This is great news for those of you going to Disneyland and Disney World.
The Disney theme parks are an absolute haven for Star Wars fans, even more so in recent years with the addition of the Galaxy’s Edge, a massive and immersive Star Wars area added to both the California and Florida Disney parks.
But despite the billions spent on new, state-of-the-art attractions in recent years, Disney’s best Star Wars-related attraction may still be the beloved, clunky rust bucket of a flight simulator, Star Tours. Opened in 1987, the ride has been a consistent crowd pleaser since Return of the Jedi was less than five years old (!) but Disney has managed to keep it fresh by plugging in new scenes featuring characters from new Star Wars films over the years.
On Tuesday, Disney announced its latest batch of new scenes that will be added to the ride and this time it will feature the stars of the Disney+ shows that have kept the Star Wars universe going in recent years.
Walt Disney World has never been seen as one of the thrill ride capitals of the world, but there are plenty of thrilling experiences in Orlando’s massive theme park complex.
Whether it’s a classic like Space Mountain or a new ride like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, there are plenty of options within for those looking for a more adventurous experience at the four main theme parks.
While we’ve not gotten to ride newer rides like Tron Lightcycle Run or Slinky Dog Dash, we’ve rounded up most of the main rides you’d consider to be in the “thrill” category at Disney World and ranked them.
If you’re wondering where Splash Mountain is, it’s currently closed and is being re-themed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (based on Princess and the Frog) and will reportedly open in 2024.
Disney World is already calling it quits on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. We have some ideas on what to do with it after it closes.
Star Wars fans felt a disturbance in the force on Thursday as Disney announced that it would be closing its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel experience at Walt Disney World later this year.
The Star Wars-themed hotel will reportedly take its “final voyage” from Sept. 28-30 before closing its doors permanently.
The intimate, immersive “pretend you’re actually in Star Wars” hotel is stationed right next to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios.
The hotel just opened last spring but earned quick critiques for its prohibitive pricing. A stay aboard the Galactic Starcruiser could cost patrons around $5,000, which undoubtedly played a part in Disney’s decision to shutter the hotel just year after it opened.
Statement from Disney: "This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans." pic.twitter.com/ksGAupGzoH
Extensive changes will be made to four holes and all 18 greens will be resurfaced.
Walt Disney World in Florida has temporarily shuttered its Magnolia Course, located near the Magic Kingdom, for the summer as each green is upgraded and holes 14 through 17 are renovated. The course is expected to reopen later this year.
Arnold Palmer Golf Management, which operates Disney World’s courses, hired One Club Limited and its head golf course designer, Ken Baker, to oversee the work at the course, which was designed by Joe Lee and opened in 1971. The work to the Magnolia follows extensive changes to Disney’s Palm Golf Course in 2013, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course in 2014 and 2018, and Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course in 2018.
In a media release announcing the renovation, Disney unveiled the following changes:
Hole 14: Currently a par 5, will become a par 4 with a new green location
Hole 15: Currently a par 3, will shift location and become a long par 5 with a dogleg to the right
Hole 16: Will shift location and remain a par 4 but will now have a dogleg to the left
Hole 17: Currently a par 4, will become a par 3 with new tee box locations
An artist’s rendering of the new 16th hole on the Magnolia Course at Walt Disney World in Florida (Courtesy of Walt Disney World)
“We were fortunate to have some existing property area available for the redesign of these golf holes,” Baker said. “It has allowed us to create a more dynamic collection of golf shots that also blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural environment. …
“From the first day we began reimagining these golf holes, we took great care in preserving the scenic beauty, challenge and thrill players have enjoyed as they’ve walked the fairways of Disney’s Magnolia. Joe Lee created much of the existing design dynamic of this course with ‘push-up’ golf feature areas. The existing tees, greens and bunkers typically rise above the surrounding terrain and create a classic look and feel to the course. The routing adjustments made to holes 14 through 17 have allowed us to maintain this classic appearance while also incorporating subtle design features that will create some new and exciting challenges for future guests.”
An artist’s rendering of the new 15th hole on the Magnolia Course at Walt Disney World in Florida (Courtesy of Walt Disney World)
Baker also said a new sandy waste area will be added between Nos. 15 and 16, and similar features will be added at other areas of the course. A new bridge through a forest will be constructed to connect Nos. 16 and 17, several bunkers throughout the course will be renovated and new tees will be added on several holes.
The Magnolia was last updated in 2015, when its bunkers and cart paths were renovated.
“We’ve assembled an incredible team that is devoted to creating the best possible experience for our guests from around the globe who travel here for a championship-caliber golf vacation,” Bruce Gerlander, general manager of Arnold Palmer Golf Management, said in the media release. “For more than four decades, Disney’s Magnolia served as a favorite stop on the PGA Tour, and we have been methodically planning for this massive project for years.”
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According to Kleinman, Pagliuca “has approached a number of wealthy businessmen including the former Walt Disney chief Bob Iger about backing his bid to buy Chelsea Football Club.” Already the owner of Italian soccer team Atalanta in addition to his co-ownership of the Celtics with Boston Basketball Partners, LTD., “Pagliuca is in talks with a string of potential co-investors ahead of a deadline for final bids for the Premier League club next Monday” the 11th, according to the Sky News reporter.
“Sources said that Mr. Iger, who stepped down as Disney’s executive chairman in December, was among those who had been sounded out by Mr. Pagliuca since he became one of the four bidders shortlisted to buy Chelsea,” he added, noting it was unknown whether Iger returned the interest.
