PHOTO REPORT: Disney Springs 1/20/16 (Town Center Construction, Planet Hollywood, ETC.)

WDWNT on January 27, 2016

WDWNT Reporter Drik Wallen and myself both took trips to Disney Springs yesterday and have some newsworthy photos to share with you, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on the Town Center and the new bus loop

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Planet Hollywood has closed for its makeover into the Planet Hollywood Observatory

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Concept art for the Town Center up on the walls

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Star Wars Valentine’s Day pins are out

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Some new(ish) phone case designs available from D-Tech on Demand

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From the porch of Morimoto Asia, you can clearly see the Town Center construction

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Restaurants cover the boardwalk around the north edge facing The Landing, just past all of the main “mall” buildings looming in the background

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The Ganachery is now selling Star Wars Chocolate Bars

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You can get a whole box for $15…

PHOTO REPORT: 1/25/16 Hollywood Studios (Zootopia, Star Wars, Osborne Lights, ETC.)

WDWNT on January 27, 2016

Things are pikcing up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as it embarks on a 25-acre expansion finally after many years of waiting. I decided to go check out what’s new and exciting at the Studios and I have pictures of what I found to share with you today:

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Started the day with breakfast at Starring Rolls

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GUYS< JUST LIKE IN THE COMMERCIAL! Seriously though, they had to give the Stortroopers handlers as guests apparently were harassing them

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One Man’s Dream is now temporarily home to a Zootopia preview

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The preview is really cute and does a great job selling guests on this new Disney animated film

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Guests can also get complimentary rabbit or fox ears

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The Osborne Lights are completely gone as of the publishing of this photo report

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By Friday, this was gone

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The former Phineas and Ferb and Cars meet and greets are now behind walls

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Pizza Planet and the adjacent restrooms closed, but they got some really funny New York themed construction walls

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A lot of fun jokes here

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The Sorcerer Mickey meet and greet in sound stage 4 received some permanent signage recently

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These new open edition birthstone pins were released this week and are proving very popular. January is sold out right now…

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The look fantastic and come in nice gift boxes

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Hadn’t seen this UP MagicBandits set yet

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A ton of new Hollywood Studios merchandise has been released recently including a girl’s shirt…

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A boy’s shirt…

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This children’s hoodie…

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There are shirts for adults too

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Another new set of his and her shirts

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These new open edition character heart pins are pretty neat

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The Made with Magic mouse ears have a new look, much improved in my opinion

Walt Disney World Streamlining Theme Park Management Structure

WDWNT on January 27, 2016

Walt Disney World is shaking up the theme park chain of command a bit in order to streamline operations and cut down on managerial middle-men.

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Guest Service Managers will now be referred to as Guest Experience Managers. These managers will be in charge of the attractions, food and beverage, and merchandise sectors of each land. The next step up is the General Manager executive position, with the GM overseeing the entire land. These General Managers are just below the Vice President of each park. The goal behind this restructuring  is that a front line Cast Member is always just two steps away in the chain of command from the GM.

A Disney spokeswoman said the reorganization will not include layoffs or added jobs. The restructuring also applies to Disney Resort Hotels, Disney Springs, and Disney Sports divisions.

VIDEO: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Expansion Update – #1 – 1/22/16

WDWNT on January 27, 2016

With the work on the 25-acre expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios picking up, we decided it might be a good time to start a regular video series documenting the changes as they progress for the park. We will still continue to provide photo reports as well, but an overwhelming number of survey responses asked us to do more of these updates in a video format. In a way, this is kind of a test, so let us know what you think in the comments or on social media so we can improve this series for you. Without any further adieu, here is our very first Disney’s Hollywood Studios Expansion Update:

PHOTOS: Another Floating Island Takes Shape in Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on January 27, 2016

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen hit Animal Kingdom today and took some great new shots of the Pandora: The World of AVATAR construction to share with us:

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You can see a ton of construction workers out today working on the next floating island.

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From afar you can see this one is much bigger than the last.

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The rockwork is the land is now coming along quickly as Disney tries to reach a 2017 opening at the latest.

VIDEO: Imagineers Put The “Springs” In Disney Springs

WDWNT on January 27, 2016

Today, Disney is sharing more of the incredible details behind the main story point of Disney Springs. At the heart of Disney Springs is a bubbling spring located in Town Center that represents not only the power and beauty of nature, but optimism and possibilities. In the backstory for the project, more than a century ago, this spring attracted the first settlers and over time, the town of “Disney Springs” grew around the spring, eventually creating three additional neighborhoods: The Landing, Marketplace and West Side – each with its own distinct charm.

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But how do you build a representation of an authentic Florida spring? The answer: research, technology and artistry. In this video, you can see the level of detail the project team went to in recreating a natural Florida spring like the ones they visited on their many research trips. In it, you’ll see how Imagineers used various shades of bright glass pieces as accent colors to make the springs glitter; how nearby live oak and cypress trees were incorporated into the design of the spring’s bank; and how sculpting added even more depth to the area.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom to Close In April to Add “Explosive” New Finale

WDWNT on January 27, 2016

Well, it looks like the “explosive” Big Thunder Mountain finale that Disneyland introduced in 2014 is finally coming to Walt Disney World…

Big Thunder Moutain at the Magic Kingdom will be closed April 4th, 2016 until an unspecified date in July 2016 to install the new scene. One would imagine they would like to have it open by the busy 4th of July weekend, but they are just not sure if it will make it by that date yet.

If you would like to see the rather sad state of the finale scene since the 2012 refurbishment, you can watch it here:

The moving boulders were made stationary around that time, with the scene remaining stagnant until WDI could test and install the new scene during the 2014 refurbishment at Disneyland.

While it is a shame to see the ride go down again so soon, the new finale scene at Disneyland is absolutely fantastic and will be a welcome addition to the classic attraction.

 

UPDATE 3/1/16 – Disney has since removed this refurbishment from the schedule, possible delaying it until after the busy Summer season.

New D23 Expo Concert, Disney on Broadway’s “The Originals” Announced

WDWNT on December 7, 2015

Following the incredibly warm and rousing reception from D23 EXPO fans in 2013, Disney Theatrical Productions has announced a new concert presented exclusively for this year’s D23 EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center entitled Disney on Broadway’s “THE ORIGINALS.”  In anticipation of high fan-demand, two performances of the concert will be presented on Saturday, August 15th at 11am and at 2pm in Stage 23.

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Disney on Broadway’s “THE ORIGINALS” stars Broadway’s original “Mary Poppins” (Ashley Brown), “Tarzan” (Josh Strickland) and “Genie” (James Monroe Iglehart) from Aladdin.  The “originals” will entertain and delight D23 EXPO attendees by performing favorite musical highlights from the Disney on Broadway catalogue.   Tony Award®-winner James Monroe Iglehart will also serve as host for this 70-minute, live performance that features a five-piece band of Broadway’s best musicians with special behind-the-scenes videos and interviews that promise to enthrall Disney on Broadway fans of all ages.

Ashley Brown

Ashley Brown

Ashley Brown originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway for which she received Outer Critics, Drama League and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress.  Ms. Brown also starred as Mary Poppins in the national tour of Mary Poppins where she garnered a Garland award for “Best Performance in a Musical”. Ms. Brown’s other Broadway credits include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and she has starred in the national tour of Disney’s On The Record.  Ms. Brown recently returned to critical acclaim starring in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Oklahoma.   She previously played Magnolia opposite Nathan Gunn in Francesca Zembello’s Show Boat at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Ms. Brown has performed with virtually all of the top orchestras in North America including the Boston Pops, the New York Philharmonic, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at Disney Hall, the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall (four times), the Cincinnati Pops and the Philadelphia Orchestra (two times). Ashley starred in The Sound of Music at the St. Louis MUNY which garnered her a Kevin Kline award and her own PBS special called “Ashley Brown: Call Me Irresponsible” which received a PBS Telly Award.  Other television credits include NBC’s The Sound of Music.  Ms. Brown’s long-awaited album of Broadway and American Songbook standards is available on Ghostlight/Sony. Ashley is a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Josh Strickland

Josh Strickland

Josh Strickland is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. In 2006, Strickland created the leading role of Tarzan in Disney’s Tarzan on Broadway. In 2009, he made his starring Las Vegas debut in PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort while concurrently co-starring in the hit E! reality show Holly’s World. Strickland debuted his first single “Report to the Floor”, which skyrocketed to the top five on the iTunes Dance Charts the first week of its release, followed by “Last Dance”. Mr. Strickland is currently starring in Vegas! the Show at the Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort in Las Vegas.

James Monroe Iglehart

James Monroe Iglehart

James Monroe Iglehart won a 2014 Tony Award® for his performance in Aladdin. He originated the role of Bobby in the Tony-winning musical Memphis. Other NYC: The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee and The Wiz. Film/TV: “Gotham”, “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt”, “The Good Wife” and “The Electric Company” (the Silent E Soloist). James is a member of the hip-hop improv group Freestyle Love Supreme. His greatest gift is his wife, Dawn. This is an absolute blessing — a real-life wish come true!

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

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Dirk Wallen’s 6/8/15 Animal Kingdom Photo Report (Tree of Life, Lots of Construction, Nighttime Safari, ETC.)

WDWNT on December 7, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom this week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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Work continues on the Tree of Life facade as they prepare for some nighttime lighting upgrades

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A strange new structure has appeared on the left side of Disney Outfitters

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Same for the right side where some sort of tower is going up next to a new building, possible a new guest relations location

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Work is still underway to bring hyenas to Kilimanjaro Safaris

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More walls, these for what should be a small seating area by the Starbucks location opening June 18th

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Not much to see outside of the Starbucks

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The Disney Vacation Club kiosk that used to be on the way to Camp Minnie-Mickey is getting an overhaul

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More Tree of Life work

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More walls outside of Island Mercantile

Tentative Opening Date Announced for Epcot’s FROZEN Attraction

WDWNT on December 7, 2015

In October 2014, Maelstrom in Norway at Epcot closed for conversion into a FROZEN-themed attraction. Disney had previously stated that the new ride based on the blockbuster animated hit from 2013 would be finished by Early 2016, but they are now providing a more definite date.

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The Maelstrom ride closed after 25 years at Epcot in October 2014

According to information being distributed to Disney travel agents, the FROZEN attraction will tentatively open on May 1st, 2016. This date may change, but Disney is clearly aiming to have the new ride open to guests for Summer 2016.