Nerds Rock, Price Wackiness and Disney Store Online Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

A few news and notes about today…

Cupid “Love is Blind” 9″ Holiday 2 figure from Q. Kimbal is available at the Disney Store Online (as well as D-Street in ORL and CA). Grab it while you can… LE 450. Retail is $48.95. Beautiful detail on this piece.

Flags 12 figure open window figures are at the Disney Store Online. $9.95.

WDW 40th anniversary open window 6 figures are available at the Disney Store Online for $12.95. Odd story here. That was the price at D-Street Orlando, but under the sticker you could see there was a $16.95 price tag. Well, when the set was put up online this morning, it was selling for $16.95. They have since reduced it back down to $12.95. It’s a nice retro looking set, but 17 bucks would have been a bit much for these.

9″ and 3″ combo Urban 5 Racecar and Driver set BACK up for sale online. I just grabbed one for $74.95. There is a promo code for $5 shipping right now… SHIPFIFTY

A Trading Event at WDW was announced. March 18th from 6pm – 9pm at the Contemporary Resort. We will have more information on this as the date approaches, but mark your calendars now.

And some a new release date: February 18th!

Both Disneyland and WDW will see the release of 9″ Park 5 Fantasmic and 9″ Park 5 Tree of Life. Also, the much anticipated open window Nerds Rock series. Here is a look at the Chip, Dale and Donald figures, as well as some of the Nerds Rock Disney merchandise as a sneak peak at what the other figures could be.

From Festival of the Masters
Can’t wait for Stitch!
Pattern from pajamas
Disney Park Merchandise with Nerds Rock

Villains afoot (well, in hand)

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

!!For more info check out Villains Explained!!

A fellow tweeter of ours got his hands on a set of Villains 1 and took some really nice pictures of them. Thanks so much @keithkrebs for these well shot photos!

Check out the whole cast up close and personal!

Some notes:
$9.95 price tag (12.95 in Canada)
Pete is the triplet.
Click on the final pic for a shot of the chaser.

Click on Mystery Chaser for a shot of the chaser.

All photos by @keithkrebs.

Al Weiss Announces Retirement

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

From Thomas Smith on the Disney Parks Blog:

We have some news to share today regarding a key member of the Disney team. Al Weiss, former head of Walt Disney World and current President of Worldwide Operations for all of Disney Parks and Resorts, has decided to retire after almost 39 years with the company. Al started off working at Walt Disney World as a teenager and will leave his imprint on so many aspects of our business. Some of the highlights of his tenure include launching Disney Cruise Line, opening Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World and integrating worldwide park operations. Al’s official retirement date will be November 1 of this year. To learn more about Al’s announcement please click on the link below.

Letter to Cast from Al Weiss

Walt Disney Parks & Resort Chairman Tom Staggs shared the following statement in response to Al’s announcement:

“Al Weiss has made a profound mark on Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and the accomplishments and milestones that encompass his legacy are many. He spent his whole professional life with Disney, literally growing up in the company — and most notably serving as an integral part of Walt Disney World through most of its history. That experience enabled him to have a genuine appreciation for and true understanding of all that our cast do, and all that our guests expect. His relentless pursuit of excellence and his passion for the guest experience are unsurpassed, and have been an inspiration to many.

I thank Al for his decades of service and wish him well as he enters a new chapter in his life.”

“One More Disney Day” Could Mean 24 Hours of Disney Parks on 2/29/12!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The Walt Disney World website was already calling the 2012 leap year “The Year of More Magic”, it now appears Disney Parks will be giving us “One More Disney Day” with an announcement during Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. The rumor floating around is that the Disney Parks in the U.S. will be open from the beginning to the end of Leap Day, February 29, 2012. If this is the case, this will be the first time in the history of the parks that they operated for over a day without closing. Again, this is just a rumor at this time, but we fully expect this to be the announcement made on December 31, 2011. Stay tuned as more information becomes available.

On a side note, the official site confirms the end of “Let the Memories Begin” on December 31, 2011.

