Another Passholder Pixie Preview

WDWNT on August 10, 2009

Just as they did for the arrival of the first Tinker Bell movie last year, Walt Disney World will be holding a special advanced screening event just for annual passholders, this time for the second film in the Tinker Bell “direct-to-DVD/Blu-ray” film series: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. Here is the event information:

At this exclusive event, Passholders can see Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure a month before it’s released on Disney DVD and Blu-Ray. The tale of Disney’s favorite fairy, Tinker Bell, continues in an all-new magical adventure beyond Pixie Hollow! Take off in a hot air balloon with Tinker Bell and her new friend Blaze on an enchanting secret journey to find a new moonstone, the source of the Pixie’s mystical dust.

Location:

Town Square Exposition Hall, Magic Kingdom® Park

Event Times:

Saturday, September 26, 2009, 10:00am, 2:00pm & 6:00pm
Sunday, September 27, 2009, 11:00am & 3:00pm

Official release date of the film on Disney DVD and Blu-Ray is October 27, 2009.

Additional Information
-Event is only for Passholders.
– Passholders need to bring along their confirmation slip, their valid Disney pass and a photo ID at the time of check-in.
– It is requested that Passholders that are booked for the event and cannot go for any reason should go to the website and cancel their reserved space to give opportunity to other Passholders to book the open space.
-Passholders should periodically check on the website, if space has opened up to reserve their preferred time.

Sign-ups for the event begin August 20th at 6:00 PM Eastern on the Walt Disney World Passholder website.

Little Sleep for a Sleepover at The Haunted Mansion

WDWNT on August 10, 2009

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

The Sutton family survived an overnight’s stay in the room with no windows or doors at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. But they didn’t get much sleep.

The mansion’s occupants simply wouldn’t let them: They stuffed the family with chocolate and soda. They groaned, screamed and cackled. Hitchhiking ghosts and a butler serenaded the visitors. A video camera was on the four family members all night.

And when the Suttons finally dozed off, the butler startled them awake.

But the family didn’t mind.

“Sleeping is for rookies,” said Jessica Sutton, 12.

The Sutton family of Santa Clarita won a night’s stay inside the classic attraction in a 95.5 KLOS radio station promotion for the Haunted Mansion’s 40th anniversary. (Read a story about the Haunted Mansion celebration HERE)

Daughters Jessica and Stephanie, 10, got the most votes among kids in a talent contest for singing “Happy Birthday” with a dog singing in the background.  The girls brought their parents, Tim and Cyndi Sutton.

The family moved in at midnight after the park closed Sunday and left at 6 a.m. this morning.

The parents prepared their youngest daughter, who can be frightened sometimes, for a scary experience by playing spooky sounds and turning out the lights before bedtime at home. On Sunday afternoon, the family took a two-and-a-half hour nap at the Disneyland Hotel.

Although they were tired this morning, the Suttons were still thrilled after admittedly one of the best night’s they’ve ever had.

The family, who visit Disneyland about once a month, started the night with a tour of the mansion while Disney employees set up three twin beds and a coffin in the chamber at the beginning of the ride. That’s the elevator that stretches as guests first enter.

After the tour, Disney treated the family to a dessert banquet, including tomb-shaped coffins, brains with raspberry sauce and cheesecake eyeballs.

“That was just to keep us up all night,” Jessica said.

Then the family was led into the suite, where they got visits from hitchhiking ghosts. A Web cam from KLOS was on them as viewers from around the world watched. Tim Sutton wrote on a specially created blog, disneyjoe.wordpress.com, which got messages from as far away as Singapore and Isreal. The family spent time playing cards, but their stay was frequently interrupted by creepy noises or warnings of critters on the loose.

Jessica chose the coffin for a bed. But both girls ended up in beds with their parents.

At the end of the night, each family member was given a key to return — in the afterlife.

A Few Refurbishment Updates

WDWNT on August 9, 2009

With so many refurbishments underway or starting soon at the Walt Disney World Resort, I though we should take a few moments to go over some important notes regarding a few of them:

-The Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) in the Magic Kingdom is still scheduled to open on August 25th. Space Mountain is also on schedule to officially open November 22nd.

-The refurbishment of Donald’s Boat in Mickey’s Toontown Fair during September has been shortened by 3 days, now taking place between September 7th and 13th.

-As mentioned in a previous report, the un-announced refurbishment of the Living with the Land boat ride at Epcot began on August 2nd and will last until October 31st. If you would like to see a video of the attraction taken on August 1st, be sure to visit this link.

-The Flights of Wonder show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will not be performing from September 13th until October 23rd. We do not know the reason for this closure at this time.

As always, you can keep track of all Walt Disney World refurbishments and upcoming events by visiting our Attractions Updates page or Walt Disney World Events Calendar.

The Princess and The Parks

WDWNT on August 7, 2009

Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (left), who provides the voice of Disney’s newest princess, Tiana, in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film “The Princess and the Frog,” poses with the new Princess Tiana character (right) as she will soon appear at the Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  Princess Tiana, made her very first public appearance Aug. 6, 2009 at the 2009 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention in Tampa, Fla. This fall, Disneyland guests will see Tiana in a colorful, jazz-filled live show, “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee,” November 6 through January 3, 2010, in New Orleans Square at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. “The Princess and the Frog” will premiere in theaters nationwide Dec. 11, 2009.

Princess Tiana Will Be Rolling On The River

WDWNT on August 7, 2009

According to the LA Times Travel Blog:

Disneyland and Walt Disney World plan to add a Mardi Gras-style musical cavalcade called Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee for the 2009 holiday season, according to theme park officials.

The jazz-infused “riverboat extravaganza” will debut at Disney World on Oct. 26 and Disneyland on Nov. 6. Both shows will run through Jan. 3.

Tied to the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog” hand-drawn animated movie, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee will feature a procession of jazzy musicians and performers parading through New Orleans Square at Disneyland and Frontierland at Disney World.

As the “second-line” procession reaches the Rivers of America dock, a group of pre-selected theme park visitors will board the waiting riverboat (the Mark Twain at Disneyland and the Liberty Belle at Disney World) where Princess Tiana and other “The Princess and the Frog” characters will greet them.

After departing, the riverboat will stop along the riverfront for a performance including songs from the film. The show will be repeated several times a day, with viewing areas along the waterfront.

Mice Age reports that the pre-selected riverboat riders will be able to pose for photos and get autographs from Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and Louis the singing alligator after the performance.

“The Princess and the Frog,” a Jazz Age story featuring Disney’s first African American princess and set in New Orleans’ French Quarter, opens in theaters Dec. 11.

Princess Tiana Will Be Rolling On The River

WDWNT on August 7, 2009

From the LA Times Travel Blog:

Disneyland and Walt Disney World plan to add a Mardi Gras-style musical cavalcade called Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee for the 2009 holiday season, according to theme park officials. The jazz-infused “riverboat extravaganza” will debut at Disney World on Oct. 26 and Disneyland on Nov. 6. Both shows will run through Jan. 3.

Tied to the upcoming “The Princess and the Frog” hand-drawn animated movie, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee will feature a procession of jazzy musicians and performers parading through New Orleans Square at Disneyland and Frontierland at Disney World.

As the “second-line” procession reaches the Rivers of America dock, a group of pre-selected theme park visitors will board the waiting riverboat (the Mark Twain at Disneyland and the Liberty Belle at Disney World) where Princess Tiana and other “The Princess and the Frog” characters will greet them. After departing, the riverboat will stop along the riverfront for a performance including songs from the film. The show will be repeated several times a day, with viewing areas along the waterfront.

Mice Age reports that the pre-selected riverboat riders will be able to pose for photos and get autographs from Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and Louis the singing alligator after the performance.

“The Princess and the Frog,” a Jazz Age story featuring Disney’s first African American princess and set in New Orleans’ French Quarter, opens in theaters Dec. 11.

DLR Photo Report – 7/29/09-8/5/09

WDWNT on August 6, 2009

I have returned from a near record setting 8 days at the wonderful Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. This trip was mainly to spend time with members of the WDWNT staff, which for some was their first visit, and for others was their 100th visit! Let’s get into the first photo report of what will be many from this past week:

On our first day, we enjoyed a meal at the recently opened Celebration Roundup and Barbecue. Left to right here you can see Matt Paul, Tom Corless, Chris Lastrapes, and Jose Castillo

Space Mountain was a favorite among everyone

The White Rabbit statue outside the restrooms near Alice in Wonderland finally has its clock-face back

The freaky looking Mickey Monsters plush have started hitting store shelves through-out the Disneyland Resort

The “What Will You Celebrate?” Disneyland Resort Harbor Blvd. entrance

Read More about DLR Photo Report – 7/29/09-8/5/09

Living Without The Land

WDWNT on August 6, 2009

An un-announced refurbishment of the Living with the Land attraction at Epcot has begun and will have the attraction closed through October 31, 2009. WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve was at Epcot a few days ago and has a few pictures to share:

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To see more, we must head inside…

Read More about Living Without The Land