Construction Begins on AVATAR Project for Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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Earlier this week, the long-awaited ground breaking ceremony was held in former Camp Minnie-Mickey for the AVATAR-themed land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. George Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort; Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France; Tom Staggs, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; a Na’vi; Jon Landau, AVATAR Producer; Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering; and Joe Rohde, creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, pose Jan. 8, 2014 during the ceremonial groundbreaking.

The area, which is being designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in partnership with “AVATAR” creator James Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment, will be unlike anything ever experienced at a Disney park. Guests will experience the wonders of Pandora when they fly with banshees and explore a rich natural environment with mountains that float and interactive plants that glow at night.

“Disney’s Animal Kingdom is already home to some of our guests’ favorite attractions,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “With AVATAR, we are adding a spectacular new world and an exciting set of attractions unlike any our guests have experienced. The expansion now under way will make the park a true full-day, must-see experience.”

This week’s milestone is just the first step in a larger expansion for the park that will also include the debut of a new evening spectacular, as well as a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Check out the video below for a look inside the ceremony:

VIDEO: “Muppets Most Wanted” New Video “Across The Internet” Released

Walt Disney Studios today released a tongue-in-cheek trailer for Muppets Most Wanted the latest Muppet adventure that hits theaters March 21.

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Watch fans across the internet ‘squee’ in excitement over Muppets Most Wanted below.

Starring Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey, Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted takes the entire Muppets gang on a global tour where they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper.

MUPPETS MOST WANTED

Muppets Most Wanted, directed by James Bobin hits the big screen March 21, 2014.

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Follow The Muppets on Tumblr: http://themuppets.tumblr.com
Follow The Muppets on Twitter:@MuppetsStudio
Follow Miss Piggy on Twitter:@RealMissPiggy

WDWNT will have all your Muppets Most Wanted news and info as it becomes available.

VIDEO: Imagineering Releases On-Ride Footage of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

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Walt Disney Imagineering released a video today showcasing the work that has gone into all of the vehicles for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opening this Spring in New Fantasyland. The video also offers us our very first glimpse inside the attraction and a look at the trains in action! Take a look:

6 Weeks Later, Disney Frozen Stays In 1st Place!

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Six weeks later, Disney’s animated feature Frozen is once again holding strong at the first spot at the box office. The domestic box office for the weekend ending January 5 is estimated at $20.72 million. The films domestic total will soon cross $300 million as Frozen’s global box office total soars to nearly $640 million.

Frozen was recently also nominated for a Golden Globe for best animated feature bringing even more attention to the film. With upcoming releases in Asia, the film is expected to reach even higher box office dollars worldwide, and projections speculate it could be up to $900 million.

Source: TV Media Insights

VIDEO: “Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade” Has Emotional Farewell After 5 Years Running

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Yesterday, the Magic Kingdom presented the final performance of the long-running “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” as they prepare to debut the new Festival of Fantasy Parade starting in March. While not one of the most beloved parades ever (as it was the 2nd overlay of a parade that debuted in 2001), the performers, guests who loved the parade, and many cast members who were both on-and-off duty had an emotional farewell as the procession pulled through the gates on Main Street for the last time yesterday afternoon. We were camped at the very end of the parade route to capture the historic moment in video for you. Our apologies as the video is a little shaky at times, but there was so much going on with many characters and performers saying goodbye to the parade. Regardless, we hope you enjoy:

Aerial Construction Photos of Disney Springs From 1/3/14

WDWNT Reporter Nick LoCicero is once again bringing us the latest aerial construction photos from high above Downtown Disney as the conversion to Disney Springs continues:

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Vertical construction on the parking structure continues

Pleasure Island is slowly transforming into The Landing

Another look at the structure

A look at the former site of the Comedy Warehouse that is being excavated

Another look at the parking lot

Vertical construction on the main structure in The Landing should begin shortly

Captain Jack’s is gone, all that remains are some posts in the water

Walt Disney Studios Releases 2014 Slate of Upcoming Films

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures today released their list of upcoming titles for 2014.

Disney Films 2014

The films and their expected release dates are:

February 28, 2014 – The Wind Rises
March 14, 2014 – Need for Speed
March 21, 2014 – Muppets Most Wanted
April 4, 2014 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier
April 18, 2014 – Bears
May 16, 2014 – Million Dollar Arm
May 30, 2014 – Maleficent
July 18, 2014 – Planes Fire & Rescue
August 1, 2014 – Guardians of the Galaxy
August 8, 2014 – The Hundred-Foot Journey
October 10, 2014 – Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
November 7, 2014 – Big Hero 6
November 21, 2014 – McFarland
December 25, 2014 – Into the Woods
Keep checking wdwnt.com for details on all these films as details become available

Tom Corless’ 12/30/13-1/1/14 WDW Photo Report

I managed to spend the last three busy days citing Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World and I have some photos to share with you all from my journey, so let’s tai a look at what’s new and exciting:

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New 2014 iPhone 4/4S and 5 cases have hit stores

These have a new design as they are hard cases with a bumper

Disney’s Hollywood Studios once again had the stage up for the holidays and used the screens to give guests park information

The Legend of Jack Sparrow is now only available to guests via a ticketing system done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Disney’s thoughts are guests will be less let down that this isn’t a ride if they don’t have to stand in line for 30 minutes or more. The tickets were all gone by the time we got there on the 30th.

Specialty holiday drinks were available in the park

Comedy Warehouse returned again for the busy holiday season

Moving to Downtown Disney, the new barbecue quick service location at House of Blues is nearing completion

These two-layered t-shirts were found at World of Disney

It’s a mesh layer over a colored character layer

The Disneyland 4-D puzzle has made its way to WDW

A whole bunch of new charms for charm bracelets have been released, including the Orange Bird

The 4th and final food truck debuted at Downtown Disney, Fantasy Fare

There are a lot of good offerings

CORN DOGS!!!

I dared to venture to the Magic Kingdom for New Year’s Eve again this year…

This looks much worse than it actually was, it took less than 3 minutes to get through bag check

Some lines were long, as to be expected, especially at Starbucks

Casey’s Corner was offering breakfast due to crowds

The ham, egg, and cheese croissant was excellent

Golden Oak Outpost has re-opened and now has a spicy chicken sandwich, the lines were just too long to try it on the 31st…

Pirates of the Caribbean reached an 80 minute wait at one point

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Friar’s Nook is open as well and now has gourmet mac and cheese dishes

There are 3 choices of different mac and cheese styles

Here is the Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese

And the mac and cheese with bread crumbs, both were very good

The 31st was your last chance to catch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

See you in 2014 Santa!

Prince Eric’s Village Market was offering soup since it was cold

90 minute wait for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Cinderella’s Coach is out for photos through the 4th to deal with some crowds

The second seating planter by Pinocchio’s Village Haus came out from behind walls recently

A new sign was added to the facade of the Country Bear Jamboree in an attempt to draw in more guests

We dined at the Tortuga Tavern buffet that was only open for the busy holiday season and I have to say it was pretty good

Some great desserts as well!

The animated Pluto bank is now available in stores for $19.95

As always, free cookies and cocoa were offered at the end of the night to keep guests in the park during the midnight rush to leave

Moving over to Animal Kingdom, the Dawa Bar in Africa has moved opposite the Tusker House check-in desk to accommodate the eventual queue for Festival of the Lion King

A new limited release iPhone 5 case available at the park

Some new clothing

A sweatshirt

Construction continues on the new Festival of the Lion King theater

All guests visiting Animal Kingdom can now use FastPass+ by heading to any service center or FastPass+ location

This is the first KODAK picture spot sign I’ve seen blank, but it should have a new NIKON picture spot sing in it soon

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Some new Toy Story action figures made by Disney Parks have been released

Episode 146 Earful Tower

Ep. 146 Earful Tower

This week we discuss updated details on the Aladdin Junior Series. We now have a release date, a clear look at the series and the reveal of the chasers. We also invite Brendt on the show along with us to share our top Vinylmation of 2013.


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A Little Extra Magic at Orlando’s D-Street

We brought you the story a few weeks ago about a couple Orlando Magic Vinylmation that were released at the Amway Center’s gift shop. The Amway Center is the home court of the NBA’s Orlando Magic. These two vinyls have now been released at Orlando’s D-Street location. One features Stuff, the Magic’s mascot. The other features the Orlando Magic logo.