Walt Disney World Resort – Page 215

PHOTO: Bill Cosby Bust Quietly Removed from Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on April 3, 2014

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is looking a little empty today…

The bust celebrating Bill Cosby was removed overnight amid allegations and things to which Cosby admitted over the past few months (and more notably over the last 24 hours). It is worth nothing that the empty spot is not where the bust was located, but rather the bust from this spot was moved into Cosby’s spot as Disney found it more favorable to just have an empty pedestal towards the back of the area.

Cosby Bust at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

PHOTOS: New Super-Realistic Character Topiaries Make Early Debut for 2014 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

If you have visited the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival before, you’ve undoubtedly seen the famous character topiaries that are the highlight of the annual event. Well, prepare to see them in an entirely new way in 2014…

Unlike years past, the details of the character will not only be made completely from greenery, but they will be incredibly accurate to every character detail. We were anxious to see the changes to the topiaries when Disney promised they would have a “computer generated look” this year, but I can honestly say, we were not expecting anything like what we saw at Epcot yesterday. These Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs topiaries arrived a little early and give us a great look at what to expect from all of the characters this year.

Just look at the detail in Snow White’s shoe!

Here is what the display looked like last year:

Lady and the Tramp also debuted early and were looking much better this year

So, what do you think of the new look for the character topiaries in 2014?

PHOTOS: Some Recent Merchandise Releases Including More Park Icon Mugs

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

There always seems to be something new to buy at Walt Disney World, so here are a few recently released items we found interesting around the resort:

4 new women’s shirts available

There is an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit print for sale at most Art of Disney locations

In the same vein as the Spaceship Earth mug, Tree of Life and Cinderella Castle sculpted mugs have been released

Both mugs retail for $18.95 each

You can bring home a “stained glass” window from Beauty and the Beast at Art of Disney for $150.00

BREAKING: Star Wars Weekends Expands to Five Weekends & Adds Nightly Fireworks Show in 2014

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

Just announced today by Walt Disney World, Star Wars Weekends 2014 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be expanding to 5 weekends and adding a nightly fireworks show…

The 5 weekends are:

Weekend I: May 16 – 18, 2014
Weekend II: May 23 – 25, 2014
Weekend III: May 30 – June 1, 2014
Weekend IV: June 6 – 8, 2014
Weekend V: June 13 – 15, 2014

James Arnold Taylor will also be returning to host the event.

The nighttime fireworks show is expected to be the same as the show from May the 4th last year, which you can see in this video:

The fireworks show will be presented every night of the event.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on Star Wars Weekends 2014!

Star Wars Weekends Discontinues Popular Hyperspace Hoopla Show

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

Ask anyone what their favorite part of Star Wars Weekends is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the answer is always the same: Hyperspace Hoopla.

Well, that will be no more…

Apparently, the reason for adding the new nighttime fireworks show to the event is so Disney can axe the long-running Hyperspace Hoopla show where Star Wars characters perform in comedy bits and dancing to popular music. According to rumors, the show does not fit the vision that the company has for the Star Wars franchise. In other words, Bob Iger lacks the sense of humor of George Lucas now that Disney actually owns Star Wars.

The cutting of the show may also be for budgetary reasons, but based on the crowds the show has drawn every year, that would be doubtful. Disney has not made a public statement about the show’s cancellation yet, but the news has been broken to cast members.

Please enjoy our video of last year’s show, which in my opinion was the best of the many versions of the Hoopla that have been presented:

So, what do you think? Will you still go to Star Wars Weekends with no Hyperspace Hoopla?

Walt Disney World Ticket Prices Set to Increase Tomorrow

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Walt Disney World Ticket prices will go on the rise tomorrow.

One Day ticket prices will increase by $4 on Sunday, February 23, 2014, with the Magic Kingdom costing $99 and all other parks $94 for a one-day ticket.

There is now word yet on what the increases will be to all other ticket levels, but that should be available on Sunday.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Begins March 9th at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

Disney has announced that the new Festival of Fantasy Parade will debut at the Magic Kingdom on March 9th!

That means we are less than 2 weeks away from the premiere! Who’s excited?

VIDEO: “Bark-O-Lator” Interactive Element Allows Animal Kingdom Guests to Be Like Dug from UP

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

A few weeks ago, the queue for the meet-and-greet experience featuring Dug and Russell from Disney-PIXAR’s UP at Animal Kingdom received a new, interactive element. In the film, Dug speaks through a collar that translates his barks into human languages. Well, guests can now test one of these collars out by barking into the “Bark-O-Lator” just outside of the queue for the meet-and-greet. The device will then give guests a translated dog phrase in English. It seems to have some problems picking up the barks sometimes, but it is a neat little added element when it works. Here’s video of the Bark-O-Lator working and not working:

VIDEO: Lengthy On-Ride Video of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train & New Attraction Details

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

Prepare yourself for on-ride footage and some new details about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coming to New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom:

Disney released video of most of an early run-through of the attraction side-by-side with video of the “pre-vis” of the ride which they use to guide construction of the attraction:

We learned several new details about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train today via the Disney Parks Blog, here’s what we now know:

All of the music in the queue area will be instrumental and is meant to sound as if the Seven Dwarfs are playing it. The song cut from the film titled “Music in Your Soup” is one of the songs that will be in that loop.
The interactive queue will include an area where guests “wash” the diamonds
The queue will also enter the Dwarfs’ vault. We see the door to the vault in the film, but never actually see inside.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will feature FastPass+
The height requirement to ride will be 38″

Joe Hogarty’s 2/20/14 WDW Photo Report (Mine Train, AVATAR, & More)

WDWNT on March 31, 2014

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom on Thursday and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look: