There is only one place you would expect to find So Tasty… the Main Street Confectionery. As if the place didn’t already smell good enough…
From Jennifer-Fickley Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:
Today I’m happy to give you an update on one of my favorite attractions – Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
I’ve always loved Kilimanjaro Safaris because you see so many amazing animals, but even more so, I love hearing the reactions of the first-timers around me; guests who can’t believe they’re seeing so many beautiful animals together in one place!
Beginning this spring, the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction will undergo some changes to give guests an additional opportunity to see more of their favorite animals, specifically zebra. To do so, Walt Disney Imagineering will make some creative changes to the last scene in the attraction by removing the Audio-Animatronics “Little Red” elephant and related set pieces. This area will then be reconstructed as savannah space and feature a new watering hole for live animals.
This enhancement is scheduled to begin this spring, and be completed by fall 2012. And don’t worry, the attraction will remain operational during the adjustment.
I wish I could say this announcement is surprising, but the story-line at Kilimanjaro Safaris has been weak since changes were made just before the opening of the park in 1998. Early test audiences did not like to see the “dead body” of elephant Big Red that was to have been killed by the poachers and sent a very strong message to guests, so it was removed. The finale scene has never been too exciting and the payoff of seeing a fake baby elephant in a truck wasn’t nearly enough to justify it. Various characters and narration changes have also been made over the years as the attraction could never really find an identity after the poacher story collapsed.
Despite losing the original story, this is probably a positive. More animals to see and a more relaxed atmosphere through the entire ride sounds nice. Who needs something to go wrong in a park that already has killer dinosaurs, yetis, and bugs? Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we track this transformation into the Fall.
WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:
Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing
A banner has been hung for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
It fits Main Street pretty well yet still sets the scene
This area in Fantasyland finally looks complete
It’s well lit at night
I know we showed this already this week, but here’s the screen menu boards at Cosmic Ray’s
Walls up inside the restaurant
The new Tomorrowland cart at night… we love this thing…
Take a close look for a Walt reference…
“Marty Called Wants Changes”
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CASTLE? CALL 911!
Oh, it’s just Dream Along with Mickey at night…
The romance segment in “The Magic, The Memories, and You!”
Apparently people like these gourmet hot dogs… not us…
Some recently released shirts
I like this new batch of generic logo merchandise not focusing on a year
“I know what we’re gonna do today!” Buy Phineas and Ferb merchandise
Mickey plush available in abundance after the great drought late last year where no Mickeys were available resort wide
From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:
While some little ones are content with mac ‘n cheese or a burger, other young guests have a, well, more sophisticated approach to dining. Four Magic Kingdom Park table-service restaurants are adding some delicious new dishes just for kids for ages 3 to 9. At Tony’s Town Square, look for a steak skewer “spiedini” with roasted sweet potato fries and fresh fruit (spiedini refers to cubes of meat cooked on a skewer, an Italian specialty). Also at Tony’s, a grilled cheese sandwich on multigrain bread sliced into “dippers” with tomato sauce on the side should appeal to just about any child.
Liberty Tree Tavern is featuring a new barbecued chicken and pineapple flatbread pizza with a side of crisp veggies and apples, or oven-roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, veggies and fruit.
At Cinderella’s Royal Table, youngsters can try the new chicken drumette with rice and broccolini, grilled beef skewers with mashed potatoes and corn, or a chicken pot pie topped with a biscuit crust. (We want to try that one.)
And The Plaza Restaurant has a kids’ plate with grilled chicken slices, cous cous and a fresh fruit skewer. Ah, to be a young ‘un again.
While taken a few days ago, WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom on Monday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us:
Oops…
The Cosmic Ray’s menu boards weren’t working
Prince Eric’s Castle is coming along nicely at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
The path to Storybook Circus
Work on the Dumbo queue continues
Beast’s Castle
The lift hill for The Barnstormer looks great, complete with Goofy’s outline
For the first time since work began, the site actually looks pretty clean
Some Imagineer and construction workers under a tent near “Dumbo Ditch”
Paint going on the silver portion of the Dumbo tent
Too far away to see what they are up to…
If you look closely at the Barnstormer building, you can see a banner Goofy has crashed through right above the doorway
We can make out the words “Fly Again”
Dear guests who contribute to other sites, stop standing on stuff. It is stupid, dangerous, and might get you thrown out of the park…
A look toward Storybook Circus
Still can’t see into the tent…
A column remains in “Dumbo Ditch”
Construction being filmed by Disney
The chicken nuggets and sandwich are back at Golden Oak Outpost
Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment continues
Don’t look over here…
The track is being worked on
New roof being installed
Fantasyland Station looks nearly complete
The last remnant of Toontown
The back of the Dumbo queue will be very visible from the Speedway and the Railroad
New railings were installed along the Frontierland bridges during the pavement work
Wow…
Courtesy of Scott Keating and scottkeating.net, we once again have some fantastic aerial photos of Fantasyland to share with you:
The foundations for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train are now in place, the old Dumbo is now history, and it looks like an extension of the Mermaid rock-work is about to begin to make the show building not visible from Storybook Circus
The queue for Enchanted Tales with Belle seems further along than any other project, so it’s possible that may open first
Prince Eric’s castle is looking good, but the rest of the facade is far from finished
Dumbo and the Fantasyland Station are nearing completion, meanwhile, the Barnstormer is complete with the exception of some landscaping and queue decorations. The Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak area is still nowhere to be found.