Disney Parks Management Shake Up Shakes Up Fans

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

What began quietly with a job swap between Hollywood Studios VP Rilous Carter and Epcot VP Dan Cockerell has now exploded into a full Disney Parks management shake-up. In the days following, Walt Disney Parks and Resort president Al Weiss “retired” after 39 years with the company, prompting Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Tom Staggs to announce that the position would not be filled. Now, the plans become clear…

Walt Disney World president Meg Crofton now finds herself as president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France. No longer is she only president over Disney World, but now over the Disneyland Resort & Disneyland Resort Paris as well. Crofton has been president of Walt Disney World since 2006 and has been with the company for over 30 years.

Karl Holz, president, New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line, will take on a new leading role for Disney Vacation Club, in addition to maintaining roles at Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Aulani.

What does this change mean for the Disney Parks and Resorts during this time of rapid expansion? Probably good things. Disneyland Resort & Disneyland Resort Paris have not been sound in theme park operations. Basic crowd for control for parades & shows at Disneyland are a nightmare, the way shops and restaurants are operated are appalling, and on too many occasions I have seen hourly cast members handle guests in the most un-Disney ways. Upkeep of the parks is no better in California either, I have seen my share of ride breakdowns and missing/non-working effects on the west coast. As for Disneyland Paris, the recent boost in funds for park upkeep are no doubt coming from management shake-ups there.

Some fans are heralding this as the beginning of another dark age for the Parks and Resorts, which is probably a little overdramatic. Under this management, Florida and California are seeing the biggest construction projects in their history and Disneyland Paris is slowly turning the corner on two decades of under performance. Without a doubt, the future of the Parks and Resorts will be announced at the D23 Expo, projects that will take us beyond Cars Land and the Fantasyland Expansion. I think only at that point can we judge if the direction is for better or for worse.

Walt Disney World Ticket Prices To Rise June 12th

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

To nobody’s surprise, Walt Disney World ticket prices are going to rise on June 12th. Here’s the story from Thomas Smith on the Disney Parks Blog:

We wanted to let you know that ticket prices are increasing at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. The new prices go into effect on June 12, but today we’re sharing an early look at pricing details as well as some existing special values for Florida and California residents.

At Walt Disney World Resort, the Magic Your Way ticket offers a variety of options for you to customize your ticket purchase and save on your visit. Florida residents can also take advantage of the monthly payment plan we launched last year to give them greater flexibility when they purchase an annual pass. All updated pricing isposted on the Blog and also will be added to http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets-passes/.

And at Disneyland Resort, details about ticket prices are posted on a special page we’ve created on the Disney Parks Blog. The information will also be available at http://disneyland.disney.go.com/tickets/ on June 12, including details about special summer values for Southern California and Northern Baja residents, as well as our Southern California resident pass, which is more popular than ever with the monthly payments option.

 

Return to the Enchanted Tiki Room and More From D23’s Destination D

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

As if Star Tours wasn’t enough news for one weekend out team is attending Destination D as well.  One of the biggest annoucments today of course is the return of the Enchanted Tiki Room, which will feature a new show according to the Disney Parks Blog which is “reminiscent of the original show”. Here is a quick photo report from the team at Destination D thus far. Sorry for the quality but we wanted to get them to you as soon as we could. Stay tuned for a full report from Tom and the team when they return next week from all the events.

New Logo…Very Retro

-A recap of some Star Tours concept art and pre-show was covered with Imagineer Jason Surell. Surell commented that he didn’t want the Hoth battle in Star Tours since it didn’t fit the story but Lucas’s reaction was “who cares”.

The presentation continued with the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Read More about Return to the Enchanted Tiki Room and More From D23’s Destination D

Exclusive WDW Fantasyland Construction Aerial Photos

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

by Nick LoCicero

Why hop on Dumbo and peak over the WDW Fantasyland expansion construction fence when I can hop aboard a chopper and see it from up a little higher I hope you enjoy these exclusive pictures just as much as I enjoyed taking them on Wednesday. I posted these at OrlandoSkyRadio.com and have many more WDW pics to share from that flight, but these I wanted to get to you right away.

Click here for more photos

Park 7 Photoshoot

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Park 7 is for sure one of my favorite sets of 2011. It’s a brilliant celebration of 40 years of Walt Disney World. Austin and I took Park 7 around WDW to let the figures play around all four parks. As always, there are plenty more photos from this shoot on our Facebook page.