WDWNT: The Magazine – The “Festival of Fantasy” Heads to Walt Disney World

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

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Since 1971, the Walt Disney World Resort has delighted guests with many memorable parades. Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park is the quintessential home for these theatrical shows which incorporate beloved Disney characters and movies. There have been little-known daytime parades in the past such as the Surprise Celebration, and widely-known night-time parades such as SpectroMagic; each had the responsibility of entertaining Magic Kingdom visitors for their respective periods of time. Now that the most recently running daytime parade, Celebrate a Dream Come True, has ended, its long-anticipated replacement, Festival of Fantasy Parade, is set to make its debut next month.

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Spectro Magic Parade

Many devoted fans of Walt Disney World will argue that the greatest Disney parade of all time was SpectroMagic. This show encompassed all that typically comes to mind when the word “Disney” is mentioned. Full of excitement, sparkling lights, Disney characters, and an enchanting musical score, this adored parade seemed to fit its role perfectly.

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Main Street Electrical Parade

Leaving the Magic Kingdom in 2010 to be replaced by the currently active Main Street Electrical Parade, Disney stated that SpectroMagic would eventually make its return. In the summer of 2013, Disney extinguished any hopes for this parade to once again be a part of the experience of the Magic Kingdom, which shocked its fans. Although the ‘Electrical Parade’ is still greatly loved by guests, it has been unable to reach the extremely high level of success that SpectroMagic attained with guests. Now with the Festival of Fantasy Parade on its way to the Magic Kingdom, one can only wonder if the void left by SpectroMagic will soon be filled.

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Festival of Fantasy will be a daytime spectacular with visually stunning and elaborate floats. Through images and the above video released by Disney, we know that the float designs will include the movies Brave, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Pinocchio. To the delight of the many Frozen fans, characters Anna and Elsa have been announced to be on the “Princess Garden” float.

Given that the Festival of Fantasy Parade is themed according to New Fantasyland, there is limitless creativity to be incorporated in the design of the costumes. New techniques used by the creative costuming team, such as 3D printing and 3D origami, give a unique overall appearance to the performers’ costumes. In comparison to costumes seen in other Walt Disney World parades, the remarkably innovative styles seen in the Festival of Fantasy are unprecedented. This modern look that appears throughout the entertainers’ attire and the floats is similar in style to that of Tokyo Disneyland’s Happiness is Here Parade. The modernization of both parades shows a growing trend in Disney productions to radiate contemporary feelings while simultaneously satisfying audiences by the use of cutting-edge technology and designs.

What has been your favorite Disney parade?  What are you looking forward to seeing in the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade?

Here is a sneak peak that Disney shared with us on the upcoming parade:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AW9w0o7kAM]

 

In memory of a fellow Disney fan and friend, Monique Tartt (1995-2014)

VIDEO & CONCEPT ART: Disneyland Paris Opening Ratatouille Themed-Land in Summer 2014

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

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Disneyland Paris will be unveiling an entire realm of Ratatouille themed fun this summer with Ratatouille The Ride and “Le Bistrot de Remy” restaurant. The area will open inside Walt Disney Studios Paris park near the recently added Toy Story Land and Toon Studio. The attraction’s official name is “Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy” and it allow guests to ride in a rat on a trackless ride system similar to Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland. Guests will enter all of the offerings through “La Place de Remy”, the courtyard area replicating the streets of Paris as seen in the PIXAR film. Check out the teaser video Disneyland Paris put out earlier this week:

It has long been rumored this attraction and restaurant may make their way to Epcot’s France pavilion, but it would appear that this is either still a blue sky idea or cancelled at this point.

PHOTOS: Construction Walls Come Down Revealing Beautiful Scenery of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom last night and found that the walls surrounding the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction along the bridge to Belle’s Village had come down…

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A look at the track

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A beautiful waterfall near the bridge that trains will run across

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As you can see, trains were running as well

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A train speeding by on a banked turn past a waterfall and over a river… I think everyone should be excited about this by now…

CONFIRMED: Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade to End in June

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

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Walt Disney World’s only afternoon parade currently running is going away soon. Entertainers in Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade have been informed that the 13-year-old parade will conclude in June of 2014. Waiting until June would allow time for the new Festival of the Lion King theater to open in Africa, reinstating some of the much needed attraction capacity for the park in preparation for the Summer. We can only assume that either the parade warehouse in the way of construction staging for the AVATAR project or that the parade route will be altered to accommodate the new nighttime show on the way to the park.

The removal of the parade was confirmed by a Disney spokesperson since this story was first run.

“Disney twenty-three” Spring Issue To Celebrate Disney at the 1964 World’s Fair

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

The Spring 2014 issue of Disney twenty-three, the official magazine of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will celebrate Disney’s contributions to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.  The Fair, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, celebrated a time of optimism, growth, and progress, and marked the creation of landmark Disney technology, music, and attractions including it’s a small world, Audio-Animatronics® technology, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and the Carousel of Progress—with its memorable theme song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” The magazine’s writers sat down with several Disney legends responsible for these iconic landmarks including Marty Sklar, Alice Davis, and Bob Gurr. Stunning concept art and rarely seen photography from the Fair complement the stories in this issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23.