Added Bonus: Here’s a look at the on-going Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment
Merida and the Triplets from the Disney Pixar movie Brave recently posed for some pictures for us at Epcot.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Monday to do some homework (if only we were so lucky) and he managed to take plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us in the process:
Let’s grab a times guide
The parade route is back to normal
Work continues on the bakery and center street facades
The bakery is open
Plaza Ice Cream still closed
Work continues on the supports in Tomorrowland
This side of the Dumbo queue is finally being painted
Scaffolding coming down on the circus tent queue area
The other Dumbo centrifuge is in place
They are working everyday to get the attraction up and running as soon as possible
Beast’s Castle
The Mermaid rock-work is being extended to hide the show building from view in Storybook Circus
Rooftops and patios are appearing on Prince Eric’s castle
A close-up of the castle
It looks great!
The artwork is back on the great wall of Fantasyland
The Castle Wall is finally showing some progress
The Seven Dwarves Mine shop lives out a stay of execution until the wall moves this direction
Walkways are still tight at the moment
This is the first time we’ve actually seen people working on the wall
We can see some detail at the top of the wall
The Fantasyland Skyway station is gones and now we have a giant pile of dirt
You can clearly see The Hauted Mansion, but this will change
Just a lot of dirt…
Work on the Peter Pan’s Flight queue continues
Walls up where the pathway will go next to the Haunted Mansion
Hard to believe this opened almost a year ago
It has grown in nicely
Some things were changed…
Some things were added as less-than-capable guests walked through…
Other things that were added
The pet cemetary is missing some pieces while the new path is worked on
Time for some Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
Pongo looks a little angry…
Love the cards
What’s the best part about Sorcerers? Inclusion of often ignored characters
The old Fife & Drum food service location closed for decades is back in use
This is a second location where you can begin your quest
This card has been changed to remove Slinky Dog from the background. Apprently, Disney doesn’t have the rights to use him…
Frontierland Trading Post still behind tarps
The tower that the Barnstormer will now crash through looks finished
The Big Thunder Mountain refurb rolls on
Lift hill replacemtn and roof repairs being done now
Some paint has also been applied to lower level rock-work
Progress is appearing rapidly
The backside of the Be Our Guest Restaurant
A look at Fantasyland Station
Lighting fixtures installed
Hi there
Still there…
Roof is covered
The Barnstormer is just about finished
A fair amount of landscaping left to complete
The backside of the Dumbo building
We are happy to begin a series of videos walking you through all of the adventures you can experience at Walt Disney World’s latest attraction, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. We begin our journey with Adventureland and the battle with Scar from The Lion King:
We are only 10 days away from “One More Disney Day”, a 24 hour celebration at the Magic Kingdom from 6AM on February 29th through 6AM on March 1st. With that being said, official information on this event has been scarce up until now, but finally we have a special entertainment schedule for the event:
Welcome Show – 5:50AM
Wishes! nighttime spectacular – 8PM
The Magic, The Memories, and You! – 7:45PM, 9PM, 11PM, & 5:30AM
Main Street Electrical Parade – 10PM, 12AM
Disney Fairies at Adventureland Veranda – 9:15AM-5:30AM
Aladdin Characters – 6:30AM-3:45PM
Tangled Meet & Greet – 9:15AM-5:30AM
Alice in Wonderland Characters – 6:15AM-12:15PM
Winne the Pooh Characters – 10:15AM-3:30AM
Frontierland Hoedown – 2:45AM, 3:30AM, 4:30AM
Woody and Jessie Meet and Greet – 9:30AM-4:30AM
Frontierland Character Meet and Greet – 6AM-2:35PM
Main Street Trolley Show – 6:15AM, 7:15AM, 8:15AM, 9:15AM, 10:10AM, 12PM
Disney Princesses at Town Square Theater – 9AM-5:30AM
Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater – 6AM-10PM
So, what is of interest on this schedule? Well the midnight performance of Electrical Parade and the 5:30AM showing of “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” are pretty special. There are also 3 performances of the Frontierland Hoedown (a personal favorite), all in the early morning hours on Thursday.
As far as character meet and greets are concerned, Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Frontierland, and Mickey Mouse experiences are all pretty much opening with the park on Wednesday, while the Fairies, Tangled, Pooh, Toy Story, and Princess meet and greets are all running until the early morning hours on Thursday.
Anything not listed above is operating on a normal schedule. Some surprise meet and greet experiences are expected, including (but not limited to) Mickey and Minnie appearing in their pajamas in the early morning hours on Thursday.
It is important to note that most attractions will stay open throughout the 24 hours, but all attractions will be expected to close for a short period at some point so maintenance can be performed. This schedule has not been made available yet.
WDWNT will be on hand to cover all 24 hours of insanity at the Magic Kingdom, and if you’re in the area, you can join us during the day for “One Long Disney Day”. We’ll be meeting up throughout all 24 hours of the day and would love for you to join us! We even have a little gift for those who do…
