TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (5/17/17) – In-Depth Review of Pandora: The World of AVATAR, Happily Ever After, Win Prizes from Pandora!

WDWNT on May 18, 2017

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, we explore Pandora: The World of AVATAR, review Happily Ever After art the Magic Kingdom, and play The Math Game for prizes straight from the planet of Pandora!

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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 and announcer Michelle Wargo.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • An In-Depth Discussion of all aspects of Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (20 hours of experience, food reviews, attraction experiences, and more)
  • The Wonderful World of Psychotic Comments
  • “WDWNT: The Math Game” for prizes from Pandora: The World of AVATAR, provided by WDWNT: The App
  • Who Hates Tom Now?
  • And more!

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

If you missed last week’s show, be sure to watch it:

D23 Expo 2017: Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior Stars Hosting Variety of Panels, including Ducktales

WDWNT on May 18, 2017

Fans of Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior can look forward to seeing the stars of their favorite shows, as well as some interactive show floor attractions at the D23 Expo this Summer.

Throughout the weekend of July 14-16 a slew of panels will be hosted by the stars of shows like Tangled: The Series, the upcoming DuckTales show, and the anticipated Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants 2. Here’s the breakdown of panels you can expect to see at the convention.

  • On Friday, July 14 the stars of Descendants 2 will make appearances, along with the movie’s director/producer.
  • On Saturday, July 15 the stars of Disney XD’s DuckTales series will join Matt Youngberg (show producer) for a Q&A panel that’ll take place from 4:15-5:15 pm on Stage 28.
  • On Sunday, July 16 the creative team behind Disney Channel’s Tangled: The Series will host a Q&A panel. Mandy Moore and Zach Levi (Rapunzel and Eugene) will slo be at the panel taking questions. The event will take place from 10:30-11:30 am on Stage 28.

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In addition to the above events, fans of Doc McStuffins will be able to play at the McStuffins Toy Hospital Nursery, which will be on the show floor throughout the weekend. This will be a great way for kids to experience the traveling Doc McStuffins: The Exhibit museum, as well as play and be distracted while the adults go do grown-up things like stand in line for pins.

The show floor will also host Scrooge McDuck’s Money Bin, a photo opportunity for fans where they can dive into a pool of over 30,000 plastic gold coins while a professional 180-degree camera captures the whole thing. As a reminder, DuckTales will premier this Summer on Disney XD.

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The D23 Expo 2017 will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA from July 14-16. For more information on tickets and pricing, check out t he official D23 Expo website.

Happily Ever After Forces Magic Kingdom to Shift Times for Move It, Shake It, Dance & Play It Street Party

WDWNT on May 18, 2017

Due to large crowds awaiting the nightly performance of Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom, Disney has adjusted the times for the Move It, Shake It, Dance and Play It Street Party.

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The new daily showtimes are as follows:

  • 12:30PM
  • 5:40PM (moved from 5:45PM)
  • 7:00PM (moved from 7:45PM)

These changes will affect the rest of this week, but it is possible that the popularity of the new fireworks spectacular will require further changes to the performance schedule.

Iceland Vacations Coming to Adventures by Disney in 2018

WDWNT on May 18, 2017

Today, Adventures by Disney has announced a new trip that will debut in 2018; Iceland.

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You will be able to navigate this diverse country by seeing some volcanoes, waterfalls, and many more of the natural beauties of Iceland. The trip itself is a 8-day, 7-night, action-packed vacation that takes you from Reykjavik and the Golden Circle in the South to Akureyri to Lake Mývatn in the North. Prepare to be immersed in rich Icelandic culture and unparalleled natural beauty that join forces through this land of fire and ice.

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You will also be able to Visit the iconic Thingvellir National Park, breathtaking Goðafoss waterfall,  massive Kerið crater, unwind and relax at the soothing Blue Lagoon and Mývatn Nature Baths, and lastly explore the high seas with a spectacular humpback whale-watching expedition.

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Not only that, but there is much, much more to explore and do while on your Icelandic voyage, such as coming face-to-face with magnificent glaciers on a scenic cruise, embarking on whitewater rafting adventures through the glacial river of Skagafjörður, and trotting through the scenic countryside on an Icelandic horse. If you are a hands-on person and enjoy food, there is a special class you can take where you can learn to make bread using geothermal heat.

Adventures by Disney vacations to Germany, Costa Rica and Ireland have also been reimagined for 2018, expanding upon the already rich authentic experiences and local storytelling of these destinations. In all, Adventures by Disney will offer trips to more than three dozen destinations in 2018.

Bookings for all 2018 vacations open May 19, 2017!

