Health & Wellness Suites and Royal Guest Rooms Coming to Walt Disney World

WDWNT on April 26, 2011

Walt Disney World has announced two new room types coming soon: One for a health-minded adults being added to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, another offering Princess-themed rooms for younger guests (what we speculated about in a report in a few months ago). Disney has also announced that more specialty rooms will be a part of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort when it opens next year. Here is the full story from the Disney Parks Blog:

Hi everyone. I’m thrilled to start off the day by breaking another exciting announcement here on the Disney Parks Blog about two new Specialty Room offerings coming to the Walt Disney World Resort – health and wellness suites and Royal Guest Rooms.

New Health and Wellness Suite at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Beginning this fall, guests looking for some rest and relaxation can indulge in new health and wellness suites, which will debut at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. These suites will feature bamboo flooring, 100-percent cotton linens, non-allergenic wrapped mattresses – as well as great views of Magic Kingdom Park and Bay Lake. Bathrooms on this floor also will be equipped with rainwater showers and tea tree oils.

New Health and Wellness Suite at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Guests staying in these suites also can enjoy the benefit of having cardio equipment right in their room. And they’ll have daily access to seasonal and organic fresh foods at the concierge lounge, and can enjoy yoga sessions and spa treatments at the resort’s renovated wellness studio.

Royal Guest Room at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

Exciting enhancements also are taking place over at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, with 512 Royal Guest Rooms planned to debut by March 2012. The story behind these lush rooms is that Princess Tiana (“The Princess and The Frog”) invited some of her royal pals – Belle (“Beauty and the Beast”), Jasmine (“Aladdin”) and more – for a vacation getaway. Princes and princesses of all ages can enjoy their luxurious lodging quarters, which will include ornate beds that feature headboards with fiber-optic special effects, and gold and crystal accents. Guests also can enjoy artwork and special mementos left by Tiana’s royal friends.

Pirate-Themed Guest Room at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

These rooms are the latest in Disney’s Specialty Room line, which already includes pirate-themed guest rooms atDisney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Donald Duck-themed rooms at Tokyo Disney Resort, and more. More Specialty Rooms will be added to the collection when Disney’s Art of Animation Resort debuts in May 2012.

Guests can begin booking the new Specialty Rooms mid-summer. The existing pirate-themed rooms can be booked now by visiting www.waltdisneyworld.com or calling 407-939-7429.

 

More Jr Trading, in Frontierland

WDWNT on April 26, 2011

For those of you looking to trade Jrs, Nick found a new place. At Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom, you can trade Jrs in this neat wooden case at the trading post. Now people in Florida have two options, this place, and at D-Street.

How many people have traded Jrs??

Here Comes the Bride! – Ariel’s Gown Sparkles “Under The Sea”

WDWNT on April 25, 2011

The Disneyland Resort is continuing its series of small previews of the upcoming “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure” at Disney California Adventure this week with a look at Ariel’s dress from the finale scene. As usual, this applies to Walt Disney World since “Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid” is essentially the same attraction. From the Disney Parks Blog:

As anticipation builds for the British royal wedding on Friday, so does speculation about what Kate Middleton will wear when she weds Prince William. We have another princess getting ready to debut her wedding gown here at the Disneyland Resort, on June 3. That’s when Ariel and Prince Eric will debut in The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, an attraction inspired by the classic animated film, including the film’s wedding scene.

To find out more about Ariel’s dress and Prince Eric’s attire, I talked to the clothing designer, Gloria Bowls. She collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineer Larry Nikolai to create a look that reflects several periods of British history. Ariel’s gown, similar to the dress in the film, was largely influenced by the royal wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981 (“The Little Mermaid” film debuted in 1989).

“What was amazing about Diana’s dress was that no princess had arrived on the scene with such grandeur – larger than life,” Gloria said. “Ariel’s dress has some of that grandeur, a fantasy come to life – and larger than life. The big poof sleeves are almost as big as her head.”

Here’s a sneak peek at Ariel in her wedding finery.

First Look at the Royal Wedding Dress - Ariel’s, That is

Gloria designed custom wedding gowns and evening wear before taking on the challenge of designing costumes for Audio-Animatronics figures and consulting for Disney. She credits Larry Nikolai’s vision for encouraging her to let this dress express Ariel’s mermaid personality (i.e., she has this thing for “thingamabobs”).

“Ariel’s dress is made very much like a regular bride’s dress in that the bodice is fully lined, interlined and extensively boned – it practically stands up on its own,” Bowls said. “My favorite part is the front inset of the skirt … an underwater seascape with a shell, a starfish, a seahorse, all beaded and appliqued on, with seaweed lace.

“I hope each little girl will come off the ride inspired and dreaming of having a dress like Ariel’s for her own wedding day.”

These photos show Gloria as she was working on the dress, plus some of the intricate detail.

First Look at the Royal Wedding Dress - Ariel’s, That is

First Look at the Royal Wedding Dress - Ariel’s, That is

First Look at the Royal Wedding Dress - Ariel’s, That is

Complementing Ariel’s dress is Prince Eric’s attire, inspired by 19th century British royalty and British military uniforms. Details such as gold silk buttons reflect the aspects of courage, valor and honor.

Video of the Easter Pre-Parade at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on April 25, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee visited the Magic Kingdom on Easter Sunday and has a video of the traditional Easter Pre-parade that has become a staple of the holiday since the Easter Parade went away several years ago. Enjoy:

Summer Nightastic Returning to The Disneyland Resort for 2011 Summer Season

WDWNT on April 25, 2011

Looks like Summer Nightastic! is once again returning to the Disneyland Resort for the 2011 summer season.

