More Destinations Revealed for “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue”?

WDWNT on February 27, 2011

WDWNT’s own Cody Smith recently attended the “Love is Magical” pin event at Walt Disney World. How does this apply to Star Tours? Well, there was a pin preview board at the event, and Disney was showcasing some of the pins that will be released when Star Tours re-opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 20th and Disneyland Park June 3rd:

Now, the photo is not of the best quality, but we believe it reveals destinations guests will be traveling to in “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue”, and maybe even what will happen when they get there. The two announced locations of Coruscant and Tatooine are represented. The Tatooine poster pin even shows the Starspeeder 1000 getting stuck in a podrace, a scenario that has already been revealed. With this in mind, we believe the other 6 pins reveal more destinations and events that guests may experience randomly.

Let’s examine the posters in order from left to right:

  • On Geonosis (a setting from Episode II), guests may be chased by Boba Fett and the Slave I vehicle.
  • The second pin features Darth Vader and the Death Star, so we may be running into some friends from the Empire once again.
  • Coruscant is the third poster, an already revealed location.
  • Kashyyyk is the 4th poster, the home of Chewbacca. Since we noticed concept art that looked like this planet behind George Lucas in a Disney-released publicity shot from many months ago and were then told we will see Chewbacca along the way, this location is really no surprise. However, the poster clearly states that we will visit Treetop Villas, perhaps an inside joke about Disney’s Treehouse Villas?
  • Hoth is the fifth planet poster. This snowy planet from Episode V has a poster featuring a Tauntauns and what we believe is a Wampa (the snow-monster that attacks Luke Skywalker).
  • Tatooine is the sixth planet poster. The already revealed scenario where guests get stuck in the middle of a podrace is featured here, including famous racer Sebulba from Episode I.
  • The seventh poster pin features Bespin, the cloud city from Episode V. You may remember Bespin was featured in the queue-area commercial Disney previewed last summer at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando.
  • The final poster pin features Naboo from the prequel trilogy. Home to Queen Amidala and the Gungans (including Jar Jar Binks), the Starspeeder 1000 may encounter a giant sea monster like the one featured in Episode I.

Again, these destinations are not confirmed, but the appearance of the Starspeeder 1000 in these scenes and the fact that several already announced locations & character encounters are featured leads us to the conclusion that these are spoilers for the new attraction. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue” becomes available.

More Destinations Revealed for “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue”?

WDWNT on February 27, 2011

WDWNT’s own Cody Smith recently attended the “Love is Magical” pin event at Walt Disney World. How does this apply to Star Tours? Well, there was a pin preview board at the event, and Disney was showcasing some of the pins that will be released when Star Tours re-opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 20th and Disneyland Park June 3rd:

Now, the photo is not of the best quality, but we believe it reveals destinations guests will be traveling to in “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue”, and maybe even what will happen when they get there. The two announced locations of Coruscant and Tatooine are represented. The Tatooine poster pin even shows the Starspeeder 1000 getting stuck in a podrace, a scenario that has already been revealed. With this in mind, we believe the other 6 pins reveal more destinations and events that guests may experience randomly.

Let’s examine the posters in order from left to right:

  • On Geonosis (a setting from Episode II), guests may be chased by Boba Fett and the Slave I vehicle.
  • The second pin features Darth Vader and the Death Star, so we may be running into some friends from the Empire once again.
  • Coruscant is the third poster, an already revealed location.
  • Kashyyyk is the 4th poster, the home of Chewbacca. Since we noticed concept art that looked like this planet behind George Lucas in a Disney-released publicity shot from many months ago and were then told we will see Chewbacca along the way, this location is really no surprise. However, the poster clearly states that we will visit Treetop Villas, perhaps an inside joke about Disney’s Treehouse Villas?
  • Hoth is the fifth planet poster. This snowy planet from Episode V has a poster featuring a Tauntauns and what we believe is a Wampa (the snow-monster that attacks Luke Skywalker).
  • Tatooine is the sixth planet poster. The already revealed scenario where guests get stuck in the middle of a podrace is featured here, including famous racer Sebulba from Episode I.
  • The seventh poster pin features Bespin, the cloud city from Episode V. You may remember Bespin was featured in the queue-area commercial Disney previewed last summer at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando.
  • The final poster pin features Naboo from the prequel trilogy. Home to Queen Amidala and the Gungans (including Jar Jar Binks), the Starapeeder 1000 may encounter a giant sea monster like the one featured in Episode I.

