TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (4/27/16) – A Celebration of Hollywood Studios, A New Game, Saving Money at WDW, & More!

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, we play the “Choose-Your-Own” Hollywood Adventure Game, we interview an author on how to save money at Disney World, and we celebrate 27 years of Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

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WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, former hosts of WDW News Today: The Radio Show, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to AM 1520 WBZW at showtime. For those outside the Orlando area, the show can be heard (and now watched via video stream) at Listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. The show also utilizes new interactive avenues for our audience, including a live chat, the ability to call-in to the show, and live polling.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • Tom and Nick are Angry About Things
  • PROVE ME WRONG! with Tom Corless
  • Interview with Kevin Barry, Author of “The Ultimate Guide to an Affordable Walt Disney World Vacation”
  • An in-depth discussion about Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • Flashback to the Future – It Never Happened: The Disney Decade at the Disney-MGM Studios
  • The “Choose-Your-Own” Hollywood Adventure Game, featuring prizes from Theme Park Connection
  • And much more!

We hope that you will tune in this Wednesday at 9PM ET for another episode of WDW News Tonight!

If you missed last week’s show, you can watch it here:

Disney After Hours Event Now Discounted for Annual Passholders and DVC Members

Disney After Hours, the controversial hard-ticket event at the Magic Kingdom we broke the story on a few weeks ago, doesn’t seem to be doing quite as well as Walt Disney World would have hoped. In an effort to increase sales for the event, Disney is now offering 50% off tickets for annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club members.

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Disney After Hours takes place on the following dates:

  • Thursday, April 28, 2016 from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM
  • Thursday, May 5, 2016 from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM
  • Sunday, May 8, 2016 from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM
  • Thursday, May 12, 2016 from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM
  • Thursday, May 19, 2016 from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM

Discounted tickets are $75.00 (plus tax). For tickets, call (407) 827-7185 or stop by a ticketing window at Walt Disney World.

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 4/27/16 (New Dessert Party, New Menus, New Merchandise, ETC.)

I visited the Magic Kingdom this past weekend (as well as some of the surrounding resorts), so let’s see what’s new and exciting in our latest photo report:

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Welcome to the Magic Kingdom

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Tarps up on the facade of the Hall of Presidents

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Heritage House is completely closed now

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A new “same day” dessert party option is available at the Magic Kingdom which gives guests viewing of the show from one of the former FastPass + viewing areas.

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Guests enjoy their food and drinks up here on the second level and then are walked over to the viewing area. This new party is $59 for adults and $35 for children (including tax).

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This is where you can sign up for the same-day dessert party on the day desired.

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Found a new Alice Through the Looking Glass phone case in the Emporium

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Restrooms near City Hall are closed for refurbishment

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Found the variant cover for Haunted Mansion issue #2 at the Contemporary, but they were also at Memento Mori at one point

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We rented a Sea Raycer one day this past weekend and drove past the Wildnerness Lodge DVC expansion construction

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Even though the park wasn’t busy on Sunday, the Main Street Bypass was open during the Festival of Fantasy Parade

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I’m not sure if this is helping in any way, but there are numbers on the ground before you get on the ramp at Peter Pan to help keep parties separated and ready to board…

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The yodeler is missing from “it’s a small world” again, but his audio is playing. I call this the “Phantom Yodeler” effect.

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The personalized goodbye is working on a consistent basis now

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Thankfully, the menu at Diamond Horseshoe has been changed. I will have to go back to see if this is an improvement at all.

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Also found Alice Through the Looking Glass prints on sale at the Art of Disney

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There is a seasonal Donald’s Butt cupcake on sale at the Bakery… it’s a vanilla cupcake

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Some great vintage style albums were recently released at the parks and resorts, found these at Contemporary

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PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 4/29/16 (Circle of Life, Ample Hills Creamery, DVC Lounge, ETC.)

This weekend, I made a quick visit to Epcot and the nearby resorts to see what’s new and exciting, so let’s take a look:

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The Circle of Life is back

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AMD SO IS THE WALL CARPET!!!!

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So, after being closed for two months, nothing was visibly changed. Some have claimed there was a new handicap access ramp installed, but I couldn’t find it. Regardless, nothing that would have taken over two months to complete was actually done.

