Dirk Wallen’s 1/9/13 Hollywood Studios Photo Report

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen made a quick trip over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier today and has a couple of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip. Let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Peter Pan blu-ray billboard in the parking lot

We’re still letting the memories begin…

More RFID entrances are being installed in preparation for the rollout of MyMagic+ and MagicBand

Plenty of Kodak references still up all over the park

The stage is finally down in front of the hat

Peter Pan and Frankenweenie billboards in the Animation Courtyard

The Monsters Inc. 3-D billboard is now a billboard for Monsters University

Comedy Warehouse is gone…

Muppetvision 3-D is still presented by Kodak currently

Osborne Lights are coming down

Sweeping Renovations Completed as Work Continues on Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

In preparation for the opening of the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, the rest of the resort has been undergoing sweeping changes overt the last few months. Most of this work has been completed, so let’s take a look at the current state of the resort:

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Gasparilla Grill and Games is now Gasparilla Island Grill

The old mats are still here

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The seating area was expanded and remodeled

The ordering area is generally the same, just freshened up

ICE CREAM!

There are a lot more seats now

The arcade is now next door

Arcadia Games

The arcade has a separate exterior entrance

Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries reopened recently too

There is now a huge refrigerator section for cold drinks and food

Some new Grand Floridian Resort merchandise was released when the store opened

Mizner’s Lounge is back

Nothing different inside

They added food to the menu though

Senses recently opened as well

The new parking lot near the Wedding Pavilion is open for the most part

From Pirates, to Princesses, to Cars, Guest “MagicBands” Will Be Fully Customizable

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

taptopay

Disney released a few MagicBand press pictures not too long ago, and if you look closely, you can see guests using bands of various designs and colors

POTCband

If you look really closely, you can even see one child has a Pirates of the Caribbean themed MagicBand

This is really just the beginning of the customization options for MagicBand, as there will be bands representing characters such as the Fab 5, Disney Princesses, and PIXAR characters, just to name a few. There are even rumors that companies like Dooney & Burke and Swarovski will produce upscale vanity bands that guests can buy as well. If a wristband isn’t your thing, Disney plans on creating watches, keychains, and various jewelry that can also serve as your MagicBand.

Resort guests and Annual Passholders will be the only guests receiving bands complimentary at first, with all other guests using new RFID tickets at launch of MyMagic+. All guest can then customize or buy vanity bands at their leisure. Eventually the plan is for all guests to get bands instead of tickets.

So, what do you think of MagicBand?

2013 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival to Feature Food & Wine

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Yep, you heard right… here’s the latest press release from Disney with some new details on this year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A blooming bounty of festival firsts will welcome Disney guests to the 20th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 6-May 19, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort.  First, the news:

  • Epcot chefs will cook up first-time festival food and beverage fun, with special cooking stations offering exclusive-to-the-festival bites along the park’s World Showcase promenade.
  • A new circus-like “Land of Oz Play Area,” based on the Disney fantastical film adventure “Oz: The Great and Powerful” to be released in March 2013, will debut a kaleidoscope of interactive fun.
  • Disney topiary experts will grow, shape and manicure a Fab Five Disney character topiary with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck (with Daisy Duck in a cameo) featured in a celebratory floral cookout scene in living topiary color at the park’s front entrance.
  • New illuminated gardens in the park’s Future World and World Showcase will cast a colorful glow over each festival evening.

Throughout the 75-day garden party, guests will discover festival surprises around every corner including new topiary triumphs, colorful garden displays, a butterfly bounty, HGTV celebrity designers, interactive gardening seminars and whimsical children’s play areas.  On weekends, top Flower Power rockers of the 1960s and ’70s will perform.

Every Friday through Sunday, HGTV design celebrities will host Festival Center seminars.  During opening weekend, March 8-10, Chris Lambton of “Going Yard” will appear; other designers scheduled to take the stage include Brandon Johnson of “My Yard Goes Disney” and Meg Caswell of “Meg’s Great Rooms.”

