Robert Ashburn’s 4/12-13/12 Epcot & Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 19, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited Epcot and the Magic Kingdom this weekend, and he took plenty of photos from both parks to share with us:

Test Track graces the maps during its final days

You still have a month to check out the Flower and Garden Festival

Habit Heroes and the soon-to-open VISION House on the signage inside Innoventions

Still closed…

The VISION House still behind walls

Opens April 22nd, but we’ll have media coverage beginning April 21st

Habit Heroes and VISION House are both not on the wall yet

The ImageWorks at Imagination! looks empty since the new company took over

Amazing Pictures is now in charge of this photo location

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Work continues on the facade of the Seas with Nemo and Friends

This seperate and elevated piece of pavement will take guests to a new queue area for Turtle Talk

A new whole in the facade will be the entrance for Turtle Talk

Inside the queue, a new enclosed area is visible, this will be the Turtle Talk queue

Today was the last day for the original Test Track, it closes tomorrow for refurbishment

MouseGear has an entire section of Phineas and Ferb merchandise

An interesting new shirt

Sorry Oswald, but I like the classic character shirt…

Pretty cool!

Some new shirts with a tropical theme

The “unfriend” shirt is pretty brilliant

A new EPCOT Center shirt

The Southwest Black Bean Flatbread is a fairly new offering

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, the tarps on Center Street are gone

It looks great

Plaza Ice Cream is back after a lengthy refurbishment

The menu is pretty much unchanged, but the interior was spruced up

A short line for Sorcerers? Wow…

The new menu at Sunshine Tree Terrace

The torches were turned back on after years of just sitting there, which is a very good thing to see

The flash shows the great job they did repairing the facade

The Avengerail passing through the Contemporary

Concept Art Previews New Queue, Marquee, and Logo for Epcot’s Test Track

WDWNT on April 19, 2012

With GM Test Track closing at Epcot yesterday for a 5 month refurbishment, Walt Disney World wasted no time updating their website with concept art for Test Track presented by Chevrolet, schedule to open October 1, 2012:

The concept art shows the familiar blue vehicles we have seen appearing at the attraction for the last several months, but also shows the logo on the new marquee that will appear outside of the building. Upon closer inspection, you can see a rendering of guests using touch screens to create their own “SimCar” in the Chevrolet Design Studio, the planned queue/pre-show portion of the updated attraction. We assume that the lounge with concept cars in it seen in the upper left corner is the remodeled sponsor lounge in the top floor of the pavilion that looks into the attraction. The rendering in the upper right corner could be a show scene during the ride or the new post-show area where guests see how their “Sim Car” fared on the course, but it is too early to tell.

Whatever the case may be, stay tuned as more becomes available on Test Track presented by Chevrolet.

Jeff Lukas’ 4/15/12 Downtown Disney Photo Report

WDWNT on April 19, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Jeff Lukas visited Downtown Disney on Sunday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

They are pretty much rebuilding the entire top portion of the building

Concept art of what it will look like when completed

The conversion of this section to the Lava Lounge has begun

The signage around marketplace was freshened up not too long ago

I can’t believe this is still open…

The former trading area outside of Disney’s Pin Traders is now a Ridemakerz demonstration area

New shirts with the fab five…

It’s a bit strange that Goofy looks modern and the others have a more classic look

Some new tropical-themed shirts

Phineas and Ferb shirts

New Pirate shirts

I really like these 2012 shirts

Weird…

That’s funny…

Still cool…

Still closed…

KUNGABUSH!

One fo the few things open in Pleasure Island

This is scary…

I hope so…

Blink by Wet Seal opened recently

No visible changes to the Splitsville facade

PEOPLE!

Adam Roth’s 4/15/12 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on April 19, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot to say goodbye to Test Track on Sunday and while he was there, he took plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Habit Heroes – Still closed

Some portions of it are now behind a large curtain

I don’t think so

The original Test Track is now gone…

They wasted no time removing the infamous Test Track pizza truck

The Odyssey building is slowing getting a blue paint scheme

All of the water features in Canada were off

Shoes?

Still can’t get used to this weird sandy patch in front of the Seas with Nemo and Friends

You can see where the new pavement begins

No visible progress from here of the rumored new Turtle Talk entrance

You can squeeze past all this work into the ride

Ooooooooo

The Cool Wash remains… for now…

At the very least, they’ll have to change the look of this area at some point

Time to say goodbye

Time to shut the door

Goodbye Test Track as we know it…

Flower & Garden Vinyl Photoshoot

WDWNT on March 31, 2012

Spring has sprung… well, at least at EPCOT it has. The annual Flower & Garden Festival has given us a single commemorative Vinylmation a few year back. I figured it was about time the little guy visited the event it was designed for. I also tossed the single Food & Wine figure into the mix since we were at EPCOT and also edited up some more topiary photos from this years event.

 –

 –

–

 –

 –

–
–

Peak Inside Flower & Garden 2012

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

I had some time yesterday to drop by Day 1 of the 2012 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. The opening scene was from Fantasia with Sorcerer Mickey rising high above the walking mops. The sides of display featured dancing animals included ostriches, hippos and gators. Of course, the Fab 5 graced the entrance to World Showcase and the princes and princesses danced within. Hope you enjoy these first pictures, I’ll bring you more on my next visit this weekend. (click any for larger image)

EPCOT 30th Merchandise

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

Somewhere over the course of the past couple years, EPCOT has seemed to replace Magic Kingdom as my favorite Walt Disney World park. It’s the one I end up at the most as it’s so enjoyable to just go, walk around, take pictures and have a bite to eat there. This October the park turns 30. It’s undergone many changes over the years… some of our favorite attractions have come and gone. I’m not sure if it’s just rose colored glasses, but today’s EPCOT attractions do not seem to be as cool as some of the extinct ones. I also enjoy the retro designs of EPCOT much more than styles we see today. That is why I was thrilled when I read the latest post on the Disney Parks Blog. It is a sneak peak at some of the upcoming merchandise, and very specifically, pins.

