Epcot – Page 27 – WDWNT Archive

PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 8/31/16 (Haunted Mansion, Mosquito Prevention, New Stairs, ETC.)

WDWNT on September 2, 2016

Today, we take a short trip to a rainy Epcot to see what’s new and exciting in our latest photo report (and no, Haunted Mansion in the title is not a mistake):

Steps Toward Security

Emergency monorail stairs at Epcot

Work was finally completed on the new emergency stairs at the Epcot Monorail station. New safety protocols have required these additions at many of the monorail stations around Walt Disney World property.

My attempt at being artsy. This is as far as I can go.

New Merchandise

Some new Haunted Mansion art found in the Art of Disney, including these tiny stretching room portraits.

All four of the stretching room statues are now available.

Select items from the PIXAR Party are still lingering, available at Epcot’s Pin Central.

In France, a selection of Disney Princess shirts exclusive to the parks are available.

Tower of Terror as a park icon isn’t going anywhere anytime soon apparently…

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

This light up Little Green Men lanyard is fairly new, available in quite a few places.

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

More new Toy Story-themed park apparel has been released recently.

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

Some new children’s clothing featuring the Fab 5 is available at MouseGear.

ZIKA/Mosquito Prevention

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

I found two of the complimentary bug repellent locations during my rainy night visit to Epcot. This first one is on the bridge from China to the Refreshment Outpost.

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

Another was spotted near the Agent P sign-up kiosk between Future World and World Showcase.

WATCH: Latest “WDW News Tonight” Celebrates the History of Streets of America

WDWNT on September 2, 2016

On this week’s edition of WDW News Tonight…

With the demolition of the Backlot and Streets of America well underway, we brought on a WDWNT panel and took your phone calls discussing our memories of these two beloved park spaces.
Tom and Nick debated the idea of a Guardians of the Galaxy themed roller coaster taking over the space currently held by the Universe of Energy in Epcot.
On a serious note, we take a look at the final report put forth by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission on the alligator attack at the Grand Floridian.
Tom took us inside the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen at Universal Orlando CityWalk.
We dove inside the “Wonderful World of Psychotic Comments”, found out “Who Hates Tom Now” and played Disney Parks Pursuit.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkWIrBugL94]

If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to AM 1520 WBZW at show time. For those outside the Orlando area, the show can be heard (and now watched via video stream) at Listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. The show also utilizes new interactive avenues for our audience, including a live chat, the ability to call-in to the show, and live polling. You can also listen on demand on iTunes or watch on YouTube. WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

PHOTOS: Disney World Rolls Out Free Mosquito Repellent to Combat Zika Virus

WDWNT on September 2, 2016

On Saturday, we told you about the introduction of complimentary bug repellent at the Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs to help combat the Zika Virus presence in central Florida. On Sunday, Disney rolled out the program resort wide. Here’s how it works…

Mosquito Prevention Kiosk in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom

These kiosks are located all around the parks and Disney Springs. Cast members are handing pamphlets out to guests about mosquito prevention and then invite them to apply repellent to themselves. On Sunday, cast were tallying the number of guests using the program. By mid-afternoon, one kiosk at Disney Springs informed us that they already had over 50 guests who had taken advantage of the program.

Repellent Basket at a kiosk in Disney Springs

Guests do not actually receive anything to keep with them, but they can stop at these kiosks and apply the repellent to themselves. All resort rooms at Walt Disney World have similar bottles of repellent placed in them by housekeeping. Guests do in fact get to keep these bottles distributed to their guest room.

It is unknown for how long Walt Disney World will offer the repellent, but it will likely be until the threat of Zika is gone from the Central Florida area.

Children Now Require Biometric Finger Scan to Enter Walt Disney World Theme Parks

WDWNT on September 2, 2016

Children under the age of 10 have never been required to scan a finger when entering a Walt Disney World theme park, something required of all ticket holders over that age for many years at the Vacation Kingdom of the World. Starting just last week, children under age 10 now are required to have their fingerprint scanned to enter the Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks, and DisneyQuest.

A guest relations cast member we spoke to over the weekend confirmed the changes after 3 separate reports were sent to us by WDWNT readers.

The change is reportedly part of the continuing effort to fight ticket fraud and Walt Disney World Resort ticket resales. Child tickets in the past would have no fingerprint associated with them, nor would they require photo ID, so it would have been very easy to transfer tickets between guests under the age of 10.

Disney has made no official statement on the new policy beyond the instructions given to front gate cast members at their theme parks.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Tour “The Living Seas” Private Lounge at Epcot

WDWNT on September 2, 2016

The Living Seas name may have gone away 10 years ago, but it lives on in a secluded space inside of the Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion at Epcot. Through a set of nondescript doors near the entrance to the Coral Reef Restaurant, lies the passageway to an exclusive lounge, now only open to private events.