Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom To Be Closed All Summer Due to Safety Concerns

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

We kind of knew this was coming, but it seems Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom will be closed May 11th through September 25th, 2015.

Photo by Joe Hogarty, WDWNT.com

Photo by Joe Hogarty, WDWNT.com

A two day refurbishment of the attraction this week allowed Disney to assess issues with the new boats & the ride track and create a game plan to fix the system, removing safety concerns.

Last summer, a guest who had his hand outside of the boat lost tips of his ring and pinky fingers as the then-recently installed new boats rubbed against the older ride track. Guests were not permitted to sit in the last row of the Pirates of the Caribbean boats on either coast as Disney investigated the issues.

Beyond safety concerns, the new boats have been problematic with many taking on water or severe damage while riding along the ride-path. Guests have complained about getting much wetter on the ride than in years past, as the boats roughly passed through the turn in the track following the ride’s one drop.

Rumors have also insisted that some scene changes were coming to the ride in late-2015/early 2016, so it is unclear if any of those changes will be made now or wait for another refurbishment down the road. We’ll just have to wait and see on that.

WonderGround Art Gallery to Expand in Marketplace Co-Op This March, The Sign Shop Being Added

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

Last summer, the Marketplace Co-Op opened at Downtown Disney Marketplace in Florida. This flexible space location serves as a testing ground for new retail shop concepts, products and guest experiences. Shortly after it opened in June 2014, a small fixture was added that featured products from the WonderGround Gallery at Downtown Disney District in California. The WonderGround Gallerysectio of the store will be expanding beginning in early March 2015, into the space that formerly belonged to Beautifully Disney.

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To celebrate this newest addition, you’re invited to attend a grand opening event on March 6-7. A few artists will be making appearances both days including Jasmine Beckett Griffith, Robert Jimenez and Jerrod Maruyama.

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Moving into WonderGround Gallery’s former space is The Sign Shop, which will carry an assortment of Disney Parks-inspired signs similar to ones offered at Disney Centerpiece and at select Art of Disney locations. Some new items will be released including a Hollywood Tower Hotel sign by Disney Design Group Artist Richard Terpstra, a mermaid image by Tony Harris, and some unique photography pieces by Michael Lewis Glover (he will also be attending the grand opening weekend).

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Make it to the Grand Opening event on March 6-7 if you can!

PHOTOS: First Section of New Magic Kingdom Hub Opens to Guests

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

The first section of the new Magic Kingdom hub opened to guests this afternoon, revealing many months of work that has gone into turning the old waterway space into expanded paths and nighttime show viewing space for the park:

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The side of the hub with Casey’s Corner is now open to guests, no word on when the other side might open

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I would think this is hub west since it faces west, but this sign isn’t helping

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The area with AstroTurf will be used for FastPass+ fireworks viewing

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Wishes! is presented by Pandora jewelry, so the sections is sponsored as well

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Some railings are still missing today

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A great fountain flanks both sides of the hub now

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The smaller hub statues that once surrounded Partners are now spread out around the hub

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Lots of path space to make traversing the park easier

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A look back at the viewing area

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The views of the Castle from the section are really nice

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Some more railings that need to be installed

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WHICH HUB IS IT?!?!

ARTWORK & VIDEO: Disney Reveals AVATAR-Land Model & Gives First Look at Bio-luminescent Plants

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

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During a recent meeting with James Cameron, the team at Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Parks management showed Cameron the latest progress on the AVATAR land being built at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Above you’ll see the latest model for the land, and below you’ll see a video where Cameron take s a look at some of the nighttime bio-luminescent effects guests will find in the land:

If you look closely around the 0:11 mark, you’ll see artwork for some sort of drummer entertainment group for the land in the background. Besides that, there is a lot of blurred-out or hard to see plans hanging on the walls behind them.

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What we can see looks pretty interesting. What do you think?

Sunglass Hut Stores Coming to Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Water Parks

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

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The Island Supply Co. in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom will now be a Sunglass Hut location, beginning January 8th. The store closed in the fall and was rumored to become a Jungle Cruise attraction shop, but apparently it was just for this Sunglass Hut takeover.

Similarly, Singapore Sal’s at Typhoon Lagoon will also become a Sunglass Hut location, renamed “Sal’s Shades”. More locations may be on the way after these two open in the coming weeks.

Sunglass Hut remodeled their Sunglass Icon Downtown Disney location into their flagship store back in 2011.

RUMOR: The Very Latest On Possible Attractions For Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

Earlier this year, we broke the story that the Backlot Tour was closing and rumors of a third track being added to Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since then, rumors have been swirling about what guests will actually find if and when a Toy Story Land comes to fruition in that area of the park (keep in mind we’re not even talking about the other 2/3 of the Backlot area that should be cleared for other projects yet).

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At Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, the Toy Story Land is made up of three attractions: RC Racer, Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin, and Green Army Men Parachute Drop. If rumors are true, only RC Racer from that group will make it to Walt Disney World.

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RC Racer is that one existing attraction that will be coming over to Hollywood Studios. The steel shuttle coaster launches guests back and forth, up and down the 80 foot tall track on what looks like orange Hot Wheels track.

Since Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree has tested so well at California Adventure, and since the proposed “Cheese the Mouse” version of the ride that would have been in Pixie Hollow in New Fantasyland was nixed, Disney will bring the ride to Toy Story Land as “Woody’s Round-Up”, where guests will ride with horse-drawn carriages that whip and whirl.

Last but not least, with rumors that Luigi’s Flying Tires at California Adventure will be replaced with a trackless, dancing car ride, the rumblings are that the ride system will be re-purposed for Buzz Lightyear at Walt Disney World. Since it hasn’t been built yet, it’s hard to gauge exactly what this is, but our guess is the dancing system will allow guests to tango with Buzz Lightyear in some way.

This is what we know so far and none of this information is official or even close to official (and anything not already under construction is always subject to change) and no announcement of this project is expected from Disney until at least August 2015 at the D23 Expo.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Pirates of the Caribbean Authentic, Orange Bird Plush, & More Coming to Disney Parks Stores in 2015

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

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Disney today previewed many new merchandise lines and items that will be introduced at the Disney Parks in 2015, including the Polynesian Village tiki god mini-figure with flickering light torches pictured above.
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I know many of you will also be excited to see more Orange Bird merchandise, including this 7″ plush. Other items will include salt and pepper shakers,

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A line of dolls based on Disney attractions will launch next year, called Atttactionistas. The line will launch with many dolls including Mad Tea Party and Haunted Mansion dolls.

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More limited release t-shirts are coming to the Disney Parks online store next year.

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Like the Haunted Mansion in 2014, Pirates of the Caribbean will get an entirely new merchandise line in 2015.

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Later in 2015, limited release nutcrackers themed to park lands and attraction will debut.

Closing Date Announced for The Sorcerer’s Hat

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

The Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be closing forever on January 7th, 2015. The final day for the icon and the store underneath is January 6th. Pins and pin related merchandise will be relocated to Sunset Ranch on Sunset Boulevard at that time.

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The Sorcerer’s Hat is being removed for a redesign of the park’s central hub. No further details are available at this time.

Backstage Tales Tour Replacing Backstage Safari at Animal Kingdom

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

Backstage Safari tour at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be retired Feb. 27, and an enhanced version of the tour will debut March 1 as Backstage Tales.

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Backstage Tales will give Guests the opportunity to experience behind-the-scenes tales and “tails.” During this in-depth program, Guests will get an insider’s look at the innovative ways Disney is meeting challenges in areas such as conservation, animal nutrition and medicine, animal care and behavioral studies.

Guests will:

Visit the Animal Nutrition Center and see how more than 3 tons of food are prepared and distributed each day.

Go behind the scenes and explore a backstage animal-housing area.

Tour the state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, where they may witness animals being treated.

Stop by the Animal Programs Administration building and learn how Disney promotes global wildlife conservation and animal well-being.

Backstage Tales, which joins Wild Africa Trek as a premium experience at the park, will be offered to Guests ages 12 years and older daily, 7:30-11:15 a.m.

Guests can continue to book Backstage Safari by contacting 407-WDW-TOUR (407-939-8687) for tours through Feb. 27. Backstage Safari is offered every Monday and Wednesday-Friday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.

Guests can book the Backstage Tales tour now.