WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited the Magic Kingdom on Friday and has a number of newsworthy photos from around the park to share with us:
The temporary Winnie the Pooh meet and greet in Fantasyland, no word on where this is going after the expansion is complete
Read More about Josh Siegel’s 1/28/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
WDWNT Reporters Banks Lee and Taylor Martina bring us the latest installment of our Fantasyland Expansion Video Updates, recorded on January 27, 2011 at the Magic Kingdom:
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson roamed all over Walt Disney World last weekend and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us of all the latest happenings:
New clothing at Hollywood Studios features characters with clapboards
I was visiting Walt Disney World for the premiere of PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun and “Let the Memories Begin” last week and managed to find some time to take some newsworthy photos, so let’s take a look at what’s new around the parks:
We begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Gnomio & Juliet was going to be a Disney movie, now it’s just a Disney promoted movie…
The Fantasyland Forest is now “New Fantasyland”, the Disney Dream is setting sail, and the memories have just begun at Walt Disney World! WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee brings us to the media presentation from January 18th inside the Mickey’s Philharmagic theater:
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WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee attended the media preview of the new (and might we add incredible) “The Magic, The Memories, and You” castle show on January 18th at the Magic Kingdom and has a video of the “Let the Memories” begin centerpiece to share with us:
Disney press release:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In a dramatic new projection show filled with special effects and magic, Cinderella Castle will transform into a shimmering canvas for images of Walt Disney World guests and the memories they made that day at Magic Kingdom.
In the nighttime spectacle, photos of guests captured that very day in the park will be projected larger-than-life among the spires and turrets of Cinderella Castle. In similar fashion, guest images will be projected onto “it’s a small world” on select nights at Disneyland Park in California, beginning Jan. 27.
The ten-minute experience – called “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” – will dazzle park guests on both coasts in ways never before experienced, themed to beloved Disney stories and with playful animated sequences that seem to defy the architecture of the buildings. The spectacle is scheduled most nights with up to two shows per night depending on theme park operating hours and other special ticketed events.
As many as 500 images shot that day will project onto the castle each night the show is presented, producers estimate. Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture guests creating new memories as they “smile for the castle.”
“Disney parks create family vacation memories to last a lifetime,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “What better canvas for those memories than Cinderella Castle, one of the most photographed icons in the world.”
After the sun goes down, 16 high-powered state-of-the-art projectors will bring the castle to life as that day’s photos (and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub) seem to dance about the famous facade, explained Alan Bruun, associate creative director, Walt Disney World Entertainment.
As classic Disney music weaves in and out of the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song,turrets spin while the castle shimmers and magically transforms itself in playful and exciting ways to accompany the guests’ memories of fun, adventure and family experiences.
“The images dance to the music and culminate in a spectacular finale punctuated by animated and actual fireworks,” Bruun said.
As Disney Parks encourages families to “Let the Memories Begin,” guests have been celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their stories and by uploading photos and videos online at DisneyParks.com/memories.
Vacation memories hold a special place in the hearts of families, too, according to a recent survey of Americans and Canadians conducted by Ypartnership, a leading research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel.
Nine out of 10 parents polled said they plan their vacations with the express hope of creating a lasting family memory. And most memories don’t fade with the passage of time. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they think back “often” or “very often” on their most cherished vacation memories.
BY THE NUMBERS: ‘The Magic, The Memories, and You!’ Nighttime Spectacle
* Height of Cinderella Castle: 189 feet
* Number of shows: up to two per night (select evenings)
* Length of each show: ten minutes (approx.)
* Projectors: 16
* Same-day guest photos per show: up to 500
* Total number of images projected per show: more than 5,000
Our venerable CEO Tom Corless is attending tonight’s “Let the Memories Begin” press event at the Magic Kingdom, and we will be updating this post with the announcements live as they happen:
7:17 PM – Attendees are seated in the Fantasyland Theater; Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has taken the stage to kick off the presentation.
7:20 PM – Weiss confirms Disney is “moving forward” with Shanghai Disneyland.
7:22 PM – WDW President Meg Crofton has taken the stage. “Let the Memories Begin” campaign officially begins.
7:27 PM – Recap of recent openings: The new Pooh queue, Tangled Meet and Greet, Via Napoli, La Hacienda de San Angel, and the Pixar Pals debut.
7:30 PM – Darth Vader and Stormtroopers on stage as Star Tours opening date announced as May 20 during Star Wars Weekends.
7:32 PM – Imagineer Eric Jacobson takes the stage to talk about the Fantasyland expansion.
