Future Projects

WDWNT on July 12, 2007

Over at the Disney MGM Studios, it appears we have seen the last of Mickey Avenue. The street from the end of the Narnia exhibit to the Backlot Tour is completely closed to become a Pixar themed street rumored to be called “Pixar Place”. The street will host the new Toy Story Mania attraction scheduled to open in Spring 2008. The construction walls feature a map of the park saying that Toy Story Mania is coming soon and giving guests directions to go around the wall to get where they want to go. Rumor has it that after the completion of Toy Story Mania, the area will become home to Cars attraction and perhaps a Pixar character stage show. The Block Party Bash parade, starring all Disney-Pixar Characters, is slated to debut at the park this spring in an attempt to add more Pixar to the studios.

Soarin’ While You Wait

WDWNT on July 11, 2007

As most of you are probably aware already, the Soarin’ standby queue has recieved some motion sensored screens on which large groups of guests can play games together and against other groups of guests. Games include piloting a bird, growing grass, and other activities. The motion sensor technology used here is unlike anything I have ever seen and is certainly a welcome addition to a queue that often has waits over an Hour or two.

Yak and Yeti Restaurant Behind Schedule

WDWNT on July 10, 2007

Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, work on the Yak and Yeti restaurant is picking up as the rush is on to be finished by the original October deadline. Don’t be surprised if the restaurant doesn’t open until November/December of this year.

Spaceship Earth Closed

WDWNT on July 9, 2007

The big news this week is the removal of the infamous Epcot wand and the refurbishment of the Spaceship Earth attraction that both began today at Epcot. Expect the entire finale of the Spaceship Earth attraction to be completely different from it’s current form when it re-opens in mid-November 2007.

Destination Vinylmation Ep. 003 Electric Light Parade

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Nick and M.C. discuss the release of Holiday Snowglobe and Reindeer 9″ figures, upcoming Vinylmation news and have an exclusive interview with Steven Miller, Project Manager Disney Trading. Steven talks about some upcoming releases and insight to how Vinylmation are designed. Find out more at www.DestinationVinylmation.com and follow VinylmationNews on Twitter.

Listen Now:

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DisneyGeek DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Our good friends over at DisneyGeek have put up another Disneyland Resort Update. Let’s take a look at some of the latest happenings through-out the Resort:

Construction on the new bakery facility for the Disneyland Resort restaurants, near the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure.

Now this list of unavailable attractions seems more right than what I saw on Tuesday. Notice how the Hyperion Theater isn’t listed.

These walls are most likely up to install the giant Mickey pumpkin for Halloween.

Fastpass is currently unavailable for Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.

The longest line seen at the park for the Princess meet ‘n greet at the Princess Fantasy Faire. This was true for both DisneyGeek’s day at the park, as well as mine last Tuesday.

Sign at the Toontown Train Depot notifying guests that the New Orleans Square Train Station is closed.

When you pass the New Orleans Square Train Station, a wooden wall is right up against you.

Even though the new Wishing Star Crystals store has opened, the Three Fairies Magic Crystals store sign is still up.

All references to McDonalds have apparently been removed from Harbour Galley.

They’re fixing up one of the French Market signs.

The Disneyland Dream Suite was blocked off for some reason.

This photo store was closed for some reason.

The Year of a Million Dreams cups are no longer being used. Now it looks like they’re using plain, boring Coca Cola cups.

Finally, a cool display of different Mr. Potato Head figures in Midway Mercantile.

Outsource Animatronics???

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

From the OC Register:

The Walt Disney Co. will begin out-sourcing the manufacturing of Audio Animatronics because of too much demand on staff time, according to an Imagineering memo sent to the Orange County Register and Disney Imagingeering Spokeswoman Marilyn Waters.

Audio-Animatronics figures are basically moving and talking (or singing) robotic figures that were started by Walt Disney’s company. Today, Audio-Animatronics can be seen in several Disneyland attractions, which include: “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! and the upcoming Toy Story Mania!.

The memo is dated June 12, 2008, and was sent to all Walt Disney Imagineering employees from Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive, Craig Russell, chief development and delivery executive, and Kevin Eld, vice president of Disney Creative Production. The memo was sent to and received by the Orange County Register today. Imagineers is Disney’s a word for designers and engineers.

The memo states that after review manufacturing all Audio-Animatronics figures in-house is not feasible in terms of cost and staffing. Instead, Imagineering’s Manufacturing and Prototype Operations group based in North Hollywood will “build some select, highly complex” figures in-house.

Waters confirmed that the manufacturing of some Audio-Animatronics will be given to outside vendors. She said that over the past years Walt Disney Imagineering has begun to work with outside vendors on the talking and moving figures.

In one example, Waters said Disney employees worked with Chinese vendors to make some of the figures for the “It’s a Small World” attraction at the Hong Kong Disneyland.

“Our industry has generated quite a few heavily-skilled and proficient vendors who can supplement our teams with simple figures with significant oversight by our production team,” Waters said. “This will allow us to focus on creating more sophisticated and advanced figures.”

While Waters said Imagineering’s next step is to focus on the next-generation of Audio-Animatronics, an anniversary is coming for the oldest figures. June 22 is the 45th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland’s Adventureland.

The Tiki Room includes 225 performers, including birds, flowers and tiki poles that spring to life. The attraction opened in 1963 and was the first attraction to function completely via the wonders of Audio-Animatronics technology.

Backstage Pass – Summer 2008

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Just an hour ago, the Summer Issue of the Disneyland AP Newsletter, Backstage Pass, arrived in my mailbox. Here are pictures showing what is in this edition. For bigger versions of the pictures, check out the DLR Image Gallery later today.