AT&T Becomes Official Mobile Provider For Domestic Disney Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

ATT-MAGICLets take a step back for a second though, back in 2009 Disney partnered with Verizon Wireless to bring us the “Mobile Magic” app which allowed us to see Wait Times, FASTPASS return times, and information on where to meet and greet with characters. This was an exclusive service for Verizon customers only leaving out everyone else. In early 2012 Disney released Mobile Magic for iOS users on AT&T and Verizon. Even though the app was still branded for Verizon, you could use it with AT&T as well. In mid 2012, Disney launched “My Disney Experience” which wasn’t branded to any carrier and could be used on any iOS/Android device. Today, Disney announced a new partnership with AT&T.

Disney Parks has just signed an exclusive contract with AT&T to make them the official mobile provider for U.S. Disney Parks. With this new agreement, AT&T will have the opportunity to sponsor Disney-created soccer and runDisney events at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at The Walt Disney World Resort. In addition to this, Disney will join AT&T to educate Cast Members and guests about the “It Can Wait” campaign to educate consumers about the dangers of texting while driving.

AT&T and Disney will also collaborate to enhance the experience for the growing number of Disney guests using smartphones and tablets during their visit.  Furthermore, Cast Members will use new mobile devices on AT&T’s network to help deliver Disney’s legendary guest service. President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France had this to say about the new partnership “This alliance joins two companies that share a commitment to providing quality experiences, and we look forward to the collaboration as we continue to leverage technology to enhance the experience for our guests.”ATT-logo

Included in this new partnership is the ability to enhance a variety of AT&T technologies in use at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. More than 25 new antenna systems will be installed to increase the wireless capacity in areas with high mobile traffic (i.e. The Magic Kingdom and Epcot), more than 350 small cells will be installed to extend network connectivity throughout, and more than 40 repeaters to further enhance the mobile experience for both guests and Cast Members.

As someone who has AT&T and visits Walt Disney World often, I can speak with experience that LTE service is really terrible at most of the theme parks and at times completely absent. If all the above is true, then I’m beyond excited to have excellent service while at the parks to continue to offer new updates, photos, and videos in the moment. With Disney now focusing so much on the MyMagic+ experience which relies so much of your smart phone, AT&T users will be able to experience it better with the new antennas.

D23 Expo App Now Available for Download

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Great news if you are planning to head out to the D23 Expo this August, Disney has released an app to help Expo attendees stay organized:

Guests attending the D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event are now able to download the free D23 Expo app from the iTunes and Google Play stores. This multi-layered application will serve as a useful tool for those guests attending the event, which takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center August 9–11, 2013.

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The app is packed with features including: schedules, panel information, event calendar, last-minute alerts and fun features like trivia, videos, D23 photo booth and more! Not only does the app have a helpful schedule where you can save panels to your phone’s calendar but it also includes a fun section where you can find the trivia and scavenger hunt. I am looking forward to the scavenger hunt which is comprised of hunting down nine QR code with the given hints. The trivia game starts with the Expo on August 9th and Dave Smith will be asking attendees to answer some of his most interesting questions he has ever been asked. You can download the app here.

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Getting in the Holiday Spirit with New Merchandise at Disney Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

In conjunction with the Limited Time Magic’s “Christmas in July” celebration last week at Walt Disney World, let’s check out some of the new Holiday Merchandise being offered this upcoming holiday season:

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Pins are such a huge collectible at the Disney Parks, and the same holds true for holiday-themed pins. The holiday light bulb with Mouse ears featured above will be available everywhere, while the Hawaiian-themed “Mele Kalikimaka” pin will have an limited-edition size of only 2,000.

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Who wants another loud holiday sweater with a reindeer on it? No one! Why not choose one of these holiday t-shirts instead? Mike Wazowski  from “Monsters University” adorns the youth shirt, while Grumpy from Walt Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” impersonated Santa Claus on the adult shirt. Both shirts will be released at the Walt Disney World  Resort and the Disneyland Resort.

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While Grumpy may not be Santa Claus, you’ll wish Santa leaves this limited edition Ear Hat ornament set under the tree for you; this set contains a Snow White ornament, and seven dwarf hat ornaments. This ornament set will have a limited-edition size of only 600, and will have a price tag of $175 + tax. You’ll find these in select locations starting in August.

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Along with Grumpy, Duffy the Disney bear will also get a holiday-themed makeover. Duffy will get an elf costume!  Pictured above, the 17-inch bear will include the elf outfit and the smaller Mickey Mouse plush.

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Finally, for those Vinylmation fans this holiday season, you’ll find ice-skating Mickey and Minnie figures, designed by Maria Clapsis.

What’s on your holiday wish list?

ABC Network to Present Exclusive Screenings and Q&As on New Fall Shows at D23 Expo

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Attendees at the D23 Expo August 9-11 in Anaheim will be among the first to view some of ABC’s highly anticipated fall series and animated specials, while at the same time learning how they were made.

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At “ABC’s Once Upon A Time: Behind the Fairytale” panel on Saturday, August 10, Executive Producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz will discuss season three’s exciting developments of Once Upon A Time, as well as their new fall series Once Upon A Time In Wonderland, set in Alice’s Victorian England and the new land on the other side of the rabbit hole. D23’s Jeffrey Epstein will be the Q&A’s moderator.

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As a guest of the D23 Expo, board the Jolly Roger, Once Upon A Time‘s famous pirate ship and feast your eyes on original props from the set. Every swash-buckling pirate who boards the ship will get to visit the Evil Queen’s vault, where a surprise awaits those who unlock a box from Regina’s wall of hearts. In true pirate form, buccaneers won’t leave without some booty!

Guests will also have the opportunity to get a close look at some of the elaborate costumes from Once Upon A Time inside the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit on the second floor of the convention center.

Stay tuned to WDWNT for coverage of the D23 Expo August 9-11, 2013!

New Star Wars Attractions, AVATAR Land, and Disney Springs To Be Previewed at D23 Expo 2013

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

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This week’s Disney Insider had an interesting tidbit about the parks and resorts area the the 2013 D23 Expo:

We’re also going to be doing sneak peeks at upcoming projects – including Disney Springs, the reimagining of Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort. There will be teasers for new attractions based on Avatar and Star Wars that we’re working on now for the Disney Parks. We’ll have a play test for a project called Adventure Trading Company, and there will be an outlet of Mickey’s of Glendale, the Imagineering Cast Member store, because like all great attractions we end with a gift shop!

So it doesn’t seem there will be any major announcements, but there at least will be some sort of preview of AVATAR Land for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and possibly a reveal of some new Star Wars attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. At the very least, we will have more solid details on the Disney Springs project to talk about.

WDWNT Will be there on the scene at the D23 Expo, so stay tuned for coverage coming August 9th-11th, 2013.

Joe Hogarty’s 7/25/13 Disney Springs Construction Photo Report

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty headed to Downtown Disney to check out the latest progress on the Disney Springs project and found quite a bit going on, so let’s take a look:

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Heading into what is now still Pleasure Island

We expect concept art to go on these walls soon, but for now it is just Downtown Disney artwork

The Comedy Warehouse is now currently being demolished

Reminds me of DCA during the overhaul

Plenty of construction materials out on the Rock ‘N’ Roll Beach Clob/Motion plot

Walls up around what was Curl and Apricot Lane

The Mannequins building will remain

Walls up on the back of the building

Not much to see yet

The Adventurer’s Club building will remain as part of The Landing

A look across at what was Comedy Warehouse

They are also working on the shoreline on the West Side right now

There might be a new bridge coming…

A look at the wreckage of Comedy Warehouse

Goodbye…

They may keep the large building back there, but it is unknown at this time

World of Color: Winter Dreams Show for the Holiday Season Officially Announced

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

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Beginning November 15th, 2013 at Disney California Adventure is an entirely new version of World of Color called Winter Dreams. The show will feature characters from Bambi, Frozen, Fantasia and Toy Story among many others. Here is the video announcement from Imagineer Steve Davison:

The show will be hosted by Olaf the snowman, from the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated feature “Frozen”. The show will include new special effects and present some new methods for utilizing the massive “stage” of water, color and light on which “World of Color” is presented.

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So what do you think of World of Color: Winter Dreams?

Tim Alcoser’s 7/27/2013 Disneyland Resort Photo Report

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Disneyland News Today Reporter Tim Alcoser was at the Disneyland Resort on Saturday, July 27th and snapped a few shots around the parks.  Not too much happening at the Disneyland Resort in terms of news at the moment, but Anaheim will be abuzz in less than 2 weeks with D23.  In any case work on Big Thunder appears to be on the downhill and Disney’s Planes merchandise has shown up at resort merchandise locations:

The Flying Carpet has been back for several weeks to the surprise of both new and old guests at Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular

On this photo report, I thought i’d take you for a spin on California Screamin’ for those who never been…or don’t want to

From the main lift hill you can see the Matterhorn and it’s bigger brother, Mt. Baldy far off.

Back over at Disneyland, we have Mickey’s Soundsational Parade in progress

A cast member tells Burt he will have to go on without Mary Poppin’s since her horse has broke down.  What will he do?

Laugh.

The parade must go on.  They escort the horse out and continue the floats.

No need to worry.  Mary Poppins rode on the main float instead.

Just a few snapshots of the All-American College Band

Big Thunder Trail has been closed again, but most of the scaffolding has been taken down at Big Thunder Mountain

New sign posted instructing guests how to reach some favorite destinations

Here is some of the new Disney Planes merchandise you’ll find at Big Top Toys on Buena Vista Street.  You’ll also find them at Sarge’s Surplus Hut and the Emporium

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Thanks for reading! Stay with WDW News Today as we bring you complete coverage of all the exciting news out of D23 next month!

We All Scream for Limited Time Magic Monstrous Sundaes at WDW & DLR

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Starting July 28th through August 4th, the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort are offering up some monstrously-sweet treats for part of their “Limited Time Magic.”

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With two scoops of delicious mint chip ice cream, gooey hot fudge, whipped cream, sprinkles, candy eyeball and horns in a crunchy waffle cup,  the Disneyland sundae will be sure to scare up some yummy fun.  This colossal treat at be found at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor in Disneyland Park and Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream at Disney California Adventure. ($6.99 plus tax)

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At the Plaza Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, you can try a parfait-glass sundae that comes in either mint chocolate chip or vanilla-strawberry ($6.99 plus tax). For a smaller appetite, you can try a mini version of these sundaes at the Plaza Ice Cream Shop ($5.29 plus tax).

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Now instead of using spoons to dig tunnels under the city, you can use the spoons to try out these cool sundaes!

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Will you be trying these monstrously-delicious sundaes at the Parks this week?

Festival of the Lion King Moves and AVATAR Land Construction Begin 2014

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

Disney today officially confirmed that Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will be moving to that new theater in Africa we recently posted about and stated that the new theater will open sometime in 2014.

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This announcement confirms that AVATAR Land construction that was supposed to break ground in 2013 will instead be starting in 2014. This also means that we will probably not be visiting Pandora anytime before 2017. While this is another delay, the moving of Festival of the Lion King does in fact dispels all rumors that AVATAR Land is in trouble or might be cancelled. It is coming… just a little later than we thought.

So, what do you think?