7:34 PM – Fantasyland info as already reported this morning. Storybook Circus will take the space originally allocated to Pixie Hollow. Snow White Mine Train Coaster. Beast’s Castle will seat 550 guests, with counter service at lunch and table service at dinner. Goofy’s Barnstormer will transform into The Great Goofini.
7:38 PM – Princess Fairytale Hall (meet and greet) will replace Snow White’s Scary Adventures (an original 1971 opening day dark ride attraction).
7:43 PM – Show Director Alan Bruun talks about The Magic, the Memories, and You castle projections, saying that it is more than just a slide show on Cinderella Castle. Uses 16 projectors located around the hub, projecting 500 photos taken that day at the parks.
7:49 PM – An artist’s rendering of the castle projections, with hundreds of screaming fans filling the hub. A new song, “Let the Memories Begin,” will accompany the show.
7:51 PM – Al Weiss now takes the stage again to conclude the presentation.
Check back with WDW News Today as more information becomes available on all of today’s announcements.
As expected Disney has officially announced some major changes to the New Fantasyland expansion plans. Included in the changes are the official new theme for the Barnstormer, and the official announcement of the closure of Snow White’s Scary Adventure to make way for the new Dwarf’s Mine Train ride. Also tucked away in the annoucement the confirmation that we will not be getting Pixie Hollow at the Magic Kingdom. As always stay tuned to WDW News Today as more details become avalible.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
As many of you know, we’re in the midst of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, which will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. And we’re thrilled about the expansion because it’ll allow us to tell our treasured stories in new ways and give you the opportunity to interact with some of our beloved characters like never before. Today, we’d like to give you a first glimpse of the progress we’re making in bringing these stories to life and a look at some of the art will be sharing with the media later tonight.
First, work is already well underway on many of the experiences we’ve already told you about, so let’s start with Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid. In this attraction, Ariel and all her friends will entertain you in a ride-through adventure featuring favorite songs from the popular animated feature.
Not too far from Ariel’s new home, construction is underway on Beast’s castle which will stand majestically upon a hill. You will cross over a stone bridge as you arrive at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Set in the halls of the Beast’s Castle, this location will seat up to 550 guests and offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Just outside the restaurant, you will also be able to explore Belle’s Village, which includes Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.
Nearby at Belle’s cottage, a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of experience, where Belle, Lumiere and guests participate in a lively re-telling of the “tale as old as time.” In Enchanted Tales with Belle, the adventure begins at Maurice’s cottage, where you’ll step through an enchanted mirror that magically transports you to Beast’s library for an interactive storytelling session with Belle.
Just across the way is the brand new Storybook Circus, where we’re doubling the fun by adding another carousel to Dumbo the Flying Elephant. While you wait to board this Fantasyland favorite, you’ll have a chance to join the circus and step inside the Big Top for fun-filled interactive experiences for kids of all ages. Alongside Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the existing Barnstormer is getting a new look as well, featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini. This exciting attraction will take you on a twisting, turning, daredevil, roller coaster “flight” high above the circus fun.
As with any project of this scale, we’ve also continued to look for additional ways to surprise and delight our guests and I think you’ll be pleased. One opportunity we’re especially excited about is the chance to tell Snow White’s story in a fresh new way. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take you on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth as they whisk along the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.
Our other Disney princesses will also be getting a new home (actually, they prefer to call it a castle) in the all new Princess Fairytale Hall. Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel, will greet you in an elegant royal court at the location where Snow White’s Scary Adventures is today. This new experience will be in place of some of the earlier plans we shared regarding opportunities to interact with your favorite princesses.
And Tinkerbell and her fairy friends will be joining the cast at Epcot where they will have special roles bringing the flora and fauna to life during the Flower and Garden Festival.
The New Fantasyland will be constructed in phases with most new experiences open by 2013. We look forward to sharing more with you as our work progresses.
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson stopped by the Magic Kingdom for a few hours on Tuesday afternoon and has a few photos from his trip to share with us:
It’s busy, no surprise there…
Read More about Zach Larson’s 12/28/10 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
With all of the changes coming to the Magic Kingdom in the coming months and years, it was only a matter of time before the recorded spiels on the Walt Disney World Railroad had to be changed. Well, they were changed on Thursday. There is a new voice and narration on the trains for the first time since the opening of Toontown Fair in 1996. The new spiels include the addition of Jack Sparrow to Pirates of the Caribbean (Just to give you an idea how long it has been since this has been changed) and mentions of all the new attractions coming as part of the Fantasyland Forest Expansion. The spiels also include Mickey’s Toontown Fair despite it closing in February, so expect to see the narration change frequently. Banks Lee was there to capture the new spiels as well as a ride on the Railroad in video, so enjoy:
