Magician Mickey to Appear at Town Square Theater

WDWNT on March 24, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

At the Disney Parks Blog, we’re as excited as you are to learn more about Walt Disney Imagineering’s (WDI) plans for Town Square Theater, the new permanent home for Mickey Mouse at Magic Kingdom Park that’s set to debut in early April.

I’m happy to report that earlier today, WDI gave us an earful – pun intended – on the details planned for this exciting new meet-and-greet area.

In keeping with the small-town theme of Main Street, U.S.A., Town Square Theater will take on the tradition of turn-of-the-Twentieth-century theaters that served as the center of excitement in small towns, offering thrills through vaudeville and other forms of entertainment. At Town Square Theater, families will be able to go backstage to meet Magician Mickey Mouse, who is excited to meet and greet guests in his rehearsal room.

And of course, WDI has designed the entire experience to be magical. Guests will first enter the theater building through a lobby that will serve as a hub for character meet-and-greet queues, the Box Office Gifts merchandise shop and Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.

According to WDI Concept Designer Jason Grandt, the lobby will be decorated in gold and cream colors that were chosen to recreate the feel of a historic theater.

“Upon entering the lobby, guests will be faced with a beautiful tile mosaic featuring the Town Square Theater logo,” Jason said. “The color scheme reflects that of historical theaters with a little inspiration from our master magician, Mickey Mouse.”

Just beyond the lobby, guests will pass through an ornate arch and enter a queue to meet either Magician Mickey Mouse or the Disney princesses. Special interactive posters featuring Mickey’s various magic acts will be in place to enhance the guests’ journey through the queue line, which will take them deep into the backstage corridors of the theater.

“You will recognize the poster style as that of turn-of-the-century magicians such as Houdini,” Jon Georges, WDI director/senior show producer said. “But these posters carry Mickey’s magical touch that can bring them to life and interact with you as you wait.”

WDI is keeping us guessing on what comes next, but did send these mysterious photos for us to share.

 

Looking into the Future of the Park Vinylmation

WDWNT on March 23, 2011

Interesting news found on the Disney Vinylmation site today. With confirmation that the Park 6 series (and combo topper) will be released on April 1st at D-Streets and Online; Disney gathered a bunch of previously released images of Vinylmation and categorized them as “Future Park” figures. We have already posted these images in previous articles, so the news is basically that the following images are Park Vinylmation from a future series. (Several of these images we thought might be part of this year’s Project Florida releases.) No word on if they are all 3″ers or 9″ers. Hopefully several are 3″ (like Earful Tower or Toy Story Midway Mania) because as we talked about on the last podcast, I would buy this one, as a 3″.

Update: Rumor– FACT 3/23/11 Elizabeth tweeted us, and DV Reporter Ryan agreed, that Skippy is part of a 9″/3″ Park set. Check out our 9″ Park 6 page.

Earful Tower
Hollywood Studios
Artist: Lin Shih		 EPCOT 2000
EPCOT
Artist: Thomas Scott		 Kitchen Kabaret
EPCOT
Artist: Maria Clapsis
Retro EPCOT
EPCOT
Artist: Thomas Scott		 Skippy
Alien Encounter
Magic Kingdom
Artist: Maria Clapsis		 Toy Story Midway
Mania
Hollywood Studios
Artist: Lin Shih
WDW 1 Day
Ticket
WDW
Artist: Thomas Scott		 Living with the
Land (Front)
EPCOT
Artist: Caley Hicks		 Living with the
Land (Back)
EPCOT
Artist: Caley Hicks

Two Videos of the Haunted Mansion Interactive Queue

WDWNT on March 22, 2011

We thought we should share two interesting videos of the new interactive queue at the Magic Kingdom’sHaunted Mansion today. The first video was posted on the Disney Parks Blog back on March 15th and features a wonderful behind the scenes look at the project:

The second video is the latest “Tom’s Trips” production from the WDWNTube. Since I was lucky enough to experience the queue, I took some video of myself and Brandon Struve walking through it. The video I took in the queue can be seen in the middle of the video. I warn you it is not the most professional video, but just a little something I captured while winding through this amazing new experience:

More Information Released for “Pirates of the Caribbean 4” Sneak Peak

WDWNT on March 22, 2011

Information has been posted on Disneyland.com for the upcoming  3-D sneak peak of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” coming to the Festival Arena inside Disneyland Park.

Calling All Buccaneers!

For a limited time, Capt. Jack Sparrow is in need of a few good scoundrels to join his crew. Embark on the Thunder Mountain Trail, become a member of Jack’s crew and view a 3D extended sequence from the upcoming Walt Disney release of Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides.

Keep a lookout on weekend nights March 25 through April 14, 2011 and every evening from April 15 to May 1, 2011.

Prepare for Adventure

Your training starts when a group of rollicking, marauding misfits teach the basics of the buccaneer trade. Along the way, fortify your courage with a mug of pirate grog and purchase swords, hats and eye patches.

The Great Pirate Gathering

The Festival Arena has been transformed to evoke Blackbeard’s mysterious ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. With training now complete, Capt. Jack Sparrow makes a visit and presents 3D Sneak Peek of Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides., exclusive to Disneyland Park. But beware! Blackbeard may not be far off on the horizon.

The Attraction
Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides: Sneak Peek is an interactive stage event featuring state-of-the-art projections, 3D film sequences and special effects that include bursts of flame, dramatic sound effects and theatrical lighting.

2011 Halloween and Christmas Party Dates

WDWNT on March 19, 2011

Hot off the press, here are the dates for this years Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween and Very Merry Christmas Parties at the Magic Kingdom:

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Sept. 13,16,20,23,27,30
October 2,6,7,10,11,13,16,18,20,21,23,25, 27,28,30,31
Nov 1

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
November 8,9,11,13,15,18,27,29,30
December 2,4,6,7,9,11,13, 14,16,18

Tickets are not on sale yet, but we will be sure to let you know once they become available.