PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 9/1/16 (Tomorrowland Rock Painting, Carousel of Progress, ETC.)

2 major refurbishments roll on, Tomorrowland continues to get a new look, and some new merchandise is discovered in our latest photo report visiting the Magic Kingdom:

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Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!

New Merchandise

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

I really love this new limited release Han Solo and Chewbacca MagicBand.

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

Limited Release Han Solo MagicBand

The Millennium Falcon on the opposite side is a nice touch.

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The Mr. Toad taxi art is now on a pin in full color.

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A new “cute” Star Wars character pin set was recently released.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Refurbishment

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The refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rolls on through November.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Crane-mas

Cinderella Castle crane

Cinderella Castle crane

The installation of the holiday lights on Cinderella Castle continues.

Tomorrowland Rock Repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

The painting of the rocks at the entrance of Tomorrowland continues.

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

One rock has already gone a very bright blue color…

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

Tomorrowland rocks repainting

“it’s a small world” Refurbishment

"it's a small world" Refurbishment

“it’s a small world” Refurbishment

“it’s a small world” is currently closed for a short refurbishment.

More changes at Carousel of Progress

Monitor covers added at the Carousel of Progress

Monitor covers added at the Carousel of Progress

The monitors hanging at the Carousel of Progress finally have a cabinet around them.

PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 8/31/16 (Haunted Mansion, Mosquito Prevention, New Stairs, ETC.)

Today, we take a short trip to a rainy Epcot to see what’s new and exciting in our latest photo report (and no, Haunted Mansion in the title is not a mistake):

Steps Toward Security

Emergency monorail stairs at Epcot

Emergency monorail stairs at Epcot

Work was finally completed on the new emergency stairs at the Epcot Monorail station. New safety protocols have required these additions at many of the monorail stations around Walt Disney World property.

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My attempt at being artsy. This is as far as I can go.

New Merchandise

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Some new Haunted Mansion art found in the Art of Disney, including these tiny stretching room portraits.

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All four of the stretching room statues are now available.

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Select items from the PIXAR Party are still lingering, available at Epcot’s Pin Central.

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In France, a selection of Disney Princess shirts exclusive to the parks are available.

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Tower of Terror as a park icon isn’t going anywhere anytime soon apparently…

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Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

This light up Little Green Men lanyard is fairly new, available in quite a few places.

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

More new Toy Story-themed park apparel has been released recently.

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

Disney Parks Toy Story Merchandise

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Some new children’s clothing featuring the Fab 5 is available at MouseGear.

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ZIKA/Mosquito Prevention

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

I found two of the complimentary bug repellent locations during my rainy night visit to Epcot. This first one is on the bridge from China to the Refreshment Outpost.

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

Mosquito prevention kiosk with complimentary repellent

Another was spotted near the Agent P sign-up kiosk between Future World and World Showcase.

Hostess with the Mostess – Top 5 Water Rides at Disney World Results

Hostess Logo

Welcome back to WDWNT’s Hostess with the Mostess! The best place for your weekly Disney fix! It has been unbelievable hot where I live! While swimming in my pool I was inspired to talk about the cool, refreshing, and exciting water rides of Walt Disney World.

If you are behind and missed last week’s post you can read it right here. As a little reminder, here is my list.

Kali River Rapids

Kali River Rapids

My Top 5 Favorite Water Rides at Walt Disney World.

  •   5. Maelstrom/Frozen Ever After
  •   4. Jungle Cruise
  •   3. Pirates of the Caribbean
  •   2. Kali River Rapids
  •   1. Splash Mountain

Now let’s see how you voted!

5. Frozen Ever After. Frozen did not get much love. Only two voters represented this new attraction. Is it because it’s just not a fan favorite or could it be because it’s so new and not many have ridden it yet? What do you think?  I am very excited to take my first ride to Arendelle next month!

4. Jungle Cruise came in at number four. I was surprised at first that this attraction did not make it further up on the list, but when I looked at the numbers it was only one vote away for tying for number three! Jungle Cruise is without a doubt on my “list.” You know the list that every Disney fanatic has … the attractions you would want to work on if you ever become a Disney Cast Member. I am sure I am not the only one … right? That just gave me a great idea! That would make for a really fun countdown! If you do not already have a list, you better start thinking about what attractions at Disney World you would want to work on because you know I will want to hear from you!

3. Kali River Rapids barely made it into the number three spot. Brandon said, “I’ll have to disagree with the Kali River Rapids. We rode that for the first time this year. After 2.5 hours standing in line, the ride lasted for 2 minutes. It was a complete let down. Everyone on our raft were saying, ‘That’s it?!’ I will never waste my time on that again.” Brandon has a great point. Kali is very short and not worth a long wait. Even though it is my number two pick, I would never wait in a long line for it. Fastpass all the way!

2. Yo Ho, let’s go to our number two pick! I’m sure you guessed it by that corny introduction … Pirates of the Caribbean! That’s right folks; those swashbuckling singers must have stolen everyone’s hearts! This Pirate adventure certainly deserves it’s placement at number two! Trivia question … Paul Frees voiced many of the pirates including the Auctioneer, what other Magic Kingdom attraction did he voice another important role?

1. Splash Mountain blew all of the other attractions out of the water! Brer Rabbit raced way ahead of the competition and landed in first with ease. I had a feeling that Splash Mountain would be the fan favorite. How can it not? There is so much fun and Disney detail packed into that log flume it is a magical treat with every ride!

Our honorable mention comes from Travis, “I voted Splash Mountain, but if we’re permitted to dig into the past, I have to mention 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Incredible ride, gone too soon …” Since I brought up Maelstrom, I think it’s only fair to include 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I am too young to have experienced its greatness. But I have done a lot of research and have heard from a lot of people how wonderful it was. My Dad raves about that attraction and I know he would want nothing more than to have the opportunity to ride it.

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain, Tokyo Disneyland

Staying Dry on Water Rides

Before I go, I am going to share some of my Hostess tips on how to stay dry on these wet attractions. Part of the fun is getting wet! But that doesn’t mean you want to get soaked.

 – Ponchos. They are wonderful things! They are so compact and take up no room at all in your bag. It is so easy to throw one on before the ride. Make sure you purchase one at the Dollar Store before your trip. They are much more expensive in the parks. Ponchos are great at keeping you dry from all of the water coming at you from above. But they are even better when it comes to the real problem … you know what I’m talking about. Yes, that’s right, that pesky puddle of water that sits on the seat and is just waiting to give you a soggy bottom. Ponchos come to the rescue! They are long enough to sit on and help to keep your derriere dry!

– Another helpful item that you can take with you is a gallon bag. These bags are perfect for keeping your personal items dry. Water can easily seep through your bags or pockets and get to that phone or worse yet the cash you saved for that Mickey Mouse ice cream bar. Gasp! In order to prevent an ice cream-less disaster, just put all of your personal items in a gallon bag for safety.

– Some rides have special tricks to stay dry. On Splash Mountain, I have found there are two places you can sit in the log to stay a little drier. The left side of the boat and the back row does not get as much water. I always put my hands up on Chickapin Hill (AKA the big drop), but right before we get to the bottom I put my hands down and duck down as far as I can. This obviously does not prevent the water that is coming down on you, but your face and hair will stay dry!

– On Kali River Rapids there isn’t much hope for staying dry unless maybe wearing a poncho. The most important tip I can offer will at least help keep your feet dry. And let’s be honest, wet socks and shoes are one of the worst parts of getting soaked. Keep your feet up on the bar in front of you during the ride. The floor of the raft fills up with water and in order to keep your feet away from the forming pool, you have to put your feet up!