Now the details:

  • Festival-themed flavors:  Guests will discover culinary creations and refreshing libations at multiple festival-themed food and beverage locations.  Chefs are tweaking the menu to include backyard barbecue and a variety of garden-inspired and global tastes.  Around the World Showcase promenade
  • Fab Five topiary barbecue: 14-foot-tall topiary Goofy will bobble an anniversary cake while Donald and Daisy play badminton, Mickey fires up the grill, Pluto swipes a link of hot dogs and Minnie chills out on a colorful blanket of blossoms. At Epcot Front Entrance
  • Land of Oz Play Area:  This interactive new children’s play zone will feature play systems adorned with giant flowers and designed to stretch kids’ imaginations and muscles. Midway-style games, red-and-white circus-themed tents and the “Oz Movie Garden” of intriguing plants will capture the spirit of the upcoming “Oz: The Great and Powerful.”  Also on tap: fun games, photo opportunities, the “great and powerful Oz’s” crashed hot-air balloon and lush plants inspired by the movie.  On the Imagination Walkway
  • Illuminated Gardens:  Every night when the sun sets, many of the festival’s world-famous Disney topiaries and gardens will twinkle and shine in a new light.  Throughout World Showcase and Future World
  • “Monsters University” topiary:  Floral representations of Mike and Sully from the hit Disney-Pixar film “Monsters, Inc.” and stars of Disney-Pixar’s June 2013 release, “Monsters University,” will join the festivities as new topiary family members.  On the Future World Walkway
  • Phineas and Ferb topiary:  The popular Disney Channel animated celebs limit their shenanigans to go green for a family photo-op.  Behind Spaceship Earth
  • “Radiator Springs” interactive play zone:  Race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck “Mater” of the Disney-Pixar film “Cars 2″ will be the well-maintained topiary stars of this play area.  On the Test Track Walkway
  • Flower Power Firsts:  1970s top disco band The Village People (April 19-21) and 1960s singer-songwriter Tommy Roe (May 3-5) bring on the Flower Power beat when they take the concert stage.  At America Gardens Theatre

And a new twist:

  • Fawn’s Butterfly House: Eight fanciful fairy topiaries of Pixie Hollow, including Tinker Bell, Fawn, Vidia and Terrence, take over the Butterfly House this year where hundreds of colorful winged beauties flit to life.  On the Imagination Walkway

In all, more than 100 topiaries, 240 floating mini-gardens, dozens of flower towers and sweeping beds of multi-colored blooms will add floral splendor to the park landscape.  Daily hands-on gardening seminars, and other Festival Center events will offer innovative ideas, design tips and gardening know-how to park guests.

The Flower Power concert series kicks off March 6-10 with Micky Dolenz (“I’m a Believer”) and continues each weekend with pop favorites including:

March 15-17:             Chubby Checker & The Wildcats

March 22-24:             The Guess Who

March 29-31:             Nelson

April 5-7:                    The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie

April 12-14:                Paul Revere & the Raiders

April 19-21:                The Village People (new!)

April 26-28:                The Orchestra, Featuring Former Members of ELO and ELO II

May 3-5:                     Tommy Roe (new!)

May 10-12:                 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone

May 17-19:                 Starship starring Mickey Thomas.

The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

Introducing… Disney PhotoPass Booths?

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

We’ve seen some interesting changes to Disney PhotoPass recently, but the most interesting has to be this booth I came across at the Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. Arcade:

I thought at first it was just a photo booth sponsored by PhotoPass, but is is more than that

You can scan a PhotoPass card

Not only can you print photos from the booth, but you can now access photos and video from the booth using your PhotoPass card

Pretty neat, huh? What do you think about Disney PhotoPass booths?