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 The Spring issue will also include a look ahead at some of the latest entertainment coming from Disney. Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Kermit the Frog, and Miss Piggy give readers a peek “behind the felt” at Muppets Most Wanted, which opens in March. Chris Evans talks about suiting up once again for April’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Plus, Jonathan Freeman discusses taking his characterization of the villainous Jafar from screen to stage, as Disney Theatrical Productions prepares to open Aladdin on Broadway this March.

Also included in the Spring issue of Disney twenty-three:

  • We celebrate D23’s fifth anniversary with a look at some of the club’s most memorable events
  • “Ask Dave” with Disney Legend and Chief Archivist Emeritus Dave Smith returns to print in the U.S. for the first time in nearly a decade
  • Disney trendsetters are all the rage—and on the page—in “The Hippest Place on Earth”
  • Regular columns including A Walk with Walt, PHOTOfiles, D Society, and more

All D23 Members are invited to visit www.D23.com for additional members-only content, including extended Q&As with Kermit, Fey, Burrell, and the irrepressible Miss Piggy from Muppets Most Wanted.

Other features coming to D23.com include:

  • A closer look at the artwork from it’s a small world’s Tower of the Four Winds at the New York World’s Fair
  • Details on which parts of the World’s Fair attractions made their way to Disneyland
  • A drive though the Ford Magic Skyway, with an extensive photo gallery

Also, D23 Gold Members will receive a reproduction of the “Souvenir Map and Small World Guide” from the centerfold of the commemorative it’s a small world, guide book in the Spring issue

Disney twenty-three is offered exclusively to D23 Gold Members as a benefit of their membership.

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Get Your First Look at Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” Trailer February 18 On “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

The world premiere of the trailer for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC Tuesday, February 18 at 11:35p.m. Eastern Time.

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The movie’s star, Chris Pratt, will help debut the premiere which will also be posted exclusively for 24 hours on on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s YouTube channel. This will be the first opportunity that Marvel fans will have to see the official trailer for the highly-anticipated film, which will be released in theaters on August 1.

Directed by James Gunn and starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel and Benicio Del Toro, Guardians of the Galaxy will expand the Marvel film universe into space, where adventurer Peter Quill finds himself the object of a bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a group of misfits—Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer. When Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand—with the galaxy’s fate in the balance.

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Keep checking WDWNT.com for more Guardians of the Universe news and details.

Dirk Wallen’s 2/17/14 Epcot & Disney Springs Photo Report

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot and Downtown Disney this week and has some newsworthy photos of Walt Disney World to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The Flower and Garden Festival is just a few weeks away

The butterfly garden is starting to rise

The playground near Imagination! is also being set up

Moving to Downtown Disney, work continues on the parking structure

The latest progress on the West Side Starbucks

This crane and construction materials are still mysteriously sitting out by the West Side parking lot and the construction trailers

Not much to see here

It appears that the back of Portobello is being themed to fit in once the new walkway to The Landing (Pleasure Island) opens

Some work happening where the stage is between Fulton’s and Portobello

The latest progress on the Marketplace bridge


Finally we can see some of the framework for the Starbucks in the Marketplace

Say “Aloha” to the Polynesian Resort Lobby, Closes in March 2014 for Renovations

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

A few weeks ago, rumors began circulating that the lobby of Disney’s Polynesian Resort would be forever changed from the look it has now, one it has sported since it opened back in 1971. The huge water feature and somewhat of a mildew smell in the lobby have been staples of Walt Disney World for almost 43 years, but starting next month, it will be erased.

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The project is part of a remodeling of the entire resort taking place between now and the opening of the Disney Vacation Club wing of the resort that will open in 2015. The Wyland Gallery downstairs in the Great Ceremonial House has already closed to make way for expanded dining options (which may include a new restaurant, expanded Captain Cook’s, and maybe even a Dole Whip bar depending on who you ask). The Captain Cook’s counter service restaurant is also set to be closed from March until June of 2014 for major modifications. The Neverland Club, which closed a few weeks ago will reopen in late-April, may re-open as a new food service location as well.

The lobby will be the latest victim, currently slated to go behind work walls sometime in March. in area desks should resemble the podiums at Art of Animation where cast members can walk out from behind them to easily assist guests.

Only time will tell what actually happens and what remains a rumor. We will keep you posted as more becomes available over the coming weeks.

What do you think? Are you sad to see the old lobby go?

WDWNT The Magazine: Dining at Disney with Food Allergies

WDWNT on December 4, 2013

A couple of years ago the unthinkable happened and I discovered that I had a dairy allergy. Food allergies that develop later in life can seem like a death sentence at first, but over time you learn there are still tasty things you can eat and that life will go on.

