Chuck Canzoneri’s 1/7/09 Photo Report

WDWNT on January 9, 2009

Chuck Canzoneri is here with his latest photo report (and as will usually be the case with Chuck, he provides his own captions):

Celebrate Today! merchandise in the Emporium.

I’m not sure if this popcorn bucket is new or not?

New Celebrate Today! popcorn containers.

Took this at the Carnation Cafe where if you were celebrating a special event, the Cast member would put this on your table as a special centerpiece.

Celebrate Today! merchandise banner.

Read More about Chuck Canzoneri’s 1/7/09 Photo Report

Live Report from the WDW Resort

WDWNT on January 8, 2009

Tom Corless, our man on the ground, called in with this report today about Dinoland at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

As part of the tech rehearsals that have been going on for the American Idol Experience, the preshow in the queue area is operating and can be seen on the overhead monitors.  However, CMs are stationed in the area politely asking guests not to look in through the windows from outside the building.

Continuing with the removal of McDonald’s as a sponsor in the parks, all signs of McDonald’s have been removed from Dinoland.  Dinosaur, which was formerly sponsored by McDonald’s, is now sponsorless with all traces of the golden arches removed from the attraction.  In addition, the sign at the entrance to Dinoland, which previously showed McDonald’s as a sponsor, now claims Dinoland is sponsored by The Dino Institute.

As we here at WDWNT Headquarters receive more live reports from the WDW Resort, we’ll keep you updated as often as we can.

Disneyland Resort News & Rumor Report

WDWNT on January 8, 2009

Here’s a round-up of some of the latest rumors that our sources here at Disneyland News Today have been hearing:

  • Due to construction on the World of Color Amphitheater, which is right by where the second High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show stop is, only one show stop will be made per show, in the location at Sunshine Plaza. However this will mean the show will now be rolled out 5 times a day, instead of the usual 3. Also, instead of going all the way up to the Paradise Pier gates, it will now exit at the gates next to the Mission Tortilla Factory (aka, the future entrance to Cars Land). Don’t forget, the show will be dark Mondays-Thursdays for the foreseeable future due to budget cuts.
  • In news from backstage, the majority of the floats from Disney’s Electrical Parade (excluding the Alice in Wonderland whirly bugs, Dumbo section, & the Cinderella section) have been temporarily moved off Resort property. While we have no exact reason for the disappearance of these floats, it is quite likely that they’re probably getting newer GE 35 motors. For the time being, the Pixar Play Parade has temporarily moved into the parade storage building usually used for Disney’s Electrical Parade. In other news from Disney’s Electrical Parade, it seems some of the floats may be getting added LED effects, which will definitely be an extra boost in bringing the parade into the 21st century. There’s also the possibility that with the addition of the Snow White Dwarf Mine, Pinocchio section, & Tinker Bell section, that the Blue Fairy & Dumbo section may be removed from the parade, however I personally highly doubt that is true (at least the latter).
  • Construction, & just some basic changes, are really starting to beef up over in Paradise Pier. Apparently sometime this week, Mickey’s ears on California Screamin’ will be removed just leaving his “face”, which will eventually be changed over to a sunburst. As we mentioned in Myrna Litt’s latest photo report, the lenticular panel on the Paradise Pier bridge advertising World of Color has for some strange reason been removed. Speaking of removals, all of the old support structures for LuminAria (the holiday fireworks at DCA back only in 2001) have been removed. And lastly, the Orange Stinger is expected to close sometime in April (most likely after Mickey’s Fun Wheel opens up) for it’s conversion over to the Silly Symphony Swings.
  • An interesting development that was first brought up on MiceAge’s latest Al Lutz update is that this year, New Years Eve at Disneyland Park may become a hard ticketed event, the reasoning for this to be done would to keep crowds down slightly in Disneyland, & hopefully get more people to visit DCA. More information on this is available in the link to MiceAge.

Myrna Litt’s 1/6/09 Photo Report

WDWNT on January 8, 2009

It’s once again time for a photo report from our very own Myrna Litt. Let’s take a look around the Disneyland Resort as the Christmas decorations start to come down:

The Year of a Million Dreams themed Mickey floral is being removed for a new What Will You Celebrate? themed floral.

Here you can see what looks to be a party hat.

Mickey & the rest of the Fab 5 are finally back out on Main Street in their original costumes.

Read More about Myrna Litt’s 1/6/09 Photo Report

Architect of Disney Lodges Passes Away

WDWNT on January 8, 2009

Peter H. Dominick Jr., the genius behind Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Grand Californian Hotel, passed away last Thursday.  The Denver-based architect always said a turning point in his illustrious career came in the early 1990s, when he presented his design for the Wilderness Lodge to Michael Eisner, then chairman of Disney:  “During these halcyon years of Disney, when Eisner was being hailed as a modern-day Medici, we worked with one of the great creative companies of its time and collaborated with the most talented designers, working at their most creative boundaries.”

Full obituary at the Orlando Sentinel.

A great book about Disney architecture is “Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture.”

Disney Design A Tee Grand Opening on Friday, January 9

WDWNT on January 7, 2009

resizedhanesteedtdopening

Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes

Only in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace

Event: Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes Grand Opening

Grand Opening Date: Friday, January 9

Grand Opening Time: 11:30am

The first 100 guests at the Grand Opening of Disney Design A Tee presented by Hanes will receive: A Complimentary Lanyard, Button, Mini Souvenir Tee, plus a $5.00* off coupon toward the purchase of your Design A Tee!

Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes allows you to design your tee your way! Choose a short or long sleeved tee shirt in a variety of vibrant colors and create your personalized tee by choosing from over 300 pieces of Disney art and add up to four lines of text! Here you can have your name imprinted on specially designed commemorative t-shirts. Your tee shirt is printed while you wait and you can event watch them being made on the video screens in the store!

So, whether you are celebrating your birthday, commemorating your recent nuptials or identifying your family members with our special “Family Reunion” tees, you’re sure to come away with a special memory that will last a lifetime.

Breaking News: Space Mountain Refurb Finally Announced!

WDWNT on January 6, 2009

The staff here at WDW News Today will be keeping you up to date on the latest news through-out the Walt Disney World Resort while Tom Corless is down at the resort for one of his many, many trips. This update is to let everyone know that it has been made official that Space Mountain will indeed be closed from April 19th, 2009 until sometime in Fall 2009. From what we can tell, it will only be a relatively small refurb, with nothing too major happening.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for the latest on Space Mountain’s finally confirmed refurbishment.

The Haunted Mansion Just Got Scarier

WDWNT on January 5, 2009

Both Haunted Mansion Holiday & It’s a Small World Holiday close tomorrow to have their respective holiday overlays removed. In honor of this, I felt it right to post this little bit of interesting Haunted Mansion Holiday related news:

Quirky filmmaker Tim Burton gets a first glimpse of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction, which is based on his 1993 film ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas.’

Burton was accompanied by his partner — actress Helena Bonham Carter — for his first look at the mansion, which undergoes a Christmas makeover each year at the Anaheim, CA theme park.

I find it really shocking that Tim Burton has not once been on the attraction since the holiday overlay started in 2001. Shows that he cares about his creations, huh?

Both attractions will re-open in their original forms (well sort of for It’s a Small World) on February 15th. There may be some small changes/additions to The Haunted Mansion, & of course It’s a Small World will see a ton of changes! But I’m sure you already know about those…