Tune In Tonight for More Information and Discussion on Star Wars Land & Hotel, Epcot’s Overhaul, PIXAR Pier, Skyliner, and More from D23 Expo 2017

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Join us tonight at 9PM eastern for our Parks and Resorts Review from the D23 Expo 2017, where we’ll de discussing all of the announcements from the event in-depth at listen.WDWNT.com and on YouTube!

Among the topics to be discussed are:

  • Mickey Mouse ride replacing the Great Movie Ride
  • The overhaul of Epcot including the Space Restaurant, new Mission: Space, Guardians of the Galaxy roller coaster, Ratatouille in France, and more
  • TRON Lightcycle Power Run at the Magic Kingdom
  • A new theater on Main Street U.S.A.
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort
  • Minnie Vans
  • Disney Skyliner gondolas
  • Toy Story Land
  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Star Wars Hotel for Walt Disney World
  • Haul-oween in Cars Land and new events at Disney California Adventure
  • PIXAR Pier at Disney California Adventure
  • MARVEL Land for Disneyland Resort
  • The return of the Paint the Night Parade
  • Disney Cruise Line adding 3 additional ships
  • and more!

In case you missed the live stream, you can watch the recording:

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VIDEO: In-Depth Review and Analysis of Every Disney Parks Announcement Made at the D23 Expo 2017

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Last night, Tom Corless, Jason Diffendal, Ron D’Anna, Scott Smith, and Patrick Hackett sat down to discuss, in depth, all of the amazing announcements made at the D23 Expo 2017. From TRON Lightcycle Power Run, to the overhaul of Epcot, and from the new Riviera Resort to the Skyliner system, last night’s live program covered every bombshell announcement mad by Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek on Saturday. In case you missed it, you can catch the entire show here:

This show will also be available on audio form on this week’s WDW News Today Podcast.

UPDATE: Disney Confirms Donald Trump Will Speak, Sets New Opening Date for Hall of Presidents

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Disney has finally made a statement about their ongoing update of the Hall of Presidents attraction at the Magic Kingdom.
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According to News 13…

“The same thing that we’ve done with other presidents, is the same plan we have for President Trump,” said Jacquee Wahler, Vice President of communications (Walt Disney World).

They went on to clarify that Donald Trump and his audio-animatronic figure will speak in the show, just as the last 3 presidents added have.

Disney also stated that the attraction will re-open in late 2017, citing “technical problems” as the reason for the delay.

PHOTOS: More Happily Ever After Merchandise (Including Poster) is Coming to Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Disney today previewed three new merchandise items related Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom. These items come in addition to those we have showed you in the past.

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A light-up head band is coming later this summer.

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Also coming later this summer is an open edition pin.

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Last but certainly not least, the attraction poster for the show is now available through Art on Demand. Guests should look for it under the “Attraction Poster” section in the kiosks at Art of Disney locations. There are three paper and three canvas options available for printing. Guests can also have their image framed and shipped.

Young Child Hospitalized After Incident at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

A 5-year-old was airlifted to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children on Monday after the child nearly drowned at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World.

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The boy is alright and was last listed as “well” in condition. The pool was closed following the incident as it became the scene of an investigation by police. Lifeguards at the resort were interviewed regarding the child’s predicament following the airlift. It is unclear exactly what happened, it is simply being called a “water emergency”.

The incident is far from the first at a Disney resort, and not even the first at the 5-year-old Art of Animation hotel.

UPDATE: Disney Denies Media Reports, Claims Extensive Theater Upgrades Responsible for Hall of Presidents Opening Delay

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

/></p> <p>The following statement was just issued by Thomas Smith, Editorial Content Director for Disney Parks on the <a href=Disney Parks Blog:

Since the Magic Kingdom Park opened in 1971, The Hall of Presidents has brought together a one-of-a-kind look at the office of the President of the United States through film and the magic of Disney’s Audio-Animatronics technology. Despite some media reports to the contrary, President Trump will have a speaking role in The Hall of Presidents, like every president since 1993. We have been working closely with the current White House — just as we have with previous administrations — and the president’s recording session has been scheduled. The attraction will re-open in late 2017.

