First Look At “Lumiere and Cogsworth” From Disney’s Live Action “Beauty And The Beast”; Plus “Gaston’s Tavern”

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We finally have our first look at Lumiere, played by Ewan McGregor, and Cogsworth, played by Ian McKellen, in the upcoming live action version of the Disney animated classic, “Beauty And The Beast”! Definitely looking much better than I expected!

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“Gaston’s Tavern” with Luke Evans as Gaston and Josh Gad as Le Fou looks like the classic scene right out of the original:maxresdefault

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Source: Mac; Den Of Geek

PHOTOS: First Look At Action Figures For “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

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Jedi Temple Archives has revealed the first line of action figures and vehicles from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” that will be available for purchase on September 30th. This will occur during next month’s “Force Friday” which is rumored to be called “Rogue Friday” this year.
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This one seems to be a new Poe Dameron/Snowtrooper set from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”:

RogueOneLeak04RogueOneLeak12Source: Jedi Temple Archives

 

“Western Way” Road To Be Extended Beyond Flamingo Crossings

Walt Disney World, through its governing body, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), has recently filed plans with the South Florida Water Management District to extend Western Way an additional 1.6 miles westward beyond SR 429 and the Flamingo Crossings development, to connect to Avalon Road, also known as SR 545.

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This Google Maps image shows the current western terminus of Western Way at Flagler Avenue and the two completed hotels.

Only two hotel projects are completed at Flamingo Crossings at this time, a SpringHill Suites and a TownePlace Suites.  Western Way would be extended to connect with SR 545, thus making a significant chunk of land ripe for development west of Flamingo Crossings.

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The Western Way extension project would cut through 1.6 miles of mostly wetlands.

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In this aerial image, the entire length of Western Way, from SR 429 to Buena Vista Drive, is visible.

In case you’re not familiar with the Western Way entrance to WDW property, the roadway connects to Buena Vista Drive just south of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

Zika Threat Possibly Forcing Disney to Fill Abandoned River Country Pool

According to the Orlando Sentinel:

Walt Disney World is draining and filling in the pool at its long-closed River Country water park.

The 330,000-gallon Upstream Plunge was a major attraction at the now abandoned water park. It is surrounded by manmade boulders for jumping and diving platforms.

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River Country is surprisingly close to Mickey’s Backyard BBQ and Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness.

The green and white kidney-shaped area in the Google Earth image is the pool, which is especially close to the still functional Mickey’s Backyard BBQ and Pioneer Hall.  Although fences separate the closed water park from the rest of Fort Wilderness, intrepid explorers have managed to get inside and snap some eerie pictures of the abandoned area, much to the consternation of WDW management.

It is not known what will become of the rest of the abandoned water park, although rumors as far back as 2010 indicated the area was being explored as a possible site for a new DVC property.

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River Country as seen from the air in its heyday.

River Country held its Grand Opening on June 19, 1976 as part of the “Bicentennial Summer” of 1976 at the Walt Disney World Resort.  In the 1980s, River Country was very popular but after Typhoon Lagoon opened in 1989, attendance waned, and ultimately River Country was closed permanently in 2001 in the wake of declining tourism after 9/11.

The standing water in the pool could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, the known carrier of the Zika virus. There have recently been documented cases of the virus just miles from Orlando in Tampa, FL, making the threat of the virus very real in the Orlando area.

Disney has not given any official word on why the pool is being filled in, but many have speculated the Zika threat as the reason.

Hostess with the Mostess – Top 5 Water Rides at Disney World Results

Hostess Logo

Welcome back to WDWNT’s Hostess with the Mostess! The best place for your weekly Disney fix! It has been unbelievable hot where I live! While swimming in my pool I was inspired to talk about the cool, refreshing, and exciting water rides of Walt Disney World.

If you are behind and missed last week’s post you can read it right here. As a little reminder, here is my list.

Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids

My Top 5 Favorite Water Rides at Walt Disney World.

  •   5. Maelstrom/Frozen Ever After
  •   4. Jungle Cruise
  •   3. Pirates of the Caribbean
  •   2. Kali River Rapids
  •   1. Splash Mountain

Now let’s see how you voted!

5. Frozen Ever After. Frozen did not get much love. Only two voters represented this new attraction. Is it because it’s just not a fan favorite or could it be because it’s so new and not many have ridden it yet? What do you think?  I am very excited to take my first ride to Arendelle next month!

4. Jungle Cruise came in at number four. I was surprised at first that this attraction did not make it further up on the list, but when I looked at the numbers it was only one vote away for tying for number three! Jungle Cruise is without a doubt on my “list.” You know the list that every Disney fanatic has … the attractions you would want to work on if you ever become a Disney Cast Member. I am sure I am not the only one … right? That just gave me a great idea! That would make for a really fun countdown! If you do not already have a list, you better start thinking about what attractions at Disney World you would want to work on because you know I will want to hear from you!

3. Kali River Rapids barely made it into the number three spot. Brandon said, “I’ll have to disagree with the Kali River Rapids. We rode that for the first time this year. After 2.5 hours standing in line, the ride lasted for 2 minutes. It was a complete let down. Everyone on our raft were saying, ‘That’s it?!’ I will never waste my time on that again.” Brandon has a great point. Kali is very short and not worth a long wait. Even though it is my number two pick, I would never wait in a long line for it. Fastpass all the way!

2. Yo Ho, let’s go to our number two pick! I’m sure you guessed it by that corny introduction … Pirates of the Caribbean! That’s right folks; those swashbuckling singers must have stolen everyone’s hearts! This Pirate adventure certainly deserves it’s placement at number two! Trivia question … Paul Frees voiced many of the pirates including the Auctioneer, what other Magic Kingdom attraction did he voice another important role?

1. Splash Mountain blew all of the other attractions out of the water! Brer Rabbit raced way ahead of the competition and landed in first with ease. I had a feeling that Splash Mountain would be the fan favorite. How can it not? There is so much fun and Disney detail packed into that log flume it is a magical treat with every ride!

Our honorable mention comes from Travis, “I voted Splash Mountain, but if we’re permitted to dig into the past, I have to mention 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Incredible ride, gone too soon …” Since I brought up Maelstrom, I think it’s only fair to include 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I am too young to have experienced its greatness. But I have done a lot of research and have heard from a lot of people how wonderful it was. My Dad raves about that attraction and I know he would want nothing more than to have the opportunity to ride it.

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain, Tokyo Disneyland

Staying Dry on Water Rides

Before I go, I am going to share some of my Hostess tips on how to stay dry on these wet attractions. Part of the fun is getting wet! But that doesn’t mean you want to get soaked.

 – Ponchos. They are wonderful things! They are so compact and take up no room at all in your bag. It is so easy to throw one on before the ride. Make sure you purchase one at the Dollar Store before your trip. They are much more expensive in the parks. Ponchos are great at keeping you dry from all of the water coming at you from above. But they are even better when it comes to the real problem … you know what I’m talking about. Yes, that’s right, that pesky puddle of water that sits on the seat and is just waiting to give you a soggy bottom. Ponchos come to the rescue! They are long enough to sit on and help to keep your derriere dry!

– Another helpful item that you can take with you is a gallon bag. These bags are perfect for keeping your personal items dry. Water can easily seep through your bags or pockets and get to that phone or worse yet the cash you saved for that Mickey Mouse ice cream bar. Gasp! In order to prevent an ice cream-less disaster, just put all of your personal items in a gallon bag for safety.

– Some rides have special tricks to stay dry. On Splash Mountain, I have found there are two places you can sit in the log to stay a little drier. The left side of the boat and the back row does not get as much water. I always put my hands up on Chickapin Hill (AKA the big drop), but right before we get to the bottom I put my hands down and duck down as far as I can. This obviously does not prevent the water that is coming down on you, but your face and hair will stay dry!

– On Kali River Rapids there isn’t much hope for staying dry unless maybe wearing a poncho. The most important tip I can offer will at least help keep your feet dry. And let’s be honest, wet socks and shoes are one of the worst parts of getting soaked. Keep your feet up on the bar in front of you during the ride. The floor of the raft fills up with water and in order to keep your feet away from the forming pool, you have to put your feet up!

– What if you want to get soaked but not stay soaked? In that case, I say take extra socks and a hand towel. Having wet feet is pretty miserable but carrying extra shoes and clothes can get really bulky. A good compromise would be to pack extra socks and a hand towel in one of those handy dandy gallon bags. Your feet will thank you and you would be surprised how much water a little hand towel can remove!

 – My last tip is all in the planning. I suppose planning does not really keep you dry per say, but it does help in those wet situations. First things first, do not wear white or clingy clothes. They will only become a bigger hassle! Second, try to plan out the time you will be riding the attraction. You do not want to show up to your dinner reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table soaked. Not only will you be uncomfortable but the air conditioning will make for a very cold evening. Make sure you have plenty of time to dry off before other important plans.

My Extra Magic Tip for the week: Hand dryers. Use them! These little guys can be very helpful when you’re drenched.

