Walt Disney World Resort – Page 226

What’s Old Is New Again With New Disney Parks Toys Coming This Fall

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

No one makes toys like they used to… With a multitude of electronic toys on the market, who doesn’t miss the toys from our childhoods?

Disney Parks will be releasing some super cool retro novelty toys and games this Fall. Penny pinchers can have a little extra fun saving their coins with this new Pluto bank. When a coin is dropped into Pluto’s dish, he licks his plate clean. Kids will have it full of coins in no time, just to see Pluto in action.

Mustaches are everywhere these days, and the Disney Parks are coming out with their own line of Mouse-Staches. These peel-and-stick mustaches come in the Walt Disney style, or the multi-pack of staches from Geppetto, Sully, the Cheshire Cat, Jafar, Captain Hook, and the Hitchhiking Ghosts.

The Disneyvision is a small retro television that measures about 7-inches tall by 5-inches wide. It was designed by the Disney Design Group Artist, Lin Shih. The Disneyvision set comes with six different characters that can be placed into the television. Once the Disneyvision set is turned on, you can control the speed of six built-in LED strobe lights and motion of the characters by turning the dials. This lighting effect makes it appear like the characters are animated.

And finally, there must be something for the Disney Princesses out there. New items are arriving this Fall, including a small rubber ball inspired by an underwater scene from “The Little Mermaid,” a 500-piece puzzle featuring the works of Thomas Kinkade, and a small castle coin bank adorned with Cinderella, Belle, Ariel and Rapunzel.

What cool retro toys will you be picking up in the Parks this Fall?

Gertie the Dinosaur: A History Richer Than Frozen Treats

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

Gertie the Dinosaur: More Than An Ice Cream Stand

By: Brandon Brush

She stands tall and proud in Echo Lake as she munches on a delicious piece of greenery. Guests walk by and look at her with a smile and some even take pictures as they make their way to popular attractions in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While many people see Gertie every day, most don’t realize who she is or what she represents other than an ice cream stand. Gertie the Dinosaur is the first example of “character” animation and a huge inspiration to Walt Disney.

In 1914, cartoon and comic strip artist Winsor McCay of the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune and the Cincinnati Enquirer began working on a new cartoon for his vaudeville act. While this was not his first attempt at animation, this would be the first cartoon he would ever interact with live. Gertie the Dinosaur was a short in which an animated dinosaur would appear on screen and follow the commands of her “master.” McCay would stand by the screen with a whip and have Gertie perform fairly simple tasks such as raising her feet or bowing her head. Gertie even snaps back at her master during the show whereupon she is scolded and begins to cry. Throughout the performance, Gertie faces distractions such as an antagonizing mammoth and a flying lizard.

McCay pioneered many techniques of early animation. The “McCay Split System” required the artist to draw major frames and positions first and add the “in-between” frames later. This helped to improve timing of animation and the technique became widely used by other artists. McCay experimented with registration marks as well. These were marks in the corners of each drawing which would line up and reduce shakiness in the animation. McCay’s animation process for Gertie the Dinosaur has been adapted and improved by many over the years and remains the earliest influence for animators today.

But what really makes Gertie the Dinosaur important is Gertie’s personality. Gertie was one of the first animated characters to ever have emotions in a cartoon. Earlier cartoons focused heavily on sight gags and cheap laughs rather than the idea of character. Gertie inspired many young animators to experiment with character development. Walt Disney was one of the artists inspired by McCay’s work. Disney kept Gertie in mind as he went on to later create characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse.

Walt paid tribute to McCay in a 1955 episode of his “Disneyland” television program called “The Story of the Animated Drawing.” In this segment, McCay’s son Robert and Disney animator Richard Huemer recreated the original Gertie the Dinosaur vaudeville performance and Walt explained the importance of McCay’s contributions to animation and how they essentially founded the industry. During the segment, Walt said, “Winsor McCay’s Gertie and other animation novelties stimulated a great public interest and created a demand for this new medium. This, in turn, encouraged other pioneers to creative efforts that in time, lead to the establishment of the animated cartoon as an industry.” Walt later expressed his gratitude to McCay by saying to McCay’s son in reference to the Disney Studios, “Bob, all this should be your father’s.” Needless to say, Imagineers found a great way to honor Gertie in 1989 during the construction of their third Florida theme park.

Today, Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction stands as a larger-than-life tribute to one of animation’s founding artists and characters. We can only hope that Gertie sticks around and doesn’t soon become a character from Pixar’s upcoming project “The Good Dinosaur.”

October’s Downtown Disney’s “Foodtopia” Menus Posted

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

Last week, I wrote about Downtown Disney’s “Foodtopia” event happening all month long in October. Now, the menus for the event have been released!

Below, check out the participating restaurants and their specialized Foodtopia menus:

Bongos Cuban Cafe

Appetizers (choose one):

Ceviche – marinated raw fish in lime juice, red onions, cilantro, and mild jalapeno peppers
Stuffed Potatoes – Fried and breaded mashed potatoes stuffed with Cuban criolla minced beef
Bongos’ Famous Cuban Fried Pork Chunks – Cuban mojo marinated fried pork bites

Entrees (choose one):

The Cuban Tour – A meat lover’s delight! Roast pork, shredded seared beef and shredded chicken; served with green plantains, white rice and black beans
Bongos’ Famous Roasted Chicken – Seasoned roasted half chicken marinated in a lemon juice, garlic, white wine and light tomato Cuban criolla sauce; served with sweet plantains, white rice and black beans
Shrimp with Garlic Sauce – Shrimp sautéed in our homemade Cuban garlic sauce; served with green plantains and white rice
Cuban Style Skirt Steak – Tenderized skirt steak grilled to perfection; served with green plantains, white rice and black beans

Desserts (choose one):

Traditional Cuban Flan
Rice Pudding
Cheese Flan

Crossroads at the House of Blues

Appetizers (choose one):

Skillet of Cornbread with Maple Butter – Jalapeño peppers and cheese
Basil Flatbread – Topped with basil pesto, oven-dried tomatoes with a blend of cheeses
Chicken Wings – Fresh chicken wings fried crispy and tossed in one of three house-made sauces: smoked tomato BBQ sauce, Jamaican style spicy jerk sauce or Buffalo hot sauce, served over house-made cole slaw
Pulled Pork Sliders – Two sliders layered with slow-smoked pulled pork, topped with smoked tomato BBQ sauce and house-made cole slaw, served on a brioche bun

Entrees (choose one):

Shrimp & Grits – Pan-seared jumbo shrimp simmered in chipotle garlic cream sauce layered over a crispy grit cake and served with sweet teardrop tomatoes
Jambalaya – Marinated chicken, white rice, andouille sausage, sweet peppers and roasted green onion in a spicy traditional jambalaya sauce
½ Rack of Ribs – Slow-cooked rack of ribs rubbed with adobo spice covered in smoked tomato BBQ sauce, served with BBQ baked beans and house-made cole slaw
Juicy Lucy Burger – Certified Angus beef and applewood bacon patty stuffed with cheese, topped with crispy pickled jalapeños and chipotle mayo on a brioche bun
Heat Seeker Burger – Certified Angus beef patty topped with pulled pork, pickled jalapeño peppers, buffalo sauce and pepper jack cheese on a brioche bun
Chicken Caesar Salad – Whole romaine leaves sprinkled with Cotija cheese and Caesar dressing served with crostini

Desserts (choose one):

Bread Pudding
Key Lime Pie

Fulton’s Crab House

Appetizers (choose one):

Crab Cake – Jumbo lump blue crab, maque choux, fried green tomato, remoulade
Clams and Mussels – Cedar Key, Florida littlenecks, Prince Edward Island mussels, tomato, spinach, white wine herb butter
Shrimp Cocktail – Jumbo shrimp, classic sauce

Entrees (choose one):

Narragansett, Rhode Island Lobster – 1 1/4-lb. lobster, shrimp, scallop, spinach and mushroom stuffing, toasted bread crumbs
Cioppino – San Francisco fisherman’s stew, crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, market fish, tomato white wine broth
Filet Mignon – Charcoal-grilled, roasted garlic butter, mashed potatoes

Desserts (choose one):

Classic Tollhouse Cookie Sundae
Key Lime Pie
Root Beer Float

Paradiso 37

Appetizers (choose one):

Caribbean Crab & Fish Fritters – Crabmeat, shrimp & fish combined with bell peppers & cilantro, fried to a golden brown and served with a coconut lime dipping sauce
Mexican Chips & Salsa – Fresh corn tortilla chips with house-made fire-roasted tomato salsa

Entrees (choose one):

Beef Burrito – Flour tortilla stuffed with beef, sautéed peppers, squash, red onions, imported cheeses and topped with sweet chipotle BBQ sauce; served with cilantro rice and black beans
Chicken Enchiladas – Corn tortillas stuffed with chicken and topped with mole verde sauce; served with cilantro rice and black beans
Blackened Mahi Mahi Sliders – Served on a toasted brioche bun with fries

Dessert:

Tres Leches

Planet Hollywood

Appetizer (choose one):

World Famous Chicken Crunch – Tender strips of chicken breast with a crunchy sweet coating served with Creole mustard
Zucchini Chips – Zucchini slices lightly battered, deep-fried and served with lemon aioli
Avocado Stack – Avocado, pico de gallo, sour cream, fresh lime juice and corn tortilla chips

Entrees (choose one):

L.A. Lasagna – A California twist to a classic lasagna! Fresh pasta tubes filled with ricotta cheese and bolognese meat sauce fried to a golden brown with garlic cream and tomato basil sauce
Southwest Salad – Fresh grilled chicken, corn, black beans, shredded cheddar jack cheese, diced tomatoes, tortilla strips and chiffonade of romaine tossed in a lime cilantro and peanut vinaigrette
Celebrity BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger – A USDA choice 10-oz. burger finished with hickory-smoked bacon, sweet BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle

Desserts (choose one):

Cool Planet Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich
Key Lime Pie
Planet Hollywood® Original Cheesecake

Portobello

Appetizers (choose one):

Sicilian Eggplant Fries with Tomato basil sauce
House Salad – Radicchio, arugula, fennel, celery, carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red wine vinaigrette
Seasonal Soup

Entrees (choose one):

Cappellini Aglio Olio – Garlic, olive oil, chili pepper
Ravioli Gigante – Handcrafted ricotta- and spinach-filled pasta, tomato, basil, toasted garlic
Milk Braised Pork Shoulder – Garlic mashed potatoes

Dessert (choose one):

Portobello’s Signature Cappuccino Gelato
Panna Cotta
Seasonal fruit
White Chocolate Caramelized Custard

Splitsville Luxury Lanes

Appetizers (choose one):

Cone of Fries – Classic crinkle-cut fries, lightly seasoned and served with chive dip
Loaded Fries – Fries smothered with nacho cheese, bacon, ranch, scallions and love
Parmesan Chicken Tenders – Chicken tenderloins hand-battered with our Parmesan breading then fried and served with ranch dressing
Blazing Chicken – Grilled chicken tenderloins tossed in our spicy Buffalo sauce and served with ranch dressing
Edamame – Steamed and served with kosher salt
Cheeseburger Sliders – Two mini-burgers served with cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, pickle and special slider sauce
California Roll – Rice, Kani Kama crab, cucumber and avocado
Spicy Tuna Roll – Fresh tuna, spicy mayo, cucumber and scallions drizzled with sriracha hot chili sauce

Entrees (choose one):

Pulled Pork – Slow-cooked pork covered with BBQ sauce and served with fries and slaw, made with our special BBQ rub smuggled in from Polk County
Fish N Chips – Mahi Mahi tempura battered and served with fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce
Grilled Salmon with Broccoli – Fresh salmon grilled and topped with mango chutney and served with broccoli and sushi rice
Triple Pepperoni Pizza – Our homemade cheese pizza overloaded with pepperoni
Cheese Pizza – House-made crust, mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce like Mamma Mia used to make
Fiesta Chicken Bowl – Grilled chicken breast and “fiesta” veggies stir-fried in tataki sauce; served with sushi rice topped with avocado and cilantro
Steak Fajita Bowl – Grilled marinated steak served with sautéed red and green peppers and onions, then drizzled with tataki sauce; served with sushi rice and cilantro

Dessert (choose one):

Brownie à la Mode
Root Beer Float

Wolfgang Puck Cafe

Appetizers (choose one):

Garlic and White Bean Hummus – House-made flatbread with olive oil
Classic Caesar Salad – Romaine hearts, shaved parmesan, and goat cheese crostini
Butternut Squash Soup – Roasted red pepper sauce

Entrees (choose one):

Pesto Chicken – Crispy potatoes, arugula salad
Crispy Pork Loin – Shaved fennel, oranges, radishes
Traditional Spaghetti Bolognese – Broccolini, ricotta cheese, parsley

Dessert (choose one):

Florida Key Lime Pie
Classic Carrot Cake
Brownie Sundae

Remember to make your reservations for Foodtopia at least 48 hours before your chosen date; call 1-407-WDW-DINE to make your reservation. Enjoy 3 courses for $30 at most participating restaurants, or $60 for 3 courses at Fulton’s Crab House.

Are you a Disney Foodie? Will you be attending Foodtopia?

Disney Finally Replacing Guest Assistance Cards With New Accessibility Program Beginning 10/9/13

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

Beginning October 9, 2013, Walt Disney World and Disneyland will implement a new program for guests with accessibility concerns in the parks. There have been rumors of a new system coming for the last year or so, and Disney has cited abuse of the program one of the major reasons for the change, especially with recent major news coverage. This has been a controversial topic throughout the community over the last few weeks, with much speculation about what the new program would bring. Cast Members at Walt Disney World have been going through training on the new system, and we managed to get some details on how it will work.

First, I want to go over how the current (until October 9) Guest Assistance Card program works. Many have referred to this as a “front of the line pass,” and that just isn’t really true. Guests with concerns about accessing rides would visit Guest Relations, explain their needs to the Cast Member, and then (if needed) the Cast Member would provide a Guest Assistance Card. The Cast Member would then fill out information on the card such as guest name, party size, dates valid (either length of stay or two weeks), and would then mark it with a stamp (or stamps) outlining the guests needs. There was a stamp for alternate entrances, to provide a shaded waiting area, front row of ride vehicle, and so on. There was also a “green light” stamp that was used for children on Make-A-Wish Foundation trips and provided more immediate access.

The most common use of the card was for alternate entrances. While sometimes these alternate entrances were just the FASTPASS queue (hence people calling it “front-of-the-line access,” despite often having up to 20 minute waits), guests unable to use stairs or who needed a special ride vehicle were often sent to a different load area that often had much longer than average waits. Especially with rides with only one accessible vehicle (like Toy Story Mania, it’s a small world, and Kilimanjaro Safaris), the alternate entrance waits could actually be much longer than the standby line.

Not only did the FASTPASS queue entrance leave the program open to heavy abuse, but the long lines at other alternate entrances caused a very uneven set of experiences for guests. The new system looks to both end (or at least curtail) abuse and create a more consistent experience for all guests.

There are three new systems being introduced to replace the Guest Assistance Card program: the Disabilities Assistance System (DAS), the Wishes Lanyard, and the Readmission Passes (for wheelchairs).

System 1: DAS CARD

On the surface this appears to be what replaces the Guest Assistance Card (GAC). DAS originally stood for “Disabilities Assistance System,” and it is what most people have used to refer to the new program. However, Disney has concerns regarding use of the term “disability” and is looking to change the name before launch to something like “Disney Accessibility System.” Though the final name isn’t known yet, the DAS acronym is expected to stay the same. The card will be similar in size to the previous GAC but will be green instead of red (or blue at Disneyland). On the right half of the card are several things printed (not hand-written):

PHOTO ID & NAME- The process to get the new DAS card will take about 20 minutes the first time because Disney now requires a photo on the card. This is to make sure the person who is meant to use it is actually there. The only exceptions are: A) a parent can have his or her photo taken in lieu of their child’s (the child’s name would still be the one listed), or B) you can refuse the photo altogether, but you must show a valid photo ID (like a driver’s license) upon presenting the DAS at each attraction.
DATE RANGE- DAS cards will last for up to 7 days. If you are staying longer than a week, you must get a new one after the first 7 days.
PARK- A feature staying the same from the GAC: Guest Relations writes which park you received your DAS.
NUMBER IN PARTY- Guest Relations has already lifted the rule that each GAC/DAS can only accommodate a maximum of 6 guests. Now your party size will be printed on the card. However, Disney will still try to limit it to a maximum of 6.
NO STAMPS- Gone are the stamps to accommodate for “alternate entrance,” “front row,” and the like. All DAS cards are created equally.

If you look on the front left half of the DAS card, there is now a contract very similar to what one might find in the fine print on the back of a park admission ticket. Things like “we are not responsible for the weather,” “attractions may unexpectedly close at any time,” and “non transferable or redeemable” are there, plus things like “this does not grant you admittance into the park” and “this is not a FASTPASS; that system is meant to be used in tandem but separately from this system.” At the bottom the guest has to sign the card. That way if a guest is found abusing the system, Guest Services can revoke the privilege for breaking the rules the guest agreed to. Also, in the bottom left corner is a QR code that Guest Services can scan. It will pull up your information the next time you need to get a new DAS card, making it a faster process than the first time. Eventually this should also be linked to your MyMagic+ account, but this is probably still a while off.

On the back of the DAS card, you will find a grid that guests familiar with Universal Orlando’s accessibility system will recognize. There are enough spots for about 30 attractions visits (if you fill them up, you will need a new card), and the columns are labeled “Attraction,” “Posted Time,” “Current Time.” “Return Time,” and “Cast”. The way this works at Walt Disney World is the greeter Cast Member at each attraction (NOT special kiosks, as has been rumored) will take the current wait time, subtract 10 minutes, add it to the time on the clock and tell them to come back at that time to enter an alternate entrance. For example, if the wait at Space Mountain is 60 minutes at 3:00 pm, the guest would be told to come back at 3:50 pm to enter the FASTPASS line. This also works at continuous shows, too: if the next show of Voyage of the Little Mermaid is 2:45 pm but the Cast Member knows the last person in line will get into the 3:15 pm show, he’ll tell the guest to come back for the 3:15 pm show. Again, this is to have the guest wait the actual length of time everyone else is waiting while also accommodating the guest’s needs. The guests can go eat lunch or see a show while they wait for the time to come up, and then come back any time after their return time. Guests can only get one return time for an attraction at a time (just like with FASTPASS). If they have a Soarin’ time, but also want to get a Test Track time, they either have to ride Soarin’ first, or the Test Track Cast Member will cross out and void their Soarin’ time and give them a new Test Track time.

On the “Cast” line Disney Cast Members are going to have a code word of the day at each attraction. For example, At Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Monday might be “Buzz,” Tuesday ”Zurg,” etc. There has also been talk of different colored pens and hole punches in the future. This is all to help combat forgeries.

Disneyland’s system will be very similar except that instead of visiting each attraction for return times, guests will go to a central kiosk where a Guest Relations Cast Member will issue them a time.

System 2: WISHES LANYARD

Previously, Give Kids the World and Make-a-Wish were given Guest Assistance Cards with a green traffic light stamp. This meant “go out of your way to accommodate them as best you can.” For example, at character meet and greets there is no alternate entrance for GACs. However for green lights they would either send them through the exit (if it was an indoor meet) or allow them to go in front of families waiting. Now, they will not get a DAS card but a “Wishes Lanyard” with a picture of the Genie from Aladdin on it. It will also have the guest’s name, date range, and party size on the back, and it will still have the same privileges as the green light stamp on the GAC. The guest will receive the lanyard before arriving at the park (most likely by mail). It’s my understanding there will not be any of these given out on property.

System 3: READMISSION PASSES (for Wheelchairs)

Most queues these days are wheelchair accessible, but there are still about 10 attraction queues in all of WDW that are not. (Most at the Magic Kingdom). Therefore, if guests cannot exit their wheelchairs or stand in those lines for the posted wait time, a Cast Member at the attraction will give them a card about the size of a FASTPASS with a return time (exactly like the DAS), and when they return they’ll be sent in through an alternative entrance. Again, this is to make them wait the time allotted without actually waiting in the queue.

Beginning October 9 any guest showing a Guest Assistance Card at an attraction will have the card taken away and will directed to Guest Relations to get a new DAS card. Due to the backlash Disney has already received, there will be extra security stationed at all Guest Relations for the next several weeks.

As with any changes there will be growing pains. Please remember that the front line Cast Members who are working the attractions or providing cards in Guest Relations are not the people who made these changes. If you try the new system and find it frustrating or have any other issues, please do not take it out on the Cast Members in the parks as they are just doing their jobs.

We here at WDWNT plan on trying out the new program on October 9th and will post about our experience with the new system then, so stay tuned!

Resort Roll-Out Dates Revealed for MagicBand & MyMagic+, Date Given for Full Launch

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

For several weeks now, MagicBands have been distributed to guests at select Disney resort hotels so they could test out all of the exciting facets of the MyMagic+ system. Well, the final roll-out dates have been announced for the remaining resort hotels and we now know when Disney plans to take the system out of the testing phase and finally introduce the world to a new way to experience a Walt disney World vacation…

Currently, you can only get MagicBands if you are staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House Villas, and Kidani Village, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort & Villas, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Riverside & French Quarter, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Testing begins at All-Star Sports, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, the Boardwalk Villas, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort on October 7th. October 14th brings All-Star Music, Disney’s Coronado Springs, Old Key West, Wilderness Lodge, and the Villas at Wilderness Lodge online. Finally, Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa will be the last to begin testing on October 21st.

Resort guests should either receive a mailed invitation or be able to add MagicBands to their reservation through DisneyWorld.com. You will only be invited if you have a room and ticket package at the very least, to the best of our knowledge.

All testing is set to conclude on November 30th, meaning that December 1st, 2013 is set as the hard roll-out date for MyMagic+ for all Disney resort guests. Annual passholders and non-Disney resort guests will continue to use hard tickets until further notice and it remains unclear if those not staying at Disney hotels will ever get one.

“Frozen” Characters Anna & Elsa Meet-And-Greet & New Art Exhibit Coming to Norway at Epcot in November

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

Anna and Elsa from the upcoming Disney Animated film “Frozen” will be appearing at Walt Disney World, in the Norway pavilion at Epcot. Disney also announced today that the long-standing cultural exhibit in the stave church at the pavilion will be receiving a face-lift. The new exhibit opening in November will explore how the culture and beauty of Norway inspired the makers of Frozen.

“Celebrate the Magic” at the Magic Kingdom will ale be adding a scene representing Frozen in November.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more becomes available on these new offerings!

Disney Stuck on the Drawing Board: Project Gemini

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

When we look at the Disney Resorts around the world, it is sometimes hard to wonder what might have been. What could we have seen in the late 1990s other than an empty 20,000 Leagues Lagoon? How different might Sunset Boulevard look if all of the aspects of the Disney Decade came true? Oftentimes Disney guests hear a little piece of the story, or none of the story, leaving rumors to abound and speculation to ensue. In the coming months, my Stuck on the Drawing Board series intends to dig into the facts about these plans, and why stayed on the drawing board.

Project Gemini

In the early 2000s, the Walt Disney Company began looking into ways to revitalize a few of the parks that were either under-performing, had not aged extremely well, or weren’t succeeding with guests. One such park that was moved toward the front of this list was EPCOT. Looking at the park as a whole in the 2000s, a few things stand out: The Living Seas had not yet had any major refurbishment; Horizons had just closed and was in the process of being demolished and replaced by Mission:Space; and the Wonders of Life Pavilion was still operating, but soon to be reduced to seasonal operation. There was a definite need for a major overhaul of Future World– but what?

The simple refurbishment of Future World turned into a major overhaul, complete with a name that would befit even Walt Disney himself: Project Gemini. This concept would completely revitalize the area of Future World, and bring it back to the original edutainment concept for the park. Guests would immediately notice a change in the signage and the overall theme of the land. The Future World name would be replaced with Discoveryland. Imagineering believed that the name Future World placed immense pressure on them to keep coming up with concepts, attractions and technology that was believed to be futuristic. With a name change, Imagineers thought there would be less pressure on them to continue pushing the envelope.

As soon as you walked into EPCOT, you would immediately see the change in the land: trees and shrubbery would replace the vast openness that the park has been known for (as well as the heat exhaustion from lack of shade). The first noticeable change in the setup of the land would be the inability to walk by Spaceship Earth on the left side. This was because of an addition that Imagineers called Time Racers.

Time Racers was to be a thrill ride located within the Spaceship Earth geosphere, based on the theme of time travel. The attraction, sponsored by Microsoft, would essentially be a dark roller coaster attraction with projection screens whizzing past guests. At the time, the former AT&T Global Neighborhood post-show would remain, but that could be due to the lack of a completed plan for the attraction. The closing of the left side walkway of Spaceship Earth was due to the addition of a pre-show and queue lines that would be indoors. Time Racers would essentially spell the end of the iconic omnimover dark ride made famous by Walter Kronkite and Jeremy Irons.

The Discoveryland plan continued with Living Seas being refurbished and themed around The Little Mermaid. This concept seemingly had a place within the pavilion, what with its connection to the sea and its immense popularity even in the mid 2000s. There was also a plan to close and refurbish the Imagination Pavilion to fit the project’s new theme. This was another in a long line of plans for refurbishment that never truly made it past early planning.

One of the more solid plans that was a Junior Autopia in front of Test Track, update the theme of Test Track itself, and add Soarin’ to the park in a pavilion built between the Land and the Living Seas. Soarin’ would have a Florida-themed film. The Innoventions buildings would have been broken up into six different buildings. On one side would be a building themed around expanding technology called Leading Edge, a futuristic restaurant (likely where Electric Umbrella is), and a “future mart” which would replace MouseGear. The other side would feature an Internet cafe, a location for buying futuristic consumer goods, and a “house of the future.” These plans would have seen structural changes as well as pathway changes–much of what we see today surrounding the Fountain of Nations would be redesigned.

What happened to this plan? Why is it not in place today? The answer is money. Money became a serious issue. Rumors persist that after the Project Gemini concept was pitched, it was shot down quickly and sent back to the drawing board with the directions to cut costs. It seems the most expensive piece to the project lied in the redesigned Spaceship Earth, and many Imagineers even wondered if the structure could hold the weight and torque of a roller coaster. Also, there was the issue of logistics– it would be difficult to move construction into the geosphere.

So, in the end, the only piece of Project Gemini that EPCOT received was Soarin’. The attraction was cloned and placed within the Land Pavilion. It did not get its own pavilion, nor did it receive a Florida-themed film. Siemens became the sponsor of Spaceship Earth, not Microsoft, and the attraction stayed somewhat the same, with only minor changes. The Living Seas received a Finding Nemo update, not Little Mermaid, and Innoventions stayed the same. The Imagination Pavilion is scheduled for refurbishment in early 2014, and many believe that some type of Phineas and Ferb attraction will be added.