Details on Entertainment & Nighttime Lighting Ceremony Taking Place Daily in Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on May 18, 2017

While various previews of Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are ongoing, guests are still not seeing a finished product of the land and will not until May 27th, 2017. On opening day, Disney will debut entertainment offerings, as well as a nighttime lighting ceremony for Pandora.

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The drum circle show, which has been mentioned before, will debut on the 27th, performing up to 14 times per day during the long operating hours planned for this Summer. The 8PM show will be a special one as it will reportedly bring the bioluminescence of Pandora to life right before the eyes of guests.

It is also rumored that there will be lead ACE team members who will be roaming the land in-character, teaching guests about the planet.

In addition to entertainment, none of the bioluminescent effects on the planet will be activated for guests until opening day. Inside sources also tell us that the interactive plant life on Pandora is not completed yet and that there will be more to touch and interact with once the finished product is unveiled.

PHOTOS: Marquee Sign & Final Facade Details Revealed for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout at California Adventure

WDWNT on May 18, 2017

With the opening just days away, the sign and other new details of the controversial facade for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout were revealed yesterday at Disney California Adventure.

PHOTOS: Marquee Sign & Final Facade Details Revealed for Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout at California Adventure

As you can see, the finished product of the facade has been unveiled to guests, including the marquee which will welcome them to the attraction when it opens on May 27th.

PHOTOS: Marquee Sign & Final Facade Details Revealed for Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout at California Adventure

The sign is pretty ingenious in that is appears to have been first made to promote the Tivan Collection and the appearance of the trapped Guardians of the Galaxy, but Rocket Raccoon has had a little fun with it.

PHOTOS: Marquee Sign & Final Facade Details Revealed for Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout at California Adventure

Letters from “First Time on Display” are ripped off, used to spell out part of the attraction’s name (kudos to whoever figured out that this would work), with “Breakout” painted over the sign.

PHOTOS: Marquee Sign & Final Facade Details Revealed for Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission Breakout at California Adventure

These strange totems featuring items from the collection are also on display now outside of the attraction’s entrance.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout opens May 27th, 2017 at the Disneyland Resort.

VIDEO: Johnny Depp Shocks Disneyland Guests as Jack Sparrow on Pirates of the Caribbean

WDWNT on May 8, 2017

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Johnny Depp made a surprise appearance at Disneyland and gave riders of the “Pirates Of The Caribbean” attraction a real treat, appearing in character as Captain Jack Sparrow! Check out these two videos!

Disney was filming these interactions, so expect to see video from them in the coming weeks.

Source: EW, Tommy Williams, Patricia

VIDEO: Preview the Theme Song & Finale Music for Magic Kingdom’s ‘Happily Ever After’

WDWNT on May 8, 2017

Disney has given us another look behind-the-scenes of the upcoming nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After, set to debut May 12th at the Magic Kingdom. This time around, they show off the original theme song of the show, also showcasing what the song means to the 2 singers; Jordan Fischer and Angie Keilhauer. Here is that video below from the Disney Parks Blog:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzVag7rmQ6U]

Happily Ever After will debut at the Magic Kingdom May 12th.

Disney Store Introducing “Fantasyland Football” Theme Park Merchandise in Fall 2017

WDWNT on May 8, 2017

Based on the success of the annual March Magic promotion from Disney Parks and DisneyStore.com, Disney will be introducing a similar event in the Fall of 2017.

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Guests who ordered March Magic t-shirts were given cards to promote the new event with different icons from either the Walt Disney World Wonders or the Disneyland Dreamers. The teams will be pitted against each other in some way when the event begins.

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We received Figment in the mail, but many other icons were mailed out to guests.

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No further details are available as of yet, but we will keep you posted as more becomes available.

Portobello at Disney Springs Will Not Return, New Restaurant with Outdoor Bar Announced

WDWNT on May 8, 2017

Levy Restaurants, a Chicago-based restaurant company which operates more than 100 food-service locations in the United States and Canada, has announce the development of a new, Italian restaurant concept at Disney Springs. Previously, it had been indicated that this restaurant would remain Portobello and undergo extensive menu changes only.

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James Beard award-winner and Top Chef Master, Tony Mantuano, is leading the development of the restaurant, which will replace the space at Disney Springs that was occupied by Portobello Country Italian Trattoria. The new restaurant’s menu will feature dishes inspired by Chef Tony’s adventures across the many regions of Italy.

In order to accommodate the large-scale renovations, Portobello closed its doors April 24 with plans for the new concept to reopen in early Fall 2017.

Based on the concept art, it appears that an outdoor bar area will be added during the renovations.

“We’ve been grateful to serve our loyal guests at Portobello for the last seven years,” said Andy Lansing, President and CEO of Levy Restaurants. “We look forward to welcoming our guests back to the location early this fall when we unveil a new concept at Disney Springs.”