VIDEO: The “Avengerail” Debuts!
WDWNT Reporter Jeff Lukas caught the MARVEL Avengers themed monorail running around and has a quick video of it to share with us:
Walt Disney World Introduces PhotoPass Plus
The Facebook page for Disney’s PhotoPass had an interesting update this evening:
Capture more memories than ever with Disney PhotoPass+! With Disney PhotoPass+ you can have all your Disney’s PhotoPass Photographer photos PLUS select Attraction photos AND Dining Print Packages – All for one price.
Product Details:
- PhotoPass+ will be sold at PhotoPass view stations located throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.
- With PhotoPass+ you will have digital files of all your PhotoPass photos, Attraction photos, and Dining photos taken within a 14 day visit to Walt Disney as well as Print Packages at select Dining locations.
- Once you arrive home from your vacation, you can view your photos and order a PhotoCD with all the high resolution photos plus a limited license agreement, which allows you to print photos at any local photo processing center.
Participating Attractions:
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Rock ‘n Roller Coaster
- Expedition Everest
- Dinosaur
Participating Character Dining Locations:
- 1900 Park Fare
- Ohana (Breakfast only)
- Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
- Chef Mickey’s
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Tusker House Restaurant (Breakfast only)
- Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
- Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Disney PhotoPass+ Includes:
- PhotoPass+ Card and Lanyard
- A gallery CD with over 400 stock photos
- A unique code to create and order a PhotoCD with all your photos online at DisneyPhotoPass.com
- Print Packages at select Dining locations
- Digital Downloads of select Attractions
All for $199.95
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. I pre-purchased a PhotoCD online before my vacation, can I upgrade toPhotoPass+?
R. Yes, if you pre-purchased a PhotoCD online before your trip you may upgrade your PhotoCD to PhotoPass+ at PhotoPass view stations throughout the Walt Disney World Parks, Downtown Disney, and select Resorts. You will need the name, phone number, and email address that was used to purchase the PhotoCD.
Q. Can I pre-order PhotoPass+?
R. At this time PhotoPass+ will only be available for purchase at the PhotoPass View Stations located throughout Walt Disney World and is not available online or for pre-purchase.
Q. I have a large family—how many PhotoPass+ cards will I receive?
R. Only one PhotoPass+ card will be provided with each purchase. However, multiple PhotoPass cards can be accumulated during your visit, and all of those photos can be added to your account. In order to receive your Attraction and Dining photos, the PhotoPass+card holder must be present at the time of photo capture.
Q. PhotoPass+ is not the right product for me at this time. Will the PhotoCD still be available for purchase?
R. Yes – if you decide that PhotoPass+ is not the right product for you at this time, you can still purchase the PhotoCD.
Q. Can I add attraction and dining photos that were taken before I purchasedPhotoPass+?
R. Unfortunately we cannot add photos previously taken to the PhotoPass+ product. Only photos taken within the 14 day window, which begins on the date of purchase, will be included in your PhotoPass+ package and available for you to add to your PhotoCD.
Press Release – Innoventions VISION House Opens April 22nd
Green Builder® Media Announces Exciting New Project Developments At the VISION House® in INNOVENTIONS at Epcot®, An Exhibit Educating Consumers on the Benefits of Living Green:
Green Builder Media’s VISION House exhibit at INNOVENTIONS in Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort is magically coming to life. Projected to open late spring in celebration of Earth Day, this experiential exhibit will educate and inform visitors on the benefits of green homes and offer sustainable living ideas that INNOVENTIONS visitors can take home to enhance their daily lives. Exponential change, after all, is the result of the incremental improvements made by individuals every day. This is exactly what Green Builder Media, North America’s leading media company focused on sustainable living, had in mind when it launched the VISION House in INNOVENTIONS project in late 2011. “The purpose of the VISION House in INNOVENTIONS is to engender sustainable thinking,” says Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman. “By showcasing advanced green products and demonstrating a wide spectrum of cost-‐‑effective, sustainable choices, the VISION House in INNOVENTIONS provides homeowners with real solutions for contemporary green living. We anticipate that each visitor leaves the exhibit with specific ideas that can help them make their homes and lives more resource efficient and environmentally responsible.”
This week, Green Builder Media announced the addition of new product categories to the VISION House in INNOVENTIONS experience, including:
• Energy efficient windows and doors from Pella
• Hardwood flooring and cabinets from Armstrong World Industries (NYSE: AWI)
• Solar PV Modules from Hanwha Solar (NASDAQ: HSOL)
Inspired by Green Builder Media’s VISION House demonstration series, the interactive exhibit will highlight the major themes of whole-‐‑home automation, energy efficiency, onsite renewable power, water conservation, indoor environment quality, security, integrated multi-‐‑generational design, and durability. As guests tour the home, they will be educated on intelligent products and advanced technologies, such as:
• Electronic vehicle charging station by SIEMENS (NYSE: SI)
• Chevy Volt electric vehicle by GM (NYSE: GM)
• High efficiency heating and cooling systems and controls by Trane and innovative whole-‐‑home
automation system and door hardware by Schlage, both brands of Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR)
• Durable and environmentally friendly exterior systems, including smog-‐‑eating tile roofs, cultured
stone, bricks, permeable pavers, and trim by Boral
• Ventilation solutions to improve indoor air quality by Panasonic (NYSE: PC)
• Water-‐‑conserving fixtures, faucets, showerheads, and home standby generators by KOHLER
• ENERGY STAR certified home appliances by Bosch
• LED lighting solutions by SYLVANIA
After visitors return home, primed with magical ideas to make their own castles more sustainable, they can extend their INNOVENTIONS experience and access ongoing information about sustainable living through Green Builder’s dynamic online, mobile, digital, and social media solutions.
About Green Builder Media
Green Builder¨ Media, LLC is the leading media company in North America focused on green building and sustainable living. With a comprehensive suite of print and digital media solutions, demonstration projects, case studies, online training, and live events, Green Builder Media assists building professionals in preparing themselves for the new green economy and helps homeowners understand how to live more sustainably.
About INNOVENTIONS at Epcot®
INNOVENTIONS is located in the heart of Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Creativity and imagination abound as guests celebrate inspiration and the innovations that improve their lives and expand their horizons. Hands-‐‑on, interactive exhibits allow children and adults to be immersed into ideas that inform, entertain and inspire. For more information about INNOVENTIONS, visit www.innoventions.disney.com.
About VISION House in INNOVENTIONS
Opening this spring, the VISION House® in INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® is a ground-‐‑breaking green show home exhibit presented by Green Builder Media® in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering. This experiential exhibit in the heart of Epcot® highlights the very best in green residential design and sustainable living. Visitors will leave with a greater understanding of green design, technology, and products as well as a host of sustainable living ideas that they can incorporate in their lives the minute they get home from vacation. Sponsors for this exciting project include Siemens, GM, Ingersoll Rand, Boral, Pella, Panasonic, Armstrong, Kohler and Pella.
Ice Skating Coming to Downtown Disney
From Janet Cox of Disney Parks Blog:
Have you ever wanted to ice skate through a winter wonderland, but you live in a warmer place (like sunny Southern California) and don’t own a pair of skates? If so, I have some exciting news for you! Tinker Bell and her pixie sister, Periwinkle, will soon bring a whole new experience to the Disneyland Resort. A new ice skating rink at the Downtown Disney District will allow guests to skate right into the world of Tinker Bell to celebrate the October 23 release of Disney “Secret of the Wings”! The new ice rink will soon begin limited operation, with a grand opening to follow on October 23.
This magical ice skating rink will be located between AMC 12 Theatres and the ESPN Zone, and will invite guests of all ages to glide along to special music and lighting effects. Skates will be available for rent, and helmets and wrist guards will be provided and required for each skater’s safety.
And starting November 12, a special holiday village will surround the rink, with themed chalets where guests can purchase seasonal foods and merchandise. Come stretch your wings and your skating legs at the new “Secret of the Wings” ice skating rink this fall and during the holiday season at the Downtown Disney District!
UPDATE 10/22/12
Helmets will be required for all skaters on the rink
Adam Roth’s 4/4/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
AVENGERAIL!
A look from the inside
The jet-black look is pretty sweet
A beautiful day on Main Street U.S.A.
Work continues slowly on the Castle Walls in Fantasyland
Supports for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train have risen
The little details on Prince Eric’s castle are beginning to emerge
The crane is still on site
It looks like they are trying to age the building a little
Looks like the Mine Train will block the view of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Shingles going on the rooftops in Belle’s Village
Work continues on removing the Tigger Bounce area from the Pooh queue
Posters line the construction walls on the way to Storybook Circus
The extended rock-work at Mermaid is still in the early stages
It looks like the Casey Jr. Splash and Soak Station may be on a spinning platform like a roundhouse
Another look at the Mine Train supports
The remainder of the circus is coming along slowly
Another look at the Mermaid facade
There is a slight gap to correct…
Still a lot of walls…
Water level is a little low… and it’s a little green
The Adventureland Veranda was never so popular
A lot of guests want a Dole Whip
A reasonable line for a Sorcerers window? AMAZING!
The Sunshine Tree Terrace is out from behind tarps
The new sign, with a temporary sun on it
Well, it appears the Little Orange Bird is behind the sun…
Wow, they have food now
And the Citrus Swirl is back
I really want to try some of this stuff
AVENGERAIL!
MAY 4th!
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar Opening Next to Tutto Italia This May
From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:
With an opening set for early May, here’s a sneak peek at Tutto Gusto, the new wine bar adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot that’s sure to be a new World Showcase hot spot.
Gusto takes over the former lobby space of Tutto Italia and extends back toward Via Napoli. The 96-seat Tutto Gusto will be a more intimate space, with décor inspired by an Italian wine cellar with stone walls and floors, and vaulted ceilings and a fireplace in the dining room. Hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The chefs have created a small-plate menu that takes guests on a fabulous culinary tour of Italy. There are six sections and all sorts of wonderful tastes: Affettati (cured, sliced meats); Formaggi (Italian cheeses); Panini(sandwiches); Piccoli Piatti (small plates); Cavatappi (a type of pasta), and Dolci (sweets).
With more than two dozen small plates with everything from a taste of prosciutto de Parma to creamy burrata cheese and mussels with white wine, we can’t wait for a taste. The pasta dishes all are made with cavatappi, a corkscrew-shaped pasta, and include three versions: tomato and bufala mozzarella; shrimp, chilis, garlic and tomato; and arugula, potato, pancetta, tomatoes and asiago cheese. Classic Italian!
More than 200 Italian wines, including sparkling, reds and whites, and beers such as La Rossa, Moretti and Menabrea will be offered. Grappas – a distilled drink made from what remains of grapes after they have been pressed for winemaking – will be another specialty, or just sip an espresso or cappuccino.
Tutto Gusto is part of the Disney Dining Plan.
Earl of Sandwich Officially Opens November 2nd!
From Janet Knox on the Disney Parks Blog:
Earlier this year, I shared that we soon will welcome Earl of Sandwich to the Downtown Disney District at theDisneyland Resort. I know many of you will share my excitement that official Grand Opening Ceremony is set for November 2! We are thrilled since this is the only Earl of Sandwich location in California, and we have many guests eagerly anticipating this new location.
Construction is almost complete, and then comes the fun part – testing out all those delicious sandwiches. Known as the “World’s Greatest Hot Sandwich,” the Earl of Sandwich was created by a direct descendent of John Montague, the earl who invented the sandwich in 1792. Each day, the restaurant bakes fresh artisan bread and roasts meats using traditional family recipes. The restaurant will offer 14 different sandwiches, all priced at $6.99, including The Original 1792, pictured here, with roast beef, sharp cheddar cheese and creamy horseradish. Stay tuned for more details about the restaurant and the grand opening, and be sure to stop by on your next visit!
Landscape of Flavor at Art of Animation Sketches An Exciting Menu
From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:
We got a chance to talk with Michelle Clegg, food & beverage operations manager for the soon-to-open Landscape of Flavors food court at the new Disney’s Art of Animation Resort that debuts next month at Walt Disney World Resort.
They’re still tweaking the menu, but all sorts of creative new items make this the next generation of Disney food courts. Even burgers are “create your own”; you can start with a beef, chicken or veggie burger, and then the kitchen will pile on your favorite toppings (say, pepperjack cheese, pickles, tomatoes, onions and lettuce). But most fun are the four onstage tandoor ovens where chefs will bake bread and roast chicken, shrimp, sausage and acorn squash and other veggies – Michelle says that the roasted acorn squash is her favorite dish at the new restaurant. Tandoors are cylindrical ovens that reach very high temperatures and quickly bake, so it should be a grand onstage show for diners. The real treat is naan, a delicious Indian bread that’s slapped directly onto the oven’s walls and left to bake until puffy and lightly browned, perfect for wrapping all sorts of delicious food.
Mongolian Grill Beef Stir Fry
And the restaurant’s Mongolian grill is another new touch – 3 feet in diameter, the chefs will make everything onstage, from challah bread French toast for breakfast to grilled beef and fish for lunch and dinner.
Shrimp Pasta
Make-Your-Own Yogurt Parfait
Mickey Fruit Tart
Egg White Frittata
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
There’s lot of attention on “better-for-you” options, so you’ll find buckwheat waffles and pasta, multigrain rice, low-fat smoothies, egg white frittatas and make-your-own yogurt parfaits. But it’s all about choices, so there are still pizzas and fries (and chocolate chip pancakes).
French Vanilla Coffee
And we’re excited to see real gelato on the menu, the Italian version of ice cream with less butterfat but bigger flavor. That and a whole menu of coffee drinks, including iced French vanilla, iced mocha, cappuccino, espresso and mochachino. We’ll carpool to the new resort for our 3 p.m. break!
An Aerial View of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Construction – April 2012
Courtesy of Scott Keating and scottkeating.net, we once again have some fantastic aerial photos of the construction of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:
Animation Hall nears completion… looks like the paint stroke is the last thing that needs to be done
The Finding Nemo wings look ready to go
The Lion King wings coming along nicely
The Cozy Cones around the Cars pool taking shape, along with Sarge’s Surplus hut
We can finally see some details emerging at the Little Mermaid wings
The first wings (Finding Nemo) open May 31st! Who’s excited?
A New Fantasyland Aerial Update – April 2012
Courtesy of Scott Keating and scottkeating.net, we once again have some fantastic aerial photos of Fantasyland to share with you:
The former site of Dumbo looks clear and more Castle Walls are rising. Also interesting is that the excess Mermaid rock-work will hide a cast access road.
Gaston’s Tavern is still far behind the rest of the buildings in the Village as some are already getting roof shingles
The old Fantasyland Skyway site has been flattened, so we should see some vertical construction soon
I’d wager that we’ll see waterways and pathways within the next 6 weeks
A special bonus: a look at the ongoing Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment. Looks like all the new track is in place and they are now re-painting the finale scene with the geysers.