Parks & Resorts – Page 355

Tower of Terror Race Returns to Walt Disney World

WDWNT on December 21, 2011

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Dec. 21, 2011) – Reviving the scarily popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror theme, runDisney unveiled its newest race today, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend, which debuts next year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.

The nighttime race, scheduled for Sept. 29, is the reincarnation of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K last held in 2009. The new event has a similar race course – through the set of “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” and past Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat – but featuresrunDisney’s first-ever 10-mile distance that finishes, appropriately enough, near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Runners will receive a finisher medal inspired by the Tower of Terror and then celebrate their achievement at a villainous post-race party with their family and friends, where they will enjoy live music, characters – including your favorite Disney villains – and have exclusive access to attractions like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Star Tours and Toy Story Mania.

“The 10-mile distance has emerged in popularity as beginning runners, who are fast becoming super fans of the sport, consider it the next big challenge after a 5k or 10k,” said veteran race director Jon Hughes, who will serve as race director for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror event. “Take into account the unique night race combined with Disney’s Tower of Terror theme, and it’s ‘the must do’ event for 2012!”

The new The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror race is the sixth signature runDisney event and the second nighttime race at Walt Disney World along with the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, which shifts to Nov. 9-10 next year during the final weekend of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. As with all runDisney events, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror race weekend will involve a variety of events, including a 5K and Kids’ races, plus a Health and Fitness Expo, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney.

Race registration opens Feb. 14, 2012 at runDisney.com. For more information on runDisney events and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend, visit www.runDisney.com.

Something New Lighting Up ElecTRONica

WDWNT on December 21, 2011

Since ElecTRONica debuted last year, a few different dance group and different DJs have been in and out of the popular dance party. A new unique show is coming to ElecTRONica this Holiday season…

From Robin Trowbridge on the Disney Parks Blog:

TV audiences were blown away by the fame-turning appearance of iLuminate on “America’s Got Talent.”

Now see an exclusive, jaw-dropping performance with incredible lighting effects, eye-boggling illusions and amazing dancers – only at ElecTRONica!

Fifteen dates are scheduled to electrify your nights, including Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day!

December 20-23, 2011

December 25-27, 2011

December 29-31, 2011

January 1-2, 2012

January 6-8, 2012

Schedule subject to change

Whether you caught this sensational combination of explosive dancers and the hottest, newest entertainment technology on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” “The American Music Awards” or Disneyland Grad Nites, iLuminate is charged up to take you on a roller-coaster ride of dance, music and lights!

iLuminate will perform two sets a night on the Hollywood Pictures Backlot Stage as part of an already full night of entertainment inside the Grid. Brighten up your holiday season with iLuminate, only at ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure park!

A Few New Restaurants Join The Disney Dining Plan in 2012

WDWNT on December 20, 2011

For those of you who make use of the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll be happy to know that a few new restaurants (mostly at Downtown Disney) are joining the fray in 2012:

-Bongos Cuban Cafe Window
-Bongos Cuban Cafe
-Marketplace Snacks
-House of Blues
-Paridiso 37
-Portobello
-T-REX Cafe
-Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney Marketplace and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park

They are are all non-Disney owned restaurants. Is this an attempt to bring more guests to the struggling Downtown Disney, or just some long overdue additions to the Disney Dining Plan?

Max Guggenheim’s 12/17/11 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on December 18, 2011

DLNT Photographer Max Guggenheim was at the Disneyland Resort yesterday and grabbed some fantastic photos of Cars Land and Buena Vista Street to share…

How about some Cars Land photos from the Fun Wheel

Curio Shop signage up

Cozy Cones

The Backside of the Mountain is now being painted

Ramones signage has also been placed

You can see the top of the Courthouse

Carthay Circle Theater from the fun Wheel

Back on the ground, more pictures of Route 66

The street has been poured

The courthouse looks finished on the exterior

Notice the peace signs next to Fillmore’s

Junkyard Jamboree vehicles

Buena Vista Street

Looks like framing is done and work has begin on the exterior

In Disneyland, a few pics of the new Jolly Holiday Bakery sign and weather vane

Thanks for Reading

Fantasyland Shrinks Before It Expands

WDWNT on December 18, 2011

Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom are being given a special warning beginning today…

The problem is not so much the waits as much as it is the space. The construction walls for New Fantasyland are moving out again so some work on the pathways can be done to prepare for the opening of Storybook Circus in just a few weeks time. Christmas week is usually busy enough, but with the walls coming out, Disney is expecting guest gridlock in Fantasyland. The hope is that giving guests this warning will get many of them to experience Fantasyland before noon. Here’s how Disney is wording it to their cast members:

As we continue preparing New Fantasyland for its debut at Magic Kingdom Park, it will be necessary to expand construction walls throughout the area. We will be using a number of tactics to help ease Guest flow through Fantasyland during this time, such as temporarily removing merchandise or food and beverage carts from the land. To ensure our Guests have the best experience possible, we will be encouraging them to visit Fantasyland in the morning hours when they can usually enjoy the shortest waits of the day. We also suggest that families with strollers leave them parked in one of the designated Fantasyland stroller locations while exploring the land.

Our advice: try to stay out of Fantasyland until 2012…

Josh Siegel’s 12/15/11 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on December 17, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited Epcot last night and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

The Germany train village is decorated for the holidays

Candlelight Processional

Santa’s Village at the American Adventure

Plenty of holiday merchandise available

Precious Moments Disney dolls

More Precious Moments

You can build your own Disney Christmas village with these pieces

Decorations at the American Adventure

Hanukkah display

How to make one large gingerbread house

Katsura Grill at the Japan pavilion is now open

It looks nice after the long remodel

A look at the menu

Epcot Christmas tree

New directional signage is up around Future World

The signage is either blue or green, again pointing to the eventual renaming of Future World East and West as Blue/Green that we have been talking about for a few years

Topiary display near Innoventions

A booth on the walkway between Future World and World Showcase behind walls

Stage set for Joyful!

The tip board still works and is decorated for the holidays!

The Stitch topiary lights up at night

Lilo and Stitch signed the back

Bambi

Thumper and Flower

If you can’t have real snow…

Pepper Market Buffet May Stay After Successful Test Run

WDWNT on December 16, 2011

From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:

It’s only a test, but we expect the new buffet concept at the Pepper Market in Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort might stay. The former “food court”-style dining has been replaced with a concept that suits families and conventioneers – a quick bite and a diversity of flavors.

The restaurant looks the same, but instead of ordering from stations, you now pay a set price and it’s all you care to eat for everything from roast beef (or pork or turkey) to paninis, slices of pizza, pasta, salads and Mexican fare. We paired an enchilada with mashed potatoes, and had the kitchen make us a personal-size pizza instead of just ordering a slice of cheese or pepperoni. Everything is made from scratch, says Chef Stephen Wheeler.

Breakfast is waffles, made-to-order omelets, French toast, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and all the extras to accompany.

The buffet is for breakfast and lunch, dinner is a la carte. Cost is $14.99 for breakfast, $8.99 ages 3 to 11, and $16.99 for lunch, $9.99 ages 3 to 11. Non-alcoholic drink and dessert included.

FREE Wi-Fi is Available at Select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

WDWNT on December 14, 2011

While Disney may not openly publish this information, complimentary wireless internet (Wi-Fi) is now available in public areas at many Walt Disney World Resorts in addition to Guest rooms as follows:

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort:
• Porte Cochere
• Main Lobby
• Bus stops
• Guest rooms
• Feature Pool (one pool at each; specified for some resorts below)

Old Key West:
• Olivia’s
• Turtle Shack

Saratoga Springs:
• Turf Club
• Arcade
• High Rock Springs Pool is enabled (not Paddock)
• Treehouses (Guest rooms)

Yacht & Beach:
• Captain’s Grill
• Yachtsman Steakhouse
• Arcade
• Convention Center lobby and porte cochere
• Meeting rooms and pre-function rooms (Conv. Center)
• Cape May Café
• Beaches & Cream
• Marketplace

Wilderness Lodge:
• Whispering Canyon Café
• Artist Point
• Roaring Forks
• Lobby and rooms in the Wilderness Lodge Villas

Polynesian Resort:
• Ohana
• Kona Café
• Captain Cooks
• Luau Cove
• Arcade

Coronado Springs:
• Maya Grill
• Pepper Market
• Food Court
• Arcade
• Convention Center lobby and porte cochere
• Meeting rooms and pre-function rooms (Conv. Center)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge:
• Jiko
• Boma
• The Mara
• Sanaa
• Bus stop at Kidani
• Lobby and villas at Kidani

BoardWalk:
• Arcade
• The Boardwalk (from ESPN to Atlantic Dance… NOT inside the locations on The Boardwalk)
• Conference Center lobby and porte cochere
• The Attic
• Meeting rooms and pre-function rooms (Conf. Center)

Contemporary:
• California Grill (including private rooms)
• Chef Mickey’s
• The Wave
• Contempo Café
• Arcade
• Convention Center lobby and porte cochere (as well as 2nd floor common areas)
• Meeting rooms and pre-function spaces (Conv. Center)
• Rooms, lobby and Porte Cochere of Bay Lake Tower

Grand Floridian:
• Narcoossee’s
• Victoria & Albert’s
• Citricos
• 1900 Park Fare
• Grand Floridian Café
• Gasparilla Grill & Games
• Feature pool enabled is the Beach Pool (NOT the courtyard pool)
• Convention Center lobby and porte cochere
• Convention Center parking lot
• Convention Center courtyard/patio
• Meeting rooms and pre-function rooms (Conv. Center)

A Look Inside The Royal Guest Rooms

WDWNT on December 13, 2011

The Disney Parks Blog released a short video previewing the new Royal Guest Rooms at Port Orleans Resort – Riverside:

Conner Purzycki’s 12/11/11 DCA Photo Report

WDWNT on December 13, 2011

After a few weeks of Florida and my daily schedule being packed, I finally got a chance to visit my home resort here in “sunny” California. So here are some newsworthy photos from yesterday covering Buena Vista Street, Carthay Circle Theater, and much more…

New Locker Complex coming along