Clarification: Adventurer’s Club Open!

WDWNT on January 12, 2009

Our own Jose Castillo was at Pleasure Island this evening, and reports that the Adventurer’s Club was open for business!  Jose went inside and has several photos of the fully-operational club, and reports that shows were going on in the library.

Edit: Jose was able to clarify this morning with cast members at PI that the reason the Adventurer’s Club was open was for a pseudo-private party for the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon.  This was not a typical Adventurer’s Club private party, as the general public was indeed permitted, invited, and encouraged to enter, but it was a 21+ party being held primarily for marathon participants, family, and friends.  Disney requested that no photos be posted due to the event’s “private” nature.   We apologize to anyone if we raised your hopes for a reopening, but indeed the fact that a fully-functioning Adventurer’s Club opened last night is certainly significant in and of itself, since the club is completely intact and Disney could reopen it at any time if they so choose.

Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True!

WDWNT on January 11, 2009

UPDATED 1/11/09 – 6:58PM: We have just been told that the Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True Parade will debut on January 23rd, 2009.

We have another report live from Walt Disney World just sent in by Tom Corless, on the Disney Dreams Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom, or as we soon will be calling it, Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True.

The Mickey Mouse opening float is still being refurbished. Tom was speaking with a parade float driver who said that when the float is done, it will look like “a present exploding on the float.” Mickey is still currently on the Castle float, and he will continue to be until his float is ready. The Castle float’s banner has been changed to a purple banner saying “Celebrate Today”. As we have reported before, the whole parade will have an updated soundtrack, which will most likely be a combination of the parade’s current theme and the “Celebrate You” song, however that could change. We have also heard that in addition to the new floats, costumes, and music, the new parade will also have show stops.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for the latest on this and more news as Tom and Jose report in from the WDW Resort.

The Forgotten Land

WDWNT on January 10, 2009

An area at Disney’s California Adventure we rarely ever talk about is Pacific Wharf. But now it seems that land will be getting some attention in the very near future. First up, walls should be going up around the deserted Lucky Fortune Cookery restaurant this Monday, & that restaurant will become the new home of the restaurant currently opposite it, Concina Cucamonga. The reason for this move is to allow for a larger location for the popular restaurant. The original Cocina Cucamonga location will remain open until the new version is ready to debut (with an expanded menu) on June 13th. There’s currently no word on what will become of the original Cocina Cucamonga.

Secondly, a refurbishment of an undermined length of The Boudin Bakery Tour & Restaurant will take place beginning February 9th. However this is likely just routine maintenance.

DVC Member Previews for American Idol Experience and Kim Possible

WDWNT on January 9, 2009

Disney Vacation Club Member Previews for The American Idol Experience and Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure have been announced.  DVC Members must register in advance at this link for The American Idol Experience previews.  The Kim Possible Challenge is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Disney Vacation Club Members have a special opportunity to sign up to be part of a sneak preview of The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ at the Walt Disney World® Resort before it opens officially to Guests.  The sneak previews have limited availability, so sign up today to watch one of the live shows.

Dates: Feb. 5-8
Duration: Show will last approximately 30 minutes
Location: Superstar Television Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Each Disney Vacation Club Member with a valid Disney Vacation Club Member ID Card who registers to watch one of the live shows may bring as many as five Guests along to watch the show.
  • Due to limited capacity, advance registration is required.
  • Members must present their confirmation slip, their valid Member ID Card (or Key to the World card displaying a Member designation) and a photo ID at check-in.
  • Check-in begins one hour prior to the event, and Members must be checked in at least 30 minutes prior to the event.
  • As a courtesy to others, Members who register for the event and are unable to attend for any reason should re-visit the Web site to cancel their reservation and give other Members the opportunity to participate. Likewise, Members may revisit the Web site periodically to see if space has opened up to reserve their preferred time.

Disney Vacation Club Members have a special opportunity to preview Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot®, an immersive new experience designed to turn Guests into crime-fighting secret agents. This is a chance to experience the adventure before it opens officially to Guests.

Disney Vacation Club Members may embark on missions available Jan. 23-25 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Missions begin every 15 minutes.) Missions are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Members and their Guests will begin their missions by reporting to the Team Possible Recruitment Center located on the bridge leading from Future World to World Showcase at Epcot. Members must present their Member ID card or their Key to the World card displaying a Member designation.

Update:  We have just received word that the official opening date for the Kim Possible World Showcase Challenge is being advertised in Innoventions as January 28.

Ratatouille Float Cut From the Pixar Play Parade

WDWNT on January 9, 2009

In some late breaking news, it seems the Ratatouille float in the Pixar Play Parade has been removed from the parade due to budget cuts, as it is the float that has the most performers. The float will most likely return for the peak seasons such as spring break & the summer.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest.