Mad T Party at California Adventure Ending Despite New Alice Film

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

Alice Through the Looking Glass is hitting theaters soon, but for some reason the Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure is ending 2 months before the release of the new film.

MTP5706842-613x409

The Mad T Party replaced ElecTRONica in 2011 in the Hollywood Land section of the park and has run intermittently over the last 5 years. The event is shutting down to make way for the month-long Food and Wine Festival announced earlier today, which will likely use some of the empty soundstage buildings and other venues in that section of the park.

No new party-type-event is expected to replace Mad T Party this Summer and this will be the first time such an event has not been held in the park since Glow Fest premiered in the summer of 2010.

The Mad T Party will come to a close at Disney California Adventure park on March 30, 2016. The Rabbit Hole will be open on weekends through March 13 and nightly March 18-30.

New Olaf, Mickey, and Minnie Meet & Greet Experiences Coming To Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

As rumored, there is a new meet and greet space coming to Hollywood Studios, and it seems the location will be split into 2 different experiences.

IMG_8946

Entering on the Echo Lake side, guests can head to Celebrity Spotlight to meet Olaf from Frozen. The new experience features the lovable snow man with a fun summer backdrop. According to Disney, the character meeting in this location will rotate every few months.

The second experience is called “Mickey and Minnie starring in Red Carpet Dreams”. Entering from the Commissary Lane gateway (former American Idol Experience audition entrance), guests can walk the red carpet and step into a scene with Minnie Mouse, and then find Sorcerer Mickey Mouse in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice costume nearby.

IMG_8947

The current Sorcerer Mickey meet and greet should close when this opens in the spring. Minnie Mouse lost her indoor meet and greet experience when the Magic of Disney Animation closed.

Pirates of the Caribbean Tsum Tsum “Take Sail” on February 26th

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

Disney Tsum Tsum inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction will make landfall at Disney Parks on February 26, 2016.

PTT58082

This new collection of seven, 3-inch plush was created especially for Disney Parks. Characters include fan favorites such as the dog with keys, a skeleton, and the Captain.

With this release, I’m excited to announce that additional Disney merchandise locations will begin carrying Disney Tsum Tsum. Look for them at the following locations starting February 26.

  • Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai‘i – Kalepa’s Store

Disneyland Resort

  • Downtown Disney District – World of Disney
  • Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure park – Tees, Hats & Tattoos
  • Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland park – Gag Factory

Walt Disney World Resort

  • Disney Springs Marketplace – Once Upon a Toy
  • Shops at Orlando International Airport
  • Magic Kingdom Park – Curtain Call Collectibles
  • Epcot – ImageWorks
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Beverly Sunset
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures

Guests may also order select Disney Tsum Tsum from the free Shop Disney Parks mobile app or via the Disney Parks online store.

PHOTO: Lighting Test for Rivers of Light, Debuting Soon at Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

As we await Disney’s announcement of an opening date for the Rivers of Light show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the following photo is making the rounds on twitter today:

In the photo you can see some of the vessels that will be in the show out on the water, as well as a lighting test taking place. We can’t be too far from the debut of this show now.

PHOTO REPORT: Hollywood Studios 2/18/16 (Star Wars, Meet and Greet Construction, New Merch, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

I visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios over the weekend to see what was new and exciting, so let’s take a look at some photos from my trip, shall we?

IMG_9476

Welcome to Hollywood!

IMG_9477

New 5 pin booster set

IMG_9478

IMG_9479

For Valentine’s Day, there’s a special Lady and the Tramp cupcake at the park

IMG_9482

It was cute and delicious…

IMG_9488

I hadn’t eaten at Studio Catering Co. in years, but this sandwich was really, really good

IMG_9489

Pulled beef brisket with horseradish sauce, surprisingly good

IMG_9492

I got carried away with the cupcake

IMG_9493

IMG_9495

It was good…

IMG_9496

Finding Dory billboard up in the Backlot

IMG_9497

A green army man was hiding in a FastPass machine…

IMG_9498

IMG_9499

Stormtroopers on patrol

IMG_9500

The wait times for Kylo Ren at Launch Bay haven’t been awful

IMG_9502

IMG_9503

Pretty much the same as Chewbacca all of the time

IMG_9504

A Rey costume and BB-8 now on display in Launch Bay

IMG_9505

Work continues on the new awnings and covered seating areas at Sunset Ranch Market

IMG_9506

IMG_9507

IMG_9508

Signage remains up for Sunset Showcase, even though it’s closed right now (except for the hard-ticket Villains event)

IMG_9509

IMG_9512

New open edition Studios pins

IMG_9513

IMG_9514

The Moonliner ceramic figure is now in stock at most locations that carry such pieces

IMG_9515

This display is in Celebrity 5 & 10

IMG_9517

Dinosaur Gertie was actually open and had quite the line…

IMG_9518

IMG_9519

Work continues on the new meet and greet locations for Olaf, Mickey, and Minnie which were announced this week

IMG_9520

PAvement work by Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple continues

IMG_9521

IMG_9522

IMG_9524

No visible progress on the former meet and greets in the Backlot

IMG_9525

REVIEW: River Belle Terrace Turns Table Service BBQ Joint at Disneyland

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

BY CONNER PURZYCKI

It was a rainy evening at the Disneyland Resort, so only the indoor seating area was being used. The space formerly held the ordering and pick-up area and some seating for the River Belle Terrace counter service restaurant that is now a thing of the past (but should come back in a few years).

IMG_0318

I was able to get a reservation about an hour before and we were seated fairly quickly. The restaurant’s interior was barely even touched for the conversion to table service. All the stanchions were still in place forming the lines to the counters and display cases for bottled drinks and sides were still in place. The condiment stations just had covers over them.

IMG_0312

IMG_0320

None of the appetizers seemed appealing to us, so we just ordered our entrees. I got the ‘Fried Chicken Sandwich’ which was very good. It had a lot of different flavors mixed nicely, and gave a good kick thanks to the jalapenos. The sandwich was of a good size, so much so that I couldn’t finish it.

IMG_0315

For a side you automatically get a small portion of baked beans (which were good), and you get to choose your second side. I went with the “seasoned” tater bites, which weren’t really seasoned and honestly were just ordinary baked tater tots. It seemed really odd to be served tater tots at a table service restaurant (or at Disney in general). We also tried the ‘Pulled Pork Sandwich’ which was very good. The meat was very tender and had a nice smoky flavor to it.

IMG_0317

For desert we ordered the ‘Fried Cheesecake’, which I’m still deciding if I liked or not. It tasted like warm cheesecake, interesting nonetheless and should get points for being something you can’t order otherwise at the resort. We also had the ‘Butterscotch Pudding’ which was our personal favorite. For fans of Butterbeer in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this pudding edges really close to the ‘Butterbeer Clotted Cream’ which is served at the Three Broomsticks, so obviously, it is highly recommended.

IMG_0319

IMG_0326

IMG_0328

IMG_0321

The service was good. There were an abundance of wait staff for the small seating area, and we were checked on constantly. The restaurant still was very clearly set-up to be a counter service location and will likely return to that someday, but for now it’s a pretty good little BBQ joint.

BREAKING: New Star Wars Fireworks Show and More Coming to Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

As rumored, a new Star Wars fireworks show is on its way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but so are some other new entertainment offerings.

The Force will officially awaken at the park April 4, with the debut of the brand new Star Wars stage show, “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away.” The new show will play out iconic moments from the film saga on Center Stage (in front of the Chinese Theater), and will feature appearances from Star Wars characters like Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and Darth Maul.

Also starting April 4, Captain Phasma will begin leading a platoon of First Order stormtroopers on a march from Star Wars Launch Bay to Center Stage multiple times each day.

And starting this summer, there will be a new Star Wars fireworks show, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular.” This new nightly show is the next generation of the current Star Wars-inspired fireworks show. The show will combine fireworks, pyrotechnics, special effects and video projections that will turn the nearby Chinese Theater and other buildings into the twin suns of Tatooine, a field of battle droids, the trench of the Death Star, Starkiller Base and other Star Wars destinations. The show will be punctuated with a tower of fire and spotlight beams, creating massive lightsabers in the sky. This new show will reportedly be the most elaborate fireworks display to take place in the history of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Toy Story Midway Mania Closed 3/15, Third Track Opens Summer 2016

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

In a rather sudden announcement, Disney has stated that they will have Toy Story Midway Mania closed on March 15th, 2016 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

DHS_ToyStoryMidwayMania

Disney is stating the closure has to do with work related to the addition of a third ride track which they now confirm will open Summer 2016. Any guests with FastPass booked for the attraction on March 15th will get a FastPass for a different attraction on that day.

How Will The “Eternal Sunset” of Kilimanjaro Safaris New Nighttime Adventure Be Achieved? We Now Know

WDWNT on March 5, 2016

421-77-14_V2_1766-742x447

When Joe Rhode further elaborated on the new nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris debuting this spring, we all kind of wondered what exactly this meant:

Starting in spring, guests will get to experience the African savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a whole new light: amid the orange glow of the setting sun. During the nighttime adventure, guests can extend their travels on the safaris into the evening.

How would Disney achieve a “eternal glow of sunset”, even into later evening hours? Well, last night we accidentally figured this out.

While at a media event for Zootopia, our private chartered bus drove through the backstage area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Not only did we drive right past the astonishing construction site for Pandora: The World of AVATAR, but we then came upon a bright series of lights in the otherwise pitch-black backstage area. The glow was coming from a series of custom-shaped, very large LED screens that clearly had raised up over the back of the Savannah, providing the backdrop of a bright orange sunset. Now clearly, these screens will give guests the illusion that the sun is still setting, but it will also take additional lights throughout the experience to properly light areas for both guests and animals alike.

Of course, we were not allowed to take any pictures since we were backstage, but we did solve one of the greatest mysteries of this new project. While we still can only confirm that the African Wild Dogs will be out for the nighttime safaris, we still have no idea what other species of animals will be joining them. Hopefully we will hear more on this exciting addition soon.

In the realm of more concrete details revealed last night, we did get to see one of the new entertainment acts for the “Discovery Island Carnivale”, which will entertain guests nightly once the nighttime Kilimajaro Safaris and Rivers of Light debut this spring.

Stay tuned for more info on all of the nighttime offerings for Animal Kingdom as they become available.