Dining Changes Official

WDWNT on July 15, 2008

Here is the official announcement from Disney on changes to the dining reservation system:

The Walt Disney World® Resort will release a new reservation booking system for dining, recreation and tour reservations in late October 2008. The new reservation system will replace our current Dining Reservation System and will allow you to book multiple dining reservations for your Clients in one experience, while associating reservations to your Clients’ Walt Disney World Resort room reservations.

In the future, Travel Agents and Guests will be able to make dining reservations online at disneytravelagents.com and disneyworld.com with this new reservation booking system. The launch date for this enhancement will be announced at a later date.

As a result of the system upgrade, effective July 29 through late October 2008, Guests will be able to book dining reservations up to Jan. 25, 2009 arrivals.  In late October, booking processes will return to normal, allowing Guests to book up to 180 days of arrival.

The system upgrade will not impact Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Chef Mickey’s Restaurant. Those three venues will continue to observe the normal booking processes throughout the system cutover.

There you have it, as expected, you will soon be able to make all your Disney vacation reservations online in one motion, making the overall experience much easier. Expect the new system to be in order around January 2009.

Time To Turn Back Tiki-Time???

WDWNT on July 15, 2008

After months of hearing rumors that the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management will be closing sometime in the near future to make way for a Stitch-involved makeover, a new wild rumor has hit the streets of the Magic Kingdom and has cast members in De-Nile (Attempt at a Jungle Cruise joke). Strong rumors now indicate that the original budget for the postponed major Jungle Cruise attraction refurbishment maybe heading across the way to fund the restoration of the talking audio-animatronics bird show to its original splendor. In short, the original Tropical Serenade show may return to the Magic Kingdom as part of a huge marketing campaign for the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2011.

The planned campaign is going to promote the idea of guests experiencing renewed classic attractions and entertainment inspired by the resort’s past. Among the planned updates for the celebration are updates to Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, and the Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom; Journey Into Imagination and Illuminations at Epcot; and The Great Movie Ride and Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Also rumored at this time are a new firework show and updated Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom.

While most of these changes are likely to not take place (as is the nature with rumors), a few of them will make the line-up in time for October 1, 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more info on these rumored changes becomes available.

Temporary Dining Changes

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Reported by the Dis:

Disney will begin implementing a new reservation system that combines dining, recreation and tour bookings.

The conversion will start on July 21, 2008 and is expected to be functioning on October 24. While this is taking place, the latest dining reservation date which can be booked in advance is January 25, 2009. Once the new system is operating, it will revert to the 180 day Advance Dining Reservation window.

The exceptions to the shortened ADR booking window are Cinderella’s Royal Table, Chef Mickey’s and Victoria & Albert’s.

 

This updated system has been in the works for a while and is now finally being implemented. The rate of error from the old system necessitated the changes and the new system should work much more efficiently than the old. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we attempt to gain an official confirmation of these changes.

Earful Tire

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

A new Grand Marshal vehicle has debuted in the Magic Kingdom theme park, carrying guests of honor down the daily parade route in grand style. To fit the theme of Main Street, USA, the vehicle was designed after a 1912 touring car. The new vehicle’s design also allows guests in wheelchairs to board easily and ride in the main seating area. Also an added touch of the new vehicle — Mickey Mouse tread designs on all four tires and the spare tire attached to the rear. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

DLR Photo Report – 7/13/08

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Yesterday I had a wonderful trip to the Disneyland Resort. Apart from the Innoventions Dream Home, there wasn’t that much else going on, so included in this picture report are some lovely scenery shots. Now then, let’s hop to it:


The monorail stopped right by Soarin’ Over California for some reason


I got to the Resort for DCA’s opening so I could go straight to Toy Story Midway Mania


We stopped here for about 10 minutes, & then preceded to the actual queue for the attraction, which was about 20 minutes long


My gun wasn’t working properly on my first ride, so I went Single Rider afterwards & got this score


The Grizzly River Run waterwheel is now out from behind walls & scaffolding


When this picture was taken (about 10:45am PST), Grizzly River Run had broken down


Now we’re going to venture into Innoventions, for a look around the brand new Innoventions Dream Home!


The fictional soccer team in the Dream Home is the Astro Blasters (wonder where they got the name from?)


Taylor Morrison is holding sweepstakes where you can enter to win your own Dream Home!


Bambi was showing in this room


The entrance into the Dream Home


In this room, a cast member was telling the story of Peter Pan (very futuristic)


Me with my brother in the background


A very cool, fountain bubbly thing that actually changes colors


The Tree of Tomorrow


The Dream Banners have returned to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle


One of Disneyland’s many bands heading towards the Castle


A nice panoramic shot down Main Street USA


Flowers in bloom at the entrance to Frontierland


Pins, Pins, & More Pins!!!


This picture is kinda dark (I didn’t want to use flash), but you should be able to see that one of the Pirates in the Jail scene of Pirates of the Caribbean is missing


The Trash Can Trio entertaining crowds waiting for Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams


And speaking of Parade of Dreams, here are some select shots from many that I took of the parade (all will soon be available in the Image Gallery)


The Little Mermaid float features my favorite costumes/performers


Three lovely ladies


A new sign up for the Art of Disneyland at the exit of Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years


I spotted these Mickey’s Pin Odyssey signs by the entrance to DCA from the Grand Californian… No idea what they were doing so far away from any of the Pin Trading carts


Mr. Potato Head is already starting to get a little dirty


Back in line for Toy Story Midway Mania


The 3rd ride of the day (my score is on the left)


And my fourth ride gives me my all time record


The fountains in between King Triton’s Carousel & Midway Mercantile were working for once


I met a total of 6 Princesses yesterday… Belle


Aurora


Cinderella


Aurora again (luck of the draw I suppose)


Pocahontas


And Ariel

That’s going to do it for this Disneyland Resort Photo Report (hey, that rhymed!). Stay tuned to the Image Galleries (once we get them working) for bigger versions of these pictures, as well as many others.

Until my next trip folks!

Jim Hill Goes Off the Wall-E

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Our good friend Jim Hill over at Jim Hill Media has a great article up today about the rooms currently being re-decorated to Pirates of the Caribbean and Finding Nemo over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. While the new movie themed rooms are very news-worthy, there is something towards the end of the article that is far more interesting and exciting.

When mentioning tomorrow’s article for the site, Jim brought up the rumor that plans for Shanghai Disneyland’s Tomorrowland area have it completely themed to Disney-Pixar’s Wall-E film. I found this pretty exciting since I had been told about a month ago that the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland may be getting the same treatment. Current plans include having the fictional “Buy N Large” corporation from the film Wall-E taking over tomorrowland, in order to give the land a cohesive storyline after years of mass-confusion. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Space Mountain, and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress would most likely only be touched up to reflect the new theme, but major changes would be happening to the remainder of Tomorrowlandunder the current plan. A Wall-E themed show is currently in the works in Imagineering and would most likely replace Stitch’s Great Escape (while Stitch moves over to the Enchanted Tiki Room), although there is also talk of the show replacing The Laugh Floor. Other plans include major refurbishments of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Astro Orbiter. While all of this is still rumor for now, there is a very strong possibility that most of the changes in this plan will take shape by 2012. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on the future of Tomorrowland becomes available.

Here We Go Again…

WDWNT on July 12, 2008

Laughing Place managed to snap a few pictures of a special promotion in Downtown Disney for the new reality show on ABC, High School Musical: Get in the Picture. Here are a few of them:


It looks as if you spin this wheel, & you either win prizes or get to play a game of some sort


Now are these free to every guest, or do you win them?


There’s another promotion going on by the ESPN Zone, having to do with the Honda Pilot

To see more of Laughing Place’s pictures of these promotions, & more from through-out the whole resort, click here!

Makes You Wish The Electrical Parade Was Goin’ By

WDWNT on July 11, 2008

Our sister site, WDW News Today, reported the following news about the High School Musical 2: School’s Out show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

The popular High School Musical 2: School’s Out roaming stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now scheduled to make its final performance at the park on September 13, 2008. However, don’t get too happy if you’re not a fan of the Disney Channel’s mega-hit movie series. On October 24, just around the time the new film in the series is released in theaters everywhere, a new roaming stage show themed to High School Musical 3: Senior Year will be hitting the streets at Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned for more details on the new show as they become available.

With this news, we can expect a High School Musical 3 version of the roaming stage show at Disney’s California Adventure sometime this fall. Although no concrete details have been leaked about the DCA version yet.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for up to date information on the High School Musical show.

“Infringement is What Tiggers Do Best”

WDWNT on July 11, 2008

From Local6.com:

CLERMONT, Fla. — Disney has filed a million-dollar copyright infringement lawsuit against a Clermont couple over costumes resembling Tigger and Eeyore.

David and Marisol Perez-Chaveco about two years ago created their own company, Kool Klowns, which offers face painting, inflatable houses and costumed characters at parties.

“I don’t want to be on welfare all my life. I wanted to be something, make something of ourselves and get on our feet,” Marisol Perez-Chaveco said.

The couple paid more than $500 for costumes on eBay from a company in Peru and advertised the characters online.

“We bought two characters that to me is an orange tiger and a blue donkey,” Marisol Perez-Chaveco said.

About a week later, Disney wrote the couple a letter, claiming the costumes were unauthorized reproductions of Tigger and Eeyore. In the letter, Disney made seven demands, and the couple complied, Local 6 News reported.

“We removed the listing from Craigslist, removed the listing from MySpace (and) every advertisement on our Web site,” Marisol Perez-Chaveco said.

But instead of sending the costumes to Disney for destruction, the couple returned them to Peru for a refund.

Disney officials said they had no comment on the lawsuit.

Special thank you to reader Ryan Manger for sending in the story!!!

School’s Out for Senior Year

WDWNT on July 11, 2008

The popular High School Musical: School’s Out roaming stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now scheduled to make its final performance at the park on September 13, 2008. However, don’t get too happy if you’re not a fan of the Disney Channel’s mega-hit movie series. On October 24, just around the time the new film in the series is released in theaters everywhere, a new roaming stage show themed to High School Musical 3: Senior Year will be hitting the streets at Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned for more details on the new show as they become available.