WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson roamed all over Walt Disney World last weekend and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us of all the latest happenings:
New clothing at Hollywood Studios features characters with clapboards
DLNT Reporter Stephan Thomas was at the Disneyland Resort yesterday and captured quite a bit of newsworthy photos to share.
Into Construction Adventure
I was visiting Walt Disney World for the premiere of PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun and “Let the Memories Begin” last week and managed to find some time to take some newsworthy photos, so let’s take a look at what’s new around the parks:
We begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Gnomio & Juliet was going to be a Disney movie, now it’s just a Disney promoted movie…
From the Disney Parks Blog:
As the exciting expansion of Disney California Adventure park moves forward, the Disney Parks Blog continues to give you a front row seat and backstage pass to all of the excitement. Since the expansion was announced, we have opened Toy Story Mania!, Games of the Boardwalk, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Silly Symphony Swings and of course, the nighttime spectacular, “World of Color.” Now, Walt Disney Imagineering has turned its sights to the next highly-anticipated opening: The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, coming soon in 2011. In this video, Imagineer Lisa Girolami takes you behind the curtain (or under the waves) to give you a first look at Ariel’s world. From the drawing board to the incredible scenery, this is an attraction sure to make a splash with guests.
The PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun parade debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday, January 16th. To say that reviews of the “new” parade have been negative would be an understatement. Imagine Block Party Bash at full speed, without guest interaction, without a number of floats, with horrible choreography, and with the toy block floats repainted to look like blocky explosions, cheese, & balloons. Oh, and I almost forgot to loop one of the songs from the PIXAR Play Parade. Can you imagine it? Neither could we, but that’s what is now running at 3:00PM everyday:
Rumors are still circulating that Disney is waiting for some Play Parade floats to arrive in Florida for the Spring, and we certainly hope these rumors are true. If not, one of the shortest and worst received parades in Disney history may have you squeezing in another ride on a DHS favorite instead of waiting for a parade.
The Fantasyland Forest is now “New Fantasyland”, the Disney Dream is setting sail, and the memories have just begun at Walt Disney World! WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee brings us to the media presentation from January 18th inside the Mickey’s Philharmagic theater:
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WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee attended the media preview of the new (and might we add incredible) “The Magic, The Memories, and You” castle show on January 18th at the Magic Kingdom and has a video of the “Let the Memories” begin centerpiece to share with us:
Disney press release:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In a dramatic new projection show filled with special effects and magic, Cinderella Castle will transform into a shimmering canvas for images of Walt Disney World guests and the memories they made that day at Magic Kingdom.
In the nighttime spectacle, photos of guests captured that very day in the park will be projected larger-than-life among the spires and turrets of Cinderella Castle. In similar fashion, guest images will be projected onto “it’s a small world” on select nights at Disneyland Park in California, beginning Jan. 27.
The ten-minute experience – called “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” – will dazzle park guests on both coasts in ways never before experienced, themed to beloved Disney stories and with playful animated sequences that seem to defy the architecture of the buildings. The spectacle is scheduled most nights with up to two shows per night depending on theme park operating hours and other special ticketed events.
As many as 500 images shot that day will project onto the castle each night the show is presented, producers estimate. Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture guests creating new memories as they “smile for the castle.”
“Disney parks create family vacation memories to last a lifetime,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “What better canvas for those memories than Cinderella Castle, one of the most photographed icons in the world.”
After the sun goes down, 16 high-powered state-of-the-art projectors will bring the castle to life as that day’s photos (and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub) seem to dance about the famous facade, explained Alan Bruun, associate creative director, Walt Disney World Entertainment.
As classic Disney music weaves in and out of the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song,turrets spin while the castle shimmers and magically transforms itself in playful and exciting ways to accompany the guests’ memories of fun, adventure and family experiences.
“The images dance to the music and culminate in a spectacular finale punctuated by animated and actual fireworks,” Bruun said.
As Disney Parks encourages families to “Let the Memories Begin,” guests have been celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their stories and by uploading photos and videos online at DisneyParks.com/memories.
Vacation memories hold a special place in the hearts of families, too, according to a recent survey of Americans and Canadians conducted by Ypartnership, a leading research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel.
Nine out of 10 parents polled said they plan their vacations with the express hope of creating a lasting family memory. And most memories don’t fade with the passage of time. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they think back “often” or “very often” on their most cherished vacation memories.
BY THE NUMBERS: ‘The Magic, The Memories, and You!’ Nighttime Spectacle
* Height of Cinderella Castle: 189 feet
* Number of shows: up to two per night (select evenings)
* Length of each show: ten minutes (approx.)
* Projectors: 16
* Same-day guest photos per show: up to 500
* Total number of images projected per show: more than 5,000
Our venerable CEO Tom Corless is attending tonight’s “Let the Memories Begin” press event at the Magic Kingdom, and we will be updating this post with the announcements live as they happen:
7:17 PM – Attendees are seated in the Fantasyland Theater; Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has taken the stage to kick off the presentation.
7:20 PM – Weiss confirms Disney is “moving forward” with Shanghai Disneyland.
7:22 PM – WDW President Meg Crofton has taken the stage. “Let the Memories Begin” campaign officially begins.
7:27 PM – Recap of recent openings: The new Pooh queue, Tangled Meet and Greet, Via Napoli, La Hacienda de San Angel, and the Pixar Pals debut.
7:30 PM – Darth Vader and Stormtroopers on stage as Star Tours opening date announced as May 20 during Star Wars Weekends.
7:32 PM – Imagineer Eric Jacobson takes the stage to talk about the Fantasyland expansion.
7:34 PM – Fantasyland info as already reported this morning. Storybook Circus will take the space originally allocated to Pixie Hollow. Snow White Mine Train Coaster. Beast’s Castle will seat 550 guests, with counter service at lunch and table service at dinner. Goofy’s Barnstormer will transform into The Great Goofini.
7:38 PM – Princess Fairytale Hall (meet and greet) will replace Snow White’s Scary Adventures (an original 1971 opening day dark ride attraction).
7:43 PM – Show Director Alan Bruun talks about The Magic, the Memories, and You castle projections, saying that it is more than just a slide show on Cinderella Castle. Uses 16 projectors located around the hub, projecting 500 photos taken that day at the parks.
7:49 PM – An artist’s rendering of the castle projections, with hundreds of screaming fans filling the hub. A new song, “Let the Memories Begin,” will accompany the show.
7:51 PM – Al Weiss now takes the stage again to conclude the presentation.
Check back with WDW News Today as more information becomes available on all of today’s announcements.
As expected Disney has officially announced some major changes to the New Fantasyland expansion plans. Included in the changes are the official new theme for the Barnstormer, and the official announcement of the closure of Snow White’s Scary Adventure to make way for the new Dwarf’s Mine Train ride. Also tucked away in the annoucement the confirmation that we will not be getting Pixie Hollow at the Magic Kingdom. As always stay tuned to WDW News Today as more details become avalible.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
As many of you know, we’re in the midst of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, which will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. And we’re thrilled about the expansion because it’ll allow us to tell our treasured stories in new ways and give you the opportunity to interact with some of our beloved characters like never before. Today, we’d like to give you a first glimpse of the progress we’re making in bringing these stories to life and a look at some of the art will be sharing with the media later tonight.
First, work is already well underway on many of the experiences we’ve already told you about, so let’s start with Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid. In this attraction, Ariel and all her friends will entertain you in a ride-through adventure featuring favorite songs from the popular animated feature.
Not too far from Ariel’s new home, construction is underway on Beast’s castle which will stand majestically upon a hill. You will cross over a stone bridge as you arrive at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Set in the halls of the Beast’s Castle, this location will seat up to 550 guests and offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Just outside the restaurant, you will also be able to explore Belle’s Village, which includes Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
Nearby at Belle’s cottage, a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of experience, where Belle, Lumiere and guests participate in a lively re-telling of the “tale as old as time.” In Enchanted Tales with Belle, the adventure begins at Maurice’s cottage, where you’ll step through an enchanted mirror that magically transports you to Beast’s library for an interactive storytelling session with Belle.
Just across the way is the brand new Storybook Circus, where we’re doubling the fun by adding another carousel to Dumbo the Flying Elephant. While you wait to board this Fantasyland favorite, you’ll have a chance to join the circus and step inside the Big Top for fun-filled interactive experiences for kids of all ages. Alongside Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the existing Barnstormer is getting a new look as well, featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini. This exciting attraction will take you on a twisting, turning, daredevil, roller coaster “flight” high above the circus fun.
As with any project of this scale, we’ve also continued to look for additional ways to surprise and delight our guests and I think you’ll be pleased. One opportunity we’re especially excited about is the chance to tell Snow White’s story in a fresh new way. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take you on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth as they whisk along the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.
Our other Disney princesses will also be getting a new home (actually, they prefer to call it a castle) in the all new Princess Fairytale Hall. Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel, will greet you in an elegant royal court at the location where Snow White’s Scary Adventures is today. This new experience will be in place of some of the earlier plans we shared regarding opportunities to interact with your favorite princesses.
And Tinkerbell and her fairy friends will be joining the cast at Epcot where they will have special roles bringing the flora and fauna to life during the Flower and Garden Festival.
The New Fantasyland will be constructed in phases with most new experiences open by 2013. We look forward to sharing more with you as our work progresses.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Since 1983, the Village Haus Restaurant at Disneyland park has been a great place to grab a bite surrounded by the fun and whimsy of Fantasyland. Recently, the location reopened with a spiffy new look. Today the update will be complete as the Village Haus debuts a new menu.
The menu features many fast-casual options that guests have enjoyed over the years including hamburgers or cheeseburgers with french fries or a healthy side, and pepperoni or cheese pizzas. With a playful nod to the uniquely European flavor of the restaurant, many new and reimagined items have been added as well.
Chicken Sausage
Topped with sauerkraut served in a pretzel roll
Angus ⅓ lb. Pastrami Cheeseburger
Angus chuck burger, pastrami, pickles, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, lettuce and a creamy horseradish sauceBLT Flat Bread Pizza
Thin flat bread crust, cherrywood-smoked bacon, provolone and mozzarella cheese, caramelized onions, marinated tomatoes and arugula-fennel saladI cannot lie, for me no meal is complete without dessert, and the Village Haus is offering a perfect way to top off your visit with either a Black Forest Cupcake or Warm Apple Strudel.
Kids ages 3-9 have their own menu choosing from a hamburger, pizza or macaroni and cheese, all served with sliced apples and a choice of a small low-fat milk, Minute-Maid juice or small Dasani water. There truly is something for everyone as toddlers under age 3 can choose “Yummy Cheesy Macaroni” served with smooth applesauce and a small low-fat milk.
On your next visit to the Disneyland Resort let your conscience be your guide and Hi-Deedle-Dee-Dee your way to the Village Haus restaurant in Fantasyland to try all the fun and delicious new offerings.
