Romantic Treats Chaser is Out of This World!

According to the Japan Disney Store website, the Japan Romantic Treats series that was released on December 23 has 2 chasers. Here is one of them…

It’s Buzz Lightyear! I love it! Thanks to eBay seller hawaiian_seaside for the picture. Check out the full Romantic Treats set here. Also on eBay, from seller seanb9109, is a picture of the second chaser from this set. 

He calls it Unibearsity. I can see the A+ in the ear, but I haven’t figured out what character it is yet. Any ideas?


Update: 2/23/11 Our friend Ryan just texted me that UniBEARsity is a Japanese bear product line wiht several bears with dessert names. It is also associated with everyone’s favorite Duffy! Here is a screen shot from the Japan Disney Store Online:


Furry Friends Artist Signing


If you want to get your furry friends early, or just want to meet the artists responsible for the series, there will be a chance. On January 7th, from 10:30 – 1:30, the South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA) Disney Store will host an early-release event with artist signings. On hand will be Jim Valeri, Gerald Mendez, Enrique Pita, Quincy Sutton, Enrique Pita and Matthew Chittavanichprapa, all of whom were part of the artists who created the latest Disney Store vinylmation set: Furry Friends. The only artist not able to make it is Oskar Mendez.

So if you’re a fan of Vinylmation, and live near Costa Mesa, drop by and let the artists know how big a fan you are! (They like to hear that kinda thing).

Robots on Sale at Disney Store Online

More prices slashed at Disney Store Online! Check out these cool prices on Robots. $150 for a case and $25 a piece for the 9″. If you’ve waiting to buy them, now seems to be the time.

Adam Roth’s 12/20/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot on Tuesday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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The steam is on at Everest

Pretty…

No bird 🙁

He’s there…

Apparently it’s catching on…

Primeval Whirl re-opened from a LONG refurbishment back in October

While we may not like this “off the shelf” ride, it does look refreshed

You can only refresh it so much…

LOVE the christmas decorations in Dinoland

Moving on to Epcot

The RFID turnstiles are completely gone

They’ll probably be back soon…

Hey, let’s try Katsura Grill in Japan!

It’s a little crowded

The Tonosama Combo

The Okanami Yaki. Adam didn’t think either was very good…

YAY! It’s the holidays!

Have fun in line everybody!

This is enough to scare anyone away…

AMAZING!

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“If you would like one, they are available in the gift shop”

“If you are made uncomfortable by Gary Sinease…”

I see you re-decorated Test Track car!

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And one final destination…

“Hello!”

“Seat, seatbelt, carry-on items, safety strap, fear of flying, keep your hands and arms inside at all times… anything else? Oh yeah, have a nice flight.”

Hayley Nance’s 12/16/11 DLR Photo Report

DLNT photographer Hayley Nance was at the Disneyland Resort a few days ago and was able to grab some newsworthy photos to share including Jolly Holiday Bakery, Buena Vista Street, and much more…

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Jolly Holiday Bakery may be opening very soon

Over in DCA, Buena Vista Street progress

Imagineering checking things out

Clarabelle’s

You can see the shape of the Elias and Company facade

Carthay Circle Theater

Yup, this is still going

Neat shot of tower

Look down Route 66

Sarge’s

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

Cool gingerbread house in Storytellers Cafe

And a few more quick shots of Buena vista street, this time from the North

Very Windy Day…

Locker Complex Facade

Thanks for reading!

Tower of Terror Race Returns to Walt Disney World

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2011) – Reviving the scarily popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror theme, runDisney unveiled its newest race today, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend, which debuts next year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.

The nighttime race, scheduled for Sept. 29, is the reincarnation of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K last held in 2009. The new event has a similar race course – through the set of “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” and past Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat – but featuresrunDisney’s first-ever 10-mile distance that finishes, appropriately enough, near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Runners will receive a finisher medal inspired by the Tower of Terror and then celebrate their achievement at a villainous post-race party with their family and friends, where they will enjoy live music, characters – including your favorite Disney villains – and have exclusive access to attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Star Tours and Toy Story Mania.

“The 10-mile distance has emerged in popularity as beginning runners, who are fast becoming super fans of the sport, consider it the next big challenge after a 5k or 10k,” said veteran race director Jon Hughes, who will serve as race director for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror event.  “Take into account the unique night race combined with Disney’s Tower of Terror theme, and it’s ‘the must do’ event for 2012!”

The new The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror race is the sixth signature runDisney event and the second nighttime race at Walt Disney World along with the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, which shifts to Nov. 9-10 next year during the final weekend of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. As with all runDisney events, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror race weekend will involve a variety of events, including a 5K and Kids’ races, plus a Health and Fitness Expo, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney.

Race registration opens Feb. 14, 2012 at runDisney.com. For more information on runDisney events and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend, visit www.runDisney.com.

Something New Lighting Up ElecTRONica

Since ElecTRONica debuted last year, a few different dance group and different DJs have been in and out of the popular dance party. A new unique show is coming to ElecTRONica this Holiday season…

From Robin Trowbridge on the Disney Parks Blog:

TV audiences were blown away by the fame-turning appearance of iLuminate on “America’s Got Talent.”

Now see an exclusive, jaw-dropping performance with incredible lighting effects, eye-boggling illusions and amazing dancers – only at ElecTRONica!

Fifteen dates are scheduled to electrify your nights, including Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day!

  • December 20-23, 2011
  • December 25-27, 2011
  • December 29-31, 2011
  • January 1-2, 2012
  • January 6-8, 2012

Schedule subject to change

See the Exclusive, Jaw-dropping Dance Performance with Incredible Lighting Effects by iLuminate at ElecTRONica in Disney California Adventure Park

Whether you caught this sensational combination of explosive dancers and the hottest, newest entertainment technology on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” “The American Music Awards” or Disneyland Grad Nites, iLuminate is charged up to take you on a roller-coaster ride of dance, music and lights!

iLuminate will perform two sets a night on the Hollywood Pictures Backlot Stage as part of an already full night of entertainment inside the Grid. Brighten up your holiday season with iLuminate, only at ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure park!

A Few New Restaurants Join The Disney Dining Plan in 2012

For those of you who make use of the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll be happy to know that a few new restaurants (mostly at Downtown Disney) are joining the fray in 2012:

-Bongos Cuban Cafe Window
-Bongos Cuban Cafe
-Marketplace Snacks
-House of Blues
-Paridiso 37
-Portobello
-T-REX Cafe
-Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney Marketplace and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park

They are are all non-Disney owned restaurants. Is this an attempt to bring more guests to the struggling Downtown Disney, or just some long overdue additions to the Disney Dining Plan?

WDWNT: The Magazine Issue 10 Released

We are happy to announce the release of issue 10 of WDWNT: The Magazine.  As we turn our attention to winter in the parks, we take the opportunity to look at some of the Disney company offerings this year.  First we head across the Pacific for a look at Hong Kong Disneyland.  From there it’s back to the United States for a special look at the recent Marty Sklar and Jack Lindquist panel at IAAPA 2011 Exposition.  Then, we travel from the real world to the virtual world as we have an in-depth review of the Disneyland Kinect game that was recently released.  Finally we enter the fairy-tale world by considering ABC’s new hit, Once Upon A Time.

We also have a few of our reoccurring columns in this issue as Eating WDW provides a photo report related to Mickey’s Christmas Carol, a look at the latest in Vinylmation offerings including some holiday themed vinyls, and Magical Memorium goes back in time to review the history of the Orange Bird.  All this, along with monthly news highlights, a new Where in the World photo hunt, and much more await you in this issue of WDWNT: The Magazine.

We hope that you will find the articles within both entertaining and educational.  If you have any suggestions or feedback, we are always happy to hear from our readers.  Just send an email to WDWNTthemagazine@wdwnt.com and share your thoughts.

As a reminder, the magazine is available for free in digital form from our website (http://www.wdwntthemagazine.com), or in printed form from MagCloud (http://www.magcloud.com).

Max Guggenheim’s 12/17/11 DLR Photo Report

DLNT Photographer Max Guggenheim was at the Disneyland Resort yesterday and grabbed some fantastic photos of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street to share…

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How about some Cars Land photos from the Fun Wheel

Curio Shop signage up

Cozy Cones

The Backside of the Mountain is now being painted

Ramones signage has also been placed

You can see the top of the Courthouse

Carthay Circle Theater from the fun Wheel

Back on the ground, more pictures of Route 66

The street has been poured

The courthouse looks finished on the exterior

Notice the peace signs next to Fillmore’s

Junkyard Jamboree vehicles

Buena Vista Street

Looks like framing is done and work has begin on the exterior

In Disneyland, a few pics of the new Jolly Holiday Bakery sign and weather vane

Thanks for Reading