Grand Marshall Pre-Parade Downsizing

WDWNT on August 15, 2008

It’s cost cutting time once again! Beginning this Sunday (August 17th), the Grand Marshall Pre-Parade to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams will not have the dancers, Year of a Million Dreams banner, or Disney characters, & will just feature the Grand Marshall car with the chosen guests & the Mayor of Main Street riding in it.

Here are a couple of pictures of what is being removed, for those of you who are unaware of it:

So no more dancers or characters… Sad, truly sad.

Chris Lastrapes’ 8/14 Photo Report

WDWNT on August 15, 2008

Our new staff member Chris Lastrapes is at the Disneyland Resort today & tomorrow, & he’s got some pictures for us from his first day:

The It’s a Small World logo sign is back… New colors once again folks


Here are a few construction shots of It’s a Small World


As previously reported, the Small World flume has been painted


The rather unpredictable goat is currently at Big Thunder Mountain


A look at the Monorail/Railroad roundhouse… Can’t see any of the Mark VII’s


As usual, Monorail Purple was the only Monorail running today


No visible progress over at the Plaza Pavilion


The Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries is due to end after Labor Day


And to end off this photo report, a few shots from the Disneyland Hotel


A nice few out of Chris’ hotel room


I’m guessing this is on the hotel room windows

Stay tuned tomorrow, as Chris should be giving us some more pictures from his day at the parks tomorrow. Also we’re going to have a special video podcast up for you!

“That is Our Dino!!!”

WDWNT on August 13, 2008

In case you didn’t get the Dinosaur attraction joke in the article title, here are some details on Downtown Disney’s newest resident:

A two-story tall dinosaur is pictured August 13, 2008 being transported on a flatbed truck past a pedestrian crossing sign at the Downtown Disney entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The dinosaur will be featured inside a new restaurant, currently under construction, called “T-Rex: a Prehistoric Family Adventure.” Developed by Schussler Creative, Inc. and operated by Landry’s Restaurants, the 600-seat restaurant will feature dinosaurs, waterfalls, bubbling geysers and a fossil dig site. “T-Rex” will open in mid-October at Downtown Disney. (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Notice that the restaurant is once again ahead of schedule and will now open even earlier than was last reported, Sometime in the middle of October. Stay tuned to WDWNT as we continue to update you on the progress of the T-Rex Restaurant at Downtown Disney.

Fun Wheel, Silly Swings, & Pixie Hollow All Official!

WDWNT on August 9, 2008

Disney officials have confirmed 3 new “attractions” for the Disneyland Resort, according to the OC Register. Mickey’s Fun Wheel (the re-theme of the Sun Wheel), Silly Symphony Swings (the re-theme of the Orange Stinger), & Pixie Hollow (replacing the Ariel’s Grotto meet ‘n greet) are all now officially coming to the Resort!

MICKEY’S FUN WHEEL: A Disney Imagineering official confirmed tonight that the Sun Wheel will join the attractions being changed in the Paradise Pier area of Disney’s California Adventure. The main change expected will be removing the current sun face in the middle of the wheel and replacing it with a Mickey Mouse face. The Mickey Mouse face is planned to be a classic wide-eyed Mickey Mouse.

SILLY SYMPHONIES: The Orange Stinger will join in planned changes for the pier-area — expected to change from the current Orange Stinger theme to a Silly Symphonies theme. Currently, the attraction is a swing ride inside a giant orange sitting lakeside and plans show that the building’s foundation will remain the same, while the orange and even round building are planned to change. The attraction will be based on the classic “Silly Symphonies” animations done by Walt Disney’s animation studio in the 1930s. The band leader, Mickey Mouse, is expected to be part of the ride.

TINKERBELL: A change is also planned for Disneyland, the Imagineering official said tonight. The current Little Mermaid meet and greet next to the Tomorrowland entrance is planned to be replaced by a fairy and Tinkerbell meet and greet. The area, as currently planned, will make guests feel like they’ve shrunk down to fairy-size and the path will be filled with pixie dust.

Disney did not give any official dates on when these refurbishments/additions are planned to take place. However rumors going around show that the Sun Wheel will close on September 11th, to be re-opened by the end of the year as Mickey’s Fun Wheel. Ariel’s Grotto should also close in September, & be re-opened as Pixie Hollow by mid-October, in time for the Tinker Bell DVD release. No strong rumors have surfaced yet on when the Orange Stinger re-theme will take place, but it should be sometime next year.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest up-to-the-minute information on these & all new refurbishments & attractions!

Last Chance to Enter the Magical Memories Contest

WDWNT on August 8, 2008

Today is your last day to enter and win a 4 night/5 day stay at a value resort at Walt Disney World as part of the WDW News Today Magical Memories Contest sponsored by Magical Travel (pretty long name). Be sure to head on over to the WDW News Today Community Forums right away and enter before the deadline at 11:59 PM eastern time this evening. All you need to do to enter and win is register for the WDWNT Community Forums (if you have not already), enter in your most magical Disney memory in 250 or more words, and make sure your entry is in by the deadline. We will announce the 5 finalists on episode 54 of the WDW News Today Podcast, as well as episode 25 of the Disneyland News Today Podcast in the Town Square Talk segment.

For all of the contest details and to enter, go HERE. Remember, besides the grand prize, we are also giving away 4 Disney gift cards. Good luck and hope to see you at Walt Disney World!!!

Stomp The Main Street?

WDWNT on August 7, 2008

Seems Walt Disney World is about to hold a rather unusual special event later this month:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla – On August 29, the Walt Disney World Resort will quake as the first annual Disney Step Classic kicks off at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. High School and College Step teams will compete for top honors at this inaugural event.

The event is presented in conjunction with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge will include a pre-event celebration at a Disney Park and two tiers of competitions. The two tiers include college and high school troupes. The event is sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA) and will be open to the public with tickets available for purchase in advance. 

Stepping, step-dancing or stomping is a form of percussive dance in which the participant’s body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps. Stepping draws from elements of African and Caribbean dance. Today, fraternity, sorority, and high school troupes perform step as a means of sending a positive message to the audience. 

For more information on the event visit www.disneystepclassic.com or call toll free 1-800-603-0552. For tickets go to www.TicketMaster.com, or purchase them at the box office at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

I had heard rumors that Disney is going to try and reach out to communities that don’t usually visit their various resort areas, but this seems way out of character for anything to be held at Walt Disney World.

Monday in the Parks Picture Update

WDWNT on August 4, 2008

Let’s take a look at some of the various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Monday in the Parks column on MiceAge:


The new ticket prices went into effect yesterday


In addition to the water playground in the Bountiful Valley Farm that we reported was closed last Friday (and it still is closed btw), a couple other water playgrounds in DCA appeared to be closed, at least yesterday…


… Including Princess Dot’s Puddle Park in a Bug’s Land…


… As well as the SS Rustworthy in Paradise Pier


Construction seems to be happening on both sides of Department 56


The stilt chefs in the Ratatouille section of the Pixar Play Parade appeared to be off their stilts once again yesterday… Probably was just for yesterday though

Be sure to check out the Monday in the Parks column (linked at the top of the post) for tips on how to get cheap tickets, & plenty more updates from the around Disneyland Resort this week!

DisneyGeek DLR Update

WDWNT on August 3, 2008

Let’s take a look at some of the various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from the latest DLR Update on DisneyGeek:


The sign, minus the logo, is out from behind tarps, which brings me to something interesting…


On the left is the sign as it was before the refurb, on the right the sign as it was yesterday… Notice a new color scheme?


The “mini dolls” appear to be missing from the boat


Apparently the tarps on the train track, blocking the view of Small World, are down… So here are a few of DisneyGeek’s shots of the Small World construction progress


And on an unrelated note, the water playground at the Bountiful Valley Farm seemed to be either not working, or just turned off