We have over 400 photos coming up shortly, but first enjoy this video of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid from the soft opening of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom earlier today:
If you missed Epcot’s 30th anniversary or you just want to relive the awesomeness of that day again, we have some videos you should really enjoy. First up is the 30th Anniversary moment that was held in the America Gardens Theater in it’s entirety:
Finally, we have the Epcot 30th Anniversary tag to Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. This is what took the longest as we edited together two angles and added the source music to the audio. We wanted to do it right, so enjoy the show:
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth has been all over the Disney Parks this weekend. Here are some assorted photos (that don’t include his 400 from New Fantasyland) he took at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot:
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts available at Sir Mickey’s
Work continues on the restrooms going in at the old Skyway site
Yankee Trader still behind tarps
Weird…
Rock-work appearing
FastPass Plus still installed at Haunted Mansion
The Magic Kingdom is getting ready for RFID park entry
We believe that the purpose of the steel truss at the park entrance is a test for a new possible exit
Cast members have been routing guests leaving the park through wider gates in the center and counting off the guests exiting
A weird test, but they want to see if it allows better guest flow
The Grand Floridian DVC wing off in the distance
The Magic Kingdom parking entrance has been completely repainted
Looks nice, but the letters are still missing
Moving to Epcot, FastPass Plus installed at Turtle Talk with Crush
FastPass Plus installed for Seas with Nemo and Friends ride
Hops and Barley got a sign to help guests find it
It’s hidden in the back of the American Adventure
Disney Parks wine is celebrating 1 year
Work continues on Test Track
Neat…
We can start to make out changes in the facade
A circular shape is starting to jut out from the existing facade
COOL WASH!
Looks like new banners are about to be hung up on the canopy
Here’s what is left of the Epcot 30th anniversary merchandise
Some work going on in Innoventions central
I don’t think they are taking down the canopy
It doesn’t reach The Electric Umbrella
Kim Possible was here…
Habit Heroes is still closed
FastPass Plus installed at Spaceship Earth
Seems like overkill for a merge point
We end with the friendliest buildings on earth… they share a door…
We know New Fantasyland is stunning during the day, but just wait until you see the incredible lighting and ambiance at night. We take a video tour of New Fantasyland at night, including a look inside the stunning ballroom at the Be Our Guest Restaurant, in our latest video:
If New Fantasyland wasn’t enough reason for you to visit the Walt Disney World Resort in 2013, Disney has announced a new campaign that will supposedly make every week of next year very special:
Regular Blog readers already know that next year is a momentous year – with New Fantasyland, the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history at Walt Disney World Resort and the first full year of a re-imagined Disney California Adventure park. And now, we’re adding “Limited Time Magic,” featuring unexpected experiences with an extra sprinkle of Pixie Dust at Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort that’ll appear, and then disappear when the next debuts.
So, what can you expect with “Limited Time Magic” at Disney Parks when it begins in January? Here’s an idea:
- True Love: Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine’s Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine’s collectibles will be offered for the week.
- Independence Week: It’s red, white and blue as Disney Parks salutes America with a 4th of July Fireworks Party — for an entire week, with patriotic lighting bathing the Disney castles on both coasts. Mickey Mouse appears in his patriotic finest and guests will find special USA shirts, Ear Hats and other limited-edition souvenirs.
- Long Lost Friends Week: Lesser-known Disney characters will move from the shadows to the spotlight meet-and-greets on both coasts. Photo opps with characters that could include Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will surprise and delight guests. And Disney guests even have the chance to vote online for which characters they want to see.
- Pirate Week: Why talk like a pirate one day when you could celebrate these scalawags all week long? The adventures of Jack Sparrow come to life like never before during a bicoastal buccaneer bash in which Disneyland and Walt Disney World become pirate-palooza: pirate bands, pirate meet-and-greets and more.
- Dapper Dans Sing Boy Bands: The Dapper Dans, the iconic quartet from Main Street, U.S.A., will add a special finale to their show, claiming the title of the “Original Boy Band” and delivering a medley of hits from One Direction, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
- Unleash the Villains: Friday the 13th in September 2013 is a special day, so Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are staying open until the 13th hour (1 a.m.). Maleficent, Captain Hook, Jafar and other Disney Villains host a dance party, complete with limited-edition collectibles and other nighttime mischief.
- Golden Horseshoe Revue: The fabled Frontierland show returns to Disneyland park for one month only, bringing back the corny jokes and enduring songs that were often enjoyed by Walt Disney himself.
We’ll be rolling out new experiences to begin the new year, so be sure and check the Disney Parks Blog in upcoming months to learn what’s happening. Also, you can learn more and follow along on Twitter by following @DisneyParks and using the hashtag #LimitedTimeMagic.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom again on Monday and has some photos of New Fantasyland and other assorted newsworthy items to share:
The castle walls have been completely revealed
No bushes now
Scuttle is a living character in the Under the Sea queue, so he can interact with guests
He also talks to the crabs
Sleepy…
We think these crabs are going to become beloved
We have to stop here…
PORK SHANK!
