The interactive queue for Dumbo was one of the most interesting parts of the New Fantasyland announcement when it was made back in September 2009. Well, we’re finally getting a look inside:
Upon entering the queue, guests will get a pager (no different from waiting for a table at your local T.G.I.Friday’s) that looks like a Circus ticket. While waiting for their pager to go off and their turn to ride, parents can sit and relax in the air-conditioning while the kids play under the big-top in a themed playground seemingly straight out of the Dumbo film.
The Dumbo interactive queue opens along with the second Dumbo spinner and the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station in July.
What’s the latest on the New Fantasyland project at the Magic Kingdom? I took plenty of photos during my most recent trip of the progress, so let’s take a look:
Snow White’s Scary Adventures is closed….
Walls go down to Sir Mickey’s
The Seven Dwarfs’ Mine is still open
Speaking of the Seven Dwarfs’, here’s the progress on the Mine Train
The Dumbo marquee was finally installed and the Timothy figure from the old ride is back!
The back of the sign is pretty neat
Work continues on the former Tigger’s Bouncy Place
Rumor is that Winnie the Pooh and Tigger will be doing meet and greets in this new spot
The facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is looking great
More Mine Train
The second Dumbo spinner was testing all week, should be open any day now
Another look at Mermaid
Big Top Souvenirs still under construction
More Mermaid
The new Dumbo sign on a sunnier day…
The hose that the monkey uses to spray guests will go across the entire Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
Guests have been ripping the handles off of the luggage near the train station
They aren’t doing too well
Some were completely ripped off
Hadn’t see this reference yet
The unlabeled structure next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow is coming along nicely
Pete’s Silly Sideshow progress
Another look at the mystery structure
Some new steel has appeared at the base of the Mine Train
Looks like one of the lower hills
A new stand-by wait sign up at the second dumbo spinner
An arrow was added to the construction walls so it is clearer to guests what is back in Storybook Circus
A day later and a primer coat of paint is going on the new covered area in the Pooh queue
October 1, 2012, marks the 30th anniversary of Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort and D23: The Official Disney Fan Club invites its members and their guests to fete one of Disney’s crowning achievements on this special occasion. The event on Sunday, September 30, will whisk D23 Members back to a time touted as when “the 21st century begins”—those early Epcot years when guests first marveled at “Astuter Computers,” “Smellitzers,” the novelty of “riding on sunshine,” and were awed by a massive geodesic sphere called Spaceship Earth. The celebration will feature rare and never-before-seen artwork; film and video footage and photos; along with a number of pioneers of Epcot, including such Disney Imagineers, Legends and Epcot luminaries as Marty Sklar (exclusive pre-taped presentation), Tony Baxter, Ron Schneider, Charlie Ridgway, Ron Logan, Bill Sullivan, Bob Garner, Jason Surrell, Jason Grandt, Alex Wright, Duncan Dickson and Steve Taylor.
World Passport ($65) general admission includes:
• Access to all presentations
• A commemorative gift
• Access to exclusive D23 merchandise
World Key ($185) level admission includes:
• All features of the World Passport admission
• Reserved seating for all presentations
• A special dessert reception at 8 p.m. inside an exclusive Future World lounge
• Exclusive meet-and-greet opportunity with Disney Legends and Epcot luminaries
• Reception will also include screenings of rare film footage of Epcot’s early days
Check out some of thepresentations D23 is has in store for this extraordinary tribute to Epcot:
Hooray for the 21st Century
Disney Legend and former Walt Disney Imagineering Principal Creative Executive Marty Sklar joins D23 guests via a virtual presentation, where we see and hear what it was like to work with Walt Disney on his original vision for an Experiemental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Along the way, learn about Marty’s favorite memories working on the EPCOT Center project with a team of passionate Imagineers.
