Disneyland News Today has acquired the very first picture of the new dragon set to debut in Fantasmic!:
Keep an eye out on Fantasmic! this weekend, as “Murphy” is strongly rumored to debut. Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for the latest on this story.
With the huge D23 Expo just a few days away, could this video be peppered with tidbits teasing some announcements for the future of the Disney Parks, or are some of these things a little further off?:
Some interesting notes with the times in the video they appear:
-At 0:19, there are fountains set on fire. Is this something we will see in World of Color at Disney’s California Adventure or somewhere else?
-At 0:45, there is a portrait of Master Gracey that changes as the Imagineer waves his hand over it, could this technology be coming to The Haunted Mansion?
-At 1:14, there are two men animating a Jack Sparrow character through motion capture technology. Is this for the interactive experience coming to the Disney Cruise Line?
-At 1:52, there is a space alien (we think it’s an alien) behind an Imagineer. Could this be something new for Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom or for the next generation Star Tours attraction?
-From 2:17 to 2:21, you can see a man walking in a real environment and interacting with projected characters, a creature made of ice and Tinker Bell. For a while I have been hearing rumors of an experience where guests would be able to enter environments and interact with “real” characters via RFID technology. Could this be it?
-At 2:22, there is a really strange (but very cool) spinning simulator-type vehicle with mounted guns. What could this be?
This very interesting video has left me with a ton of questions that I hope will be answered at the D23 Expo. What do you think these things are? Be sure to let us know in the WDWNT Network Community Forums!
The Disney Gallery set to open this Fall in the former Bank of Main Street Building!
Like most, you’ve probably missed visiting The Disney Gallery on your recent trips to Disneyland® park. Well, good news! the hotspot for viewing original and one-of-a-kind Disney artwork and artifacts is ready to re-open in the fall at its new location – in the former Bank of Main Street, right next to the Disneyland® Opera House.
This new location offers roughly the same amount of area as the gallery’s previous home above the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (which is now occupied by the Disneyland® Dream Suite). And, just as before, The Disney Gallery will be made up of three separate rooms – two exhibit rooms and a gift shop. “This will allow us to tell on continuous story, or three separate stories, as we used to in the former gallery,” said Kim Irvine, Walt Disney Imagineering and Art Director for this project. She also told us that the unique qualities of the building have been incorporated into the gallery’s theme: “We’ll maintain the bank look and architecture and visually tell the story that this was an old bank that has been turned into an art gallery. Guests will still see remnants of the old bank influence – like the vault!” So be sure to stop in and visit this longtime favorite attraction and store in its new digs.
Please continue to watch for the opening date and a list of exhibits, events and Disney inspired artwork!
Artwork shown: Madame Leota by Yakovetic and Haunted Mansion by George Scribner
While many have reported that the special dining program featuring the “living character” of Remy from Disney-Pixar’s Ratatouille meeting and greeting guests at the Les Chefs De France restaurant in the France pavilion at Epcot would be coming to an end this fall, a recent listing on the Disney Auditions website says otherwise:
Disney Auditions is seeking male and female comedic improv actors for Bon Appetit with Chef Remy, performed inside Les Chefs de France in Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort, near Orlando, FL. Strong candidates should have subtle timing, be capable of working alone and have puppetry experience. Bilingual actors fluent in French and English, are desired. Some French speaking is required.
The popularity of the program has been undeniable and it looks like they will continue to have the “little chef” cooking up fun in France for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this breaking story.
Mitchel Musso CD Signing & Appearance
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009
Time: 1 PM to 2 PM
Location: Studio Disney 365, Downtown Disney® District
Join us as we welcome Actor & Singer Mitchel Musso from the hit Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana”. Mitchel will be on hand for a special appearance and signing of his adventurous self-titled debut album, Mitchel Musso. The meet & greet and signing opportunity will take place from 1 PM to 2 PM on Thursday, September 3, 2009 at Studio Disney 365 located in the Downtown Disney® District in Anaheim, CA. Mitchel will be appearing at Studio Disney 365 prior to his concert being held at the House of Blues® Anaheim later in the evening. Tickets for this performance will be available at the House of Blues Box office or in advance at www.houseofblues.com.
Mitchel’s self-titled debut album will be available to purchase at Studio Disney 365, as well as other CD’s featuring music by Mitchel.
We ask that you please do not queue up prior to 6AM at Studio Disney 365. Please note: Photographs are permitted, however posing with Mitchel Musso will not be allowed. Merchandise available while supplies last. We ask that only one (1) item be signed per Guest. We ask that you bring no personal items to be signed. Event merchandise must be purchased on the day of release at the event location. Valid Disneyland® Resort receipt may be required. Signing is subject to space and time availability and is not guaranteed. Event information subject to change without notice. Separate admission is required to enter Disneyland® Resort theme parks.
WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve made a short visit to Epcot on Friday and has a few interesting photos to share with us of his trip:
Work on the Innoventions East breezeway is wrapping up
The Walt Disney World website has just been updated with new dates for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, now running from November 10, 2009, until January 4, 2010. The site originally had the Disney’s Hollywood Studios nighttime holiday event slated to debut at the end of November (as it surprisingly did in 2008), but was recently changed to move the starting date up by about 2 weeks. We have to believe that this change was in response to a large number of complaints made last year by guests who visited in mid-November and were shocked to find out the lights would not run during their vacation.
Matt Paul took a trip to the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Friday and has a plethora of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look at his report:
Starting at the Magic Kingdom, work on the Emporium’s Arcade facade continues
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:
The image of a giant glowing dragon spitting fire graces most promotional material — billboards, flags, fliers — for Disney’s Summer Nightastic events.
But the theme park’s official summer season will end this weekend without any appearance of the dragon in the water-and-light Fantasmic show because of technical difficulties.
Still, Disney officials promise that fans should get ample time to see the dragon, once it’s ready, because the Fantasmic show will be extended until the end of the year, said John McClintock, a Disneyland spokesman. Disney recently decided to add extra time for the show. On busy days, a third show is added at 11:30 p.m.
But a firm date for the dragon’s debut has yet to be released.
The dragon was supposed to emerge as the centerpiece of a revamped Fantasmic show, stretching 35 feet high in 17 seconds as “Sleeping Beauty” character Maleficent transformed into a dragon in the water and light show. The dragon then was to ignite the Rivers of America for 25 seconds, according to Disney’s press materials.
The dragon was designed to be 40 feet tall by 28 feet wide, weighing about 10,000 pounds.
But the dragon has yet to get off the ground in public, prompting much debate and discussion among Disney fans online. Fans even gave the dragon the nickname of Murphy after Murphy’s Law.
Disney has continued to release the same official statement about the dragon:
“Our goal is to exceed our Guests’ expectations every day. Because the dragon is technically complex and the largest and most fully animated Disney character ever created for a live stage show, we want it to be perfect before adding it to Fantasmic! However, Fantasmic! is a summer tradition at Disneyland, and we’re glad we have been able to offer the show throughout the summer. We’re happy so many Guests have been able to experience it.”
Al Lutz, editor of Miceage.com, a Disney watchdog blog, said he has heard that the dragon may be up soon, but he isn’t sure he believes it after so many delays. Lutz has monitored the behind-the-scenes problems on his blog.
“I’ve never seen so much attention on one thing,” Lutz said of the fans. “I find it fascinating.”
The Summer Nightastic season officially runs June 12 through Sunday, although some features will go beyond this weekend.
Here is the schedule for some promotions:
- Disney’s Electrical Parade in Disney’s California Adventure will go on for the last time Sunday.
- Sunday is the last day for Southern California residents to buy three day passes for $99. The first visit must be made on Sunday at the latest.
- The fireworks show, called “Magical,” will go on nightly through Labor Day and on weekends until Sept. 20. A special Halloween fireworks show is set to begin Sept. 25.
- Fantasmic shows will be nightly through Labor Day and on weekends through the end of the year.
Since July 20th, Walt Disney World has been testing the concept of centralized Fastpass distribution in the parks at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The test has now been running for a month and seems to be working quite well. WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve has tested the system and has some photos and insight to share:
All Animal Kingdom Fastpass is being distributed at the “It’s Tough to be a Bug” distribution area on Discovery Island
The machines are clearly labeled for each attraction and there are more than enough cast members working in the area
The Fastpass machines are not linked to the overall system, allowing you to get Fastpass for multiple attractions at once. However, you can not get another Fastpass for an attraction that you are already holding a Fastpass for until the time on the bottom of your ticket rolls around. This means that the machines at the individual attractions and the machines for that attraction on Discovery Island are linked, but the machines at the individual attractions are not linked to each-other. I hope that was understandable 🙂
This centralized distribution location is open daily from park opening until 3 PM when the area is prepared for Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on this testing becomes available.
