Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on May 31, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:

Banners for Toy Story Mania in Downtown Disney


Another Toy Story Mania ad, this one in the Esplanade


Cast Members at the parking toll booths are passing out flyers for the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries


The It’s a Small World train has been stripped down to the bear


The pond underneath Gadget’s Go Coaster has gone dry while the connecting water for Donald’s Boat is drained during the Boat’s refurbishment


The fire truck in front of the Toontown Fire Depot is missing


The article (linked above) has a detailed look at the Create Your Own Ear Hat station in the Gag Factory in Mickey’s Toontown


A look at the new Hot Dog Hut’s menu

Lights, Camera, Rumor Control!!!

WDWNT on May 30, 2008

Just wanted to take a moment to clear up two rumors about the future of Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

-The space next to Toy Story Midway Mania (known as sound-stage 1) is not being prepared for Pixar Place area expansion at this time. As we reported in April, the space will be the merchandise location for Star Wars Weekends at the Studios beginning in June. I even took a peek inside the studio this week to be sure, and all that I saw were boxes and shelves full of merchandise.

-Of course there has been another leak about the new Star Tours attraction in development (as if there was any doubt this was happening) this week. From what I have been told, the attraction will either close later this year or right after the conclusion of the 2009 Star Wars Weekends at the Studios. Either way, the current feeling is that the attraction can not miss a Star Wars Weekend event during this lengthy refurbishment, so It can only be closed for a year at the most.

The Happiest Cruise That Ever Got Laughs

WDWNT on May 29, 2008

The Jungle Cruise attraction returned into service at the Magic Kingdom this past Memorial Day weekend with a few noticeable changes. The first thing you should notice while aboard is that most of the props and sets throughout the attraction have been repainted and repaired, all looking practically brand new. Besides the general maintenance, some of the audio-animatronics characters from the attraction are still missing or have been removed. The Tiger from the cave scene and Chief Nami (the man holding the two shrunken heads near the very end) were still missing from the attraction as of early Wendesday morning. WDW News Today will be sure to keep an eye on the attraction in the coming weeks, as it is believed that this was only the first phase of a larger refurbishment that thisclassic Magic Kingdom attraction will be receiving in the near future.

Tomorrowland Mess-Up

WDWNT on May 29, 2008

The final article dealing with the New Tomorrowland of 1998 is going to be an overview of all the changes made, not involving an entirely new attraction or exhibit. This one’s going to be quite big, so let’s get straight to it:


A look at the 1998 Tomorrowland sign (the Disneyland logo has since been removed)


The out-of-place, yet beautiful Astro Orbitor


Walt Disney’s Dedication of Tomorrowland


Star Tours received new decorations on its sign…


… And exterior. But that’s about it for Star Tours


All the Star Trader got was a gold trim


The Starcade remained pretty much the same (the upper floor has since been walled off to guest use)


The 1998 Tomorrowland Terrace Stage


In 2000, it was changed to Club Buzz, & then returned to the original Tomorrowland Terrace design in 2006


Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port replaced Mission to Mars (in the right-hand corner, you can see the 98 Space Mountain sign)


A look inside the restaurant


A new version of the Moonliner adorns the entrance to Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port


Cosmic Waves, the run-around water playground…


The spraying water was removed due to the seats in Honey, I Shrunk the Audience getting slightly damaged after wet visitors coming in


Space Mountain got a rather ugly new color scheme


The Autopia got a temporary new sign, before it was completely re-done into the version we have today in 2000


The Tomorrowland Train Station also got a new design

I truly hope you enjoyed the past week’s series on the New Tomorrowland of 1998. We’ll definitely be doing something like this again the next time a big anniversary comes around!

MouseTimes DCA Picture Update

WDWNT on May 29, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on at Disney’s California Adventure from the latest DLR Update on MouseTimes:


The Hot Dog Hut by the Sun Wheel is now open


“We Have the Best of the Wurst!”


A look at the Toy Story Midway Mania queue


A look inside the attraction’s exit


The new Paradise Pier/Toy Story Midway Mania cast member costumes

Mark VII Mini Attraction Poster Product Release & Signing

WDWNT on May 28, 2008

Event: Monorail Mark VII Mini Attraction Poster Product Release & Signing
Special Guest: Scot Drake – Principal Concept Designer, Walt Disney Imagineering
Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008
Time: 9 AM to 11 AM
Location: Disneyana Shop, Main Street, U.S.A.

