Phil Holmes No Longer VP of Magic Kingdom, Management Shaking Up As “Studios” Expands np

WDWNT on April 3, 2014

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In a surprising move, current Disney’s Hollywood Studios vice president Dan Cockerell will trade places with long-time Magic Kingdom vice president Phil Holmes at some point in the next month. Phil Holmes has been the VP at Magic Kingdom for 14 years, starting his tenure in 2001. Cockerell has had his position at Hollywood Studios since 2011, previously being assigned vice president of Epcot. Disney announced they are moving Melissa Valiquette from director of operations at the Magic Kingdom to vice president of Epcot a few weeks ago as well.

Since Holmes has experience running the world’s most visited theme park, his leadership will be called upon to guide Hollywood Studios through what is expected to be a period of overhaul and expansion, including new Star Wars attractions.

VIDEO: Lengthy On-Ride Video of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train & New Attraction Details

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

Prepare yourself for on-ride footage and some new details about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coming to New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom:

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Disney released video of most of an early run-through of the attraction side-by-side with video of the “pre-vis” of the ride which they use to guide construction of the attraction:

We learned several new details about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train today via the Disney Parks Blog, here’s what we now know:

  • All of the music in the queue area will be instrumental and is meant to sound as if the Seven Dwarfs are playing it. The song cut from the film titled “Music in Your Soup” is one of the songs that will be in that loop.
  • The interactive queue will include an area where guests “wash” the diamonds
  • The queue will also enter the Dwarfs’ vault. We see the door to the vault in the film, but never actually see inside.
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will feature FastPass+
  • The height requirement to ride will be 38″

Joe Hogarty’s 2/20/14 WDW Photo Report (Mine Train, AVATAR, & More)

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom on Thursday and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Starting at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Some work still taking place on the paths around the Tree of Life

Nothing much to see over at the AVATAR site

It will hard to track construction unless we try from above… 😉

Another look at the walls around the Tree of Life paths

This could be related to the work needing to be done to the tree for the nighttime offerings, or it could be general rehab

Work continues on the new Festival of the Lion King Theater

Walls still up near the Africa stroller parking

Moving over to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the steps of City Hall

The Castle is still getting some touch-ups

Time for the obligatory Seven Dwarfs Mine Train construction photos

The waterfall has been running non-stop

It looks great

The refurbishment of Splash Mountain continues

Don’t expect much different when it reopens except some scenes that have been freshened up

It will be Splashing again soon!

Dirk Wallen’s 2/24/14 WDW Photo Report (Flower & Garden, Monsters Inc. Meet and Greet, Mine Train, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Monday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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An extra ferry boat dock is being added to the Transportation and Ticket Center

Work continues on the Disney Vacation Club wing at the Polynesian

A piece of roof for the new buildings is being assembled towards the Wedding Pavilion

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Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Plenty of greenery to be found

A King Triton statue that looks like it was carved by hand can now be found across from Ariel in New Fantasyland at the Disney Vacation Club kiosk

Walls are down at Mickey’s Philharmagic and more FastPass+ kiosks have gone up

Facade work taking place on Pinocchio’s Village Haus

Some facade work in Adventureland by Magic Carpets

Work continues on the Confectionery facade

Moving over to Studios, he Monsters Inc. meet and greet is back, but some elements from the Monsters University meet and greet remainder

Some of the lockers have fraternity stickers from MU

There’s also a note from Celia

The screens are now used to show the scarer cards, just like those that appeared in Monsters University

Some bulletins related to both movies can now be found

Billboard for Muppets Most Wanted up on Mickey Ave.

Moving to Epcot, the bakery in France has Beignets for Mardi Gras

Mmmmmm….

March 5th is still a few days away, but plenty of topiaries are up at Epcot already

The Cars display is starting to go up

Sulley can be seen over the fences at the Monsters University playground

A new Little Green Men shirt for sale

PICTURES & VIDEO: Magic Kingdom Hub to Be Expanded and Re-Designed To Accomodate Show Crowds and Guest Flow

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

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After 43 years, the single circle of the Magic Kingdom hub will be changed…

Sculpted gardens, new pathways, a new Cinderella Castle stage, and expanded seating near Casey’s Corner and the Plaza Restaurant are all part of the changes. Disney has stated that there will be a dedicated fireworks viewing area somewhere in this redesign. The main focus of the project is to help with guest flow during parade and nighttime entertainment at the park. The enhancements will be completed in 2015.

The changes will affect and forever change the 2 production stands near the Castle (as you can see in the concept art above, they will look like an extension of the castle), the rose garden (looks to be history), and a fair amount of the hub as we know it.

It is currently rumored that a new nighttime show above and around Cinderella Castle will debut in 2015 and all of this is also in preparation for the new production and expected crowds who will want to view it.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on this story.

Dirk Wallen’s 3/1/14 WDW Photo Report (Hub, SpectroMagic, Flower & Garden, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Drik Wallen visited three of the Walt Disney World theme parks on Saturday and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The latest progress on the Polynesian Vacation Club wing

The Magic Kingdom moat has been drained to start work on the new hub

The latest piece of Spectromagic history pin is out and features the Mickey float

Another look at the drained moat

Moving over to Epcot, the Flower & Garden Festival starts Wednesday and it looks like the park is just about ready

Is Mickey cross-eyed?

Moving over to Animal Kingdom, the Festival of the Lion King theater is progressing nicely

One Kodak picture spot remains…

New Walt Disney World t-shirt

New Gaston t-shirt

PHOTOS: An In-Depth Look at the Festival of Fantasy Parade Debut at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

WDWNT Reporters Joe Hogarty, Dirk Wallen, and Nick LoCicero were all on the scene for the debut of Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade at the Magic Kingdom yesterday and have nearly 300 photos of the parade to share with us of this new daily spectacle:

Needless to say, the parade was stunning. We’ll have a full review of the parade on this week’s WDW News Today Podcast and talk all about it in depth, including the cool details you should look for when you see it.

Full parade video will be shared this afternoon once we get it uploaded.

VIDEO: Moat Drained Around Cinderella Castle in Preperation for Hub Overhaul

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

The very first step in remodeling the hub in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom is draining the moat…

Interestingly enough, some sections of the drained moat still have the remnants of track from the Plaza Swan Boats, an attraction that closed in the early 1980’s. As you can see in the video, the former loading dock for that attraction is already behind walls and should be demolished shortly.

The hub remodeling is slated to be finished in early 2014.

Thanks to John Corigliano for the video.