The Music of EPCOT Center
Some of Epcot’s most passionate fans agree that the park’s soundtrack has created one of its most lasting legacies that continue to help “makin’ memories” around the world. Join Disney historians and songwriters as we explore the incredible world of Epcot music, celebrating the talents of such Epcot songwriters and composers as Bob Moline, Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, George Wilkins, Buddy Baker, X. Atencio, Peter Stougaard, Russell Brower, Edo Guidotti and others who have left a permanent musical mark on the park’s creative legacy. Along the way, hear stories about the recording sessions, learn about some fascinating alternate versions of some of your favorite melodies, and sing along to your favorite Epcot tunes!
We Can Do It!
Disney Legends and EPCOT Center creators review the immense challenge that loomed ahead of them when bringing Epcot to reality in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Guests will hear stories of trips to foreign countries to secure participants in the World Showcase concept, what life was like inside the largest private construction project in the world, and how they readied its highly anticipated opening day.
We’ve Just Begun to Dream
Join Disney Legend Ron Logan and other key Disney entertainment veterans as they reminisce about the official EPCOT Center opening festivities that remain among the most elaborate Disney has ever staged. This presentation will include rare footage from the grand openings of various Future World and World Showcase pavilions, which were held throughout October 1982.
Makin’ Memories: Epcot on Film
Join former Disney Imagineer Bob Garner and Disney author and historian Tim O’Day as they cast a “Magic Eye” on the marvelous world of Epcot on film. Bob was closely involved in the creation of film documentation and production at Epcot, includingspecial video elements of Future World and World Showcase pavilions and such promotional films as EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration.
Looking Back at Tomorrow
Few Epcot visitors, even its most avid fans, realize The Land pavilion was almost called “Harvest Tomorrow” or that Figment was slated to co-host an “Images & Imagination” pavilion with “Professor Marvel.” With recently discovered materials from the Walt Disney Archives, join Disney archivists as they examine how the “dreamers and doers” developed favorite Epcot attractions of the past including Horizons, Journey into Imagination, Kitchen Kabaret, World of Motion, theAstuter Computer Revue, and the original Universe of Energy.
The EPCOT Center That Never Was
Using rare concept artwork, guests will glimpse what it was like to design Epcot with Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Vice President Tony Baxter, designer and producer for several beloved Epcot pavilions, and explore early versions of Epcot attractions that never made it off the drawing board.
Imagineering Epcot: An Extra Perceptive Close-up Of Things
Fans of wall-to-wall carpeting and leapfrog fountains unite! Disney Imagineers Jason Surrell, Jason Grandt, and Alex Wright return with a humorous exploration of the details that make Epcot so unique. From miniature gardens to massive buildings (and every international food and beverage offering in between), they’ll show what makes Future World and World Showcase like no place else on earth.
A few days ago, the Disney Parks Blog had a live chat opportunity with Jonathan Ackley of Walt Disney Imagineering about interactive games at the Disney Parks and the upcoming Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure at Epcot. First-off, we got a first-look at some colored concept art:
Secondly, there were a few interesting questions and answers during the live chat we’ll share with you now:
Comment From Joe: Will Agent P’s world showcase adventure include Phineas and Ferb or will it be just Agent P and Dr. Doofenshmirtz?
Jonathan: When guests play Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure, it will be just like they are in an episode of the show. So, as the guests are trying to defeat Doof, Phineas and Ferb will be building a contraption and Candace will be trying to bust them. I think it’s likely that once you disable one of Doof’s inators, it just might make Phineas and Ferb’s machine disappear.
Comment From Jeremiah: Jonathan, thanks for being here. Kim Possible had her sound for the Kimunicators, what will be the sound for the Agent P game? One of my fav parts was walking World Showcase and hearing that chime go off.
Jonathan: The sound is going to be Agent P’s theme
Comment From Liz: Question … Will Agent P adventure use upgraded technology…not Kim Possible phone?
Jonathan: From a WDI standpoint, the focus is always on the storyline and not the technology. What we will be giving the guests is “Field Operative Notification Equipment,” or F.O.N.E.’s. Very high-tech stuff. (It’s even got a laser).
This sounds like it will be the same devices from Kim Possible, but we can’t be certain…
Comment From Kaylyn: How much did you work with Dan and Swampy to come up with the story of this interactive attraction? What were their contributions?
Jonathan: They were engaged from the very beginning, helping us with ideas and characters, and going over our scripts and making sure that we were creating a theme park attraction that is true to the show.
Comment From Jeff: Do you have a favorite country as far as storyline for both Kim and Perry?
Jonathan: Don’t make me choose between all my children…(Germany!).
Jenn Fickley-Baker: From the blog, Matt asks “When the Agent P game debuts, will all of the missions be available or will more be coming later? If so, when?”
Jonathan: All of the missions will be available once we open the attraction, but there will be new top secret-iniators that will roll out over the summer.
Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get closer to the grand opening of Phineas and Ferb Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure in late-June.
When pieces of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom fell to the ground a few weeks ago, it forced the closure of “It’s Tough to be a Bug” and the paths around the park icon. For the most part, you still can not walk the paths around the Tree of Life, but above those that you can explore, you’ll find these wood structures with nets. Many more of these structures are going up around the various paths, but until they are complete, these paths will remain closed.
You can still get some good photos of the Tree of Life
More canopies under construction
Does it ruin the area? I’m really not sure, but it has a distinct feel of Jurassic Park for some reason…
What do you think? Is this a good fix or should Disney just close the Tree of Life area and attempt to fix the problem?
While it isn’t Walt Disney World related, we are currently out at California Adventure covering the opening of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street for Disneyland News Today and figured this might be interesting to share with the Florida crowd. I’m beginning my plea for Disney’s Hollywood Studios to add a running Red Car Trolley after experiencing the attraction’s grand opening this week in California. Here’s a video so you can see for yourself:
For complete and continuing coverage of everything going on at the Disneyland Resort, please visit DisneylandNewsToday.com/DCAlive now through June 20th.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and he has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us. Dueling Dumbos are flying, Casey Jr. is splashing and soaking, and whole lot is going on at the park, so let’s take a look:
Let’s get right to Fantasyland
Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train
More steel rises
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid looms in the distance
The new Winnie the Pooh meet and greet is open, replacing Tigger’s Bouncy Place
Dumbo FASTPASS is running and at Philharmagic’s old machines
Another look at Mine Train
Mermaid rockwork extending down towards Storybook Circus
Big Top Souvenirs
We finally have dueling Dumbos!
Timothy now spins and moves on the sign
Only 30 minutes for stand-by… it’s working…
A large wall has appeared on the Mine Train structure
Back to Dumbo
FASTPASS return will skip the tent queue
Love the magic feather on the clock…
The old Dumbo is back as the new Dumbo! Wait… what?
“Transformers: The Ride was much better!”
No interactive queue today 🙁
A photo with two Dumbos? MIND BLOWN!
Disney released some footage of the dueling Dumbos for you to enjoy:
More Mine Train
Big Top Souvenirs
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is open
Casey Jr. got fenced in… apparently there were some safety issues with the water and guests climbing in
Other than that, the area looks great!
The animals spin and spray, much nicer than other water play areas
Poor Casey sits in a time out…
The attraction sign is pretty cool too
The backs of the 4 train cars have the years that each WDW park opened – 71, 82, 89, and 98
A nicely themed new merchandise cart sells fitting water-play merchandise
and hats…
This car will be the most popular with the fanboys… they will gather here and tell tales of Horizons
The area behind Casey still needs some work…
This PIXAR short reference was added a few weeks ago
You may recognize this emblem from Town Square Theater
Casey does look pretty great though
He even blinks!
