Phase One Complete

WDWNT on February 18, 2008

Sara K. Clarke | Jason Garcia and Scott Powers, Orlando Sentinel

The first phase of Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Villas time share is complete. Disney last month wrapped up work on the last of 109 units that have been converted from hotel rooms to time shares on the upper levels of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Construction is continuing on the project’s much-larger second phase: A 340-unit annex next to the lodge that has been dubbed “Kidani Village.” Disney says the expansion will include a 120-seat sit-down restaurant, a 4,700-square-foot swimming pool with a water slide and two spas, plus tennis, shuffleboard and half-court basketball, among other amenities. Disney expects to complete the second phase during the spring of 2009.

The Animal Kingdom Villas are Disney’s eighth time share and the sixth at Disney World. The company is in the midst of building new time shares at Disneyland in Southern California and has announced plans to develop a time share and hotel resort in Hawaii. Construction records also suggest Disney is building a time-share addition to the Contemporary Resort in Orlando, though the company has not confirmed the project.

DLNT Episode 1 (2/17/08)

WDWNT on February 18, 2008

Show has now been re-posted and should download just fine!

Join host Luke Manning and a cast including John Corigliano, Nick McLamb, Tom Corless, Jose Castillo, and Jason Diffendal, for a show that brings you the Ideals, Dreams, and Hard Facts of the Disneyland Resort. So sit back, relax, and enjoy all of the Disneyland news, information, and fun we have to offer on this first episode of the Disneyland News Today Podcast!

This podcast will be all about Southern California’s premier vacation destination, the Disneyland Resort. Each week we’ll feature news, rumors, live-in-park audio, and so much more!

To kick off our first ever episode, Tom Corless of our sister site WDW News Today joins us for the Disneyland News and Rumors. Among the things covered this week are the new Innoventions Dream Home, changes to Fantasmic as well as Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage, continuing coverage of the PIXAR Play Parade, and much more!

Each week, we’ll be sharing with you a piece of live-in-park audio from the Disneyland Resort. To kick it all off this week, we feature the fireworks spectacular Remember… Dreams Come True. What better audio could be featured on the first show! Headphones are definitely suggested for the live audio!

Finally this week, joining me for the first ever discussion on DLNT, are Tom Corless, Jason Diffendal, Nick McLamb, Jose Castillo, and John Corigliano. We take a look at all of the changes coming to Disney’s California Adventure during Phase I of its HUGE refurbishment!

To download this episode of the DLNT Podcast, please visit our Podcast Download page. To just listen to the show (not download it) click on the little player attached to this post. For instructions on how to subscribe to the show on iTunes, visit the Podcast Download page.

2 New Possible Refurbishments

WDWNT on February 17, 2008

We’re hearing about some possible new refurbishments in Disneyland Park, for Pirates of the Caribbean & the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. The first 2 are about the Subs, & the last is about Pirates:

  • Change projections so that both sides see the same thing at the same time.
  • Rework the loading station, for more efficient loading.
  • Revamp the end in both Disneyland & Walt Disney World’s, something new involving Jack Sparrow.

PIXAR Play Parade Annual Passholder only preview on March 13th

WDWNT on February 17, 2008

We’ve received word from one of our correspondents, that the PIXAR Play Parade will have an Annual Passholder only preview on March 13th at 5:15PM. Also, on cold days, instead of squirting water at guests, bubbles will fill the air through-out the WHOLE PARK! The bubbles will also be there on the warmer days too!

We will have more info on this & other developments surrounding the PIXAR Play Parade as it becomes available.

Enchanted Stitch Room???

WDWNT on February 17, 2008

While not happening (yet) at the Walt Disney World Resort, I thought I would bring in some exciting news from the Tokyo Disneyland Resort. The Enchanted Tiki Room show in tokyo Disneyland Park will soon become the Enchanted Stitch Room. The attraction is currently closed overseas for the changes and when it re-opens, the attraction will be similar to the Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management in that a Disney animated film character will invade the classic attraction. Stay tuned for more info on this weird developement that may impact Walt Disney World in the near future.

DCA Preview Center plans changed again

WDWNT on February 16, 2008

It looks like plans have changed again for the California Adventure Preview Center. Originally, it was to be in the un-used San Francisco buildings, next to Golden Dreams. The plan was then changed for it to be in the Esplanade. But according to the latest Annual Passholder newsletter, the Preview Center will now be inside the park. The only question is where:

“Walt’s California” is Coming to Disney’s California Adventure® Park

Imagine that you are an ambitious young animator back in the roaring 1920’s. Step off a gleaming steam train and take in the beauty of a sun-soaked California paradise that promises to make all your dreams come true.
That’s the way it all began for Walt Disney, and soon it will be the way it begins for everyone who enters the re-imagined entry plaza at Disney’s California Adventure® Park.

“The creative evolution of Disney’s California Adventure® Park will connect Guests to Walt’s own California adventure and reflect the place that he found when he first arrived with a cardboard suitcase in his hand and a head full of dreams,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Beyond the new entry plaza, Guests will discover exciting new attractions, fantastic new entertainment, unique new stores and delicious new dining opportunities, including:

  • A major new attraction based on the animated Disney classic “The Little Mermaid”
  • An amazing nighttime spectacular that plays out on the sparkling waters of Paradise Bay
  • Toy Story Mania! — a new attraction that combines the fun of classic boardwalk games and the Disney*Pixar “Toy Story” films.
  • A 12-acre “Cars” Land that recreates the town of Radiator Springs, complete with three amazing new attractions featuring characters from the hit Disney*Pixar film “Cars.”

Work on some of these enhancements has already begun, and the rest will follow in phases. It’s expected that everything will be completed within the next five years.

Be sure to keep an eye out for a special preview center opening soon inside Disney’s California Adventure® Park — and check back here for updates!

Westward Pins!

WDWNT on February 16, 2008

The Westward Ho! Trading Company out in Frontierland has changed it’s merchandise from seasonal/holiday items, to pins. The pins were originally sold in Silver Spur, but have now moved to Westward Ho! Silver Spur now sells womens clothing items.

DLNT Podcast starts tomorrow!

WDWNT on February 16, 2008

I’d like to remind everyone that the first ever Disneyland News Today Podcast will be released tomorrow! In the first ever edition, we have News, Rumors, a discussion, & some live audio from Disneyland! You won’t want to miss the new DLNT Podcast!

Visit our Podcast page for more information on the Disneyland News Today Podcast!
(info coming soon)

Project The Day After Tomorrow

WDWNT on February 16, 2008

One thing I forgot to mention earlier in the week is that Project Tomorrow inside Innoventions is actually closed. It’s not known when it’ll will re-open, according to what a cast member said to me. My guess is that they’re installing some of the exhibits recently installed in Walt Disney World’s Project Tomorrow, such as Innervision, & that they need to close the whole thing to install a new exhibit, as it is much smaller than WDW’s.