Disney Announces New Restaurants and Pool Enhancements for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

The Disney Vacation Club accommodations formerly known as The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge have assumed a new name – Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, but this is just the beginning of the changes at the resort as the cabins outside of the main lodge are erected.

A sweeping re-imagination of the former Hidden Springs Pool is also underway. Depicted in the artist rendering below and scheduled to open in summer 2017, Boulder Ridge Cove will feature an expanded sun deck and zero-depth-entry pool in what appears to have been an abandoned rock quarry.

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A nearby “Boulder Ridge Railway and Mining Co.” water tower will be among the pool area’s landmark reminders of its pioneering past, while a vintage mine cart supports the mining theme with an affectionate nod to Disney history.

Beyond the new pool space, scheduled enhancements to the resort are “chugging along” and include a brand-new bar & grill, in addition to a quick-service restaurant. Geyser Point Bar & Grill will be located in the heart of the feature pool area of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, where guests can grab a bite to eat as they lounge by the resort’s main pool. The rendering for this area highlights ample outdoor seating and architecture that looks right at home with that of the existing Lodge, as well as Boulder Ridge Villas.

All-Star Resorts Are Selling Pizza at the Bus Stop

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

This is a weird one folks, but some of the All-Star Resorts will be selling pizza nightly at their bus stop areas.

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Starting November 23rd, the locations will be open nightly from 7-10pm at Disney’s All-Star Music and Movies Resorts. The locations offer a very limited menu, mainly cheese and pepperoni pizza.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Moana Meet and Greet Replaces a Portion of Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

The mystery construction inside off Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was finally completed yesterday when a Moana character meet and greet was unveiled, just in time for the new movie hitting theaters.

Wait times and hours for the meet and greet are posted outside of the exhibit

Wait times and hours for the meet and greet are posted outside of the exhibit

The meet and greet replaces a large portion of “The Legacy Continues” section of the exhibit which featured models of Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and other display pieces.

The entrance, just steps away from the 1964-65 World's Fair exhibit area and Walt Disney's EPCOT

The entrance, just steps away from the 1964-65 World’s Fair exhibit area and Walt Disney’s EPCOT

While it will utilize a pager system to let guests know when it is time to get in line, I needed up waiting about 30 minutes yesterday when the system was not in use.

The pagers, not in use at the time

The pagers, not in use at the time

The space is surprisingly well-themed, with a rocky grotto constructed, complete with a projection based waterfall. The rest of the experience is mostly wall-stickers and small plants, but it is cute enough for something temporary.

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There are no ropes separating guests in the switchbacks, just lines in the “sand”. I have too wonder if this will continue to work…

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Moana has a backdrop straight out of the film, flanked by tropical rocks and plants.

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Our interaction with Moana was pretty awesome, especially considering it was her first day meeting with guests. You can see that in our video below:

While I lament the loss of exhibit space, I understand the need to have this in the park and it has been a noticeable void since the Magic of Disney Animation closed last year. In fairness, it is in “The Legacy Continues section” of the attraction and the latest animated film is certainly continuing in the traditions of Walt Disney. I am curious if the rest of the exhibit will return when the expansion of the park is completed, but we will have to wait to find out.

Tokyo Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World” Adding 40 Characters, Including Frozen

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

Tokyo Disneyland’s version of “It’s a Small World” is being updated by the Spring of2018, adding about 40 new characters to the attraction, including those from Disney’s Frozen. This is the first major update made to the attraction since opening in 1983.

The attraction will close on March 1, 2017, and reopens in spring 2018 (no set date yet).

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The “it’s a small world” attraction in Tokyo was originally set to be knocked down and moved to another space in part of the park’s Fantasyland expansion, but those plans have been cancelled.

Translation provided by TDRExplorer from the Official Tokyo Disney Resort Blog.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Expands Into August in 2017

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

According to event guides for Epcot’s Holidays Around the World this year, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival will begin in August for the first time ever in 2017.

The event dates for next year are August 31st through November 13th, 2017. The event will run for an astonishing 75 days straight, 15 days more than ever before.

Disneyland Paris Was Targeted by Apprehended Terrorist Cell

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

From Deadline:

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris

Just a little over a year since 130 people died in the November Paris Attacks, it has emerged that a suspected terror cell researched such landmarks as Disneyland Paris, the annual Christmas Market on the Champs-Elysées and the headquarters of the Police Judiciare at 36 Quai des Orfèvres as it plotted a series of coordinated attacks for December 1. Five out of seven people arrested last weekend have now had their custody extended for another two days.

According to French daily Libération, the seven people who were arrested last weekend between Strasbourg and Marseille had been under surveillance since the June arrest of another cell planning attacks during this summer’s Euro 2016 soccer tournament. Security sources told Le Parisien that the suspects had fought in Syria and were linked to the Isis cell that carried out the Paris Attacks last November.

