D23 Expo Japan Announced for 2018

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

The D23 Expo Japan 2018 returns to Tokyo Disney Resort starting February 10-12, 2018. Not many details are known at this time, but more information will be made available in Summer 2017 (also that’s when the tickets will go on sale). You can check the official website (Japanese only) and the D23 website.

width=

This fan event is held at various locations and hotels at Tokyo Disney Resort (including the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, Disney Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta, and the Maihama Amphitheater).

The event was held back in November 2015 and was a huge success.

For more on Tokyo Disney Resort (also Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland), make sure to visit TDRExplorer.com.

VIDEO: Disney Imagineers Show How They Made Pandora – The World of AVATAR Feel Like a Real Place

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

When Pandora – The World of Avatar opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this May, guests will be able to explore a brand-new world unlike they’ve ever experienced before.

width=

In the film AVATAR, the planet of Pandora featured an ecosystem all its own, with lush bioluminescent flora, precious fauna, and a culture of people who saw and respected the value of their precious planet. In order to create this new land for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the project team approached bringing Pandora to life as if they were building a real world – unlike one anyone had experienced before – based on the world in the film.

Walt Disney Imagineering just shared this video, in which we learn how Imagineers and Animal Programs worked together to create a uniquely interactive ecosystem exclusively for Pandora – The World of Avatar. The park’s Animal Programs department, which includes conservation biologists and scientists, lent their expertise in order to help the land seem as authentically real as possible

“We’ve had this group sit down and try to understand what would Pandora really look like? How would it feel? What sounds would you hear if you were taking a nature trail along Pandora,” said Dr. Mark Penning Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks.

[sc name=”Youtube Embed 600×360″ id=”od0BBOhP8oc” ]

BREAKING: Annual Passholder Previews Begin Soon for Pandora – The World of AVATAR, Dates Revealed

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

Walt Disney World annual passholders will be getting a first-look at Pandora: The World of AVATAR with exclusive previews of the land scheduled to happen in just-a-little-over two weeks time.

width=

Floating mountains grace the skyline while exotic plants fill the colorful landscape inside Pandora – The World of Avatar, which opens May 27, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Pandora – The World of Avatar will bring a variety of new experiences to the park, including a family-friendly attraction called Na’vi River Journey and new food & beverage and merchandise locations. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Online registration should open very soon for annual passholders to sign up for one of two preview dates for Pandora: The World of AVATAR, April 8th or 9th, 2017. It is possible that more preview dates will be scheduled later, but these appear to be the first two, at least.

Rumor has it that there will be some restriction on “technology use” for guests who partake in the preview, perhaps a ban on photography and video recording, but we will have to wait and see exactly what that means. Again, this preview would be over a month and a half before the official opening of the land to guests.

As the project is still being finished up, these dates can still change, but it seems the previews will take place before the month of April 2017 is over, at the latest.

Beauty Salon to Replace Trout Pass Pool Bar at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

The recent opening of Geyser Point Bar & Grill, a quick-service restaurant located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, has enabled the Walt Disney World Resort to re-imagine the former Trout Pass Pool Bar, which will soon become the “Salon by the Springs”.

The former Trout Pass pool bar

“Salon by the Springs” will offer a variety of manicure, pedicure, and hair services. Construction on this  transformation officially began on March 20. The construction team will continue to work during the resort’s approved noise hours of 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. until the project is completed.

Changes Coming to Disneyland’s Autopia featuring ASIMO the Robot from Honda

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

Something including Honda’s ASIMO is coming to Disneyland’s Autopia…

What could the changes be?

Honda and Disney will be making  an announcement on March 23rd, 2017. Honda took over sponsorship of the Autopia when it reopened in 2016, promising more changes were to come, but none ever came to fruition.

VIDEO: Kristoff from Frozen Makes Meet and Greet Debut at Disney California Adventure

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

Guests at Disney California Adventure got a big surprise today when Kristoff from Frozen made his meet and greet debut at the Character Close-Up inside the Animation Building.

[sc name=”YouTube Embed 800w” id=”VwgTEIHGfKY” ]

Kristoff now joins Olaf in the first meet and greet room before guests head to meet Anna and Elsa in the following. The meet and greet was not announced in advance, but is reportedly now going to be a daily offering at Character Close-Up, located inside of the Animation Building in Hollywood Land.

What do you think? Will you head over to meet Kristoff the next time you are at Disney California Adventure?

New Cake Decorating Class Being Offered at Amorette’s Patisserie

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

Beginning March 31st, 2017, Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs will have a brand new cake decorating class where you’ll learn how they seamlessly blend artistry and storytelling in cake design, starting with the elegant glaçage (that’s French for “mirror glaze”) and ending with the finishing touches such as chocolate sculpted ears, tail, belt and buttons –  which are all edible, of course.

width=

Reservations are now, and the experience (which must be booked in advance) will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every Friday through May 5. While in the class, you can enjoy complimentary specialty coffee, Mimosas and bellinis as you work on making your very own Mickey Dome cake. Space is limited. Cost is $129 plus tax for ages 10 and up, for one to two guests working on a single cake. A second cake can be purchased for an additional $40. Reservations are available now, and can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dining.

New “Music of Pixar Live!” Show Coming to Hollywood Studios this Summer

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

width=

Some new entertainment will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer in a limited time engagement.

This new event called “The Music of Pixar Live!” will showcase some of the wonderful, yet memorable music from a selection of Pixar Films. There will be a live orchestra, as well as appearances from beloved Pixar character she such as Woody and Sully.

Starting May 26, “The Music of Pixar LIVE!” will be presented three times nightly at Theater of the Stars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (following the regular daily performances of “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage”). The show will also feature highlights from some of Pixar’s greatest scores, from films like “Toy Story” to “Cars 3.

CONFIRMED: 2-Hour Nightly Extra Magic Hours Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom This Summer for AVATAR

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

Last week, we told you that it was rumored that Disney’s Animal Kingdom would offer nightly Extra Magic Hours to resort guests so that they could more fully enjoy Pandora: The World of AVATAR once it opened. Today, the Swan and Dolphin resorts are confirming our suspicions…

width=

With Animal Kingdom park hours locked at an 11pm closing time during these early Summer months, the Extra Magic Hours will take place night from 11pm until 1AM until July 4th, 2017. This benefit will only be available to Walt Disney World Resort guests, and the Swan and Dolphin hotels fall within that category despite being operated by another company.