Weekend News Round-Up

WDWNT on December 29, 2008

Here are a few news items that have come up over the weekend:

-In case you haven’t heard yet, the window for making Advance Dining Reservations for Walt Disney World table service locations has been set back to 90 days. It appears the days of calling up for reservations 6 months in advance are over and you may now have to time your calls at precisely at 90 days out if you hope to get seating at your favorite restaurant during your trip. It seems that this is in preparation for the system switching to online sometime in the very near future.

-Space Mountain is currently expected to close for refurbishment in April 2009. We do not know the length of the closure at this time, but stay tuned.

-In case you haven’t listened to it yet, the 2008 Christmas Podcast Parade is now available for download through iTunes or through our podcast download page. Be sure to check out our annual comedy podcast if you haven’t already!!!

New Year’s Eve 2009 Line-Up

WDWNT on December 29, 2008

Here is the current line-up for New Year’s Eve entertainment at the Walt Disney World Resort:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A kaleidoscope of colors and elaborate light displays will decorate the skies on the final night of 2008 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Dazzling fireworks showers, live entertainment and extended park hours throughout the Vacation Kingdom on Dec. 31 make it a popular spot to ring in the new year.

  • At Epcot, a special version of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the laser-light spectacular featuring dancing flames and cascading fountains orchestrated to an original musical score, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. and 11:40 p.m.  The park’s Dec. 31 operating hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. 
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host “Fantasmic!,” the lavish spectacular of water animation, lasers and fireworks, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 and 10 p.m.  Revelers can “rock on” with live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” plus a DJ spinning tunes at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat.  A special “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks show brings in the new year at 11:50 p.m.  The park is open from 8 a.m. until midnight on Dec. 31.
  • Late-nighters can party at Magic Kingdom until the wee hours with parades and fireworks galore.  The park is aglow with “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” at 12 noon and 3:30 p.m., followed by the wondrous “SpectroMagic” parade at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.  “Holiday Wishes” fireworks, the boldest and brightest pyrotechnics show at Disney, takes place at 8:30 p.m. capped with the grand finale “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks at 11:50 p.m. On Dec. 31, the park is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 31.  Guests can enjoy one of the final presentations of the romping character cavalcade “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade” at 3:45 p.m.

The Other Parade From Yesterday

WDWNT on December 26, 2008

It seems that the WDWNT Christmas Podcast Parade was not the only parade taking place yesterday :), there was of course the 25th annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade on ABC. Disey has put a number of clips from the parade and the holiday season on Youtube, so I thought I would share them with you:

  

  

 

You can also download this version of “Celebrate You” HERE 

2008 Christmas Podcast Parade Now Available for Download

WDWNT on December 25, 2008

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.- If last year wasn’t enough to shake-up your holidays, the latest Walt Disney World holiday tradition will return Christmas Day 2008. While the 25th annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade taped in early December airs on ABC this Christmas morning, another parade will be making its way down Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom. The second annual Christmas Podcast Parade will be broadcast from the Walt Disney World Resort on December 25th, but it won’t be on any television station. The parade’s creator, Tom Corless, has received the exclusive rights to broadcast the parade on episode 74 of his popular WDW News Today Podcast and the other podcasts in his WDWNT Network. “Being the creator of this new parade, I felt that I should be the only one airing it,” said Corless, “no television channel wanted a parade full of internet stars anyway.” 

Will this years parade happen without the involvement of an angry mob? Will Jason Diffendal be able to deal with Adam Roth and his massive ego? Will Jose Castillo learn that not every word needs an S at the end of it? How many Luke Manning jokes will there be? The only way to find out is to tune into the episode 74 of the WDW News Today Podcast (or any other podcast in the WDWNT Network) on December 25th, 2008 for the Second Annual Christmas Podcast Parade from the Walt Disney World Resort.

After the “success” of the inaugural 2007 parade, some big stars have been lined up for the 2008 edition. Planned to appear thus far are Randy Newman, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, The Muppets, Riders in the Sky, a variety of Disney characters, Santa Claus, and even a few surprise guests. Tom Corless says that his regular podcast listeners shouldn’t worry, because a number of the usual podcast staff will be on hand as well, including Brian Sommer, Justin Heyman, Chris Lastrapes, Kenny Siegel, James Kemp, Steve Swanson, John Rick, Matt Paul, and Kelly Russo. While the names of most participants have been announced, none of the floats that will be appearing on Thursday have been made public of of date.

While most of the general public is not aware of the stars of this particular parade, to thousands of Disney fans, they are pseudo-celebrities. Co-founders of WDWCelebrations, Jason Diffendal and Adam Roth, were chosen to host the second edition of the annual event after last year’s hosts went mysteriously missing. The team seems a natural fit, as they have created a successful fan organization and events working together as part of a team. The parade will also be hosted by a secondary cast including Jose Castillo, Kyle Duffield, Luke Manning, and Dame Judi Dench. This larger team of hosts plan to keep things a little cleaner and understandable then the anarchy that took place in 2007.

