News & Rumor Round-up

I have been informed of some very interesting news & rumors of what could be happening (or is going to happen) at the Disneyland Resort in the very near future:

  • Construction should be beginning on World of Color sometime during the upcoming week, weather permitting of course. The first signs of work will be near the California Screamin’ launch area. Along with that, the change-over from the Orange Stinger to Silly Symphony Swings should start in January 2009, & construction on the The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure will finally begin in April 2009. Also, the Maliboomer will now be removed next year, with nothing replacing it at the moment, except for a nicely designed seating area on the current tower platforms. The “refurbishment” of Burger Invasion seems to be of been pushed along a whole another year, with it supposedly lasting through May 26th, 2011. The building will sit dormant for a while, until work begins on the Beer Garden.
  • Originally the plans for a new parade route in DCA called for it to go through Cars Land, & then up onto the parade route as it is today. Well now the plan is for parades to start at the gate right by the Tower of Terror, go through the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, through Buena Vista Street, & up along the rest of the regular parade route, which would make it the longest parade route in Disney history! This would prompt the removal of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot arch, however the two giant elephants would stay.
  • New restrooms will be installed opposite the current ones next to Golden Dreams in the San Francisco style buildings, with work beginning on January 5th 2009, to allow for the current ones to be removed for extra space needed for The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure. The supposed completion day is March 30th 2009, which makes sense if Little Mermaid construction is expected to begin in April.
  • It’s rumored that a fruit cart will be installed in the former home of the Conestoga Wagon McDonalds fry cart in Frontierland. The only concrete details we have is that it should be opened by late May 2009.
  • In a rather interesting turn of events, it seems the Royal Coronation Ceremony & Disney Princess Storytelling Shows at the Princess Fantasy Faire will no longer be performed after January 4th 2009. This is yet another sign of how bad the New Year could end up being for Disney. Of course, the Princess Meet ‘n Greets, Princess merchandise area, & Enchanted Cottage food stand will remain open.
  • Finally, rumors keep persisting that Disney’s Electrical Parade will be returning to Disneyland. But now it seems that a return would cause for quite a few changes. The parade is going to have to get an entirely new name for it to be able to move back to Disneyland, due to the marketing campaign they had in 1996, legally saying that the Main Street Electrical Parade would never return to Disneyland. We however have no idea on what the new name could be just yet. A new version of the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: Dreamlights soundtrack could be replacing the classic Electrical Parade soundtrack we know & love. And as we’ve said before, the Pinocchio & Snow White Dwarf Mine floats will be returning to the parade. In fact, we have proof…

The black sort of curtain like structure is the Snow White Dwarf Mine. The Pinocchio Cigar Factory is in the blue draped crate next to the parade storage warehouse. The Pleasure Island float has reportedly already been pieced together.

Well that wraps up this interesting news & rumor report. Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest developments on these, & all other news & rumors.

PS) Posts may be a little sporadic over the week week, as I’ll be in England from tomorrow through the 29th. I will try to get some stuff to you guys though. Definitely don’t forget to tune into the Christmas Podcast Parade, being released Christmas Day on all WDWNT Podcast feeds!

Chris Lastrapes 12/19/08 WDW Update

Chris Lastrapes from Disneyland News Today is now visiting the Walt Disney World Resort and has provided us with some photos from his trip, so let’s take a look:

Tickets were available for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on that evening, but are sold out for tonight’s final party.

The Magic Kingdom in it’s Holiday finest

The Magic Kingdom tree, which has actually only been in place for a few days now

The mystery food vendor that is replacing the old Frontierland Fry Cart continues to rise over the walls

Read More about Chris Lastrapes 12/19/08 WDW Update

25 Years of Parades on the 25th

Walt Disney World is celebrating 25 years of the Christmas Day Parade this year and has released a small article about the milestone and this year’s edition:

In a way, you could say that it really all started back in 1950, when Walt Disney was welcomed into homes around the country on Christmas Day, appearing in his first-ever TV show. Or you could say it started in 1971, when Walt Disney World Resort opened its doors–and began a tradition of holiday season revelry. One way or another, Disney has been making the yuletide bright for a very long time!

