Fastpass Plus Testing About to Resume at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

Walt Disney World is once again gearing up for a test of Fastpass Plus service as evidenced by the many kiosks and poles we’ve seen installed at many Magic Kingdom attractions. Disney confirmed the test to travel agents today:

At the Walt Disney World® Resort we’re constantly looking for ways to make the Guest experience even better. As a part of these efforts, over the next several months we’ll be testing enhancements to our very popular Disney FASTPASS® service at the Walt Disney World Resort. The test, called Disney FastPass+, will allow a small number of Guests to make Disney FastPass+ selections for some of their favorite experiences at Magic Kingdom® Park before they even leave home.

During this test period, select Guests who are registered to use Disney’s Magical Express service will be offered the opportunity to go online to pre-select four Disney FastPass+ experiences at Magic Kingdom Park. Guests eligible for this test will be notified via mail, at the mailing address provided during the booking process. It’s important for you to pass along these invitations to your Clients in order for them to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Information that we collect from your Clients solely through this test will not be used for marketing purposes. As always, we may send marketing communications to these Clients due to separate past or future interactions between us and these Clients.

While this exciting concept is currently only in the test phase, we’ll continue to share information on the wide range of new, innovative experiences we will be testing and implementing over the coming year, which are designed to make a Walt Disney World vacation even more magical! Stay tuned to Disney Travel News for more information.

Rumor is that the test is currently scheduled for the end of September. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Selected Guests Being Emailed Prior to WDW Trip for FastPass Plus Testing

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

So, here’s what guests picked at random for the FastPass Plus test are getting in their inboxes right now:

So not only are they signing up for the date and attractions they wish to experience ahead of their trip, but they will be mailed the FastPass Plus cards prior to their arrival. This is what the system should be like if ever permanently implemented down the road. It seems that the scheduled test dates are September 18th through the 24th.

Stay tuned to WDWNT as more information becomes available on this breaking story.

New Concept Art Released for “Celebrate the Magic”, 1000 Seats Being Added for Fantasmic!

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

At a small media event this evening, Disney shared a few new pieces of concept art for the upcoming “Celebrate the Magic” show coming to the Magic Kingdom:

Disney also announced that due to popularity, they are adding 1000 seats to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, home of Fantasmic!. Work has already begun building the seating in what was formerly standing-room-only space for the show.

So, what do you think?

Dirk Wallen’s 4/21-22/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

We welcome WDWNT Reporter to the team with his very first photo report, a quick look around the parks with some very newsworthy photos:

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Work continues on the facade of the Main Street Bakery

The final eges of the rock-work on Under the sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid are rounded out

Work continues on what we assume will be a new Pooh meet and greet area in the former Tigger bounce area

The old/second Dumbo is taking a while to be installed

The rest of the land is taking shape, including more supports for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train

More of the Castle Wall frame has been erected

The basic shape is all there, so you can really get a feel for the layout of the land now

Over at Hollywood Studios, the queue at Disney Junior: Live on Stage is being repaired

The Splash fountain is back from refurbishment

Work continues on the new facade at the Downtown Disney Rainforest Cafe

I saved the Orange Bird for last… he’s back… and he has an attraction poster while not being an attraction

Yep, he’s on the sign…

A Look Inside the Ballroom at New Fantasyland’s Be Our Guest Restaurant

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Disney has released a stunning video of the interior of the Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland. The sound-bites are from Chris Kelly (Show Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering) and Tim Warzecha (Senior Project Manager, Walt Disney Imagineering):

This video is released today as Disney formally announced that Be Our Guest Restaurant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Gaston’s Tavern, Ariel’s Grotto, and Under the sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid will not open until Holiday 2012. The Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station and the second Dumbo spinner will open July.

Select Disney World Guests Testing Next-Gen RFID FASTPASS System

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Starting on May 1st, select Walt Disney World guests checking-in for Magical Express at Orlando International Airport have been asked to complete a survey. If they choose to answer the survey, well, then the fun begins. A guest relations cast member will provide the family with two lists of select Magic Kingdom attractions, asking them to pick 2 from each list. Here are all of the attraction involved in the test:

  • Mickey at Town Square Theater
  • Princesses at Town Square Theater
  • Stitch’s Great Escape (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Space Mountain
  • The Many adventure of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mickey’s Philharmagic (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • The Haunted Mansion (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
  • Splash Mountain
  • The Jungle Cruise

After selecting 2 from each list, the cast member will ask the guest what day they will be visiting the Magic Kingdom, if they are celebrating anything, and then give the guests some plastic yellow cards that says FASTPASS. These cards contain a small RFID-chip inside that contains some information based on what information was provided. Among that info will be reserved FASTPASS times on the 4 attractions selected from the list above. Guests are to be sent an email at a requested address with their final itinerary.

Here’s what the email guests are receiving looks like

Guests then take their cards to the Magic Kingdom and are invited to put them to good use. When you head over to a corresponding attraction at the proper time, you will be scanning your card at a temporary pole with a Mickey icon on it or at a PDA device also sporting the same Mickey icon (Town Square Theater is using this system and not the poles). When the card is scanned, the icon should turn green to enter. If you get a blue icon, you have done something wrong.

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One of the readers installed at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

At every location they have an iPad or a PDA that will tell them if you are too early, too late, or on-time when you swipe your card at the reader. Should you be wrong or need to check your schedule, they will refer you to one of 5 locations where you can currently do this. The 5 locations set-up to help guests throughout the park are City Hall, and kiosks near Jungle Cruise, Stitch’s Great Escape, Splash Mountain, and Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Another interesting factoid is that cast members will see all kinds of information about you when you scan your card at the reader. They can see your name and even if you are celebrating anything. You’ll recall rumors we’ve discussed of Disney using the same RFID technology in attractions to make them actually acknowledge your name or what you are celebrating that day. Yes, the future has arrived, but only for a short time. The test is scheduled to end May 15th.

Urban Barricades Photoshoot

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

The Urban Barricades had some fun directing traffic around Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot and the Magic Kingdom.

Traffic at the Indy Speedway can get dangerous, but the proper traffic controls make all the difference.
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Protecting the workers at Hollywood Studios
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No job is too small for the Barricades.
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Standing guard on the Streets of the Americas.
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The Barricades remind guests to watch their step when entering the subway.
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Do Not Cross, or face the Barricade’s wrath.
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Keeping the peace
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The Monorails sneaked past the Barricades.
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Barricades at Test Track

An Aerial View of New Fantasyland Construction – July 2012

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

Scott Keating was once again nice enough to provide some aerial shots of the current New Fantasyland construction site after a few month absence, so let’s see all that has changed:

As you can see, everything but the Mine Train is nearing completion

If there was any doubts that the Skyway Station was going to become a Tangled meet-and-greet, the appearance of a tower frame has just about confirmed it…

The framework for Mine Train looks to be just about complete

The castle walls are taking shape

Just the three tent-like structures left to go in Storybook Circus, we expect these to open in the Fall/Winter

A look at Mine Train

As you can see, the beauty and the Beast realm is almost complete as paths and trees are already installed and all scaffolding is down. Trees are up in the Mermaid queue as well.

A closer look at the tents that will be Big Top Souvenirs, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and a Humphrey the Bear-themed counter-service location

The concept art we say in 2009 is finally coming to life… Stay tuned…

First Look at Magic Kingdom Map Including New Fantasyland and Cast Member Costumes

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

So, we have a bit of a New Fantasyland exclusive for you today…

Here’s our very first look at what the Magic Kingdom map will look like in a few weeks when the next phases of the expansion open. Notice that the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train will be on the map despite not opening until 2014. Not earth-shattering news, but still kind of cool. Now let’s look at the cast member costumes that will populate the land:

Storybook Circus merchandise (Big Top Souvenirs)

Daytime busser and server at Be Our Guest Restaurant

Daytime and evening greeter at Be Our Guest Restaurant

Food and beverage (food carts and small vendors)

Fantasyland Forest merchandise (Bonjour Village Gifts and smaller locations)

Attractions (Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train)

Character Attendant (YES! No generic costume for this section of the park!)

While not our most exciting update on New Fantasyland, I’m glad to see thought going into cast costuming as many usually complain that they have gotten more generic over the years. These costumes will fit nicely into the land and I can’t wait to see them in-person! What do you think?