The WDWNT Network proudly presents “Our Christmas Card to You”, the Second Annual Christmas Podcast Parade, live (well, sort of) from the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Join hosts Jason Diffendal, Adam Roth, Jose Castillo, Kyle Duffield, Luke Manning, and Judi Dench for a wild time on Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom for holiday floats and famous celebrities.

This new Christmas tradition is proudly presented by WDW News Today, Disneyland News Today, The Disney Pincast, the WDWNT Tube, Your Ear to the World, The WDW News Today Community Forums, WDWCelebrations, Magical Travel, and The Muppetcast. Sponsored by G-Force Records, The Mr. Potato Head Clinic, Al Harrington’s Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man Emporium and Warehouse, WDWNT: The Breakfast, Disney Cruise Line, Brian Sommer’s Ego, and Southern California.

To subscribe to the WDW News Today podcast on Itunes, go to this link. If you do not have Itunes, visit our Podcast Download Directory to download or listen to all of our shows

This episode is also available in an enhanced version. An enhanced podcast is a podcast with added features that standard podcasts don’t have. Enhanced podcasts include many features like Chapter listings, this lets you skip through chapters or see what is in store for this weeks show. Enhanced podcasts also have images to let you differ the chapters by. Enhanced podcasts have one negative feature, you can not play them on most MP3 players. The file format for this is a .m4a which can play on Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune. You will also need iTunes or Windows Media Player to be able to skip through chapters. If you need or would like the standard edition, download the normal edition listed below this file both on Itunes and in our podcast directory.

UPDATED: Humbug Entertainment Cuts

WDWNT on December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas everyone from the weather appropriate England! Unfortunately, the news I have for you today isn’t all that warming, especially if you’re a fan of entertainment at Disneyland. Yes, quite a lot of Disneyland’s entertainment offerings will be getting either reduced showings, or will be going on hiatus.

Over at Disneyland Park, as previously mentioned, both shows at the Princess Fantasy Faire have been canceled. After A Christmas Fantasy has ended it’s seasonal run, there wont be a parade in the park until around Spring Break when the Celebrate! A Street Party debuts on March 26th, which pretty much means Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams is history! Also, Remember Dreams Come True is canceled weekends, except for Martin Luther King Jr. & Presidents Day weekends. The good news is Fantasmic! will still run 7 days a week through its planned refurbishment in mid-March.

Pretty much all of the entertainment offerings at DCA will be affected by the economic problems. Disney’s Aladdin will be going back on hiatus as of January 5th. High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! will only show Friday-Sunday. Pixar Play Parade will go to 5 days a week, Wednesday-Sunday. Drawn to the Magic will be going on hiatus. Surprisingly, The Magic of Brother Bear will remain showing Friday-Tuesday. The only show not affected will be Playhouse Disney: Live on Stage, which will continue showing 7 days a week.

Be sure to stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as we get in more information on just how bad of a year 2009 could end up being for Disneyland.

Robert Ashburn’s 12/21 Magic Kingdom Update

WDWNT on December 23, 2008

Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media.Net and FTN has provided us with some his trip to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday. Let’s take a look at some newsworthy items using this new gallery option:

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Space in Tomorrowland being prepared for Stitch’s Supersonic Dance Celebration that will debut in the Spring

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The old Skyway building is also getting some much needed TLC during this time

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Haven’t seen these signs in a while, I guess this still is 1994 Tomorrowland

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Sign directing guests to the restrooms around the walls during this refurbishment

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The entire building is not under tarps

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A closer look

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Resort-wide sales continue through the holiday season

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The refurbishment of the second half of Tinker Bell’s Treasures reveals a new shop, Castle Couture

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Some great new decor can be found in the new shop

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Aurora’s dress changes colors as Fauna and Merryweather fight over red and blue

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This seems to be an extension of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, selling the princess outfits that parents can purchase

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There is a section for each princess

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The work on the upper level of Pinnochio’s Village Haus is complete and it looks great

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Work on the lower section continues

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The exterior of the Hall of Presidents is now being refurbished in preparation for the July 2009 re-opening

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The self-service kiosks at Pecos Bill’s have been moved to the center, surprising when the entire restaurant closes for refurbishment in January

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It seems people are still afraid to use them

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We’ll end this report with a nighttime picture of the new food vendor replacing the Frontierland Fry Wagon

WDWNT Live! Episode 5 LIVE NOW!!!!

WDWNT on December 21, 2008

Join us now for our 5th live interactive program from WDW News Today, Disneyland News Today, The Disney Pincast, and Your Ear to the World. On this live show #5, we will be taking your calls and providing some special segments along the way. Be sure to join us from 9-11pm EST this Sunday for another edition of WDWNT Live!

How to participate: 
Call in: 
1. Dial: (724) 444-7444 
2. Enter: 20663 # (Call ID) 
3. Enter: 1 # or your PIN 

OR 

Join from your computer: 
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