But this year marks a special anniversary, as the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade celebrates 25 years of telecasts. For a quarter-century, watching the Parade on Christmas Day has brought a slice of Disney magic – and Florida sunshine! – to millions of families. We thought it would be fun to look back at some Parade highlights over the years, and see what special events we can look forward to this year as ABC-TV brings us all the festivities on Christmas morning.

Although the earliest telecasts were focused on events at Walt Disney World, today audiences get a peek at events at Disneyland Resort and beyond. We’ll also see a special segment courtesy of Adventures by Disney that gives us a look at Christmas in Italy, hosted by Joey Fatone.

The first official Walt Disney World Christmas Parade took place at the Magic Kingdom Park and included floats celebrating “Jungle Book” Characters, “Herbie the Love Bug,” “Dumbo,” “Pinocchio,” “101 Dalmatians,” and “Alice in Wonderland.” The Toy Soldiers that delight Guests each year have also been a part of the Parade from the very beginning – the tradition started at a Disneyland holiday parade way back in 1955, and they’ve been part of the Christmas Parade every year.

Through the years, Guests and viewers have been treated to some spectacular moments – in 1994, Olympian Nancy Kerrigan ice-skated during the event; a number of Presidents of the United States have offered holiday greetings on the telecast; and stars from Mariah Carey to Andrea Bocelli to Julie Andrews have performed. 2008 might just be the most star-studded year ever, with performers including Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Sarah Brightman, Jose Feliciano, American Idol’s David Cook, and Vanessa Williams. This year, Corbin Bleu will be debuting a brand-new song on the telecast. And, of course, Santa is one Parade performer we can always count on making an appearance – after that snowy trip around the world on Christmas Eve, we’re sure he welcomes a dose of Florida sunshine!

Regis Philbin will be cohosting with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest once again in 2008. Regis is practically a Parade tradition, having been involved for 18 years, starting as a “man on the street” commentator. Other hosts over the decades have included, Joan Lunden, Alan Thicke, Suzanne Somers, Tom Bergeron, and Jerry Van Dyke.

The Parade has grown and changed through the years, and it’s a bigger, brighter, more spectacular show than ever. The floats change, new performers make their debuts, and Guests and television viewers alike can be sure of new surprises every year. But some things about the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade, we hope, will never change – the magic, the joy, and the warm holiday spirit that makes Christmas morning extra-special for millions.

Back to the Future with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Even though I typically save the “Back to the Future” name for our segment on the WDW News Today Podcast, I thought it was a fitting title for a post relating to an interesting item I found yesterday. While cleaning through some papers, I found some pamphlets from the 1993 edition of the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom I thought I should share with everyone:

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The front of the 1993 ticket pamphlet

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The inside fold of the pamphlet

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Inside of the pamphlet advertising tickets for the four (yes, only four) parties that year

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There was then this map for the event which is almost like a very large postcard. Here is the front.

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Here is the map on the reverse side, featuring locations for free pictures, hot chocolate, and cookies

DLR Photo Report – 12/14/08

I had a lovely, yet cold day at the Disneyland Resort yesterday, & I have tons of photos for you, in a much higher quality I might add! Let’s hop to it:

The new snowflake structures at the entrance to Disneyland.

Main Street USA in its holiday finest.

The beautiful Main Street Christmas tree.

Advertisement on Main Street for the special edition DVD release of The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.

The majestic Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle.

Read More about DLR Photo Report – 12/14/08

Matt Paul’s 12/14 Magic Kingdom Report

Matt Paul was at the Magic Kingdom on Sunday to attend the Very Merry Christmas Party, and shares with us some very interesting photos:

A huge vending location of some kind is rising up behind the construction walls in the location of the former fry wagon

You can see fixtures for signage and an awning in this picture

construction materials behind the building on the hill

Read More about Matt Paul’s 12/14 Magic Kingdom Report

The Magic of Disney Vinylmation

After a few months of delayed products and an already cancelled pin collection that was available for a very short period of time back in the summer, Disney Vinylmation pieces are ready to invade the Walt Disney World Resort with a kick-off event:

Event: Vinylmation Pre-Release Party
Guest Artists: Disney Design Group Artists: Randy Noble, Dan Howard, Monty Maldovan, Dawn Ockstadt, & Rachel Sur
Pre-Party Date: Friday, December 19, 2008
Pre-Party Times: 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Pre-Party Location: Art of Disney, Downtown Disney® Marketplace

Vinylmation, the original vinyl collectible available exclusively at Disney Theme Parks has arrived! Be among the first to collect the newly released and highly anticipated Park 1 series that features art and designs inspired by the Disney Parks and available exclusively at select Disney Theme Park Merchandise locations. Vinymation is available in 3″ and 9″ sizes.

Packaged in blind packs, the 3″ Park 1 vinyls will feature designs such as Disney Design Group’s Monty Maldovan’s take on Kermit or Walt Disney Imagineer Kyle Price’s original Yeti design.
Also, check out the Limited Release 9″ Park Series 1 vinyls like the Safari Mickey created by Randy Noble of Disney Design Group.

Each Vinylmation tray contains 24 packages randomly assorted with two complete sets of the Park Series One Collection, plus two mystery “chasers” per tray. Each package contains 1 of 12 different vinyl designs from one of our unique themed collections. 

Series 1

Bad Apple
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
 

Creepy Eyes
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Fireworks
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

ELP Mickey
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Magical Stars
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

SMRT-1
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Teacup
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Yeti Mickey
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Figmouse
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Monorail Red
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

Kermit Mouse
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95

WDWNT Weekend Update

A few interesting developments from the last few days to note in this mixed-bag report:

-Matt Paul is reporting that the Mickey Mouse float in the Disney Dreams Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom has been removed from the parade to be converted to the opening float for the latest version of the parade that will debut around January. The rumored name of the new parade will be the Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True Parade and it will most likely welcome in a slightly altered soundtrack for the parade using the “Celebrate You” theme song of the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign. In the meantime, Mickey is appearing in a familiar spot on the castle finale float, where he once stood in his sorcerer’s apprentice costume during the Remember the Magic Parade. Matt will provide us with some pictures of this change once he returns home. Stay tuned for more information on this change as it becomes available.

-Disney has put up a number of new YouTube videos for the holiday season that you can view below:

  

  

  

-WDWNT Podcast Episode 72 is now available for download. Here’s a short synopsis:

Join me, Tom Corless, and a cast including Jason Diffendal, Justin Heyman, Matt Paul , Jose Castillo, Adam Roth, and Luke Manning for a show that Bridges the Gaps Between You and the Walt Disney World Resort. I hope you enjoy all of the Walt Disney World information and fun we have to offer on this “missing mountain” edition of the WDW News Today Podcast.

To kick off episode 72, we have all the recent happenings from the last week to discuss in our Walt Disney World Resort News and Rumor Report. This time around, we’ll be talking about some early changes to the “What Will You Celebrate?” entertainment line-up for 2009, a major Magic Kingdom E-Ticket attraction that may go missing next year, and just what attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios may not be operating next time you visit the park.

Following that, we’ll have the third edition of “What were they thinking?”, where we will try to examine why certain decisions are made by Walt Disney World management. This time around, we’ll be discussing the presence of famous celebrities in Disney attractions and if it is a good or bad thing for the parks.

Finally, Town Square Talk is back this week, highlighting the hottest topics around our WDWNT Network of websites. First up, Matt Paul is here to highlight some new Disney Park videos you can download from the WDWNTube (wdwntube.com). I’m also making some Town Square Talk this week, with news on some upcoming segments for the podcast that you can vote for as part of WDWNT Interactive. Jason Diffendal also drops in and informs us about the next WDWCelebrations event coming up in May 2009 that has a lot to do with the segment that follows this one.

Finally, to end this weeks program, we kick start our countdown of the 20 Biggest Moments in Disney’s Hollywood Studios History as voted by you with a look at what took the #20 spot. We’ll also be examining just how important this moment is in the 20 year history of the park. We hope to see this segment improve as it continues with a larger group of participants, we were a little short on staff this week because the holidays are quickly approaching.

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.

Jose Eber’s 12/13 American Idol Update

WDWNT Videographer Jose Eber has provided us with a picture of what we may be seeing the cast members wearing at the upcoming American Idol Experience attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

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Jose has also provided us with a short video of the exterior of the Superstar Television Theater he took a few days ago in both normal definition below and high definition at this link: