2012 – Page 12 – WDWNT Archive

Splitsville Rolls Into Downtown Disney’s West Side This Fall

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Each year, 55 million people try their hand a bowling around the world. Everyone finds a bit of joy in the experience from the avid league bowler to the weekend warrior. But the age-old image of bowling is about to change with the new opening of Splitsville, America’s Bowling Alley, at Downtown Disney this Fall.

”We’re really excited to be opening our doors in such a special place,” said Guy Revelle, co-founder of Splitsville. “Bowling is a perfect experience for groups of all sizes. It’s where families come together to create memories, children can teach adults, and friendly rivalries are born. Guests laugh, shout, cheer and bring back the timeless high-five. And that’s just in the first frame!”

If you think that this is your father’s bowling alley, think again. Splitsville’s 50,000-square foot, two-story Downtown Disney location will have 30 lanes, two kitchens, a dramatic balcony, ample outdoor seating, billiard tables and live entertainment.

”In a world of smart phones, tablets, texting and social media, people need an outlet to connect again,” said Mark Gibson, co-founder of Splitsville. “We believe that a concept centered around the classic sport of bowling, but with an improved atmosphere, upscale food and pleasant service, results in a surprising destination for people to have fun together.”

Located in the heart of Downtown Disney’s West Side, Splitsville puts a whole new spin on bowling with its emphasis on unique design. Guests will be greeted with upscale sushi bars, plush booths and dynamic decor overlooking the bowling lanes. The design blends both hip and retro elements, resulting in an energetic yet comfortable atmosphere.

”One of Splitsville’s differentiating features is its innovative interior design,” said Gibson. “The lanes are separated into several clusters, which create unique lines of sight and allow guests to view bowling from a perspective that you can’t find anywhere else. It makes for a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.”

”Splitsville is clearly going to be a great place to bowl,” said Keith Bradford, vice president of Downtown Disney. “But I think our guests are going to be surprised that they can also go there for great food and to watch sports. That’s what makes Splitsville a perfect fit and such a great addition for Downtown Disney.”

Splitsville has taken great care to develop an exceptional menu that combines traditional and upscale offerings. With the help of award-winning chef Tim Cushman, Guests will find surprising elements such as fresh rolled sushi, grilled mahi-mahi with “Voodoo” shrimp and hand-cut steaks alongside alley-classics like cheeseburgers, crinkle-cut fries and pepperoni pizza.

“We have created a collection of sharable foods combined with unique beverages and signature desserts,” said Revelle. “Splitsville truly has something for everyone. We invite you to Roll in and Rock out!”

Our first look at the backside of the Splitsville building

The following video shows an existing Splitsville location in Tampa, FL, so you can get a feel for what the interior might be like. There are also a few soundbites from Guy Revelle, Co-Founder of Splitsville:

Tim Alcoser’s 12/8/12 DLR Holiday Photo Report

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Tim went to the Disneyland resort and captured some holiday magic!

Special Holiday kiosks have been installed near Earl of Sandwich and ESPN zone.

Picture perfect posts are available in front of AMC in Downtown Disney

Located in Disney’s California Adventure

Christmas Segment in World of Color

Main Street USA lit up in Holiday Cheer

Happy Holidays!

Disney and the Rose Parade: A 75-Year Tradition Continues

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

By Erin Glover on Disney Parks Blog:

We’ve been showing you updates on the construction of the “Destination: Cars Land” float which will appear in the 124th Rose Parade on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, Calif., here on the Disney Parks Blog. We’re really excited about this year’s Disneyland Resort float – not only is it a tribute to the all-new Cars Land, but it also continues a 75-year tradition of Disney involvement with the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena. Disney’s relationship with the Tournament of Roses began in 1938 when characters from the newly premiered “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” were prominently featured in the parade. And of course, the Rose Queen and her Court, along with the competing Rose Bowl football teams, have visited Disneyland Resort each year since 1960 (be sure to check back here on December 26 for photos from this year’s visit).

In 1966, Walt Disney served as Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade. Later, Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and the head of Disney Animation, would serve as Grand Marshall in 2000. Members of the creative teams at Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Entertainment have served as float judges numerous times throughout the years.

In 2004, Disneyland Resort presented “A Sudden Drop in Pitch,” the tallest float in Rose Parade history at 110 feet, featuring live performers dangling in a elevator attached to the top. The float’s title played off that year’s theme of “Music, Music, Music,” and the float was inspired by The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction, which opened in Disney California Adventure park that spring.

The 50th Anniversary of Disneyland was celebrated in 2005 with both a dazzling Rose Parade Opening Show and a spectacular castle float titled “The Happiest Celebration on Earth.” That year’s Rose Parade also featured Mickey Mouse as Grand Marshall.

Disney broke another Rose Parade record In 2006, with the longest float (150 feet) at the time in Rose Parade history. Titled “The Most Magical Celebration on Earth,” the float celebrated Disney Parks around the world.

Be sure to tune in for the 124th Rose Parade on January 1, 2013, on ABC-TV to see the latest in a long line of Disney-inspired floats!

Noah Shows Us His Dark Side

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

According to the Disney Parks Blog, Noah will soon be releasing a line of merchandise themed to Disney Villains. These new designs will appear in a variety of items including limited edition giclees on canvas, men’s apparel, women’s apparel and skate decks. The highlight for this audience is surely this custom Chernabog piece…

No word on edition size or price yet, however Noah will be on hand for a special appearance and signing October 20, from 3–6 p.m. at D Street in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort. So we assume this is the release date. Here is a look at a few of the other products and designs.

Finish Your Holiday Shopping With Unique Merchandise Deals at Disney Parks

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

By Steven Miller from Disney Parks Blog:

With Christmas right around the corner, I’m almost finished with my holiday shopping. The only things I have left to find are small items for stockings. During my recent travels around Walt Disney World Resort, I found several deals and unique gift items that may help you complete your holiday shopping.

Get Two MousekeEars for $20.00
I first shared news about MousekeEars – the miniature Disney ear hats that you can collect, wear and share – back in August. You can now get two MousekeEars for $20.00 (plus tax) at selection locations in Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. The mini-hats are normally priced at $12.95 each.

Two Scarves for $35.00
There are a variety of colorful and decorative scarves available at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. You can get two scarves for $35.00 (plus tax); the offer only applies to scarves ticketed at $21.95.

Buy Two Antenna Toppers for $8.00
I recently gave a look at my new favorite antenna topper, the Orange Bird, when my fellow Disney Parks Blogauthor Jenn Fickley-Baker visited me at Disney Theme Park Merchandise headquarters. You can get two antenna toppers for $8.00 (plus tax) at select Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort locations.

Three Disney Racers for $15.00
When I was younger, I recall receiving die-cast cars in my holiday stocking. For fans of Disney Racers, you can get three Disney Racers for $15.00 (plus tax). This offer applies only to single Disney Racers ticketed at $5.95 each.

In addition to the special deals, I found some items that would fit nicely in a stocking. I liked the luggage tags that look like Disney characters because I travel often and need a way to speed up that baggage claim experience. The Disney•Pixar “Cars”-themed chocolate squares would be a hit with me mostly because I love chocolate! The colorful Mickey Mouse acrylic bracelets could easily add a splash of color to the top of a wrapped present. Finally, I thought the round bottle opener with Mickey Mouse’s face was a unique kitchen item.

Please note – special promotional deals valid only while supplies last and are subject to change without notice.

Japan’s Walt Disney 110th Anniversary Series

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

On October 5th, Disney Stores in Japan will release a set titled Walt Disney 110th Anniversary Series. This will be a blind box series with a 1200 YEN ($15 USD) price tag on it.

The set has a cute, love theme going on here. You can also kind of pair up a few of these such as Mickey/Minnie, Donald/Daisy, even Pongo/Cheshire if you want to go cat and dog. Pooh and Bambi are forest animals. But I can not link Goofy and Pinocchio no matter how hard I try. Then you have the Three Little Pigs which leads me to speculate on a Chip and Dale chaser as I stated in the last podcast. Here is a look at the individual figures.

Select Disney World Guests Testing Next-Gen RFID FASTPASS System

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Starting on May 1st, select Walt Disney World guests checking-in for Magical Express at Orlando International Airport have been asked to complete a survey. If they choose to answer the survey, well, then the fun begins. A guest relations cast member will provide the family with two lists of select Magic Kingdom attractions, asking them to pick 2 from each list. Here are all of the attraction involved in the test:

Mickey at Town Square Theater
Princesses at Town Square Theater
Stitch’s Great Escape (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Space Mountain
The Many adventure of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s Philharmagic (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
Peter Pan’s Flight
The Haunted Mansion (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
Splash Mountain
The Jungle Cruise

After selecting 2 from each list, the cast member will ask the guest what day they will be visiting the Magic Kingdom, if they are celebrating anything, and then give the guests some plastic yellow cards that says FASTPASS. These cards contain a small RFID-chip inside that contains some information based on what information was provided. Among that info will be reserved FASTPASS times on the 4 attractions selected from the list above. Guests are to be sent an email at a requested address with their final itinerary.

Here’s what the email guests are receiving looks like

Guests then take their cards to the Magic Kingdom and are invited to put them to good use. When you head over to a corresponding attraction at the proper time, you will be scanning your card at a temporary pole with a Mickey icon on it or at a PDA device also sporting the same Mickey icon (Town Square Theater is using this system and not the poles). When the card is scanned, the icon should turn green to enter. If you get a blue icon, you have done something wrong.

One of the readers installed at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

At every location they have an iPad or a PDA that will tell them if you are too early, too late, or on-time when you swipe your card at the reader. Should you be wrong or need to check your schedule, they will refer you to one of 5 locations where you can currently do this. The 5 locations set-up to help guests throughout the park are City Hall, and kiosks near Jungle Cruise, Stitch’s Great Escape, Splash Mountain, and Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Another interesting factoid is that cast members will see all kinds of information about you when you scan your card at the reader. They can see your name and even if you are celebrating anything. You’ll recall rumors we’ve discussed of Disney using the same RFID technology in attractions to make them actually acknowledge your name or what you are celebrating that day. Yes, the future has arrived, but only for a short time. The test is scheduled to end May 15th.

Holidays at Disneyland Resort

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

By Michele Himmelberg from the Disney Parks Blog:

Lots of people visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks in the spring or summer, and they never see Disneyland Resort all decked out for the holidays. A new kind of magic happens this time of year that can take your breath away! Take it from our Disneyland rep on the Disney Moms Panel, Ari Krell: the parks feel like a different place during this special season.

Ari has been playing at Disneyland Resort since childhood, but this year was the first time he brought his family to visit for the holidays. He has a few tips to share if you’re visiting in the next few weeks.

Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on the holiday season at Disney Parks, and join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #DisneyHolidays.

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Cover photo by Tim Alcoser

Spotlight On: Custom Artist Project Sidekickz Artist Mark Hoffmann

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

The Custom Artist Project is a group of 11 of the best custom Vinylmation artists in the world who have come together to make their own blind box series. Series 1 is called “Sidekickz” and is a mix of different Disney sidekicks from films or TV. It will be released on October 6th. Each day leading up to the release, we will spotlight a different artist from the series. Today we spotlight custom artist Mark Hoffmann.

Hometown:
Morgan Hill, California

Website:
Markhoffmann.com

What Disney Sidekick did you choose?
Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Why did you choose that sidekick?
Honestly, because of his facial expressions. Plus I think the vinyl works well with the Dwarves shapes.

Favorite Disney Movie?
Tangled….although I do love all the old classics. It’s hard to just pick one.

Favorite Disney Theme Park Attraction?
I have so many, but I will have to say Space Mountain.

Favorite aspect of working on the Mickey shaped canvas?
I think the challenge of creating a piece so that you forget it’s painted on a Mickey shape. Many people don’t even notice the ears at first.

More info on the Custom Artist Project:

Website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistProject/

How to purchase: The price of one blind box is $65, including shipping within the US. We’re looking into international shipping right now, but it will probably be another $5-10 if it works out.Paypal is going to be the accepted payment. It is limited to one household per blind box.

What you get: You will get one blind box (yes, I’m actually making boxes) with one of 24 different figures. Some figures come with accessories. You will also get 11 different cards, 1 from each artist.

“Realms Of Fantasy” Now Open In The Disney Gallery

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

To our surprise, a new exhibit called Realms of Fantasy opened up today in The Disney Gallery on Main Street and I have a photo report of all the new art inside.

The new exhibit features art from Fantasylands around the globe