Whenever we refurbish one of our attractions, we take the opportunity to consider a broad range of enhancements. In this case, The Hall of Presidents is getting a new show, and a complete theater upgrade including a new sound system, lighting and high-definition projection system. The multi-screen viewing experience you may have seen in prior versions of the attraction is returning with an even wider vantage point of our country’s history.

The statement was forced by the media firestorm that followed our piece on the delayed re-opening of the Hall of Presidents. Of course, Disney did confirm that President Trump would speak in the attraction after that, but erroneous reports from media sites that there was some sort of tension between the White House and Disney pretty much left them in need of some public post on the topic.

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Magic Kingdom to Close at 6PM to Accommodate 2017 Christmas Party Events

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

The Magic Kingdom will close one-hour before the beginning of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on event nights in 2017, a change from years past.

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Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Duffy wave to Magic Kingdom guests as snow falls on Main Street, U.S.A., during ” Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” at Walt Disney World Resort. The festive processional is one of the happy highlights of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, a night of holiday splendor with lively stage shows, a unique holiday parade, Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season nighttime fireworks, and snow flurries on Main Street, U.S.A. The special-ticket event takes place on select nights in November and December at Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Ryan Wendler, photographer)

In previous years, the park would close at 7pm just as the party was beginning. To better accommodate guests arriving for the parties and to help clear out day-guests earlier, the Magic Kingdom will close to non-party guests at 6pm on each event night this year. Basically, attraction queues and the park entrance will no longer admit non-party guests starting at 6PM.

It is unclear at this time exactly how this will affect the usual park procedures in preparing for the party.

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BREAKING: Redhead Auction Scene in Pirates of the Caribbean Getting Politically Correct Makeover in 2018

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Disney today announced that the Disneyland and Walt Disney World versions of Pirates of the Caribbean will be receiving a new scene in 2018, replacing the auction of women which has been part of the ride for 50 years.

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The scene will debut along with other changes when the Disneyland Paris version of the ride opens July 24th, 2017. No exact date was given for the changes in Florida and California.

The new scene will feature an auction of surrendered goods, with the infamous redhead now becoming a pirate assisting with the taking of the items from the townsfolk.

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Disneyland Paris is also adding a new scene featuring Barbossa, along with ghostly images of Davy Jones and Blackbeard.

Tomorrowland Terrace Joins Mobile Ordering at Magic Kingdom, Disney Clarifies AP & Other Discounts Not Available

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

Following the success of the other establishments already running the program, the seasonally operating Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom will join Mobile Ordering through the MyDisney Experience app next week on July 11th.

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Other Magic Kingdom locations joining the program soon include Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Pinocchio Village Haus, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, and Columbia Harbour House. The service is already offered at 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.

Additional locations will slowly be rolled out over the coming weeks.

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CONFIRMED: TRON Lightcycle Power Run Rollercoaster to Replace Tomorrowland Speedway at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on July 13, 2017

In October of 2016, we told you that Walt Disney World was eyeing the addition of the popular TRON Lightcycle Power Run attraction from Shanghai Disneyland, and in April 2017 we updated our rumor when preliminary budgeting teams from Florida were sent out to Shanghai to take a look at the attraction. Well, with the D23 Expo just days away, it now seems certain that the attraction will be announced on Saturday, July 15th.

TRON Lightcycle Power Run, already one of the most popular attractions in Shanghai Disneyland

TRON Lightcycle Power Run, already one of the most popular attractions in Shanghai Disneyland

TRON Lightcycle Power Run will open at the Magic Kingdom just before the park’s 50th birthday (probably 2020/21), replacing the Tomorrowland Speedway attraction which opened in 1971 as the Grand Prix Raceway. The Speedway will likely close sometime in 2018 to make way for this construction.

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PHOTO BY JEFF GRITCHEN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

We feel fairly confident about calling this announcement “confirmed” since several unrelated sources within the Walt Disney Company are now providing this information.

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