“MyMagic+” and “MagicBand” Are About to Change the Way You Visit Walt Disney World

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

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We’ve been keeping you updated on tests of FastPass+ and “Order Ahead” dining over the last few months, well, now we have the official word from Disney on how all of this “Next-Gen” technology will tie together to change the way guests experience Walt Disney World. If you have been following this site and our podcast for any amount of time, you have probably heard us discuss much of what we will explain in this post, but this is the first time we are getting the info straight from a Disney document. To protect our sources, we will not be showing you the document itself, but rather telling you the more interesting or important points of a release that was given to certain WDW cast members. Alright, let’s take a look at what “MyMagic+” and “MagicBand” mean for the future of Disney Parks:

Soon, Walt Disney World Resort will introduce tools that allow guests to use technology to customize and personalize their vacation, along with more guest enhancements that will continue to be tested and implemented in the coming years. Many of these efforts are part of MyMagic+, which has the ability to connect nearly all aspects of the guest experience.

  • My Disney Experience, a new website and mobile application, will provide a one-stop shop for all things Walt Disney World during every phase of a guest’s vacation. Guests may use My Disney Experience to get information on all Walt Disney World offerings, reserve dining and other experiences and make FastPass+ selections in advance.
  • Disney FastPass+ service will allow guests to lock in some of their must-do attractions and show experiences in advance, freeing them to explore and discover the magic in Walt Disney World theme parks and resort hotels. For the first time, guests will be able to reserve firework and parade viewing areas, shows, Disney Character Greetings and more.
  • The new MagicBand, worn on the wrist, will become the key to unlocking the magic, serving as room key, park admission, access to FastPass+ selections, PhotoPass card and payment account (optional) all rolled into one.
  • MyMagic+, as well as other guest experience enhancements, will continue to be tested and implemented in the coming years. We are continually looking at ways to take the entire Disney Parks experience to the next level at all of our destinations based on the unique ways our guests enjoy diverse sites. Guests, Cast, Crew, and Imagineer feedback will continue to be a critical part of the process in shaping these offerings.

“MyMagic+” has been slowly rolling out to guests over the last few weeks, most noticeably with the installation of “touch to pay” machines at most stores and RFID scanners at the entrance to all 4 theme parks. The new Walt Disney World website is also prepared for these additions including FastPass+:

Picture 1

If you try to make a dining reservation for the Be Our Guest Restaurant and it is not available, it will tell you that Disney FastPass+ Quick Service may be available. This will be the system that allows you to get a time window to go to the restaurant and even allow you to order your food before you arrive, just like the “Order Ahead” test from a few weeks ago. Of course if you hit the “Request Now” button, it does not work yet.

So, when will “MyMagic+” and “MagicBand” roll out? We don’t really know yet. We’ve heard as early as February we could see the first guests walking around the parks with the RFID MagicBand, but only time will tell. Stay tuned for more information on this breaking story as it becomes available.

What do you think of the concept of “MyMagic+” and “MagicBand”?

VIDEO: “Bling in the New Year” Kicks Off “Limited Time Magic”

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

Screen Shot 2013-01-02 at 12.28.34 PM

While celbrating New Year’s Eve at the Magic Kingdom, I decided to take in the first Limited Time Magic offering: the “Bling in the New Year” Dance Party at the Tomorrowland stage. It really wasn’t much different than the usual Club 626 dance party with the exception of some added dancers, different character costumes, and countdown to the new year which happens once an hour. We have a short video of the party to share with you:

Park 12 Explained

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

Park 12 Explained
Release Date: June 7, 2013 (online), June 14, 2013 (Parks)
Retail Price: $12.95

Update 06/16/13 A Blue Monorail Variant has surfaced. This photo was posted by Doug Robertson on Vinylmation Exchange.

Update 05/03/13 Disney released turnaround photos of 11 of the figures. We can now assume the chaser is Darla from Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage since we saw 12 figures previewed at Disneyland a few months back and that was the one not previewed online.

