Some new “vanity” MagicBands are going on sale at Walt Disney World soon:
Limited release Big Hero 6, 10/24 release
Open edition Christmas, 10/31 release
Limited edition Olaf only at Hollywood Studios, 11/3 release
Limited edition Christmas Party exclusive, 11/7 release
The exact edition sizes and prices for these MagicBands is unknown at this time.
If you are visiting Walt Disney World in early 2015 for the first time since New Fantasyland opened only 2 years ago, we may have some pretty bad news for you…
The Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction will be closed February 2nd through March 6th, 2015 for an extensive refurbishment in which changes will be made to the attraction similar to those made at Disney California Adventure back in May.
Among the changes made to the California attraction were:
All of these changes and possibly more are expected to be made to the Walt Disney World counterpart.
You can see video of the changes made to the California version of the ride in our video:
Goodbye Glow with the Show! Starting with the release of some new interactive, light-up items at Disney Parks, all Glow with the Show technology and the use of it with now be referred to as “Made with Magic”. Shows that offer Glow with the Show currently will be referred to as “Made with Magic” enabled entertainment.
“Made With Magic” items will interact just as Glow with the Show ears have with select experiences at the Disney Parks. The original Glow with the Show ear hat first introduced a few years ago will continue to be offered, but there will also be new items including a Minnie Mouse-inspired headband, a Mickey Mouse glove, and a magical wand before the end of 2014.
The Sorcerer Mickey wand will have multiple light-up functions and will give guests the ability to change the light patterns of other newly-titled “Made With Magic” items. Guests can also place the Made With Magic items in a color-changing demo mode, when they aren’t watching or near a “Made With Magic”-enabled event.
As with the ear hat, all Made With Magic items will interact with experiences at Disney Parks around the world regardless of where the items were originally purchased. Each item will have a retail of $25.00.
Guests should look for the Minnie Mouse headband to arrive in late October and early November in select merchandise locations at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. The Mickey Mouse glove and the Sorcerer Mickey wand will be introduced in late November to early December at those same locations.
If you haven’t seen the Glow with the Show ear hats in action at the Disney Parks, we have several videos in which you can see them at work:
Glow with the Show (now “Made with Magic”) interacts with the following entertainment (some items offered seasonally):
Disneyland Resort
Walt Disney World
Disneyland released an upcoming refurbishment for early 2015 today, and interestingly enough, Luigi’s Flying Tires in Cars Land is listed as closed January 12th through December 1st, 2015.
Rumors have been circulating lately that the ride would be remodeled or replaced with a new, trackless “flat” ride starring Luigi and Guido from Cars, but this is the first confirmation from Disney that the attraction is closing. What exactly is planned is still a mystery, but it would seem that it may be connected to Cars Land clones being developed for other Disney resorts around the world. Rumors persist that part of the overhaul at Disney’s Hollywood Studios would involve Cars Land, or at least some of the offerings from the popular California Adventure offering and it’s likely they wouldn’t want to make any mistakes that they made the first time around by building this ride again. For Disney to invest so quickly in a replacement, there would have to be strong financial reasoning for change, and developing a new ride for multiple locations makes sense.
Luigi’s Flying Tires never scored very well as far as guest satisfaction as the lines were very long for a ride that had a bit of a learning curve to it. Guests were often burnt-out on the attraction after waiting over an hour just to play with the tires for the first time, probably only getting the hang of it just seconds before their ride was over. Luigi’s Flying Tires was meant to finally be the spiritual successor to Disneyland’s ill-fated Flying Saucers from the 1960’s, but it seems it will suffer the very same fate.
To add excitement to the attraction, large beach balls were placed on the ride floor when the ride opened in June 2012. Guests could send the balls high into the air by bumping into them throw the balls at one-another. The balls were unfortunately removed shortly after the ride opened as a few guests who were hit with the balls complained to guest relations cast members. Lines for the attraction dwindled following this removal and they have never quite recovered.
So, is this the end of Luigi’s Flying Tires? It seems so. If you would like to say goodbye to the attraction, you have two-and-a-half months to do so. If you can’t make it, you can relive the experience through our video:
Early in the Summer of 2014, we began speculating that a Haunted Mansion store would be coming to Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. That rumor did in-fact come to fruition as Memento Mori opened just a few weeks ago, but it seems Disney is happy with the merchandise sales for the attraction specific store, enough so to do the same in Adventureland.
The possible home of the “Jungle Cruise store”
Disney has already announced that the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the next attraction to receive its very own merchandise line in early 2015 (titled “Hollywood Tower Hotel Authentic”), but since that attraction already has an exit shop, there won’t be any construction or downtime related to the rollout of that merchandise.
Suspiciously, the Island Supply Co. store in Adventureland closed this week with little-to-no warning. All signs point towards a Jungle Cruise merchandise line being next after Tower of Terror, and this would just be the perfect location to sell the items since it is fairly close to the attraction. Needless to say, the store will probably stock the incredibly popular Adventureland line of housewares from Marketplace Co-Op, but we should see many new Jungle Cruise (and maybe even Enchanted Tiki Room) specific merchandise items when the store comes back into operation.
The Adventureland housewares at Marketplace Co-Op
No re-opening date for the store has been posted, nor has Disney made any announcement of a Jungle Cruise merchandise line at this time. Our guess would be that the store will re-open before the end of the year, remodeled and carrying the Adventureland housewares, before the Jungle Cruise items are released sometime in mid/late 2015.
Thinking of the Jungle Cruise and many of the amazing sight-gags and one-liners, we can only imagine all of the merchandise opportunities. What do you think?
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Oct. 23, 2014 – The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is getting the largest makeover in its history. The hotel has launched a multi-phase, multi-year, $125 million redesign project that will transform every guest room in the 758-room Swan Hotel and the 1,509-room Dolphin Hotel.
“As we celebrate the hotel’s 25th anniversary, it is appropriate that we mark the occasion with a renaissance of our room product,” said General Manager Fred Sawyers. “Our guests will continue to receive the level of service and hospitality that comes with a quarter century of experience while enjoying a modern new guest room.”
The transformation will occur without disruption to the guest experience as the majority of guest rooms will be available throughout the process. The hotel’s public spaces, restaurants, meeting rooms, shops, pools and recreational areas will not be impacted and remain fully operational throughout the renovation.
Noted hotel and condominium interior design and architecture firm Garcia Stromberg/GS4 Studios, designers of the Conrad Hotel Ft. Lauderdale, the Waldorf Astoria’s Boca Beach Club and One Thousand Ocean condominium in Boca Raton, Fla., created the concept for the new rooms.
The new room design is inspired by the resort’s water-themed architecture. The goal was to create a serene and sophisticated atmosphere.
The guest room features upgraded furniture and all of the latest technology including large HD TVs. Additional power outlets provide corporate executives and family travelers more options for use of multiple personal electronics.
Blending an artistic combination of whites, blues and grays, the design creates a tasteful ambiance that appeals to adults while abstract artwork playfully delights children as well.
The centerpiece of the room is the famous Westin Heavenly Bed with its all-white custom-designed pillow-top mattress set, cozy down blanket, a trio of crisp sheets, goose down comforter and four over-stuffed pillows.
The design continues into a completely new bathroom, featuring a back-lit mirror mounted on iridescent glass tiles.
The project started at the Swan Hotel, with approximately 500 of the 756 rooms redesigned by the end of 2014. The first phase of the Dolphin Hotel rooms will begin in 2015 with the entire rooms project currently scheduled for completion by the end of 2016.
About the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel
In the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, the award-winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is the gateway to Central Florida’s greatest theme parks and attractions. The hotel is located between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and nearby Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Magic Kingdom Park. Guests can discover 17 world-class restaurants and lounges, sophisticated guest rooms with Westin Heavenly Beds and the luxurious Mandara Spa. The hotel features five pools, two health clubs, tennis, nearby golf, complimentary transportation throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, extended park hours, a benefit where each day, one of the four Walt Disney World Theme Parks is open extra time for guests to enjoy select attractions (Valid Theme Park admission and Resort ID required) and the new FastPass+ service, where guests can reserve up to 3 select theme park experiences up to 60 days in advance of their visit. The hotel can be reached at 800-227-1500, www.swandolphin.com or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/swananddolphin.
Evidence continues to mount that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about to undergo a major facelift…
With the Studio Backlot Tour now shuttered and most of the smaller offerings in the Backlot section of the park slated for demolition by early 2015, rumors are now circulating that the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow attraction at the park has only a week left to live. The show opened in December 2012 to fairly poor reviews as most guests expected a full-blown attraction and were instead met with a confusing interactive projection show. In order to combat waits, Disney has offered this attraction by return times only for the past several months. Apparently things have not improved and/or Disney feels the space could be better utilized for something else now green-lit for the park on a verge of a full overhaul.
Rumors still persist that time is almost up for the Sorcerer’s Hat, but other than its usual exclusi0n from merchandise and a single map, there has been no solid information. However, older expansion plans for the park did include the removal of the current park icon, so if an expansion is coming, it would be likely that the Sorcerer’s Hat would finally be demolished.
Stay tuned as we will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will close at the end of the operating day on November 6th, 2014. No other information has been released at this time.
If you’re a fan of Walt Disney World (which we assume you are if you’re reading this site), then you have probably been wishing for the removal of the Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since 2001 when it was erected. Well, Disney confirmed to cast members today that the Sorcerer’s Hat will indeed be coming down in “early 2015”.
Disney’s message to cast members today read:
“We will soon begin to re-imagine the park’s central hub by removing the sorcerer’s Hat in early 2015. As part of that change, the store located underneath the hat will be closing, A closing date will be shared as we get closer to it.”
The Sorcerer’s Hat was erected in 2001 as part of the 100 Years of Magic celebration, but was also used to block the Chinese Theater façade of the Great Movie Ride which Disney no longer had the rights to use in merchandise or marketing materials. Rumors of the Hat’s removal have been swirling for years until now. The removal of the hat is expected to be a part of the remodeling of the park which includes the removal of attractions in the Backlot area such as the already-shuttered Studio Backlot Tour, as well as the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow which closes on November 6th. Rumors indicate that lands based on Toy Story, Star Wars, and Cars are likely for the park in the next few years. However, only time will tell.
WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom last week and has some great, newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
I’m not sure who thought it was a good idea to replace the canopy over the boat dock in the summer…
Halloween party is in full swing already, and the park is decorated for autumn
The furthest edge of the Chapeau façade is being reworked as the corridor behind the building is expected to become a regularly used path every day during parades and fireworks
The re-imagining of the hub at the Magic Kingdom continues
Sweet potato nuggets at Golden Oak are delicious… if it’s actually open
Work continues on the queue at Peter Pan’s Flight
The Seven Dwarfs Mine store is still behind walls
The Astro Orbiter is slowly being put back together and will reopen later this month
The elevator shaft is completely orange
Work continues on the DVC wing and additions at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Guests walking from the TTC will have to take a different path
Some signs around the resort have the new name and logo
A look at the current progress on the bungalows
Work has begun on the pool area as well
The outdoor Dole Whip service window, Pineapple Lenai opened last week, offering dole whip in a Tiki Room souvenir bowl!
Update: We reported earlier that this system would be coming to Walt Disney World beginning in October, but according to the keynote it actually is December 2014.
Earlier today, the world came to standstill as everyone watched Apple unveil the latest and greatest new products for consumers to enjoy. In the announcement, Apple announced a new payment system called “Apple Pay” which allows users to pay using their phones using NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.
Coming to Disney Stores and Walt Disney World Resort beginning in October, guests will be able to use their iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to pay for merchandise, food, and products. Apple Pay will change how you pay with breakthrough contactless payment technology and unique security features built right into the devices you have with you every day. So you can use your iPhone 6 to pay in an easy, secure, and private way.
Now paying in stores happens in one natural motion — there’s no need to open an app or even wake your display thanks to the innovative Near Field Communication antenna in iPhone 6.To pay, just hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID. You don’t even have to look at the screen to know your payment information was successfully sent. A subtle vibration and beep lets you know.
You can learn more about Apple Pay by visiting apple.com. Stay tuned to WDWNT as we learn more about this and bring you the latest news on Apple Pay at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Editor’s Note: As a huge Apple fanboy that I am, I will be following this very closely and using it when it launches.