Thank you to everyone who voted and commented. As always it is so much fun to learn about what you think! Remember to check back next week for another countdown of my favorites!

See ya real soon!

Disney Adding Bus Service from Parks to Disney Springs

Guests will soon be able to take a bus from any of the Walt Disney World theme park direct to Disney Springs…

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The service begins daily at 4:00 PM beginning August 28, 2016. Service back to the theme parks will not be provided, but guests may take a bus to any resort from Disney Springs.

Bus service from the theme parks will be provided until 11:00 PM or until 2 hours after park close, whichever is earlier.

TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (8/24/16) – The History of the Streets of America, Disney Parks Pursuit, ETC.

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, the Disney Parks Pursuit game returns, we take a trip to the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen, and we journey through the history of the Streets of America and Backlot area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

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If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to AM 1520 WBZW at showtime. For those outside the Orlando area, the show can be heard (and now watched via video stream) at Listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. The show also utilizes new interactive avenues for our audience, including a live chat, the ability to call-in to the show, and live polling. WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • Tom & Nick Are Angry About Things
  • “What Did We Just Eat?” – Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen
  • The Wonderful World of Psychotic Comments
  • “Disney Parks Pursuit”, presented by Theme Park Connection
  • In-Depth Discussion – COMPENDIUM: The Streets of America and Baclot at the Disney-MGM Studios
  • Who’s Hates Tom Now?
  • And more!

We hope that you will tune in tonight at 9PM ET for another episode of WDW News Tonight!

PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 8/31/16 (Haunted Mansion, Mosquito Prevention, New Stairs, ETC.)

Today, we take a short trip to a rainy Epcot to see what’s new and exciting in our latest photo report (and no, Haunted Mansion in the title is not a mistake):

Steps Toward Security

Emergency monorail stairs at Epcot

Emergency monorail stairs at Epcot

Work was finally completed on the new emergency stairs at the Epcot Monorail station. New safety protocols have required these additions at many of the monorail stations around Walt Disney World property.

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My attempt at being artsy. This is as far as I can go.

New Merchandise

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Some new Haunted Mansion art found in the Art of Disney, including these tiny stretching room portraits.

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All four of the stretching room statues are now available.

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Select items from the PIXAR Party are still lingering, available at Epcot’s Pin Central.

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In France, a selection of Disney Princess shirts exclusive to the parks are available.

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Tower of Terror as a park icon isn’t going anywhere anytime soon apparently…

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Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

This light up Little Green Men lanyard is fairly new, available in quite a few places.

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

More new Toy Story-themed park apparel has been released recently.

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

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Some new children’s clothing featuring the Fab 5 is available at MouseGear.

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ZIKA/Mosquito Prevention

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

I found two of the complimentary bug repellent locations during my rainy night visit to Epcot. This first one is on the bridge from China to the Refreshment Outpost.

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

Another was spotted near the Agent P sign-up kiosk between Future World and World Showcase.

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 9/1/16 (Tomorrowland Rock Painting, Carousel of Progress, ETC.)

2 major refurbishments roll on, Tomorrowland continues to get a new look, and some new merchandise is discovered in our latest photo report visiting the Magic Kingdom:

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Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!

New Merchandise

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

I really love this new limited release Han Solo and Chewbacca MagicBand.

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

The Millennium Falcon on the opposite side is a nice touch.

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The Mr. Toad taxi art is now on a pin in full color.

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A new “cute” Star Wars character pin set was recently released.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment

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The refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rolls on through November.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Crane-mas

Cinderella Castle crane

Cinderella Castle crane

The installation of the holiday lights on Cinderella Castle continues.

Tomorrowland Rock Repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

The painting of the rocks at the entrance of Tomorrowland continues.

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

One rock has already gone a very bright blue color…

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

“it’s a small world” Refurbishment

"it's a small world" Refurbishment

“it’s a small world” Refurbishment

“it’s a small world” is currently closed for a short refurbishment.

More changes at Carousel of Progress

Monitor covers added at the Carousel of Progress

Monitor covers added at the Carousel of Progress

The monitors hanging at the Carousel of Progress finally have a cabinet around them.

Zootopia Crime Files: Hidden Objects Now Available on Mobile

A new Zootopia themed puzzle solving game is now available for mobile devices, titled Zootopia Crime Files: Hidden Object. 

https://https://youtu.be/rzz4cypLag4

Think iSpy, but in Zootopia. Players will help Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde discover items at various crime scenes, then use their findings to arrest criminals. The game is free-to-play and offers many unlockables that reward players as they progress.

Zootopia Crime Files: Hidden Object is available now on the App Store, Google Play, Amazon, and Windows.