Jose Castillo’s 4/1/15 Hollywood Studios Photo Report (Toy Story Midway Mania, Doc McStuffins,

WDWNT on April 13, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Jose Castillo visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios this past weekend and has some great newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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What will eventually be a new photo-op outside of the Great Movie Ride is for now just stroller parking

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Meanwhile, Disney Junior’s exisiting queue is being turned into more meet and greet space for Doc McStuffins and possibly Sheriff Callie

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Work continues at Stage 1 to expand Toy Story Midway Mania

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You can see that they have started to rip off the old facade now

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WDW News Today teams up with TDRExplorer.com to bring you Tokyo Disney Resort news and content

WDWNT on April 13, 2015

 

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We’re always looking at new ways to expand our Disney coverage and today we’re thrilled to share with you a new partnership that will bring Tokyo Disney Resort content here to WDWNT. Please welcome Chris from TDRExplorer.com! Below are a few words from Chris introducing himself and explaining what he does:

Konnichiwa! I’m Chris, the creator and Chief Content Editor of TDRExplorer.com. We are the one of few English language websites and podcasts dedicated solely to news and information about Tokyo Disney Resort. All our team members either currently live or have lived in Japan, so you know you are getting the best and latest information.

Our goal with TDRExplorer (and our podcast TDRNow) is to provide one easy source to turn to when you need to plan your trip to one of the best Disney Resorts on the planet! From news to advice, you can find it on TDRExplorer.com.

I am originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Moved to Tokyo, Japan in 2013 to pursue a new challenge. During the day, I am a web and mobile app developer for multi-national companies. In the evenings and on the weekends, you can bet that I am doing “research” at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.

Tokyo Disney Resort is truly a magical theme park that every Disney fan needs to experience. I am excited to be contributing to WDWNT, bringing the best of Tokyo Disney Resort to the rest of the world.

Beginning today, you’ll be able to find content from Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea right here on WDWNT additionally we encourage you to visit and follow TDRExplorer along on Twitter.

Star Wars Weekends 2015 Celebrity Line-Up Announced, Frank Oz & Ian McDiarmid Will Appear

WDWNT on April 13, 2015

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Walt Disney World announced the celebrity line-up for Star Wars Weekends 2015 today:

Weekend I (May 15 – 17)

  • Ian McDiarmid: Senator/Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Amy Allen: Aayla Secura (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)
  • Tiya Sircar: Sabine Wren (Star Wars Rebels)

Weekend II (May 22 – 24)

  • Warwick Davis: Wald, Wicket W. Warrick (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Silas Carson: Ki-Adi-Mundi, Nute Gunray (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Attack of the Clones;Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)
  • Vanessa Marshall: Hera Syndulla (Star Wars Rebels)

Weekend III (May 29 – 31)

  • Warwick Davis: Wald, Wicket W. Warrick (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Daniel Logan: Boba Fett (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones)
  • Steve Blum: Zeb Orrelios (Star Wars Rebels)

Weekend IV (June 5 – 7)

  • Ray Park: Darth Maul (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)
  • Jeremy Bulloch: Boba Fett (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Ashley Eckstein: Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Star Wars Rebels)

Weekend V (June 12 – 14)

  • Frank Oz: Yoda (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi; Star Wars Rebels)
  • Ray Park: Darth Maul (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)
  • Peter Mayhew: Chewbacca (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith; Star Wars: A New Hope; Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
  • Taylor Gray: Ezra Bridger (Star Wars Rebels)

The event will also hold a new show called “Star Wars: Rebels” hosted by James Arnold Taylor, and the autograph opportunities are moving inside to a location on Commissary Lane which we assume to be the former audition space for the American Idol Experience.

CONCEPT ART: Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs to Become An Observatory

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

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Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs is indeed stripping away its globe theme to become a turn-of-the-20th-century observatory, as has been rumored for some time. Planet Hollywood released the new artwork for the conversion this evening to media. The restaurant’s name is also changing to Planet Hollywood Observatory.

The restaurant will continue to feature movie and TV props, but the interior will be changed to a planetarium with stars and constellations on the ceiling above guests.

The remodel will be completed in 2016, but no word has given yet on when the work will commence.

Many establishments coming to Disney Springs are being modeled after shops and restaurants that would fill the space of abandoned businesses. Morimoto Asia will be in the Springs Bottling Co. building, while the Boathouse occupies a former waterside home (all in backstory of course, these are new or remodeled buildings from Downtown Disney).

New Disney Parks Collection PANDORA Jewelry Coming in March 2015

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Some new charms items from the Disney Parks Collection | PANDORA, will launch in multiple merchandise locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts on March 12. The new charms will join the previously released jewelry collection that features hand-finished .925 sterling silver and 14K gold charms inspired by some of Disney’s most beloved characters and icons. Here’s a preview of some new items created especially for Disney Parks.

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Two charms will be released that were inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland park and Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park. These sterling silver dangle charms, which make great keepsakes, feature the resort destination name on the bottom of each castle.

