SOLD OUT: “WDWNT Dessert Party IN The Movies” Offers Last Chance to Walk Classic Studios Attraction 2 Days Before It Closes

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

UPDATE: This event has completely sold out, and the waitlist is full as well. Thanks for your interest! If you are interested in similar events, please check out the Celebration 35 event being held by our friends at WDWCelebrations for information about an IllumiNations Dessert Party on October 1, 2017, and check out WDWNT’s Tencennial Celebration for information about our Private Breakfast to be held in the Living Seas Lounge on September 24, 2017.

 

Join WDWNT as we bid adieu to the centerpiece of Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. We have organized a private gathering to say goodbye to this spectacular Audio-Animatronics tour de force as only WDWNT.com can!

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Your ticket includes after-hours access to walk through The Great Movie Ride®, ending with a scrumptious dessert party, and featuring a talk by former Imagineer Brian Collins, who helped create script and staging for the attraction. On top of all that, helping Ryman Arts, the fine arts education institution co-founded by legendary Imagineer Marty Sklar.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to Ryman Arts in honor of Marty Sklar. In addition, you are welcome to add any additional donation amount to your ticket purchase to support this great cause!

Tickets are on sale now for $149.99 per person at http://wdwnt.com/tickets. Tickets are now SOLD OUT!

Please note that the number of tickets is extremely limited and we expect them to sell out rather quickly. Tickets are non-refundable, and non-transferable without the prior written consent of WDWNT LLC.

Park admission is not required to participate in this event.

Transportation to and from Disney’s Hollywood Studios® is required and not included in the ticket price. Please note that Disney transportation will not be available either before or after the event. The event meeting location will be outside of the park gates. Disney’s Hollywood Studios® operating hours on Friday August 11th end at 9:30 PM and you will not be permitted to wait inside the park for the event to begin.

This event is a private event organized by WDWNT LLC and is not organized, sponsored, or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company.

Participants are welcome to take photographs and video recordings for personal, non-commercial use only. Any type of live streaming or broadcasting during the event is prohibited, as well as flash photography or external video lighting. Participants who do not adhere to these restrictions or any other rules pertaining to Walt Disney World® Theme Parks may be ejected without refund. By purchasing a ticket to this event, you acknowledge and agree to these restrictions.

Mobile Ordering Expands to Three Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurants Over the Next Week

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

Following the success of the other establishments already running the program, three restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are joining Mobile Order through the MyDisney Experience app.

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The service will begin to be offered at Backlot Express on August 8th, ABC Commissary on August 14th, and PizzeRizzo on August 15th.

The service is already offered at Tomorrowland Terrace, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Pinocchio Village Haus, Pecos Bill’s, and Columbia Harbour House at the Magic Kingdom, Electric Umbrella and Liberty Inn at Epcot, 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.

Full Character and Photo-Op Lineup Announced for Disney World’s PhotoPass Day 2017

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

August 19 marks World Photo Day, and Disney will celebrate the occasion with the return of Disney PhotoPass Day at Walt Disney World Resort! During this event, Disney PhotoPass Service will offer a number of exclusive photo opportunities that will let you take home even more picture-perfect memories of your visit.

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In honor of Disney’s “Dream Big, Princess” campaign, you’ll find photo opportunities focused on some Disney Princesses as well.

Check out all of the special opportunities that are planned in each of the four theme parks and Disney Springs on August 19 (Entertainment and photo opportunities are subject to change; some locations could be affected by inclement weather):

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Character Experiences:

  • Meeko joins Pocahontas at Character Landing on Discovery Island
  • Timon joins Rafiki at Rafiki’s Planet Watch
  • Princess Atta joins Flik at Discovery Island near Creature Comforts

Photo opportunities:

  • Dream Big Princess photo backdrop before the park entrance (daylight hours only)
  • Jungle Book Magic Shot near Yak & Yeti Restaurant
  • Visit the PhotoPass photographer in DinoLand U.S.A. from 9-10 p.m. to have magical Mickey light effects added to your photo

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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Character Experiences:

  • The Queen from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Maleficent, and Cruella de Vil will meet with guests at Sunset Showcase. This opportunity will be available from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Photo opportunities:

  • Dream Big Princess photo backdrop outside the Theater of the Stars (daylight hours only)
  • Poison Apple Magic Shot on Sunset Boulevard
  • Fisheye lens in the Chinese Theatre Courtyard area

Epcot

Character Experiences:

  • Genie will join Princess Jasmine in the Morocco Pavilion
  • Mushu will join Mulan in the China Pavilion

Photo opportunities:

  • Dream Big Princess photo backdrop near Epcot Character Spot (daylight hours only)
  • Baymax Animated Magic Shot with the PhotoPass photographer located near Mouse Gear and the Fountain of Nations
  • Fisheye lens near the fountain close to the entrance to Spaceship Earth

Magic Kingdom Park

Character Experiences:

  • Dopey joins Snow White at Town Square Courtyard
  • Captain Hook joins Peter Pan in Fantasyland

Photo opportunities:

  • Dream Big Princess photo backdrop in Fantasyland (daylight hours only)
  • Cinderella’s Coach in Fantasyland
  • “Tangled” light painting photo opportunity near Ariel’s Grotto (available after dark)
  • Mickey Mouse Magic Shot on the bridge near Fairytale Garden
  • Main Street Vehicle near the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (available in the morning and early afternoon)

Disney Springs

Photo opportunities:

  • Dream Big Princess photo backdrop next to the Marketplace Stage
  • Fairy Wings Magic Shot from the PhotoPass photographer roaming around the Marketplace near Tren-D (available from 1-10:30 p.m.)
  • You can also visit the Disney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs to enjoy special $99.95 plus shipping pricing on a Personalized Storybook now through August 20!

