The Goat Is Gone Again!
According to various reports, the Goat is once again missing from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I’m guessing again it’s just for regular maintenance, & he should return soon.
One Monster Coaster
Just as we briefly mentioned at the end of last week, rumors are swirling that an inverted roller coaster themed to Disney Pixar’s Monsters Inc. will be the next major new attraction for the Walt Disney World Resort after the opening of the American Idol Experience this January. Our good friend Jim Hill over at Jim Hill Media had a lengthy article about the proposed Hollywood Studios roller coaster today, although he did go into more detail on some other upcoming projects as well.
Jim also mentioned two new attractions that were first rumored to the public right here on WDW News Today over the course of the last year. First mentioned was that the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure will be themed to “A Bug’s Life” (probably in the very-near future), and next was the Little Mermaid dark ride that will most likely be heading over to Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom in October of 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for updates on all of these very strong rumors, and be sure to read Jim Hill’s article HERE.
Some Imagination, Huh?
A press release about entertainment at Walt Disney World was just released. Part of it shows that during the slower times of year, Fantasmic will only be performed 2 nights a week:
We regularly evaluate and refine our operations. At the same time we unveil The American Idol Experience in January 2009, we will make an adjustment to our operation by offering Fantasmic! on select evenings each week. Fantasmic! will be performed two times weekly –generally Mondays and Thursdays – and more often during our busiest times of the year.
On nights when Fantasmic! is not performed, Guests (with appropriate ticket media) will continue to have the opportunity to enjoy nightly fireworks spectaculars such as Wishes at the Magic Kingdom® Park and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot®.
Showtimes will be published for Guests in the Times Guide, which is available at the theme parks, and online at disneyworld.com.
Weekend Round-Up
It’s been a news filled past few days, & there’s been a few things that we haven’t reported, as well as some updates, that were covered in this week’s Monday in the Parks update on MiceAge. Let’s take a look through some of the news pieces brought up:
- After going missing for a second time in a year, the Goat in Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has returned.
- We here at Disneyland News Today reported earlier this week on the closing of the Vineyard Room at Disney’s California Adventure on August 31st. Well apparently, for the last few years, the restaurant has only been opening on weekends, & it seems that these last few weekends that it’s supposed to be opened… Well basically, it won’t be. Again, it’s not confirmed, but highly likely.
- Last Friday, both the Green Army Men stand before the security check & the Honda Pilot display in the Esplanade were removed, & everything is back to normal in that general area.
- Also, the All-American College Band had its last performance at Disneyland last Friday, due to the performers heading back to school.
- The Magic Morning early entry to Disneyland Park for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests that is usually offered on Sundays, will not be offered Sunday August 31st due to the Disneyland Half Marathon. It will instead be offered Saturday August 30th.
And now a couple of pieces of news in pictures:
As we reported earlier this week, the Grand Marshall Pre-Parade to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams no longer features the dancers, characters, or the Year of a Million Dreams banner at the beginning
Yesterday at 5:45pm, Ariel made her final ever exit from Ariel’s Grotto
Models, Concept, & Interviews of Beauty
Laughing Place attended the media event in the Disneyland Opera House announcing the return of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. Be sure to check out their latest LP Lotion for interviews with Tony Baxter & his fellow Imagineers, as well as pictures of models & concept art from the new & old version of this attraction.
New Bread ODV Cart in DCA
There is now a new ODV cart selling Boudin Bakery bread (obviously from the Bakery Tour in Pacific Wharf) under the Golden Gate Bridge in DCA. This is something I noticed on my last visit, but I forgot to take a picture of it. MouseTimes however did:
Be sure to check out the latest DLR Pictorial on MouseTimes for more coverage from through-out the Disneyland Resort, including the festivities for the 53rd anniversary!
Dateline Disneyland Picture Update
Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:
A peek behind the construction walls outside the old Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
For about a couple of weeks now, Power City in Innovention’s Project Tomorrow hasn’t been operating
And the Future Choice Stations seem to be “coming soon” again
The vintage ticket display in Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years has returned
I would like to advise everyone to check this article to see some of the lovely merchandise released for the 45th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room (the link is at the top of the post).
A Little More Awoken
MousePlanet has received a little more information on the soon to re-open Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough that was announced earlier today, as well as a picture of a model of the attraction (pictured bellow). Be sure to check it out!
A Real Passholder Event!!! (Finally)
It seems there may actually be an event that is exclusive to Walt Disney World Passholders coming this September:
Saturday and Sunday, September 27 & 28, you’re (Walt Disney World Passholders) invited to an exclusive Magic Kingdom screening of the eagerly anticipated new animated feature, Tinker Bell. You’ll be seeing it more than three weeks before the general public does on DVD and Blu-ray October 28!
From the storytellers at Walt Disney Picturescomes a spectacular, full-length CG animated featurefilled with magic and asventure starring Tinker Bell. It takes you into the secret world of Pixie Hollow, where you’ll hear Tinker Bell speak for the very first time.
This imaginative new film also introduces you to delightful new friends in Pixie Hollo-a place coming soon to Magic Kingdom park, where you’ll be able to meet Tinker Bell, Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta and Silvernist in person!
Passholder Screening Fun Facts:
Saturday and Sunday, September 27 & 28
Magic Kingdom Park
For show times & to sign up,
visit disneyworld.com/passholder
(note: registration is not yet available)
Not only does this article in the August issue of the Mickey Monitor release the event information, it is the first actual confirmation of the addition of a Pixie Hollow meet and greet area to the Magic Kingdom. Stay tuned to WDW News Today to find out when registration for this special event will open.
It’s Back! And It’s Official!
July 17, 2008 – Anaheim, CA – The interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland will open in time for the December holiday season, offering guests a “reawakened” version of its classic walkthrough presentation kissed with vibrant scenes of Aurora, her charming prince, the evil Maleficent and other characters from the beloved fairy tale film.
“It is fitting that we are announcing the return of a classic on the 53rd anniversary of Disneyland,” said Tony Baxter, Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, who unveiled a model of the castle on July 17, the birthday of Disneyland park.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty,” and the excitement generated by the anniversary of the motion picture spurred interest in the return of the Disneyland attraction.
Also celebrating the milestone 50th Anniversary of “Sleeping Beauty” is Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, which will release a two-disc Platinum Blu-ray™ Hi-Def disc, making “Sleeping Beauty” the first Walt Disney animated classic title to be released in high definition, as well as on two-disc Platinum DVD. A bonus feature on the new release will be “The Original Sleeping Beauty Walk-Through Attraction With Walt Disney Imagineering,” an immersive experience recreating the original castle walkthrough.
On April 29, 1957, nearly two years before the premiere of Walt Disney’s animated feature “Sleeping Beauty,” the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough opened with an in-park ceremony featuring Walt Disney and actress Shirley Temple who, some 20 years earlier, had presented Disney with his special Academy Award – one Oscar and seven little ones – for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
The crafting of the 1957 walkthrough show fell to Walt Disney Imagineer Ken Anderson and animation art director and color stylist Eyvind Earle, credited with giving the motion picture “Sleeping Beauty” the distinctive and colorful look of storybook illustrations in medieval style. An entirely new look appeared in 1977 when the attraction’s redesign featured miniature dioramas, including moving figurines similar to the window displays in the shops on Main Street, U.S.A.
When the attraction is unveiled later this year, the “show” will differ from the dioramas of the 1980s and ‘90s, returning to the unique style of the original 1957 show and motion picture. Enhanced with new scenes and special effects magic, the re-Imagineered attraction will employ technology not available in the 1950s to represent scenes from the story of Sleeping Beauty, including the magic of good fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and the more sinister spells of the evil Maleficent.
For the first time, guests who are unable to climb stairs or navigate the passageways of the Castle will be able to experience the walkthrough “virtually” in a special room on the ground floor of the Castle.