While I won’t be enjoying a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bar anytime soon, I have come to discover that there are still many treats I can enjoy around property like Pineapple Dole Whips and French Toast Cupcakes. The great thing about Disney is that they go out of their way to accommodate guests with allergies. Now that I am a Disney local I wanted to take some time each month to share with you some of the food options available to you if you have food allergies.

This month I want to begin with a special event that was held at Raglan Road this past weekend. Our friends over at the Gluten Free + Dairy Free WDW Blog hosted a Lunch & Learn at Raglan Road with cookbook author Laurie Sadowski. The event was packed with loads of helpful information as well as getting to enjoy a scrumptious lunch at Raglan Road.

The event started out with a Magners Irish Cider tasting and a chance to mingle with fellow event attendees. It was great to pick up tips from others’ experiences at various restaurants around property. If you have dined on property (whether it be sitdown or counter service) with anyone who has food allergies, you know that a manager or chef will come out to speak with you to discuss your food options. Some places are much more accommodating than others. I have had chefs say they can make me whatever I like off the menu (with some modifications, of course) and others who told me I was limited to a bowl of pasta. So it’s always great to hear from others where they have had the best experience.

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photo 2photo 1The chef spoke with the group first about Raglan Road’s dedication to accommodating allergies. The chef acknowledged that food allergies are becoming more and more common and that, at Raglan Road, they strive to find traditional Irish dishes that are safe for those with food allergies. He also went into a little depth about the food preparation out back. For example, they have dedicated fryers in the kitchen to use for those who have certain allergies.

For lunch, there was a special menu of dairy free and gluten free options provided to us. The menu, as you can see on the left, included Fish & Chips, Butternut Squash Risotto, and a Salmon Salad. I opted for the fish and chips because they are just too delicious to pass up. I have had the regular fish and chips in the past because there is no milk used to bread the fish (the Irish instead opt for beer instead of milk). This is the first time I have ever had the gluten free option and I was surprised to find it just as tasty. As our server pointed out, the gluten free breading makes it extra crunchy! I highly recommend giving them a try next time you are at Downtown Disney.

For the last portion of our Lunch & Learn, Laurie Sadowski spoke about her books and some cooking tips to keep in mind when cooking without flour. I don’t want to give it all away so I recommend you follow the link below and get one of her cookbooks for yourself. Outside of hearing about Sadowski’s books we also got some handouts on cooking with Magners Irish Cider and Mary’s Gone Crackers, two of the event’s sponsors.

While you are waiting for your next trip to the World don’t forget to check out Laurie Sadowski’s allergy free cookbooks. She spoke about some wonderful alternatives to help your baked goods taste just as delectable as those that have gluten, dairy, and other common allergens. I purchased both versions of The Allergy-Free Cookbooks and I am looking forward to baking these recipes! A few of the highlights include: chocolate filled pumpkin cinnamon rolls, coconut pull apart bread, triple chocolate layer cake, and the essential chocolate chip cookie.

Do you also have food allergies? I would love to hear about your experiences dining on property!

REVIEW, VIDEO & PHOTOS: “Glow with the Show” Mouse Ears Debut at Fantasmic! at WDW

WDWNT on December 4, 2013

Last night, Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrated its 15th anniversary with the debut of “glow with the Show” Mouse Ears, an item that illuminates in different ways to interact with and become part of the show. These mouse ears first premiered at Disneyland Resort over a year ago and have been a mediocre success, selling few units while offering such an innovative concept. The hope in Florida is that tourists will be more open to the idea than the local crowd that visits the parks in Anaheim.

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I’m not sure if this will be a regular thing, but there was a cart out full of Glow with the Show ears in the very front of the park as soon as we entered Disney’s Hollywood Studios last night…

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One thing is certain: They are trying really hard to make sure gusts know what “Glow the Show” is and that they go home with them. Window displays in the park featured the items and there were plenty of carts and trucks on the way to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater selling the ears.

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The ears themselves have been modified greatly from the ones you’ll find in California. The troublesome button on the outside of the ears was replaced with a switch on the inside, added cushioning makes the hat more comfortable and keeps it on, and new adjustable strap was a nice touch. Overall, they improved every issue I had with the ear hat in California.

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With tax, the hats are $25.00 still, a good value considering the price of your average ear hat at the parks.

As far as the usage of the ears in Fantasmic! last night, I was very pleased. I never felt like the technology was overused and when the effects were used, it really added something to the show. You can judge for yourself in our shorter highlight video or in our video of the ears through the full show:

As you can see, a fair amount of the crowd had Glow with the Show mouse ears. Now, the entire dining section of the amphitheater was given them for free, but I would estimate that 30-40% of the remaining crowd had purchased them. This is far beyond the response the ears have received at Disneyland, but probably still below the amount Disney would like.

It will be interesting to see as we move forward if guests embrace the technology here in Florida, especially when the ears debut at the Magic Kingdom on Saturday for Wishes! and Celebrate the Magic. Only time will tell.

So, what do you think? Are you going to buy these ears on your next trip?