Haunted Mansion Merchandise Event Coming September 30th!

WDWNT on July 13, 2011

On the eve of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary, a celebration of the 40th birthday of the Florida Haunted Mansion is taking place. From Dana Trujillo on the Disney Parks Blog:

Materialize, foolish mortals at the Room For 1 More merchandise event, which will celebrate one of our park’s most beloved attractions, the Haunted Mansion, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Sept. 30, 2011.

‘Room for 1 More’ Merchandise Event Celebrates the Haunted Mansion

We invite you to step through the graveyard gates of the Haunted Mansion cemetery, recreated with “ghoulish delight” at the resort. Here you can dine in a mist-enshrouded banquet realm hidden among the crypts. While organ music plays, restless spirits will rise to entertain you during a feast provided by our ghoulish gastronomists.

Looking for somewhere to retire? Might I suggest our Ghost Gallery in the Library, where you’ll want to keep the supernatural in suspense by bidding on priceless first editions and other creepy keepsakes in our silent auction.

Room For 1 More event – P“LOTS” includes:

  • Be the first to pre-purchase limited-edition event logo products, Haunted Mansion-themed collectibles and Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary collectibles.
  • A deadly silent auction that includes a performance art lot by Noah.
  • Meet and greets with world-renowned artists such as Robert Olszewski, Jim Shore, Greg McCullough and more.
  • A cryptic conversation with our council of Walt Disney Imagineers.
  • Ghostly dinner feast with haunting sounds and full-bodied entertainment.
  • A deadly departure gift … don’t forget to hurry back!

Mortals dying to attend the Room For 1 More event can request tickets through July 20. For more details and a sneak peek at the treasures that will be featured at the event, visit ArtofDisneyParks.com.

Happy haunting!

UPDATE:

More information can be found (including a look at all of the merchandise) at ArtofDisneyParks.com.

 

Take a Closer Look “Under the Sea”

WDWNT on July 11, 2011

Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog has posted an in-depth look at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. Notice that we get a first look at the model of the exterior, a piece of concept art from the queue area, and the official attraction logo:

I love sharing New Fantasyland updates with our readers, and this one is no exception. Our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) recently created a behind-the-scenes video on the creation of New Fantasyland to feature within the One Man’s Dream exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (This attraction showcases Disney milestone projects of the past, and now includes a preview area of exciting projects WDI is currently working on atMagic Kingdom Park).

WDI also shared the following teaser video with us, which focuses on one of these exciting new projects: the Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction. The expanded video will debut at One Man’s Dream this week.

In the video, Imagineer Chris Beatty gives us a sneak peek at the making of Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid through some never-before-seen sketches, artist renderings, attraction maps and more, and shares some details on Prince Eric’s castle and the attraction’s creative queue. Imagineer Eric Miller also takes us onsite to see the current state of the attraction’s progress.

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid is one of many attractions planned as a part of the Fantasyland expansion currently taking place at Magic Kingdom Park. The new Fantasyland is set to open in phases beginning in late 2012.

What Time is the 3:00 Parade? 12:00 & 3:30…

WDWNT on July 9, 2011

In a rather strange turn of events, the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade will be operating a bit off-schedule from July 18th-July 31st. You can catch the parade twice a day at the Magic Kingdom during this period at 12:00PM & 3:30PM.

As for the reasoning behind this, we have heard several different things. First, the Magic Kingdom is looking to see the impact this has on wait times for attractions around the park. If it distributes guests in a pleasant way, then we may never see a parade at 3:00PM again. Either twice a day performances or these new times may become the norm for parades.

Other rumors persist that this is in preparation for changes connected with a new parade coming in early 2012. Some Magic Kingdom cast members have been informed that the current parade will get another overlay/music change before the year is over and will then be finally replaced next year. Again, this should all be taken as a rumor for now.

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

UPDATE: The entertainment schedule for a few other Magic Kingdom offerings will also be affected during this period –

On normal operating days, the Main Street Trolley Show will be presented at 9:15AM, 10:45AM, 1:05PM, & 2:20PM. On EMH morning days (Tuesday & Thursdays), a Trolley Show is added at 8:20AM.

The “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Street Party” will be performing on a new schedule as well, with performances at 10:00AM, 5:30PM, & 7:00PM. Again, these changes are only in effect for July 18-31, 2011.

