Walt Disney World Is Ending Express Bus Transportation Service Next Week

With the success of Minnie Vans already proven in a very short period of time, Disney has decided to axe the Express Bus Service after 8 months.

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The service, launched back in December of 2016, allowed unlimited park-to-park transportation for guests for a price. However, a Minnie Van, while more expensive as it is sold on a per-ride basis, offers point-to-point transportation anywhere on Walt Disney World property, including resorts and more.

The final day for guests to purchase Express Bus Service is August 16th, with the final day of operation being August 23rd, 2017.

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PHOTOS: Awesome New Haunted Mansion Items Released at Walt Disney World

Upon visiting The Magic Kingdom yesterday, we found some cool new Haunted Mansion related items for sale…

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A kid’s t-shirt has some awesome new art on it featuring a TON of characters from the attraction.

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We seriously need this on more than just apparel Disney.

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A new glow in the dark Madame Leota t-shirt for adults is also available.

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And yes, that awesome design from earlier is also on an adult-sized t-shirt (which by the way, are 2 for $40 in Memento Mori right now).

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A few new open edition Haunted Mansion pins were released as well.

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All of these items are available now at Memento Mori at the Magic Kingdom, several should be available elsewhere around the resort if you look hard enough (or use the Shop Disney Parks mobile app). We also expect these items to be sold at the Disneyland Resort.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: The Latest Progress on Walt Disney Presents, Star Wars Land, & Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios

Our latest Hollywood Studios expansion update brings us the latest progress on Walt Disney Presents, Toy Story Land, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge:

Below, we also have photos of the progress on these three projects to share with you:

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Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream has begun its conversion into Walt Disney Presents.

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The catwalk that once connected the soundstage has been ripped away to make room for the entrance to Toy Story Land.

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A peek through a hole in the wall reveals the coaster track for Slinky Dog Dash, as well as some colored blocks that mark the first themed elements to appear in the land.

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The construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is visible from the end of PIXAR Place.

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The large structure you see here houses the Battle Escape attraction.

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Don’t Miss Our August TeePublic Sale featuring Disney Designs on $14 Shirts, $2 Stickers, and $10 Notebooks!

Across the entire WDWNT.com Teepublic store all designs have gone on sale! Shirts are just $14, stickers are $2, and hardcover notebooks (for those of you heading back to school perhaps) are just $10! Hurry up before this sale goes extinct on Friday!

Checkout WDWNT’s Latest Designs

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Other Great Shirts for your Next Disney Vacation

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A Foolish Mortal

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Perfect Disney Back to School Notebooks

 

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There’s hundreds of more designs waiting for you every day here at the WDWNT TeePublic Store. We’ll see you at the parks (wearing your awesome new shirts hopefully)!

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Disney Parks Announces Moms Panel Search for 2018

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Aug. 15, 2017 – Are you the person your friends and colleagues always seek out for heartfelt advice on planning a Disney vacation? Have you put together more amazing Disney trips than you can count, and do you want to help others do the same? If so, then you may want to apply for a spot on the 2018 Disney Parks Moms Panel, the go-to online resource for guests seeking honest and relatable Disney vacation tips from likeminded parents. From Sept. 6-13, 2017, the search is on for everyday moms, dads and trusted family members to serve on the wildly popular forum. Applications can be submitted online at www.momspanelsearch.com.

Applicants will be selected based on their personal experience exploring various Disney destinations and their ability to communicate their Disney knowledge to prospective guests in easy-to-understand and friendly ways. The selection committee is eager to hear from parents from a variety of backgrounds and experiences who can lend diverse trip-planning insights, including moms, dads, grandparents, military service members, and more.

Heading into its 11th search, the Disney Parks Moms Panel has grown to be one of the most popular and trusted Disney vacation planning tools. It offers tailored parent-to-parent vacation advice in a convenient question-and-answer format. Additionally, the panel is available in four languages – English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese – to meet the unique needs of every type of Disney traveler and Disney hopes to welcome even more bilingual panelists to the 2018 panel.

