studios" and "The Disney-Pixar Studios" have surfaced over the years, but it turns out to be none of those; ladies and gentlemen, Walt Disney World now presents:

Disney's Hollywood Studios.

As breathlessly explained in the official press release, the new moniker "reflects how the park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment that today's Hollywood has to offer -- in music, television, movies and theater".

The change will take effect at the beginning of next year, which will also see the opening of the "Toy Story Mania!" ride and the debuts of a Pixar character parade (transplanted from Disney's California Adventure) and a brand-new High School Musical stage show.

With the word 'Hollywood' now front and center, let us hope that steps will now be taken to remove that enormous eyesore, the Mickey Sorcerer hat, which currently blocks the park's recreation of a legendary true-Hollywood landmark, Grauman's Chinese Theater.

And how much you wanna bet that people are still going to call it "MGM" (which Disney hates) for years to come.

Links via WDWNews.com and Wikipedia.com.

The Magnificent Seven ... Plus One

As a kid, I was fascinated by the costumed characters seen walking around Disneyland. Back in the day there was no scheduled "meet and greet" times or autograph books like today; Mickey and company would just appear out of nowhere for a surprise photo op. The magic was a lot more spontaneous back then.

Of course, my view of the characters changed when I worked for the Mouse. It was always a bit disturbing to me to see "headless" critters roaming about in the "backstage" areas. (Although I must say, I didn't mind spotting a particularly hairy-chested Prince Charming strolling around shirtless one day. That Cinderella was one lucky bitch.)

Any way, hop on over to The Disney Hub as they stroll down memory lane with the various incarnations of Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs over the years.

In other Disney theme park news:

- Blue Sky Disney, in an article covering the upcoming overhaul of the Anaheim resort, drops a hint about a future Jerry Bruckheimer production that may spawn a Frontierland attraction. The term "Kemo Sabe" is used, so that could only mean ... The Lone Ranger? Well, anything would be better then The Legend of the Lone Ranger.

- Pixar continues its seemingly inevitable takeover of all the Disney parks with rumors of a Cars-themed "Test Track"-type attraction at California Adventure and an Incredibles "Incredipods" ride to replace the infamous Rocket Rods in Tomorrowland, not to mention a new Monsters, Inc. show at Tokyo Disneyland.

- Sure, a new exhibit at Epcot called "National Treasures" has nothing at all to do with the Nicolas Cage movies.

- The upcoming Jungle Book DVD will have a premiere event at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

- In more Pirates of the Caribbean rumors: could Captain Jack take up residence in the now-closed "River Country" water park?

- And the celebrity narrators for Epcot's annual holiday tradition, the Candlelight Processional, will include Neil Patrick Harris, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, John O'Hurley, Phylicia Rashad, Gary Sinise and others.

Links via TheDisneyHub.blogspot.com, BlueSkyDisney.blogspot.com, Imdb.com, Screamscape.com, LaughingPlace.com and OrlandoSentinel.com.

Star Trek: Deep Space Whine

For those who don't watch Lost, you may not know that J.J. Abrams likes to take his time, no matter how much you complain about it.

Sure, for his reboot of Star Trek he has cast not one but two Spocks and has hired an actual Russian to play Chekov (18-year-old hottie Anton Yelchin), but the rest of the Enterprise crew is still up for grabs (although the ladies at AfterEllen.com have some ideas about thier ideal Uhura).

Abrams also likes to be mysterious, as with the current viral rumor that he will tap his Mission: Impossible III star Tom Cruise to play Captain Kirk's ill-fated predecessor Captain Pike. And on top of all this, he still hasn't titled the 01.18.08/Cloverfield production, amongst several other top-secret projects.

One thing is certain though: whenever we do get this new Star Trek, it will look nothing like this. Seriously, playing Starfleet captain to your mom's Vulcan science officer? Come on dude, when you get a chance to wear the ears, you take it.

Links via EW.com, MoviesBlog.MTV.com, AfterEllen.com, ObsessedWithFilm.com, Cinematical.com and Blogs.AMCTV.com.

Jedis Invade Disney World and More

In the wake of their annual "Star Wars Weekends", Walt Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios will continue the popular Jedi Training Academy show this fall. (So expect a lot of Jake Lloyds running around with plastic light sabers.) This of course has sparked speculation on a whole new Star Wars themed area (including a jazzed-up new "Star Tours" ride), all the better to combat Universal Orlando's upcoming Harry Potter land.

In other Studios news, the long-rumored renaming of the park may just happen now that Pixar has become part of the Mouse House. Yep, it may become Disney-Pixar Studios. And I'll believe that when I see it.

Speaking of Pixar, the Ratatouille rats are on hand now (and even in the parade) and construction continues on the new "Toy Story Mania!" ride. Naturally, High School Musical is represented in a daily "pep rally" show. And the rumor mill is rumbling about a possible new Indiana Jones attraction to coincide with the upcoming fourth film.

Elsewhere around the world, The Three Caballeros have been added to the Mexican pavilion, while Finding Nemo has taken over the Living Seas, at Epcot. Nemo and friends can also be seen in the stage musical adaptation (from the Avenue Q composers) that plays daily at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Changes at Magic Kingdom may include at least a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed restaurant and possibly more Pirates stuff. And the new "Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club" has opened in Tomorrowland.

On the other side of the country, in Disneyland, Nemo (yeah, him again) has been added to the long-dry docked Submarine Ride. Plus, there a major plans to revitalize Disney's California Adventure, the Anaheim flagship park's much-derided second gate (they are already adding their own "Toy Story Mania!" as well). As that park has a "Hollywood" section (which recently added there own Monsters, Inc. themed-ride), it is safe to assume that we may see more movie-related rides there as well.

And finally, a new musical show based on Toy Story will be added to the Disney Cruise Line. Hmmm, that's an awful lot of Pixar ... maybe the Disney-MGM Studios should be renamed the Pixar-Disney Studios.

Links via OrlandoSentinel.com, UniversalOrlando.com, LaughingPlace.com, WDWNews.com, TheDisneyBlog.com and Disney.go.com.

One, Two, Freddy's Coming for You

Every year come All Hallow's Eve, Universal Orlando pulls out all the stops for their "Halloween Horror Nights". This year's month-long event will take on a familiar face ... or should I say, faces ... with three slasher flick icons guaranteed to send shivers up your spine.

Making their first appearances at the festivities are The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Leatherface, Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees and A Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger, a trio of bogeymen who's presence will guarantee that the night will be a real slice.

I have been to a couple of these in the past, and it does make for a creepy night, especially with all the drunk frat boys stumbling around.

Link via HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Ride the Movies: An Introduction

Theme park rides, shows and attractions that take you into the worlds of our favorite movies and characters, from Disneyland and Walt Disney World to Universal Studios and more.