Disney World Possibly Adding New Resort Room Features: Fireworks Live Stream, PhotoPass Display, Interactive Movies, ETC.

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

In an interesting new survey, Walt Disney World is asking guests about their interest in some interactive features that could be added to their Disney Resort room to make the experience more immersive.

width=

In the survey, Disney asks for feedback on some possible new features such as:

  • A welcome sequence where curtains will open, lights turn on slowly, music plays, and a custom welcome message with your FastPass+ plans for the day appears on the TV.
  • A brief animated video featuring a character of your choice welcoming you to the resort, playing on a screen themed to look like a picture frame.
  • Immersive on-demand movies with choices based on your FastPass+ reservations. Color-changing light bulbs and a star projector would be used to create an experience themed to each movie.
  • Live feed of nighttime spectaculars, bringing live video feeds of the park nighttime spectaculars synchronized to the show’s music to your resort TV.
  • Your PhotoPass pictures from the day displayed on your resort TV.

As always with a survey, some of this may never happen, but it is also just as possible that some of these features will be added to resort room experiences at Walt Disney World in the not-too-distant future.

What do you think? Would you enjoy any of these features?

Thanks to reader Dan for the photo above!

Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Closed for Several Weeks Starting Today

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

The Summer Course at Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf will be closed from October 9th through October 23rd, 2017 for refurbishment. Both courses (both the Summer and Winter) will be closed from October 23rd through November 10th, 2017, reopening on November 11th.
width=
During the refurbishment, the carpet of both courses will be replaced, and some of the props seen around the courses will be repainted or replaced.

Mobile Ordering Expands to Sunshine Seasons at Epcot This Week

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

On the heels of the successful rollout at many other restaurants, Walt Disney World will expand the Mobile Order program through the MyDisneyExperience app to Sunshine Seasons inside of The Land pavilion at Epcot starting October 10th.

width=

The mobile ordering program allows guests to order at Disney counter service restaurants from their mobile devices and then pick-up the order when they are ready to eat. Check out our comprehensive review of the service to see how it works.

SHOP NOW: Splash Mountain 25th, A Bug’s Land 15th Anniversary Limited Release T-Shirts

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

Shop Disney has released two new attraction anniversary shirts today. The first shirt is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, while the second shirt is celebrating the 15th anniversary of A Bug’s Land at California Adventure.

 

width=

Splash Mountain 25th Anniversary T-Shirt – $27.99

width=

A Bug’s Land 15th Anniversary T-Shirt – $27.99

Just click on the shirts to buy them now!

Save

Save

REVIEW: New “Italian Trio” at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

Every week on WDW News Tonight, we poke a fair amount of fun at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom. Is it warranted? Well, yeah. So why would I keep going back? Tradition. My family has been eating at Tony’s for as long as I can remember. You have to remember that many years ago, there wasn’t a whole lot of options at the Magic Kingdom for table service and Tony’s was actually one of the better ones, comparably at least. However, the Magic Kingdom dining renaissance of the last few years has left Tony’s low on the totem pole, but it remains a popular mainstay of the park with many tourists feeling comfortable with “Italian cuisine”.

Let’s start with something positive, the new menu design.

width=

The new menu features the window designs with Lady and the Tramp from the exterior of the restaurant.

width=

The alcohol menu is now inside the folding version of the menu.

width=

New to the menu is the Italian Trio, essentially a “Taste of Tony’s” dish. More on that later…

width=

The back of the menu is pretty adorable.

Italian Trio ($32)

width=

Italian Trio ($32)

Including the Chicken Parmigiana, Baked Rigatoni, and Fettuccine Alfredo, this dish is perfect for the guest who isn’t sure what kind of stomach pain they want to have after the meal.

Honestly, I don’t think the Fettuccine Alfredo is that bad, and if it wasn’t for the tomato sauce, the chicken is a healthy and well-cooked piece. The big issue I have is the baked rigatoni, which is nearly inedible. Again, the red sauce was pretty awful, and it tasted as if it had been blasted with pounds of black pepper.