I’m really excited about all the retro inspired merchandise that will be coming out later this year. But I have to say, just as my bank account was recovering from last year’s WDW 40th and The Florida Project, I am afraid I’ll see another dip this fall. No mention of Vinylmation… but what would you like to see? Some single 3″ or 9″? How about an LE set? Coming on the heals of a few EPCOT related LE sets from the WDW-centric Park 7 (Kitchen Kaberet and Tapestry of Nations) I’m not sure how much we will see, but I would love it! Check out the full Disney Parks Blog article here. There are a few more designs revealed.

Blueprints To a Successful Vinylmation

WDWNT on March 26, 2012

Among the large cardboard cut outs of Vinylmation that adorn the windows of Mouse Gears at EPCOT, we occasionally see a design unfamiliar to us. Last week was one such occasion.

This design was stuck next to good old Park 5 chaser Tom Morrow. It appears to be a blueprint. I for one love the design and hope it is part of an upcoming Urban series, as this is a throwback to Urbans of yesteryear that we at DV enjoy so much. What do you think of Blueprint Mickey?

A Look at New Fantasyland From High Above Cinderella Castle

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

Some Walt Disney World cast members were sent pictures taken from the large crane that was over Cinderella Castle a few days back, and the look into New Fantasyland is exquisite:

The Enchanted Tales with Belle and Be Our Guest Restaurant show building

Belle’s Village including Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour Village Gifts

Work continues on the former Mickey’s Toontown Fair tents, they will open late this year

The Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid building

The Fantasyland Station looks great, but the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is nowhere to be seen

The installed Dumbo spinner

An overall look

Not Fantasyland, but how often do you see this view?

I smell a new iPhone wallpaper…

 

Zach Larson’s 2/6/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

From Super Bowl MVP parades to Animal Kingdom, WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson brings us around the world with him on a very busy photo report. Let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

overgrowth getting cleared away

Meanwhile, some brush is being cleared from this island in the Seven Seas Lagoon

The main street characters were out entertaining guests waiting for Eli Manning to parade down the street. I really don’t like the new one in the beige shorts…

They were offering free balloons with every audio guide purchased! 😉

Giants fans out in force

Here comes the Super Bowl MVP

Congratulations to our hometown champions, the New York Giants… even though I’m a Dolphins fan… stop laughing…

The Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment rolls on

I love this sign

The Pecos Bill’s facade is out from behind tarps and looks great

More of the facade still covered

The Frontierland Trading Post still behind tarps

Pathway work continues and Electrical Parade takes a break and Celebrate a Dream Come True stays on Main Street

Work continues on the old Fantasyland Skyway

Restrooms are coming, but rumors say to expect more

Rumors indicate that a Tangled play area and an area for guests to rest and recharge electronics is coming

Work continues on the Peter Pan’s Flight queue

Crane up in New Fantasyland

The new Tomorrowland/Fantasyland vending cart costume is a better fit for Tomorrowland in my opinion

Work continues on the castle walls

The crane! The crane!

Storybook Circus

The Dumbo queue is coming along

Beast’s Castle

They are finally topping Prince Eric’s Castle at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

A spire finally appears at the very edge of the castle! PROGRESS!

Fantasyland Station is looking great

The old Dumbo spinner is now sitting next to the completed new spinner

I really love the pastels

It’s hard to improve a simple spinner, but I think they have

Circus tents

Awww….

Bye balloons… sniff…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Main Street bridge work continues

Center Street still behind tarps

Chamber of Commerce/Package Pick-Up behind tarps as well

Cosmic Ray’s installed these screen menu boards a while ago

I like this shot…

Lights were on in Space Mountain

Long line for the Peoplemover

Something is missing…

Oooooo…

Walls still up behind the shrunken pet cemetery

Ooooo….

Another new Haunted Mansion shirt

On to Epcot

Test Track on the map, get them while you can

Kind of empty…

The screen works!

This scene may be gone soon…

GM cars out in the loop

Punch it Chewie!

Plenty of blue Chevy labeled cars out

The VISION House is coming to Innoventions soon

Habit Heroes is testing

Some clever puns… good thing this isn’t DCA…

The Final Boss, He's defeated with exercise.

There were quite a few bugs and they weren’t allowing pics inside, so listen to next week’s podcast for a full review

Doors locked for some reason

MINE!

No, they are not putting FASTPASS machines in…

Nemo?

In case you don’t know how to play Simon…

Preparations have begun for the Flower and garden Festival

They keep adding more and more signs for Kim Possible

The new Future World directional signs

The Canada facade refurbishment is done and it looks brand new

Leave a Legacy being fixed up

Over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, work continues on one of the paths in the Oasis

Kali River Rapids is closed for refurbishment

These were added some time ago, but the seating area at the Yak and Yeti counter service now has covered sections

I miss these signs that don’t say dream builders…

The drink window was open