WDWNT: The Wallpapers #8

WDWNT on October 31, 2010

After a brief (well OK, three month) hiatus, we have more wallpapers for your enjoyment!

Thanks to the amazing talent and generosity of photographer Tim Goodchild of timgoodchild.com, we are able to provide these downloadable wallpapers for your computer monitor. Simply click the link corresponding to your monitor’s resolution, then save the resulting image file to your computer. We will have select wallpapers available for dual-monitor and triple-monitor setups as well.

For this edition of WDWNT: The Wallpapers, welcome to The Land at Epcot:

1024×768
1280×800
1280×1024
1440×900
1680×1050
1920×1080
1920×1200
Dual Monitor 1024×768 = 2048×768
Dual Monitor 1280×1024 = 2560×1024
Dual Monitor 1680×1050 = 3360×1050
Triple Monitor 1024×768 = 3072×768
Triple Monitor 1280×1024 = 3840×1024

“Topping Out” Cars Land

WDWNT on October 29, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Topping Out Ceremony

I witnessed a milestone in the multi-year expansion of Disney California Adventure park today. I joined some media and watched the “topping out” ceremony for the Cadillac Mountain Range’s tallest peak. At 125 feet, it’s the most visible part of the new 12-acre Cars Land, which is scheduled to open in 2012.

At the base of this mountain range will be the entrance to Radiator Springs Racers, the E-ticket thrill ride which will headline Cars Land along with other attractions, food and merchandise shops all based on the Disney-Pixar blockbuster, “Cars.”

Aerial Map of Cars Land

“Topping out” is a traditional construction event among construction workers and engineers that takes place when the highest piece of steel is installed on the frame of a building. Today, we were privileged to observe this ceremony, which marked a major milestone in the construction of this new and exciting land.

As part of the tradition, the final beam is painted white and signed by the ironworkers, steel design engineer and construction management. This piece of steel will be part of the Pinnacle of the Cadillac Range, representing a 1959 Cadillac, whose tail fin was also known as the Pinnacle.

Several key people were on hand to explain the significance of this milestone, including Vice President of Disney California Adventure park, Mary Niven, Walt Disney Imagineer Kathy Mangum, and Walt Disney Imagineer Jim Kearns.

Mary Niven described the event as a huge milestone for Disney California Adventure park. “Literally and metaphorically, we’ve reached the other side of the mountain,” she said.

And there’s more exciting news about Disney California Adventure. World of Color, the nighttime spectacular which opened this past June, has now been seen by more than 1 million guests! And for those of you who have been in the park recently, you’ve seen Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure rising along the parade route. When Little Mermaid opens in 2011, along with Goofy’s Sky School and some brand new restaurants, we will have completed our work in the Paradise Pier section of the park. Whew – time flies!

Check back on the Blog later today to see video from today’s “topping-out” ceremony and time-lapse footage that shows the mountain range coming to life!

World of Color TRON: Legacy Encore Testing

WDWNT on October 29, 2010

Walt Disney Imagineering was programming the TRON encore for World of Color last Wednesday and I was fortunate enough to get a view of it from the Grand Californian. The encore was announced today to premier on October 31st with soft opening tonight during the second showing.

C-3P0 to Pilot the Starspeeder 1000, Captain Rex will Return!

WDWNT on October 29, 2010

From Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald on the Disney Parks Blog:

It was great to read your comments about the pilots of Star Tours on my last post. Some people really want to see Rex again in the new show. Others are excited about the introduction of the new character “Ace.” And then there are those who are speculating about a bigger role for Threepio. So, I thought it was time we set the story straight about just who will be in the cockpit in the new show. And guess what? You’re all right!

C-3PO and ACE

As explained earlier, all Star Tours Starspeeder 1000s are flown using the latest AC-series Tour Droids. And in fact, our initial plans were for our flight to be piloted by AC-38 better known as “Ace.” However, in discussions with George Lucas during the course of our production, we decided to take the story in a very different direction.

So…while AC-38 is supposed to be our pilot, by the time we actually take off, the droid sitting in the pilot’s seat will be none other than…C-3PO!

It’s one of the biggest changes and surprises in the new show. “Professional grit stopped me from yelling the glorious new storyline from the rooftops,” said Anthony Daniels recently. “It’s fun having secrets like this, waiting to share them at the right time.”

You’ll see just how Threepio becomes our pilot when the adventures continue next year.

This week, our Imagineering team begins installation of the Audio-Animatronics figures into the Starspeeder cabins at Disneyland park, and next month at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Oh, and for all you Rex fans, don’t worry – we have a spot for him in the new show!

10/26/10 Fantasyland Expansion Video Update

WDWNT on October 28, 2010

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee brings us his second Fantasyland video update he recorded at the Magic Kingdom on October 26th. The video includes progress at the Mad Tea Party, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, “Be Our Guest” Restaurant, and a first look at what the new facade and queue for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will look like when the attraction re-opens in November:

“Thunderbirds Are Go!” at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on October 27, 2010

In honor of Air Force Week in Central Florida, on October 26, the United States Air Force Thunderbird jets flew over Magic Kingdom, with some United States Air Force dignitaries being honored during “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade. WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee was there and captured the event in video: