Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media.Net and FTN has provided us with some photos of the updated Wonderful World of Memories store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace, including the new Disney Design-a-Tee shop:
The exterior has been updated with signs for the “Build Your Own Ear Hat” feature
It seems that the WDWNT Christmas Podcast Parade was not the only parade taking place yesterday :), there was of course the 25th annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade on ABC. Disey has put a number of clips from the parade and the holiday season on Youtube, so I thought I would share them with you:
You can also download this version of “Celebrate You” HERE
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.- If last year wasn’t enough to shake-up your holidays, the latest Walt Disney World holiday tradition will return Christmas Day 2008. While the 25th annual Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade taped in early December airs on ABC this Christmas morning, another parade will be making its way down Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom. The second annual Christmas Podcast Parade will be broadcast from the Walt Disney World Resort on December 25th, but it won’t be on any television station. The parade’s creator, Tom Corless, has received the exclusive rights to broadcast the parade on episode 74 of his popular WDW News Today Podcast and the other podcasts in his WDWNT Network. “Being the creator of this new parade, I felt that I should be the only one airing it,” said Corless, “no television channel wanted a parade full of internet stars anyway.”Will this years parade happen without the involvement of an angry mob? Will Jason Diffendal be able to deal with Adam Roth and his massive ego? Will Jose Castillo learn that not every word needs an S at the end of it? How many Luke Manning jokes will there be? The only way to find out is to tune into the episode 74 of the WDW News Today Podcast (or any other podcast in the WDWNT Network) on December 25th, 2008 for the Second Annual Christmas Podcast Parade from the Walt Disney World Resort.
After the “success” of the inaugural 2007 parade, some big stars have been lined up for the 2008 edition. Planned to appear thus far are Randy Newman, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, The Muppets, Riders in the Sky, a variety of Disney characters, Santa Claus, and even a few surprise guests. Tom Corless says that his regular podcast listeners shouldn’t worry, because a number of the usual podcast staff will be on hand as well, including Brian Sommer, Justin Heyman, Chris Lastrapes, Kenny Siegel, James Kemp, Steve Swanson, John Rick, Matt Paul, and Kelly Russo. While the names of most participants have been announced, none of the floats that will be appearing on Thursday have been made public of of date.
While most of the general public is not aware of the stars of this particular parade, to thousands of Disney fans, they are pseudo-celebrities. Co-founders of WDWCelebrations, Jason Diffendal and Adam Roth, were chosen to host the second edition of the annual event after last year’s hosts went mysteriously missing. The team seems a natural fit, as they have created a successful fan organization and events working together as part of a team. The parade will also be hosted by a secondary cast including Jose Castillo, Kyle Duffield, Luke Manning, and Dame Judi Dench. This larger team of hosts plan to keep things a little cleaner and understandable then the anarchy that took place in 2007.
The WDWNT Network proudly presents “Our Christmas Card to You”, the Second Annual Christmas Podcast Parade, live (well, sort of) from the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Join hosts Jason Diffendal, Adam Roth, Jose Castillo, Kyle Duffield, Luke Manning, and Judi Dench for a wild time on Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom for holiday floats and famous celebrities.
This new Christmas tradition is proudly presented by WDW News Today, Disneyland News Today, The Disney Pincast, the WDWNT Tube, Your Ear to the World, The WDW News Today Community Forums, WDWCelebrations, Magical Travel, and The Muppetcast. Sponsored by G-Force Records, The Mr. Potato Head Clinic, Al Harrington’s Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man Emporium and Warehouse, WDWNT: The Breakfast, Disney Cruise Line, Brian Sommer’s Ego, and Southern California.
To subscribe to the WDW News Today podcast on Itunes, go to this link. If you do not have Itunes, visit our Podcast Download Directory to download or listen to all of our shows
This episode is also available in an enhanced version. An enhanced podcast is a podcast with added features that standard podcasts don’t have. Enhanced podcasts include many features like Chapter listings, this lets you skip through chapters or see what is in store for this weeks show. Enhanced podcasts also have images to let you differ the chapters by. Enhanced podcasts have one negative feature, you can not play them on most MP3 players. The file format for this is a .m4a which can play on Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune. You will also need iTunes or Windows Media Player to be able to skip through chapters. If you need or would like the standard edition, download the normal edition listed below this file both on Itunes and in our podcast directory.
Merry Christmas everyone from the weather appropriate England! Unfortunately, the news I have for you today isn’t all that warming, especially if you’re a fan of entertainment at Disneyland. Yes, quite a lot of Disneyland’s entertainment offerings will be getting either reduced showings, or will be going on hiatus.
Over at Disneyland Park, as previously mentioned, both shows at the Princess Fantasy Faire have been canceled. After A Christmas Fantasy has ended it’s seasonal run, there wont be a parade in the park until around Spring Break when the Celebrate! A Street Party debuts on March 26th, which pretty much means Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams is history! Also, Remember Dreams Come True is canceled weekends, except for Martin Luther King Jr. & Presidents Day weekends. The good news is Fantasmic! will still run 7 days a week through its planned refurbishment in mid-March.
Pretty much all of the entertainment offerings at DCA will be affected by the economic problems. Disney’s Aladdin will be going back on hiatus as of January 5th. High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! will only show Friday-Sunday. Pixar Play Parade will go to 5 days a week, Wednesday-Sunday. Drawn to the Magic will be going on hiatus. Surprisingly, The Magic of Brother Bear will remain showing Friday-Tuesday. The only show not affected will be Playhouse Disney: Live on Stage, which will continue showing 7 days a week.
Be sure to stay tuned to Disneyland News Today as we get in more information on just how bad of a year 2009 could end up being for Disneyland.
Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media.Net and FTN has provided us with some his trip to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday. Let’s take a look at some newsworthy items using this new gallery option:
Space in Tomorrowland being prepared for Stitch’s Supersonic Dance Celebration that will debut in the Spring
The old Skyway building is also getting some much needed TLC during this time
Haven’t seen these signs in a while, I guess this still is 1994 Tomorrowland
Sign directing guests to the restrooms around the walls during this refurbishment
The entire building is not under tarps
A closer look
Resort-wide sales continue through the holiday season
The refurbishment of the second half of Tinker Bell’s Treasures reveals a new shop, Castle Couture
Some great new decor can be found in the new shop
Aurora’s dress changes colors as Fauna and Merryweather fight over red and blue
This seems to be an extension of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, selling the princess outfits that parents can purchase
There is a section for each princess
The work on the upper level of Pinnochio’s Village Haus is complete and it looks great
Work on the lower section continues
The exterior of the Hall of Presidents is now being refurbished in preparation for the July 2009 re-opening
The self-service kiosks at Pecos Bill’s have been moved to the center, surprising when the entire restaurant closes for refurbishment in January
It seems people are still afraid to use them
We’ll end this report with a nighttime picture of the new food vendor replacing the Frontierland Fry Wagon
Join us now for our 5th live interactive program from WDW News Today, Disneyland News Today, The Disney Pincast, and Your Ear to the World. On this live show #5, we will be taking your calls and providing some special segments along the way. Be sure to join us from 9-11pm EST this Sunday for another edition of WDWNT Live!
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Our good friend Brian Martsolf (of Big Brian’s Disney Page) has provided us with some photos taken during Mousefest 2008, so lets take a look:
The Viking play ship outside the Norway pavilion at Epcot is now completely gone
This is about the only remnant
I have been informed of some very interesting news & rumors of what could be happening (or is going to happen) at the Disneyland Resort in the very near future:
The black sort of curtain like structure is the Snow White Dwarf Mine. The Pinocchio Cigar Factory is in the blue draped crate next to the parade storage warehouse. The Pleasure Island float has reportedly already been pieced together.
Well that wraps up this interesting news & rumor report. Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest developments on these, & all other news & rumors.
PS) Posts may be a little sporadic over the week week, as I’ll be in England from tomorrow through the 29th. I will try to get some stuff to you guys though. Definitely don’t forget to tune into the Christmas Podcast Parade, being released Christmas Day on all WDWNT Podcast feeds!
Chris Lastrapes from Disneyland News Today is now visiting the Walt Disney World Resort and has provided us with some photos from his trip, so let’s take a look:
Tickets were available for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on that evening, but are sold out for tonight’s final party.
The Magic Kingdom in it’s Holiday finest
The Magic Kingdom tree, which has actually only been in place for a few days now
The mystery food vendor that is replacing the old Frontierland Fry Cart continues to rise over the walls
Myrna Litt visited the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood yesterday, & reports back to us with the following pictures:
Set-up for the world premiere of Bedtime Stories, which comes out December 25th, 2008.
A message outside the theatre from Ariel to keep the ocean clean.
The box office.
Now for a look around the adjoining Soda Fountain & Studio Store.