Don’t forget to share your photos using #DisneyPhotoPassDay and #DreamBigPrincess, and if you want access to all of your PhotoPass photos from Disney PhotoPass Day, purchase Memory Maker One Day for $59 in the My Disney Experience mobile app during or after your visit.

Hollywood Studios Expecting Huge Crowds for Great Movie Ride Closing, Operating Hours Extended

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

With The Great Movie Ride closing on Sunday, August 13th, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is adjusting some operating hours for attractions and dining inside of the park this weekend, August 12th and 13th.

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  • Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream will operate from park open until park close both days.
  • For The First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is adding a 9:30AM show.
  • The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is adding a 10:45AM show.
  • Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner will open at 9AM and serve breakfast on August 12th only.

If you are visiting this weekend, expect huge crowds at Hollywood Studios and lengthy lines for The Great Movie Ride.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Baseline Tap House Facade Revealed, New Details of Grand Avenue at Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

Opening this Fall, what remains of New York Street at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will become Grand Avenue, a representation of modern day Los Angeles. Situated in the former home of the Writer’s Stop will be the Baseline Tap House, a new bar and lounge just steps away from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This week, the facade of the Tap House was revealed and lampposts are going up on the new street:

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The former Writer’s Stop now has a brick facade.

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Lamps have been installed all around the area, likely meaning it is not far from opening.

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The new area as seen from Star Tours.

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SHOP NOW: Great Movie Ride and Universe of Energy Closing Merchandise For Sale Online

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

As promised, DisneyStore.com today is selling the limited release t-shirts celebrating the closing of the Universe of Energy and The Great Movie Ride. You can click here or any image below to buy these items. The shirts are available until August 17th online.

 

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The Great Movie Ride Farewell Tee for Adults

 

The Great Movie Ride Farewell Tee for Adults - Annual Passholders

The Great Movie Ride Farewell Tee for Adults – Annual Passholders

 

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The Great Movie Ride Farewell Tee for Kids

 

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The Universe of Energy Farewell Tee for Adults

 

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The Universe of Energy Farewell Tee for Adults – Annual Passholders

 

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The Universe of Energy Farewell Tee for Kids

Additional items such as Tervis tumblers, ornaments, and baseball caps are available only at Walt Disney World. Both attractions close forever on Sunday, August 13th, 2017.

Grand Avenue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Just Queue Space to Enter Star Wars Land

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

Many have been asking, besides the Baseline Tap House, what is the purpose of the Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? It’s a fairly big parcel and nothing more than this bar and lounge has been announced for it. What else is going in there? Well, the answer is the only dedicated queue space ever built for a land.

Photo by @bioreconstruct

Grand Avenue stands before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the former New York Street area. Photo by @bioreconstruct

Based on the absolutely monstrous demand that there is to see Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, this giant street will act as a queue just to enter the area. Guests will be able to exit to Grand Avenue or Toy Story Land, but entry to Toy Story Land seems unlikely for the opening months (maybe even years) of the Star Wars themed land. This info comes directly from an Imagineer working on the Florida version of the Galaxy’s Edge project.

So yes, there will be a theme park land at Hollywood Studios that is just queue space and a bar essentially.

While Grand Avenue opens this Fall, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will not be completed until mid-to-late-2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

One Man’s Dream Becoming Walt Disney Presents, Star Wars Land & Toy Story Land Models Coming

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

Today, Disney shared an update that will very soon give you a thrilling, up-close look at what’s to come at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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The One Man’s Dream attraction is currently being reimagined into Walt Disney Presents, which like its predecessor, will continue showcasing historic items from Walt Disney’s history, such as sketches, photos and storyboards. Walt Disney Presents will also act as a preview center where guests explore what’s next for the park. Starting in mid-September, you’ll be able to view concept art, ride vehicle maquettes and a never-before-seen model for Toy Story Land. A portion of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge model also will be on display, as well as concept art for the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction.

The attraction will also continue to host greetings with characters like Star-Lord and baby Groot, plus special sneak previews of upcoming Disney films.

 

VIDEO: Take An Incredible Journey Through the History of The Great Movie Ride, Closing Forever Today at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

What better way to say goodbye to a Walt Disney World original, The Great Movie Ride, than with a journey through its entire history! Below is our last Back to the Future LIVE show, a 3.5 hour spectacular taking you from the development of the attraction for EPCOT Center, to the creation of the Disney-MGM Studios, the the announcement of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway:

And don’t worry, we’ll be giving the Universe of Energy the same treatment next month with its very own edition of the segment.

We’ll see you at the movies…

VIDEO: Ride in the Last Car Ever on The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on August 20, 2017

Last night, we were lucky enough to be at just the right place in line to be in the very last full car of guests ever on The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Of course, I filmed the entire experience to share with you! Enjoy:

On a personal note, The Great Movie Ride was my second favorite attraction ever after the original Journey Into Imagination, so these last few days have meant a lot to me. I was overwhelmed by the success of the private event we held inside the attraction on Friday, and even more overwhelmed by everyone who came up to me or my parents just to say what a good time they had. Playing some small role in providing a proper and memorable farewell for other people who also loved this ride means so much to me and is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you to everyone who came to that event and helped to make it happen, and thank you to the Great Movie Ride for 28 years of wonderful memories with family and friends.

Of course, I’ll share more of my experience at the farewell and our event this week on WDW News Tonight. We’ll see you at the movies!