Event Information:
Join us Sunday, June 8, 2008, as we celebrate the release of our newest mini attraction poster commemorating the Monorail Mark VII by Walt Disney Imagineer & Principal Concept Designer, Scot Drake. Scot has captured the sleek, elegant modern design of the new Monorail Mark VII as it travels high above the waters of Tomorrowland on its circumnavigation of the Disneyland® Resort. Scot will be on hand for a special appearance and signing from 9:00AM to 11:00AM at the Disneyana Shop on Main Street, U.S.A.

The Monorail Mark VII open edition mini attraction poster comes matted and will be available for $35, plus tax. Dimensions: 14″ x 18″.

In addition, we will offer a framed set featuring two mini attraction posters – the 1959 Monorail Mark I and the 2008 Monorail Mark VII. See Image Below. This open edition framed set will be available for $195, plus tax.

Artist will only sign his respective artwork purchased at the Disneyana Shop on the day of the event. Limit TWO (2) items signed per Guest. Artist appearances are subject to space and availability and are not guaranteed.

A Great Big World of Innoventions

WDWNT on May 28, 2008

The next article dealing with the New Tomorrowland of 1998 is going to be about Innoventions. Again, this article will be a pictorial article. So, let’s get to it:


A look at the construction of Innoventions in March of 1998


Innoventions on opening day, May 22nd 1998


The Innoventions sign


The amazing Tom Morrow animatronic (or should I say Timkeeper?), too bad he’s gone now!


General Motor’s Sparky


The Tree of Tomorrow (really imaginative *sarcasm*)


Innoventions with the 2005 color scheme… It’s much nicer now!

Tomorrow, the last of our New Tomorrowland articles, on the overall New Tomorrowland of 1998!

Checking In From The World

WDWNT on May 28, 2008

Hello everybody, Tom Corless here reporting from the Walt Disney World Resort in Orland, Florida. It has been a fun and hectic nine days here, but I’ll be returning home to New York tomorrow evening. I apologize for the lack of news lately, but here are some tidbits to tide you over until we are fully operational again on May 29.

-Toy Story Midway Mania was operating perfectly at Disney’s Hollywood Studios the first few days of my vacation, but has suffered greatly from the addition of the fastpass system this past weekend. The stand-by line moved very fast prior to the changes, but wait times after the changes went up to 2 hours in length, despite what the estimated time was stated to be. Expect either limited fastpass distribution or the removal of the system from the attraction sometime in the near future. Also expect the new store and dining location across the street inside the Pixar Studios area to open during the later part of June.

-Work on Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa continues as the entire pool area is slated to be refurbished over the next week or so. In addition, the now delayed new flooring for the main building will be arriving in September and should be in place before the holiday season.

-The Mad Tea Party will be closed for refurbishment May 28th, 2008.

-The Jungle Cruise, Ariel’s Grotto, and Cinderella’s Golden Carousel re-opened from refurbishment recently and are all looking great. The Carousel has received new loading gates that are really well themed and decorated. Expect pictures from me later this week of all of these changes plus other items from my ten day trip.

Honey, I Replaced Captain EO!

WDWNT on May 27, 2008

The next article dealing with the New Tomorrowland of 1998 is going to be about Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Again, this article will be a pictorial article, as Yesterland already has a wonderful article up dealing with the history of this attraction!

Of course, there’s not much to be shared about the film itself, seeing as it’s in 3D, & pictures are strictly forbidden on attractions like this one. But, let’s get to it:


Captain EO was the original film in this spot. Previously it was an outdoor stage


Honey, I Shrunk the Audience opened with the rest of the New Tomorrowland on May 22nd, 1998


This promotional picture greatly over-exaggerates the Dog’s presence in the attraction


A look inside the theater


These 3 posters are featured in the outdoor waiting area (this picture is actually from Journey into Imagination with Figment in Epcot, but the the posters are the same at both attractions)


Soon, the Disneyland logo from the top of the attraction’s sign was removed


For the Happiest Homecoming on Earth, one of 50 “Hidden 50s” was placed on the sign


A look at the attraction’s entrance with the 2005 Tomorrowland color scheme

Tomorrow, a look at Innoventions!

Blue Sky Cellar or Theater?

WDWNT on May 26, 2008

MouseInfo has posted an interesting tidbit on the DLR Preview Center, as well as the Carthay Circle Theater that’s going in to DCA:

First off, the recently closed Seasons of the Vine will soon be turned into the Blue Sky Cellar and will be the new DCA Expansion Preview center to find all the new concept art and models for the upcoming expansion. This should be opening in August.

The Walt Disney Plaza and the entrance remodel is supposed to be completed just in time for DCA’s 10th Anniversary in 2011. At this time, the Blue Sky Cellar will close as the Preview center and the displays will be moved into the more spacious Carthay Circle Theater to continue highlighting the remaining changes to Paradise Pier and the new Carsland.