Last week, we reported about the possibility of a parking garage being added at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It appears we had the location wrong, but a parking structure may still be in the long-term plans for the park down the road. In the meantime, Disney has confirmed an expansion of the parking lot in some internal communications this week.
We also noticed that an entire mass of trees adjacent to the Hollywood Studios parking lot was removed just last week:
These photos were taken when driving in from the World Drive entrance of the park.
Behind this fence once stood hundreds of trees, all of which were removed in one day last week.
Currently, Disney is constructing a temporary conveyor structure across World Drive to shift soil across the road and into the park. Disney has stated that this is a multi-year project and they will be sharing more information on this project soon. Now, whether this simply means that the parking lot will grow or that a parking garage is coming remains to be seen, but we will keep you in the loop as best we can.
Work continues on two massive themed lands as a bevy of modest options prepare to open in the not-to-distant future at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. PizzeRizzo is nearing completion, the Dr. Strange preview has finally opened, and something else is brewing at One Man’s Dream in our latest photo report.
A bevy of new D-Tech on Demand phone cases are available with Rogue One designs at Launch Bay.
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame
Walls are up at the Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. Speculation is that this is being removed.
Doctor Stranger Things
While the Doctor Strange preview has opened, the rumored meet and greet has yet to materialize. Could this be a model of an upcoming project or something else?
Doctor Strange signage can be found all around the surrounding area.
If you missed it, a great look at the Star War and Toy Story Land construction sites is offered in this week’s expansion update video:
Hurricane Matthew forced Disney to remove some netting and tarps around the construction areas this week, allowing us a better view of the construction of Star Wars land.
The base of the supports for the facades that once stood at the end of the street are all that is left of it.
Moving down towards Muppets Courtyard, there isn’t much left to see.
The fire escapes off of the New York facades all lay in a pile just behind the walls.
PizzeRizzo
Work on PizzeRizzo continues, with the sign now appearing weathered.
Toy Story Land Construction
Meanwhile, a trip down to the old Jack Sparrow queue offers a look at what will be an entrance to Toy Story Land.
The old Prop Shop is now completely demolished.
We have to wonder how much longer this tree will be left standing.
This and That
Some Dr. Strange merchandise available at Mickey’s of Hollywood.
The Disney Parks and Resorts Deluxe Attraction Poster Calendar is returning for 2017!
This year’s oversized calendar includes posters from classic Disney attractions such as Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland, or Disney destinations like the Disneyland Hotel at the Disneyland Resort. Attractions from Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland are also included.
The attraction poster calendars were first introduced in fall 2013, and were inspired by the “Poster Art of Disney Parks” book by Walt Disney Imagineers Vanessa Hunt and Danny Handke.
Each poster in this calendar is suitable for display in a standard 12-inch by 18-inch frame. There are perforations above and below each poster for easy removal after its calendar month. The posters are printed on acid-free and lignin-free paper.
This calendar will be released in select merchandise locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Once available, guests may also find the calendar using the Shop Disney Parks mobile app.
Our latest photo report brings us to the Magic Kingdom before and after Hurricane Matthew hit. While the storm had little effect on the parks other than a 1.5 day closure, there is still plenty happening around the Magic Kingdom this week.
Hurricane Matthew
Knowing Thursday would be an interesting day to visit the parks, I journeyed to the Magic Kingdom to see how Hurricane preparations were going. If you haven’t seen our popular video of the park getting ready for the storm, you may want to check it out:
Thursday morning was actually fairly nice.
Tarps around the Swiss Family Treehouse (closed through October 20th now) had to be removed for the storm, offering an unusual look at the work.
Flags all around the park were tied up as well.
Some were just removed, like those in Liberty Square.
The Muppets present Great Moments in American History
On Sunday, guests started lining up early for what would be the final Main Street Electrical Parade performances in Florida before it heads back to Disneyland.
Garbage cans were pushed off of the curbs to allow for more viewing space for guests.
I staked out my spot at about 4:30PM just to be safe. I was joined by hundreds of guests minutes later.
You can watch the final Florida parade below if you haven’t seen it yet:
New Souvenir Mug
A really great Be Our Guest Restaurant mug can be found at select locations at the Magic Kingdom. The mug is $7.50 with a drink.
DisneyWorld.com today added information on Rivers of Light dining packages
According to dining packages available for the show on DisneyWorld.com, Rivers of Light will officially debut on or around May 1st, 2017. The dining packages offering reserved viewing space for the show will begin to be offered on May 1st, so the show would have to debut by then. Dining packages will be available for booking 180 days in advance should all go according to plan this time.
For some reason, the Tiffins package is not actually listed along with Flame Tree Barbecue and Tusker House, but the official information confirms that 3 restaurants will be a part of the dining package.
Rivers of Light dining package information
Rivers of Light dining package information
UPDATE: The page has since been removed from DisneyWorld.com, so we will have to wait and see if this was an error on Disney’s part or if we are really going to have to wait until May for Rivers of Light to debut.
Similar to the test currently running at the Magic Kingdom which has added another guest relations location in Tomorrowland, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is now testing out the addition off a second location where guests can find help with ticketing, reservations, and other issues or concerns.
The new test location is adjacent to the entrance of the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction. The main Guest Relations is still located at the very front of the park in the Oasis.
The test will be running today, October 13th, 2016, through November 5th, 2016.
The closing of Maelstrom at Epcot and the removal of the Earfful Tower from Disney’s Hollywood Studios probably didn’t have quite the emotional impact on guests that the removal of the Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich from the Magic Kingdom did. Offered for several years, the sandwich became a staple of Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Liberty Square. Well, after a several month absence, the beloved park snack recently returned as part of the widespread menu changes happening around the resort.
Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich ($10.29)
First off, the sandwich has undergone a pretty impressive price increase. It’s as if Disney knows that the guests who love this sandwich would pay more for it. I don’t know about you, but in all of the excitement of it being back, $10.29 didn’t phase me. Next time it might.
I’ve seen a lot of Disney fan blogs yelling about the sandwich being much smaller than before. In my experience, the waffle was smaller and that wasn’t a bad thing. I always found the original Belgian waffle version a little hard to pick up and eat. This new version was far more manageable and I though this waffle tasted just as good, if not better.
Was there less chicken? I’m not so sure that they didn’t just luck out once and get two pieces of chicken, but this was about as big as I remember the chicken ever being in this sandwich. It was still just as favorable as before. The arugula was cut from the sandwich though.
The price is high, but I honestly can’t think of another counter service item in this park I would want more, as much as I love the new menu at Pecos Bill’s. Yeah, $10.29 is probably more than this should be, but it is just so good. While the price may be a bit off-putting, I can’t recommend this sandwich enough.
At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa for a limited time, guests can enjoy the Garden View Lounge while enjoying from a selection of champagne and wine. A limited small plate menu includes items such as caviar, charcuterie, and seafood. This new dining experience will soft open on October 13, 2016. The Garden View Lounge will be available to Guests from 7-10 p.m.
Garden View Champagne and Wine Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
The Garden View Champagne & Wine Lounge officially opens Friday, October 14 and will operate nightly from 7-10 p.m. through December 2016. Reservations are not available as of yet, so seating is available only on a first come first serve basis.
DINOSAUR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will not open from its lengthy refurbishment as scheduled. The ride was scheduled to reopen on October 17th, 2016.
DINOSAUR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Guests are reporting that their FastPass+ reservations have been cancelled for anytime in the next 30 days. Disney has yet to announce when the ride will reopen.
UPDATE: The closure of DINOSAUR has been extended over a month to November 20th, 2016.
It’s certainly no secret to WDWNT readers and listeners that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is my favorite park at Walt Disney World. Stop asking me why. Seriously.
Anyway, in all my love of Hollywood Studios, I have recently fallen out of love with counter service dining at the park. Since the Backlot Express menu overhaul in 2015 and the closure of Studio Catering Co., I find myself often avoiding counter service meals at the Studios. That being said, I have never been a fan of the menu at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner (with the exception of the Blue Milkshake, which is indeed still available) in the Echo Lake area of the park. I know it has had several different menus in the last few years, but none of them ever really appealed to me in any way.
Recently, the menu was overhauled, adding items from the popular, yet now closed Echo Lake Eats.
Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner Menu
Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner Menu
Carolina Foot-Long Hotdog ($11.49)
Carolina Foot-Long Hotdog ($11.49)
We didn’t order the new Carolina Foot-Long Hot Dog because we figured it would be pretty similar to the stuff you can find at Casey’s Corner. I happened to see one sitting on the counter, so I pulled an “Inside the Magic” and just took pictures of something I didn’t order.
Carolina Foot-Long Hotdog ($11.49)
The photo on the Disney website is fairly inaccurate (surprise). Not only does in come in a loaf of bread, it’s definitely an entirely different color. That being said, we had something very similar at Casey’s and didn’t think it was too bad.
The loaded nachos are pretty standard, but it’s a nice offering considering other options at the park. Sometimes you are just in the mood for nachos, and if you really are, this is a viable option. All of the prices here do seem a bit hight, but “welcome to Disney World” I guess.
Loaded Chili-Cheese Nachos ($10.49)
The guacamole isn’t all that great, but the sour cream was nice and fresh.
Min and Bill’s Pulled Pork Sliders ($10.99)
Min and Bill’s Pulled Pork Sliders ($10.99)
Again, probably overpriced, but I really enjoyed these. I have never been a fan of coleslaw, but I really think it blended well with the pork in this case. The buns were the highlight though. If any counter service hamburger had these buns, they would be at least 50% more edible. The buns were soft, flaky, and had a buttery flavor that was quite pleasant.
