“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” Holiday?

WDWNT on October 21, 2011

“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” is already getting a makeover after just 11 months, a holiday makeover. Available both during regular park evenings and those where Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is offered, the new show will be holiday themed. Disney currently has the show scheduled to begin performances on November 8th. No other details are available at this time. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Update On Restaurant Changes Coming To Main Street

WDWNT on October 21, 2011

From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:

Carnation Café at Disneyland Resort

We love it when our favorite spots expand, and as Erin posted in August, there are some big changes coming for Main Street, U.S.A., in 2012. Here’s what you can look for:

The Blue Ribbon Bakery is moving and getting a new name: Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, from the “Mary Poppins” song, “Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary …” The bakery moves to the Plaza Pavilion (at the top of Main Street, U.S.A.) with plans to open in early January. In addition to the bakery and espresso offerings, the new menu has some delicious new tastes, such as an Angus roast beef salad with blue cheese; a Caprese sandwich with tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella, basil, butter lettuce and garlic aioli on toasted focaccia bread; and a classic pastrami reuben on rye.

Carnation Café is expanding with more indoor seating – the Blue Ribbon Bakery move is part of that expansion plan, as Carnation Café spreads out to take over the space and offer more air-conditioned seating. Work starts in January, and they’ll have a new menu that will showcase longtime favorites (and we’ve heard it includes milkshakes).

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is getting a little makeover, too, and adding root beer, Coca-Cola and orange cream floats to the menu. And the block makeover wraps up at Refreshment Corner – construction starts early next year. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for details.

Magic Kingdom Testing FASTPASS for Parades

WDWNT on October 21, 2011

You read correctly: FASTPASS service will be tested for the Magic Kingdom’s afternoon parade over the next few weeks. Don’t worry, you won’t need a FASTPASS to see the parade, it really just lets you into a prime viewing area somewhere in the Hub in front of Cinderella Castle. The location will change a few times over the test period as Disney looks to see where it would be best situated. Also changing will be the number of guests per day Disney hands the Fastpasses to, just to see what the right or wrong number of guests to let in might be.

The parade FASTPASS will be distributed starting early in the day at the Magic Kingdom by Cast Members presenting them as “Magical Moments” (Think Year of a Million Dreams prizes). The return time on the FASTPASS will be for between 10-30 minutes prior to the parade reaching the hub, around a 20 minute window.

If there was a more popular new parade or a nighttime parade running, you can see how this service may be quite valuable. Guests would have more time to enjoy the park while their viewing space is reserved. They would then only have to show up a few minutes before the to claim their space along the street. It will be very interesting to see how this works out…

The test is currently scheduled to take place October 23rd through November 12. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information as it becomes available.

Cameron Visits Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Preparation of AVATAR-Land

WDWNT on October 18, 2011

From Thomas Smith on the Disney Parks Blog:

As work continues to bring the epic fantasy world of AVATAR to life at Disney Parks, filmmaker James Cameron and his Lightstorm Entertainment producing partner Jon Landau explored Disney’s Animal Kingdom yesterday with Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Imagineer Joe Rohde.

“Getting the chance to roll up my sleeves and explore Disney’s Animal Kingdom from the inside out was a phenomenal experience,” said James Cameron. “As I walked through the park, I kept imagining Pandora coming to life all around me and found my mind racing with all the possibilities of what we will be able to create in the years ahead. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is truly a remarkable place and I can’t think of a better home for our first AVATAR experience.”

Cameron and Landau are touring the Walt Disney World Resort this week as part of the creative partnership announced in September between Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Fox Filmed Entertainment and Lightstorm Entertainment. Construction of the first AVATAR-themed land is expected to begin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by 2013.

“We do a significant amount of work at the beginning of our projects to ensure that the final experience has the attention to detail, theme and uniqueness for which Disney is known,” said Tom Staggs. “Today’s visit is an important step in the creative process and we are excited about getting started on what will be a spectacular addition to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.”

Along with their team at Lightstorm Entertainment, Cameron and Landau are serving as creative consultants on the project, working side-by-side with Imagineers to dream up groundbreaking experiences that will take guests deep into the worlds of AVATAR like never imagined.

“AVATAR and Disney’s Animal Kingdom share a common bond in that they both focus on adventures that will radically change your perspective. They call you to take action on behalf of nature wherever it may be found,” said Joe Rohde, who led the creative team that designed the park. “This is a rare opportunity to collaborate with Jim, who has an incredible eye for detail and a passion for doing things that haven’t been done before.”