Also, we now have a look at the Park 12 combo topper:

It is a Director Mickey. Not as cool as the Disney Studio Store version, but does have a megaphone. What do you think this represents? Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Buena Vista Street? Something else entirely?


Update 03/15/13 We received our first look at Park 12 from a preview at Disneyland’s Trade Night. Thank you to Trade Street USA for the original photos and info. There were 12 figures previewed, so one of the below may be the chaser or combo topper. Disneyland fans should be happy… except for the DCA themed Park 11, there may be more DLR themed figures in this set than any other. 5 that are specific to the west coast resort and 2 shared.

 Dynamite Goat
Big Thunder Mountain, Disneyland
Artist: Sarah Hall

A fan favorite and one of the Imagineer’s all-time classic gags. A wonderful and rendition and sure to be a popular figure. (We still need a Park Starz version)

photo from disboards.com

Darla
(Mystery Chaser?)
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Disneyland
Artist: Ron Cohee

Darla is found swimming in the water holding a plastic bag with a doomed fish in it.

photo from orbit tumblr blog

Dinosaur
Animal Kingdom
Artist: Billy Davis

This is a wonderful depiction of a great dark ride. The Carnotaurus roars in the head while the CTX Time Rover drives through on the body. Great detail. BTW, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Dr. Seeker vinyl someday.

photo from Disney

Disneyland Monorail
Disneyland Resort
Artist: Dan Howard

It’s about time right? We have 5 WDW Monorails. I think the monorails look very sleek on the newer Mickey platform.

Monkey
Festival of the Lion King, Animal Kingdom
Artist: Maria Clapsis

Widely regarded as one of the finest shows at WDW. It certainly is a beautiful show, and the trampoline bouncing performers in monkey costumes really steal the show. I like the decision to do a “monkey face” as opposed to human.

Goofy’s Gas
Toontown, Disneyland
Artist: Ron Cohee

A funny gag where fish swim in the tank of the retro gas pumps.

Mariachi Cobre
Mexico Pavilion, Epcot World Showcase
Artist: John Henselmeier

More than this figure alone, it’s the addition of John Henselmeier to the Vinylmation team that has me excited for what is to come. This is a great figure, but knowing John’s love of Epcot, I can’t wait to see what is on the horizon (pun intended).

photo from tucson sentinel

Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
Disneyland
Artist: Billy Davis

The body is the ride vehicle with a Heffalump from the attraction in the head.

Spitting Camel
Aladdin’s Magic Carpets, Magic Kingdom
Artist: Thomas Scott

The camels spit water at guests walking by and riding the Magic Carpets in Adventureland.

photo from DailyDisneyPhotos.com

Vulture
Splash Mountain, WDW/DLR
Artist: Casey Jones

Finally! A Splash figure. The Vutures are the last warning before you ascend the last part of the mountain. This figure represents them well, but to nitpick, I’d love an extension neck.

photo from allears.net

Santa
Winter Sumerland Mini Golf, Walt Disney World
Artist: Thomas Scott

Two 18 hole mini golf courses where you can choose the winter or summer path. Santa on a summer vacation is a focal point of the theme.

Teddi Barra
Country Bear Jamboree, Walt Disney World
Artist: Maria Clapsis

Teddi Barra descends from the ceiling on a giant swing to serenade the crowd.

photo from disney.wikia.com

A Whale of a DCL Vinyl

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

The Disney Collections Blog posted a new Disney Cruise Line Vinylmation. It will be released on May 27, 2013 aboard the Disney Wonder on its Alaskan itinerary. The edition size is only 1,000, was designed by Maria Clapsis and retails for $14.95.

This cute little guy appears to be Spot the Whale from The Little Mermaid cartoon series. He was a killer whale calf whom Ariel adopted and secretly raised in the palace.

The little details like the silhouette of Ariel in the ear on the front and the Hidden Mickey bubble on the rear make this 3″ figure a real gem. Now that you are in the mood, click here to book a DCL Alaska cruise for MC and I and we will pick you up a few.