Adam Roth’s 10/22/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding resorts on Monday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on RFID turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom

Walls up on the other side too

Holy…

That’s more like it…

That isn’t Osh Popham…

These “black and white” plush have been out for a few months now

We look at Wreck-It Ralph stuff for the 40th time

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts are selling well

Still gross…

Wow…

Magic Carpets of Aladdin closed for refurbishment

A lot of guests want to see mermaids!

Walls still up at the Crow’s Nest

Golden Oak Outpost closed

I’d rather not…

This would be why

Holy lines Batman

You know what doesn’t have lines?

The new, shorter Country Bear Jamboree!

It will never break 12 again…

Lobby wasn’t touched

The theater is another story

New lighting is quite noticeable

These guys look brand new

All of the bears got new fur and clothing

They look incredible

The bad part of all this is the cutting of much of the show

The Five Bear Rugs no longer sing “Devilish Mary”

“Fractured Folk Song” was also cut, then the song order was changed as well

Lines from some songs were even cut

HE LOOKS AWESOME!

A lot of dialogue was cut as well…

It’s great that the attraction was completely restored, but it’s a shame we had to lose so much of it

The Gaston’s Tavern mugs are being repurposed at Sleepy Hollow

I think it’s a neat idea

Work continues on the new restrooms on the former Skyway site

There’s a chimney

The construction walls now extend to the “it’s a small world” exit tarps

Tarps still up at Village Haus

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

Cast Member previews are currently taking place

Guests are confused! EVERYONE SAID IT WAS OPEN!

I hope something will be done with pavement land at some point

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

The exit test is still happening

Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC addition

A beautiful sight at your wedding!

The parking lot is just about finished

Let’s head over to the Polynesian

RFID is in full use over here

Let’s go shopping

A lot of the 40th anniversary merchandise has been rebranded

Toothpick holders!

Let’s go eat

BACON CUPCAKES!

IT’S BACON! Well, not completely…

Adam had to get one…

A nice secluded spot to enjoy a Dole float

A look across the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian DVC

We have our first wall

I think it will blend nicely

Adam Roth’s 10/24/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday evening and has some great newsworthy photos to share with us, including New Fantasyland and our first look inside of the Be Our Guest Restaurant and how the counter service portion of the restaurant will operate. Let’s take a look:

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Frankenweenie merchandise available in Caribbean Plaza

Still not selling…

A Halloween collectible cup is now available at Sunshine Tree Terrace along with that Orange Bird thing…

Lights on inside Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Let’s check out Storybook Circus at night

Still strange…

As they need this path to move consturction items into Mine Train, it may be a long time before you can travel from Circus to Mermaid

The calliope looks great

Look closely

HA

We’re already in Storybook Circus… so this can be confusing…

Another look at Mine Train

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid looks great at night

A great new place to watch fireworks

Gaston’s chair has arrived at Gaston’s Tavern!

Be Our Guest restaurant was open for guests to tour

The lobby

Gorgeous interior

Lots of ordering kiosks for counter service

It’s a scroll

RFID technology like the new room keys will be used in the ordering system

Touch the magic rose thing… you will get a plastic rose “puck” with an RFID chip which you will scan at your table so they know where to bring your food

It will be interesting to see how this works

Menu

Different kiosks look like different items

The ballroom

I assume this is “Be Our Guest” in French

Hopefully we will see more soon

You can see a early carving of the music box from Be Our Guest restaurant in Maurice’s workshop at Enchanted Tales with Belle, since Maurice built it and all…

I love this animatronic so much…

Plenty of Imagineers and construction workers out at Mine Train

Video & Analysis: Over 5 Minutes of the Original Country Bear Jamboree Removed

The Country Bear Jamboree returned to operation at the Magic Kingdom on October 17th following a 2 month refurbishment. As expected, all of the lighting, audio, and audio-animatronics were upgraded or fixed and all of the technical aspects of the attraction are working and looking better than ever. However, rumors of cuts in the show to make it shorter and increase the theoretical hourly capacity also came to fruition. We have video of the show to share with you so you can see the multiple songs, verses and lines fo dialogies cut from the show:

For those either unfamiliar with the show or in case you forgot what the show formerly was, I have compiled a list of everything that has been removed:

Opening and Pianjo
Buff: “We can’t hang around here all day”
Max: “Takes a little doin’ to set these things up”
Henry: OK, OK boys, take it easy, take it easy, now we’re ready to start. Sorry folks, I’ll be right with you. (Clears throat)”
Henry: “But enough of this chat chat, yak-yak, and flim-flam. Just refrain from hibernatin’ (laugh), and we’ll all enjoy the show because we’ve got a lot to give.”
(Several seconds of Pianjo number cut)

Bear Band Serenade with Five Bear Rugs
Henry: “Plus Gomer” (When introducing Five Bear Rugs number)
(One verse of “One sure thing the bear band’s got is real old country rhythm” cut)

Fractured Folk Song by Henry and Wendell
Song completely removed from show

If Ya’ Can’t Bite, Don’t Growl (Moved up in the show)
No cuts

My Woman Ain’t Pretty by Liverlips McGrowl
No cuts

Mama Don’t Whup Little Buford by Henry and Wendell
No cuts

Tears Will Be The Chaser For Your Wine by Trixie
(Introduction)
Henry: “A little bit of ever-lovin’ cuddlesome fluff”
(Ending)
Henry: “Beautiful, beautiful. That was a mighty big song Trixie.”
Trixie: “Oh thank ya’ Henry (giggles)”
Buff: “That sure ain’t all that’s big”
Max: “Well, you’re no lightweight yourself Buff.”
Henry: “Boys, boys, watch your manners.”
Melvin: “Yeah, if you can’t say somethin’ nice…”
Henry: “Now boys, boys, ok now boys if you just stop carrying on like, we just might dedicate this next song to ya’ll. And we so dedicate.”

Devilish Mary performed by Five Bear Rugs
Song completely removed from show

How Long Will My Baby Be Gone performed by Shaker
No cuts

All The Guys That Turn Me On Turn Me Down by Bunny, Bubbles, and Beulah
Repetition of “Nothing ever seems to work for me” at end of number

Heart We Did All That We Could by Teddi Barra
(Introduction)
Henry: “Swing it teddy!”
Max: “Wow, here she comes”
Buff: (Whistling)

Blood On The Saddle by Big Al
No cuts

The Ballad of Davy Crockett performed by Henry and Sammy
No cuts

Ole Slew Foot By All Bears
Opening verse removed

Exit and We Hope That You’ll Be Comin’ Back Again
(Opening)
Henry: “And bear around to see us again”
(Song)
Several lines of “We Hope That You’ll Be Comin’ Back Again” removed including spoke dialogue like “We had such fun but don’t you cry” & “We just can’t bear to say goodbye”

Luckily we have video of the original show that you can still enjoy:

So, what do you think of the changes to the Country Bear Jamboree? Good, bad, or a little bit of both?

Robert Ashburn’s 3/13/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

Here’s a quick photo update from around the Magic Kingdom from a few days ago, courtesy of Reporter Robert Ashburn:

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Grand Floridian DVC construction continues

Another new poster up at Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Work continues on the Bakery facade

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Storybook Circus has some great lighting at night

The blue light is a little strange… did Aliens arrive at the station?

The rocket has lighting to go along with the smoke

Someone got a new profile pic…

Another new poster popped up at the station

Dumbo looks fantastic at night!

Color changing LED lighting under the water really adds a whole new element at night

Just a friendly reminder… OR ELSE!

Guests playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

OK, if you have to wait in line to play, it completely defeats the purpose… you see your whole story play before you even get near the window, and to be honest, as fun as it is, it isn’t worth waiting any length for. Sorry, I won’t play when lines are like this… it’s not worth it for a screen…

Cool new Phineas and Ferb shirts

Some new shirts

A Dole Whip shirt? Really? It’s nice though…

Shirts for Churros and Turkey Legs, wow…

Oh, there you are Perry…

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We might be here a while… you run ahead…

Adam Roth’s 3/17/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday evening and has some great nighttime photos to share with us from his trip:

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The Storybook Circus tents are completely empty

A look towards Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Dumbo… AT NIGHT!

Barnstormer… AT NIGHT!

The LED lighting makes Dumbo look glorious at night

The popcorn lights around the attraction also look great

You DO need a Magic Feather

The eerie blue light in the Train Station is weird…

The screen based signage doesn’t blend well at night

Props from various Goofy shorts are in the loading area

Some others tie-into the posters and stunts outside

Goodnight Magic Kingdom

Adam Roth’s 3/23/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the Magic Kingdom on Friday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Flower and Garden Festival in bloom at Epcot

IF ONLY WE HAD XPASS!!!!

Queue modifications are done… it’s a completely different queue experience now…

Peacock

Cool graphics on the Epcot tip board

Enjoy Kim Possible while it lasts

Habit Heroes and the VISION House now on the list inside Innoventions East

Habit Heroes is still closed

I’m offended…

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Work continues on the VISION House

Habit Heroes now has a sign on the entry wall

Goodbye

VISION House will be added soon as it opens in April

Phineas and Ferb now have an entire section at MouseGear

AGENT P!

The light-up Vinylmation lamps and Baseball figures now available

Let’s Go Yankees! (Personal bias)

These are buy 1, get 1 50% off

Shouldn’t the Knicks be on the bottom? (I actually am a fan… but I’m realistic)

Let’s go Dolphins! (Please pity me)

2012 dated Vinylmation

Zodiac series

Flower and Garden merchandise

Cool magnets

This is too cool…

If your imagination features Captain EO, seek help

Bambi’s Butterfly House is back

The play area for this year’s festival is called “Let’s Get Moving”

Chimpanzee is coming… before Earth Day?

Can’t imagine why they are changing this…

Exterior work continues at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

A new entrance being worked on, possibly for Turtle Talk

There’s a new path in the queue…

It leads to Seabase

The mural is surviving the work

A new company has taken over the chromakey photo area at Imageworks

It’s pretty empty right now

Amazing Pictures (who you may have seen at Universal Studios) is now here

Hey, why don’t we just start the demolition…

On to the Festival Center

The Flower and Garden, Food and Wine Festival?

A touch-screen map of the Festival available

Body Wars is back there somewhere

The Odyssey has been painted blue

Well, at least the roof

This exhibit is weird…

Tarps are now up for the Tutto Italia refurbishment

FREE SAMPLES!

Another play area

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Let’s take a boat over to Studios

We can’t get enough of these

The outline of Roger Rabbit has seen better days

The entrance at Tower of Terror had some pavement replaced

The Star Tours name is on some of the merchandise tags now

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On to the Magic Kingdom, Skyway demolition continues in Fantasyland

The Tigger Bounce area being removed from the Pooh queue

Yes, more Dumbo photos…

Storybook Circus sure is something at night

HA!

I love restrooms… there, I said it…

I’ll tell you what I don’t love… the Club 626 Dance Party

A sad not to end on…

John Corigliano’s 3/23-25/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter John Corigliano visited the Walt Disney World Resort this weekend and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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MORE CIRCUS PHOTOS!

Can’t get enough of these shirts

New character shirts

The back

On to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, here’s another look at the Brave exhibit at Magic of Disney Animation

Monsters University billboard

Wreck-It Ralph poster

The remodeled Storyroom

Still no Narnia replacement… and I’m fine with that…

Only 90 minutes…

Splash fountain is being refurbished

Cars meet and greet has had short lines recently

Phineas and Ferb has long lines all the time

The Art of Animation sign is in place along the road

Both hands on the wheel John…

Habit Heroes is still closed

Someone is up in that window…

The Honeymooners? WHY?

Awwww…

Tick… tock…

This is one nerdy reptile… we named him fanboy

“Horizons was the greatest thing EVER!”

Land accross from the site of the new Grand Floridian DVC wing is being cleared, probably for parking

Fantasyland Character Shuffle Moves Rapunzel Out and Merida In

As announced on the Disney Parks Blog earlier today, Merida from Disney-PIXAR’s Brave is going to be taking over Rapunzel’s current home in Fairytale Gardens in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.

Merida’s Fairytale Garden meet and greet will be a a setting inspired by her Scottish Highlands home, where young guests will be invited to engage in archery lessons and other activities until it’s their turn to meet her. Joining Merida will be the three bear cubs from the film, who will no doubt be up to plenty of mischief.

To prepare for Merida’s arrival, Rapunzel will be moving from Fairytale Garden April 15, to a new spot at the outskirts of Adventureland where she will continue to do meet and greets, possibly along with Flynn Rider once again.

With the Tangled characters remaining so popular, it is apparent that the move to Adventureland won’t be permanent and that the rumors we reported a few months back of the Fantasyland Skyway replacement including a new meet and greet experience are true. When work is done, we expect to see a new Tangled meet and greet, complete with Rapunzel’s tower from the movie, open in Fantasyland later this year.

Stay tuned for more information on this story as it becomes available.