NOINDEX – Page 445 – WDWNT Archive

Dirk Wallen’s 6/29/13 Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney over the weekend to check the progress on the Disney Springs makeover currently in the earliest stages. Let’s take a look at the progress thus far:

The taco truck is still out by Fulton’s Crab House

Pleasure Island is now mostly covered in construction walls

There are new walls in the same spot as the old ones at the former Rock ‘N’ Roll Beach Club site

Walls now up across from Paradiso 37

Curl has finally moved next to Splitsville on the West Side

The Comedy Warehouse side is completely walled off

Still no walls up at the former Adventurer’s Club

There are some walls up at the very edge of the West Side

No visible progress yet, but things are about to get interesting!

New Look for Buena Vista Street Merchandise at Disney California Adventure Park

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

Barely shy of it’s one year birthday, we know Buena Vista Street is home to unique shops and merchandise. Disney has now announced new Buena Vista themed products coming this month.

Were you a fan of the Buena Vista Street-inspired merchandise created in celebration of the opening last year? If so, and you are looking to update your wardrobe, there are new collections on the horizon. Here’s your first look at some of the new art that will appear on an array of merchandise including tees, fleece, hats, drinkware, pins, souvenirs and more.

If you are looking for summer wear for the kids, then be sure to pick up this Oswald youth tee.

Look for this new collection to debut in July at Elias & Co. atDisney California Adventure park, among other select locations.

Photo reports will make an appearance as soon as the new merchandise does, so stay tuned!

Tom Corless’ 6/27-7/1/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

I managed to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Grand Floridian, and the Magic Kingdom over the last week and took plenty of newsworthy photos to share, so let’s take a look at what’s new at the Walt Disney World Resort:

A new purchase-with-purchase bag is available

FastPass+ entrance at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

MagicBand accessories can also be found at Animal Kingdom Lodge

They have Incredibles MagicBandits

Moat exciting has to be the appearance of Star Wars CoverBands

There are also a few MagicBand t-shirts available

The new seasonal line of Beautifully Disney has been released

Moving to Animal Kingdom, we found some Monsters University school supplies for sale

Construction continues on the new theater for Festival of the Lion King in Africa

There are now stand-by and FastPass+ signs at Finding Nemo: The Musical

New Sorcerer Mickey iPhone 5 case

While the real sign has still not arrived, this temporary sign shows us artwork for what the real Adventurers Outpost sign will look like

Lone Ranger and Tonto Vinylmation for sale

The Grand Floridian gave out 25th anniversary buttons on July 1st

Some new novelty sunglasses are being sold at the Magic Kingdom

I really love these Goofy ones

Princess shades are neat too

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Tim Alcoser’s 7/4/13 Disneyland 4th of July Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

Disneyland News Today Reporter Tim Alcoser was at Disneyland for the Fourth of July and was able to attend events featuring the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band and fireworks.

Another beautiful day in Anaheim.

Over to Disneyland.

Notice the America Sings characters.

Crowds gathered early for a chance to see the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band.

You never know who is going to show up and where at Disneyland. Like Mickey…

…or Princesses…

…with young fans in tow.

The stage is set for the special 4th of July Flag Retreat Ceremony.

Marine Band makes it’s entrance.

A female Staff Sergeant led the band.

The All-American College band did not participate, but got to enjoy the entire performance.

A well used, but well taken care of instrument.

The band ended the ceremony with a March Down Main Street USA.

Over to the stage at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree where the band would play select music.

The scenery in and around Big Thunder Ranch has changed a lot and improved.

Lots of detail.

A Lance Corporal helps set up.

A Gunnery Sergeant narrates the entire performance.

Marine Corps Combat Camera was on scene.

The Staff Sergeant from the flag retreat is back.

The band plays all the tracks from Mary Poppins.

The band changed up the tempo and played select Disney favorites such as “Kiss the girl” and “You got a friend in me”.

A Corporal performs the flute solo to “Stars and Stripes Forever”

The bandstand has been back for several weeks and is very popular.

A few snapshots from Disney’s Celebrate America: A Concert in the Sky!

Heavy crowds before, during and immediately after the show. But not as intense as last year.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PKeFBFhsE8&w=800&h=600]

VIDEO: The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band plays all the music from Mary Poppins.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DrV4YJ_k44&w=800&h=600]

VIDEO: The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band plays “Mahna Mahna” from the Muppets.

Thanks for reading! Have a Happy 4th of July Weekend!

VIDEO: Celebrate America! Fireworks Dazzle Guests on the Seven Seas Lagoon Shore

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

So, the 4th of July was yesterday, but today we wanted to share video of the complete Celebrate America! fireworks show with you. This performance was recorded on July 3rd, 2013 at the Polynesian Resort beach and includes the full perimeter fireworks, so enjoy:

Joe Hogarty’s 7/1/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited the Magic Kingdom on Monday to mark the start of Independence Week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

Still not much to see at Princess Fairytale Hall

Work rapidly continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

More and more rock work going up

Rumors indicate that Triton’s Treasures will also include a very small food service location

This side is still mostly steel

A FastPass+ sign was added at the Tomorrowland Speedway

Here are some pictures of Celebrate America! fireworks

Happy 1st of July!!!