Again, these destinations are not confirmed, but the appearance of the Starspeeder 1000 in these scenes and the fact that several already announced locations & character encounters are featured leads us to the conclusion that these are spoilers for the new attraction. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue” becomes available.

Disney Store Online Update 2/26/11

WDWNT on February 27, 2011

As of right now at the Disney Store Online:

All 8 of the Nerds in the Nerds Rock! set were available yesterday online for $9.95 each. Today however, everyone but Minnie Mouse is Sold Out. (We have to believe they will come back soon)

The 9″ Park 5 Goofy’s Barnstormer and Retro Disneyland figures released online yesterday as well for $44.95. They are both still available.

OTHER NOTEABLES:

Disneyland Ticket Books for $99.95. The price tag is steep on these, but I have them in hand, and for vintage Disney fans, it’s well worth it. Great packaging. And limited to just 1955

Urban 5 Car and Driver 9″ + 3″ combo set for $74.95

9″ Park 5 Mad Hatter and Dormouse 9″ + 3″ combo for $74.95. I can’t believe this one is still available!

The Urban 5 Creatures and Hidden Mickey Ear Hat + 3″ figure combos for $49.95.

10 of 12 Flags. The UK is the latest to drop off the site joining the United States. They retail for $9.95 a piece.

Villains 1 Cases and Singles $238.80 / $9.95

Cutesters 2 Cases $238.80

Toy Story Singles. $9.95 are now SOLD OUT!

And the Artist is…

WDWNT on February 26, 2011


Well, Disney has finally let a piece of valuable info slip. Today Stephen Miller posted a blog about his interview with the Disney Artist responsible for the Flags Set.

For a while now we here at Destination Vinylmation have been wondering who the mystery artist behind this series is, and now we know. The mystery artist is Caley Hicks, a new comer to the Vinylmation front. Also of note is that Lisa Badeen designed the cool boxes that came along with the series. Congrats to both of them on such a well designed series.

Picture from Disney’s Blog.

Dates For Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, The Little Mermaid, and Star Tours

WDWNT on February 26, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

As days get longer and the weather gets warmer (well, hopefully!), we are very excited about summer 2011 at the Disneyland Resort. And today I’m thrilled to share the grand opening dates for three new experiences headed your way.

Grand opening June 3: At Disney California Adventure park, get ready for an all-new voyage with one of Disney’s most beloved characters, Ariel. The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will invite guests to take a journey under the sea to experience all the fun and adventures in Ariel’s world. From the great songs to state-of-the-art animatronics and special effects, guests will become a part of her world in a way that’s never happened before.

The Little Mermaid attraction is the next big milestone in the expansion of Disney California Adventure park. “World of Color” debuted last year and continues to wow guests every night with magic that combines choreographed fountains, lights, lasers, music, animation and Disney storytelling. And on the horizon, guests can see the awesome Cadillac Mountain range taking shape as the backdrop to the 12-acre Cars Land, which opens in 2012.

Here’s a first look at the vision Walt Disney Imagineers have for Ursula, who will play a big role in The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.

Ursula of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure

Across the esplanade at Disneyland park, guests this summer will be dancing to the beat of a whole new parade and jetting off to new galaxies far, far away.

May 27 Premiere: “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade” officially steps off for Memorial Day weekend, with an explosive musical score, thrilling rhythms and bold percussion that will have people dancing to many of their favorite Disney tunes. Look for whimsical float units, live musicians and some of your favorite characters. Mickey Mouse and his pals will be jamming like never before and creating an atmosphere that will be…soundsational!

Here’s a peek at the preparations:

Grand opening June 3: And for those who dare to venture into the deep, dark corners of the universe, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue officially launches in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park, taking guests on interstellar adventures to Coruscant, Tatooine, and other destinations in the “Star Wars” galaxy. With the return of favorite Star Wars characters and the addition of more familiar faces and destinations, guests are going to experience Starspeeder travel in an all-new way…in 3D!

You may remember, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue also launches at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort on May 20. May the Force be with you!

Star Tours - The Adventure Continues at Disneyland Resort

Summer Fun: Along with these three exciting additions, guests will find even more fun this summer at the Disneyland Resort. So, stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for updates.

What are you most looking forward to this summer at the Disneyland Resort?

Look What the Tide Washed Up

WDWNT on February 26, 2011

This is what arrived at my doorstep yesterday: The Admiral Donald Set! Available only from the Disney Dream’s inaugural cruise. We saw this set back at Trade City, and Nick just loves Donald, so it was only a matter of time before the set was purchased. At Trade City we saw both 3″ figures, but never knew there would be a Jr included in the set.

Dream Stars Jr.

In the top picture you can see the back of this junior with the fancy Dream logo. Here is the front, with white stars and two yellow stars.


The 3″ figures in this set are pretty straight forward, designwise. One shows a color version of Donald Duck, the other shows the same design but as a bronze statue, similar to the statue that is in the Dream ship itself. On the back is a tail, and that’s about it. Still a cool set, but there wasn’t anything more then we saw beforehand.

Good V Evil Boxing

WDWNT on February 26, 2011

Today the Vinylmation Blog gave us our next release date. One March 11th, the 3rd Juniors Series will be released in D-Streets Florida and California. It will later be released online at the Disney Store on March 18th. The series is entitled, “Good Luck / Bad Luck” and we assume, like past Junior Series, it will come with 16 normal figures and 2 chasers (most likely a “good luck” chaser and a “bad luck” chaser)

They also released a photo of the box this series will come in, so let’s check that out.

This side looks like the “Bad Luck” side, so I guess the opposite side will have the white cat on it. In the logo we can see some suggestions of other symbols that might be part of the series: a horseshoe, the number 13, a skull and crossbones, a bat, and lightning?
Here’s a co-luck side. Nothing particularly new here. The size will be 1.5″ . It shows both the black cat and the white cat. They also mention that there are keychains as part (like the first two series)

These are the two figures we have already seen, one for good luck and the other for bad luck. They were revealed as part of the info dump on New Years at midnight.

Is anyone looking forward to this series? How many of you actually collect Juniors? Let us know! Leave a comment.

Disneyland Hotel Receiving New Adventureland Themed Restaurant and Bar

WDWNT on February 24, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Many of you may remember our announcement last spring about the ongoing Disneyland Hotel renovation. This exciting project gives the hotel a retro theme with a contemporary twist and adds historic and nostalgic elements of Disneyland park, circa the 1950s.

In keeping with that spirit, we are excited to announce that this spring Tangaroa Terrace and Trader Sam’s will open. The tiki-inspired design and storyline for this restaurant and bar were a perfect fit, as they tie in thematically with the mid-century modern architecture of the Disneyland Hotel and the adjacent Dream Tower, soon to be renamed Adventure Tower.

Artist Rendering of Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel

Inspired by Adventurelands from Disney Parks worldwide and the nostalgic Tahitian Terrace restaurant, located in Adventureland from 1962-1993, Tangaroa Terrace will immerse guests in a tropical setting with tiki torches and themed music. The name of the restaurant was borrowed from one of the tiki gods at the Enchanted Tiki Room. The fast-casual dining experience will include island-inspired food and beverages. The new bar, named after Trader Sam, the infamous Jungle Cruise “head” salesman, will open adjacent to Tangaroa Terrace. Trader Sam’s unique lounge experience will include interactive experiences with a bit of Disney magic you won’t want to miss.

These new locations are in addition to the new in-room décor and exterior of the hotel, as well as the new pool, immersive water play area and redesign of the Never Land Pool that will be completed later this year. Check back soon for more details on the Disneyland Hotel renovation project!

Bill Nye the Science Guy Visits Epcot

WDWNT on February 24, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee was on the scene at Epcot earlier today as Bill Nye the Science Guy appeared at Innoventions in Epcot as part of National Engineers Week. Banks took some video to share with us from this event: