PHOTOS: New Details of “Pandora: The World of AVATAR” Shared

Disney today shared new pictures showcasing the incredible details of Pandora – The World of AVATAR, which will come to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2017.

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Imagineer Joe Rohde and Lightstorm Entertainment film producer Jon Landau shared a quick hint at what to expect in the new 12-acre land inspired by James Cameron’s film “AVATAR” during a special presentation at the Walt Disney World Resort recently.

They showed how the land will take on new life at night with bioluminescent flora and special nighttime immersive programming that’ll add a magical touch.

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And how you’ll be transported to the world of Pandora – alive with amazing creatures and “glowing” ground beneath your feet.

You’ll also notice realistic details during your adventures, including special Na’vi artifacts seen throughout the land.

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“We want the world of Pandora to be believable,” Jon said. “When visitors come to Pandora they’ll experience and they’ll believe — and they’ll look at the world a little bit differently.”

Pandora – The World of AVATAR, including the “floating mountains” and attractions coming to the land: AVATAR Flight of Passage and the Na’vi River Journey, will open in 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

VIDEO: Autopia to Feature Honda Vehicles, More Enhancements Coming

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Are you ready to get behind the wheel again at Autopia? When the classic Disneyland park attraction returns tomorrow, April 29, it will be presented by Honda. This alliance brings a whole new look to this longtime guest favorite, with freshly painted cars, losing the “color changing” paint scheme. Check out the video below as we go behind-the-scenes to see how the cars have gotten a new look for their big return to the road.

Disney promises that more changes to the attraction will be rolled out later this year, but they did not say what those are as of yet.

“Star Wars Day” Event Announced For Disneyland; “May The Fourth Be With You”

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The Disney Parks Blog just announced some special festivities that will occur at Disneyland on May 4th:

Are you a rebel looking for a place to commemorate May the 4th?

Disneyland park is the place to be on this special day as we celebrate Star Wars! You already know that Tomorrowland is filled with new galactic experiences like Star Wars Launch Bay and Hyperspace Mountain, and now on May 4, 2016, fans can join even more special celebrations!

Head over to Tomorrowland Theater for a special screening of an episode from the hit Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels. In the fan-favorite episode, “Shroud of Darkness,” Kanan, Ezra and Ahsoka return to the Jedi Temple on Lothal to find out how the Inquisitors have continually been able to track the rebels. Seeking the advice of Yoda, voiced by Frank Oz, the three will experience powerful visions that reveal the future, the past and old friends long gone.

Jedi and Sith alike can find special commemorative merchandise and all-new Star Wars collector glasses. And be sure to capture your memories from the day at a unique, themed photo location.

Then the party jumps into lightspeed at 6 p.m. at the Galactic Grill Stage with a fan celebration, where Star Wars trivia and other special surprises will take place throughout the evening.

So join us, you will, for May the 4th and celebrate Star Wars at Disneyland park!

As of now, no event has been announced for Hollywood Studios, but we will inform you if and when they are.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Name and Possible Theme Revealed for New Vacation Club Resort at Wilderness Lodge

You know that new, yet still pretty much unannounced Disney Vacation Club addition coming to Wilderness Lodge? Well, it has a name: Copper Creek Cabins and Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

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What is Copper Creek? It’s a name derived from the Copper River in Alaska which produces salmon that are served for a short period annually at the resort’s Artist Point restaurant. So, if this is to be believed, it sounds like the new cabins and villas will have a bit of an Alaskan theme to them.

Disney is yet to make a formal announcement of the project, but construction has begun at the resort.

PHOTOS: Special Limited Release Pins Coming for Star Wars Day at Disney Parks

While nothing has been formally announced for Walt Disney World yet (Disneyland announced their festivities yesterday), there are two limited release pins coming to both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort to celebrate Star Wars Day on May 4th, 2016:

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Prices and the locations at which the pins will be available has not been released yet. There is expected to be other merchandise released to commemorate the day as well.

Get The Very First “Rogue One” Star Wars T-Shirts at Disney Parks Starting May 4th

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Force for Change merchandise is returning to Disney Parks and it’s your very first chance to own a piece of apparel from Rogue One. These shirts are the first products for the new film created especially for Disney Parks and come in styles for men, women, and children.

Twenty-five percent of the retail sale price of this product will be donated to U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF Kid Power. UNICEF Kid Power gives kids the power to save lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power Band, kids can go on missions, earn points and unlock therapeutic food packets for severely malnourished children around the world.

The shirts will be released at the following locations:

Disneyland Resort

  • Disneyland park – The Star Trader and Star Wars Launch Bay
  • Downtown Disney District – D-Street and World of Disney

Walt Disney World Resort

  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Tatooine Traders and Star Wars Launch Bay
  • Disney Springs – Star Wars Galactic Outpost and Once Upon A Toy
  • Magic Kingdom Park – Merchants of Venus

These items will not be available on the Disney Parks online store or via the Shop Disney Parks mobile app.

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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will revolve around a rogue band of resistance fighters who unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring new hope to the galaxy. The film arrives in theaters on December 16, 2016.

To learn more about Star Wars: Force for Change, please visit ForceForChange.com.

Star Tours Attraction Vinylmation (Including Captain RX-24) Coming May 6th

Available May 6, 2016 at D Street in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort; Star Wars Galactic Outpost, Star Wars Launch Bay and Pin Traders at the Walt Disney World Resort, catch these really cool Star Tours “Eachez” Vinylmation, retailing at $16.95 each:

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The figures features Captain Rx-24 from the original Star Tours and ACE from Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. There is no word on which of these will be the more common figure (one should be only available 1 in every 10 boxes).

Star Wars Souvenir Glass Set Coming to Food & Beverage Locations May 4th

Starting May 4th at select food and beverage locations at the Disneyland Resort, guests may purchase a Star Wars souvenir glass exclusive to Disney Parks. The glasses are $12.99 each with the purchase of any menu item.

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Kylo Ren and Chewbacca are available at Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port, while BB-8 and the Stormtrooper may be found at Galactic Grill.

The glasses are also expected to be available at Walt Disney World, but no announcement has been made as of yet.

PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 5/2/16 (Star Wars Land, Autopia Returns, ETC.)

Disneyland Reporter Tim Alcoser visited the Resort over the weekend to check out the new Autopia presented by Honda and the latest progress on the Star Wars themed land coming to Disneyland Park, so let’s take a look at what he found along the way:

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Work continues on the second Starbucks at Downtown Disney

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Security lines continue to be long and slow-moving at the resort, hopefully a solution is coming

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A lot of closures now, but Autopia is back

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On to Disneyland

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Main Street traffic bustling

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MARVEL Super Hero HQ closed a few weeks back, Star Wars Launch Bay will be expanding

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Autopia presented by Honda opened over the weekend

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The new blue paint scheme is much easier on the eyes

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The new logo can be found throughout the attraction

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All of the cars sport real Honda paint colors and the Honda logo

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The new attraction marquee

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Obviously, the Disneyland Railroad is still closed for Star Wars Land construction

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Autopia was experiencing some issues earlier in the day on Friday

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Inside Launch Bay, you’ll find this sign

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Is a Star Wars Land preview center coming, or just more meet and greets?

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It’s that time of year… the ducklings are out!

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Star Wars construction continues in the North of Frontierland and Critter Country

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Getting a better look at Star Wars Land construction from the top of the parking structure

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It has been over two decades since Disneyland has seen land clearing like this, and this is the largest size clearing in park history

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As the land gets flatter, we get closer and closer to the first foundations being laid for the new attractions, stores, and restaurants

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Wreckage from what has already been cleared

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PHOTO REPORT: Disney Springs 5/2/16 (Coca-Cola Store, Town Center, New Merch, ETC.)

I took a visit to Disney Springs last week to do some shopping and I managed to take some interesting pictures to share while I was there, so let’s take a look:

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The Edison construction as seen from the water

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An Amphibicar broke down…

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Fulton’s is closed to become the Paddlefish

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Lots of signs in stock at the Art of Disney

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The lost parents sign from Disneyland is fairly new

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After a few weeks of searching, I found the magnets with the Star Wars attraction posters, but they are $10 each

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The wall seperating Once Upon a Toy from the new Bibbidi Bobiddi Boutique is done and is now shelf space on the Toy store side

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Marketplace Co-Op now carries a line of Disney Parks linens

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Work progresses on the new parking structure by World of Disney

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Looks to be a new drop-off area by the old Marketplace parking

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B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. opens May 15th

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As does the Aristocrepes

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Work has begun on the exterior of The Paddlefish

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The new section of shops between T-Rex and LEGO should open May 15th

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Paddlefish artwork up on the construction walls

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Probably will be hard to watch details of the old Empress Lilly erased

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A new fountain lies behind walls across from Paddlefish

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Walls came down around the Springs this weekend

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A look at the Edison from the other side

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The STK sign was turned on

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Work progresses on the Coca-Cola store

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No visible progress on Planet Hollywood

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The new bus loop is pretty much finished with the exception of laying some grass down

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Galactic Outpost had a few new items in stock, including this Star Wars Vinylmation combo pack

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They also had this new Chewbacca phone case

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