New Mickey Video Website and App

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

Are you a fan of Mickey Mouse? If you are reading this blog, I will go ahead and assume that you are. This past week Disney announced a new website and mobile app featuring both new and classic Mickey Mouse shorts.

Both the app and the website are nicely laid out and are easy to navigate. New shorts are prominently featured, or you can browse by selecting from the featured characters (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Daisy and Goofy) to see videos featuring that character. The one complaint I do have about the app on the iPhone is that it is a little to easy to accidentally play a video while scrolling through the list.

The new shorts are currently being released weekly, first on the Disney Channel, then on the website and in the app. The cartoons draw their inspiration from the more slapstick and zany era of the early Mickey Mouse cartoons, while taking place in modern settings. I particularly enjoyed New York Weenie, which takes place in Central Park in New York City (where I happen to live), and Croissant de Triomphe, which takes place in Paris (where I recently spent my Honeymoon). Croissant is entirely in French, although even if you do not speak the language, you will likely be able to understand the story.

Some of the classic Mickey cartoons are included as well, such as Mickey and the Seal, On Ice, and Mickey’s Trailer. I must have watched Mickey and the Seal hundreds of times as a child, including while sitting in the lobby of a Disney resort waiting for my parents to check in. Okay, and this past year while standing in the lobby checking myself in.

I am really happy to see the Mickey Mouse cartoons getting featured again. If you have an iOS device, it really is worth downloading this app, especially since it is free. Everyone else can check out the website to get the same content, as well as some flash games based on the new shorts. Enjoy!

WDW News Today Turns 6 Years Old! – July 8th, 2013

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

Every year this Network grows older, we reflect upon the accomplishments, impact, and incredible growth of WDWNT. It has now been 6 years since WDW News Today launched on July 8th, 2007. What was founded on the website you see before you and built on the back of daily news and information about Walt Disney World is now a vibrant collection of websites, podcasts, online radio stations, & more. The last year in particular has been a memorable one, as we finally condensed all of our amazing content into one website at WDWNT.com. We even set new records in traffic for our websites and podcasts this year, as well as brought you the best live coverage of many big events.

In the world of Disney, our sites have covered huge stories such as the re-opening of Test Track at Epcot, the opening of Splitsville at Downtown Disney, and the unveiling of the first pieces of Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland. We even celebrated the 30th anniversary of Epcot along with WDWCelebrations and have continued to present a fascinating series of podcast segments celebrating three decades of the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Tonight, we will continue our annual tradition of presenting a special anniversary edition of WDWNT Live! show on WDWNTunes.com. The show begins at 8PM EST and will last until 11PM EST. During this show, we will be making several major announcements about the future of WDWNT, one of which will forever change the face of our organization forever. We will also be presenting a special edition of WDWNT’s Around the Hub and will be bringing back an old, retired segment from the WDW News Today Podcast for one night only, among a number of surprises. We hope you will join us for that tonight as it is always a very fun event!

On a personal note, the 6 year journey of this website, the podcast, and the entire family of shows and websites that make up WDWNT has been the greatest experience of my life. I’d like to thank the incredible volunteer staff of over 50 people that have worked tirelessly to get us where we are today and the loyal readers & listeners who are to thank for our great success. This journey finally led me to Orlando and the dream life of living near Walt Disney World this year, for which I am eternally grateful to the entity I created. I am very proud of what we have accomplished in the last 6 years and amazed at where it has taken me today. I’m looking forward to many more years of “Bridging the Gaps Between You and the Disney World”.

Tom Corless
CEO & Founder of the WDW News Today

Behind the Wall: Update on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland Park

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

The long-running refurbishment still continues on Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland Park, but everything is looking on schedule. The Disney Parks Blog updated us with a few tidbits:

Work continues behind that tall, wooden fence in Frontierland at Disneyland park, as the major refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad nears its fall 2013 completion. Today, I’m excited to take you behind the walls for a peek at the progress so far!

Disneyland Chief Photographer Paul Hiffmeyer had the opportunity to check in on Rainbow Ridge Mining Town last week, and brought back the shots above. As we told you back in January, this classic piece of the attraction has also received a major refurbishment, and you can see in the photos above that great care is being taken in the Rainbow Ridge restoration.

Elsewhere on the mountain, the new track has been laid and is in the process of being fully completed. Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog; we’ll continue to bring you updates leading up to the reopening of the “wildest ride in the wilderness” in just a few months!

Big Thunder Mountain is currently the only major attraction that is down at the Disneyland Resort at the moment. It will be up and running again by the fall.

Dirk Wallen’s 7/4-7/6/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Walt Disney World theme parks over the holiday weekend and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The Villas at the Grand Floridian as seen from across the lagoon

The awnings for the third Magic Kingdom bus loop are being assembled

Plenty of Fourth of July goodies were available this week

Apparently if Buzz Lightyear breaks at Space Ranger Spin, there is a big curtain to cover him up

Still no visible progress on Princess Fairytale Hall

On the Fourth of July, the Voices of Liberty had their special performances at the America Gardens Theater

Chip and Dale were out in some patriotic attire

You can buy Tour De France merchandise at the France pavilion right now

Work continues on Spice Road Table in Morocco

A look from the other side as construction has gone vertical

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner has some food cones similar to Cars Land… although we haven’t heard anything good about them…