Tim Alcoser’s 5/22/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Lots of cool stuff happening at the Resort today. We start with Carsland. I was able to catch a live commercial recording of the upcoming Carsland Commercial that will be hitting a local TV station near you soon! I wonder if they were all background actors? They watered down the roadway to make it look more dark for the cameras. There was everything from toddlers in strollers to old couples strolling Route 66. There are also new updates to the Mad T Party. I have to admit, it is looking fairly decent, and Disney has some creative people working on the sets. Moving over to Disneyland, you will see even more Memorial Day decorations, especially on Main Street USA. I take a stroll by Disney-Pixar’s Brave Merida Meet and Greet. Although Merida had packed up and went home for the night, you can see the entire set. They were also testing the new bobsled cars on the Mattehorn today. Also, there are some new pictures of the Monorail and a few extra pics of Pixie Hollow and The Teacups. Enjoy:

Take a good look. This scene is coming to a Disney Resort Carsland Commercial on a TV Station Channel near you!

Take a good look. This scene is coming to a Disney Resort Carsland Commercial on a TV Station Channel near you!

A few remaining columns from Epcot’s World of Motion in the backlot

Interesting...plastic?...uhh...furniture?

Interesting…plastic? Ummm… furniture?

I hope the lanterns are lit up bright.

I hope the lanterns are lit up bright

The inside of one of the lanterns.

The inside of one of the lanterns.

The teacup seems to simply be another space for a band member.

The teacup seems to simply be another space for a band member.

Is this where Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (the bouncers) are going to stand?

Is this where Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (the bouncers) are going to stand?

A scrim was placed over Carnation Cafe as it nears completion

The Brave meet and greet with Merida opened up

The area has been decorated quite a bit

Can you spot the new Matterhorn Coaster cars?

Can you spot the new Matterhorn boblseds?

A shot of the new Monorail updates! Can you guess what the name of this one is?

A shot of one of the new Cars monorails! Can you guess what the name of this one is?

The waterfalls now are basked in a brilliant blue light!

The waterfalls now are basked in a brilliant blue LED light!

Thanks for reading!

Toy Story Photoshoot

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

We can’t believe it took them this long, but the Toy Story figures finally asked for a field trip to ride Toy Story Midway Mania. Austin and I were happy to oblige, and even took a short detour to the All-Star Movie Resort for a look around the Toy Story buildings. I hope you enjoy this photoshoot. Austin provided some captions. I also included some pictures of Buzz and Woody’s trip to Pixar Weekend last spring. As always, more photos on our Facebook page. (also, check out our story on the history of TS Midway Mania and the Park 9 LE figure)

Little Green Man
All Star Movies Resort
“Before they were in Pizza Planet they lived in space.”
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Big Baby
Toy Story Midway Mania
“Be careful because one false moves makes em all fall.”
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Bo Peep
All Star Movies Resort
“We found her sheep!!!”
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Bullseye
Toy Story Midway Mania
“Somebody got into the crayons again.”
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Buttercup
Toy Story Midway Mania
“Where’s the barrel?”
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Buzz Lightyear
All Star Movies Resort
“Is this what all the Buzz is about?”
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Evil Dr. Porkchop
Toy Story Midway Mania
“That’s MR. Evil Doctor Pork Chop to you.”
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Evil Dr. Porkchop
Toy Story Midway Mania
“He’s up to no good.”
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Jessie and Evil Dr. Porkchop
Toy Story Midway Mania
“I knew he’d get caught.”
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Hamm
All Star Movies Resort
“Hope he doesn’t become road bacon.”
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Lotso
Toy Story Midway Mania
“Tomorrowland is that way.”
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Rex
All Star Movies Resort
“He’s hiding because he doesn’t like confrontation.”
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Toy Soldiers
All Star Movies Resort
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Toy Soldiers
All Star Movies Resort
“One of them escaped.”
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Wheezy
Toy Story Midway Mania
“He found some old forgotten toys.”
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Woody
All Star Movies Resort
“Howdy! Howdy! Howdy! I’m Woody!”
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Woody
All Star Movies Resort
“Wonder if we have Andy written on the bottom of OUR feet?”
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Woody and Buzz
All Star Movies Resort
“It is Buzz! Woody was telling the truth!”
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Zurg
All Star Movies Resort
“Look what we found in Andy’s Room.”
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Buzz meets Buzz at Pixar Weekends 2011
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Buzz and Woody at Pixar Weekends 2011
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Epcot’s 30th Pins Preview

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Epcot turns the big three-oh later this fall and I can not wait to see how Disney plans to celebrate. Well, we all know how they plan to celebrate… MERCHANDISE! Maybe we will have a commemorative vinyl? What we do know is there will be pins. Over at Once Upon a Pin you can see the latest previews from last Friday’s WDW Trade Night. There was a ton of buzz surrounding the Epcot stuff.

First and foremost, this retro lanyard. There will also be a 10 pin mystery box series featuring Figment.

See the entire preview at OnceUponAPin.com and hear all about it later this week on the Once Upon a Pin podcast.

Fully Unveiled Carthay Circle Theatre @ DCA

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

From Erin Glover of Disney Parks Blog:

This morning, Disney California Adventure park guests were greeted with a long-awaited sight: the walls that have surrounded Carthay Circle Theatre as it has risen from the south end of Buena Vista Street have finally come down!Paul Hiffmeyer was there, and has brought us the image above, showing the new park icon as guests saw it this morning. Beautiful, right?

Keep checking the Disney Parks Blog to see what else will be revealed at Disney California Adventure park as we get closer to the June 15 Grand Reopening!

“The Magic, the Memories, and You!” New Images

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

From Shawn Slater of Disney Parks Blog:

They say, “Time flies when you’re having fun!”

Well, I can tell you that working with the Creative Entertainment team at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is an absolute blast! I can hardly believe it’s Memorial Day weekend already. That means summer is here, and it’s time for another update to our award-winning projection show, “The Magic, The Memories and You!”

“The Magic, The Memories and You!” was introduced early last year as part of our “Let the Memories Begin” campaign. It takes place nightly, magically transforming the facades of “it’s a small world” at Disneyland park andCinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park and incorporating Disney PhotoPass images of our guests that day making memories. Throughout the year, the creative team has introduced various seasonal enhancements to the show, and for the sequence being added to the show this summer, they’ve really outdone themselves!

“Producers storyboarded the show as if it were a short animated film,” explains Disneyland Resort Creative Director Alan Bruun. “They weaved music, story, photography, video and animation into a new kind of nighttime entertainment.”

During the new sequence, “it’s a small world” becomes everything from a sandcastle to an ancient, vine-covered ruin. Cinderella Castle undergoes similar transformations, “dancing” along to the beat at one point in the show and becoming finger-painted in the style of artist Peter Max during another.

Popular Disney characters show up along the way, too. Look for Goofy surfing and water-skiing across the facades, Timon and Pumbaa singing “Hakuna Matata,” and Ariel and Sebastian’s “hot crustacean band” jamming under the sea. There’s even a cameo appearance by the ultimate boys of summer, Phineas and Ferb.

The new sequence becomes part of “The Magic, The Memories and You!” on May 25, along with many of the most popular, continuing segments of the show. In fact, fans of the “romance” enhancement added in February will be pleased to know it’s slated to continue running throughout the summer, as well.

Vampire Goofy and Werewolf Pluto

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Today the vinylmation blog posted the second set in the Spooky Series. Last year’s Frankenstein Mickey and Minnie are followed up this year by a Vampire Goofy and Werewolf Pluto. Because of the 1 we saw on the set last year, we knew there was more coming, and this set is amazing. First off the neck and the cape! Then, the artwork and designs are just perfect. This set will be in Disney Stores on August 20th and will cost $26.95.

What do you think of it? Will you get it?

McQueen & Mater visit Cars Land

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

From Paul Hiffmeyer of Disney Parks Blog:

Continuing my Cars Land road trip with Lightning and Mater, I caught up with them over by Radiator Springs Racers. This stretch of road has one of the best views of Ornament Valley – and it’s a great place to set a spell and watch some racing.