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Work continues on the new DVC lounge at Imagination, they are now painting

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In MouseGear, there’s a PIXAR display filled with non-PIXAR merchandise

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A Figment MagicBand was released recently

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Took a cruise on a friendship boat

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Over at the Boardwalk, the new Ample Hills Creamery is nearing completion

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Beach Club has some great resort specific merchandise

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PHOTOS: New Details of “Pandora: The World of AVATAR” Shared

Disney today shared new pictures showcasing the incredible details of Pandora – The World of AVATAR, which will come to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2017.

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Imagineer Joe Rohde and Lightstorm Entertainment film producer Jon Landau shared a quick hint at what to expect in the new 12-acre land inspired by James Cameron’s film “AVATAR” during a special presentation at the Walt Disney World Resort recently.

They showed how the land will take on new life at night with bioluminescent flora and special nighttime immersive programming that’ll add a magical touch.

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And how you’ll be transported to the world of Pandora – alive with amazing creatures and “glowing” ground beneath your feet.

You’ll also notice realistic details during your adventures, including special Na’vi artifacts seen throughout the land.

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“We want the world of Pandora to be believable,” Jon said. “When visitors come to Pandora they’ll experience and they’ll believe — and they’ll look at the world a little bit differently.”

Pandora – The World of AVATAR, including the “floating mountains” and attractions coming to the land: AVATAR Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey, will open in 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

VIDEO: Autopia to Feature Honda Vehicles, More Enhancements Coming

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Are you ready to get behind the wheel again at Autopia? When the classic Disneyland park attraction returns tomorrow, April 29, it will be presented by Honda. This alliance brings a whole new look to this longtime guest favorite, with freshly painted cars, losing the “color changing” paint scheme. Check out the video below as we go behind-the-scenes to see how the cars have gotten a new look for their big return to the road.

Disney promises that more changes to the attraction will be rolled out later this year, but they did not say what those are as of yet.

VIDEO: Go Behind The Scenes With “The Making Of The Jungle Book”

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Go behind the scenes with director Jon Favreau and see how The Jungle Book was brought to life with this new tech featurette.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkNArCG80Bg&feature=youtu.be

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the  way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela. “The Jungle Book” seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world.

“The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub raised in the jungle by a family of wolves, who embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery when he’s forced to abandon the only home he’s ever known.

Notes:

  • Neel Sethi, now 12, was selected from thousands of candidates following a worldwide search for the perfect man-cub.
  • The all-star voice cast includes Oscar®-winners Ben Kingsley (“Learning to Drive,” “The Walk”), Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter”), as well as Bill Murray (“Lost in Translation”), Idris Elba (“Star Trek Beyond”), Scarlett Johansson (“Avengers: Age of Ultron”) and Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad’).
  • Rudyard Kipling penned the collection of short stories, “The Jungle Book,” in the early 1890s from his home in Vermont.

5/5/16 Marvel News Mash-Up (Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War News, ETC.)

Robert Downey Jr. Stops By A Children’s Hospital To Brighten Some Fans Day

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Robert Downey Jr. paid a visit to the Great Ormand Street Hospital to meet on of his biggest fans, Ethan Miller (above). Ethan suffers from a rare blood disease as well as Type One Diabetes.

Downey also met with some other young fans that were in the hospital to chat and take photos with them.

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Source: People

Ryan Reynolds Writes Touching Eulogy For His Friend And Fan, Connor McGrath

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Connor Mcgrath, the world’s biggest Deadpool fan, sadly lost his battle with cancer on April 26th. “Deadpool’ star, Ryan Reynolds and Connor bonded over Ryan’s portrayal of “Deadpool”. Ryan visited Connor with a rough cut of the movie making Connor the first person in the world to see the movie before it was released.

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Ryan posted this touching dedication for Connor on Facebook:

For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer… Not sure how… Maybe the cancer cheated… But the fight came to an end two nights ago.

In my wildest dreams, I can’t imagine how hard this is for his parents Kim and Gerald – along with his extended family in Newfoundland.

Connor was 13. But this kid… He was smart. He was funny. And not just funny ‘for a kid’ – or funny ‘for a person battling something awful’. He was unqualified funny. He had that… thing.

That thing you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with.

He went way too early and it’s impossible to reconcile. Connor was a great friend, a great son, and a light to the people lucky enough to know him. While repeatedly punching cancer in the balls, he made everyone laugh. Including the entire staff who cared for him at Edmonton’s Stollery Children’s Hospital.

