WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the future site of Flamingo Crossing this week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us:
A panoramic view of Hub construction
Not much progress to see around the north sides yet
The new castle tower control booths are still being constructed
New pavement is finally being poured around the south side of the Partners statue
At Epcot, construction of the third Soarin’ theater is visible from the monorail
Out at Flamingo Crossing, work continues on the two new Marriott hotels: TownePlace Suites and SpringHill Suites
With little-to-no-warning, the new version of “The Great Movie Ride presented by TCM” finally debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios earlier today. In 26 years, this marks the largest changes to the ride (other than some minor additions to the finale montage on two occasions, the last being a decade ago).
The Great Movie Ride marquee has been updated to include “Presented by TCM”, it was Coca-Cola many years ago
Outside, all signage was changed overnight to include Turner Classic Movies.
The strange empty space under the attraction posters was finally filled by the TCM logo
Here’s an up-close photo of the new Turned Classic Movies emblem
The 2 displays on the exterior have received new signs for a TCM “Salute” to The Jungle Book and Mary Poppins
New banners in the Chinese Theater courtyard
The new TCM banners blend in well in the existing courtyard
Upon entering the queue, the interactive movie posters and displays we showed you a few weeks back are now running. The posters switch between a logo for the Great Movie Ride and movie posters that come to life with some animated element.
The new interactive movie posters inside the queue switch between The Great Movie Ride attraction poster and movie posters from TCM. Each movie poster has a subtle moving element.
New interactive displays accompany the props inside The Great Movie Ride queue
The pre-show is no longer a 20-minute loop of trailers, but now a 45-minute documentary that spans all of the movies and genres covered in the ride. What’s great here is that some of the trailers even remain in the pre-show, including The Searchers (“No you don’t Ethan. Ethan, no you don’t!”). As time rolls on, many of the older films in the attraction have been forgotten to time and the pre-show does a nice job filling guests in on lesser-known classics such as Footlight Parade or The Public Enemy. The new film does a nice job providing background information that may spark more of an interest in seeing these films, which for TCM is probably the purpose of sponsoring the ride. If you want to find many of these films, Turner Classic Movies is often the easiest place to go.
See the entire pre-show loop for yourself:
The inside marquee on the ride was changed after 26 years to reflect the new sponsor and tagline
The only physical change to the ride that guests can see is the marquee in the loading area. No longer a “Journey into the Movies”, the Great Movie Ride is now “The Ultimate Celebration of Classic Movies”. There’s also now movie posters just under the marquee that feature the new ads for the ride.
Robert Osborne of TCM and the cast-member physically driving the vehicle are now both your hosts. Osborne provides about 60% of the spiel for the ride (pre-recorded of course), while the live cast member still becomes a part of the show and throws in some remarks here-or-there.
The finale montage of the ride is now in gorgeous high definition, and luckily almost every memorable clip and soundbite has returned, repackaged in a rather nice manner.
See the attraction with new audio spiels and the new finale film montage:
The photo-op at the exit of the attraction (which bloggers tried to convince everyone was a new stroller parking area) was also installed overnight. Guests can pretend that their handprints are being placed in front of the Chinese Theater, which really is a photo opportunity that someone should have come up with many years ago.
The photo-op at the exit was unveiled as well
You can take a photo as if your handprints are being placed outside of the theater!
Overall, the changes are long overdue. While it is sad to lose the original pre-show, the clips do live on as the actual trailers for those films anyway. The finale montage was clearly handled with the utmost care as most every clip, line of dialogue, and musical note was brought back refreshed and in a seemingly more organized fashion grouped by genre (provided Disney or TCM had the rights to it). Yes, there is less live-spieling and more pre-recorded narration, but honestly, Great Movie Ride cast members have been forced to stick to the script word-for-word for at least 15 years now and the spiel was about as tired as could be. With the exception of losing the fantastic pre-recorded spiel about Alien and the spaceship Nostromo, this has to be seen as an improvement over the tired lines such as “the horror movie is my all-time favorite genre”, “no, it’s not George of the Jungle”, and “Can anyone tell me what movie this is?”. This long-overdue refreshing of the ride breathes new life and hopefully is just a taste of larger changes to come to the attraction at the expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios moves forward.
Thanks to some permits recently filed, we know where Walt Disney World is next looking to expand the Disney Vacation Club offerings at the resort: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Yes, Wilderness Lodge already has Villas, but this will be something completely different…
The paperwork shows 26 waterside units on Bay Lake which we presume to be themed to log cabins. The concept is very similar to the Bora Bora Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
There will also be new and remodeled dining and recreation areas, including pools.
While not yet officially announced by the Walt Disney Company, the permits are filed and are now public record. Work should begin soon on the project.
Captain EO may still be gone, but guests at Epcot can now preview the first new PIXAR film in over 2 years, Inside Out. The roughly 15-minute preview opened to guests on Saturday, May 30th.
Concept art adorns the walls in the first room of the queue
You can’t see the outline of the Captain EO sign anymore…
A special introduction from the filmmakers (sporting Captain EO buttons to assure guests it will return) is played in the pre-show room before guests enter the main theater
While only a few minutes long, the preview is pretty spectacular. Not only are the clips enthralling and entertaining, but the in-theater effects (such as lighting and floor movement) are absolutely perfect. The entire crowd was clearly emotionally invested throughout the preview, crying and laughing along with the characters. At the end of the preview, thunderous applause rang out from the entire crowd. I have seen a fair amount of in-park movie previews in my time, and I can’t recall a crowd reaction like this EVER. If the rest of Inside Out is anything like this preview, I think we are in for an emotional roller-coaster ride that will be a Frozen-sized hit at the box office. We will have to wait and see when PIXAR’s Inside Out hits theaters in the U.S. June 19th (although the film is sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with 20 reviews in already).
Announced today, “The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort” is coming to Disney Springs.
The NBA Experience at Walt Disney World Resort is going to be a one-of-a-kind destination featuring hands-on activities that put families and guests of all ages right in the middle of NBA game action. You’ll be able to explore inside the world of professional basketball with numerous interactive experiences and enjoy a restaurant and retail store.
No opening date has been given, but it will open by the completion of the Disney Springs project in 2016. No exact location for the experience has been provided either.
The concept is very similar to the long-standing NBA City location at CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort and rumors indicate that location will close before the opening of this new NBA experience at Walt Disney World.
The new rendering of STK obtained by the Orlando Business Journal
The Orlando Business Journal obtained the preceding rendering of the STK steakhouse, a new venue opening this year in The Landing as part of Disney Springs. The multilevel restaurant will be the chain’s largest location, at 14,000 square feet, and includes a rooftop dining option.
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Animal Kingdom and Epcot this week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:
Work has begun on the Frozen meet and greet pavilion between Mexico and Norway at Epcot
Still no visible progress on the Frozen attraction
Moving over to Animal Kingdom, the annual DisneyNature sand sculpture can be found outside of this park instead of at Epcot this year
Walls came down around Island Mercantile revealing new planters
It doesn’t look like the pin cart will be returning to this spot anytime soon
Rivers of Light construction from above… looks like something is being constructed out in the water
AVATAR construction as seen from the parking lot at Animal Kingdom; this building will hold the flying Banshee ride
The building from afar
What appears to be construction of an outdoor seating area for the Beastly Bazaar Starbucks
The viewing area for Rivers of Light is coming along slowly
Meanwhile, a hyena habitat is being constructed on Kilimanjaro Safaris
Should be a cool addition when the nighttime safaris debut
Reservations for the Frozen Summer Fun Premium Package (which was introduced last year) are now available for dates from June 17 to September 7. The offerings are about the same as 2014, but there is no event pin gift this time.
Each Frozen Summer Fun Premium Package includes:
See Anna and Elsa in the reserved viewing for Frozen Royal Welcome, complete with refreshments (water, a selection of soft drinks, and ice cream)
Reserved seating for your choice of one show time of For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Frozen Fireworks viewing with dessert party, a dazzling nighttime display of fireworks paired with Frozen-themed desserts as well as specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Cost is $69 for adults, $39 for children age 3 to 9 (tax and gratuity are included). Reservations can be made online or by calling 407-939-3463. Package availability is limited.
