ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs is making plans to lay off more than 450 workers.

According to a notice posted on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website Monday, the company plans 468 layoffs to take place between Jan. 6 and 19.

In February Planet Hollywood announced it was transforming its Orlando flagship location into a four-story stargazing observatory set to debut in spring 2016. The renovations are scheduled to begin early next year.

Disney Springs, formerly named Downtown Disney, is going through its largest expansion in history. It is set for completion in 2016 and will grow to about 150 shopping, dining and entertainment venues.

Disney News Today Reports:

The first-ever MagicBand on Demand kiosk may have already opened at Walt Disney World inside the Tomorrowland Power & Light Co. building at the exit of Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom. Disney quickly posted and retracted the story about the MagicBand on Demand system earlier this morning.

While we don’t have any more details yet, it appears guests will be able to choose the color of their MagicBand, a design (those seen above and many more to choose from), and perhaps may be able to customize the inside of the band with an inscription of some kind. We are still waiting on more details on this process and we expect confirmation from Disney shortly.

UPDATE: We have since found out that guests may choose between the 8 MagicBand colors (which now includes purple) and names can be placed on the exterior of the band based on the design you choose. Custom MagicBands are $21.95, $29.95 if personalized with a name.

I have passed by this hut many many times and never noticed till today. As I was getting of the ferry i notice a man go up to the security guard that stands by the exit to the park. They walked up to the locker and he took out something from his waistband and stuck it into the locker.

Noticed on top of Castas #5 at Coronado Springs Resort

They have started setup for the last time.

Just some shots of their radios

Over the weekend, Disney surprised their annual pass holders by announcing they were changing the options for annual passes for both Disneyland and Disney World with some of the passes seeing an over 30% price increase.  Meanwhile, the company is considering demand ticket pricing which would see higher ticket prices on busier days. Hit the jump to read about the Disneyland pass price increase and more.

Here is a look at the Disneyland Annual pass changes:

• The Premier pass, which includes admission into both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida, as well as parking and Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads has been raised to $1,439 from $1,099, a 31% increase.
• Disney Signature Plus Pass is new, and basically a replacement of the former Premium pass, allowing unlimited Disneyland and Disney California Adventure admission (no blockout dates) with parking and Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads for $1049, a 35% increase compared to the comparable former Premium pass.
• Disney Signature Pass is also new, and includes unlimited admission to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure admission except for a two week block during the holidays (December: 19th through January 2nd). The pass sells for$849, is $70 more than the former Premium pass which offered no blockout dates. Parking and Digital PhotoPassPlus downloads are also included.
• The Deluxe Pass went from $549 to $599 (up 9%) and the Southern California Select pass went from $299 to $329(up 10%).

To give you an idea how high these prices have gotten, the Premium pass which would allow you no blockout dates to both Disneyland Resort parks was only $349 a decade ago (the comparable Disney Signature Plus Pass is $1049 just ten years later). The SoCal Select Pass for local residents cost only $119, compared to almost three times the amount today. Continue reading Demand Ticket Pricing →

Noticed some new construction when walking over the bridge from Adventure Land to Liberty Square.