On April 6th, 2017, between 9:30am-10:00am, the U.S Blue Angels will be making a flyover high above Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom.
They will make 2 flyovers before heading on their way to the ‘Fun N’ Sun International Fly-in & Expo in Lakeland, Florida. Be ready to take pictures as this will be an amazing photo opportunity that only happens on special occasions.
A few months ago, we told you that it was rumored that the popular TRON Lightcycle Power Run attraction from Shanghai Disneyland would be making its way to Walt Disney World sometime in the next 5 years. Well, it seems the project is close to approval, but it may also be heading to California…
TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Shanghai Disney Resort
According to sources, budget and preliminary design teams for Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have been sent out to Shanghai to make the project into a reality here in the United States. The decision to move forward with a TRON reboot/sequel has likely heavily influenced the decision to go through with the attraction domestically.
Walt Disney World is planning to build the attraction in Tomorrowland ahead of October 1st, 2021, the start of the 50th anniversary celebration for the entire resort. This would ensure major new additions in each of the four parks leading up to what should be a milestone event lasting 18-24 months. The enhancements at Epcot should begin by that time, and Star Wars land, Toy Story Land, and Pandora: The World of AVATAR will all be open and operating, leaving Magic Kingdom needing something big and new. Currently, the attraction would sit on the site of the Tomorrowland Speedway, but the former Galaxy Palace Theater space (now cast member parking) is a possibility.
TRON Lightcycle Power Run, Shanghai Disney Resort
At Disneyland, rumors indicate that the former Innoventions building (now home to Star Wars Launch Bay) in Tomorrowland would be the site, allowing the outdoors portion of the coaster to soar beautifully over the Tomorrowland skyline. That being said, some believe the coaster will be repurposed for the MARVEL-themed land at Disney California Adventure, perhaps taking the place of the long-rumored Captain America launch roller coaster. Either way, expect this ride system to show up at the Disneyland Resort around the same time as Walt Disney World unveils theirs.
As always with rumors and attractions in the design phase, things can change, or even be cancelled entirely. Based on how much we are hearing about this already, I would be very surprised to not see this roller coaster “rez” in the U.S. sometime soon.
Today, Disney has released yet another behind the scenes look into the upcoming nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After. Today’s video shows Walt Disney Animation Studio artists bringing beloved characters to life for the new show. Hand drawn animation will be utilized, along with innovative projection mapping technology, to paint Cinderella Castle in Disney animated classics, all the way up to Moana. Here is the video below from the Disney Parks Blog:
Happily Ever After begins May 12th at Magic Kingdom. The last day for Wishes! is May 11th.
Announced today, guests will have 53 days of fun this fall as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party return in all their glory.
For Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, 32 spook-tacular dates include:
Returning to the Magic Kingdom fright-fest are the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show in front of Cinderella Castle featuring the mischievous Sanderson sisters from the hit Disney film “Hocus Pocus,” Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and “Happy HalloWishes”.
For Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas, 21 holiday-tastic dates include:
Returning favorites for the holidays include Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, “Holiday Wishes,” “A Frozen Holiday Wish” and Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration.
More information on both events, such as ticket prices, on-sale dates, entertainment and events are to come. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale in early May.
Have you heard this week’s WDW News Today Podcast? If you haven’t, here’s what you can expect:
Join Tom Corless and a cast of others for a variety show dedicated to the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Plenty of Walt Disney World and Disneyland information and fun awaits you on this edition of the WDW News Today Podcast!
On this week’s show, we pillage and plunder through all 50 years of Pirates of the Caribbean in Back to the Future. Get ready for nearly 4 hours dedicated the greatest theme park adventure of all time!
To download or listen to the show on-site, go to our podcast download page. You can also download episodes of the show by subscribing to our iTunes feed, or through Stitcher.
You can also watch the segment as a multimedia presentation featuring pictures and video on YouTube:
It seems as though Disney may be trying to create a better guest flow at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom by moving the security perimeter of the park further out.
If all goes according to rumored plans, guests parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center will go through security bag check and metal detectors after they exit the parking lot trams, but before the board any monorails or a ferryboat to the park. These guests will then be able to walk directly to the Magic Kingdom turnstiles (or touch points as the kids call them these days) once disembarking at the park’s monorail station or ferryboat dock.
Supposedly, this would lead to security screening areas being added at the various monorail platforms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Guests taking a bus or resort launch to the Magic Kingdom would still be screened just outside of the park at new checkpoints. Guests walking over from Disney’s Contemporary Resort on the small walkway between the hotel and the Magic Kingdom will also have their own checkpoint (which is already being done at select times of the day).
Disney has not yet made any comment about the changes, so they are simply in the realm of rumor for now. However, recent construction work being conducted at the Transportation and Ticket Center and at the Magic Kingdom park entrance are pointing towards the change. It is unknown when the changes would take place, if they ever do materialize.
What do you think? Would this be a positive change in your opinion?
Tonight, the Disney Parks Blog hosted a live stream of Wishes, and at the very end they gave us an exclusive sneak peek at their new fireworks spectacular, Happily Ever After. The sneak peak isn’t until the end of the stream at around 19:56, but you are more than welcome to watch the fireworks beforehand if you desire. Happily Ever After debuts to the public May 12th, as the last performance of Wishes is May 11th.
[sc name=”Youtube Embed 600×360″ id=”cZ9kV67VQ5w” ]
As we reported earlier this week, rumors were indicating that the Magic Kingdom would be moving its security checkpoints further out. Well, it appears that construction has begun on the new checkpoints for guests on watercraft and busses.
This screening area will likely be for guests coming off of the Walt Disney World busses. The temporary tents are being used during the test and adjust period. Permanent structures would be built once the best permanent location is determined.
The first set of tents would house the bag check. The second is for the metal detectors.
Guests arriving via watercraft would have their own security checkpoint as well.
Rumors indicate that monorail and ferryboat guests will be screened at the Transportation and Ticket Center, but we didn’t see any tents erected there as of yet. Guests at resorts taking the monorail would be screened at the loading platform if all of this should pan out.
With the debut of breakfast at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor and Casey’s Corner (even though the latter has already been discontinued), we were also promised that a breakfast waffle sandwich would be coming to Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. Well, after I had my Mission to S’mores Latte from Revive in Tomorrowland, I was a little hungry, so I decided to stop by and try this sandwich out…
“When pizza is on a bagel, you can have pizza anytime.” Well, I guess when a sandwich is on a waffle, you can have a sandwich anytime as well, because the lunch offerings from Sleepy Hollow are also available first thing in the morning.
You wouldn’t really know that there is a breakfast waffle sandwich offered until you get to the counter, which is where the only sign is. I’m guessing this hampers sales of the morning-only meals, but what do I know about selling food as I chose to go into the blogging field.
Sleepy Hollow Refreshments Breakfast Waffle Sandwich – $8.99
The sandwich contains an egg patty with cheese, ham, and tomatoes inside of a waffle, as you might imagine.
Sleepy Hollow Refreshments Breakfast Waffle Sandwich – $8.99
Overall, I thought it was very good. The cheese could be a little overpowering at times, but otherwise I thought it was of a good size and enough food to hold you over if you have an early dinner reservation or something of the sort. Personally, I prefer the chicken sandwich, but you may not want that to start your day at 9am.
Sleepy Hollow Refreshments Breakfast Waffle Sandwich – $8.99
If you are not looking for Mickey Waffles or a Doughnut Sundae to start your Magic Kingdom day, the Sleepy Hollow Breakfast Sandwich is a viable grab and go option during the hectic attraction rush of the park’s opening.
Our latest photo report brings us to the Magic Kingdom for a day of fun… I mean pictures of construction and new merchandise. I’m not allowed to have fun… 😉
Work continues on the Magic Kingdom train station.
As well, work continues on the Emporium on Main Street U.S.A.
Casey’s Corner once again has a new featured hot dog, this one topped with asian style coleslaw, sweet chili sauce, and crispy eggroll strips.
In other news, some tall chairs have been added to some of the tall tables outside of Casey’s Corner.
The Cinderella Castle crane is finally gone.
Some tarps remain up on the Sir Mickey’s facade in Fantasyland though.
Here, a child tries to run through the tarps.
A new skirt and shirt combo for girls for sale inside of Sir Mickey’s.
Work continues on the expansion of Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland.
Covered exterior seating for the restaurant is being added.
Signs direct gusts to the restaurant entrance during the construction.
A peek through the walls reveals that all of the ground has been dug up under the area.
Cosmic Ray’s is still using that all-bay menu we told you about a few weeks back.
Work continues on the restrooms.
Sonny Eclipse was underground as the stage in here was used for a special event.
The merchandise assortment inside Mickey’s Star Traders was altered drastically. They now sell mostly Mickey and Minnie merchandise.
Gone is the Build Your Own Lightsaber station, but don’t worry, it has just moved.
Some PIXAR character items can be found on one wall.
Merchant of Venus, which has been a Star Wars store for some time now, is now the home to the Build Your Own Lightsaber station.
They now sell an Ezra Bridger lightsaber for $24.99.
Work continues on Revive, the Joffrey’s Coffee Kiosk in Tomorrowland.
The in-park Kingdom Cabanas are finally gone. Maybe its a time to restore the smoking section in the back of this area so that the Storybook Circus trail is walkable for guests who don’t want to inhale cigarette smoke.
Some new ladies’ shirts for sale.
A new style of the popular Grumpy shirt.
These princess shirts were new to me.
Some new Princess socks for sale.
The center of The Emporium now has a large Beauty and the Beast merchandise display.
A new limited release Mad Tea Party MagicBand 2 for sale.
There is also a new UP MagicBand 2 for sale.
We end our report with some nice evening pictures of Cinderella Castle.