There was a panel yesterday at Star Wars Celebration that discussed upcoming toys and merchandise from Disney based on the characters from “Star Wars Rebels” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” StarWars7news provides us with a breakdown of some of the future Star Wars merchandise we can all look forward to:
Disney store toys came first. The first announcement was Hologram Princess Leia Minnie and Pluto as R2-D2
Chief Chirpa got a plushie, alongside Wicket, Teebo, Lugray, Princess Kneesa, and Romba.
Darth Maul Donald Duck was another reveal, along with Star Wars art pieces and themed baseballs.
An expanded version of the Droid Factory build-a-figure is also coming. New hats and accessories are available.
May The Fourth Be With You and Revenge Of The Fifth had a few special releases.
Galactic Gathering attendees will get a MagicBand and an Aurebesh nametag. Pete as Jango Fett will be available to purchase here, along with several pins. Mystery Pin collections will also be available, and you can obtain mini prints and Dooney & Bourke bags. Mouse-eared character figures will be ready to buy at this event.
D-Tech Me has two figurines of a Jedi and a TIE fighter pilot.
Star Wars Weekends have an assortment of shirts available. Mini-globes, cups, and a new wave of character mashups will be made for the events. Jedi Mickey’s Secret Mission will be the last character mashup action figure set released for a while. However, more character mashups will be made available through plushies.
New blasters based on Boba Fett, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Stormtroopers are available now. Youngling lightsabers are another forthcoming toy, allongside latex Rancor and Space Slug figures. Foam lightsaber and ball sets are in the works, along with box sets for the Prequel Trilogy and the Original Trilogy. Rebels box sets are also in the pipeline.
Star Wars racer toys include Chewbacca and the Inquisitor.
R2-D2 Rebel Trainer lets the droid project images that you can shoot at with a toy blaster.
Collector packs containing characters from all eras are also being made.
Build-A-Lightsaber is getting a whole new series of nearly 40 new pieces to customize your weapon for a more civilized time with.
Holographic R2-D2 is headed for Star Wars Weekends. In Fall, R2-D60 and R4-D23 will hit, alongside Imperial Binders, Luke Skywalker lightsabers, and a Yoda Santa Claus plush.
Disney Cruise will start up a line for Star Wars called “Cruising The Galaxy”.
Our Star Wars Celebration reporter Brendt is in Anaheim all weekend enjoying the panels, exhibitors and other festivities at the world’s largest Star Wars party! He just sent us in some great photos of some of the merchandise that we will soon see at Walt Disney World during Star Wars Weekends 2015 (May 15 – June 14).
Disneyland 60th “Build a Droid” R2-D60. Will be made available at Star Wars Weekends as well as Disneyland’s 60 event. It’s not an LE item like they first told us.
Darth Vader Photo Frame!
Star Wars Weekends Autographs and Photo Book
Disney is really getting in baseballs lately. We have recently seen a new Pirates and Steamboat Willie baseball… and here we have a Star Wars version.
Star Wars Weekends Photo Frame
Lots of new plush on the way including this Cheif Chirpa Ewok!!!
A really cool Holographic R2-D2 in the “Build a Droid” line. We have been told to keep an eye out for more “Build a Droid” options and figures coming up.
Yup, that is a Darth Vader Mini Snow Globe. Would be amazing with a mini Hoth scene inside.
Star Wars Weekends 2015 mug seems a little bland.
No cards on these, they seem like just props in the display case. Too bad, I was excited for a Rancor action figure.
New additions to the Disney Character Star Wars action figure lineup. The Pluto as R2 from a previous series bundled with a new hologram version of Minnie as Leia! There is also a Pete as Jango Fett. He was in a previous series as Boba Fett.
D-Tech Tie Fighter Pilot and Jedi versions are new this year.
The 2015 May the Fourth and Revenge of the Fifth pins have an LE 5000 edition size.
Next, we will take a look at some of the pins that were produced for Star Wars Weekends:
Death Star Lanyard Medal
The droid mystery pins look absolutely incredible.
9″ Death Star Vinylmation with 3″ Death Star Trooper will be sold during Week 3 of Star Wars Weekends.
Star Wars Series 5 mystery 3″ set will include Jabba, Leia and Tie Fighter Pilot. There is also a Rebel Pilot Eachez.
