Chris Lastrapes’ 8/14 Photo Report

WDWNT on August 15, 2008

Our new staff member Chris Lastrapes is at the Disneyland Resort today & tomorrow, & he’s got some pictures for us from his first day:

The It’s a Small World logo sign is back… New colors once again folks


Here are a few construction shots of It’s a Small World


As previously reported, the Small World flume has been painted


The rather unpredictable goat is currently at Big Thunder Mountain


A look at the Monorail/Railroad roundhouse… Can’t see any of the Mark VII’s


As usual, Monorail Purple was the only Monorail running today


No visible progress over at the Plaza Pavilion


The Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries is due to end after Labor Day


And to end off this photo report, a few shots from the Disneyland Hotel


A nice few out of Chris’ hotel room


I’m guessing this is on the hotel room windows

Stay tuned tomorrow, as Chris should be giving us some more pictures from his day at the parks tomorrow. Also we’re going to have a special video podcast up for you!

New Walt Disney World Resort Discounts Now Available

WDWNT on August 14, 2008

Here are some details on some new discounts Walt Disney World will be offering for those visiting in the fall this year:

If guests purchase a provided 5-night, 6-day Magic Your Way package, they’ll get accommodations for five nights at a select Disney Value Resort or a select Disney Deluxe Villa Resort and a 6-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket for just –

$49* per person, per day for a family of four in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort (total package price is $1,168). These vacation packages are valid for stays most nights Sept. 28 – Nov. 25, Nov. 29 – Dec. 3 and Dec. 13-23, 2008.

or

$94* per person, per day for a family of four in a studio at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa or Disney’s Old Key West Resort (total package price is $2,236). These vacation packages are valid for stays most nights Sept 28 – Oct 1, Oct 24 – Nov 1, Nov 10 – Nov 25, Nov 29 – Dec 3, Dec 13 – 23, 2008.

Discount Booking Codes Are:
DGL – Magic Your Way Package Discount
QXD – Magic Your Way Plus Dining package discount
UVL – Magic Your Way Plus Deluxe Dining Package Discount

*Rates are based on two adults, one junior and one child. The number of packages available at these rates is limited. Theme Park tickets are valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply.

You can get more information and book these special packages through Magical Travel, or get more information by participating in the Trip Planning area of the WDW News Today Community Forums.

Hotel Strike Tonight

WDWNT on August 14, 2008

You might wanna watch out if you’ll be at the Resort tonight, becuase Unite HERE Local 681 will be holding a protest to the Disney Company:

Police to Arrest Mickey Mouse
Clergy and Community Leaders to Join Hotel Workers and
Supporters dressed in Disney Characters in Civil Disobedience

WHO: Orange County Religious and Community Leaders, Labor Leaders, Students, and Hotel Workers

WHAT: A 1,000 person march from the Paradise Pier Hotel to Harbor Blvd. The marchers will block traffic at Harbor Blvd. Approximately 30 people (including workers, Supporters dressed in Disney characters, and clergy) will participate in civil disobedience as they call Disney to “be faithful” to the workers and the community.

WHEN: Thursday, August 14th

LOCATION:
4:30pm — Picket Line at the Paradise Pier Hotel
5:00pm – March from Paradise Pier Hotel
6:00 pm – Civil Disobedience blocking Harbor Blvd.

WHY: DISNEY IS UNFAITHFUL. Approximately 2,300 employees of the Disneyland Hotels, including bellmen, dishwashers, room attendants, and cooks, have been working without a contract since February 2008. Disney is unfaithful to the community and the workers because they do not uphold their espoused family values. Many hotel workers who have given years to the company will be faced with increased difficulty in obtaining healthcare for their families due to the proposals of Disney. The company is proposing to increase both cost and eligibility requirements to these low wage workers for benefits like healthcare, vacation and seniority. This will cause suffering to many workers and their children.

New Pavement, No New Music

WDWNT on August 14, 2008

Earlier this week we had reported that the planned repaving of Main Street that is to be done this winter was shortened from a 2 month job, to just a 2 week job. Well it now seems that it will last 4 weeks, which gives them time to fix up the areas in dire need of work.

We also said that once the repaving of Main Street is done, Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams would return with changes at the beginning of the parade, as well as new show stop music. At the moment, that idea has been scrapped, but you never know what could come up in the rumor mill between now & the winter.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today to find out what happens with Main Street’s pavement & Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams!

A Deceiving Orange

WDWNT on August 14, 2008

Various reports have said that Monorail Orange arrived in the Pongo lot approximately an hour ago. Now we’re not sure if it really did arrive or not, however our new on the spot reporter Chris Lastrapes will be at the Resort tomorrow, & he’ll try find out the latest on the Monorails & the rest of the happenings around the Disneyland Resort!

44 Days To Go!

WDWNT on August 14, 2008

Disney has put up a interactive countdown to Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. It has the same old descriptions as seen from year to year, & also has an old Official Disneyland Resort podcast on Halloween Time linked to. The only really interesting thing is that Golden Screams is not listed, which pretty much confirms that the show will not be returning this year. Could that mean that construction on Little Mermaid will begin this fall? Likely.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for coverage on Disney’s Halloween Time, as well as the conversion of Golden Dreams to The Little Mermaid attraction.

“That is Our Dino!!!”

WDWNT on August 13, 2008

In case you didn’t get the Dinosaur attraction joke in the article title, here are some details on Downtown Disney’s newest resident:

A two-story tall dinosaur is pictured August 13, 2008 being transported on a flatbed truck past a pedestrian crossing sign at the Downtown Disney entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The dinosaur will be featured inside a new restaurant, currently under construction, called “T-Rex: a Prehistoric Family Adventure.” Developed by Schussler Creative, Inc. and operated by Landry’s Restaurants, the 600-seat restaurant will feature dinosaurs, waterfalls, bubbling geysers and a fossil dig site. “T-Rex” will open in mid-October at Downtown Disney. (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Notice that the restaurant is once again ahead of schedule and will now open even earlier than was last reported, Sometime in the middle of October. Stay tuned to WDWNT as we continue to update you on the progress of the T-Rex Restaurant at Downtown Disney.

You Could Be Tinker Bell!

WDWNT on August 13, 2008

The Disney Auditions website is listing an audition for the 5 Disney Fairies characters, to be held this Sunday (August 17th), which ironically is the same day that Ariel’s Grotto is supposed to close.

Seeking females with engaging personalities to portray Disney Fairies, the newest members of our character family. Face Character Look-alikes perform before thousands of guests each day in “meet and greets”, parades and stage shows across the Disneyland® Resort. We are actively seeking performers of all ethnicities!

Roles:

Tinker Bell: 4’11”–5’2”
Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn: 5’2”–5’5”

What is interesting, is that this audition isn’t just for meet ‘n greets, but also for shows & parades, which while adding extra strength to the ever gaining rumor that Tinker Bell will get the role of the opening float in Disney’s Electrical Parade, which perhaps may feature the other 4 Fairies as well, it could also mean a pre-parade float to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams tied into the movie, much like was done with Ratatouille, Enchanted, & The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Hat tip goes to the OC Register…

Electrosynthomagnetic In The 21st Century

WDWNT on August 12, 2008

We have a little update for you on the planned changes to Disney’s Electrical Parade. Sources are reporting that the Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Mine unit, as well as the entire Pinocchio unit, that was used in the parade when it was at Disneyland Park, will arrive backstage at the Resort sometime soon. Several small effects are being tested with the floats currently in use at the moment. Various reports are saying that the new Tinker Bell float has been ordered for the parade, so it’s now pretty likely to replace the Blue Fairy as the opening float of the parade.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for up-to-date information on these new additions to Disney’s Electrical Parade!