Do You Know the Dormouse?

WDWNT on December 14, 2010

This Friday December 17th fans will be able to purchase The Mad Hatter Vinylmation 9″ online at the DisneyStore.com.

We all know the Mad Hatter, but this post will focus on the less talked about 3″ that accompanies Hatter, the Dormouse from Alice in Wonderland.

Did you know, the Dormouse in Disney’s 1951 animated classic Alice in Wonderland shared his voice with a far more famous Mouse? Jimmy MacDonald, the voice of Mickey Mouse from 1947 to 1977, also voiced the Dormouse. Jimmy MacDonald was passed the job of voicing Mickey Mouse from none other than Walt Disney himself. MacDonald was also a legendary Disney sound effects artist. The Dormouse that was depicted in Alice in Wonderland also made appearance in a few other Disney animated productions including the Bonkers Afternoon Cartoon and Mickey’s Magical Christmas.

Be sure to log on early to DisneyStore.com this Friday to get your hands on this limited edition of 1,200 Vinylmation set. It will retail for $74.95 and was designed by Maria Clapsis.

DCA Expansion, Phase 2?

WDWNT on December 14, 2010

The LA Times posted an interesting story about a possible second phase to DCA’s major overhaul.

As Disney California Adventure reaches the midway point of a $1.1-billion expansion, I’d like to take a speculative look at what Walt Disney Imagineering might have in mind for Phase 2 of the massive renovation project. DCA’s extreme makeover was necessitated by the on-the-cheap, off-the-shelf nature of the nearly decade-old theme park that even Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger now calls “mediocre.” Phase 1, which began in 2008, fixes about a third of the flawed park. What I’m interested in looking at here are the possibilities for the other two-thirds. What follows is a land-by-land compilation of possible attractions and thematic changes for Phase 2: Most of the proposed plans that have come to light remain firmly in the “what if” stage. In some cases, Disney announced and then postponed attractions. In other instances, the ideas have filtered out into the online community. In all circumstances, Disney remains officially mum, guarding future projects as closely held secrets. Quite naturally, any sequel to the wholesale reimagineering of DCA remains contingent on the success of Phase 1, which wraps up in 2012. So far, the crowds have responded positively to the uptick in quality (Toy Story Midway Mania dark ride), spectacle (“World of Color” water show) and attention to detail (Silly Symphony Swings wave swing). And the best is yet to come. Crews have broken ground on Phase 1 projects that demonstrate Disney’s commitment (the $100-million Voyage of the Little Mermaid dark ride), ambition (the 12-acre Cars Land) and heritage (Buena Vista Street entry plaza). Mouse watchers believe if Phase 1 continues to pay dividends, Iger will pony up more money for Phase 2 starting in 2013. The operative word here is “if.” So far nothing has been announced for Phase 2, but Imagineers have been busy dusting off old plans and dreaming up new ideas for the re-emergent Anaheim theme park. As any Disney fan knows, these “blue sky” proposals can change repeatedly over the course of development – and many never see the light of day.

You can read on over at the LA Times Website.

The WDWNT Podcast Nominated for Best Travel Podcast!

WDWNT on December 13, 2010

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Over the past 3 and a half years, the WDWNT Network has been blessed with a number of incredible accomplishments. The latest, and perhaps greatest, of them is the nomination of the WDW News Today Podcast for Best Travel Podcast in the 2010 People’s Choice Podcast Awards. Thanks to our incredible listeners visiting PodcastAwards.com and writing in for us, we received a nomination. The final phase is going on now, and we’re calling upon our listeners for help once again. We are asking you to PLEASE vote for the WDW News Today Podcast for Best Travel Podcast by visiting PodcastAwards.com and voting daily through Wenesday, December 15th. Together, even as a great underdog, I believe we can achieve this goal. From the moment WDWNT was founded, we were told we wouldn’t make it. Here we are quite some time later on the verge of another great accomplishment, and once again we need to call upon our readers and listeners for help. We have the most die-hard Disney fans in our audience. I truly believe that you, more than anything else, have been the key to our success. Whether it’s raising $3000 for Toys for Tots or award nominations, I am proud of our staff and audience everyday. Win, lose, or draw in these awards I wanted that to be known (Although we would really like to win).

Thank you for your continued support,
Tom Corless
Founder and CEO of the WDWNT Network

First Pictures of Disneyland A-E Ticket Booklet Set!

WDWNT on December 10, 2010

A BIG “thank you” to one of our listeners and twitter friend: TheRealWeinbeez, for these great pictures. You made us first on the web with the following:

Here is a first look at the backs of the Vinylmation:

And the Fronts:
Here is the inside of the box:
And the front:
Here is an up close look at the pin that comes with the set:
And here is the Display at D-Street in California:
All photos by TheRealWeinbeez


Disney Confirms Toontown Fair Closing February 11, 2011

WDWNT on December 10, 2010

An important Fantasyland expansion update from the Disney Parks Blog:

As many of you know, we’re in the midst of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, which will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. In order to make way for this transformation, it’s important to let you know Mickey’s Toontown Fair will close in early February.

Mickey's Toontown Fair

That doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about some of your favorite characters. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the Disney princesses will move to Town Square in the location currently known as Town Square Exposition Hall in spring 2011. Until that location is ready, they will continue to greet guests throughout Magic Kingdom. Meanwhile, Tinker Bell will relocate to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and her other fairy friends will appear later in the spring at Epcot. The Walt Disney World Railroad will stay open, but the Toontown station will remain closed during construction.

We hope you will pardon our dust as work progresses and if you’d like to experience Mickey’s Toontown Fair, you’ll have until Feb. 11 to make those plans. Remember, there are still many other entertainment experiences throughout Magic Kingdom to delight everyone in the family.

Fantasyland construction will be completed in phases with most new experiences open by 2013. This expansion is particularly exciting because it will enable us to share treasured stories with you in a whole new way. We’ll share more with you here as our work progresses.

Date Set for CALIFORNIA Letters Removal

WDWNT on December 10, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

As we look forward to 2011, we are excited to share that we are making great progress on the expansion of Disney California Adventure park. The year 2010 has been very exciting. In June, we made a big splash with “World of Color,” the nighttime spectacular that is wowing guests every night. On October 29, we reached an exciting milestone with Cars Land with the topping out of the Cadillac Mountain range – about 125 feet in the air. And, many of you have seen The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and Goofy’s Sky School coming to life along the parade route. Both are scheduled to open in 2011 along with new restaurants and shops as we finish the entire Paradise Pier expansion.

Now, as we move toward a new year, expansion continues. In January, our efforts move to the front of the park.

The 'CALIFORNIA' Letters at Disney California Adventure Park

On Jan. 4, we will begin making way for a new entrance modeled after the legendary Pan-Pacific Auditorium. This means, the “CALIFORNIA” letters will be removed, and we plan to save these icons for possible future use. Now’s the time to get your photos!

Artist Rendering of the Disney California Adventure Main Entrance Area

As this work continues, we are making adjustments to the Disney California Adventure Main Entrance area, including relocation of some Guest service areas. We’ll keep you informed about those here on the Disney Parks Blog as soon as we have specific dates and locations.

Rendering of Los Angeles in the 1920s

Also on Jan. 4, we will begin the transformation of the Sunshine Plaza area into Buena Vista Street inside the Main Entrance. When complete, it will represent Hollywood as it was when Walt Disney arrived on the west coast in the 1920s.

Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more updates as the expansion continues.

Getting Goofy with Vinylmation

WDWNT on December 9, 2010

The Disney Vinylmation Blog recently released a picture of an upcoming Disneyland Passholder Exclusive Goofy’s Sky School Vinylmation. Here are some pictures and background info on this exciting piece. First, take a look at the Vinylmation up against some Disney Imagineer concept art for the attraction that is being built right now at the California Adventure:

As you can see, it’s a front shot of Goofy in his red plane with aviator goggles on. This ride is based on the 1940 cartoon short “Goofy’s Glider.” It will be themed like a flying academy to teach novice pilots how to fly. Riders will climb to the top of the 55-foot tall coaster through clouds that have Goofy-shaped holes. That explains the great detail in the left ear of the Vinylmation:
Here is some concept art for Goofy’s Sky School (which is a re-theming of the Mullholland Madness coaster that closed in October 2010):
And one last thing just for fun… Goofy getting ready for his new attraction:

Video from the 2010 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade Filming

WDWNT on December 8, 2010

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee attended all of the filming for the 2010 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade over the weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort and has videos from the festivities to share. All of these videos are embedded via our WDWNTube video site:

Don’t forget to watch the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade on ABC on December 25th. Viewers can check local broadcast times online at DisneyChristmasDayParade.com and find out more information about the parade telecast.