This is always pretty disturbing…
Looking into Mermaid, you can see trees and ship wreckage are now visible
The new Winnie the Pooh meet and greet
Castle Wall construction
Mystery walls still up by the Carousel
Snow White is still closed… and it ain’t reopening anytime soon…
Only visible change is the missing attraction sign which we assume has gone to the archives
Dumbo FASTPASS, that way!
It isn’t going to open, so I’m not sure why he turned around…
If you haven’t exited by now…
Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo now share the Philharmagic FASTPASS distribution
The new signs are cool, and they give you the standby wait for each ride
More Castle Wall work
Vertical construction has begun on the old Skyway area
Looks like Rapunzel’s tower to me 😉
For the nerd in your family, anything on this shelf will do
The Crow’s Nest is closed! The sign is down… it would be a shame to lose one of the park’s oldest shops, formerly sponsored by Kodak…. We’ll keep an eye on this
Wendell!
Not sure what happened here
Skyway construction visible from across the park
Work continues on the Main Street Bakery
I still think this has something to do with Starbucks…
Package Pick-Up still behind tarps as well
As is The Confectionary and the Chapeau
Looks like the Snow White poster is finally down and now Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom has its own poster
Big Thunder Mountain is on the maps now… I can’t remember the last time that happened
Braised pork for lunch and a grilled strip steak for dinner – Chef Michael Deardorff had a hard time choosing, but says those are two of his favorites from the new menu for Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.
Guests can start making reservations in late August (we’ll let you know the exact date as soon as we can), with the restaurant to be open for the holidays.
Chef Deardorff has been at the helm in Disney kitchens for 25 years, most recently as part of the opening of the restaurants at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Now he’s back to open Be Our Guest, inspired by “Beauty and the Beast,” with three dining rooms and seats for over 500 guests.
“Lunch is quick service, but not traditional counter service,” says Deardorff. Guest-activated terminals make ordering a snap (there also will be traditional cashiers for cash orders and special dietary requests). You order, take a seat and lunch is delivered to your table – on china, not paper.
Back to the menu. “It’s all about simple, fresh ingredients,” says Deardorff. “Just like your favorite quick-service restaurants across Magic Kingdom Park, you’ll be able to enjoy sandwiches and salads at Be Our Guest Restaurant for lunch, but all with a twist that transports you to the French setting of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”
There’s a little French bistro flavor with tuna Niçoise salad and a Croque Monsieur sandwich with carved ham, Gruyere cheese, béchamel and pommes frites (a fancy term for French fries). Or go for the carved turkey on a warm baguette with Dijon mayonnaise, or the grilled steak sandwich with garlic butter spread, both with pommes frites. Heartier fare includes braised pork that’s cooked for eight hours, and for vegetarians, there’s a loaded vegetable quiche or quinoa, shallot and chive salad.
Dinner is table service, with diverse starters such as a charcuterie plate with cured meats and sausages, mussels steamed in white wine, French onion or potato leek soup, and a salad with champagne vinaigrette. We’re intrigued by the salad trio with three mini tastes of roasted beet, raisins and orange; green beans, tomatoes and roasted shallots; and watermelon, radish and mint.
Entrées include a thyme-scented pork rack chop with au gratin pasta, rotisserie rock hen with roasted fingerling potatoes, pan-seared salmon in leek fondue, grilled strip steak with pommes frites, sautéed shrimp and scallops with veggies in puff pastry with creamy lobster sauce, and an oven-baked ratatouille.
Oh, and dessert – we vote for the cupcakes, strawberry cream cheese or triple chocolate. If cupcakes aren’t your favorite sweet ending, there’s a chocolate cream puff and a passion fruit cream puff.
For kids 9 and under, the lunch entrées include a carved turkey sandwich, roasted pulled pork, Mickey meatloaf, seared mahi mahi, or whole-grain macaroni topped with marinara and mozzarella. For dinner, it’s grilled steak, grilled fish of the day, whole-grain macaroni or grilled chicken breast.
“We think guests will be pleasantly surprised with the menu and the value,” says Deardorff. More updates soon!
