Ears the News with Richard

Ears the News is brought to you by our friends at WDWMagic.com

The Premiere Theater on Streets of America will be home to this year's Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

The fun begins on December 19 2015, with six shows per day through January 2 2016.

Show times are 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM.

The Magic Kingdom officially opened the Jungle Cruise Skipper Canteen on December 16 2015 in Adventureland.

No reservations are yet being accepted, although is expected to change in the new year.

The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, and perhaps surprisingly and unlike the most

recently opened restaurant, Be Our Guest, the Skipper Canteen does not serve alcohol.

The full menu is below.

Appetizers

S.E.A. Shu Mai

 A legendary blend of Pork, Shrimp, Mung Beans, and Spices wrapped in Gyoza Skin then steamed $10

Baladi Salad

 Classic Egyptian Salad consisting of a mix of Hearts of Romaine, Green Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Parsley, and Ambasha Bread tossed with Garlic $9

Falls Family Falafel

 A secret recipe of Chick Peas, Garlic, Onions, Lemon Juice, and Herbs served with White Bean Dip and Tomato-Cucumber Salad $8

Amazon Annie’s House-made Arepas

 A trip down the Amazon with Slow-cooked Beef, Black Beans, Tostones, and Queso Fresco $9.50

Ginger Grog of Hot and Sour Soup

 Flavored with ginger “not the crocodile” garlic, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar finished with fresh egg, tofu, and wood ear mushrooms $7.50

Sustainable Fish Collar

 Broiled Collar served with a green papaya salad and yurt-soy sauce $11

Entrees

Rice Noodle Bowl

 Pho Broth served with choice of Chicken, Duck Breast, or Tofu served with Jalapeños and mix of fresh Herbs. Duck $23, Chicken 422, Tofu $20.

Grilled Lamb Chops

 Seasoned with a North African Berber Style Spice Blend served with green lentils stew $25

A Lot of Steak Salad

 We’re betting it all on this Thai-marinated Flank Steak tossed with Hearts of Romaine, Carrots, Red Peppers, Cucumbers, Red Onions, and Cherry Tomatoes with Asian Dressing $18

Char Shiu Pork

 Marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin Medallions served with Chinese Broccoli and choice of Five-gran or White Rice $23

Curried Vegetable Crew Stew

 Served with Roasted Acorn Squash, Lentils, and Sautéed Collard Greens $17

Skip’s Mac and Cheese

 A typical Egyptian dish consisting of Spiced Ground Beef, Pasta, Béchamel Sauce, served with Broccoli $19

Trader Sam’s Head-On Shrimp

 Sustainable Local Farm Raised Shrimp tossed in a Chili-Garlic Sauce and served with Chinese Broccoli and choice of Five-grain or White rice $25

Sustainable Fish

 “Not Piranha” served over Chinese Broccoli, Carrots, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Red Bell Peppers in a fragrant Lemon Grass Broth (Market price)

“Tastes Like Chicken Because It Is!”

 Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast served with Stir-fried vegetables, Shiitake Fried Rice, and Hoisin Sauce $23

Dr. Falls’ Signature Grilled Steak

 Strip Loin Asado marinated in Sofrito and served with Yuca Planks, Avocado, and House-made Chimichurri $23

Desserts

Sugar-crusted Congee Pudding

 Caramelized Custard with Millet, Almonds, Apricot, Dates, and Honey-Almond Tuile $8

Coconut Bar with Pineapple-Basil Compote and Vanilla Cream

 Vanilla Chiffon Cake with Coconut and Lime–White Chocolate Ganache $8

Bertha’s Banh Bong Lan Cake with Mango Lime Sorbet

 Vanilla Chiffon Cake soaked with Lemon Grass-Ginger syrup $8

Kungaloosh!

 An African-inspired chocolate cake with caramelized banana served with cashew-caramel ice cream topped with coffee dust $8

Several of the Magic Kingdom's meet and greets have returned to their original locations effective this past weekend.

Princess Tiana is back meeting guests in The Glade behind the Christmas store in Liberty Square. This location has been closed for the past few months during the work on the Jungle Cruise Skipper Canteen.

Over in Fantasyland, Lady Tremaine, the Step Sisters and Fairy Godmother are back to meeting by Cinderella Castle. During the mornings, the location is near to Cinderella's fountain on the west side of the castle, and in the afternoons it moves to the east side of the castle by Sir Mickey's.

The pricing for the Memory Maker packages from Disney PhotoPass has been reduced.

The standard Memory Maker package, which can be used immediately on purchase, is now priced at $169, down from $199.

The advance purchase Memory Maker package, which has a 3 day delay before it can be used, is now priced at $149, down from $169.

This marks a return to the original pricing that was in place before the Memory Maker price increase of December 2014.

Guests who purchased the advance Memory Maker package at the higher price are being issued a store credit for use at MyDisneyPhotoPass.com.

Memory Maker gives guests unlimited digital downloads of photos taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers throughout the parks, restaurants and on select attractions.

Disney has also updated its My Disney Experience app with a new PhotoPass product - Memory Maker One Day.

For $59, Memory Maker One Day lets you download digital versions of all your PhotoPass images from a single day.

The new feature is only available from within the My Disney Experience app, available for iPhone and Android. The newly updated version of the app is now available in the respective app stores.

Memory Maker One Day is a new product, and is available in addition to the original Memory Maker packages, priced at $169 for immediate use, and $149 for advance purchase.

Disney has also made a change to the complimentary PhotoPass service at the Disney Visa meet and greet inside Innoventions.

Instead of receiving a free print of one PhotoPass picture, guests will now receive digital downloads of all photos taken during the meet and greet.

California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort to offer new 'Brunch at the Top'

'Brunch at the Top' is now available to book for Sundays beginning February 7 2016 at the California Grill restaurant at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

Priced at $80 for adults, and $48 for ages 3 - 11, the experience begins with breakfast pastries served at the table. Offerings include caramel apple Monkey bread, Tillamook Cheddar biscuit and cranberry scones pecan with house-made jam and orange blossom honey butter.

For drinks, there will be a Bloody Mary Bar as well as cocktails and craft brews, and a signature brunch cocktail and faux “mimosas” for kids.

A visit to the show kitchen lets guests interact with the culinary team while enjoying a sample of small plates, such as house smoked orange honey ham, deviled Lake Meadow Naturals eggs, Greek yogurt with vanilla-scented granola and fresh berries, kale and apple salad, baby iceberg wedge with Cherrywood bacon and avocado-buttermilk Ranch dressing, hardwood smoked salmon, California rolls with jumbo lump crabmeat, spicy tuna rolls and shrimp tempura with orange drizzle and mango.

The main course is delivered table side from a menu including:

Pan-Fried Buttermilk Organic Chicken Cutlet with Haricots Verts, Toasted Almonds, Frisée, Beurre Noisette;

Sweet Potato Pancakes with Caramelized Heirloom Apples, Dried Cranberry and Raisin Compote, Vanilla

Custard, Warm Canadian Maple Syrup;

Shrimp and Grits, Gulf White Shrimp with Tillamook Cheddar Grits, Spicy Tomato Broth,

Espellette-Spiced Tomato Ragout;

Poached Lobster Benedict with Butter-Poached Tail, Two Soft-Poached Eggs, Honey Ham,

Yuzu Hollandaise, Marble Potato Hash;

Chef’s Frittata with Three Lake Meadow Farms Eggs, Florida Heirloom Tomatoes, Roasted Poblanos, Chorizo, Creamy Goat Cheese, Marble Potato Hash;

Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Soft Poached Eggs, Chimichurri, Marble Potato Hash and Charred Red Onion.

Finally, a sweet ending with mini-desserts including macarons and chocolate truffles.

Reservations can be made now online or via 407-WDW-DINE. Brunch is served each Sunday from February 7, between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

Disney has now deployed metal detectors to the park entrances and introduced a new policy 

prohibiting toy guns and adult costumes.

Three metal detectors are now in place at the Magic Kingdom alongside the bag check area. A random sampling of guests will be sent through the scanners, which are being operated by a third party security firm, CSC.

A new policy also now states:

Costumes may not be worn by guests ages 14 or older.

Weapons or objects that appear to be weapons, including toy guns, are strictly prohibited.

Disney has also removed from sale toy guns at its retail locations around the Walt Disney World Resort.