WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul brings us the last of his videos from “Last Tour to Endor” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from back on August 14th. Time for some super-sized Hoopla!:
We hope you enjoyed our coverage of Celebration V and Last Tour to Endor over the last few weeks, many thanks to WDWNT’s Matt Paul and Adam Roth for the coverage.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
As they say in the digital world of TRON, “Greetings, Programs!” Today, we’re sharing concept art that gives you a first look at the new party we’re calling ElecTRONica. I’m told it’s the greatest nighttime dance party to ever rock Disney California Adventure park.
Beginning October 8, the interactive, digital world of “TRON: Legacy” will light up Hollywood Pictures Backlot as we gear up for the film’s release on December 17. This will be a cool opportunity to peek inside the world of this movie, and it’s available only to visitors of Disney California Adventure park.
It’s an “electrifying” experience for the entire family, filled with music, lights and some of your favorite food and beverage, all set amidst the captivating world of “TRON: Legacy!” From a dazzling dance club under the stars to an authentic recreation of Flynn’s Arcade to some radical gaming, it’s like nowhere else on the grid! Each night, we’ll feature live entertainers, complete with lasers, glow accessories and the hottest music ever to rock the grid. ElecTRONica is “the” place to dance the night away in a fantastic world that only Disney can create. Highlights for the entire family will definitely be Flynn’s Video Arcade, face painting and the TRON: Evolution video game area.
ElecTRONica will transform Disney California Adventure park Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this Fall. TRON fans and families can also enjoy the party seven days a week during Thanksgiving week and Christmas week.
Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog, as we’ll be sharing additional details soon, and if you want to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings on ElecTRONica, follow us on Twitter, @Disneyland.
DLNT Photographer Michael Wada went to California Adventure last Sunday to get some Pictures of the construction in the Backlot…
The new sign at the front of the Backlot warning guests of the dead-end
Yes you read that right we have an exclusive for you right here at WDW News Today we bring you straight from Walt Disney World a recording of the new on-ride audio from Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain!
As announced today on the Disney Parks Blog:
Listen up Space Mountain fans, there’s a new addition to the Walt Disney World Resort attraction that just may be music to your ears. It’s an enhanced audio experience with sounds you’ve never heard before. Walt Disney Imagineering has added a new composition that’s exclusive to the attraction at Magic Kingdom Park that will play with varying sound effects throughout all “flights” on 60 newly installed speakers. “Starry-O-Phonic Sound” compliments a slew of enhancements that debuted on Space Mountain last year, including new lighting, storyline elements and updated decor. Here’s a special message from The Space Mountain Project Team.
Today, Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom park launches a new era ins Super Sonic Space Travel! Now all flights departing from Space Mountain will zoom across the galaxies in the new dimension of Starry-O-Phonic Sound!
Space was once a silent voice, but now, every twist and turn on your galactic journey will be accompanied by a zippy musical track, the whoosh of passing asteroids, and the rush of interstellar traffic, making your space voyage an all-encompassing cosmic joy-ride.
Space Mountain had a grand re-launch in November of 2009, but Starry-O-Phonic Sound is arriving a bit later, in the Summer of 2010. We needed the extra time to test every aspect of this hyperspace audio technology, without disrupting the continued on-time departures and arrivals of this busy space hub.
We hope you enjoy this new amenity, brought to you by Starport Seven-Five. The future of space travel is sounding better all the time!
As promised we have that new audio right here for you in a WDWNT exclusive, we also have the new exit music as well. Please right click and select save as to download the audio below. Enjoy!
It seems our favorite little dragon endured a major malfunction last night. During the 9:00 showing of Fantasmic!, Murphy, about half-way through her performance, suddenly leaned forward with her snout almost touching the stage. The show was immediately canceled and the Mist Screens went up to attempt to block the view. Uh-Oh!!
If you look closely at the picture below, notice the tear in the neck of the figure…
The second showing was canceled that night. Disney has announced that Fantasmic! will continue to show without the Dragon. Tonight (8/29/10) is the last night of Summer Nightastic for The Disneyland Resort for 2010. Fantasmic is now only scheduled to show Friday through Sunday through September.
Though this isn’t earth shattering news in light of the upcoming release of Tinkerbell and The Great Fairy Rescue we do have to consider what this means for the fate of the second phase expansion of Fantasyland.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Yes, there’s a new fairy in Pixie Hollow at the Walt Disney World Resort and her name is Vidia. She’s known as the fastest-flying fairy there is and beginning today you’ll be able to meet Vidia and her other pixie friends – including the world’s most beloved fairy Tinker Bell – at Magic Kingdom Park. Vidia is one of the stars of the upcoming movie “Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue”set to be released on Blu-ray, DVD and via movie download on September 21.
Though we have heard rumors that Pixie Hollow maybe off the table a lot may have to do with just how well this latest installment of the Tinker Bell series of DVD movie releases does. Either way it seems that WDW hasn’t thrown in the towel quite yet on this franchise. As always you can see the ongoing progress of the Fantasyland Expansion at our project tracker. Stay tuned right here for more information on the ever changing Fantasyland expansion as it becomes available.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Hang on to your hats and glasses because there’s a new signature suite at the Disneyland Hotel – the Big Thunder Suite. Today we’re giving you a sneak peek at the Big Thunder Suite, and in the coming weeks, we’ll also share details of some of the other signature suites, including the new Fairy Tale Suite, Mickey Mouse Penthouse and Pirates of the Caribbean Suite. All are located on the 11th floor of the hotel’s Dreams Tower and boast a distinct design, luxurious amenities and amazing views.
The Big Thunder Suite is the wildest suite in the wilderness and immerses up to six pioneers in 1,400-square-feet of luxurious rustic accommodations inspired by the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction at Disneyland park.
Howling wolves sound to the push of the suite’s doorbell as guests step into a mine shaft foyer inlaid with Fool’s Gold and hear the rumble of a passing runaway mine train. A button on the wall can be pushed to trigger sound effects from the attraction. The mine shaft leads into a living and dining area that separates the suite’s two bedrooms. In many rooms, repurposed wood from a Midwestern barn is used as flooring and paneling, which is complimented by textured earthen walls.
A stone-hearth fireplace in the living area serves as the suite’s centerpiece and houses a mounted flat-panel television. When not in use, the TV is cleverly concealed by one of the many pieces of attraction concept art found throughout the suite. The living area also includes a surround sound-stereo system and displays antique tools once used for mining gold, including an 1850s gold scale and pan.
The centerpiece of the dining area is a knotted table with seating for eight, with a wagon-wheel chandelier. Nearby is a wet bar made of petrified wood and above the bar hangs a “living portrait” of a gold miner who magically changes activities over the course of the day.
Rustic décor belies the luxurious amenities found in the suite’s two bedrooms. The master bedroom is appointed with a desk, sitting area, TV and king-sized bed with a commanding headboard made of rich wood, brown leather and exposed brackets.
The master bath is revealed through a sliding barn door, where a free-standing copper tub is surrounded by a dramatic stone wall. The tub’s copper finish matches the copper piping in the adjacent steam shower, which is tiled with an earth-tone mosaic. A television is concealed behind the mirror above the bathroom’s bucket sinks.
To inquire about prices and availability, please call (714) 956-6425.
I was at Disneyland for a day and happen to capture quite a bit of newsworthy photos including Little Mermaid, Cars Land, World of Color, and much more…
Quick look at the self checkout kiosks at stroller rental
It would seem that as WDW expands it’s free dining promotion to allow more guests the pleasure of dining at the great restaurants around the resort, changes are being made to keep up with the high demand.
For just 14 days in August and 14 days in September-October, Chef Mickey’s restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is adding a lunch buffet, complete with Disney Characters to meet and greet diners.
High demand for the free dining package necessitates the expanded dining time, but anyone (not just guests on the package) can make a reservation at 407-WDW-DINE or here. Cost is $28.75 including tax, $15.97 ages 3 to 9, under 3 free.
Dates are now through Aug. 28, and Sept. 19-Oct. 2. Lunch hours are 12:30-2:30 p.m. Breakfast and dinner are still offered as usual.
It will be interesting to see what happens to restaurant schedules next year as the free dining promotion is available for most of year with just a few blackout dates if you book before mid-december. As always stay tuned to WDW News Today for this and more news as it becomes available.
Moving to Disneyland this year with a new name, Mickey’s Halloween Party is the separate-ticket event that invites adults and children to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at the resort. This nighttime celebration is scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays in October (1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26 and 29) plus Halloween night itself, Sunday, Oct. 31. Highlights include:
For Halloween fun at Disneyland, guests will enjoy Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy in Tomorrowland. The experience begins as a typical Space Mountain adventure, but suddenly launches voyagers into a haunted section of the universe. Ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and swirling galaxies of Space Mountain, reaching out as if to grab guests as they speed through space. The exhilarating drops and curves of the journey are punctuated by piercing screams, creepy sound effects and haunting music.
Halloween Time offers frightfully delightful fun for children and adults.
