Robert Ashburn’s 1/23/09 WDW Photo Update

WDWNT on January 25, 2009

Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media and FTN has provided us with another fantastic photo report, this time from the Magic Kingdom area with a full report on the park’s latest parade and some other smaller happenings. Let’s take a look:

We’ll start this report with photos from the debut performance of the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom. Since the pre-parade vehicle is now in the actual parade, a high school band acted in it’s place

Disney was filming the first performance for some promotional footage

The parade banner leads along with what was the pre-parade Grand Marshal vehicle

Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 1/23/09 WDW Photo Update

Jon Pleszewski’s 1/21/09 Magic Kingdom Update

WDWNT on January 22, 2009

Avid WDWNT Network follower Jon Pleszewski has provided us with a fantastic photo update from around the Magic Kingdom park, so let’s take a look at some news items:

The “Celebrate Today!” banner covers the famous train station plaque that the Year of a Million Dreams banner covered for many months

The castle forecourt stage has been returned to it’s usual look, slightly freshened and ready for Dream Along with Mickey

The walls are finally down around the Golden Oak Outpost in Frontierland, which is ready to open any day now

The new seating area which will shrink the designated smoking area adjacent to it

Construction of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration continues in Tomorrowland

Is it just me, or does it look like this isn’t going to make a February opening?

We end this great report with the arrival of more “Celebrate Today!” banners outside the Magic Kingdom. A special thanks to Jon for this update!

Supersonic Celebration Comes to Life

WDWNT on January 20, 2009

As we draw closer to it’s debut next month, more details on the new “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration” show in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. Here is what can be found on disneyworld.com:

Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration is a musical Tomorrowland street party celebrating “Galaxy Day” and features a live video version of Stitch interacting with Guests and a high-energy dance troupe. Come join the fun!

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My apologies for the very small concept art image, but it is all that is available at this time. This blurb confirms the rumor we reported a few weeks ago that the Stitch character will be part of the Living Character Initiative program and will have an interactive character on a screen talking to guests very much like the Stitch Live! attraction at the Walt Disney Studios Paris park. The fact that the official description calls this a “live video version” of Stitch is a bit disturbing from a company that has always been about creating solid stories and illusions, considering that is not in the descriptions for the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor or Turtle Talk with Crush.

Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more details on “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration” and other new offerings for “Celebrate Everyday!” become available.

Celebrate a Parade of a Slightly Different Name

WDWNT on January 18, 2009

It appears that the new/updated parade debuting at the Magic Kingdom park on January 23, 2009 has had a name change from what we have previously reported. According to upcoming entertainment schedules for the month of February, the parade will be titled the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” Parade. This slightly different name is shorter than the previously reported “Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True” moniker and actually sounds a whole lot better. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on this updated Magic Kingdom parade as it becomes available.

New Concept Art for “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Street Party”

WDWNT on January 14, 2009

Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party is an interactive show filled with music, dancing and surprises held in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Theme Park. The show is scheduled to debut mid-February 2009.

The magic kicks off as an emcee entices you to join in the fun and Disney Characters, floats resembling giant gift-wrapped packages, stilt-walkers and other performers promenade toward Cinderella Castle. As the party stops in front of Cinderella Castle, the “packages” burst open to reveal some of your favorite Disney Characters including Genie, Lumiere, Sebastian and more. The fun is driven by a contemporary musical score that will have you wanting to dance and sing along.

Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party is performed several times on most days. Check the daily schedule when you arrive at Magic Kingdom Theme Park.

Official details here.

Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True!

WDWNT on January 11, 2009

UPDATED 1/11/09 – 6:58PM: We have just been told that the Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True Parade will debut on January 23rd, 2009.

We have another report live from Walt Disney World just sent in by Tom Corless, on the Disney Dreams Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom, or as we soon will be calling it, Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True.

The Mickey Mouse opening float is still being refurbished. Tom was speaking with a parade float driver who said that when the float is done, it will look like “a present exploding on the float.” Mickey is still currently on the Castle float, and he will continue to be until his float is ready. The Castle float’s banner has been changed to a purple banner saying “Celebrate Today”. As we have reported before, the whole parade will have an updated soundtrack, which will most likely be a combination of the parade’s current theme and the “Celebrate You” song, however that could change. We have also heard that in addition to the new floats, costumes, and music, the new parade will also have show stops.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for the latest on this and more news as Tom and Jose report in from the WDW Resort.

Breaking News: Space Mountain Refurb Finally Announced!

WDWNT on January 6, 2009

The staff here at WDW News Today will be keeping you up to date on the latest news through-out the Walt Disney World Resort while Tom Corless is down at the resort for one of his many, many trips. This update is to let everyone know that it has been made official that Space Mountain will indeed be closed from April 19th, 2009 until sometime in Fall 2009. From what we can tell, it will only be a relatively small refurb, with nothing too major happening.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for the latest on Space Mountain’s finally confirmed refurbishment.

Jose Eber’s 1/2/09 WDW Update

WDWNT on January 3, 2009

WDWNT Photographer Jose Eber has some interesting updates from outside the parks to share with us today, so let’s take a look:

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Some work going on at the Monorail platform of the Transportation and Ticket Center

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A closer look

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The Bay Lake Tower addition to Disney’s Contemporary Resort continues to take shape

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A close-up shot later in the evening

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A final look at the Main Street U.S.A. Christmas tree as the holiday season closes on January 4th at WDW

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We end this short report with a look at a deserted TTC at the end of the day