Though Project Gemini stayed mostly on the drawing board, it is good to look back at this planned-but-never-created idea. Though it may be in the archives, we may never know when Project Gemini, or pieces of it, could come out of the archives.

HANDS-ON REVIEW: New Disability Access Service Begins Operation at Disney Parks

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

There has been a lot of talk lately about the new Disability Access Service (DAS) Program coming to Disney Parks to replace the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC). Last week we gave you detailed information about the new DAS system (please read that post first) and received many questions about how the new program would work. Yesterday the new system debuted and we tried out the DAS for ourselves.

We arrived at Magic Kingdom at park open. I was expecting long lines at Guest Relations and wanted to do my best to avoid those (especially since the whole point of the card is to help those who can’t wait in long lines). The outside of the building was swarmed with Guest Relations Cast, managers, and security, but not many guests. Surprisingly there was no wait at all when we got to City Hall and we were able to go right up to a Cast Member. We explained that we were there because we knew the system had changed and we needed a DAS to replace our GAC. The Cast Member asked what type of concerns we had with waiting in standby queues. After explaining our needs the Cast Member said we did qualify for a DAS and pulled out an iPad to issue the card.

The Cast Member collected all the same information as before with the GAC program: name, number in party, dates of visit. A couple of things have already changed since Cast were originally trained. They have capped the party size at 10 (instead of having it be unlimited as they were told in training). However, they are encouraged to keep the party size at 6 or less and if your party is more than 6 people they will need to see everyone to issue you a DAS for that number. Cast were also trained that the new card would be good for a maximum of 7 days. They have since decided to extend that to 14 days. So, the card will be valid for the length of your stay or 14 days if you’re a local or Annual Passholder. If your length of stay is longer than 14 days you will need to get a new DAS after two weeks.

After entering all of my information the Cast Member then used the iPad to take my picture. This picture will appear on the card to ensure that I am the one using it and I can’t give it to someone else. As we said in the previous post, if the card is for a minor a parent can have their photo taken instead. You can also opt to not have any photo on the card, however, if you choose to not have a photo the card will not be valid for multiple days and you will need to get a new one every day of your trip.

My information, photo, and where the card was issued is all printed on the front of the card. After ours was printed the Cast Member went over the terms and conditions also listed on the front and had me sign the bottom. The Cast Member then also explained how the new system worked and showed us the back of the card where our return times would be printed.

All in all the process of getting the new card took less than 5 minutes. It may take some guests more time, especially if there is a long wait or if they have a lot of questions, but for us, we were ready to try out the new card by 9:05am.

There was only problem…nothing really had a line just after park opening. We headed over to Jungle Cruise where the wait was only 5 minutes. There were several Cast Members at the entrance (including 2 coordinators) and I asked them how the DAS program worked with such a short wait. Since the return times they normally write on the card are 10 minutes less than the posted wait, if the line is less than 10 minutes the guests can go straight in the alternate entrance. In this case, that would be the FASTPASS queue. They said that it would work this way at all attractions.

After grabbing some coffee and breakfast we headed over to Buzz Lightyear. The wait time was 20 minutes so we knew this would be our first return time. Again there were several coordinators at the entrance of the ride and one of them was holding a clip board and pen. We approached him, showed him our card, and he filled it out with a return time and his initials. It was a very quick and simple process. We received a time to come back 10 minutes later. All it took to kill that time was a quick loop on The Peoplemover and then it was time to ride. When we returned to Buzz Lightyear we showed our card with the return time, the Cast Member voided the entry by crossing it out, and we were directed in through the FASTPASS queue.

We were travelling with another guest who was in a wheelchair and were curious to see how queues that weren’t wheelchair accessible would work under this system. Tomorrowland Speedway uses an alternate entrance for wheelchairs so we went there to check it out. Previously we would have just been sent straight in through an alternate entrance. Now, guests in wheelchairs will receive a card that looks similar to a FASTPASS with a return time 10 minutes less than the posted wait. In this case the posted wait was 20 minutes, so we got a card to come back in 10 minutes. When we returned they took the card and directed us through the alternate entrance. Guests in wheelchairs do not need a separate DAS and can enter all inaccessible queues using this system (or wait in the standby line in accessible queues).

After trying out a couple more rides we felt familiar enough with how the program worked, but had a few more questions:

Is the DAS valid at Character Meet and Greets?

