Polynesian Village Resort Now Offering Paid “Pool Cabana” Rentals

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

Guests staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort can now reserve the Oasis Pool patio shade structures (kind of like a cabana) for a half or full day starting November 13th.

Oasis Pool shade structures at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Oasis Pool shade structures at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

They will be able to be reserved for $25 for a half day or $40 for a full day. Reservations can be made by calling the reservations center, DVC member services, or through a la carte at the resort concierge.

The rental simply includes the rental of the space with no additional amenities included. The shade structures were previously open for all guest use on a first come, first serve basis.

Crepes Return to AristoCrepes at Disney Springs with New Menu

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

Just days after switching to seasonal operation and menu, the AristoCrepes at Disney Springs has brought back crepes and it’s names.

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The savory crepes are gone and what remains are three of the sweet crepes. You can find the old menu in our original review of the AristoCrepes. The new snack items that were introduced after the crepes were removed are still available as well.

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The sweet crepes temporarily moved to Amorette’s Patisserie in the interim, but are now back at AristoCrepes. Amorette’s now has a separate crepe menu:

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BREAKING: Toy Story Land Announced for Shanghai Disneyland

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

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Toy Story Land is coming to Shanghai Disneyland! Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, along with Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Fan Xiping, chairman of Shanghai Shendi Group, recently celebrated breaking ground on this new expansion, which will open in 2018.

The expansion started even before opening Shanghai Disneyland in anticipation of the park’s needs. The characters from Toy Story have been well liked in China ever since the release of the first film in the franchise back in 1995, and Shanghai Disney Resort already has the only resort hotel in the world dedicated to the characters and stories from Toy Story.

As you can tell from the logo, Toy Story Land at Shanghai Disneyland will be both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese, making it a one-of-a-kind experience for guests. Everyone’s favorite toys from one of the most popular franchises ever will come to life and play in a fully immersive land with three attractions and a themed character greeting area. It is unclear what the 3 attractions will e and if they will be unique to this version, or simply copied from the existing lands or the upcoming Hollywood Studios project.

RUMOR: Hong Kong Disneyland to Tear Down Sleeping Beauty Castle

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

I have heard some crazy rumors in my lifetime, but never in a million years could I fathom that a Disney theme park would remove its castle. Surprisingly, it seems that Hong Kong Disneyland park will be…

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Hong Kong Disneyland

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Hong Kong Disneyland

Rumor has it that Hong Kong Disneyland is unhappy with the carbon copy of Sleeping Beauty Castle that they received from Disneyland back in 2005 when the park opened. While the small castle looks rather beautiful with the real mountains behind it, the castle itself is rather unimpressive.

2005 was a very different time at Walt Disney Imagineering and in the Walt Disney Company. Some might even call it the dark ages. The company was still under the direction of Michael Eisner, who was frightened by the failures of Disneyland Resort Paris, a project in which they spent time and money to build a gorgeous park that just never grew the audience they expected. He also was on his way out of the company as many shareholders were becoming restless with many of the company’s decisions.

In designing and executing Hong Kong Disneyland, the company wasn’t looking to break the bank. In fact, at one point in development, the Castle wasn’t even going to have a backside, it would be hollow like a movie set. Like I said folks, the dark ages.

Still, it was cheaper to just copy what had been built in California, a small Castle with little interior. It seems that Hong Kong is a little jealous of little brother Shanghai Disneyland’s giant Storybook Castle and wants a bigger and more impressive park icon of their own.

Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland

Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland

If the plan comes to pass, a larger castle (smaller than Shanghai, but completely unique in design) will be built on the site of the current Sleeping Beauty Castle in Hong Kong. This would mark the very first time that a castle was torn down in a Disney theme park.

This project is part of a rumored second expansion phase of the park that would include new attractions as well. The last expansion phase added Mystic Manor, Grizzly Gulch, and Toy Story Land to the park.

An announcement from Disney is expected soon.

What do you think? Does this seem like a good idea or should the current castle be left alone?

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 11/11/16 (Festival of the Holidays Menus, Christmas Decorations, Giant Crane, ETC.)

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

Reporter Tim Alcoser returns with another fantastic photo report from the Disneyland Resort as the holiday season descends on Anaheim. Who’s ready for food, decorations, and an inexplicable giant crane? WELL THEN, LET’S GO!!!

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The Festival of the Holidays Begins

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The Festival of the Holidays has kicked off at Disney California Adventure.

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The entire park is already in its holiday finest as well.

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An archway near the Carthay Circle Theater welcomes guests to the Festival of Holidays.

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Banner sup around the main thoroughfare.

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Booths had lines before they even opened for the day.

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The drummer group is particularly enjoyable, catch them if you can!

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Some extra carts tacked with holiday merchandise have been rolled out for the season.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Cars Land

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The ever-popular Cars Land goes overboard with decorations celebrating the California car culture.

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Even Stanley gets a Santa cap!

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This and That

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Work continues on the conversion of Tower of Terror into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout.

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While MagicBands are never coming, so many of these touch point readers have been installed around the resort. One has to be curious if they will find some way to utilize them in a new system.

