4/17/08 Jose Eber Update
This time around, I’ll let Jose explain in his video, Enjoy!!!
Haunted Mansion Pin Releases This Friday
Quickly becoming a worthy news headline is the release of 8 Haunted Mansion pins on Friday April 18, 2008 that will be available individually, in a packaged collectors set, and in a framed set. While these pins were initially released and caused a buzz among Disney Pin Traders a few months ago, the release location and information for these pins have changed three times in the last month. After the release of a single Haunted Mansion pin in January (limited edition of 500 pin featuring a skeletal Master Gracey reaching from the grave) caused quite a ruckus at the Magic Kingdom, it seems Disney is re-evaluating how to handle these larger releases of pins pertaining to the Haunted Mansion. If you’re wondering why this is, well, it’s because any pin featuring The Haunted Mansion attraction is extremely desirable by most pin traders. Anyway, getting back to the realease this Friday; Disney has now changed the release and wristband distribution location for this collection to Downtown Disney’s Pin Traders store. Here is the new release information disneypins.com had today:
 We have some important information to share regarding the upcoming pin release for The Haunted Mansion® on April 18. Based on Guest feedback and to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all Guests, we have moved the release location for this collection to Disney’s Pin Traders located at the Downtown Disney® Marketplace.
Here are the revised wristband distribution guidelines for this release:
Wristbands will be distributed entitling bearers to the opportunity to purchase limited edition pins released in association with The Haunted Mansion® Pin release. Wristbands for pins will be distributed at the entrance to Disney’s Pin Traders near the Pin Trading Table area starting at 9:00 a.m. Disney’s Pin Traders will open at 9:30 a.m. Wristbands will be distributed while supplies last.Holding a place in line for others in your party will not be allowed. Guests who wish to obtain a wristband to purchase a pin must be present when the line forms or they will be escorted to the back of the line. The queue for Guests will start at 6:00 a.m. at the entrance to Disney’s Pin Traders near the Pin Trading Table area. We kindly ask that Guests do not queue in that area prior to 6:00 a.m. Overnight queues will not be permitted.
Wristbands will be valid for the purchase of the pins at Disney’s Pin Traders until 12:00 p.m. on the day of distribution. Wristbands are limited. At 12:00 p.m., any remaining pins will be available for purchase at Disney’s Pin Traders location by persons who have not previously purchased the pin(s) on the day of release. Lost, stolen or damaged wristbands will not be replaced. Wristbands have no cash value. Restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice.
While those of you either new to or could care less about Disney Pin Trading, you may be a little shocked at this process and the fact that a number of people will be sitting outside this store at 6am. Well, “consider this dismaying observation”, this was actually a regular occurrence in the early days of pin trading at both the Disney Parks and Disney Stores. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we hope to provide coverage of what we hope will be a smooth pin release this Friday at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Prince Caspian is Going to Hollywood
Disney has put out a press release for the upcoming “Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian” exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Scheduled to open summer 2008 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian will offer guests interactive experiences. Guests will be able to:
-Enter the fascinating world behind the making of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
–Meet Prince Caspian
-Explore Aslan’s stone table chamber set
-Experience an exclusive opportunity to see behind the scenes footage, original concept art, storyboards, props, and costumes from the making of the film.
The actual opening date of the exhibit will probably be around May 24, 2008, however, I don’t doubt that it will open a few days early to coincide with the official opening of Toy Story Mania on May 20.
Monorail Red Set to Debut at Disneyland as Blue Arrives
Disneyland begins riderless daytime tests of the Mark VII Monorail Red next week in anticipation of a public debut by mid-May, Disney officials said.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) could sign off on Monorail Red as early as this week, clearing the way for employee test runs and eventually park visitors, a Disney spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the shrink-wrapped Monorail Blue trains recently arrived at Disneyland via flatbed truck, according to MiceAge’s Dateline Disneyland column. Late last week, sections of Blue were lowered by crane onto the beamway and pushed into the backstage roundhouse, according to MiceAge’s Monday in the Parks column.
Nighttime testing of Monorail Blue is scheduled to begin in early May, Disney officials said.
In late March, Disney put to rest persistent Internet chat room rumors that Monorail Red would have to be sent back to the assembly plant in Canada for major modifications.
The Mark VII’s sleek iconic exterior features color-shifting paint with gray pinstriping that evokes the stainless-steel side panels of the 1959 original designed by Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Indiana Jones Stunt Show Coming to Disneyland
Following very quickly in the steps of our sister site, WDW News Today, I was very happy to see Disneyland News Today linked to in an article on the LA Times Travel Blog! This link was included in an article published yesterday about the new Indiana Jones show for Adventureland:
Indiana Jones swings into Disneyland this summer in a live-action stunt show timed to coincide with the fourth installment of the movie series, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
The Anaheim theme park is casting actors with combat experience for the Indy role, a duplicitous female archaeologist and a physically imposing bad guy for “The Summer of Hidden Mysteries,” a staged show to be performed on the balconies, rooftops and streets of Adventureland, according to the Disneyland auditions website. Park visitors would be enlisted to help solve mysteries and uncover ancient artifacts during the performance.
The stunt show ties together the highly anticipated movie opening, May 22, with the theme park’s Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye attraction.
According to the casting call:
* The Indiana Jones character, a rugged adventurer in his 40s, tosses off comic lines, throws a punch and interacts well with children — all with equal ability.* The female archaeologist, in her late 20s to early 40s with an English accent, starts out kind and helpful but eventually reveals a villainous side.
* The bad guy, a brute with physical agility and stamina, pursues Jones through the crowded streets of Adventureland before a culminating series of balcony and rooftop confrontations.
If the new Indiana Jones movie proves successful, the Disneyland stunt show could take up residence in Adventureland’s current Aladdin’s Oasis theater through Christmas, according to MiceAge’s Al Lutz.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
A New “Dream Prize”
We’re hearing that, like with the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage last year, exclusive first rides for Toy Story Mania will be given out as prizes in the Year of a Million Dreams.
Of course this is only a rumor, but seeing as it happened last year, it’s likely to happen again this year!
Up With Kim Irvine!
Today at 2:30pm on KCRW 89.9FM, they had an interview with Imagineer Kim Irvine, talking about the planned It’s a Small World changes.
To describe the interview, here’s an excerpt from this thread on MiceChat by Master Gracey:
The segment just ended… Unsurprisingly, WDI failed to address the issue yet again.
This is NOT about aesthetics — we know that they’re going to make the additions look like Mary Blair’s work — that is NOT the issue.
The issue is that the characters simply don’t fit the theme of the show — not the aesthetic theme, but the theme in terms of message and intent.
But Disney just isn’t willing to address that concern. They keep coming out and saying the same old “Disneyland is not a museum” and Walt Disney liked change with a lot of buzz words like “relevance.”
And as for the America scene — the KCRW host said “By the way, about that Papua New Guinea rainforest scene and whether it will be replaced with a themed display called ‘Up with America,’ Kim told me that no firm decision has yet been made.”
You can direct download this interview from the KCRW website here (half of the interview is something to do with architecture)!
4/14/08 Jose Eber Update
Jose Eber returns with another video update from Walt Disney World!!! This time, Jose updates us on American Idol and Pixar Place construction, as well as some other minor updates from Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Enjoy!!!
Snow White Exhibit Removal Official
The latest addition to the Attractions Refurbishment list, is a short refurb of the Disney Animation building in Disney’s California Adventure. This refurb is just to remove the 70th Anniversary of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Exhibit. It will close on April 28th, & re-open on May 2nd.
Check out our Attractions Refurbishment page for up-to-the-date attraction refurbs!
Fort Wilderness Facelift
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — An outdoor adventure that has been a favorite with Walt Disney World guests since 1971 is receiving some enhancements. As part of a resort-wide renovation project, on now, changes are coming or already in place across the 700 acres of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.
“Over the last 37 years, the average length of an RV has increased by 27 feet,” says Fort Wilderness spokesperson Darcy Cormier. “Many feature ‘slide outs’ that mechanically extend from the sides of the vehicle.”
To address the needs of today’s larger vehicles, an intensive effort will widen and lengthen the concrete parking pads while maintaining privacy and tranquility provided by natural vegetation. A new “Premium” campsite will be available that features extra large concrete pads for larger vehicles — also upgrades to existing amenities such as picnic tables and grills.
The main pool at Fort Wilderness will be enhanced with a themed water slide, hot tub and children’s wet play area. The pool’s deep end has been made shallower.
Nestled in the woodlands, the resort’s 409 Wilderness Cabins feature brand-new furniture, carpeting, fixtures and linens — plus a fresh coat of paint. Each spacious cabin features more than 500 square feet of air-conditioned living space as well as a private patio deck with a charcoal grill and picnic table. The master bedroom sleeps four with a full-sized bed and set of bunk beds, while the separate living room sleeps two with a full-sized pull-down bed. All cabins also feature vaulted ceilings, color cable television, DVD player, telephone and a spacious oval dining table. Daily housekeeping service is provided to all Wilderness Cabins.
“With all of the comforts of home, the Wilderness Cabins are perfect for guests who want to wind down in a tranquil, relaxing atmosphere after a fun-filled day at the theme parks,” said Jean Gallagher, general manager of Fort Wilderness.
Fort Wilderness has always been the pet-friendly choice for guests to Walt Disney World Resort, and now dogs are getting a playground of their own at the newly opened Waggin’ Trails Dog Park, an off-leash play area.
Of course there is plenty of recreation for humans, too, including horseback riding, fishing excursions, nature trail exploration, boat rentals, volleyball, tennis, bike rentals and the new Wilderness Back Trail Adventure, where guests can experience, first-hand, a Segway X2 Personal Transporter. Guests can unwind on a white sand beach, play a leisurely game of shuffleboard, take the little ones on a pony ride or enjoy an evening horse-drawn wagon ride around the resort.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is located in the Magic Kingdom resort area on the banks of Bay Lake. Convenient boat transportation to Magic Kingdom and motorcoach transportation to all Walt Disney World destinations, including Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is provided.
For more information, or to make reservations at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, visit www.wdwcamp.com or call 407/WDW-CAMP. To book the two-hour guided Segway X2 experience, contact 407/WDW-TOUR.