Walt Disney World Resort – Page 276

Marquee Installation Marks WDW Record at Art of Animation Resort

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

From Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:

I’m happy to start off the week by sharing a fun update on Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Last week, Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) put the finishing touches on the new resort’s marquee. Measuring in at 46 feet, six inches, the resort’s sign now holds the record as the largest freestanding marquee at Walt Disney World Resort. (Incidentally, it’s 18 inches taller than the famous “HOLLYWOOD” sign in Los Angeles, Calif.).

The photo, supplied by WDI, shows three layers of development the marquee went through in its creation – from digital design, to model, to full-scale installation.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which will feature four wings dedicated to popular films Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, will open in phases beginning May 31.

Conner Purzycki’s 6/13/12 – 6/22/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

Lost in the shuffle of everything else happening over the past few weeks, here is a photo report of some news not previously covered.

New Churro Cart in Carthay Circle

November, 18th, 1928, The date that Steamboat Willie premiered

Taste Pilots Grill minus the rocket blasting out of the front is pretty plain

Dancin With Disney is a cute experience in Hollywoodland.

Basically a giant dance party with a DJ and characters

Lots of strange characters in here

Clarabell cow

Clara Cluck and Clarice

The Disney Channel Rocks Sets are being used

The All American College Band is back this year and they are doing a set in DCA probably because they lost their usual once a day venue in Carnation Gardens.

Cars Land Bus

New Signage in the Bus Area

The ugly frozen drink cart was finally replaced with something themed

Carnation Gardens reopened recently and here is a look at some of the new entrees. Here is the Chicken Fried Chicken which was absolutely Delicious.

The Meatloaf I was told is very delicious

Here is a PBJ soda…. Yup. I thought it was gross but some seem to like it.

Earl of Sandwich is finally under construction

Wrapping up this report is pictures of the Pixar Play Parade which just returned to DCA. Big thanks to Tim Alcoser for the photos.

Thank for reading

The Sorcerers Series – Battling Dr. Facilier

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

We are happy to continue our 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 go on down the bayou to Liberty Square and Frontierland to battle Dr. Facilier and his friends on the other side this time:

Storybook Circus Opens Late March, Snow White Closes Late May

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

From Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:

Who’s ready for an update on New Fantasyland? I just heard that the first elements of Storybook Circus will open by late March, marking the first in a series of progressive openings for the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history.

Among the first experiences to open will be one carousel of Dumbo the Flying Elephant, a re-themed Barnstormer starring the Great Goofini and the Fantasyland Station of the Walt Disney World Railroad.

In designing Storybook Circus, Imagineers were inspired by Disney’s animated film, “Dumbo.” When complete later this year, the area will be filled with multicolored circus tents and other nods to the film. The section will also feature Casey Jr., the famous locomotive from the movie, who has rolled into town, bringing the circus with him.

Beyond Storybook Circus and as we mentioned in a previous post, the Disney Princesses will be getting a new home at the location where Snow White’s Scary Adventures is today. The last day of operation for this attraction will be Thursday, May 31.

We look forward to sharing more with you throughout the year as our work progresses.

A few interesting notes to be made:

-The Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is not mentioned, so now will be opening sometime after March.

-Snow White’s Scary Adventures is not supposed to close until Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is ready to open, so it is very possible that the new attraction will open sometime around May 31, 2012.

-Soft openings for Dumbo, Barnstormer, and Fantasyland Station can happen at any point now as the project nears completion, mid-March is just the official opening date

Josh Siegel’s 2/23/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

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

The Bakery is still behind tarps

A tarp came down in the bad weather

Some lighted effects added to another Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window

A line building for some of the windows

A new poster inside the Fire Station

A decent amount of guests waiting

The Chapeau is still behind tarps

Some new, smaller trees planted in Town Square

Chamber of commerce (package pick-up) is also still behind tarps

A temporary wheelchair ramp installed while work is being done

Another look at the new trees everyone seems to hate

I don’t see what all of the commotion is about… they’re trees…

Another look at the Chapeau/Confectionary

They fixed the fallen tarp on Center Street

Some of the facades came out from behind the tarps and look great

The Bakery tarps in the daytime

Plaza Ice Cream is still closed

Work continues on the Main Street bridge

The Dumbo building is coming along nicely

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid coming along nicely

One of the large tents has already been covered

Some kind of wall rising, possibly for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train

The new rock-work at the edge of the Mermaid facade taking shape

Belle’s Village

The crane! The crane!

The facade of Enchanted Tales with Belle is finally getting some detail

A better look at the new covered tent

Tigger’s Bounce Area is still closed…

This may be made into a Pooh meet and greet area in the not too distant future

Plenty of trees planted in Storybook Circus

A billboard for The Barnstormer is now up, you can spot it over the Dumbo queue

Another look at Enchanted Tales with Belle

Another look towards Dumbo and Barnstormer

The days are numbered for this store

And we all know this closes May 31st now

The unveiled portion of Castle Wall looks nice

Guests being prevented from going upstairs at Pinocchio’s Village Haus

A portion of walls near the restrooms remains

This piece of wall was already revealed

A new wheelchair ramp has been installed at Peter Pan’s Flight in preparation for the new interactive queue addition once the new restrooms open

I hope we can spare a few shields to decorate this…

Work continues on the former Skyway plot

The Haunted Mansion is clearly visible

What a mess

Work continues on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

One new roof looks pretty much finished

MAdame Leota’s cart out in Liberty Square

40th anniversary shirts

I haven’t seen this out in a while, but now it’s at the cart

Some new pavement along the parade route

Some new pavement that looks like wooden planks

Work continues by the Vacation Club booth

Work was completed on the Frontierland Trading Post facade

I assume that the missing part of the sign will return soon

This facade looks brand new

Some pieces still being worked on

Sunshine Tree Terrace still behind tarps

Some signage was recently installed at the Sorcerers station in Liberty Square

Good luck Sorcerers!

AJ P’s 2/12 Walt Disney World Resort Photo Report

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

WDWNT reader AJ P. was nice enough to offer us some newsworthy photos they took on their recent trip to Walt Disney World, so let’s take a look around all 4 parks and Downtown Disney:

Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

the rain left some large puddles

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom

Chamber of Commerce behind tarps

The Bakery as well

On to New Fantasyland

Work being done on the facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Large walls popping up on the site of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Supports and such for the Mine Train in the foreground, Storybook Circus tents in the background

A green and red wall will separate the forest from Storybook Circus

A look across to Belle’s Village

The remains of Dumbo right in front of an expanding Castle Wall

Dumbo is coming along quickly

The backside isn’t themed in any way, but it faces the Speedway, so it will match nicely…

The Barnstormer tower

Circus tents

Walls still up near the Haunted Mansion

The Sunshine Tree Terrace is still behind tarps

Tarps still up at Pecos Bill’s

The planters have been repaired in Tomorrowland, but they have temporary covers until plants are placed

On to Downtown Disney, work continues on Splitsville

Doesn’t look like much has happened inside yet

Rainforest Cafe is open while work is done on the exterior

Concept art shows the new exterior and the new Lava Lounge

Stitch is gone from the World of Disney sign

Work being done on the pavement outside the store

Moving over to Epcot

Flower and Garden Festival preperation

Work continues on the entrances to the Seas with Nemo and Friends

The water play areas in Future World are being fixed-up

Tutto Italia is finally being remodeled after 5 years in the former Alfredo’s building

The exterior is being ripped apart

The old waiting area is gone…

The horror… THE HORROR!

I hope they are fixing the menu here as well, because Via Napoli makes this place look silly

The other water play area behind walls

Modifications being made to the Spaceship Earth queue in preparation for the eventual roll-out of Xpass…

We’re going to animal Kingdom!

For one piece of news… they are still repairing the rock-work in the Oasis

Tom Corless’ 12/31/11 – 1/5/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on January 12, 2012

Owner of the network, Tom Corless took a trip to Disneyland for new years and captured some newsworthy photos to share including Cars land, Buena Vista Street, and Jolly Holiday Bakery…

Trader Sam’s had some neat additions for the Holidays

Tom had a Mele Kaliki-Mocha.

Over in DCA now, a look at the carthay circle

Looks good…

Now over in Cars Land, the meet and greet has been removed in front of the work walls giving us some angles of the street we weren’t able to see before.

Back to Buena Vista Street

The backside of the theater was uncovered

Over in Disneyland, the Jolly Holiday Bakery opened and Tom was one of the first costumers

Love the detail

Over in DCA, work has begun on fixing the second half of the shops on the boardwalk

Rip that stucco out!

