Fires All Around The Resort

WDWNT on May 19, 2010

Today there was a small fire at the Grand Californian Hotel in the Storyteller’s Cafe at about 8:30 a.m.

From the OC Register:

A fire broke out in a pizza oven in the hotel’s Storytellers Cafe, where French toast was being prepared, Sabol said. The heat prompted a sprinkler to go off, spraying water into the oven and creating smoke and steam, Brown said.

About 1,000 hotel guests and employees were evacuated from the restaurant and that wing of the hotel, leaving through the lobby to the valet drop-off area, Brown said. Firefighters searched all the floors.

No injuries were reported and the hotel once again open to the public.

And then there was a second fire alarm today this time located in New Orleans Square.

Pirates stopped sending new boats and Blue Bayou closed it’s doors for 10 minutes. The cause was found to be a false alarm on a elevator.  They re-opened shortly after

Chris Lastrapes’ 5/17/10 Mini-DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on May 18, 2010

DLNT Reporter Chris Lastrapes took a small trip to the Disneyland Resort today and has some newsworthy photos to share…

[smugmug url=”http://wdwnt.smugmug.com/hack/feed.mg?Type=gallery&Data=12224169_iGr2g&format=rss200″ imagecount=”14″ start=”1″ num=”14″ thumbsize=”Th” link=”lightbox” captions=”true” sort=”true” window=”false” smugmug=”false” size=”L”]]

Thanks for the Mini-Report Chris

“it’s a refurbishment after all”

WDWNT on May 14, 2010

5/15/10 UPDATE – WDI and WDW have stated that they are not adding characters to the attraction at this time.

The classic Magic Kingdom attraction “it’s a small world” is now listed on the Walt Disney World website as closed for refurbishment from August 1st through October 22nd, 2010. While we have no idea what could be part of this refurbishment, it is really strange to see an attraction that just received an extensive overhaul 5 years ago closing for an extended period of time. Is it possible that some Disney characters might be added to a few scenes of the attraction, much like they appear at Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland? We’ll just have to wait and see. Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming refurbishment as it becomes available.

Star Tours Closing Dates Announced

WDWNT on May 13, 2010

We have confirmation on the closing dates for Star Tours at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From the Disney Parks Blog:

A first look at a new droid, R2-MK, with Jedi Mickey can only mean that “Star Wars Weekends” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is around the corner. But today, were looking even further ahead in the galaxy to the “reimagining” of Star Tours at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts. Scheduled to open in 2011, the power of the Force and the magic of Disney once again will combine to create an all-new Star Tours. When it reopens, it’ll feature a new 3-D, immersive experience that’ll take guests to familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy. To prepare for the reopening, Star Tours will close at Disneyland Park on July 27 and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on September 8.

If you’d you like to take a last daily express ride to Endor, make your plans to visit the parks before the closing dates. And as we announced last week, there will be a special “Last Tour to Endor” party on August 14 during “Star Wars Celebration V” in Orlando. For more information about “Star Wars Celebration V” and to purchase tickets, check out www.starwarscelebration.com.

R2-MK and Star Tours Closing Dates Confirmed

WDWNT on May 13, 2010

R2-MK is coming to the parks as we reported, but we also have confirmation on the closing dates for Star Tours at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From the Disney Parks Blog:

A first look at a new droid, R2-MK, with Jedi Mickey can only mean that “Star Wars Weekends” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is around the corner. But today, were looking even further ahead in the galaxy to the “reimagining” of Star Tours at Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts. Scheduled to open in 2011, the power of the Force and the magic of Disney once again will combine to create an all-new Star Tours. When it reopens, it’ll feature a new 3-D, immersive experience that’ll take guests to familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy. To prepare for the reopening, Star Tours will close at Disneyland Park on July 27 and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on September 8.

If you’d you like to take a last daily express ride to Endor, make your plans to visit the parks before the closing dates. And as we announced last week, there will be a special “Last Tour to Endor” party on August 14 during “Star Wars Celebration V” in Orlando. For more information about “Star Wars Celebration V” and to purchase tickets, check out www.starwarscelebration.com.