Big Thunder Mountain Refurbishment Announced January 7th – Fall 2013

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

The huge refurb that has been rumored for Big Thunder for months now has just been announced. From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland Park
In the normal course of a Disney Parks attraction’s lifespan, there are periods of time when it is necessary to close for a major refurbishment. You may recall that this was the case last year with the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which now looks better than ever with its fresh snowfall. Up next at Disneyland park, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close January 7 for refurbishment, reopening in fall 2013.

Updates being made to the attraction will include:

  • New ride vehicles (but don’t worry – they’ll still look like the trains that you know and love!)
  • Track replacement (but the attraction will still follow its current course)
  • Repainting portions of the mountain itself (Walt Disney Imagineering has once again carefully studied Bryce Canyon for inspiration)

We’ll have more updates on these and other aspects of the refurbishment throughout the year, but if you’d like to experience the “wildest ride in the wilderness” one more time before it begins, head on over to Disneyland park by January 6 – its last day of operation until fall 2013.

PhotoPass Introduces “Disney Attractions+” for On-Ride Photos

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

A lot has been changing in the world of Disney PhotoPass recently (including the new logo seen above), but the biggest change has to be the new offering of Disney Attractions+. Here is an official description of the new service directly from Disney:

 

One price… multiple thrills… take home all the memories!NEW! Disney Attractions+ now available at Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts.
With Attractions+ you can take home all your Attraction images, taken within a 14 day visit to the parks, for $44.95.
How does it work?

1. RIDE: Ride one of the participating Attractions2. ASSOCIATE: Present your Attractions+ card at the Attraction Imaging Sales Center within 24 hours of riding to associate your photo

3. CLAIM: Visit DisneyPhotoPass.com and enter the ID on the back of the card.

4. DOWNLOAD: Go to “My Downloads” to access your Attractions+ photo downloads.

Disneyland Participating Attractions: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, California Screamin, Radiator Springs Racers, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

I personally don’t use PhotoPass often, but I think this is a really great deal for those who love on-ride photos. What do you think?

Test Track All-Stars Light-Up Crowds While Test Track is Dark

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

While Test Track at Epcot is closed for a lengthy refurbishment, Disney has lined up a new entertainment act called the Test Track All-Stars. The group consists of mostly performers you would also find over at the Voices of Liberty (which is probably why it is such a talented group) now dressed as Chevrolet employees who are on their lunch break and like to sing in an a cappella group. They perform car-themed tunes such as “At The Carwash”, “Ease on Down the Road”, “See the U.S.A. in Your Chevrolet”, and “Grease Lightning”. The show looks rather enjoyable and we have heard nothing but solid reviews from anyone we have talked to about it. Judge for yourself:

A Few New Details Emerge for “Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure”, Opening June at Epcot

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We now know that “Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure” will open in June at Epcot, replacing the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure. The following video doesn’t reveal much, but there are some interesting sound-bites as an Imagineer gives the show creators and voice of Phineas a tour of World Showcase:

The video does confirm that not much will be changing with the attraction as far as physical props, except where it is absolutely necessary (like Doofensmirtz replacing the Kim Possible villain inside the Glockenspiel in Germany). The video portions at the recruitment centers and on the communicator devices will be all new, obviously.

Stay tuned to WDWNT as more information on this upcoming attraction becomes available.

Dirk Wallen’s 4/21-22/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We welcome WDWNT Reporter to the team with his very first photo report, a quick look around the parks with some very newsworthy photos:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Work continues on the facade of the Main Street Bakery

The final eges of the rock-work on Under the sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid are rounded out

Work continues on what we assume will be a new Pooh meet and greet area in the former Tigger bounce area

The old/second Dumbo is taking a while to be installed

The rest of the land is taking shape, including more supports for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train

More of the Castle Wall frame has been erected

The basic shape is all there, so you can really get a feel for the layout of the land now

Over at Hollywood Studios, the queue at Disney Junior: Live on Stage is being repaired

The Splash fountain is back from refurbishment

Work continues on the new facade at the Downtown Disney Rainforest Cafe

I saved the Orange Bird for last… he’s back… and he has an attraction poster while not being an attraction

Yep, he’s on the sign…

Disney Releases New Concept Art & Details for Test Track

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

The new logo for Test Track presented by Chevrolet

As you can see. they are changing the entire ride completely. The first image is clearly the hill climb. The top right looks to be the first break-test zone. The lower two pictures look like replacements for the environmental chambers.

Ride icons? I assume these are categories you will be graded in after designing your vehicle.

Yep, the Test Track you once knew is gone…

If you look closely at tis image, you can see plenty of concept art for the Chevrolet Design Studio, where guests will design their SimCars

Disney also released some new details:

When complete, the reimagining of this attraction will allow guests to design their own custom concept vehicle, and then put it through its paces on the exhilarating hills and switchbacks of the Test Track circuit. In the post-show, guests can make a TV commercial featuring their concept car or truck, race their car or truck on our virtual track and take a picture with their custom concept vehicle.

So, it looks like Test Track will be very different when it opens (tentatively set for December 1)… so what do you think of this new look?

Disney Parks Blog Reflects on December, 2011

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

With the end of 2012 just around the corner, many will take the time to look back and reflect on the past year. But what if we looked a bit further? Let’s rewind the clock to December 2011 and see what we were up to one year ago this month.

Ghirardelli is Coming to Disney California Adventure Park
Can you believe it’s only been one year since we announced that Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shopwas coming to Disney California Adventure park? I know I’ve enjoyed dozens of hot fudge sundaes since its June 7 opening – how about you?

Four Seasons Groundbreaking Ceremony, Which Included Mickey Mouse, Meg Crofton, President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, and Joint Venture Partners Silverstein Properties and Dune Real Estate

Four Seasons Breaks Ground at Walt Disney World Resort
In early December 2011, construction officially kicked off for the Four Seasons luxury resort at Walt Disney World Resort with a groundbreaking ceremony.

“Walt

The Last Photo of Walt Disney at Disneyland Park
To mark the 45th anniversary of the passing of Walt Disney last December, George shared the now-iconic last photo of Walt here at Disneyland park.


A ‘Towering’ New Race Through the Night at Walt Disney World Resort
Last December, Darrell announced that The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend would take place this September at Walt Disney World Resort. Did you participate in this new race?

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas at Walt Disney World Resort
Of course, we were busy celebrating the holiday season last December – which brought the debut of this popular video, in which Mickey Mouse is joined by familiar faces from across the Walt Disney World Resort to recite “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”