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This spring collection will also include a sterling silver and teal enamel charm featuring Mickey’s Fun Wheel from Disney California Adventure park. A popular charm, however, is a sleek sterling silver geometric sphere that resembles Spaceship Earth with a monorail from Epcot.

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Guests should also look for a Minnie Mouse charm that is similar to the “Mickey Mania” charm released last fall. The sterling silver openwork “Minnie Mania” charm has colorful red, light yellow, black and white enamel details.

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Black and red enamel Mickey and Minnie Mouse icons are also pictured on a sterling silver safety chain with enamel hearts. For those who may not be familiar with a safety chain, it’s a stylish and practical way to keep your charms secure on your PANDORA bracelet. To use, simply thread one end on the bracelet first, add your charms and then thread the other side of the safety chain on the end of the bracelet to secure.

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The best places at Disney Parks to find PANDORA jewelry are at La Mascarade d’Orleans in New Orleans Square in Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort, and at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Guests will also find an additional jewelry charm designs from the spring 2015 Disney | PANDORA Jewelry Collection at select Disney Parks merchandise locations and at PANDORA stores throughout North America.

Select charms will also be offered on the Disney Parks online store at http://www.DisneyStore.com/PANDORA.

New Cinderella Coach Popcorn Bucket Coming to Disney Parks

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Just in time for the release of Disney’s live-action film Cinderella in March, a new premium popcorn bucket in the shape of Cinderella’s royal coach is coming soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.

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This specialty souvenir will also be available at the Disneyland Resort later this spring.

Since it looks like Fairy Godmother has turned a popcorn scoop into Cinderella’s carriage, you’ll never have to worry about being late to the ball, because now you can take your royal coach with you.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

Added Park Ticket Security Measures Being Tested That Will Require A Guest Photo; Full Roll Out Expected Next Week

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Turnstiles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are currently testing a new theme park ticket security measure. Should a guest’s bio-metric scan at the turnstiles fail multiple times, they will be taken to guest relations where they will be asked a few quick questions about their ticket (Is this your ticket? What is the name on the ticket? How many days is this ticket good for? ETC.). After these questions are answered (and it is validated that this is the guest’s ticket), a picture of the guest will be taken and attached to their ticket. This will ensure that if the bio-metrics should fail again, the cast members at the next turnstiles the guest uses will be able to identify that the ticket is indeed theirs. A similar system is in widespread usage at the Disneyland Resort already.

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With the success of the test, these procedures should roll out to all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks in early March.

Drik Wallen & Brian Carey’s 3/2/15 WDW Photo Report (Polynesian, Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Let’s catch up with what’s new and exciting at Walt Disney World with some photos from our reporters taken in the last week or so:

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The Polynesian Resort bungalows look just about ready

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Work is also wrapping up on the villas as we have less than a month until opening

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Rock work has appeared on the remodeled volcano pool

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The kids water-play area looks like a lot of fun

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Moving to the Magic Kingdom, some of the Main Street facades are still behind tarps

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Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is still closed for a few more days for modifications

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The refurbishment of the Castle continues

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Moving on to Downtown Disney/Disney Springs, new planters and lights seem to be going in all over the place

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Beautifully Disney has closed in the Marketplace Co-Op, to be replaced with Wonderground Gallery

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A new Margarita bar is being built in the Marketplace

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Work continues on the Boathouse, which will open soon in The Landing

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They are enclosing the hangar restaurant

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St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Eachez Vinylmation now for sale at D Street

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Some of the planters by Planet Hollywood have come out from behind walls

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The escalators and stairs that will take guests out of the Orange parking structure are almost finished

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Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC recently opened in The Landing

 

This is the samecompany that operated Babycakes inside the Pollo Campero building

Dirk Wallen’s 3/3/15 WDW Photo Report (Hat is Gone, Toy Story Mania Expansion, Haramabe Marketplace, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom this week and has some great newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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NO MORE SORCERER’S HAT

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Neverbeast banners up in the Animation Courtyard

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Also, an ad for Big Hero 6 on Blu-ray

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A Tomorrowland billboard has gone up by PIXAR Place

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An Inside Out billboard at the other end of the street

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Still no signs of life at the Backlot Tour

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A Cinderella billboard behind the Great Movie Ride

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After years of waiting, walls are up outside of Stage 1, possibly the home of a third Toy Story Mania track

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Moving over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, walls have engulfed what was the Island Merchantile pin cart

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Work continues on Rivers of Light

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From Everest, you can see the vertical construction of AVATAR

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Also, the prep work for Rivers of Light

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We assume the need to run pipes through the viewing area is for some water effects that will take place in the audience, similar to World of Color

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Work continues on revamping the entrance to Kali River Rapids

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Work continues on the new Africa Marketplace area, including the Harambe Marketplace restaurant

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Some of the buildings in the marketplace are nearing completion

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A look at the AVATAR construction walls… still nothing to see here

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And one last look at Rivers of Light construction