Tony’s doesn’t offer an authentic Italian meal and it never has, but I can at least appreciate when the American version of Italian cuisine could be enjoyable, and I think the fettuccine is one of those items. Personally, I like to order the Chicken Parmigiana with the Alfredo sauce instead of the red tomato sauce, because I think it allows you to enjoy what I think is a pretty solid piece of chicken that could benefit from not being sold at Tony’s.

width=

My special order, the chicken with the Alfredo sauce, rather than Parmigiana

Overall, I’m not going to recommend dining at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom, because I can’t in good conscience do that. That being said, it’s not impossible to have an okay meal here, but why settle for OK in a park the offers Skipper Canteen, and I’d even say Be Our Guest and Liberty Tree Tavern while we’re at it.

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

VIDEO: Meet Thor’s Newest Villain Hela In This New Featurette From “Thor: Raganarok”

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

width=

Find out what goes into making a great villain with a telling look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first female villain—Hela, played by Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett—in “Hela Good,” a video featurette now available to share with your readers!

In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!

“Thor: Ragnarok” is directed by Taika Waititi and returns Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor and Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins.

Kevin Feige is producing with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Eric Pearson and Craig Kyle & Christopher L. Yost wrote the screenplay.  Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok” thunders into U.S. theaters on November 3, 2017.

Source: Marvel

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Canyon Fire 2 Smoke Creates Nightmarish Sky Over Disneyland

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

Due to the Canyon Fire 2 that broke out over in Anaheim Hills it looks like some unintentionally added Halloween theming has made its way to the Disneyland Resort, thanks to the smoke and ash from the fire.

The fire made its way throughout the surrounding area in the hours following the breakout. Guests in Disneyland and at Disney’s California Adventure took to social media to post pictures and videos of the effects of the smoke.

Not only did the sky turn orange and fill with smoke, but guests also reported that ash had been falling.

At this point there are no reports of any ride closures. It seems that the fire did not effect operations at either of the two parks.

Today Marks the End of the Siemens & Disney Parks Sponsorship, Attractions Left Sponsor-less

WDWNT on October 13, 2017

Today, the “strategic partnership” between Siemens and the Walt Disney Company comes to an end officially. Siemens has released a statement summarizing the twelve years of the deal coming to a conclusion today:

width=

When Siemens and Disney began to explore the mutual benefits and opportunities of forming one of the largest marketing alliances in the technology sector for the entertainment space, it was a natural fit. The two organizations have many share values such as Innovation, Service, and Quality as well as a worldwide brand presence. Since 2005, the opportunities to leverage this technology alliance extended across The Walt Disney Company including theme parks and resorts, studios, networks, publishing, and digital. On October 10, 2017, the Siemens-Disney Alliance reached a mutually agreed upon conclusion.

Sponsorship Activation Timeline:

  • October 2005 Siemens US and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Sign 12-year agreement
  • October 2005 ABC SuperSign at Times Square, presented by Siemens
  • October 2005 IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot, presented by Sylvania, A Siemens Company [July 2013, presented by Siemens]
  • November 2005 Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney Hollywood Studios, presented by Sylvania, A Siemens Company [November 2013 – 15, presented by Siemens]
  • January 2006 – April 2010 Disney’s Electrical Parade at Disney California Adventure, presented by Sylvania, a Siemens Company
  • January 2006 – November 2008 Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams at Disneyland, presented by Sylvania, A Siemens Company
  • May 2007 Siemens VIP Center at Epcot Opens [private executive meeting and guest lounge]
  • February 2008 Spaceship Earth, presented by Siemens
  • March 2008 Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future at Epcot, presented by Siemens
  • April 2008 – March 2015 Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future at Disneyland Innoventions, presented by Siemens
  • November 2010 it’s a small world at Disneyland, presented by Sylvania, A Siemens Company [August 2013, presented by Siemens]

About Siemens USA

Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of systems for power generation and transmission as well as medical diagnosis. With approximately 351,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $88.1 billion in fiscal 2016. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $23.7 billion, including $5.4 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Siemens technology was also used to create several new theme park attractions, including Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land.