PHOTOS: Disney is Distributing Promotional Pamphlets on the Skyliner Gondola System

WDWNT on August 2, 2017

Guests at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (or at least what is left of it at this point) can now find a small advertisement for the Disney Skyliner gondola system in their room.

The advert apologizes for the construction related to the new transportation system (nevermind the massive overhaul of Old Port Royal and all of of the other construction around the resort) and gives guests information about what exactly the Skyliner will be.

When completed, the system will connect Disney’s Caribbean Resort to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new Riviera Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

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Join Us Tonight for a Spectacular Journey Through the History of The Great Movie Ride

WDWNT on August 2, 2017

Tonight, we celebrate the incredible history of the icon attraction from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Great Movie Ride, just days before it closes forever on August 13th, 2017.

Back to the Future LIVE!: The Great Movie Ride – Monday, July 31st at 8PM ET

Tonight at 8PM, streaming live on YouTube and at Listen.WDWNT.com, catch the next edition of WDWNT’s beloved history show “Back to the Future”, as we delve into the history of the Great Movie Ride. The Great Movie Ride wasn’t always planned for the center of a park, so how did this come to be? Well, we’ll show you during this multimedia program.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Coaster Track Completed for Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on August 2, 2017

Today, Disney had an exciting milestone to share with us straight from the Toy Story Land construction site at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The final piece of track was recently installed on Slinky Dog Dash, a family coaster that will debut as one of the land’s two new attractions when Toy Story Land opens in summer 2018.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2018 OPENING OF TOY STORY LAND — During D23 Expo 2017, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek announces the summer 2018 opening of Toy Story Land at DisneyÕs Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney Imagineering just shared this photo, which was snapped just as the final piece of red track was lowered into place.

Current progress on the station for Slinky Dog Dash

Current progress on the station for Slinky Dog Dash

In Toy Story Land, guests will shrink to the size of a toy and explore the world of Andy’s backyard. Fitting with the theme, Slinky Dog Dash will appear to be a coaster track that Andy has built all over his backyard using his Mega Coaster Play Kit – as well as some of his other favorite toys.

Toy Story Land opens Summer 2018 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

D23 Expo 2017 Rumors – The Great Movie Ride to Close by 2018 for Mickey Ride

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

We told you about this one a while ago, but it now sounds like it may be happening and announced at the 2017 D23 Expo on Saturday July 15th…

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From our August 2016 story:

While details are scarce at this point, rumors indicate the ride would be trackless and is also being developed to go somewhere at the Disneyland Resort simultaneously.

The latest trend in the parks seems to be Disney removing any connections to franchises that Disney does not own (Twilight Zone for example), and the Great Movie Ride is packed with a lot of films that Disney has absolutely no ownership over. The line of thinking here would be to feature the first ride ever devoted to Mickey Mouse (clearly the property of the Walt Disney Company), something that has been attempted many times over the last 60 years but never built in any Disney theme park.

Sources are claiming that the Great Movie Ride would close in 2018 so that “The Great Mickey Ride” could open by the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2021.

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D23 Expo Rumors – A List of Every Announcement Expected for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

The last month leading to the D23 Expo 2017 has been a crazy one, as there is a larger than usual list of expected announcements for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek to make on Saturday, July 15th at 3pm. Below, we cover what we expect to be announced. While not all of these will likely be “confirmed” come this weekend, they are highly likely to be.

Unlikely rumors that could see announcement on Saturday include the Star Wars Luxury Hotel, Zootopia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the DVC wing of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and a massive expansion of Walt Disney Studios Paris, but the timing for these doesn’t seem right, whether they are going to happen or not.

Stay tuned for updates from the presentation when it begins at 3pm Pacific time today!

PHOTOS: An In-Depth Look at the Star Wars Land Model for Disney Parks, D23 Expo 2017

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

This is a panoramic shot of the entire model on display at the “A Galaxy of Stories” Pavilion at D23 Expo 2017. Note that this is the Disneyland model, but we expect the Walt Disney World version to be very similar. To give you a general overview, the large mountainous structure on the left side is the show building for the battle escape attraction, while on the far right is the Millennium Falcon attraction. In the center is the village area, which will contain the Cantina, the Dinner Show Restaurant, and mostly as-yet-unannounced Shopping and Entertainment offerings.

 

Plenty of Star Wars vehicles adorn the area.

A close-up of the left side of the village area.

You can plainly see the Millennium Falcon sitting in the area in the back, right side of the model.

Here’s a wider shot of the right side showing the Millennium Falcon ride’s show building.

Another perspective of the right side of the model.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more breaking news about Star Wars Land coming from the D23 Expo 2017!

 

 

PHOTOS: Trackless Ride Vehicle Revealed for Star Wars Land’s “Battle Escape” Attraction

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Revealed tonight at the D23 Expo 2017, we received our first look at the 8-person trackless ride vehicle for Star Wars Land’s massive E-Ticket attraction known simply to most as Battle Escape.

The vehicle is referred to as a First Order Fleet Transport and features an astromech droid attached to the front of it. While we don’t know exactly why we will be riding in this vehicle, we hopefully will be getting more information before the end of the D23 Expo this weekend.

For a look at the Star Wars Land model revealed tonight, check out our video.

Possible Star Wars Land Name Leaks, Is It Galaxy’s Edge?

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Through some clever looking through the coding on the Disney Parks Blog, it seems as though the name of the Star Wars themed land for Disneyland and Disney World may have slipped out ahead of tomorrow’s announcement.

If the coding is correct, the name of the land will be Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

A formal announcement is expected tomorrow at the D23 Expo one way or the other.

CONFIRMED: Star Wars Land Named “Galaxy’s Edge”, Rex Will Appear in Cantina – D23 Expo 2017 News

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Bob Chapek has just confirmed at the D23 Expo Parks & Resorts presentation the rumor we noted yesterday that the new Star Wars land will be called “Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge”.

Also, Rex from Star Tours will be in Star Wars land as the DJ at the Cantina.

New concept art from the two major attractions was also shown.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES NEW DETAILS OF ATTRACTIONS PLANNED FOR STAR WARS: GALAXYÕS EDGE — Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek shared new details and a glimpse inside the two attractions planed for Star Wars: GalaxyÕs Edge coming to both Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif. and DisneyÕs Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla. in 2019.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK ANNOUNCES NEW DETAILS OF ATTRACTIONS PLANNED FOR STAR WARS: GALAXYÕS EDGE — Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek shared new details and a glimpse inside the two attractions planed for Star Wars: GalaxyÕs Edge coming to both Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif. and DisneyÕs Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla. in 2019.