From Disneyland.com:

Hot summer days blaze into Summer Nightastic! at The Disneyland Resort. With later park hours, you have more time to enjoy favorite nighttime entertainment.

Stay out late with:

  • The nighttime water spectacular World of Color.
  • Mickey’s epic battle in Fantasmic!
  • Magical, where brilliant fireworks burst into vivid colors.
  • DJs and live bands at the TLT Dance.
  • Pixie Hollow, an enchanting light show with Tinkerbell.
  • Disney’s Aladdin — a Musical Spectacular!

Come back in early June 2011 for more details! In the meantime, we have many other Seasonal Events.

Video of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade Filming at Disneyland

WDWNT on April 23, 2011

Mint Crocodile has footage taken from earlier today of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade out on Main Street USA. Only two floats, the Mickey Float and the The Princess & the Frog Float, were out as Disney was filming the floats for commercial use. In the video, it is confirmed that the main theme is indeed the same used in Hong Kong for Flights of Fantasy with a slight lyric change.

If you would like to see photos of the parade, head over to Mintcrocodile’s blog….

“May the Merch Be With You!” Another Look at New Star Tours Merchandise

WDWNT on April 22, 2011

From Merchandise Communications Manager Steven Miller on the Disney Parks Blog:

Starspeeder 1000 Spaceliner Collection

If I had a nickel for the hours I spent as a child playing with my Star Wars toys, I would be living on a beach in Maui right now. Luckily, my parents saved those toys (thanks Mom and Dad), and my son now spends hours pretending he is in a galaxy far, far away. Soon, he will have a few more toys (among several awesome things) to add to his Star Wars collection, especially with the launch of “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” on May 20. But wait! I get to photograph and write about merchandise created for Star Tours? Sign me up! After reviewing the more than 40 items we’ve created, I have selected a few of my favorites to share with you.

First up is the incredibly detailed Starspeeder 1000 Spaceliner Collection. This boxed set features die-cast metal vehicles representing six spaceliners that are involved with the new Star Tours story. I spoke with Brad Schoeneberg, Product Developer for Toys and Games, to learn more about the toys.

Star Tours Action Figures

“We’ve been working on the Star Tours toys for about two years now,” explained Brad. “During the past two years, we have had a great relationship with Walt Disney Imagineering. They provided us with tons of reference material for the Starspeeders and other new characters. That partnership helped us capture wonderful details including the tiny droids seen on top of each of [the Starspeeders].”

This set will retail for $22.95. Brad also shared with me the packaging for the “Ambush at Star Tours” and the “Star Tours Travel Agency” action figure sets (both will retail for $39.95 each). Favorite figures include the Sky Troopers who were created specifically for the attraction. I also loved how the droid who is “fluent in over six million forms of communication,” C-3PO, turned out.

Star Tours Shirts

But toys aren’t the only thing I loved seeing (or should I say “playing with?”). We are releasing a variety of shirts for launch. I particularly liked the stylized travel posters shirt, as there is no better way to say “I love space travel” than with that one. How I wish I could visit Bespin and hang out with Lando Calrissian!

20 oz. Darth Vader Tumbler Exclusively for Passholders

There are a few items, however, that neither my son nor I can get – we are not Passholders (unlike many of you and I’m bummed). These Passholder Exclusive items will include a commemorative coin, a limited edition pen (not to be confused with a “pin,” which will also be released), a Darth Vader T-shirt and, what I consider the most awesome drinkware in the galaxy, a 20 oz. tumbler featuring Darth Vader.

I don’t think I can make time pass fast enough until the opening! As mentioned, there are many other items we created for the launch, so keep watching ArtofDisneyParks.com for release dates and additional information.

Disney Parks Blog To Host Little Mermaid Meet-Up With Disney Imagineers

WDWNT on April 22, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

We’ve taken you behind the scenes to see some of the amazing things the Walt Disney Imagineers are working on for the June 3 debut of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park. We’ve shown you what it’s like to create not only the Ariel Audio-Animatronics figure, but also how to animate her hair.

We’ve given you a glimpse of how impressive Ursula will be when she gets settled into her lair.

And we’ve shown you the beautiful “clam shells” – the vehicles that will take you “under the sea.”

Now we’re inviting you to join us for a very special meet-up, featuring Walt Disney Imagineers Lisa Girolami, Larry Nikolai and Chris Crump from the attraction’s creative team, as well as Walt Disney animators Andreas Deja and Mark Henn who worked on the animated feature film on which the attraction is based. Their tales will also be featured in an article in the May issue of D23 Magazine.

The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure

Today through April 28 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT), you can enter for a chance to attend our meet-up.

Those selected will be among an exclusive group at our panel discussion with the Walt Disney Imagineers and animators. The meet-up will be held May 10 at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. The team is still hard at work getting Scuttle, Sebastian and their friends ready to perform, so you will NOT be able to ride or visit the attraction.

Please carefully read the details on the form when you enter. As a reminder: You must be at least 18 years of age to enter, the meet-up does not require theme park admission and you must appear in person with a valid ID and your guest. If you are one of the 150 people randomly selected from our entries, you will be able to bring only one (1) guest. We will notify you by email if you are selected, with check-in details. All elements of this opportunity are subject to change without notice. Click here to register and learn more.

Are you excited to enter The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure Meet-Up? Good luck and I’ll see you there!