CONCEPT ART: Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs to Become An Observatory

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

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Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs is indeed stripping away its globe theme to become a turn-of-the-20th-century observatory, as has been rumored for some time. Planet Hollywood released the new artwork for the conversion this evening to media. The restaurant’s name is also changing to Planet Hollywood Observatory.

The restaurant will continue to feature movie and TV props, but the interior will be changed to a planetarium with stars and constellations on the ceiling above guests.

The remodel will be completed in 2016, but no word has given yet on when the work will commence.

Many establishments coming to Disney Springs are being modeled after shops and restaurants that would fill the space of abandoned businesses. Morimoto Asia will be in the Springs Bottling Co. building, while the Boathouse occupies a former waterside home (all in backstory of course, these are new or remodeled buildings from Downtown Disney).

New Disney Parks Collection PANDORA Jewelry Coming in March 2015

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Some new charms items from the Disney Parks Collection | PANDORA, will launch in multiple merchandise locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts on March 12. The new charms will join the previously released jewelry collection that features hand-finished .925 sterling silver and 14K gold charms inspired by some of Disney’s most beloved characters and icons. Here’s a preview of some new items created especially for Disney Parks.

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Two charms will be released that were inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland park and Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park. These sterling silver dangle charms, which make great keepsakes, feature the resort destination name on the bottom of each castle.

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This spring collection will also include a sterling silver and teal enamel charm featuring Mickey’s Fun Wheel from Disney California Adventure park. A popular charm, however, is a sleek sterling silver geometric sphere that resembles Spaceship Earth with a monorail from Epcot.

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Guests should also look for a Minnie Mouse charm that is similar to the “Mickey Mania” charm released last fall. The sterling silver openwork “Minnie Mania” charm has colorful red, light yellow, black and white enamel details.

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Black and red enamel Mickey and Minnie Mouse icons are also pictured on a sterling silver safety chain with enamel hearts. For those who may not be familiar with a safety chain, it’s a stylish and practical way to keep your charms secure on your PANDORA bracelet. To use, simply thread one end on the bracelet first, add your charms and then thread the other side of the safety chain on the end of the bracelet to secure.

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The best places at Disney Parks to find PANDORA jewelry are at La Mascarade d’Orleans in New Orleans Square in Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort, and at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

Guests will also find an additional jewelry charm designs from the spring 2015 Disney | PANDORA Jewelry Collection at select Disney Parks merchandise locations and at PANDORA stores throughout North America.

Select charms will also be offered on the Disney Parks online store at http://www.DisneyStore.com/PANDORA.

New Cinderella Coach Popcorn Bucket Coming to Disney Parks

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Just in time for the release of Disney’s live-action film Cinderella in March, a new premium popcorn bucket in the shape of Cinderella’s royal coach is coming soon to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort.

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This specialty souvenir will also be available at the Disneyland Resort later this spring.

Since it looks like Fairy Godmother has turned a popcorn scoop into Cinderella’s carriage, you’ll never have to worry about being late to the ball, because now you can take your royal coach with you.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

Added Park Ticket Security Measures Being Tested That Will Require A Guest Photo; Full Roll Out Expected Next Week

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Turnstiles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are currently testing a new theme park ticket security measure. Should a guest’s bio-metric scan at the turnstiles fail multiple times, they will be taken to guest relations where they will be asked a few quick questions about their ticket (Is this your ticket? What is the name on the ticket? How many days is this ticket good for? ETC.). After these questions are answered (and it is validated that this is the guest’s ticket), a picture of the guest will be taken and attached to their ticket. This will ensure that if the bio-metrics should fail again, the cast members at the next turnstiles the guest uses will be able to identify that the ticket is indeed theirs. A similar system is in widespread usage at the Disneyland Resort already.

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With the success of the test, these procedures should roll out to all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks in early March.

Drik Wallen & Brian Carey’s 3/2/15 WDW Photo Report (Polynesian, Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Let’s catch up with what’s new and exciting at Walt Disney World with some photos from our reporters taken in the last week or so:

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The Polynesian Resort bungalows look just about ready

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Work is also wrapping up on the villas as we have less than a month until opening

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Rock work has appeared on the remodeled volcano pool

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The kids water-play area looks like a lot of fun

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Moving to the Magic Kingdom, some of the Main Street facades are still behind tarps

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Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is still closed for a few more days for modifications

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The refurbishment of the Castle continues

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Moving on to Downtown Disney/Disney Springs, new planters and lights seem to be going in all over the place

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Beautifully Disney has closed in the Marketplace Co-Op, to be replaced with Wonderground Gallery

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A new Margarita bar is being built in the Marketplace

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Work continues on the Boathouse, which will open soon in The Landing

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They are enclosing the hangar restaurant

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St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Eachez Vinylmation now for sale at D Street

