Welcome Emily Weasley As New Lead Reporter For Disneyland News Today

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We have been aware over the past few months that news posting here on DLNT has slowed considerably. This is completely my fault as I have been increasingly busy in my personal life and this site kept getting shoved down on my priority list. This is why we announced a few weeks ago that I am stepping down as lead reporter of Disneyland News Today and began searching for the perfect individual to continue bringing you the Ideals, Dreams, and Hard Facts of the Disneyland Resort daily here on disneylandnewstoday.com. I would like to formally welcome Emily Weasley to Disneyland News Today as our new Lead Reporter. She will be handling the daily posting on the website bringing you news from the Disneyland Resort as well as posting our photo reports from the parks. I am not leaving the network entirely as I will be focusing on hosting and producing The Disneyland News Today Podcast. I am handing the website off in high hopes that it will soon become your number one resource for Disneyland Resort news and information.

 

– Conner Purzycki

VP of Disneyland News Today

 

 

Spotlight On: Celeste’s Candy Bowl Vinylmation

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

The candy bowl series started when I first created a mickey bowl for the blind bag series and after so many great responses I figured why stop there, so I decided to create a few more for Halloween. It’s a take on the old Halloween gag hand in the candy bowl but with some twists to them. The hand and candies are sculpted and attached to the figure so I don’t recommend trying to eat them. Hopefully as Halloween nears closer I will able to make a few more different ones. I am also having a giveaway of a bowl, not a candy bowl but of a noodle bowl lol. So what do have to do? Just like my Facebook page and comment “I’m hungry” and you’ll be entered to win. The giveaway will end Friday, September 21. Thanks so much and it’s always a pleasure!

Noodle Bowl Giveaway!

A Look Inside the Ballroom at New Fantasyland’s Be Our Guest Restaurant

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Disney has released a stunning video of the interior of the Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland. The sound-bites are from Chris Kelly (Show Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering) and Tim Warzecha (Senior Project Manager, Walt Disney Imagineering):

This video is released today as Disney formally announced that Be Our Guest Restaurant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Gaston’s Tavern, Ariel’s Grotto, and Under the sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid will not open until Holiday 2012. The Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station and the second Dumbo spinner will open July.

Disney Parks Blog Reflects on December, 2011

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

With the end of 2012 just around the corner, many will take the time to look back and reflect on the past year. But what if we looked a bit further? Let’s rewind the clock to December 2011 and see what we were up to one year ago this month.

Ghirardelli is Coming to Disney California Adventure Park
Can you believe it’s only been one year since we announced that Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shopwas coming to Disney California Adventure park? I know I’ve enjoyed dozens of hot fudge sundaes since its June 7 opening – how about you?

Four Seasons Groundbreaking Ceremony, Which Included Mickey Mouse, Meg Crofton, President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, and Joint Venture Partners Silverstein Properties and Dune Real Estate

Four Seasons Breaks Ground at Walt Disney World Resort
In early December 2011, construction officially kicked off for the Four Seasons luxury resort at Walt Disney World Resort with a groundbreaking ceremony.

“Walt

The Last Photo of Walt Disney at Disneyland Park
To mark the 45th anniversary of the passing of Walt Disney last December, George shared the now-iconic last photo of Walt here at Disneyland park.


A ‘Towering’ New Race Through the Night at Walt Disney World Resort
Last December, Darrell announced that The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend would take place this September at Walt Disney World Resort. Did you participate in this new race?

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas at Walt Disney World Resort
Of course, we were busy celebrating the holiday season last December – which brought the debut of this popular video, in which Mickey Mouse is joined by familiar faces from across the Walt Disney World Resort to recite “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Video of Mickey’s Circus Vinylmation Chat

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Here is a video we recorded of the Vinylmation Chat Session from Sunday, September 9 at Mickey’s Circus. Unfortunately this year, they did not play the slide show behind the speakers on stage. You can of course check out all the pictures on this website. I also want to say once again thank you to everyone who logged in, or tried to log in to our live chat coverage of this event. I want to once again apologize to the many people who could not log on due to the overwhelming response. We will make sure to have more room next year. But I hope this video helps give you a glimpse of what we got to experience at Mickey’s Circus.

 

A Hauntingly Fun Release

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We have more details now about the Haunted Mansion releases at WDW and DLR. (Hanted Mansion explained page)

On Friday, September 21, the series will be released at D-Street Walt Disney World. Casey Jones will hold a signing that day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a one-of-a-kind custom 9″ Mariner figure designed by Casey Jones available for purchase on site (pictured below).

Casey will then make an appearance from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, at D-Street Disneyland. The series will release that morning on the west coast and Casey Jones will also have a one-of-a-kind custom figure for purchase here too… the 9″ Bride pictured above. Additional custom figures will also be for sale:

John Henselmeier

Javier Soto

Julie West

Miss Mindy
According to a Disney Parks Blog interview with Steven Miller, series artist Casey Jones said: “We knew we couldn’t feature every single character from the attraction,” explained Casey. “So we selected a character from almost each of the different show scenes. This set gives us a strong foundation to build upon for a future Haunted Mansion series.”
The article reveals that the beautiful packaging for this series was designed by Thomas Scott with help from artist Dan Salgo. Thomas gave some insight into it’s creation, “We used the cover of the ‘The Story & Song from The Haunted Mansion’ vinyl album as inspiration for the packaging,” said Thomas. “We even used the unique ‘Haunted Mansion’ lettering found on that album as a nice tribute.”

We have waited along time for this series. What are your thoughts as we go into release weekend? Have the variants re-energized the passion for this set?

Disney Releases New Concept Art & Details for Test Track

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

The new logo for Test Track presented by Chevrolet

As you can see. they are changing the entire ride completely. The first image is clearly the hill climb. The top right looks to be the first break-test zone. The lower two pictures look like replacements for the environmental chambers.

Ride icons? I assume these are categories you will be graded in after designing your vehicle.

Yep, the Test Track you once knew is gone…

If you look closely at tis image, you can see plenty of concept art for the Chevrolet Design Studio, where guests will design their SimCars

Disney also released some new details:

When complete, the reimagining of this attraction will allow guests to design their own custom concept vehicle, and then put it through its paces on the exhilarating hills and switchbacks of the Test Track circuit. In the post-show, guests can make a TV commercial featuring their concept car or truck, race their car or truck on our virtual track and take a picture with their custom concept vehicle.

So, it looks like Test Track will be very different when it opens (tentatively set for December 1)… so what do you think of this new look?

Once Upon a Pin’s Mickey’s Circus Review

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

First, I want to thank any of our DV listeners/readers who have been checking out Once Upon a Pin, our Disney pin podcast and website we launched a few months back. Our numbers have been rising over the past few weeks with positive feedback about our approach.

You can help by spreading the word to your pin collecting friends in person, on Facebook and on the pin message boards. As you know, Mickey’s Circus was a great source of previews for pins and vinyl. DV had pictures of all the vinyl, but if you are also interested in the pin side, Once Upon a Pin had everything covered. We split the coverage up into three shorter podcasts:

Episode 11: Fantasyland, Epcot 30th and Mad T Party pin previews

Episode 12: Christmas and Nightmare Before Christmas pin previews

Episode 13: General pins that will be released at WDW and DLR. This includes pins of the month, event and general attraction and character pins as well as a look at next year’s POtM and AP pins.

You are also able to follow along and see all the pictures of the pins we are discussing. Just go to our Once Upon a Pin Facebook page and go to the photo albums section. Then, pick the corresponding album to the selection of pins we are discussing on the podcast you are listening to.