The extension of the custody today suggests there is concern over an imminent attack or that the investigation is part of an international cooperation. Found with the suspects were handguns and automatic weapons as well as jihadist propaganda.

Disneyland Paris said in a statement, “We work closely with state and local authorities, and constantly review the security measures we have in place.” Last January, potential danger was thwarted when French police arrested a man attempting to enter the New York Hotel at Disneyland Paris carrying a suitcase holding two automatic guns; although the situation was not believed to be terrorism-related.

France has remained in a state of high alert — or Vigipirate — since November 13, 2015, when the Paris Attacks began at the Stade de France football stadium before gunmen ravaged the Bataclan and the 10th arrondissement of the capital city, ultimately killing 130 people. Then, on Bastille Day this summer, a truck drove into a crowd on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, killing 86. Sting recently performed a charity concert at the Bataclan, re-opening the theater for the first time.

Get Your WDWNT Swag During Our Black Friday Sale!

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

Don’t spend all day waiting in long lines at the mall!  Check off lots of names on your gift list with one-stop shopping during our Black Friday Sale at the WDWNT store on TeePublic. We were so excited for this sale that we put together a commercial featuring some of our designs…

Our most popular design is the “Make the Movie Ride Great Again” shirt.

"Make the Movie Ride Great Again" T-Shirt

“Make the Movie Ride Great Again” T-Shirt from WDWNT

Our newest design is the “Save the Dinos” shirt.

WDWNT "Save the Dinos" T-Shirt

“Save the Dinos” T-Shirt from WDWNT

In addition to our newest offering, you can actually pick up any of the shirts in our store for just $14.00 each. Even better, every purchase you make helps keep WDWNT.com going and supports all of the great coverage we provide every single day. Gear up with stylish Disney fan apparel while supporting the Worldwide Leader in Disney Parks News? DOES IT GET ANY BETTER? Actually it does, when you get complimented on wearing these amazing shirts at the parks…

The sale ends Friday at midnight EST, so don’t delay!  Get your WDWNT gear now! And in case you haven’t seen some of our other recent shirts, check out these beauties:

WDW News Today 9th Anniversary Shirt

WDW News Today 9th Anniversary Shirt

California Bears Shirt

California Bears Shirt

Hollywood Studios Hardhats Shirt

Hollywood Studios Hardhats Shirt

Seven Test Track Tribute Shirt

“Seven?!?” Test Track Tribute Shirt

REVIEW, PHOTOS, VIDEO: Watch Us Order and Eat the First Bus Stop Pizza at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on November 29, 2016

We broke the news on Wednesday evening that the All-Star Movies and Music Resorts at Walt Disney World were going to start selling pizza inside their respective bus loops, just outside of the hotels. Upon hearing this news, myself and Josh of EasyWDW.com decided we needed to go over to the resort and see exactly what was going on.

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As we pulled into the resort, we could see what appeared to be a green shed out in the bus loop area. We said that this surely couldn’t be it. But it was… it was…

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While advertised to be open from 7-10pm nightly starting this past Wednesday evening, when we arrived after 8pm, the old Food and Wine Festival booth was still shuttered.

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A selection of bottled and canned beverages are available for your convenience.

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The menu is very short, but serves a good purpose for those returning from a day at the parks. If they are hungry, they can stop here and avoid the hustle and bustle of the interior food court.

I felt the need to document such an important moment in the history of the Walt Disney World Resort (once the booth finally did open), so here is video of Josh purchasing the first-ever “bus loop pizza” ever at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort:

Pepperoni Pizza from Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort – World Premiere Express ($15.49)

Pepperoni Pizza from Disney's All-Star Movies Resort - World Premiere Express ($15.49)

Pepperoni Pizza from Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort – World Premiere Express ($15.49)

For $15.49, this really isn’t a terrible value. The pizza is of a very good size and can feed at least 4 people. Considering what people pay for an individual pizza at the park counter service restaurants, this is quite the bargain. To my surprise, it wasn’t too awful in taste either. It reminded me a lot of a Pizza Hut pizza, which is just fine when it comes to counter service pies.

While I know this comes at a time where we see Disney trying to squeeze every last penny out of the guests visiting, this one is actually a good idea and a nice service to the tired guests coming home from a full day of theme park fun. I wanted to hate this, I wanted to poke more fun at it, but I honestly can not. It wasn’t the best pizza in the world, and honestly, I’m not sure that’s what you are looking for at 9PM as you carry your kids off of the motor coach. If you’re hungry on the way home to the All-Star Resorts, this is a viable option for a quick dinner for you and your family.