It’s the “Summer of Love” for “The Magic, The Memories, and You!”

So, about that romance segment in “The Magic, the Memories, and You” that was ending later this month… it’s not. The romance segment which was added in February will be staying through the entire summer and will be joined by a new unique summer segment. The new summer segment features characters from Phineas and Ferb, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid, as well as Cinderella Castle’s transformation into a giant sand castle.

Concept art for the Cinderella sand castle

The following concept art shows what the show might look like on both Cinderella Castle and on the facade of “it’s a small world”, where it plays at Disneyland

The new version of “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” debuts on May 25th, 2012 at the Magic Kingdom and at Disneyland Park. If you want to check out the romance segment that is already running, here is our video:

Park 11 Set List Revealed

At the release of the first Fantasia combo today at D-Street, Vinylmation Exchange’s Cheryl Harris Kramp snapped a photo of the Park 11 set list.

Of course Park 11 is Disney’s California Adventure themed and we have seen a few of these before, but the new ones are:

Crush from Turtle Talk with Crush. Francis from Francis’s Ladybug Boogie. Jack in the Box for Mad Hat ‘n Beach.. Mickey’s Fun Wheel. And from Cars Land DJ’s Dance ‘n Drive. The Combo Topper is Mickey with a California hat on. He appears to be perhaps a guest at the park? Or someone from the Redwood Creek or Grizzly area?

You can find more info about Park 11 at our explained page.

2012 Tokyo Disney Sea Christmas Vinyls

Thanks to Tomio Keisuke, we have a look at four new 2012 Christmas themed Vinylmation figures that will be released in Japan.

They will be released at Tokyo Disney Sea for 1200 Yen and be made available during their Disney’s Christmas celebration between November 7 – December 25.

In-Depth Look at the Finding Nemo & Cars Wings of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

WDWNT’s own Katey McGregor went on a special tour of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort on Monday and was nice enough to take a number of photos to share with us prior to the resort’s official opening on May 31st:

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Pulling up to the resort

One of the large sketches on the exterior of the main building

A palette of colors dominate the check-in area, while early character concepts cover the opposite wall

An animator at work in the lobby. I hope this is a regular thing and not just something they were doing for the special event…

Wall opposite the front desk, showing concept art for the main characters of all four films. You can even catch a glimpse of British Sabastian!

More concept art from lobby

Some of your favorite characters looked a little different at first

Concept from the four films makes up this awesome lighting fixture- look for the hidden John Lasseter signature :)

Storyboard artwork covers a chandelier

Hidden John Lasseter signature!

This one is actually signed by hand by John Lasseter

Watercolor renderings outside the Ink & Paint Shop

More artwork on another wall

Cars section of food court

Landscapes of Flavor has 4 themed sections like the resort – Cars

Little Mermaid section of food court

The Little Mermaid

Lighting fixture in Little Mermaid section of food court- it's Ariel's treasure cave!

Lighting fixture for the Finding Nemo part of food court

Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo food court section

Lion King section of

Lion King

The Ink and Paint Shop looks ready to go

Front of resort

The back of the Cars wing

Even the staircases are themed to the different films

A glimpse of the Lion King section- you can see Simba on Pride Rock way back there if you look closely

The Lion King section is coming along nicely

Close up of Pride Rock- you can see Simba through the trees

I can kind of see Simba there…

Big Blue- the largest pool at any resort- is to the right

Finding Nemo is ready to open on May 31st

It's the EAC!

The jellyfish spout water

A look inside the rooms

Inscription on Nemo bathroom mirror

Nemo bathrooms designed to look like a submarine!

The bathroom looks like the sunken ship where the sharks live

Shower curtain in other bathroom

Shower curtain

Nemo playground

Squirt’s Righteous Reef

Restroom and Laundry signs made up of little fish

Ha…

Welcome to Radiator Springs!

A little bit of Cars Land in Florida

Sheriff hiding near the billboard as always

A picture with Doc Hudson

The Cadillac Range is on the buildings

Cozy Cone Motel is straight ahead, and the pool is behind it

Some of the town establishments were built

They even have the Cozy Cone sign

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

Guests are staying at the Wheel Well Motel

I didn’t know Luigi sold Lightyear tires

Another building has an entrance through Casa Della Tires

Guido!

The Cozy Cone motel

A look inside the rooms

The TV is on a toolbox

brilliant

The bathroom is a car wash…

Thanks for the report Katey!

Crush and Squirt Pixar Combo to Release in 2013

The Disney Parks Blog posted an article about merchandise related to Finding Nemo at the Art of Animation Resort and in it mentioned the Pixar 1 9″ Crush and 3″ Squirt combo will release in Spring of 2013.

Photo from Disney Parks Blog

The article also said we should see the Pixar Little Green Men and Tuck and Roll LE combos “in the coming months.” The Pixar 1 mystery box set releases on November 16.

Adam Roth’s 5/19-20/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom this past weekend, so let’s take a look at his photos, including an in-depth look at the Fantasyland model now on display at Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream:

Darth Vader cupcake

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Adam had himself frozen in carbonite in the ABC sound Studio, former home of Sounds Dangerous

Pretty neat for $120

Star Wars Weekends merchandise is in the tent behind Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster again, Darth’s Mall

The huge Fantasyland model has moved in at One Man’s Dream

super cool

Princess Fairytale Hall won’t change the exterior of Snow White too much according to the model

A sign explains the model to guests

Some stuff isn’t labeled, like Triton’s Treasures, Ariel’s Grotto, and some minor facilities like restrooms, food stands, etc.

Some interesting points to note from this artwork:

  • Pete’s Silly Sideshow is the entire second tent towards the back and it appears it will remain a meet and greet experience only. We know Goofy should be there, but no other characters have been announced yet.
  • The unlabeled building next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow is probably the Humphrey the Bear counter service location that has been rumored, but again, we have no further confirmation.
  • You can make out the train lines that lead to the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station if you look closely at Storybook Circus.
  • Triton’s Treasures (the Little Mermaid gift shop) does not appear behind the Mine Train anymore, so it may be gone from the plans altogether.
  • The unlabeled building between Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour Village Gifts is a restroom facility.
  • You can see the track layout of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, including when it goes through the show building with the dark-ride type scenes.

So I guess they will be done by 2013 unofficially?

The Mine Train looks pretty awesome

A closer look at the Mine Train track layout

The recent rockwork expansion at Little Mermaid is present

Let’s take a look at the real thing

The two tents are covered

The Circus animals from the Splash ‘N’ Soak Station are peeking over the wall

A wall has appeared near the Silly Sideshow tent

A look over the walls at Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station

A “Brave” New Attraction Comes to Epcot This Summer

From June 1-July 8, Epcot will be home to a special offering called “Brave – The Highland Games Tournament”. Being billed as a “kid-focused offering”, guests will get to play games like Mini Caber Toss, Cake Toss, Haggis Flip and archery. Also included is a small playground and a little something for the parents… FREE WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS!

The event will take place on the Rose Walk (right where Future World blends into World Showcase), from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., daily.

Festival of the Masters 37 Announced

It’s that time of the year again, Festival of the Masters (the 37th!) will be at Downtown Disney Orlando the weekend of November 9th thru the 11th. There’s always lots of artists, lots of LEGO, and more importantly lots of Vinylmation teases and custom artists. We’ll be there to report, but it’s free so if you get a chance, you should drop by!

New November Vinylmation Release Dates

Lots of news today about release dates. Here is all the NEW info from the events page.

At D-Streets:
On October 19th
Park 11 and the Park 11 Combo topper will be released.

On October 26th
Park 11 9″ Grizzly Peak ($44.95) will be released
“Disney-Pixar Toy Story 2” Buzz, Little Green Men, Jessie, and Woody ($12.95 each). I think this is the Japanese Andy’s Drawings ones.

On November 2nd
Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholder Series #3 ($14.95)
Villians Series #3 ($12.95 each)
Disney’s Prep & Landing ($26.95)

On November 16th
Disney-Pixar Series #1 ($12.95 each)
Phineas & Ferb Series, Agent P (we assume the Christmas Tree variant) ($12.95)
In WDW, artist signing with Maria Clapsis, Ron Cohee, and Thomas Scott from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at D-Street.

On November 23rd
Disney-Pixar Series #1, Heimlich Combo Pack ($24.95) (Is this a combo topper?)

At the Disney Stores:
On November 9th
2012 Santa Mickey Mouse ($16.95)

On November 16th
Disney-Pixar Series #1 ($12.95 each)
Fantasia Series #2 – Unicorn and Faun (LE 2,000 $24.95)

On November 23rd
Disney-Pixar Series #1, Heimlich Combo Pack ($24.95)

On November 30th
Phineas & Ferb Series, Agent P ($12.95)
Fantasia Series #2 – Unicorn and Faun (LE 1,500 $24.95)

So first, it looks like there are two possible dates for the 2nd Fantasia Combo Pack, but it is ONLY online. (I’d try the 16th because it’s got the right edition size). Which of these sets are you picking up? Remember that the Classics set also comes out this month. Any one’s wallets feeling a bit thin yet?

LED Lighting Enhancements Added to Journey Into Imagination with Figment

So, while we have been tweeting a lot over the last 10 days or so, Disney’s wonderful wifi at their resorts (Pop Century and Art of Animation) have kept us from posting some news. Apologies for the long gap without stories, but there is about to be a flood of news coming you way over the next week or so starting with this interesting tidbit.

If you thought that Epcot may soon replace the Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction (just now celebrating its tenth anniversary), you may be in for a surprise. Another significant investment in the ride has just been made, this time in the attraction lighting. A few months ago we showed you the installation of new screens and projectors through the ride, but now two scenes have added dramatic LED lighting and effects.

The smell lab scene now changes between two colors before blasting you with an unpleasant odor, while the finale scene becomes a rainbow of rotating colors. I hate to say this, but this makes a dramatic difference. Not only does the finale actually stay completely hidden until the walls explode, but the reveal is actually a “wow” moment. So while no replacement is on the way yet, it’s nice to see time and effort spent on a forgotten attraction. Here’s video of the changes:

So, what do you think?