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Some of the planters by Planet Hollywood have come out from behind walls

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The escalators and stairs that will take guests out of the Orange parking structure are almost finished

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Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC recently opened in The Landing

 

This is the samecompany that operated Babycakes inside the Pollo Campero building

Dirk Wallen’s 3/3/15 WDW Photo Report (Hat is Gone, Toy Story Mania Expansion, Haramabe Marketplace, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom this week and has some great newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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NO MORE SORCERER’S HAT

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Neverbeast banners up in the Animation Courtyard

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Also, an ad for Big Hero 6 on Blu-ray

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A Tomorrowland billboard has gone up by PIXAR Place

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An Inside Out billboard at the other end of the street

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Still no signs of life at the Backlot Tour

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A Cinderella billboard behind the Great Movie Ride

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After years of waiting, walls are up outside of Stage 1, possibly the home of a third Toy Story Mania track

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Moving over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, walls have engulfed what was the Island Merchantile pin cart

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Work continues on Rivers of Light

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From Everest, you can see the vertical construction of AVATAR

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Also, the prep work for Rivers of Light

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We assume the need to run pipes through the viewing area is for some water effects that will take place in the audience, similar to World of Color

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Work continues on revamping the entrance to Kali River Rapids

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Work continues on the new Africa Marketplace area, including the Harambe Marketplace restaurant

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Some of the buildings in the marketplace are nearing completion

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A look at the AVATAR construction walls… still nothing to see here

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And one last look at Rivers of Light construction

PHOTOS: Star Wars Weekends Merchandise Event Announced, First Items Previewed

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

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Similar to last year’s Rebel Rendezvous event, Disney will be holiding a special merchandise event on the day before Star Wars Weekends 2015 kicks off at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The “Galactic Gathering” is happening on May 14th, 2015 from 10AM until 3PM, costs $250 for registration, and includes:

  • ‘Rebel’ or ‘Empire’ retail MagicBand (Guests can choose their side when registering online)*
  • Commemorative trading pin*
  • Darth’s Mall Light Speed Pass which gives expedited entry into Darth’s Mall for all five weekends.*
  • First opportunity to pre-purchase select merchandise including personalized Aurebesh nametags, D-Tech phone cases, Dooney & Bourke handbags, Galactic Gathering Disney Gift card, retail MagicBands, limited edition pins and Vinylmation.
  • First opportunity to purchase the new designs of Star Wars-themed Disney Gift Cards.
  • Han Solo-inspired popcorn bucket with popcorn.

Registration will begin on March 4 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on http://www.DisneyParksMerchandise.com.

The only item exclusive to attendees (provided items do not sell out at this event before general public gets toshop the next day) is a pin with the event logo. Everything, including the Han solo popcorn bucket, will be available starting on the 15th at Darth’s Mall.

Here’s a look at the 2015 merchandise previewed today:

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2015 Event Pins

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Event pin mystery set

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Vinylmation, toys, and Galactic Gathering event exclusive pin

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New Star Wars Disney character medium figs

Disney also confirmed that there will be new D-Tech Me offerings including a Jedi Knight and a TIE Fighter Pilot.

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid Ride at Magic Kingdom Re-Opens with Significant Changes

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

After being closed for a little over a month now, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid at the Magic Kingdom re-opened yesterday with all of the changes we reported would be on the way several months ago:

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 A lot of black light is used in the ride now, and static fish figures have been added in some places

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The Under the Sea sequence uses a lot of black light now, used to hide the lighting rigs and such above

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 There are also some static fish figures hanging in this section of the ride now

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The human figures in the later scenes also received “real” flowing hair, opposed to the old rubber hair they once sported

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Here’s our video of the ride with the changes in place:

BREAKING: Disney Confirms Expansion of Soarin’ and Toy Story Midway Mania at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Walt Disney World is expanding two of its most popular attraction in an effort to lower guest wait times.

As rumored, the Stage 1 building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be home to a third ride track for Toy Story Midway Mania. Disney has still not confirmed any rumors about a Toy Story Land for the park, but this may be the first step in the expansion.

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Not only will Soarin’ at Epcot add a third theater, but the attraction will also complete the digital conversion currently being installed at Disneyland, possibly in preparation for a new version of the ride coming in the next few years.

Disney has stated both projects will be completed by late 2016.

PHOTOS & VIDEO: A Look at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

The 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival has begun and we have some coverage of this year’s event to share with you today!

First up, WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty shares hundreds of his photos of the character topiary figures, playgrounds, and more:

We also have two videos to share with you, the first showing off some of the topiary characters at this year’s festival:

Second, there is a garden celebrating the upcoming PIXAR film Inside Out:

Reviews of all of the kiosks and a full rundown of the event can be found on an upcoming episode of the WDW News Today Podcast. More videos will be uploaded over the course of the next week as well, so stay tuned!