BREAKING NEWS: Disney Inks Huge Deal with Verizon Wireless

WDWNT on November 12, 2008

This just in from the Walt Disney World Resort:

November 12, 2008 – Marking a first in both the travel and mobile industries, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Verizon are teaming up for a multi-year relationship designed to enhance the guest experience – before, during and after guests arrive at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.  This alignment allows guests to have a personal tour guide right in their wireless phones along with reliable new services at the parks. Early next year guests will also use Verizon Wireless’ technology when experiencing Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an ultra-interactive attraction coming to Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort.

“With more than 90 percent of families bringing a mobile phone into our Parks, our objective was to enhance the magical Disney experience through innovative wireless technology,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  “Imagine receiving up to the minute tips on special Park activities with just the touch of a button or receiving a call from Buzz Lightyear welcoming you to the Magic Kingdom.”

Beginning next year, guests will be able to access an array of features on their Verizon Wireless phones while at the Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort to help them make the most of their Disney experiences.  Planned services include an exclusive mobile application that will give guests with Verizon Wireless service the ability to easily locate shows, restaurants and the Disney characters anywhere inside the Parks; get real-time attraction availability information; access mobile games; receive messages from characters and more. Verizon Wireless is also continuing to invest in its wireless network from coast to coast, and the relationship with Disney means the wireless users will benefit from further enhancements to the Verizon Wireless network in the Parks. 

John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media and marketing for Verizon, said, “All of our efforts focus on one goal: making the Disney experience even better for our customers.  There are few life experiences that are more memorable than visiting a Disney Park, and now guests with Verizon Wireless service will unlock even more magic from their visit – by navigating the Parks easier and faster with instant access to key information such as ‘Where’s Mickey now?’ and other special features – even when they travel home and share their experiences with family and friends.”

In addition, guests visiting Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort in early 2009 will be among the first to experience Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure.  An ultra-interactive attraction, Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure invites guests of all ages to team up with members of Team Possible to save the world from various comical villains and their mad inventions.  Armed with an official Verizon Wireless “Kimmunicator,” guests will use these handheld devices to help maneuver through the mission.  The interactive wireless theme park game was inspired by Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning animated series, “Kim Possible.”  

While Verizon Wireless customers will have exclusive access to an array of enhanced features, Disney and Verizon are also working to ensure that some mobile information such as dining locations, show times and locations will be available to all Parks visitors, regardless of their wireless company.  

Additional details will be available next year as the companies expect to add a suite of services and functionalities to help guests at Disney Parks have the most magical experience.  For more information about Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, visit www.disney.com.  For more information about Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

Disney Parks and Resorts – Taking Guests to New Frontiers

The agreement between Disney and Verizon is another step in a series of new initiatives that highlight the latest technologies from Disney Parks and Resorts with a continued focus on improving guest experience and providing immersive entertainment. Disney Parks and Resorts continue to exemplify how technologies can be used to build new connections and redefine how guests plan and enjoy their vacations.  From the time guests begin planning their vacation using Walt Disney World Resort in 3D on Google Earth or tuning into Disney Travel on Demand, the experience is designed to make their lives easier.  Guests can take their vacation experience to a new level with Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an interactive wireless theme park game for families, and by personalizing and sharing their Disney experiences when they return home, using DisneyLink, a desktop application.

Now I can’t say we haven’t discussed some of these ideas for a while, but we weren’t always expecting Disney to align with Verizon for this content. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we gather more information on this breaking news.

Jose Eber’s 11/11/08 Photo Report

WDWNT on November 11, 2008

For our second photo report of the day, here is Jose Eber with a photo update taken earlier this afternoon:

Christmas banners at the Magic Kingdom parking entrance

This very cool picture is appearing everywhere this year

Decorations near the Magic Kingdom entrance

The Santa Clause meet and greet area

Is it really that soon?

Now lets move over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Construction on the Bay Lake Tower

Work finishing up on the Contempo Cafe

The new counter service dining spot will open on Saturday

Here is the menu:

Flatbreads

Cheese, Pepperoni, or Marinated Beef with oven roasted Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese & Arugula

Salads Tossed To-Go

Caesar Salad, Chicken Chop Salad, Roasted Curry Vegetable and Bulgar Salad, or Steakhouse Salad

Cold Sandwiches

Multigrain Turkey BLT or Stacked Salad

Kid’s Picks

Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza, Mini-Turkey and Cheese Sandwich, Chicken Nuggets, or Hamburger

Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more on this new dining location as it becomes available

Build, Paint, & Wrap

WDWNT on November 11, 2008

To help everyone get through the transfer over to the new version of Disneyland News Today, here is a piece of concept art we just received of the new Toy Factory float coming to A Christmas Fantasy Parade this holiday season:

Matt Paul’s 11/10/08 WDW Photo Update

WDWNT on November 11, 2008

Here with his first photo report from the Walt Disney World Resort is our own Matt Paul, who spent yesterday visiting three of the theme parks. Let’s see what he found at the World:

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Let’s begin at Epcot

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The new IBM Thinkplace inside Innoventions is still coming soon

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With the end of the Food and Wine Festival, this spot waits for its holiday display

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This small area is still being worked on, perhaps for the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure

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The Christmas display at the park entrance is starting to be put in place

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A strange recycling bin now stands near the ramp to the Epcot Monorail station

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Now we’ll move over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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The final Super Soap Weekend at Walt Disney World will take place this weekend

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The usual stage has been set-up outside the Sorcerer’s Hat

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Because of the stage, the High School Musical show will be performing on the Streets of America

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A lot has happened since we last looked at the American Idol Experience

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All of the signage is up and the attraction is nearing completion

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A large screen stands outside the Superstar Television Theater waiting for the first show to begin

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The American Idol Experience sign

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I think it looks great

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The name of the theater is still way too cool 🙂

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Matt thought this was a cool picture

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Golden Age Souvenirs has closed again as it prepares for some American Idol merchandise

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A new logo has appeared on the trampoline units for Block Party Bash

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Finally, over to the Magic Kingdom

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Here it is, the first of many Cinderella Castle Dreamlights photos for 2008

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Even after seeing it in person, I can’t help but say “WOW”

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We’ll end Matt’s report with a very cool 2008 holiday shirt with an awesome tag-line: “Joy from the World”

Adam Roth’s 11/8/08 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on November 9, 2008

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth of WDWCelebrations has provided us with another fantastic photo update from around the Walt Disney World Resort during his latest trip. Let’s see what’s new around the world:

The display in the window of the Toy Soldier store over at the United Kingdom pavilion has some new decorations 

If you look at the blocks, they spell out Kim Possible

This is another element the country’s shops have added for the upcoming Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure game

Adam ran into a familiar face to those of you who used to visit the Adventurer’s Club at Pleasure Island. Most of the former PI entertainers have already been moved to other roles throughout the Resort.

Tarps are still up in Japan, always seems to be up in this pavilion

A quick look at the old Body Wars attraction exit inside the Festival Center, which closes again today until the beginning of the Flower and Garden Festival in 2009

The Kim Possible game displays are waiting for use inside Innoventions East and West and feature some new wanted posters of Villains from the show

Adam found something rather funny at one of the Food and Wine Festival kiosks

Hosted by Anheuser-Bush

Serving InBev’s (the new owners of the company) signature Stella Artois

Another piece that will be part of the Kim Possible Adventure for the China pavilion

On his way to the Magic Kingdom, Adam snapped some quick shots of continuing work on Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Bay Lake Tower continues to take shape

The construction site is starting to get pretty clean

Over to the Magic Kingdom

The final strands of the Cinderella Castle Dreamlights have been put in place

The Hall of Presidents….

still closed until July 🙂

We’ll end this report with Adam’s best score to date on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (I didn’t have the heart to tell him how many times I’ve gotten the perfect score)

Thanks Adam!!!

Video of the Bolt Pre-Parade

WDWNT on November 9, 2008

I’m back from an absolutely fantastic day at the Disneyland Resort, & I have a video for you guys of the new Bolt Pre-Parade to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams:


We’ll have a complete photo report for you guys tomorrow, so stay tuned!

11/8 Jose Eber’s WDW Updates

WDWNT on November 9, 2008

WDWNT Photographer and Videographer Jose Eber has sent us a few pictures and videos of his observations from the last week at the Walt Disney World Resort:

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This is the sign guests will be greeted by at the Hall of Presidents until next summer when the show returns

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The Country Bear Jamboree has been opened from its refurbishment for a good week and is looking much better than it did just a few weeks ago.

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While it awaits the ads for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the boards outside the Magic Kingdom feature this new artwork of Tinkerbell flying over the park

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They are now distributing postcards promoting the upcoming Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (without the bridge that will connect it to the main building)

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The back features a short description

 

We’ll end this report with a video of continuing construction of the new Four Seasons Resort

Bob Iger on Disneyland & The Economy

WDWNT on November 7, 2008

Here’s a very interesting quote from Bob Iger brought up on the OC Register Around Disney Blog about Disneyland & the state that the economy is currently in:

I was at Disneyland and California Adventure on Sunday, in the middle of this tough economy on a day that started with rain in Southern California and there were 50,000 people at Disneyland and California Adventure combined for the day, which is — I know that doesn’t help because you don’t have much perspective but that’s a pretty strong showing.

And one of the things that was clear is that at California Adventure, where we’ve got good attractions, a new one, Toy Story Mania, for instance, there’s real appeal and real demand. We have an opportunity there because of the size of that property to infuse it with stronger attractions and I believe end up with a park that is substantially more successful than the one that we have today. And as Tom referenced it, because Disneyland itself is so built out, the primary way to really grow that resort is by improving California Adventure and growing that out. And when you consider that what we are putting in there is so attractive, Cars Land will be the anchor, a very, very successful franchise for the company, then we believe not only will we grow the top line but our real focus is to grow the bottom line and to grow our returns on invested capital.

Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland Now Available!

WDWNT on November 7, 2008

Here’s a look at the now available Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland, from the LA Times Travel Blog:

The new pocket-sized “Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland” answers the question, “What would it be like to walk through Disneyland with Walt by your side?”

The 128-page paperback takes readers land by land through the Anaheim theme park, offering anecdotes, history and trivia from Disney Imagineers as well as early concept art, sketches and schematics of many rides and attractions.

“From a process standpoint, it offers a bit of a peek behind the curtain of how we turn concepts into reality,” said Alex Wright, an Imagineer who gathered tales from his co-workers for the book. “In a way, there’s no one person who can tell you all these different stories. We have so many different disciplines.”

To research the book, Wright delved into the extensive Disney archives and toured the park with long-time Imagineers Tony Baxter and Kim Irvine. The hard part, Wright said, was deciding what to leave out.

“When it’s Disneyland, there’s always more to tell,” Wright said. “You could have told another 1,000 stories with all the history that’s gone on there.”

The book starts off with a short overview of Imagineering’s 140-plus disciplines and insider lingo (Blue Sky, Plussing, Wienie) before diving into a land-by-land tour.

Designed to be read in the park, the “field guide” attempts to strike a difficult balance between appealing to first-time Disneyland visitors as well as life-long fans. Leaning more to the fan boy side of the spectrum, I read the book hoping to learn something new. My favorite finds can be broken down into three categories — abandoned concepts, park trivia and odd facts.

Among the early concepts:

  • Walt envisioned live exotic animals roaming the banks of the Jungle Cruise.
  • A runaway mine-car theme for Indiana Jones Adventure incorporating the Jungle Cruise boats and the Disneyland Railroad.
  • A walk-through Pirates of the Caribbean wax museum — the water and boats weren’t added until after construction started.
  • A Casey Jr. Circus Train roller-coaster thrill ride — retooled within weeks of opening day into a gentle kiddie ride.

Among the trivia tidbits:

  • The New Orleans Square train station depot taps out Morse code of Walt Disney’s opening day dedication speech.
  • The Latin motto on Mr. Toad’s coat of arms reads: “Speeding with Toad is always absurd.”
  • Walt liked to take pre-opening morning drives in a Carnation milk truck along Main Street U.S.A.
  • Steven Spielberg recorded the rumbles and clanking of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for the mine-car chase scene in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”

And the truly odd:

  • Uprooted orange trees were planted upside down during the construction phase of the Jungle Cruise to represent missing foliage.
  • Walt gave his wife, Lilly, a petrified tree for their wedding anniversary. (She donated it to the theme park, where it still resides in Frontierland.)
  • Visitors in the Star Tours queue may hear an intercom page for Egroeg Sacul (George Lucas backwards).

My favorite part of the $9.95 book was a visual explanation of forced perspective, where shorter upper floors create the illusion of taller buildings while maintaining an intimate streetscape. My one criticism of the book — the pocket-sized format reduces the early concept art to business card size.

Myrna Litt’s 11/5 Photo Report

WDWNT on November 7, 2008

It’s once again time for a photo report from Mrs. Myrna Litt. She visited the Disneyland Resort yesterday as Christmas decorations have started to be put up:

Anyone know why there was a conductor in this restaurant’s train?

 Christmas decorations have started to be put up in Sunshine Plaza.

Scaff-holding is up around the Sun Wheel.

I absolutely love these construction walls at the bottom of the picture! An absolutely fantastic design choice.

Read More about Myrna Litt’s 11/5 Photo Report