Adam Roth’s 1/20/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot on Friday and has some noteworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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One of the rock arches is being rebuilt in the Oasis

Major reconstruction

Could we refurb this please?

This water fits the theme, but it is disgusting…

Waterfalls running at Everest

Is this photo from 1971?

The steam is still working

Well, he moves more than Harold…

The new Disney Vacation Club logo is everywhere now

On to Epcot where the old Alfredo’s facade is being ripped apart in the long-delayed remodeling of Tutto Italia

This makes me want to cry…

The quick serve window is open at Via Napoli to accommodate guests

Mmmmmm…

More and more of these new directional signs showing up in Future World

The Seas mural is being repaired

Sleepy cuttlefish…

I think they sponsor a golf event of some kind… or am I confused? 😉

How different will this look come October?

This board could use a good washing

Cast Members wrote on some props, probably will be replaced in the refurb

The heat chamber is rumored to be leaving

As is the cold chamber

And those robots might actually be turned off permanently

Plenty of the Chevy cars out there now

These diplays aren’t super-new, but they are all Chevy-related

Opportunity to Experience Animal Kingdom with Jane Goodall

There is a pretty interesting experience being made available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom around the park’s 14th anniversary for those with a little expendable income:

The 2012 Walt Disney World Safari VIP Weekend
A VIP Family Weekend at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
April 20, 2012 – April 22, 2012

While many people dream of going to Africa to live like renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, most of us just don’t have the time to pack up and fly around the world, particularly those of us with children.  The Jane Goodall Institute, together with our longtime friends at Walt Disney World, would like to offer you and your family the next best thing: An Exclusive VIP Weekend at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge® featuring the chance to spend time with Jane.

Trip Highlights

  • Relax around a campfire and swap stories with Jane while enjoying hot chocolate and s’mores;
  • View the wildlife right outside the window of your savannah view room in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®;
  • Get an up-close and behind-the-scenes view of majestic animals on Disney’s special Backstage Safari Tour;
  • Enjoy breakfast with Jane and some of Disney’s famous characters at Backstage Prop Shop in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®;
  • Explore all of Disney’s Orlando theme parks with your Park Hopper® passes and much more!

The tickets for this three day, two night adventure include all scheduled events, two nights in a savannah view room in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®, select meals, unlimited three-day admission to all Disney theme parks, a Disney Dining Card, and transportation to and from the Orlando airport as well as all of the Disney parks.

The trip costs $5,000 per person for members of Jane’s Peak Society (JGI’s $1,000+ giving circle) and $6,000 per person for new members. A significant portion of this payment is a tax-deductible donation to support JGI’s programs. For more information please contact John Davison, Major Gifts Coordinator, at jDavison@janegoodall.org or (703) 682-9281.

Adam Roth’s 12/18/12 Animal Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom park on Tuesday and he has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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RFID entrance being utilized at some of the Animal Kingdom turnstiles as well

They are themed!

MICKEY’S JINGLE JUNGLE PARADE!

Let the memories begin!

FastPass+ installed at Primeval Whirl

Also at DINOSAUR

Dino-Land decked for Christmas

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Zach Larson’s 2/6/12 WDW Photo Report

From Super Bowl MVP parades to Animal Kingdom, WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson brings us around the world with him on a very busy photo report. Let’s take a look:

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Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

overgrowth getting cleared away

Meanwhile, some brush is being cleared from this island in the Seven Seas Lagoon

The main street characters were out entertaining guests waiting for Eli Manning to parade down the street. I really don’t like the new one in the beige shorts…

They were offering free balloons with every audio guide purchased! 😉

Giants fans out in force

Here comes the Super Bowl MVP

Congratulations to our hometown champions, the New York Giants… even though I’m a Dolphins fan… stop laughing…

The Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment rolls on

I love this sign

The Pecos Bill’s facade is out from behind tarps and looks great

More of the facade still covered

The Frontierland Trading Post still behind tarps

Pathway work continues and Electrical Parade takes a break and Celebrate a Dream Come True stays on Main Street

Work continues on the old Fantasyland Skyway

Restrooms are coming, but rumors say to expect more

Rumors indicate that a Tangled play area and an area for guests to rest and recharge electronics is coming

Work continues on the Peter Pan’s Flight queue

Crane up in New Fantasyland

The new Tomorrowland/Fantasyland vending cart costume is a better fit for Tomorrowland in my opinion

Work continues on the castle walls

The crane! The crane!

Storybook Circus

The Dumbo queue is coming along

Beast’s Castle

They are finally topping Prince Eric’s Castle at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

A spire finally appears at the very edge of the castle! PROGRESS!

Fantasyland Station is looking great

The old Dumbo spinner is now sitting next to the completed new spinner

I really love the pastels

It’s hard to improve a simple spinner, but I think they have

Circus tents

Awww….

Bye balloons… sniff…

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Main Street bridge work continues

Center Street still behind tarps

Chamber of Commerce/Package Pick-Up behind tarps as well

Cosmic Ray’s installed these screen menu boards a while ago

I like this shot…

Lights were on in Space Mountain

Long line for the Peoplemover

Something is missing…

Oooooo…

Walls still up behind the shrunken pet cemetery

Ooooo….

Another new Haunted Mansion shirt

On to Epcot

Test Track on the map, get them while you can

Kind of empty…

The screen works!

This scene may be gone soon…

GM cars out in the loop

Punch it Chewie!

Plenty of blue Chevy labeled cars out

The VISION House is coming to Innoventions soon

Habit Heroes is testing

Some clever puns… good thing this isn’t DCA…

The Final Boss, He's defeated with exercise.

There were quite a few bugs and they weren’t allowing pics inside, so listen to next week’s podcast for a full review

Doors locked for some reason

MINE!

No, they are not putting FASTPASS machines in…

Nemo?

In case you don’t know how to play Simon…

Preparations have begun for the Flower and garden Festival

They keep adding more and more signs for Kim Possible

The new Future World directional signs

The Canada facade refurbishment is done and it looks brand new

Leave a Legacy being fixed up

Over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, work continues on one of the paths in the Oasis

Kali River Rapids is closed for refurbishment

These were added some time ago, but the seating area at the Yak and Yeti counter service now has covered sections

I miss these signs that don’t say dream builders…

The drink window was open

Imagineering Prepares to “Poach” Kilimanjaro Safaris Elephant Story To Add More Animals

From Jennifer-Fickley Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:

Today I’m happy to give you an update on one of my favorite attractions – Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

I’ve always loved Kilimanjaro Safaris because you see so many amazing animals, but even more so, I love hearing the reactions of the first-timers around me; guests who can’t believe they’re seeing so many beautiful animals together in one place!

Beginning this spring, the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction will undergo some changes to give guests an additional opportunity to see more of their favorite animals, specifically zebra. To do so, Walt Disney Imagineering will make some creative changes to the last scene in the attraction by removing the Audio-Animatronics “Little Red” elephant and related set pieces. This area will then be reconstructed as savannah space and feature a new watering hole for live animals.

This enhancement is scheduled to begin this spring, and be completed by fall 2012. And don’t worry, the attraction will remain operational during the adjustment.

I wish I could say this announcement is surprising, but the story-line at Kilimanjaro Safaris has been weak since changes were made just before the opening of the park in 1998. Early test audiences did not like to see the “dead body” of elephant Big Red that was to have been killed by the poachers and sent a very strong message to guests, so it was removed. The finale scene has never been too exciting and the payoff of seeing a fake baby elephant in a truck wasn’t nearly enough to justify it. Various characters and narration changes have also been made over the years as the attraction could never really find an identity after the poacher story collapsed.

Despite losing the original story, this is probably a positive. More animals to see and a more relaxed atmosphere through the entire ride sounds nice. Who needs something to go wrong in a park that already has killer dinosaurs, yetis, and bugs? Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we track this transformation into the Fall.

AJ P’s 2/12 Walt Disney World Resort Photo Report

WDWNT reader AJ P. was nice enough to offer us some newsworthy photos they took on their recent trip to Walt Disney World, so let’s take a look around all 4 parks and Downtown Disney:

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Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

the rain left some large puddles

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom

Chamber of Commerce behind tarps

The Bakery as well

On to New Fantasyland

Work being done on the facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Large walls popping up on the site of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Supports and such for the Mine Train in the foreground, Storybook Circus tents in the background

A green and red wall will separate the forest from Storybook Circus

A look across to Belle’s Village

The remains of Dumbo right in front of an expanding Castle Wall

Dumbo is coming along quickly

The backside isn’t themed in any way, but it faces the Speedway, so it will match nicely…

The Barnstormer tower

Circus tents

Walls still up near the Haunted Mansion

The Sunshine Tree Terrace is still behind tarps

Tarps still up at Pecos Bill’s

The planters have been repaired in Tomorrowland, but they have temporary covers until plants are placed

On to Downtown Disney, work continues on Splitsville

Doesn’t look like much has happened inside yet

Rainforest Cafe is open while work is done on the exterior

Concept art shows the new exterior and the new Lava Lounge

Stitch is gone from the World of Disney sign

Work being done on the pavement outside the store

Moving over to Epcot

Flower and Garden Festival preperation

Work continues on the entrances to the Seas with Nemo and Friends

The water play areas in Future World are being fixed-up

Tutto Italia is finally being remodeled after 5 years in the former Alfredo’s building

The exterior is being ripped apart

The old waiting area is gone…

The horror… THE HORROR!

I hope they are fixing the menu here as well, because Via Napoli makes this place look silly

The other water play area behind walls

Modifications being made to the Spaceship Earth queue in preparation for the eventual roll-out of Xpass…

We’re going to animal Kingdom!

For one piece of news… they are still repairing the rock-work in the Oasis

Adam Roth’s 12/20/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot on Tuesday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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The steam is on at Everest

Pretty…

No bird 🙁

He’s there…

Apparently it’s catching on…

Primeval Whirl re-opened from a LONG refurbishment back in October

While we may not like this “off the shelf” ride, it does look refreshed

You can only refresh it so much…

LOVE the christmas decorations in Dinoland

Moving on to Epcot

The RFID turnstiles are completely gone

They’ll probably be back soon…

Hey, let’s try Katsura Grill in Japan!

It’s a little crowded

The Tonosama Combo

The Okanami Yaki. Adam didn’t think either was very good…

YAY! It’s the holidays!

Have fun in line everybody!

This is enough to scare anyone away…

AMAZING!

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“If you would like one, they are available in the gift shop”

“If you are made uncomfortable by Gary Sinease…”

I see you re-decorated Test Track car!

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And one final destination…

“Hello!”

“Seat, seatbelt, carry-on items, safety strap, fear of flying, keep your hands and arms inside at all times… anything else? Oh yeah, have a nice flight.”

A Few New Restaurants Join The Disney Dining Plan in 2012

For those of you who make use of the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll be happy to know that a few new restaurants (mostly at Downtown Disney) are joining the fray in 2012:

-Bongos Cuban Cafe Window
-Bongos Cuban Cafe
-Marketplace Snacks
-House of Blues
-Paridiso 37
-Portobello
-T-REX Cafe
-Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney Marketplace and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park

They are are all non-Disney owned restaurants. Is this an attempt to bring more guests to the struggling Downtown Disney, or just some long overdue additions to the Disney Dining Plan?

Rafiki’s Planet Watch To Become The Planet Pandora?

Since the announcement of the AVATAR-land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there has been speculation as to where the it would go. Would Camp Minnie-Mickey finally be bulldozed, making use of the land once meant for Beastly Kingdom? Was the expansion plot behind Asia where the Nav’i would call home? We may finally have an answer…

The area marked in blue is what is now being rumored as the plot for the AVATAR-land expansion. If you know Animal Kingdom well, you will realize that a now-open guest area is included in the zone: Rafiki’s Planet Watch. It was recently announced that Jiminy Cricket and Pocohontas will no longer be conducting meet-and-greets in this location by December and it is being rumored that the entirety of Rafiki’s Planet Watch (Conservation Station, Affection Section, Habitat Habit!, and the Wildlife Express Train) will be closed  in January 2012.

This is just a rumor right now, but interestingly enough, this plan would save Camp Minnie-Mickey once again and make the AVATAR-land accessible only via Asia or Africa. It is possible that the track of the Wildlife Express Train will be recycled for some sort of transport into the world of AVATAR, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that idea. While we wait for confirmation on this breaking story, it sure is fun to imagine the possibilities. Stay tuned…