PHOTOS: A Look Inside the Trolley Car Cafe Starbucks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

The Trolley Car Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios may not be set to open until next month, but we are taking a look inside the new Starbucks location for the first time today…

 

The facade still looks great and thankfully the patio crammed with plush is no more

The sign mirrors the decorative paint scheme you would find stemming from the light on the front of the Trolley

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The vintage style Starbucks sign was added just a few days ago

 

Menu displays are up as well

 

Great to see neon signs still being made for this section of the park

 The new wrought iron is great too

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Looking inside, the back wall against Sunset Boulevard is the service counter, with guests entering through the front on Hollywood Boulevard and exiting through the side door at the intersection of the two Boulevards

It looks like just some interior decorating and training remain before we see the Trolley Car Cafe open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Kali River Rapids Ride Entrance To Be Relocated During Upcoming Refurbishment

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

Guests always seem to be confused about how to get to Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, so Disney is going to be making it a little easier for them to find it…

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The former home to the old FastPass machines for the ride will be the new attraction marquee and entrance when the ride returns from its refurbishment scheduled from January 20th through February 9th, 2015. Hopefully this will help guests locate the attraction easier than the more subtle signage and location in use today at the park.

VIDEO: Tinker Bell Takes Flight, Guests Play with Shadows, and Clapping Creates Pixie Dust in New Peter Pan’s Flight Interactive Queue

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

A few weeks back, we took you on a tour of the new standby queue at Peter Pan’s Flight at the Magic Kingdom. Well, earlier today, some of the interactive elements were turned on for guests to enjoy. In the following video, you’ll see Tinker Bell fly around and move items in the room, guests interacting with their projected shadows on the wall, and guests clapping to create a storm of Pixie Dust all over themselves (and me):

Today marked the first test of the interactive elements in the queue and many members of Walt Disney Imagineering were on hand to see guests play with the items for the first time. The queue should officially open on a permanent basis once this test and adjust period is over in a few days.

So, what do you think?

New Disney Springs Concept Art Released, Restaurant Opening Dates Updated

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

Disney recently made some brand new concept art (and some we’ve seen before) for Disney Springs available to the public, so let’s take a look and see what’s on the way:

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This is the former site of Comedy Warehouse

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The former BET Soundstage and Adventurer’s Club

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The bridge that connects Town Center to The Landing, heading towards Morimoto Asia

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Inside of The Landing between BOATHOUSE and Morimoto Asia, facing the latter

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Inside fo the Town Center, facing towards The Landing

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The main avenue of The Landing, including Paradiso 37

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The new shops across from the park in The Landing

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The still unannounced “hangar” restaurant with a boat shaped outdoor seating area, across from Paradiso 37

As well, Disney updated some of the opening dates for the three announced restaurants in The Landing:

  • The BOATHOUSE – Spring 2015
  • Morimoto Asia – Summer 2015
  • STK Orlando – 2015

BREAKING: New Shops Confirmed for Disney Springs at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

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The first new shops coming to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World, specifically in The Landing later this year, have been formally announced by Disney:

  • APEX by Sunglass Hut – offering the latest in sports and activewear sunglasses.
  • Havaianas – specializing in a wide array of flip-flops, including a station where Guests can create their own flip-flops.
  • Art of Shaving – premium shaving shop offering grooming essentials.
  • Sanuk – creatively inspired and distinctively designed footwear.
  • Chapel Hats – specializing in hats and headwear.
  • Sound Lion – offering the latest technology in headphones, ear buds, speakers, wireless music players and other digital sound and music products.
  • Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC – gluten-free, vegan bakery.

PHOTO: Mickey’s Hand Vanishes from the Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

We’ve been tracking the demolition of the Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios daily on twitter, but I thought today might be a good day to share a photo on the site:

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As you can see, the front of Mickey’s hand is gone, but so is most of the hat above the brim. The demolition is expected to still take a few more weeks, but following that, it is rumored that a permanent stage ill take the place of the Sorcerer’s Hat. Only time will tell…

Tom Corless’ 1/22/15 Magic Kingdom Photo Report (Hub Construction, Barnstormer Queue, Polynesian DVC, ETC.)

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

I took a trip to the Magic Kingdom this past weekend to see the new Peter Pan queue in action and managed to take some photos of some other newsworthy things happening around the park right now:

 

The entire back section of Uptown Jewelers is closed, likely Pandora jewelry related

New “it’s a small world” fleece throw

New attraction poster magnets

Island Supply Sunglass Hut opened in Adventureland recently

Even though it has closed yet, some of the new black-light elements coming to Under the Sea have already been installed

The covered extended queue at the Barnstormer was recently completed

There are some cool details on the coverings

Another reference to the original Barnstormer

The back section of the main circle in the hub is now closed off and the Partners statue behind walls

Progress as seen from the Tomorrowland bridge

The old production booths near the Castle are going to be replaced, so a temporary booth is going up

Walls are up around the old booths

Another look at the center

The castle stage shows will go dark for a few weeks as well

Water features now being installed on the Adventureland side

Walls also up in front of the train station for some reason

The entrance arch for the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows has gone up

VIDEO: New Winter Version of the Main Street Trolley Show Debuts at Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

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Several seasonal version of the Main Street Trolley Show at the Magic Kingdom have popped-up over the last few years, including Summer, Fall, Spring, and a Holiday version, but now there is a “Winter” edition of the show for guests to enjoy. Expected to run until March, the new show features the beloved “Walkin’ right Down the Middle of Main Street U.S.A.” song, but also unexpectedly features a song from Disney’s Enchanted (which I don’t think is a bad thing):

 

What do you think?

Walt Disney World Ticket Price Increase Coming; Water Park-Hopper Option Being Added; “No Expiration” to be Discontinued

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

To no one’s surprise, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort ticket prices are expected to see a small increase again in mid-February 2015. No exact pricing could be obtained yet, but some interesting changes coming to tickets were discovered.

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Hollywood studios ticket booth circa 2010

A Water Park-Hopper ticket add-on will be introduced. At the very least, this will be an option for single-day water park tickets, but it may also be available as an add-on for other tickets as well.

The largest change will be the discontinuation of the “no expiration” ticket option, which allows you to keep an unused days on your Disney Parks tickets. Obviously, those who already have this option on a ticket will still have them honored, but the option will no longer be given to guests come next month.

We will provide more information on these ticket changes as they become available.

Dirk Wallen’s 1/26/15 Disney Springs Photo Report (BOATHOUSE Construction, Signs Go Up, ETC.)

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney over the weekend and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on the Marketplace bridge

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Some new pins were released this week, including Mardi Gras…

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President’s Day…

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And Valentine’s Day

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Signs on the shops around the Landing have indeed started to go up, beginning with Chapel Hats

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Scaffolding has come down at the BOATHOUSE

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Work is wrapping up out by the dock for BOATHOUSE as well

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The “hangar” restaurant is still unannounced

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But we can see there is an outdoor seating area disguised as a suspended boat

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Work on the shores of the West Side continue, just across from Starbucks and Harley Davidson

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From upstairs at Planet Hollywood, we can get a good look at the work on the Town Center and the finishing touches for the Orange parking structure

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By 2016, the Town Center will be standing in this space