Disney's Mineral King Project: The Ambitious Ski Resort That Never Was

Stitch's Great Escape Closure and Live-Action Film

• 💔 Stitch's Great Escape at Magic Kingdom has closed, transitioning from a ride to a character meet-and-greet.
• 🎬 This move acknowledges the public's continued affection for the Stitch character, with a live-action Stitch movie in development.
• ⚠️ The attraction was reportedly the lowest-rated in Walt Disney World, necessitating its closure.

Shelving of Disney's 'Gigantic' Animated Film

• 🚫 Walt Disney Animation Studios has shelved its animated film Gigantic, a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk set in Spain.
• 🏗️ The film faced numerous delays and creative challenges, including difficulties in developing the relationship between the human protagonist Jack and the giant Inma.
• 🇪🇸 The cancellation has significant implications for Epcot's World Showcase, as 'Gigantic' was intended to be the hook for a long-sought-after Spain pavilion.

Epcot's Transformation and Guardians of the Galaxy Ride

• 🚀 Epcot's two-billion-dollar renovation includes a new Guardians of the Galaxy ride, which will be housed in a large, 10-story building constructed outside the park's main footprint.
• 💡 This new building is being considered as a potential surface for a new projection show at Epcot.
• 🚧 The scale of Epcot's redevelopment is significant, with ongoing construction impacting the park's landscape and operations.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and Skyliner

• 🌳 Extensive landscaping clearing has occurred at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort for the new DVC buildings and the Skyliner gondola system.
• 🚧 The Skyliner's path requires unobstructed drainage and clear areas, leading to significant landscape changes.
• 🌿 Horticulture efforts will be undertaken post-construction to mitigate the visual impact of the Skyliner pylons and pathways.

Food and Wine Festival and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

• 🥨 The Epcot Food and Wine Festival was experienced with a group of teenagers, highlighting surprisingly tasty offerings, particularly the chocolate-covered cannoli from Italy.
• 🎃 Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party saw high attendance and many elaborate costumes, despite extremely hot and humid weather.
• 🎇 A significant disappointment was the Hallowishes fireworks show, which was considered a noticeable drop in quality compared to the Happily Ever After projection show.

Disney's Hollywood Studios Operations and Galaxy's Edge Construction

• 🎢 Park operations at Disney's Hollywood Studios were challenging, with multiple ride breakdowns (Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster) during peak hours.
• 🏗️ Construction for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is progressing rapidly, with a vast amount of steel structures erected, indicating a massive scale for the new land.
• ⏳ The Orlando version of Galaxy's Edge is aiming to catch up to Disneyland's timeline, with a potential opening in July 2019, following a soft-opening period.

The Mineral King Project: Walt Disney's Vision

• 🏞️ Walt Disney was interested in developing Mineral King, a ski resort area in California, envisioning it as a major multi-season destination.
• 💰 Initial development in the 1950s faced financial and operational challenges, including poor weather and building issues.
• 📈 Disney's analysis in 1960 suggested acquiring controlling interest for $575,000, with potential tax benefits and significant economic impact for California.
• 🚗 A major hurdle was the need for a $5 million (1960s) all-weather highway to access the remote location, requiring state and federal investment.
• 🕵️ Walt Disney hired private investigators who uncovered potential mob money funding a competing bid for Mineral King, involving figures like Jimmy Hoffa.
• 🌟 Walt's ambitious plans included accommodations for 10,000 people, numerous ski lifts, and a wide range of recreational activities, aiming for a $1 billion economic boost.
• 🌲 The project ultimately stalled after Walt's death in 1966 and faced opposition from environmental groups like the Sierra Club due to its location within protected Sequoia groves.
• ⛷️ Despite Disney's withdrawal, Mineral King continues to have long ski seasons, validating Buzz Price's assessment of its significant skiing potential.