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Ep. 130 Wet Paint Donald This week we give a full D23 Expo Vinylmation and Artist Meet and Greet Preview. We also find out news about Popcorns 2, Food & Wine and an update on Reflections of Evil. Matt from Vinylmation Kingdom stops by to talk about customs, scrappers and Walt. |
Things have been so crazy around here at WDW News Today lately that we’ve had some minor news stories slip through the cracks. In an effort to get you up to speed on some of the stories we haven’t covered on the site lately, here are newsworthy photos from myself and Dirk Wallen taken earlier in March:
Some new “flat” snowglobes for sale
There are some new hot sandwiches in Liberty Square
Most of the arcades at Walt Disney World are replacing their prize counters with one of these
An automated prize machine is a pretty cool concept
The new purchase with purchase item for sale is an expandable duffle
Wriost gift cards are available for the Flower and Garden Festival
Work continues on expanding the Boardwalk Bakery
The arcade next door is gone
The sign is still up and the door still enters the small ESPN shop
The arcade section is covered by a curtain
A few weeks ago, Test Track introduced a new car type guests can choose
Triton’s Treasures behind the Mine Train now has shutters on it
An ADA compliant ramp was installed on the Yankee Trader
Some of the new Haunted Mansion merchandise is for sale in Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe
Picture frame
Hourglass
Coasters
Work continues on installing A Pirate’s Adventure in Adventureland
Work continues on the exterior of the Adventureland Veranda
Rumors indicate that this may finally become a Pirate restaurant in 2014 once the Disney Fairies move out
More tarps on the front of the building
St. Patrick’s Day shirt
Spring Break and graduation merchandise out
Two new Oswald shirts for sale
Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny are in town square
Awwwwww
More Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction
Some trees up on the mountain
We can finally see some rock work
In preparation for FastPAss+, a large section of the Pirates of the Caribbean queue has been re-routed
Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian
Thanks for reading!
The long rumored Starbucks location inside Disneyland has finally been announced on the Disney Parks Blog:
I’ve got updates to share with you today about some big changes coming to Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park. First, Starbucks will be making its much-anticipated debut inside Market House this fall. To make room for this exciting addition, Market House will close next month to begin an expansion into the adjacent space currently occupied by Disneyana.
Disney art and collectible fans will soon be able to find all their favorite treasures in one location, as Disneyana will move to a new home inside the Bank of Main Street building, the current location of the Disney Gallery. The new, combined location will continue to present a rotating Gallery Exhibit, featuring Walt Disney Imagineering concept art and pieces from local artists. (In fact, we will have information soon about the newest exhibit, featuring art inspired by Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.)
Market House will reopen this fall, still themed as a turn-of-the-century general store, serving Starbucks products and a selection of specialty Disney pastries.
This new Starbucks location was announced just weeks after concept art surfaced of the new Starbucks location in Florida in the Main Street Bakery at The Magic Kingdom.
This week at Epcot, guests can purchase an “egg” hunt map at Heritage Manor, International Gateway, Pin Central and Port of Entry for $4.95 plus tax. Guests can then hunt around the park as part of “Limited Time Magic” looking for hidden character eggs. Whether or not you finish the quest, you can return your map for a Vinylmation prize! Let’s take a look at the hunt:
Here’s the map
Figment egg
If you don’t want to know where the eggs are, you should look away now…
“He’s gonna jump!”
Creepy Mickey egg…
I don’t see one, canoe?
Signs are up around the park advertising it
When guests are done, they pick one of the eggs and get a 2-pack of Vinylmation Jr. keychains for participating
So, what do you think? Is this a good “Limited Time Magic” offering?
Behind Tusker House in Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, construction has begun on a new home for Festival of the Lion King. The new location will house the show once it closes in Camp Minnie-Mickey so work can commence on the AVATAR-themed land sometime later this year. The moving of the check-in area for the Wild Africa Trek experience a few weeks ago was the just the beginning of the changes to make way for the project:
There are some questions we have about the theater. Will it have the modern conveniences of the Festival of the Lion King theater built in 2005 for Hong Kong Disneyland?
Now that the show is staying and moving to a structure not meant to be temporary, it sure would be nice to see improvements to the theater and maybe even the old parade floats from Disneyland that are in the show.
What do you think?
Fantasy Faire has now officially opened inside Disneyland Park and we have photos from one of the Annual Passholder previews that took place just a few days ago. Thanks to DLNT Reporter Tim Alcoser for the photos.
Beautiful Morning
In line to get wristbands for the preview
 
Beginning March 20, all new and renewal Annual Pass purchases will be issued an RFID-enabled cards. All will have the green background, but feature a colored stripe to designate parking privileges.
Between March 20th and May 19th, current Annual Passholders may visit then Odyssey Center at Epcot during regular park hours to have their pass converted to the new, hard plastic ticket. The new tickets will function in existing FastPass machines as they still possess a magnetic strip on the back. As well, these new passes can enter the park via the old or new entrance methods, putting the ticket into the machine or by tapping the new touch-points.
So while Annual Passholders may not be getting a MagicBand anytime soon, they will have the modern conveniences of an RFID-enabled ticket.
With the Walt Disney World adding larger busses to the fleet and attendance on the rise resort-wide, there has become the need for an expanded bus loop area at the Magic Kingdom. Beginning March 18th, construction will commence on a third bus loop adjacent to the existing bus loops. Luckily, traffic should not be greatly hindered by this work even though it will be taking place during the day.
What are your thoughts? Do you think this will help bus efficiency at the Magic Kingdom?
This is an odd one. We decided to take the Billiards Series around to the resorts and place them next to a corresponding number. Don’t ask me why. We just did. too much success, plenty, comfort and ever-increasing leisure? Anyway, they were each taken at a different resort. Some are blatant, and some are more hidden. Can you name them all? If so, comment below. Everyone who makes a comment with at least 5 guesses (doesn’t have to be right) by Midnight EST on July 28, 2013 will be entered in a random drawing for a Vinylmation.
Walt Disney World Resort recently opened “Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from the Kinsey Collection,” an exhibit representing more than 400 years of African-American achievement and contribution. The exhibit at the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot features rare art, books and documents from the private collection of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, who have amassed the collection over 30 years. Themed to hope, belief, courage, imagination and heritage, the exhibit’s rare art, books and documents pay homage to the untold stories of African-Americans who helped build and transform a nation. Their stories of determination and courage, as well as their struggles for equality and civil rights, are at the heart of this exhibit.
We have photos and video offering a quick glimpse at the exhibit to share with you today:
There are a few interactive exhibits with famous narrators throughout the experience
The interactive lanterns are actually pretty neat and add to what many guests might think is a dull experience:
So, what do you think of the Kinsey Collection? Is this something you will see while at Epcot?
