Leg Traders

WDWNT on July 3, 2008

From KABC:

ANAHEIM (KABC) — The Anaheim Fire Department responded to Tomorrowland in Disneyland at 7:21 a.m. after reports that a worker fell from a ladder onto a roof.

Officials said the worker fell while working on the roof of a gift shop near the Space Mountain ride.

Rescuers were able to get the worker off the roof using a crane, and he was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

“A roofing consultant lost his balance and fell approximately 5 feet resulting in a minor shoulder injury. He was transported to western medical center for evaluation,” said Disneyland spokeswoman Betsy Sanchez in a statement.

Authorities said worker is in his 70s and suffered minor injures.

The park was not open at the time of the accident.

Mickey’s Fun Wheel Is On Its Way!

WDWNT on July 2, 2008

We’ve just been informed that the Sun Wheel’s re-theme/refurbishment will start on September 11th, 2008. The re-theme will include the new 1930’s style Mickey Mouse face, re-working of the queue, a re-paint, & the new name, Mickey’s Fun Wheel!

Also planned to take place during this time is the re-theming of the Games of the Boardwalk & California Screamin’s queue, but we don’t have any solid information on that just yet.

Innoventions Dream Home Now Open to the Public

WDWNT on July 2, 2008

From the OC Register:

The Innoventions Dream Home is open to the public starting today, according to Disney Spokesman John McClintock.

On June 17 Disney pulled back the curtain on the new Innoventions Dream Home, but the attraction was only open for limited hours and only to annual passholders. McClintock said the home was open to regular guests for some time over the weekend as a soft opening.

Last week the attraction was only open for limited hours as Disney workers made sure all the home’s technology worked properly.

No More in “Water Parks and More”

WDWNT on July 1, 2008

Disney will be changing some of the rules that apply to the Water Parks and More option on Walt Disney World tickets in response to the closing of the Pleasure Island clubs on September 27:

Beginning September 28, 2008, the Water Park Fun & More ticket option will no longer include admission to Pleasure Island nightclubs.

Guests who purchased or will purchase the Water Park Fun & More Option will still receive a certain number of visits to their choice of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park or Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex. Beginning June 28, 2008, your Clients can also choose to use a visit to play a round of golf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, a nine-hole walking course designed for the entire family. Tee times are required and subject to availability. For tee times, call (407) WDW-GOLF ( 407-939-4653 ) or visit disneyworldgolf.com.

Excludes activities/events separately priced. Water Park Fun & More visits must be used within 14 days of first use of ticket. Water Parks subject to closures for rehab and seasonal and weather closures.

Hollywood Studios Update

WDWNT on July 1, 2008

Our friends over at Studios Central have another great park update from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this time capturing changes on Pixar Place, Wall-E appearing in the Art of Disney Animation, and the final Star Wars Weekend. You can see all of the great photos HERE.

Hollywood Studios Update

WDWNT on June 30, 2008

Our good friend Epcot Servo has some great pictures up from yesterday on his new site and here are some pictures of interest:

The often unused area near the AFI showcase at the exit to the Backlot Tour is being converted over to a new Monsters Inc. meet and greet area. Picture here.

Speaker towers are going up along the route for the new Block Party Bash parade at the studios. Picture here.

You can all of EpcotServo’s pictures from his trip to the studios at this link.

AMC-E

WDWNT on June 30, 2008

Dan-Tasmic on MiceChat managed to snap a shot of a giant inflatable Wall-E up in Downtown Disney by the AMC Theaters:

(and no folks, the titles of these posts aren’t getting any more creative!)

Article Mania!

WDWNT on June 30, 2008

Here are 3 articles from the OC Register with information on the Innoventions Dream Home, Wall-E in the parks, & an incident in New Orleans Square:

The Innoventions Dream Home is still closed and will possibly open to the public next week, according to Disney Spokesman John McClintock.

Last week Disney pulled back the curtain on the new Innoventions Dream Home, but the attraction was only open for limited hours and only to annual passholders.

McClintock said today that Disney workers are “making sure that all the technology in the home is working perfectly” before opening the Dream Home to the public. He said that the goal is to open the home to the public next week.

Currently, the second floor of the Innoventions building is open. Just the first floor, the Dream Home level, is closed.

We’ll keep everyone updated on this blog about when the Dream Home will open to the public.

Disney’s Wall-E character debuted in theaters yesterday, but don’t expect the little robot in the Disneyland Resort any time soon.

A Disney Backstage Pass newsletter mailed to Disneyland Annual Passholders a few weeks ago included thata three-foot-tall Audio-Animatronic model of Wall-E would be visiting people in Disney’s California Adventure this summer

But, Disney Spokesman John McClintock said the robot is not expected to be in the park for a few months.

“We don’t expect Wall-E to be in the Disneyland Resort any time soon, especially during the summer,” McClintock said.

treebranchphoto2Update: New photo on the left sent in by someone who was in the park when the tree branch fell. Right click and click view image on either photo to see an enlarged image.

A tree branch broke and fell onto a pathway last night near the French Market restaurant in the New Orleans Square area of Disneyland.

A Disney spokeswoman said it was one branch and that it did not fall directly on anybody. She said that no more than five people were near the branch when it fell. She said those people had minor scrapes.

Irvine resident Vicki Munsell was at the park yesterday when the branch fell. She was there with her family celebrating her and her husband’s 14th wedding anniversary.

Munsell and her family were eating at the Cafe Orleans restaurant when they heard someone shout and she turned around in time to hear the branch cracking and see it fall on a pathway.

She said people ran over right away to help. While Disney said the tree did not fall on anyone, Munsell said people were pulled out from underneath the tree. Still, Munsell agreed that she did not see anyone injured with more than a few scratches.

branchfallsatdisneyland

Munsell took the photo that you see at right with her camera phone, and she sent it to The Orange County Register. After the branch fell, she said the area was blocked off by Disney cast members who removed the branch and checked on people nearby.

This is not the first time trees have fallen on people in theme parks. On Aug. 1, 1997, a large tree limb at Knott’s Berry Farm broke and fell onto four visitors near the Montezooma’s Revenge ride, causing minor injuries to three and leaving the fourth hospitalized. And on May 5, 2001, Jeanne Gill, 73 suffered a broken hip, and 27 others are injured when a 20-foot oak tree falls in Frontierland at Disneyland.

Win Your Own Dream Home!

WDWNT on June 29, 2008

From BizJournals:

Taylor Morrison Inc. is giving away a home inspired by the recently unveiled Innoventions Dream Home at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland.

The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based home builder has launched an online contest that runs through Aug. 20 with the winner able to choose a home in one of Taylor Morrison’s communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Texas. The home will include a custom technology package and furnishings. A vacation for four to the Disneyland Resort in California also is part of the package.

Participants can visit the entry Web site, www.tmdreamhomegiveaway.com, once a day to register. They also may visit any Taylor Morrison community and receive a special code that offers the maximum number of chances available to enter the contest.

The Innoventions Dream Home debuted June 16 and features what Walt Disney Co. calls a “high-tech, high-touch” experience within a 5,000-square-foot home. Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Life|ware and Taylor Morrison were also involved in the Dream Home project.

The home showcases the latest in mobile devices, computers, digital music, entertainment and gaming technology in a connected environment that adjusts to the preferences of its occupants.