Are the Boston Celtics the biggest threat to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA Playoffs? https://t.co/hQExcWBPJU
Hopefully, the basketball team fares better against the Tide than the football team.
All too often over the past decade, we’ve heard that Notre Dame never can beat Alabama in football. That’s because they’ve been correct, and those can’t stand the Irish will blurt that out for all the world to hear. However, they haven’t said anything about basketball, and the Irish can write a new narrative when these programs meet in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament.
These programs last played each other at Walt Disney World in November 2015, and the Crimson Tide’s 74-73 win cut the Irish’s all-time lead in the series to 3-2. Now, they’ll be playing on the other side of the country in San Diego. The winner of this game will advance to play either Texas Tech or Montana State in the Round of 32.
Can the Irish count on another big game from Paul Atkinson Jr.? His 26 points, which included the game-winning putback in the First Four against Rutgers, set a record for the highest scoring total in a player’s debut NCAA Tournament game with the program. Or maybe the Irish should look to Cormac Ryan and his 12.3 scoring average since joining the starting lineup in February. It really doesn’t matter who steps up as long as the Irish are ahead when the clock hits zero.
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The Los Angeles Lakers and all the other teams in the NBA bubble are returning to practice on Friday.
The Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the other 13 teams remaining in the NBA bubble, are returning to the practice floor on Friday after the Milwaukee Bucks led a player strike that wiped out the scheduled NBA slate for the last few days. On Thursday, the player’s union agreed to continue the season, while also asking for ownership to make stronger commitments towards issues that largely affect Black people in the United States.
The NBA has not made any official announcements yet regarding when games will resume, but it seems pretty clear that the games will return on Saturday, at the very earliest. Following practice, we will certainly hear from head coaches but it will also be the first opportunity for players to speak in front of the microphone after the last few days.
NBA referees joined players in solidarity, organizing their own walkout on Thursday, as the league tries to move forward with their season after the frustration and sadness of its players over the way this country treats Black people led to Wednesday’s strike.
The NBA’s bubble is holding, according to the latest results of tests from within the NBA campus.
The NBA’s plan for holding the conclusion of their season in a bubble on the Walt Disney World campus appears to be working as planned, with yet another batch of test results coming back clean for the players of the 22 teams in the NBA Bubble.
The NBA announced on Wednesday that after another round of tests on the 343 players on the NBA Campus, there were no positive tests for the coronavirus. The NBA has yet to have a positive test from players or staff members who have cleared quarantine and been free to move around the bubble.
The league had two players test positive after arriving at Disney World in their first batch of tests, but the players who tested positive never cleared quarantine or interacted with the bubble at large. Teams are close to completing their first full month in the bubble, with many of them arriving in the first week of July. They are still hoping to be there for another two months, but things are trending in the right direction for the league to finish the season.
Previewing Thursday’s LAFC vs. Portland Timbers sports betting odds and lines, with MLS betting picks, tips and best bets.
LAFC (1 win, 0 losses, 1 draw) mix it up with the Portland Timbers (2-0-0) Thursday at 10:30 p.m. ET in the MLS is Back Tournament in the bubble at the Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Below, we analyze the LAFC-Portland sports betting odds and lines at BetMGM, while providing MLS betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Expect LAFC (-167) to put the peddle to the metal, just like when it routed the rival L.A. Galaxy by a 6-2 count last time out. Portland (+400) won each of its first two matches and are sitting pretty atop Group F with an invitation to the Round of 16 already extended. Look for LAFC, which has also qualified for the Round of 16, to finish up group play strong with a three-point night.
A $10 winning wager on LAFC (+167) to win outright nets a profit of $5.99. A $10 wager on Portland (+400) to win would net a profit of $40, while a Draw (+290) would fetch a $29 profit.
OVER 3.5 (+105) is worth some consideration here. LAFC rolled up six goals last time out, and it has nine goals with five conceded through two matches. Portland has scored four and yielded two, and knowing it already advanced, its lack of motivation in the offensive zone is a bit worrisome for Over bettors. Still, LAFC has enough firepower to see this thing across the finish line.
Want some action in this one? Place a bet with BetMGM today. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Previewing Wednesday’s Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids sports betting odds and lines, with MLS betting picks, tips and best bets.
Minnesota United FC (1 win, 0 losses, 1 draw) and the Colorado Rapids (0-2-0) wrap up Group C play on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET in a Western Conference tussle in the MLS is Back Tournament in the bubble at the Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. We analyze the Minnesota-Colorado sports betting odds and lines at BetMGM, while providing MLS betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids: Key injuries
MINNESOTA UNITED FC (+115) is the play here, as Colorado (+200) has had a brutal stay in the bubble and are yet to pick up a point in two matches. In fact, the Rapids have a dismal minus-3 goal differential and enter this match knowing that they’re eliminated from Round of 16 contention, so they’re unlikely to offer a ton of resistance. Meanwhile, Minnesota enters with plenty on the line, including a potential ticket to the Round of 16 and seeding.
A winning $10 wager on Minnesota United FC (+115) returns a net profit of $11.50.
UNDER 2.5 (+125) is worth a small-unit play here. The Rapids have struggled mightily on offense in this tournament. While they have conceded five goals, and that’s a bit of a concern, Minnesota has found the back of the net just twice through two matches. In addition, UNDER 2.5 goals has cashed in each of the previous three meetings between these clubs across all competitions, including a pair of 1-0 decisions in the past two matches.
Want some action in this one? Place a bet with BetMGM today. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