Then I caught up with Mater outside Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree where I think he had hoped to find a hidden Mickey, but apparently he never saw one. Oh well. Keep looking, Mater.

Frankenweenie Vinyl(mation?) at Comic Con

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Has Tim Burton changed the face of Vinylmation? At Comic Con, guests will be able to purchase an LE 1000 Disney vinyl collectible for $40 based on his upcoming movie Frankenweenie.

Represented is Sparky-Saurus, Victor’s dog in the movie. The interesting thing about this is by all accounts, they are calling this a “Vinylmation.” Most articles and press releases use the word Vinylmation either in the title of what this is or the article/description itself. Sure we have seen a ton of different molds by now, but this would be a complete departure… a figure that comes on a vinyl display stand and background. We contacted Disney and I guess time will tell (once we see the packaging) if this is a true Vinylmation and therefore a sign of things to come. I wouldn’t mind seeing “sets” packaged as Vinylmation. Such as a Park Starz 3 pack with a vinyl ride vehicle. How about Brer Bear, Fox and Rabbit with a model of Splash Mountain to place behind them?

Max Guggenheim 5/26/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Max gets some shots of the progress on Matterhorn, Buena Vista Street, and Cars Land. We also get to see the new Mad T Party Merchandise, stunning shots of Carthay Circle Theatre & the new fountain. As we near DCA’s summer openings things are wrapping up.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Still working on the Blue Ribbon Bakery.

The Penny Arcade is looking beautiful.

Loving the Americana decorations along Main Street!

The Shooting Gallery has reopened.

Amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do.

Weathervane atop Village Haus.

More Fantasyland weathervanes.

Above Peter Pan’s Flight.

Will they be taking the turnstiles out for good? Or are these a new set coming in???

Bright colors on the ride vehicles.

New LED menus at Tomorrowland Terrace

Work has begun in Carnation Gardens

Some of the progress on Buena Vista Street.

Oswald’s Gas Station

The front of Five & Dime coming along nicely.

Looking down Buena Vista Street towards the Carthay Circle Theatre.

The bridge looks great!

Loving the tile benches.

The walls around the Carthay Circle Theater and around the Carthay Circle Fountain recently came down

The front of the Fiddler, Fifer, and Pratical Cafe

The Carthay Circle Theatre is finally open and it looks amazing! Plus the fountain adds a bit of old Hollywoodland charm.

Side of FFP and Clarabell’s

Looking a little more right

No statue yet

This is beautiful tile.

Opening is just around the corner, looks like there is still plenty of work to do.

Hard to believe there was ever an elephant atop those red pillars.

Mad T Party merchandise.

The Mad T Party “soft opened” last Saturday

Um… psychedelic furniture?

All the change in the back here yet the Bountiful Valley Farms truck remains

Let’s head back down the street

Detail in Hollywoodland.

Beautiful tile on the Carthay Circle

A merchandise cart with a whole bunch of new DCA goodies

Junkyard Jamboree is testing daily now with cast members

Looks done

Soon, these postcards will be gone

Side of Cars Land facing Pacific Wharf

Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory opens on June 5th

Trees planted on the pathway from Pacific Wharf to Cars Land

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree!

One more look at Buena Vista Street

LaBrea Bakery fresh new look is open for business.

Thanks for reading!

Comic Con Boy & Girl Online Now

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Purchase the Comic Con Boy and Girl combo no superpowers (or Comic Con ticket) needed. Just stop by the Disney Store where they unexpectedly popped up for purchase.

We were told non-attendees would have to wait at least a day, but that does not seem to be the case. Just a couple quick notes… The set is designed by Eric Caszatt. The LE on Disney Store says “LE 1000”, the VM Events page says “LE 2000”. Not sure which is correct or if this means only 1000 are available at Disney Store Online and 1000 via QR code at Comic Con. Also, you need to type in “Comic Con” into the search at the Disney Store website. A “Vinylmation” search did not show this set.