– What if you want to get soaked but not stay soaked? In that case, I say take extra socks and a hand towel. Having wet feet is pretty miserable but carrying extra shoes and clothes can get really bulky. A good compromise would be to pack extra socks and a hand towel in one of those handy dandy gallon bags. Your feet will thank you and you would be surprised how much water a little hand towel can remove!

 – My last tip is all in the planning. I suppose planning does not really keep you dry per say, but it does help in those wet situations. First things first, do not wear white or clingy clothes. They will only become a bigger hassle! Second, try to plan out the time you will be riding the attraction. You do not want to show up to your dinner reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table soaked. Not only will you be uncomfortable but the air conditioning will make for a very cold evening. Make sure you have plenty of time to dry off before other important plans.

My Extra Magic Tip for the week: Hand dryers. Use them! These little guys can be very helpful when you’re drenched.

Thank you to everyone who voted and commented. As always it is so much fun to learn about what you think! Remember to check back next week for another countdown of my favorites!

See ya real soon!

Zika Threat Possibly Forcing Disney to Fill Abandoned River Country Pool

According to the Orlando Sentinel:

Walt Disney World is draining and filling in the pool at its long-closed River Country water park.

The 330,000-gallon Upstream Plunge was a major attraction at the now abandoned water park. It is surrounded by manmade boulders for jumping and diving platforms.

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River Country is surprisingly close to Mickey’s Backyard BBQ and Pioneer Hall at Fort Wilderness.

The green and white kidney-shaped area in the Google Earth image is the pool, which is especially close to the still functional Mickey’s Backyard BBQ and Pioneer Hall.  Although fences separate the closed water park from the rest of Fort Wilderness, intrepid explorers have managed to get inside and snap some eerie pictures of the abandoned area, much to the consternation of WDW management.

It is not known what will become of the rest of the abandoned water park, although rumors as far back as 2010 indicated the area was being explored as a possible site for a new DVC property.

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River Country as seen from the air in its heyday.

River Country held its Grand Opening on June 19, 1976 as part of the “Bicentennial Summer” of 1976 at the Walt Disney World Resort.  In the 1980s, River Country was very popular but after Typhoon Lagoon opened in 1989, attendance waned, and ultimately River Country was closed permanently in 2001 in the wake of declining tourism after 9/11.

The standing water in the pool could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, the known carrier of the Zika virus. There have recently been documented cases of the virus just miles from Orlando in Tampa, FL, making the threat of the virus very real in the Orlando area.

Disney has not given any official word on why the pool is being filled in, but many have speculated the Zika threat as the reason.

“Western Way” Road To Be Extended Beyond Flamingo Crossings

Walt Disney World, through its governing body, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), has recently filed plans with the South Florida Water Management District to extend Western Way an additional 1.6 miles westward beyond SR 429 and the Flamingo Crossings development, to connect to Avalon Road, also known as SR 545.

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This Google Maps image shows the current western terminus of Western Way at Flagler Avenue and the two completed hotels.

Only two hotel projects are completed at Flamingo Crossings at this time, a SpringHill Suites and a TownePlace Suites.  Western Way would be extended to connect with SR 545, thus making a significant chunk of land ripe for development west of Flamingo Crossings.

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The Western Way extension project would cut through 1.6 miles of mostly wetlands.

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In this aerial image, the entire length of Western Way, from SR 429 to Buena Vista Drive, is visible.

In case you’re not familiar with the Western Way entrance to WDW property, the roadway connects to Buena Vista Drive just south of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

WATCH: Latest “WDW News Tonight” Celebrates the History of Streets of America

On this week’s edition of WDW News Tonight…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkWIrBugL94]

If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to AM 1520 WBZW at show time. For those outside the Orlando area, the show can be heard (and now watched via video stream) at Listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. The show also utilizes new interactive avenues for our audience, including a live chat, the ability to call-in to the show, and live polling. You can also listen on demand on iTunes or watch on YouTube. WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

BREAKING: Disney World to Distribute Free Insect Repellent to Fight Zika Virus

On the heels of the announcement that the pool at River Country will be filled in, Disney has now announced that will start handing out insect repellent at their resort starting Sunday.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Walt Disney World will start giving out free insect repellent throughout its resort Sunday, as the threat of Zika comes increasingly close to Orlando.

Disney confirmed it will have various types of insect repellent at its theme parks, at Disney Springs and the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. There will also be aerosol cans in hotel rooms.

Signs will be posted letting people know the repellent is available.

“In an abundance of caution, we are accelerating preventative efforts throughout our property, including providing complimentary insect repellent to our Guests along with helpful guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention,” Disney said in an emailed statement. ”We have an extensive mosquito-prevention and monitoring program in place, and we continue to work closely with local, state and federal experts on this topic.”

PHOTOS: Disney World Rolls Out Free Mosquito Repellent to Combat Zika Virus

On Saturday, we told you about the introduction of complimentary bug repellent at the Disney World theme parks and Disney Springs to help combat the Zika Virus presence in central Florida. On Sunday, Disney rolled out the program resort wide. Here’s how it works…

Mosquito Prevention Kiosk in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom

Mosquito Prevention Kiosk in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom

These kiosks are located all around the parks and Disney Springs. Cast members are handing pamphlets out to guests about mosquito prevention and then invite them to apply repellent to themselves. On Sunday, cast were tallying the number of guests using the program. By mid-afternoon, one kiosk at Disney Springs informed us that they already had over 50 guests who had taken advantage of the program.

Repellent Basket at a kiosk in Disney Springs

Repellent Basket at a kiosk in Disney Springs

Guests do not actually receive anything to keep with them, but they can stop at these kiosks and apply the repellent to themselves. All resort rooms at Walt Disney World have similar bottles of repellent placed in them by housekeeping. Guests do in fact get to keep these bottles distributed to their guest room.

It is unknown for how long Walt Disney World will offer the repellent, but it will likely be until the threat of Zika is gone from the Central Florida area.

Children Now Require Biometric Finger Scan to Enter Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Children under the age of 10 have never been required to scan a finger when entering a Walt Disney World theme park, something required of all ticket holders over that age for many years at the Vacation Kingdom of the World. Starting just last week, children under age 10 now are required to have their fingerprint scanned to enter the Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks, and DisneyQuest.

Disney-MagicBand

A guest relations cast member we spoke to over the weekend confirmed the changes after 3 separate reports were sent to us by WDWNT readers.

The change is reportedly part of the continuing effort to fight ticket fraud and Walt Disney World Resort ticket resales. Child tickets in the past would have no fingerprint associated with them, nor would they require photo ID, so it would have been very easy to transfer tickets between guests under the age of 10.

Disney has made no official statement on the new policy beyond the instructions given to front gate cast members at their theme parks.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: New Prop Added to Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom, More Changes Coming

A new prop has appeared in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the Magic Kingdom, one that should be familiar to fans of the popular film series based on the classic ride…

A glass case, reminiscent of the one used to carry the mermaid in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, has appeared on the beach

A glass case, reminiscent of the one used to carry the mermaid in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, has appeared on the beach

The glass case at the very back of the beach scene looks just like the one used to transport the captured mermaid in the 4th film in the Pirates series, On Stranger Tides.

A mermaid is captured and transported in this case in the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean film

A mermaid is captured and transported in this case in the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean film

We also have a video to share of the new prop:

It is unknown if the prop is the actual one from the movie, but it is at least a rather convincing replica of the glass cage featured in the film.

In October 2012, a mermaid scene was added to Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom, projecting images of mermaids onto the surface of the water. The mermaid skeleton on the beach was also added at this time. The projection was turned off quite a while ago, but a similar or updated effect is expected to debut at the attraction soon, especially with the addition of the case which also calls back to these characters from the last film.

Other small changes have been made to the attraction lately, including the removal of the “Dead Men Tell No Tales” banner outside of the ride. Further changes are expected leading into 2017 when a larger enhancement of the attraction is expected to take place.