The GAC wasn’t valid at any meet and greets. The new card is valid at meet and greets that are more like attractions and have a formal standby and FASTPASS queue. That means you can get a return time with your DAS at Town Square Theater, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Princess Fairytale Hall, etc. The DAS is not valid at informal meet and greets such as Pluto and Marie in Town Square, Dug and Russell at Animal Kingdom, or Wreck It Ralph characters at Hollywood Studios.

What do I do if I am vision impaired since they eliminated the stamps on the cards?

On the GACs they would put stamps explaining specific needs the guest may have. One of these was a stamp for guests who needed a front row seat or alternate entrance due to vision concerns. Unfortunately, these guests will need to explain to the Cast Members at each attraction what their concerns are to ensure they get the correct entrance and seat requirement.

Can I use FASTPASS and FASTPASS+ along with my DAS?

Yes! The DAS program was designed to be used in conjunction with FASTPASS+. Cast Members are encouraging guests to use Legacy FASTPASS (while they still can) and plan FASTPASS+ reservations as much as possible and use the DAS in cases where that isn’t an option.

What if I can’t wait in line at Guest Relations?

Many guests have expressed concerns with the long lines keeping them from even being able to get a DAS. We saw several Guest Relations Cast Members with the iPads used to issue cards coming outside and assisting guests needing cards as quickly as possible. Even when lines were long we saw Cast Members coming outside and helping guests while they were sitting on a bench or in a shady area so they didn’t have to wait in line behind guests who were there for other reasons.

Overall, we had an excellent experience with the DAS. However, I am aware this may not seem ideal for all guests who need assistance. If you believe you need more assistance, explain what you concerns you have to the Cast Member at Guest Relations when they are issuing your card. We saw several examples of families calmly explaining their concerns with the program (especially those with children on the autism spectrum) and getting extra help. Some families received re-admit passes (basically a pass for immediate access to the alternate entrance) or were assisted with FASTPASS+ planning to help ensure their day go as smoothly as possible.

The Cast Members we encountered yesterday were all extremely helpful and patient. They are aware that this transition is stressful for many people and are willing to do anything possible to make sure everyone gets the assistance they need to enjoy the parks. If you have problems with the DAS or unhappy with the changes, do NOT take it out on front line Cast Members. These folks are there to help you and had nothing to do with the system changing.

Dirk Wallen’s 10/9/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The final turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom are being converted to touch-point entrances

Some pavement outside of the Confectionery being worked on

The entirety of Main Street will be repaved in January in preparation for Festival of Fantasy

A few weeks ago, Sleepy Hollow got a new sign and a new name, now the Sleepy Hollow Inn

All of the walls are down around the old Peter Pan restroom area

A new backdrop for the Peter Pan and Wendy meet and greet was revealed

Peter Pan’s Flight is down for refurbishment

It appears that paper FastPass (or legacy if you prefer) is gone forever at Peter Pan’s Flight

Some work going on at Pinocchio’s Village Haus, but the restaurant remains open

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train in New Fantasyland

A look through the wall reveals that the pathway and fence along the ride are finished

The cake cups are still available at Cheshire Cafe, so they must be doing well

A new Madame Leota Haunted Mansion phone case available for the iPhone 5

The Grand Floridian Villas are scheduled to open on the 23rd

Work is wrapping up

The walkway to the older buildings is the last piece to be completed

Until it is done, there are going to be some monorail downtimes daily

BREAKING: Details of AVATAR Land Announced, New Nighttime Show & Attraction Revealed!

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

Very late this evening, Disney decided to reveal to the world the details of the AVATAR project for Animal Kingdom, including the announcement of a new nighttime spectacular and a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris for Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park!

Scheduled to open in 2017, guests will enter the world of Pandora and experience what seems to be two attractions…

First will be a boat ride through the nighttime forests of the planet, sure to be an audio-animatronics extravaganza like Pirates of the Caribbean…

Another attraction will allow guests to board a Banshee and fly through the skies…

Disney didn’t stop at AVATAR projects tonight, also announcing a nighttime show that will take place on the Discovery River. The new show will combine live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery to delight guests and truly cap off their day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Also announced was that there will be a nighttime version of Kilimanjaro Safaris for guests to enjoy!

Live evening entertainment will also be added to the park, like that seen in the above concept art. We can also assume new nighttime lighting on the Tree of Life will be added like you can also see in the concept art above.

No more information is available at this time, but you can expect we will keep you updated as more becomes available on this breaking story!

So, what do you think? Are you excited about all of these additions to Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

Category: Walt Disney World Resort

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BREAKING: Details of AVATAR Land Announced, New Nighttime Show & Attraction Revealed!

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