Light Cycles to Illuminate “Highway in the Sky”

WDWNT on March 10, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Disney Monorail Trains to Feature TRON: LEGACY Art

Nope, your eyes are not deceiving you…that’s a light cycle from the Tron universe on our “highway in the sky.” And today, we’re sharing a first look at the attention-grabbing art coming to the Walt Disney World Resort.

The transformed trains will be visible on the Epcot monorail line as early as this month. And if you look close, you’ll notice that the design of the futuristic motorcycle-like vehicles from the upcoming film Tron: Legacy also includes walls of trailing colored light.

Disney Monorail Trains to Feature TRON: LEGACY Art

Tron: Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on December 17. But there will be more updates to come before then so keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for the latest.

Disney Announces “Premier Passport” for U.S. Parks

WDWNT on March 10, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Disney Premier Passport

Breaking news…we just announced during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting that a new premium annual pass for admission to the parks at both Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort will be offered beginning Thursday. It’s called “Disney Premier Passport” and it’ll feature the same benefits you get with the “premium” annual passes for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts for $700, plus applicable- sales tax.

So, what’s in it for you? At Walt Disney World:

And at Disneyland Resort:

  • Unlimited admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Parks for a period of one year, including park hopping privileges
  • Parking at any pay-on-entry parking lot
  • Subscription to Backstage Pass.
  • Complimentary subscription to Disney’s Family Fun Magazine (one per household)

If you’re already holding a Premium Annual Pass for both Resorts, you’ll automatically be issued a “Disney Premier Passport” – with an expiration date based on the later of the two annual passes. You may also upgrade your annual or seasonal pass for one resort to a “Disney Premier Passport” for an additional fee.

The Passport will be available for sale at the Disneyland Resort box office and Walt Disney World Guest Relations windows beginning tomorrow. So, sound interesting? Let us know what you think.

D23 Announces Destination D 2010 & D23 Expo 2011

WDWNT on March 10, 2010

BURBANK, Calif. – March 10, 2010 – It’s a milestone year for the Disneyland® Resort, and D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans is celebrating with the premiere of DESTINATION D, a brand-new, two-day event exclusively for D23 Members that illuminates Disney’s fascinating history.

D23 announced its latest members-only event on its first anniversary – capping a year in which Disney’s first-ever fan community grew to encompass tens of thousands of members from all 50 U.S. states and more than 30 countries worldwide.

The inaugural DESTINATION D, whose theme is “Disneyland ’55,” will be held this Sept. 24-25. DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 will take D23 Members on a journey through the design, creation, debut and magical history of the world’s first Disney theme park. The first DESTINATION D will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel.

DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 will offer two full days of special presentations, panels, screenings and guest speakers that let fans meet and talk with key figures in Disneyland’s history. Future DESTINATION D events will explore other important aspects of Disney’s creative legacy. Following its premiere in September, DESTINATION D will alternate annually with the enormously popular D23 EXPO.

The next D23 EXPO is set for Aug. 19-21, 2011, returning to the Anaheim Convention Center. Tickets for the 2011 D23 EXPO will go on sale Aug. 19 (one year in advance), with specially priced tickets available exclusively to D23 Members. In addition, D23 Charter Members will have access to a special Charter Member Lounge at the 2011 D23 EXPO, at no additional cost.

The first-ever D23 EXPO attracted nearly 40,000 Disney fans when it debuted last September, bringing the entire world of Disney under one massive roof. During the D23 EXPO, fans were treated to appearances by superstars like Johnny Depp, Miley Cyrus and John Travolta; explored exciting, new concepts and attractions from Disney Parks and Walt Disney Imagineering; peered into Disney’s history at special panels, presentations and displays; and discovered the newest entertainment, products and events from throughout The Walt Disney Company.

“The first D23 EXPO surpassed all of our expectations, and our 2011 Expo is already shaping up to be a jaw-dropping, not-to-be missed showcase of the best and brightest Disney has to offer,” said Steven Clark, head of D23.

“We’re very excited to also be creating an entirely new event with DESTINATION D, which will bring Disney’s fascinating history to D23 Members in ways no other Disney fan can experience,” Clark said. “There’s nowhere on earth quite as special as Disneyland, and we want fans to see it as they never have before.”

The D23 team is in the midst of developing exclusive programming for DESTINATION D – but an early peek at plans reveals a host of special speakers, presentations and panels throughout the two-day event, including:

  • “Disneyland: The Way We Were” – Disney’s Chief Archivist Dave Smith will look back at highlights from Disneyland history;
  • “Disney Undiscovered” – An exploration of never-built projects and attractions developed for Disneyland;
  • “23 on 55” – The Walt Disney Archives celebrates Disneyland’s 55th anniversary;
  • “Weird Disney” – A showcase for some of the quirky, little-known facts, places, people and ideas that even the most avid fan might not know.

More details on the programming and events planned for DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 – as well as details about the 2011 D23 EXPO – will be available soon at www.disney.com/D23. Tickets will go on sale early this summer.

DESTINATION D joins a lineup of special events throughout 2010 designed exclusively for D23 Members. Among them are free screenings of classic Disney movies during the “50 & Fabulous” film festival at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank; members-only tours of the famed Walt Disney Archives; an exclusive Sip & Stroll event during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival; and holiday-themed Magic and Merriment weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

A Closer Look at the 2010 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

WDWNT on March 9, 2010

Instead of posting one enormous photo report from our latest trip to Walt Disney World, we decided to break it up a little bit. The 2010 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival began at Epcot on March 3rd despite an incredibly cold winter in Central Florida. Don’t be deceived by the photos below, these pictures are from this year’s festival, Disney just recycled a number of the topiaries and such from 2009. We hope you enjoy these photos taken by Jose Castillo and Tom Corless:

The theme for this year is “The Great Outdoors”, even though this is the only area that showcases that theme

Read More about A Closer Look at the 2010 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

New Concept Art of the Fantasyland Forest Expansion

WDWNT on March 8, 2010

While the presentation about the Fantasyland Expansion during the D23 First Anniversary party did not allow photography of any kind, there were ten pieces of artwork on display at Ariel’s Grotto during the party, some new, some you may have seen before:

The overall view, nothing new here

Old concept art of Dumbo’s Circus area and the “Dueling Dumbos”

The exterior of “Dreams Come True with Cinderella”

Old concept art of “Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid”. A new version of this artwork was shown during the presentation, however, photography was not allowed. The ride will use omnimover vehicles very much like those found at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Old concept art of “A Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty”

Old concept art of “Dreams Come True with Cinderella”

Old concept art of Gaston’s Tavern

New concept art of the cottage that will hold the magic mirror transporting guests into “Enchanted Tales with Belle”

Older concept art of “Be Our Guest” Restaurant, but take note of the “living character” Lumiere being wheeled around, along with the stained glass windows featuring Beauty and the Beast characters towards the back of the room

New concept art showing the entrance to the Beast’s Castle and the “Be Our Guest” Restaurant

Video of Updated Frontierland Hoedown

WDWNT on March 8, 2010

Although it is not listed on any Magic Kingdom times guides yet, Disney is testing a new version of the long-running Frontierland Hoedown daily at 9:40, 10:40, & 11:40AM daily. Here is a video of the updated show taken by WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee:

Pixar Showing its “Color”

WDWNT on March 6, 2010

Here is a video released by the Disney Parks Blog showing some animation from Pixar that will be used in World of Color, also the video shows  some very neat features of World of Color that we have yet to see…

In this video, you can see fountain testing from the viewing area , the full mist screen with animation testing, projection dome testing, and much more.

No More Sandals in Downtown Disney

WDWNT on March 4, 2010

From The OC Register:

A casual shoe store quickly became one of the top sellers in Downtown Disney after it opened in November. But Sanuk is set to shut down as early as March 14 when its temporary agreement ends.

Sanuk and Disney are in talks to find a new location within Downtown Disney, but nothing has been found yet, said James Crush, marketing manager for Sanuk Footwear.

“We are working with Sanuk to develop future opportunities in Downtown Disney,” said Betsy Sanchez, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman, in a prepared statement.

The Irvine-based footwear company opened up its first-ever stand-alone store in November as a temporary location for the holiday season in partnership with the Haagen-Dazs owner. Sanuk originally was supposed to close in January so that the store next door, Ridemakerz, could begin its expansion.

Because of delays in the renovations, Sanuk was able to stay longer. Ridemakerz also is set to close March 14 so it can start construction, Sanchez said.

“The store has been very, very successful. We’ve had huge days in the last few months. Disney is happy and we’re happy,” Crush said.

The problem is, there are no open storefronts in the tightly packed shopping district.

Sanuk usually sells its handmade shoes in surf shops and upscale stores, including Barneys New York and Fred Segal. The 10-year-old company specializes in comfortable shoes, including flip-flops made of yoga mats and closed sandal shoes that give the feeling of bare feet, Crush said.

The Downtown Disney store has become popular with tourists with tired feet who want to keep walking around the parks, Crush said.

“We’re waiting for an opening in one of the other retailers to open up for us so can get a permanent location,” Crush said. “The success of the store has really helped our cause.”

Sanuk is the Thai word for fun.

New Residents Coming To Main Street

WDWNT on March 4, 2010

From the Disney Parks blog:

We’ve all heard it and we’ve all sung it and that’s what makes “it’s a small world” one of the most translated and performed songs on earth. Richard and Robert Sherman are the talented brothers who wrote the famous tune that you can’t get out of your head. You’ve probably also heard their other wonderful pieces of work throughout Disneyland park – past and present: Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, Adventures Through Space, as well as a long list of Disney motion-picture musical scores that includes “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” “Bedknobs and Broomsticks,” “The Aristocats” and “Winnie the Pooh.” Next week the Sherman Brothers will be given one of the most prestigious honors that a Disney cast member can receive, a window on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland park. In the attached video, enjoy a look back at these talented brothers singing with Walt Disney himself.

Richard’s and Robert’s window is far overdue and very deserving for someone who wrote the music to some of the greatest movies and attractions Disney has ever made.

The Silly Swings Gets Its Top

WDWNT on March 2, 2010

Silly Symphony Swings

From The Disney Parks Blog:

Many people have posted photos online of Silly Symphony Swings, a new attraction coming to Paradise Pier in Disney’s California Adventure park later this year. Today we’re giving you a chance to see how some of the magic happens behind the scenes. The photo above shows Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Dimensional Designer Steve Cotroneo sculpting a four-foot tall Mickey Mouse that you can now see at the very top of Silly Symphony Swings.

For those of you who many not be familiar with the attraction, Silly Symphony Swings is a classic swing attraction, and it’s themed to Walt Disney’s animated short, “The Band Concert” (1935). In the musical cartoon, Mickey Mouse is trying to conduct a presentation of the “William Tell Overture” by Gioachino Rossini, but Donald Duck interrupts him and chaos follows. When Mickey finally regains control of his orchestra, they are all swept up in a passing tornado.

In the attraction, guests will see Mickey conducting the barnyard orchestra, and as a tornado passes through the Park, the central tower begins to rise and spin, and Mickey’s band concert really swings into high gear.