It was the Make-A-Wish Foundation that brought us together. I can’t thank them enough. Seriously. Thank you. Because of his wish, Connor was the first person to see Deadpool. I traveled up to Edmonton, Alberta to surprise him with a rough cut of the film. There were still huge sections with wires we hadn’t yet painted out, jokes which weren’t working (and still aren’t) and green screens. Connor didn’t seem to mind. And I’d never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson.

***Before you jump down my throat for showing a 13 year old an R-Rated film, please know this kid knew more swear words than a British chef.

I went back to Edmonton 6 weeks later and I wish I could say things were looking up. After my visit, I didn’t know if I was saying goodbye or see ya later. Sitting here now, I realize it was both.

I’m grateful I got to orbit Connor’s world for a brief time. Grateful for the pages and pages of hilarious texts between us. Grateful to his parents for allowing Connor to spend time with a foul-mouthed child in the body of a 39 year old.

I called Connor, “Bubba”. And he called me “Bubba2”. We met because he loved Deadpool. In a certain sense he WAS Deadpool. Or, at least everything Deadpool aspires to be; balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humor in one body. I wish he could’ve stuck around a lot longer.

If you’d like to donate to The Make-A-Wish Foundation, I can pretty much guarantee, your money’s going to a damn good place. These people do not suck. They are heroic. Full stop. https://makeawishna.ca/wishes/donate

My deepest condolences and thanks to Kim, Gerald and the entire clan McGrath — who loved this little boy so very well. And thankfully, Connor knew it.

See ya down the road, Bubba.

– r

Source: Ryan Reynolds via Facebook

How “Batman V Superman” Inspired “Captain America: Civil War”

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This is making the rounds as news but if you have been following the soap opera between Marvel and DC, it was always there.

The Russo Brothers were recently being interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter and here is what they had to say:

For our part, when we finished Winter Soldier two years ago and we were thinking about doing the next one, the only thing that seemed interesting to us was to deconstruct the Marvel Universe — because where else can we go at this point? There have been 11 or 12 movies so far, all with a fairly traditional structure. Our pitch to them was: People will tell you they love chocolate ice cream — until you give it to them five days a week. It’s time to give them some rainbow sherbet. Kevin [Feige] is a maverick and he’s very sensitive to how people are responding to his content. He said he thought we might be right. And after they announced Batman v. Superman, he said, ‘you guys are absolutely right.’ We needed to do something challenging with the material or we were going to start to lose the audience.

Here is how I remember the events that lead to “Batman V Superman” and “Civil War”:

  • During the 2014 Sand Diego Comic Con, director Zack Snyder announced that his sequel to “Man Of Steel” would be “Batman Vs Superman”. No “V” and no “Dawn Of Justice Yet”.
  • A few months later, Marvel announced “Captain America 3” which was originally called “Serpent Society”. Later it was revealed that the tile had changed to “Civil War” and Robert Downey Jr. would be joining the cast.
  • DC originally announces that “Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice” will be released on July 7, 2015 and then changes the date to May 6, 2016. Possibly to avoid “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, which was supposed to originally be released in May of 2015.
  • Marvel decides to take DC on head on and shortly announces that they will be releasing “Captain America: Civil War” on the same day, May 6, 2016, as “Batman V Superman”. Who will win the epic battle of the box office?
  • DC blinks and decides to release “Batman V Superman” on March 25, 2016 in order to avoid any box office battle.

So there you have it. Marvel was confident to take on “Batman Vs Superman” with “Captain America 3” and at the time, I thought they were crazy. But as history will show, “Batman V Superman” got negative reviews and “Civil War” received amazing reviews and a lot of reviewers are calling “Civil War” the best superhero movie ever made. The lesson is don’t bet against Marvel.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

The Russo Brothers Reveal That “Avengers: Infinity War” Will Not Be Subtitled “Part 1” And “Part 2”

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While speaking with Uproxx.com, The Russo Brothers said the following:

I asked the brothers how they decided where to divide the movie – and they said this was a misconception because the two movies are entirely different entities.

“The movies are two very different movies,” answered Joe.

I then asked if it’s misleading having them labeled as “Part 1” and “Part 2”

“It is misleading,” said Anthony.

Joe added, “The intention is we will change it, we just haven’t come up with the titles yet. But, yes, we will change it. And, yes, that is a scoop: we will retitle them.”

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Makes sense. I’m thinking Part 1 will be called “The Infinity Gauntlet” and Part 2 will be called “The Infinity War”. What do you think?

Source: Uproxx

“The Punisher” Gets His Own Series On Netflix

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“The Punisher” will now join the likes of “Daredevil”, “Jessica Jones” “Luke Cage” and “Iron Fist” and have his own Marvel series on Netflix.

From Entertainment Weekly:

It’s official: The Punisher is getting his own TV series.

EW has learned that Marvel has ordered a spin-off starring vigilante character introduced in Daredevil season 2.

Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as vengeful military veteran Frank Castle, who brings his own lethal form of justice to Hell’s Kitchen.

Writer and executive producer Steve Lightfoot (Hanniba, Casualty) will serve as showrunner.

Marvel’sThe Punisher marks the sixth series ordered (so far) as part of the collaboration between Netflix and Marvel Television, including the upcoming Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and the ensemble miniseries The Defenders – along with Jessica Jones and the aforementioned Daredevil. (And in case you’re wondering, as we are, whether Bernthal’s character will also be added to The Defenders lineup, that’s not yet clear – though it seems likely he’ll at least pop in for an appearance.)

Source: Entertainment Weekly

First Look At Finn Jones On The Set Of “Iron Fist”

ComingSoon.com got their hands on some photos of Finn Jones as Danny Rand/Iron Fist on the set of the upcoming Marvel series, “Iron Fist”, which will be available on Netflix.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix's "Iron Fist" on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix’s “Iron Fist” on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

These photos look like Danny Rand being trained in the martial arts of Kung Fu.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix's "Iron Fist" on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix’s “Iron Fist” on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix's "Iron Fist" on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix’s “Iron Fist” on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix's "Iron Fist" on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Finn Jones in the title role of Marvel? Netflix’s “Iron Fist” on April 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Sands/GC Images)

Source: ComingSoon.net

“Spider-Man” Shown In Target Exclusive “Civil War” Playset

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Several Target Exclusive Civil War Playsets have made their way onto Ebay and this appears to be the first actual “Civil War” merchandise to contain the MCU version of “Spider-Man”.

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Spider-Man has mostly been sparse in order to save his debut for the actual “Civil War” movie, but I am sure as the days go by we will see more and more “Spider-Man” merchandise made available.

Source: Ebay, ComicBookMovie.com

That’s it for this time!

“Star Wars Day” Event Announced For Disneyland; “May The Fourth Be With You”

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The Disney Parks Blog just announced some special festivities that will occur at Disneyland on May 4th:

Are you a rebel looking for a place to commemorate May the 4th?

Disneyland park is the place to be on this special day as we celebrate Star Wars! You already know that Tomorrowland is filled with new galactic experiences like Star Wars Launch Bay and Hyperspace Mountain, and now on May 4, 2016, fans can join even more special celebrations!

Head over to Tomorrowland Theater for a special screening of an episode from the hit Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels. In the fan-favorite episode, “Shroud of Darkness,” Kanan, Ezra and Ahsoka return to the Jedi Temple on Lothal to find out how the Inquisitors have continually been able to track the rebels. Seeking the advice of Yoda, voiced by Frank Oz, the three will experience powerful visions that reveal the future, the past and old friends long gone.

Jedi and Sith alike can find special commemorative merchandise and all-new Star Wars collector glasses. And be sure to capture your memories from the day at a unique, themed photo location.

Then the party jumps into lightspeed at 6 p.m. at the Galactic Grill Stage with a fan celebration, where Star Wars trivia and other special surprises will take place throughout the evening.

So join us, you will, for May the 4th and celebrate Star Wars at Disneyland park!

As of now, no event has been announced for Hollywood Studios, but we will inform you if and when they are.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Name and Possible Theme Revealed for New Vacation Club Resort at Wilderness Lodge

You know that new, yet still pretty much unannounced Disney Vacation Club addition coming to Wilderness Lodge? Well, it has a name: Copper Creek Cabins and Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

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What is Copper Creek? It’s a name derived from the Copper River in Alaska which produces salmon that are served for a short period annually at the resort’s Artist Point restaurant. So, if this is to be believed, it sounds like the new cabins and villas will have a bit of an Alaskan theme to them.

Disney is yet to make a formal announcement of the project, but construction has begun at the resort.