Zach Larson’s 1/6/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot on Friday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

More Main Street U.S.A. facades are going behind tarps, this should be the last batch

A temporary sidewalk ramp installed

Signs point guests around to the meet and greet FASTPASS distribution

Center Street tarps still up

The Bakery is now behind tarps

A temporary cart is also serving some bakery items

Plaza Ice Cream is closed

This facade will be behind tarps soon

Storybook Circus construction

Dumbo is almost ready to roll

The queue seems a bit behind

Dumbo was testing

We’re ready… we’ve been ready…

Belle’s Village

Trees in place, this is most likely where they will be staying

The details on Prince Eric’s castle are visible

The Beast’s Castle, Maurice’s Cottage, and the Castle Wall all in this shot

The path around Yankee Trader is now being constructed

It will put guests right about here

See?

The Madame Leota merchandise cart has moved closer to Columbia Harbor House

The Frontier Trading Post is still behind tarps

Pecos Bill’s is still behind tarps as well

Big Thunder is closing for a few months for major upgrades on the 9th

The queue should be the most radically different thing when it re-opens

The Barnstormer/Great Goofini looks like it is nearing completion

The times guide has been expanded to include the parade route, probably since it will change to a short loop this week as Electrical Parade goes dark for a paving project

Over to Hollywood Studios, where Toluca Legs Turkey Company is back in action…

During PIXAR Pals, an escape route… I mean alternate route is being opened to help guest flow

IT’S DONE! Oh, wrong park…

MUSH! MUSH!

Now on to Epcot

The tip board still works! A new record!

It indicates if FASTPASS is available

Time is almost up…

The pre-show monitors are now flat screens!

More and more cars are getting the Chevy branding

The new directional signage in Future World is color-coded and looks great!

Is it open?

Barely…

Oh, this side has lights…

No visible progress on the upcoming Habit Heroes exhibit

Thanks for the report Zach!

“CALIFORNIA” Letters Have Been Donated

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

From Kevin Rafferty of Disney Parks Blog:

The “CALIFORNIA” letters previously located in the esplanade of the Disney California Adventure park entrance have found a new home! The Disneyland Resort will donate the set of letters, which were removed to make way for the Disney California Adventure park expansion project, to the Friends of the California State Fair, a nonprofit organization that benefits California Exposition & State Fair (Cal Expo) in Sacramento. Cal Expo is the site of the California State Fair and hundreds of other events annually.

 

Plans are underway to make the letters an integral part of a new Cal Expo entrance. The “CALIFORNIA” letters will make their way to their new home sometime in late September and will be placed high enough at the entrance to be seen from Exposition Boulevard. They’ll continue to create memories at a fitting location as Disney California Adventure park welcomes Cars Land and Buena Vista Street!

The donation is the latest among several other Disney California Adventure park artifacts over the last five years, including:

  • The cab of the California Zephyr train that was formerly the home of Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream and Bakers Field Bakery was donated to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, Calif.
  • The sun icon that welcomed visitors to Sunshine Plaza was donated to the City of Anaheim for future use.
  • The giant toy train from EnginEARS Toys will be donated to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children’s) for future use.
  • Postcards and displays from the Greetings From California store at the main entrance of Disney California Adventure park were donated to many Southern California nonprofit organizations and educational facilities, including the Boys & Girls Club of Tustin, the Anaheim Family YMCA, the Child Abuse Services Team office in Orange, the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, and Betsy Ross and Orange Grove elementary schools in Anaheim.
  • Signs and character displays from Greetings From California were donated to Pretend City in Irvine.
  • The Reboundo Beach surfboard basketball game was donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove.
  • Benches from throughout Disney California Adventure park were donated to the City of Anaheim for use in public spaces.

Up and Out

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Almost as fast as Carl and Ellie appeared on the DisneyStore.com last night around Midnight PST… they were gone.

By all accounts they were available for around 20 minutes. But already there are accounts of confirmation emails yet DSO doesn’t show record of your purchase. People adding items to carts, but not able to check out. Slow loading pages where the figures could not be accessed. I was among the frustrated that went to add a set to my cart only to find them not available on the next page. Tell us your story and let us know what time you were or were not able to grab this combo set? And what does this mean for the rest of the week’s purchases?

Also, if you are a Comic Con attendee, did you try to purchase through your QR code yet? I’m hearing that avenue says Sold Out as well, but I do not have any confirmation if they were ever available through that route.

First Look: Pictures and Video of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Play-Testing

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

The new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game ran a short play-test earlier today and our own Scott Smith was on the scene to be amongst the first to cast spells and battle the Disney Villains. The journey begins at the Main Street Fire House where guests are handed a map and some spell cards. Merlin and the cast member will assist you in training before you embark on your mission to rid the Magic Kingdom lands from the resurrected Disney Villains. The main antagonist of the story is Hades who will bring the other Villains back to life to take over the park by capturing all of the pieces of the Crystal of the Magic Kingdom that are spread throughout the lands.

Here’s a look at the maps guests are given and the current Sorcerers game window locations:

Merlin instructs you to your first location. At each window, you must press your key card against the key hole to open the portal. Once the first portal is open, Merlin will appear and usually explains he is too busy and will hand you off to a corresponding hero character from a film. That character will give you all of the story information you need to know. Before facing the main Villian in your story, you are usually given a second window where you fight a henchman of the villian. Regardless of what happens in the middle windows, the final battle will be with the main villain of your story. Once you have foiled this villain, you can move on to another land or choose to walk away. If you do walk away, you can reportedly return later in the day or even later in your vacation. The ultimate goal is to free all the lands of villains leading to an eventual final battle with Hades.

As far as the cards are concerned, there are 70 in all and it appears each has its own separate animation. For example, with the Mickey’s Magic Beans card, beans would fly at the enemy and beanstalks would grow upwards (this will be much clearer in the provided video). Here’s a look at the cards Scott was provided:

 

Enough explaining in text, it’s probably a lot easier to just show you a video of Scott and the game in action:

Mechanical Kingdom Explained

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Mechanical Kingdom Explained
Release Date: October 5 at D-Streets and Online
Price: $12.95
Details: This is a 7 figure open window set. It is based on a 2010 pin series of the same name. The vinyls, as well as the previous pin series, were designed by Mike Sullivan. All will be at D-Street except Ludwig Von Drake who will be an Online Exclusive.

I am so glad they are finally giving us this series! There was a whole pin series based on this concept of Disney Characters as Steam Punk and I half expected that first Steam Punk boxed set to be this.

 

 Mickey Mouse


Decked out in hat and gloves. 


Donald Duck 


He dons his cap and is ready for adventure.

 

 Pete 


He appears to have his over sized face well drawn onto the canvas. His sword looks epic as well. 

 

 Goofy

 

 Ludwig Von Drake
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE


Brilliant addition to the world of Vinylmation! It’s about time.

 

 Minnie Mouse

 

 Daisy


Looks like one of the more detailed faces in the set.

“Crowning Achievements” Exhibit Coming To The Disney Gallery

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

presents

Crowning Acheivements
Creating Castles for Magical Kingdoms

Opening Saturday, June 30, 2012

As evidenced in Walt Disney’s classic feature films, every great story begins with a call to adventure, an invitation to embark on a momentous journey that can take you away from an old world of familiarity and thrust you into a new world of excitement.  For most Disney Theme Parks, Castles have taken on the role of trumpeting that call.  Walt built Sleeping Beauty Castle, here in Disneyland, to serve as an iconic source of inspiration, meant to enchant Guests into continuing onward, beyond the lively, small-town comfort of Main Street, U.S.A., toward wondrous gateways leading to imaginative new frontiers.  Every other Disney Castle, from Florida to Hong Kong, successfully followed in their predecessor’s regal footsteps.

Just as Walt encouraged audiences to wish upon a star, the crowning achievements of the Disney Kingdoms have become towering symbols of a dream come true, compelling Guests around the world to  follow their own dreams, both inside and outside the Parks.  Now, The Disney Gallery lowers its drawbridges to this royal retrospective on the art of the Disney Castles so you can discover the inspiration and charm that helped bring these fantastic icons to life.

*******

Product Release & Artist Signing
Saturday, June 30, 2012
9am – 11am
The Disney Gallery, Disneyland® park

Sure to be the crown jewel of The Disney Gallery, this exhibit explores the world of Disney and the many ‘crowning achievements’ over the years from artists who have created Castles for magical kingdoms worldwide. Join us as we celebrate the opening of this new exhibit along with some of our talented Walt Disney Imagineers and Disney inspired artists who were commissioned to create art inspired by these majestic castles.

Meet Artists Scott Brinegar, Brian Crosby, Dick Duerstein, Elisabete Gomes, Amanda Harvie, Larry Nikolai, Noah, George Scribner, Shady Grove Mosaics (Kelly and Victor Cabatuan), Stephanie Taylor, John Wind and Yakovetic from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on June 30, 2012 at The Disney Gallery.

*******

Jeff Granito

~ Not Appearing ~

DISNEYLAND
SLEEPING BEAUTY CASTLE

Framed Giclee on Canvas
 Edition Size: 95
Retail: $395

 

Deluxe Print – $39.95

MAGIC KINGDOM
CINDERELLA CASTLE

Framed Giclee on Canvas
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $395

 

Deluxe Print – $39.95

 

Additional Castle inspired merchandise featuring the art of Jeff Granito will be available on the day of release, including ladies sublimation tees, a pillow, vase, plate set, mugs, postcard set and scarf.  Please continue to watch for future signing opportunities with Jeff.

********************************

Rosemary Begley

~ Not Appearing ~

SPLENDOR

Original – $1,000

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $360

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

Scott Brinegar and Amanda Harvie

SLEEPING BEAUTY GOLD

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $495

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********

NORTH FACE

Framed Giclee
 Edition Size: 95
Retail: $360

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

Brian Crosby

MALEFICENT CASTLE AT FORBIDDEN MOUNTAIN

Original – $1,800

Framed Giclee
 Edition Size: 95
Retail: $350

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

Dick Duerrstein

~ Image will be Available Shortly ~


THE MAGICAL KINGDOM

Original – $2,000

 

Framed Giclee on Paper
 Edition Size: 95
Retail: $395

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********

~ Image will be Available Shortly ~

DREAM CASTLE

Original – $2,000

 

Framed Giclee on Paper
 Edition Size: 95
Retail: $395

********************************

Elisabete Gomes

SLEEPING BEAUTY CASTLE

Framed Tile
 Edition Size: 25
Retail: $975

********************************

John Wind for Maximal Art

CASTLE JEWELRY COLLECTION

Necklace – $85
Bracelet – $75
Filligree Cuff � $75
Charm Necklace � $125
Heart Earrings � $38
Discbow Earrings -45

********************************

Larry Nikolai

CINDERELLA’S DREAM CASTLE

Original – $5,400

Framed Giclee
 Edition Size: 95
Retail: $350

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

Noah

WHILE EVERYONE SLEEPS

Original – $7,500

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
$650
 

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

Randy Noble

~ Not Appearing ~

DISNEYLAND® CASTLE

Original – $2,400

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $360

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********

OUR WORLD CASTLE

Original – $800

Framed Giclee On Paper
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $390

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

George Scribner

CINDERELLA BLUES

Original – $4,500

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $350

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********

ON TO FANTASYLAND

Original – $4,500

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $350

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

Shady Grove Mosaics
(Victor and Kelly Cabatuan)

~ JEWELED MOSAIC CASTLES ~

Walt Disney World® Castle Mosaic
Edition Size: 50
Retail: $1,400

Disneyland® Castle Mosaic
Edition Size: 50
Retail: $1,400

********************************

Stephanie Taylor

FANTASY FRENZY

Original – $2,200

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $350

Deluxe Print
Retail: $39.95

********

REFLECTIONS

Original – $2,200

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $350

Deluxe Print – $39.95

********************************

Yakovetic

SNOW WHITE CASTLE

Original – $2,500

Framed Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $350

Deluxe Print
Retail: $39.95

Variants of the Dapper Dan Park 9

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

Update:
We just got in a photo of the purple variant from Chris!

Chris sent us our first look at the Blue Dapper Dan Park 9 Variant! (normal version is Red) He got 2 blue in a case and the filler in his case was Dumbo.

I so love this design, simple and perfect. One of the best variants to date in my opinion. Here is a look at the regular Red version.

“The Radiator Springs Historical Society’s Museum of the History of Radiator Springs” Coming To The Blue Sky Cellar

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

“The
On June 8, the Blue Sky Cellar at Disney California Adventure park will host a brand-new exhibit: The Radiator Springs Historical Society’s Museum of the History of Radiator Springs. This is your chance to learn all about the history of Radiator Springs as we get ready for the arrival of its famous residents in Cars Land on June 15!

According to Sally Carerra, president of the Radiator Springs Historical Society, “The items in this museum have been kindly donated by dear friends and neighbors, the residents of Radiator Springs.” So be sure to stop by Blue Sky Cellar for your Radiator Springs history lesson before you motor around the corner to Cars Land!

Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog and follow @Disneyland on Twitter for the latest on the expansion of Disney California Adventure park! While you’re on Twitter, join in the conversation by using the hashtags #CarsLand, #BuenaVistaStreet, #MadTParty and #JustGotHappier.