and some LeFou’s Brew
Souvenir mug
Still awesome
Yep…
There are books titled for the land in the Magic Kingdom next to the Donald service statue
Some Haunted Mansion wallpaper in the background as well
I don’t think Phil Holmes asked for the tribute, I’m pretty sure it was just a gesture from the Imagineers
This is the souvenir goblet that will also be available at Be Our Guest Restaurant
A lot of decorations in this store
Some work took place of the roof of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train
Gaston greeting guests in the town
Some filming going on
No more walls over here
Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall
A look at progress on the old Skyway site
Ummm…
Castle Dreamlights installed
Orange Bird ear hats available in Adventureland
Work continues outside of Magic Carpets of Aladdin
It’s worth mentioning that this attraction goes down for refurbishment in a few days, at which point we expect FastPass Plus to be installed
Some work has been done to the Pirates of the Caribbean queue over the last few months
Some staircases were refurbished
New lighting all around
The new merge point in place
Some work still being done
It is well-themed. It looks like toe fort was damaged in battle
The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls
Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats is gone
Now just stroller parking
Some work still being done
It is believed this all ties into a Jungle Cruise refurbishment happening in 2013
So, we’ve been staring at this thing a lot…
So, here’s what reader Chris Currie believes it is…
 My guess is it is more for people counting than security. The white rectangular box on the left side is whats called a precision stereo camera and is dedicated to people counting. The second device in from the left is an Axis Dome camera, third device in is an outdoor laser measurement device from SICK AG, another Axis Dome camera and then another box style camera.
The two dome cameras are likely used for verifying the data from the precision stereo camera and the laser management device. The box style camera could possibly be used to test people counting analytic’s in a Video Management System.
That sounds about right
But no, it has nothing to do with them using RFID for park entry, this is simply an exit test
We’re exiting… goodbye!
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Downtown Disney on Friday and has a few newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip. Let’s take a look:
FOOD TRUCK!
The new Characters in Flight balloon
California Adventure attraction posters are now available through “art on demand” at Art of Disney locations
Wreck-It Ralph merchandise available at World of Disney
A lot of this is stuff you can find at your local Disney Store
The shirt is unique to the parks… wonder if 1982 is an Epcot or Tron reference…
OCTOBERFEST!
Specialty drinks available
It’s “Fall at Downtown Disney”
Irish step-dancers are out by Raglan Road
It’s Fall!
More musicians entertain pretzel-filled guests
Recycled Not-So-Scary decorations all around
Adam sees seafood
Adam has an unnatural obsession with seafood…
See…
These food movie posters are pretty comical
My personal favorite
At the very end of this video of the Parks Blog meet-up from this weekend, you can catch a quick glimpse of the Wreck-It Ralph character that will be greeting guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting in November:
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen did some park hopping this weekend, so let’s take a look at some newsworthy photos from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction
Princess Fairytale Hall
Work continues on the upper-level of Village Haus
Work continues on the new restrooms coming to the former Skyway site
Modifications are taking place at “it’s a small world” related to new guest flow for when stroller parking once again moves next door at the old Skyway site
More metal guardrails are being installed on the Tomorrowland bridges
Magic Carpets of Aladdin is closed for refurbishment
Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing
EVEN THE WALLS HAVE WALLS!
Moving to Epcot, work continues on in Innoventions central
Still nothing up on the canopy at Test Track
Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the facade of Legend of Jack Sparrow is looking much better than when we first checked in
A large mural of the circular map from “At World’s End” covers most of the soundstage
Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope will start greeting guests on October 28th
AWESOME
Guests can color while the meet and greet is being installed
Plenty of Wreck-It Ralph merchandise available at Mickey’s of Hollywood
children’s shirt
Most of this stuff can be picked up at your local Disney Store
Scented plush
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding resorts on Monday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Work continues on RFID turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom
Walls up on the other side too
Holy…
That’s more like it…
That isn’t Osh Popham…
These “black and white” plush have been out for a few months now
We look at Wreck-It Ralph stuff for the 40th time
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts are selling well
Still gross…
Wow…
Magic Carpets of Aladdin closed for refurbishment
A lot of guests want to see mermaids!
Walls still up at the Crow’s Nest
Golden Oak Outpost closed
I’d rather not…
This would be why
Holy lines Batman
You know what doesn’t have lines?
The new, shorter Country Bear Jamboree!
It will never break 12 again…
Lobby wasn’t touched
The theater is another story
New lighting is quite noticeable
These guys look brand new
All of the bears got new fur and clothing
They look incredible
The bad part of all this is the cutting of much of the show
The Five Bear Rugs no longer sing “Devilish Mary”
“Fractured Folk Song” was also cut, then the song order was changed as well
Lines from some songs were even cut
HE LOOKS AWESOME!
A lot of dialogue was cut as well…
It’s great that the attraction was completely restored, but it’s a shame we had to lose so much of it
The Gaston’s Tavern mugs are being repurposed at Sleepy Hollow
I think it’s a neat idea
Work continues on the new restrooms on the former Skyway site
There’s a chimney
The construction walls now extend to the “it’s a small world” exit tarps
Tarps still up at Village Haus
Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction
Cast Member previews are currently taking place
Guests are confused! EVERYONE SAID IT WAS OPEN!
I hope something will be done with pavement land at some point
Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall
The exit test is still happening
Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC addition
A beautiful sight at your wedding!
The parking lot is just about finished
Let’s head over to the Polynesian
RFID is in full use over here
Let’s go shopping
A lot of the 40th anniversary merchandise has been rebranded
Toothpick holders!
Let’s go eat
BACON CUPCAKES!
IT’S BACON! Well, not completely…
Adam had to get one…
A nice secluded spot to enjoy a Dole float
A look across the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian DVC
We have our first wall
I think it will blend nicely