YEAH

It was so good…. That tom decided to come back for lunch

A nod to the old Stouffers mural 😉

Spoonful of sugar please

The Jolly Holiday Combo, a cheese sandwich and tomato and basil soup… and of course the Practically Perfect Punch which I have been told is very Delicious

Quite a line all day

Since Jolly Holiday is now open, Carnation cafe and the Blue Ribbon bakery have been closed for refurbishment

Coke Corner has also shut its doors for its refurbishment

Along with the Penny arcade

Neat picture

Thanks for reading

Conner Purzycki’s 12/31/11 – 1/3/12 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on January 12, 2012

For New Years Eve, I spent the day and the following few days at the Disneyland Resort and captured quite a bit of photos to share of all the festivities and much more…

Starting off this New Year celebration with a ride on the Fun Wheel but it was strangely down

YAY! An actual use for Maliboomer Park

Stage set up for NYE

Balloons in Paradise Gardens for NYE

Holy Corn Dogs!!!

Ohh, Pretty

Was playing with my camera so here are some nifty photos of this pretty bridge

Double the spotlights, double the celebration

It was a very foggy new years evening and the fog made for some really good pictures

Some neat foggy WOC shots

In our spot for midnight WOC, the fog kept rolling in

Now on our way out to the other park

WOWZA

Awesome

The castle looks huge for some odd reason

Dance party still hopping by Small World

This is one of my favorite photos taken that night

Happy New Year, hoping on the monorail

Buena Vista Street pics from the monorail

New nerdy shirts in World of Disney

Though an awful hat, bleh

I wonder why Monsters doesn’t use the flick cards like all the other nice attractions.

How about some Cars Land Pics From The Fun Wheel

Disney Channel Rocks set pieces behind Screamin, unknown if the show is coming back

Random shot backstage

Bountiful valley cows celebrating the holidays

The junkyard jukebox

Look at that WDI stuff, How about the WDI stuff

Yikes, kinda faded

The Bugs Land bridge needs a little tlc

Besides the part that was smashed last summer

Cool wrought iron on the Carthay Circle Theater

Wonder how long these are staying

I hope this is gone soon

Over in Innoventions, a new exhibit has debuted, Nanooze

Here you can discover how to make real little stuff, look like big stuff with magnifying thingys

In all seriousness, it is a neat exhibit learning about atoms and molecules

Just look at how much fun Tom is having!

The Xbox 360 area also got a major facelift

Disneyland Kinect Adventures. Awesome

The stupid circle seat things are gone

The Honda exhibit is back

Down in the dream house, the walls have been turned into a giant screen where you can play…..

Thats right, Kinect Disneyland Adventures

Innoventions is still loading through the top floor, so that means Tom Morrow is no where to be found which is a shame because he was a very good AA.

Over at the Disneyland Hotel, some quick pictures around the grounds

WANT!!!

Finally wrapping this up, it looks like the Soundsational Drummer were getting into the Holiday spirit

Thanks for reading

Adam Roth’s 12/26/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 28, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth recently visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom and took a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so strap in for a lengthy look around Walt Disney World:

Adam caught the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special inside the ABC Sound Studio, former home of Sounds Dangerous

In case you don’t know, Comedy Warehouse was a club at Pleasure Island

Just a sticker, but shows effort for a very temporary attraction

Control booth

The show is improv, comedy’s ugly cousin…

OK…

I’ve been running this site for five years, and this is easily the lowest moment…

Adam enjoyed it and so did guests, so we’ll see what the future holds…

Booths from the Food & Wine festival being used to meet dining demands

The Magic of Disney animation added a campus map a while ago… it’s trying to look like a real animation studio

Nothing says Italian like fast food meatballs…

The Premiere Theater is showing holiday cartoons

“Curse you Perry the Platypus!”

The daily schedule

The “italian” restaurant

It looks awful…

The stage is set for New Year’s Eve

Adam is a good colorer…

I’m so proud…

The Monsters University logo now up inside the Magic of Disney Animation

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, we arrive at Sleepy Hollow

What could we be here for?

Of course!

Here is the chicken sandwich without the usual spread

The ham, prosciutto, and swiss sandwich

The Diamond Horseshoe was open

Somewhere, a child cries…

“MICKEY!”

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is performing daily now

“Yay! We didn’t have to buy a party ticket! But this place is packed…”

Christopher Robin was added to the parade this year, but the Pooh tree float is gone

Duffy joins the fun

The skiers were new for this year

Awwwww…

Bo Creep… I mean, Bo Peep

A personal favorite

Another personal favorite

However long that is, it’s too long…

Too long!

Could we cut out this step thing!

Storybook Circus construction as seen from the TTA

The lower level rock-work taking shape at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The back of the Dumbo queue building was painted green

Three digits…

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas is performing daily

Spot the Captain EO reference?

Eye did! Get it? Eye did!

Instead of having him on screen, Stitch appears on stage now

Some new props had to be made for the changes

The new tower at Barnstormer is rising up around the track

There is a lot of color on the Dumbo queue

They are pretty much rebuilding the old tents

Oooooo, I spot a dirty word…

Scaffolding up over the Dumbo queue building

The roof over the two covered queue areas is coming along

You can see the new Dumbo spinner through the queue

The train station is almost done

Another look at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The caverns are now visible

Belle’s Village is starting to look good

Another look at the Storybook Circus train station

Back to Under the Sea

Prince Eric’s castle

Notice Mr. Stork at the top of the new Dumbo spinner

Back to Belle’s village

Maurice’s cottage

Be Our Guest restuarant

A panoramic view of construction

Some of the Storybook Circus pavement has been revealed

wagon wheel marks and horse footprints litter the path, a beautiful detail

The mountain range looks great

The sun sets on the old Dumbo…

Some work has been done on the Castle Wall

A stone wall has popped up next to it

The edge of the rock-work

A chimney through the trees

Holy Nana!

You’d have to have a hook for a brain to wait in that

“it’s a long line”

Nice sign

The new path near the Haunted Mansion is being worked on

Non-alcoholic sangria from Tortuga Tavern

YUM!

Time to light the Castle

Purty…

New details were unveiled in the Town Square Theater queue for Mickey

Notes for advertisements made by Mickey sit on a bulletin board

Gotta love these details

Mailboxes

A reference to the first attraction in this space, the Walt Disney Story

The Bill Justice character mural that used to stand in this space lives on with these rolled up pictures of it in one of the mailboxes

A great addition to a pretty bland room of the queue

A new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window in Fantasyland

Hidden camera

Another window in Fantasyland

This appears to be Merlin’s house as you can see Archimedes’ bird house in the back

Another Fantasyland window

Not so hidden

The last reference to Tinker Bell’s Treasures has been turned into a Sorcerers window

The Main Street Electrical Parade is supposedly leaving before Summer 2012, so get in your last views while you can

The holiday edition of “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” is still performing

Some Holiday Wishes! photos

Yowza…

Quick, let’s take the secret exit out of this photo report!

Adam Roth’s 12/20/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 22, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot on Tuesday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

The steam is on at Everest

Pretty…

No bird 🙁

He’s there…

Apparently it’s catching on…

Primeval Whirl re-opened from a LONG refurbishment back in October

While we may not like this “off the shelf” ride, it does look refreshed

You can only refresh it so much…

LOVE the christmas decorations in Dinoland

Moving on to Epcot

The RFID turnstiles are completely gone

They’ll probably be back soon…

Hey, let’s try Katsura Grill in Japan!

It’s a little crowded

The Tonosama Combo

The Okanami Yaki. Adam didn’t think either was very good…

YAY! It’s the holidays!

Have fun in line everybody!

This is enough to scare anyone away…

AMAZING!

“If you would like one, they are available in the gift shop”

“If you are made uncomfortable by Gary Sinease…”

I see you re-decorated Test Track car!

And one final destination…

“Hello!”

“Seat, seatbelt, carry-on items, safety strap, fear of flying, keep your hands and arms inside at all times… anything else? Oh yeah, have a nice flight.”

Category: Walt Disney World Resort

Marquee Installation Marks WDW Record at Art of Animation Resort

Conner Purzycki’s 6/13/12 – 6/22/12 DLR Photo Report

The Sorcerers Series – Battling Dr. Facilier

Storybook Circus Opens Late March, Snow White Closes Late May

Josh Siegel’s 2/23/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

AJ P’s 2/12 Walt Disney World Resort Photo Report

Tom Corless’ 12/31/11 – 1/5/12 DLR Photo Report

Conner Purzycki’s 12/31/11 – 1/3/12 DLR Photo Report

Adam Roth’s 12/26/11 WDW Photo Report

Adam Roth’s 12/20/11 WDW Photo Report

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