Alice Flowers at WDW
Oh, it’s a rainy day here in Orlando. Let’s brighten things up with some photos of the beautiful Alice in Wonderland Flowers growing wild in the rose garden at the Magic Kingdom.
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Lighting Up the Magic Kingdom
As the sun goes down just a bit earlier these days, the Magic Kingdom lights up that much earlier. Have you ever really explored all the different lights around the park? Austin and I did… with the help of the Disney Store 25th Anniversary Light Up series.
Bambi stalks the hunters at the Frontierland Shooting Gallery
Buzz scales new heights in Tomorrowland
Where else would you find Dumbo then by the new Casey Jr. Splash Station?
Only this Adventureland light can lift Eeyore’s spirits
This tall Liberty Square light box is perfect for Goofy
Grumpy makes the most out of this interesting light, only found in Frontierland
Mickey finds Main Street USA very enlightening
Minnie awaits her prince at the castle
Pinocchio tries to peak over the Fantasyland construction walls outside the Village Haus
Rapunzel lets her hair down and relaxes outside a Liberty Square home
Sorcerer Mickey keeps a look out for Pirates at this Adventurland post
Tinkerbell flutters around the Tomorrowland lights
VIDEO: Mermaids Swim Into Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom
After many months of speculation and Disney teasing us that something from “On Stranger Tides” would be added to Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the Magic Kingdom, the mermaids have arrived. A new projection effect has been added making it appear that the mermaids are in the water, accompanied by a physical effect that pushes water up to simulate the fin moving just beneath the water’s surface. A lot of this can’t be seen in out video, but you can get a good idea of what to expect:
The projection effect is joined by mermaid singing and a new mermaid skeleton on the beach.
What do you think of this addition to Pirates of the Caribbean?
Map Released for 2012 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
It may be Halloween, but we have a first-look at the Very Merry Christmas Party guide for 2012 (Click image twice for full size):
Not too much new this year, but note there will be a special Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card just like there was at the Halloween Party. Merry Christmas! I mean Happy Halloween!
Dirk Wallen’s 10/25-26/12 WDW Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and a few of the resort hotels last week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:
It’s Autumn
Pins available for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak has a pin
Holiday pins are out
Walls still up near the Haunted Mansion
Tarps up on Columbia Harbor House
The Yankee Trader is still behind tarps
Work continues on the new restrooms in Fantasyland
The Village Haus balcony is still closed, but tarps have started coming down
Looks nice
The souvenir cups from Gaston’s Tavern are also at Village Haus
Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction continues
Wow…
Fun “character” apples
Storybook Circus has its own specialty cupcakes
Pete’s Silly Sideshow
Finishing touches keep being added, the eyes on the snakes now have a spinning effect
There is some large construction happening between the TTC and the Magic Kingdom bus loop
At the All-Star Resorts, the lobby has been redecorated with large pictures to replace the old small ones
All-Star Sports
All-Star Music
The game cards at most of the arcades are now Wreck-It Ralph themed
Moving over to Animal Kingdom
Enjoy Camp Minnie-Mickey while you can
Pocohontas and Her Forrest Friends has been closed since September 2008 and is now being used for stroller parking
Beastly Bazaar is closed as it is being turned into a character meet and greet
That’s why we are here…
NO ZEBRAS!
They weren’t out at the time…
Test Track is coming along nicely (as seen from the monorail)
You can see the outline of the two Ts on the canopy
Digging the spot where the sign will go
Not much visible progress by the exit
The Epcot Character Spot is being refurbished
Work continues on the new IBM exhibit in Innoventions
Some Epcot 30th merchandise remains
Christmas merchandise in abundance
Neat…
Haunted Mansion and Toy Story Midway Mania Test New Child-Rider Policy
There may be no windows and no doors, but Disney believes those under the age of seven should have an older guest sitting with them when they ride the Haunted Mansion or Toy Story Midway Mania. From TouringPlans.com:
Beginning Monday November 5, 2012 the Haunted Mansion and Toy Story Midway Mania attractions in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will temporarily testing a new seating policy for the rest of the month and gauge guest reactions.
According to the new policy, children under 7 years of age must ride with someone over the age of 14 in the same row. The previous Toy Story Mania policy was that an adult must be in the same vehicle. There will be a sign near the entrance informing guests of the new policy. There will also be Cast Members at the ride exit surveying guests about how they feel about the policy.
Starbucks Comes to Walt Disney World in 2013 with Magic Kingdom and Epcot Locations
As we speculated, the Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom and Fountain View at Epcot will become Starbucks locations in 2013.
The Main Street Bakery will close in January and re-open as a Starbucks location in early-summer 2013. Fountain View will close in March and re-open midsummer.
Both locations will be themed to the existing environment. At Main Street bakery, cast members will wear a costume consistent with the early 20th century look and feel of Main Street U.S.A. At Fountain View in Epcot, the new Starbucks location and cast member costumes will be designed to match the park’s futuristic theme.
The two locations will both offer the full complement of Starbucks signature beverages, artisan breakfast sandwiches and a wide selection of baked goods, including muffins, scones and specialty treats.
Stay tuned for more on this story as it becomes available.
“Celebrate the Magic” Castle Projection Show Debuts Tonight!
The new Cinderella Castle projection show entitled “Celebrate The Magic” finally debuts tonight at the Magic Kingdom! The Disney Parks Blog provided more information today:
As the show begins, Tinker Bell appears to fly around Cinderella Castle, weaving in and out of the turrets. She splashes pixie dust on the castle, transforming it into a spectacular piece of living art. As the pixie dust subsides, we are taken back to the beginnings of pencil animation, and we see Walt Disney, the original magic maker, drawing Mickey Mouse. With a little magic from Tinker Bell, Walt’s paintbrush flies off the page and comes to life, creating imagery that carries us away on a fantastic journey.
We travel down the rabbit hole with Alice, soar high above the Big Top with Dumbo and visit the African savanna with Simba. Our adventure takes us into the worlds of “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Brave,” and at one point, Cinderella Castle is even reimagined as the 8-bit video game home of the Nicelanders in Disney’s newest smash, “Wreck-It Ralph.” The whole show comes full circle for a magical finale filled with wonder and emotion.
“’Celebrate the Magic’ draws its inspiration from the love we all share for Disney’s memorable characters, their stories and the imagination that brought them to life,” says Show Director Katy Harris. “The team has been able to combine advances in technology with spectacular imagery and a stirring musical score to create a stunning and immersive way of storytelling. ‘Celebrate the Magic’ takes us on a journey full of wonderful moments our guests will never forget.”
As a special treat, “Celebrate the Magic” debuts with a segment of the show created just for the holiday season, featuring the return of the gingerbread castle seen during our original projection show, “The Magic, The Memories and You!”
Fans of the seasonal updates to that show will also be pleased to learn the tradition will continue with “Celebrate the Magic.” Look for the arrival of favorite Disney couples in January, a trip to the beach with “Lilo & Stitch” and“The Little Mermaid” during the summer months, and an influx of Disney villains in time for next Halloween.
Adam Roth’s 11/11/12 WDW Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot and the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and has a bunch of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:
Habit Heroes – still closed
The exterior of Test Track is making quick progress as we race towards soft openings
Signage about to go up
They finally painted the exit
A look over the walls
Epcot Christmas tree
Food and Wine is now over, but at least we have the memories…
The temporary Epcot Character Spot is in the old Epcot 25th Anniversary exhibit space
The backdrop is retro-tastic…
Some remnants of the exhibit remain
The actual Character Spot in down for a lengthy refurbishment
Looks like it is going to be a while
Still using the same entrance
Walls still up near Electric Umbrella
The Epcot 30th window display is still up at Art of Disney
FastPass Plus at Spaceship Earth
The podium was uncovered
BYE!
It’s Christmas at the Magic Kingdom
Some tarps up on the Adventureland Veranda
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin refurbishment is done
The old steel drum bandstand is behind tarps, probably related to the upcoming Pirates interactive game being installed in Adventureland
Work continues on the new Fantasyland restrooms
Let’s check-in on New Fantasyland
The Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train
New tarps are up on Princess Fairytale Hall
Looks like these 5 princesses will be greeting guests when it opens in late-2013
Mesh for the rock-work going up on Mine Train
Cinderella Castle Dreamlights are back
The exit test is back in use
Goodnight Magic Kingdom!
“Royal Majesty Makers” Coming to Fantasyland Next Week
Disney is adding several new entertainment groups to Fantasyland leading to the December 6th grand opening of New Fantasyland, the first of which was announced today. Meet the Royal Majesty Makers who will meet guests starting November 19th:
The Royal Majesty Makers engage boys and girls in random acts of “royaldom,” endowing them with the skills to become princes and princesses. These royal consultants, official ambassadors of Cinderella’s court, inspire and delight visiting villagers with magical moments throughout the land. Led by retired knight Sir Sterling and royal etiquette expert Lady Llewellyn, the Royal Majesty Makers also include squire extraordinaire Tobias and flirtatious lady-in-waiting Bridget. They may be found in the Castle Courtyard, conducting Knight School, delivering invitations to a royal ball, leading royal dances or even playing a game of “Sir Sterling Says.”
It sounds like this show will be a mix of Hollywood Studios streetmosphere and the short-lived “Let’s Have a Ball” show that was performed behind Cinderella Castle back in 2006. We’ll provide a look at this new entertainment group next week when they debut, so stay tuned.