Fairies Flying Back to the Magic Kingdom July 28th

WDWNT on July 8, 2011

Rumors have been persistent that a new tree backdrop was being built in the Adventureland Veranda at the Magic Kingdom since the Princesses moved out, looks like those rumors are true. From Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:

I have an update today for all of you Disney Fairies fans.

Disney Fairies Return to Magic Kingdom Park July 28

Tinker Bell and the rest of the Disney Fairies will return to Magic Kingdom Park for meet-and-greets beginning July 28. The Pixie Hollow gang will be stationed at the Adventureland Veranda in the Adventureland area of the park.

Until that time, the fairies will continue greeting families at Epcot.

Tip: For the most updated information on meet-and-greet locations for any Disney character, pick up a Times Guide at any Disney theme park.

Full Schedule: Walt Disney World Celebrates July 4th, 2011!

WDWNT on July 1, 2011

In case you were wondering what Walt Disney World will be doing to celebrate the 4th of July…

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World Resort will pixie dust the night skies July 4 with special pyrotechnic shows, including a patriotic display at Magic Kingdom, a rock’n’roll spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a classic sky show at Epcot infused with an Independence Day finale. Here’s what’s in store:

  • Magic Kingdom will present “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.” This patriotic fireworks spectacular, paying homage to the hopes and dreams of America’s forefathers, will light the skies at 9 p.m. July 4 – and for guests who would like to begin the Independence Day celebration early, the show also will be presented July 3 at 9 p.m.
  • At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, traditional Fourth of July fireworks take on a different spin when Mulch, Sweat, and Shears perform for the all-new “Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration“! These resident landscapers – with serious rock and roll ambitions – take Disney guests on a musical road trip across America that will highlight each region’s contribution to rock and roll. Fireworks, lighting and special effects – backed by the driving live rock and roll of Mulch, Sweat, and Shears – combine to bring a new twist to celebrating Independence Day. Showtime July 4 is 9:45 p.m. Before or after the show, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can thrill to Disney’s Fantasmic!, performing July 4 at 9 and 10:30 p.m.
  • At Epcot, sky-watchers can check out ”IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” bursting high above World Showcase Lagoon. IllumiNations is a 14-minute spectacular during which pyrotechnics, lasers, water and music are all used to tell a story about the past, present and future of our planet. On the Fourth of July, the show will be enhanced with “The Heartbeat of Freedom,” an overture of traditional Americana themes displayed in a pyrotechnic and laser light event. The show is at 10 p.m.

In addition, Epcot guests may lend their ears to “Voices of Liberty 4th of July Concert” and participate in meet-and-greets with Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and Disney characters adorned in patriotic dress at American Adventure.
Theme park hours on July 4 (subject to change without notice): Magic Kingdom, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Epcot, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Disney’s Hollywood Studios, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Some additional information:

-The Magic Kingdom will be open from 8:00AM to 1:00AM (The park will only be closed for 5 hours prior to opening on the 4th with EMH running until 3AM). Main Street Electrical Parade will perform at 10PM & 12AM and “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” will perform at 10:45 & 11:30PM. You can also catch the Celebrate A Dream Come True parade at 12 & 3PM.

-Disney’s Hollywood Studios is open from 9AM-10PM, with Extra Magic Hours from 10PM-1AM. This combination may make this small park even more unbearable, so beware.

-Animal Kingdom is running Extra Magic Hours in the morning from 8AM-9AM. They close at 8PM that evening.

Flynn Rides Out of Tangled Play and Greet

WDWNT on June 30, 2011

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As of July 2nd, Flynn Rider will no longer be available at the Tangled “play and greet” experience in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. Well, I should rephrase that, because the “play” in “play and greet” was removed some time ago. That’s right, the interactive portion of the experience was removed to speed up the line, but apparently it was just not enough. Disney issued the following statement to Magic Kingdom cast members about the change:

At the Walt Disney World Resort, we are continually focused on providing the best possible entertainment experiences for our guests. As part of that effort, the Tangled play & greet will now focus on Rapunzel, who has become a guest favorite. We will also be adding more opportunities each day for guests to meet her in Fairytale Garden.

It’s hard to complain about this change if it is shortening lines and giving guests more time to spend on other Magic Kingdom attractions, especially when this line was reaching extreme wait times of anywhere between 30 minutes and 1 hour. You can relive the experience one last time through a video we published back when the “play and greet” first opened: