Chuck Canzoneri’s Earth Day Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2009

After a 3 month break, our very own Chuck Canzoneri returns with a new Disneyland Park photo report:

Spring Break is over, however summer certainly isn’t here yet

Construction around the Astro Orbitor and here (the old Cosmic Waves)

Timothy is missing from Dumbo, The Flying Elephant

And someone is missing from Small World as well

This duck on the Storybook Land Canal Boats is not to scale with his surroundings

Read More about Chuck Canzoneri’s Earth Day Photo Report

Supernanny Star Jo Frost to Meet With Fans at Downtown Disney

WDWNT on April 23, 2009

LOS ANGELES, April 23 /PRNewswire/ — The star of ABC’s popular parenting series Supernanny, Jo Frost, will meet with fans at Downtown Disney to share parenting tips on Saturday, April 25th at 12:00PM. The casting team for the show will be on hand to meet with families who would like to be on the just announced sixth season of the hit show or the new parenting show called Super-Manny. Producers from Shed Media US are hosting open casting calls on Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th from 12:00PM to 4:00PM at Downtown Disney District in front of the AMC Theatres at the Disneyland Resort.

This season producers are searching for families with unique interests, parents who have ordinary and extraordinary circumstances, teen moms, parents with mean girls or bullying boys, culturally diverse parents, and blended families where both sides are seeking help. Producers are looking for families from every type of background who are ready for the opportunity of a lifetime–a visit from America’s number one nanny, Jo Frost or the world’s first Super-Manny, Mike Ruggles!

Interested moms and dads in need of help with their out of control kids may apply from anywhere via www.supernanny.com. Parents can also call 877/NANNY TIME (1-877-626-6984) for more information.

More Details on the Pirates League

WDWNT on April 23, 2009

Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel has more details on the “Pirates League” coming to Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom this summer, including pricing, an opening date, and when you can start making reservations:

The new Pirates League will try to do for buccaneers what the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique has done for little princesses at Disney World.

The attraction, which will open at Magic Kingdom theme park June 29, will perform swashbuckling makeovers. Participants will receive pirate names before receiving a variety of accessories, including beards, eye patches, scarves, scars, earrings and gold teeth. These will be applied by a “veteran pirate” with sea-sailing tales.

After taking a sacred oath and an official portrait, guests will be part of Jack Sparrow’s gang.

There will be three pirate packages.

+ First Mate Package ($49.95): bandana, choice of facial effects, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, 5×7 photo and a “personalized pirate oath.”

+ Empress Package ($49.95): bandana, “shimmering” makeup, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, 5×7 photo and a “personalized pirate oath.”

+ Captains Package ($124.95): choice of costume, facial effects, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, three 5×7 photos and the personalized oath.

The League will be located in the area between the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and the Pirates Merchandise shop. (Disney says this is currently backstage territory.)

But hang tight, mateys: Reservations cannot be made until May 11.

Imagine the Past (or the Future?)

WDWNT on April 23, 2009

While browsing the new-and-improved official Walt Disney World website, I stumbled over something interesting on an attraction information page. The page displaying information about the “Imageworks – The KODAK What If Labs”  at Epcot seems to have a few errors (or are they):

ImageWorks – The Kodak “What If” Labs features a vast array of hands-on, sensory-themed activities and exhibits where you can exercise your imagination and explore your creative side in exciting exhibits that include:

Dreamfinder’s School of Drama – Become the star of your very own film using greenscreen technology
Stepping Tones – Create your own music by stepping on electronic picture panels
Figment’s Coloring Book – Using electric paintbrush guns, add a little color to Figment and Dreamfinder
Electric Philharmonic – Conduct an orchestra through the use of electronic sensors
Rainbow Corridor – Stroll through an illuminated tunnel where colored lights follow you
Vibrating Mirrors – Watch as your reflection changes right before your eyes
Kaleidoscopes – Spin eye-popping colors in intricate designs via large-size kaleidoscopes
Voice-Activated Lumia – Speak out and behold a bevy of shimmering light effects
Bubble Projectors – Blow virtual bubbles on a circular screen and create colorful colors
Figment’s Melody Maker – Help Figment play an instrument to the tune of “One Little Spark”

The exhibits marked in bold lettering all closed as part of the original Imageworks in October 1998 for the refurbishment that brought together the new/current Imageworks, Journey Into Your Imagination (still makes me cringe), and renamed the pavilion “Imagination!”. Why would a website just updated in 2009 feature information this dated? Why are the old exhibits mixed together with the current ones on this list (Mind you, Stepping Tones has existed both upstairs and downstairs)? It’s no secret that Walt Disney Imagineering is working on an update to this troubled Future World pavilion, as a matter of fact, most of the company has already been made aware that the entire “Imagination!” pavilion is going to be handed over to Imagineering before next summer. So what’s going on? Is this just a mistake, or is this a hint of things to come? We’ll just have to wait and see. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more on this story as it develops.

DLR Photo Report :: 4/21/09

WDWNT on April 22, 2009

My parents visited the Disneyland Resort today while I was unfortunately in school. The reason for this visit was my father’s birthday, and he of course got his Birthday Fun Card. Here’s some photos they were able to get for us:

Monorail Orange pulling into the Downtown Disney Monorail Station

Food and Wine Festival banners in Downtown Disney

A tent has been set up in the middle of Sunshine Plaza for the Festival Welcome Center

Read More about DLR Photo Report :: 4/21/09

UPDATED: “The Pirate’s League” Coming to Adventureland

WDWNT on April 21, 2009

Since I see the Twitterverse (many people on Twitter) has picked up on it, I’ll let you what I know about thus far on ” The Pirate’s League”, coming to Adventureland:

-It will be the Bibbidi Bobbiti Boutique for boys, dressing up kids (for a hefty price) in Pirate paraphernalia and giving them Pirate lessons very similar to those given in the Jack Sparrow Pirate Tutorial. Similar to how the Boutique takes boy customers, girls will be allowed to do the same, even though it is geared towards the swashbuckling boys.

-The location will be the long sealed section of the Caribbean Plaza market at the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean, once mostly used to provide families of guests with group pictures dressed as pirates.

-“The Pirate’s League” is scheduled to begin operating early in the summer, at least opening by 4th of July weekend.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information and an official announcement on the upcoming “Pirate’s League” in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom.

UPDATE 10:50 PM: The DisneyShawn blog has the first piece of concept art released for “The Pirate’s League:”

Go Green! Celebrate Earth Day in Style!

WDWNT on April 21, 2009

This Earth Day, celebrate in style, Disney style that is. The Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resort are pleased to offer an array of environmentally friendly merchandise offerings including tee’s, accessories, bags, plush, stationary and more.

One of our most popular items includes the Every Tree Has Character – Reusable Bag. Choose to Re-Use! Be sure to stop in and pick up one of our Every Tree Has Character Reusable Bags for only $2.95, plus tax. The bags will be available at select locations throughout the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resorts as well as World of Disney® Store New York. Regardless of your purchase of the “Every Tree Has Character” bag, Disney has made a contribution to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund helping wildlife and wild places around the globe.

About the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund:
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund* (DWCF) helps to protect and study some of the world’s most endangered plants, animals and habitats. To date the DWCF has contributed more than $12 million to non-profit conservation and animal welfare organizations supporting projects in 110 countries. To learn more about this effort for wildlife, wild places and the people link to their survival, please visit www.disneyconservation.com. *The DWCF is a Disney initiative to support conservation and animal welfare and is not a US 501(C)(3) public charity.

Find all of these items and more at locations throughout Disney Parks & Resorts:

Disneyland® Resort locations include Emporium, Greetings from California, Disney Vault 28 and World of Disney® Store, among others.

Walt Disney World® Resort locations include Emporium, Mickey’s of Hollywood, Island Mercantile, Tren-D, and World of Disney® Store in Downtown Disney® as well as New York

In honor of Earth Day our teams have worked hard to use recycled and re-usable items to enhance the displays in our locations. Below are a few images of some of the newest displays and fun facts regarding the recycled items.

Downtown Disney® District – World of Disney® Store:

  • The trunk and branches of the tree are made mostly using copper tubing, reclaimed from various places around the Resort. The leaves are created by using 51 Disneylandˊ maps and 51 Annual Passport brochures with 40′ of detonation wire from the nightly presentation of “Remember… Dreams Come True” Fireworks Spectacular. Hidden in the limbs of the tree include a piece of electrical channel from one of the attractions in Fantasyland, one brass heat lamp from a New Orleans Square restaurant, one .25″ slice of the track from the Disneylandˊ steam trains track, one horseshoe from Circle D, 6″ of twisted brass tubing from one of the carousel horses at King Arthur Carrousel, one gas pump nozzle from Transportation Services, three water valves, 18″ of brass chain from various queue lines, two circular saw blades from the Mill Shop, two decorative finial caps from fencing found in New Orleans Square, six iron rosettes from fencing found at “it’s a small world”, two roller coaster gears from California Screamin’, a brass coffee machine filter from a New Orleans Square restaurant and fifteen various pipes and elbow joints from Resort plumbing and irrigation.
  • The globe is a re-purposed clear acrylic dome, that was once used as a small scale sample of the large castle snow globes which are currently displayed in the World of Disney® Store & Emporium. Acrylic paint was sponged on the inside, 1.5 lbs of sawdust was utilized from our Disneyland® Resort Mill Shop and 3.5 lbs of shredded Disney Photopass cards were used to create the continents.
  • The back pads were made of the following: 54 square feet of recycled packaging paper, six square feet of giami paper, 2 Mickey head-shaped logos painted in watercolor on 4′ of recycled cardboard and “Love the Land” letters which were cut out of recycled cardboard and painted with acrylic paint.
  • The Disneynature Earth posters were printed with uv cured ink.

Disney Vault 28

  • The Men’s shirt is made of 132 Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse main entrance passports and is held together by 798 aluminum chain links. The sandals are of 14 main entrance passports, 8 layers of corrugated cardboard and 14″ of computer ribbon.
  • Our ladies dress has been created from 122 main entrance passports and is held together with 3′ of detonation wire from the Disneyland® Resort fireworks show. The purse was created from 24 main entrance passports and the unique flower attached on the purse was created from 10 picnic Disney Photopass cards. The sandals were made from 12 main entrance passports, 8 layers of corrugated cardboard and 14″ of computer ribbon.
  • The Disney Nature Earth posters were printed with soy based ink.
  • Display Glass Risers were created from pounds of recycled crushed glass from the bottom of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction.

Disney’s California Adventure® park – Greetings From California

  • The back pads were made of the following: 44 square feet of recycled packaging paper, 4 square feet of giami paper, 1 Mickey Mouse head-shaped logo painted in watercolor on 2′ of recycled cardboard and “Love the Land” letters which were cut out of recycled cardboard and painted with acrylic paint.
  • Several recycled items were also used to make the geometric shaped risers including 12 linear feet of cardboard tubing, 18 square feet of scrap plywood and masonite, 8 Disneyland® Resort Annual Passport brochures, 42 Disneyland® Resort Main Entrance tickets, 27 square feet of linoleum tiles from backstage areas, 6 reclaimed drywall screws.
  • In addition, the Disneynature Earth posters were printed with uv cured ink.

Disneyland® park – Adventureland Bazaar

  • Adventureland Bazaar also has received a tree made up of materials similar in nature to that of World of Disney, with the following exceptions, 50′ of copper tubing from Disneyland Resort kitchen facilities, 3 impellers from water pumps around the Disneyland Resort, Prop horn from Disneyland New Orleans Christmas decor, Fire system heads from Disneyland Resort backstage areas, 1 iron flower from the Tinker Bell arbor at the World of Disney, two iron leaves, from area railing, found in New Orleans Square, bullet casings from the Jungle Cruise, a propeller from the Jungle Cruise attraction and a pressure gauge from the weld shop. The leaves on the tree are made from 750 Pirates of the Caribbean bookmarks held together by 40′ of detonation wire from the Disneyland Resort fireworks show.

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival Fun Facts

WDWNT on April 20, 2009

Tantalizing taste buds with authentic, international flavors, Disneyland Resort celebrates its fourth annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, with a six-week “World Celebration” featuring celebrity chefs, signature and complimentary experiences and winemaker dinners with themes from around the globe.

Southern California Restaurant Writers recently awarded Disneyland Resort 15 new awards for its restaurants and chefs – just in time as it prepares to launch the 2009 Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival.

NEW in 2009

Where can you find “Bad Boy” of the Food Network, Guy Fieri, along with celebrity chefs and nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs?

  • Whipping up cooking demonstrations for guests to discover new twists on timeless classics, daily at Disney’s California Adventure.

Passport handy?

  • Embark on a Festival Wine Walk and get the flavor of France, Italy, Spain and Germany, or experience the California wine country featuring 89 American Viticulture Areas – without ever leaving the Food & Wine Festival!

Celebrities on your mind?

  • Go Behind the Scenes with…stars of the Food Network!  Trade kitchen secrets, ask culinary questions and capture a photo. Curious about becoming a winemaker? Meet baseball legend, Tommy Lasorda (Lasorda Wines) and get “direction” from the guru of Pixar films John Lasseter, along with his wife Nancy (Lasseter Family Winery).

Who’s the SWEETEST of them all?

  • Learn the magic of creating a pastry masterpiece from the highly-skilled chefs of Sweet Cheeks Baking Co., San Diego, and Cake Monkey Bakery, Los Angeles, during Sweet Sundays.

Dream of becoming a MASTER Wine Connoisseur?

  • Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, of the award winning Napa Rose restaurant hosts a six-hour Advanced Wine Course featuring an in-depth look at international wine regions, various growing and harvesting techniques, wine laws and governance – a perfect recipe for wine expertise. Or, try his introductory course for another immersive experience.

It’s a Whole New World…

  • Experience an exciting menu every week during World Celebrations Dinners – featuring the aromas and flavors of Italy, Spain, France, Korea and Japan as well as the wines of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite).

For additional information, please visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

WDWCelebrations Releases Details on Studio’s 20th Anniversary

WDWNT on April 20, 2009

Our good friends over at WDWCelebrations have put out a press release that includes details on the official activities Disney will be doing to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1, 2009:

WDWCelebrations Studio 20 Commemorative Event Final Schedule Released; Official Disney Events Include Special Sessions with Walt Disney Imagineering

Orlando, FL , April 19th, 2009 —

WDWCelebrations is pleased to announce the release of the final schedule for our Studio 20 Commemorative Event, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.  Two major additions to the event schedule feature official Disney activities marking the anniversary.

On Friday May 1, 2009, the date of the anniversary, the park will open at 8:00 am with a special rope drop ceremony welcoming guests into the park to kick off the celebration.  In addition, two special sessions to commemorate the anniversary will take place in the Premiere Theater, one at 9:00 am and another at 10:45 am.  These sessions will feature Imagineers from Walt Disney Imagineering who were fundamental in the development of the park and will share their insights on the creation of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.  Currently scheduled to appear are Bob Weis (Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering), Tom Fitzgerald (Executive Vice President, Senior Creative Executive; WDI), and Eric Jacobson (Senior Vice President, Creative Development; WDI).  Each session will last approximately one hour.  This exclusive information was communicated to the WDWCelebrations Core Team by the management of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ in a recent meeting regarding the park’s 20th anniversary celebration.  This information was approved for release by Disney.

Adam Roth, Co-Founder of WDWCelebrations, explains, “We are very excited about these new developments surrounding the celebration of the anniversary, and are very appreciative of the management of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ for sharing it with us.  As such, we decided to extend our registration period in order to accommodate any additional guests who wish to join WDWCelebrations at our Studio 20 event.”  The registration deadline for Studio 20 has been extended to Saturday, April 25, 2009.

About WDWCelebrations, L. L. C.
WDWCelebrations, L. L. C. is a Florida-based organization created by Disney fans, dedicated to “celebrating the magic of the past, present, and future, together.”  WDWCelebrations was founded by the organizers of Celebration 25, which commemorated the 25th anniversary of Epcot in 2007.  WDWCelebrations Commemorative Events are designed to celebrate milestones in Disney park history.  For more information about WDWCelebrations and its events can be found at http://www.wdwcelebrations.com.

In addition:

Anniversary merchandise will be available, and Starring Rolls will be selling special anniversary cupcakes.  Many of the restaurants will feature menu items from opening day.

If you are planning at being at the Studios on May 1 or 2, 2009, be sure to register to be a part of history and WDWCelebrations’ Studio 20 commemorative event by visiting WDWCelebrations.com.