“There is something so genuine in the exchange of trusted advice among neighbors. That’s what inspired the first Disney Parks Moms Panel in 2008 and why it continues to grow and serve travelers throughout the world 10 years later,” said Leanne O’Regan, Director of Public Relations for Disney Parks. “The panel is filled with personal, heartfelt advice based on panelists’ real experiences in Disney theme parks, resorts & hotels, and cruises. We know this year’s search will bring out another impressive group of applicants who know the ins and outs of planning a Disney vacation. We can’t wait to hear from them and see who will be selected to join the 2018 panel!”

Accessible at home or on-the-go, the Disney Parks Moms Panel offers firsthand insights into a myriad of topics like how to maximize time in the parks with preschoolers and how Disney Cruise Line can  accommodate families with special needs. Advice comes from real-life moms and dads who have been there before, providing instant connections to fellow parents. New questions are posted daily, and visitors can explore ‘Trending Topics’ and ‘Most Useful Questions’ to uncover valuable trip planning advice they may have not considered to ask. Of course, the Disney Parks Moms Panel is also the source for tips on new Disney attractions and entertainment like the latest groundbreaking experiences: at Walt Disney World Resort and at Disneyland Resort.

How to Apply
Applications for the 2018 Disney Parks Moms Panel will be accepted from noon EDT on September 6, 2017, through noon EDT on September 13, 2017. To apply, visit www.momspanelsearch.com. The application process follows the below format, though subject to change if needed: a series of short-answer questions in the first round, additional short-answer questions and submission of a brief video in Round 2, and phone interviews for applicants making it to the final round. The 2018 Disney Parks Moms Panel will be announced in January. Applicants selected must be available to attend a training session at Walt Disney World Resort from November 29 to December 3, 2017.

About the Disney Parks Moms Panel 
The Disney Parks Moms Panel is the official online forum where guests can get tips and insights from real moms, dads and grandparents who have mastered the art of planning Disney vacations. Guests can pose questions to the panelists in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, as well as gain access to other tools for planning and booking a Disney vacation. Featuring just 12 members in its inaugural year in 2008, the panel now boasts 40 park-savvy panelists as a result of the popularity of the site and the ever-growing number of questions submitted by curious Guests. Serving as independent contractors, the panelists receive a rewards trip to one Disney Destination for themselves and up to three family members for their participation on the Disney Parks Moms Panel. For more information and to meet the current panelists, visit www.DisneyParksMomsPanel.com.

PHOTOS: Disney Parks Unleashes Spooktacular New Halloween Merchandise for 2017

Disney has begun to release the Halloween merchandise for 2017, and the fantastic items can already be found in a giant portion of the World of Disney Store at Disney Springs.

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Most of the old Princess room is full of Halloween and The Nightmare Before Christmas items.

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The new 2017 Halloween merchandise features the Fab 5 in new garb. The simplifies and bright colors make the items stick out from years past.

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I’m partial to this ceramic treat bowl.

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It wouldn’t be Halloween without ornaments. Wait…

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The two-sided mug is pretty neat.

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The glow-in-the-dark treat bag is pretty fun.

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The orange shirt is for children.

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This grey t-shirt is for kids as well.

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A girl’s top.

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A pretty nifty popcorn tin.

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A hot chocolate cauldron.

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There are also lots of new The Nightmare Before Christmas items.

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Some of the items have a Haunted Mansion flavor, since Disneyland has the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction that takes over the Mansion.

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How cool is this?

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Jack Skellington as the Hatbox Ghost is only in kids sizes, you can start complaining now…

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This wreath is probably just about the coolest holiday item I have ever seen. Not bad for $39.99.

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There’s a stocking shaped like a tombstone…

So, what will you be buying?

Siemens Abruptly Leaves Spaceship Earth Corporate Lounge Before Contract End, Disney Taking Ownership Immediately

The Siemens VIP Center (formerly Base 21) behind Spaceship Earth was abruptly abandoned this week when Siemens left the space months ahead of the end of their deal with Disney Parks. Even though the contract is set to expire on September 30th, Siemens staff left the space forever on Monday, July 31st, 2017. Apparently the relationship between the two companies soured rapidly after Disney turned down a new monorail fleet for Walt Disney World that Siemens offered in lieu of compensation for a new sponsorship deal.

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Since 2007, Siemens employees could access the space to relax and enjoy refreshments, and Siemens executives had plenty of board room space inside to hold various meetings. If you have never been inside, be sure to watch our video tour below.

In a sign that another sponsor is not yet lined up and may not be at any point, Disney executives toured the space with Siemens staff ahead of their departure to decide what will stay and what will go. Siemens was supposed to return the Lounge to its original form upon departure, but Disney could choose to keep it as it is now. Regardless of what stays and what doesn’t, Disney is going to be taking over the entire corporate lounge and meeting space immediately.

Now the question is, will Disney use this space for internal meetings and such, or will they begin to hold special events in this building like dessert parties and such, also making the lounge and board room bookable for guests looking to hold special events in the park? Only time will tell, but the ability to enter this lounge for regular park guests is likely something people would happily pay for. Sadly, it seems it is too late to make this space the Epcot Club 33 location as construction has already begun on the upstairs venue at the American Adventure.

Siemens sponsorship is still present at Spaceship Earth and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and should be at least until September 30th, 2017.

Mobile Ordering Has Launched at Epcot Counter Service Restaurants

Following the success of the other establishments already running the program, Electric Umbrella and Liberty Inn at Epcot are joining Mobile Order through the MyDisney Experience app.

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Electric Umbrella quietly began the service on August 1st, while the Liberty Inn will join on August 7th, 2017.

The service is already offered at Tomorrowland Terrace, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Pinocchio Village Haus, and Columbia Harbour House at the Magic Kingdom, Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, Restaurtantosaurus, and Satuli Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs.

The mobile ordering program allows guests to order at Disney counter service restaurants from their mobile devices and then pick-up the order when they are ready to eat. Check out our comprehensive review of the service to see how it works.

Sadly, Disney has confirmed that locations offering discounts will not be able to honor them through Mobile Order during the “launch period”, so guests will have to go to the counter and order the old way if they wish to get Annual Passholer, Tables in Wonderland, or any other discounts still.

Additional locations will slowly be rolled out over the coming weeks.

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TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (8/2/17) – WDW’s Greatest Mistakes, The Map Game Destroys the Studios, & Weird World Showcase Food

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, we discuss the greatest mistakes that Walt Disney World has ever made, we try Yunker from Japan at Epcot, and the infamous Map Game destroys what’s left of Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

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If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to 105.5 FM or AM 1520 WBZW at showtime. For those outside of the Orlando area, the show can be watched via video stream at listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. You can also use WDWNT: The App to watch and chat along. The show also utilizes a live chat and the ability to call-in to interact with the show. WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A recap of the last week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • The debut edition of “Weird World Showcase Food Item of the Week”, where Tom, Nick, and Michelle try something strange from Epcot
  • An In-Depth Discussion of the biggest mistakes in the history of Walt Disney World
  • The Wonderful World of Psychotic Comments
  • “Who Hates Tom Now?”
  • “WDWNT: The Map Game” for prizes provided by WDWNT: The App
  • And more!

We hope that you will tune in tonight at 9PM ET for another episode of WDW News Tonight!

If you missed our last show, be sure to watch it:

PHOTOS: New Mission: Space Earth and Mars Signage Debuts at Epcot Giving a Glimpse of Things to Come

New signage for the Mission: Space attraction at Epcot debuted this week ahead of the attraction’s pending re-opneing on August 13th, 2017.

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A new marquee outside now shows both Earth and Mars, even though a three-dimensional Earth already resides below the sign…

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The larger sign with the wait times and warnings was moved from the right side to the left, near the actual entrance to the ride. The new signage reflects the new Earth and Mars names, but keeps the Green and Orange mission names as well, but note that the attraction will be referenced as Earth and Mars more often than Green and Orange.

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An image of the Sun, Earth, and Mars now resides in the center of the sign.

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The new height requirement for Green is reflected on the lowest sign. Interestingly enough, there are far less warnings for Green now, perhaps reflecting Disney’s efforts to make it clear that it is a family friendly version of the ride.

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The new Mission: Space debuts at Epcot on August 13th, 2017.