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While the show is being retooled, FROZEN: Live at the Hyperion is down to just two shows a day.

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The Doctor Strange preview is currently running at the Sunset Showcase Theater, former home to MuppetVision 3-D.

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An actual costume from the film is on display inside.

“Come with Me to Disneyland”

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The holiday season is in full swing at Disneyland Park as well.20161109_120144

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The Jingle Cruise has returned to Adventureland.

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There is a massive crane parked outside of Pirates of the Caribbean…

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It is boxed in a small fenced area, but it is really, really, really hard to miss.

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Work continues on the Rivers of America and a whole new Fantasmic show.

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The Columbia is getting ready for the Pirates of the Caribbean sequence.

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Star Wars land off in the distance.

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The borders off the land that will separate it from the rest of the park are already taking shape, but the same can not be said for anything else in the project.

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“Story”.

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We’re waiting too. This remote outpost planet is taking too long!

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The Main Street Vehicles are decorated for the season.

Trams, Cars, and Security Checkpoints

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 Work continues on the new tram lanes.

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Not only will the tram lanes be changing, but guests will also need to go through security before they enter the Downtown Disney area.

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Star Wars land construction, as seen from the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.

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See ya; real soon from the Happiest Place on Earth.

Bob Iger Announces More Hotels will be Built at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resorts

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

In today’s quarterly earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger stated that Disney will be looking to build more resort hotels in the not-too-distant future at both the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort.

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Of course, a new resort hotel has already been announced for the Disneyland Resort, but the call seemed to hint that more would be constructed following that. At Walt Disney World, there are no announced new resort projects other than the ongoing expansion at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Rumors do point to an expansion of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and an additional tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort sometime in the next few years.

Iger stated that they were not ready to announce any of these or other resort projects at this time.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Testing Additional Guest Relations Location

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

Just as they have tested at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will now test the addition of an auxiliary guest relations and ticket sales location out in the park.

Hollywood Junction at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Junction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Starting November 18th, guests can find help with ticket sales, ticket upgrades, and special event bookings at Hollywood Junction on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard.

While the locations in the other two parks are much further away from the existing guest relations location, there honestly just isn’t anywhere else for this to go at Hollywood Studios. At least is is pretty centralized and should be easy for guests to locate.

You may recall that this space was used in the past for some guest relations functions, but has been shuttered for some time now.

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory Returns 11/19 with New Design & Menu

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

The Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory will return to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter on November 19th, 2016 with a new design and new menu. It has been closed since July of this year.

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The new interior will keep the original theme, but now feature new design elements such as a nearly completed parade float for guests to see.

A full menu is not available at this time.

Full List of Disney Springs Black Friday Shopping & Dining Deals

WDWNT on November 18, 2016

Credit to Disney

Black Friday will kick off at Disney Springs on November 25-26. With earlier opening hours at 8 a.m. and deals in every neighborhood, Disney Springs provides a one-of-a-kind shopping experience with extra entertainment and breakfast offerings including mimosas and small bites from dining locations across the property. While all of the special offers are subject to availability, there’s a lot to choose from.

The following locations will open early on November 25 and 26 (operating hours subject to change):

  • 6:30 a.m. – Starbucks Marketplace.
  • 7 a.m. – Starbucks Westside; Walt Disney World Bus transportation
  • 8 a.m. – All Disney Springs stores, Erin McKenna’s, Wolfgang Puck Express, Ghirardelli, Dockside Margaritas, The Daily Poutine, Outdoor Vending Carts, Marketplace Snacks, Food Trucks.
  • 9 a.m. – Frontera Cocina, Bongos Express.
  • 10 a.m. – Paradiso 37.

World of Disney and other familiar favorites will feature great deals while supplies last: A Vera Bradley “Midnight with Mickey” hipster bag for $24.99 at Marketplace Co-Op, Storm Trooper Action Figures for $14.99 at Star Wars Galactic Outpost, just to name a few.

Additional locations will offer special sales and promotions, including the following:

  • APEX by Sunglass Hut and Sunglass Icon: 60% off original prices of select styles
  • Curl by Sammy Duvall: Save up to 40% on select merchandise and enjoy “gift with purchase” items throughout the store
  • Levi’s: 40% off entire purchase
  • Lilly Pulitzer: Spend $75 and receive a free pair of earrings; spend $150 and receive a free necklace; spend $500 and receive a free jewelry box
  • Lucky Brand: Save 40% off all merchandise, excluding “rare finds”
  • Pandora Jewelry: Free bangle with $125 purchase
  • Savannah Bee Co.: Receive a free jar of Whipped Honey with Passion Fruit with every purchase, while supplies last
  • Superdry: Buy 2 items, get 1 free in store
  • The LEGO Store: Save up to 50% off select merchandise, while supplies last (Nov. 25 only)
  • Vince Camuto: Save 40% off entire purchase plus additional door busters at 50% off
  • Volcom: Save 40% off all Volcom-branded merchandise

With more than 60 locations planning special sales and great promotions, Disney Springs will definitely become “the place to be” for shopping this Black Friday. Check back for more participating locations.