VIDEO – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

WDWNT on September 4, 2011

Lost in the shuffle of the incredibly busy month it has been in the world of Disney is the opening of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom. Here is a video of the main show from WDWNT Reporter Coral Rivera:

New Test Track Ride Vehicle Debuts!

WDWNT on August 30, 2011

With the rumors of a HUGE, multi-month refurbishment of Test Track at Epcot coming in 2012, we have been hopeful that some significant upgrades would be made to the ride next year. Well, we may not have to wait that long…

These photos were taken earlier today by twitter user shawnathon33. This new Test Track vehicle is very similar to the original in shape, but it looks like GM is trying to get some publicity for more of their brands, illustrated by the Chevy logo on the front of the car (painted on, not articulated). The new car also has a very different paint scheme than the original, but we expect each vehicle to have a different color palate. While pure speculation at this point, I would expect to see other GM brand logos on the front of other vehicles (Buick, GMC, etc.). This new vehicle confirms that General Motors will be staying on as the sponsor of the pavilion. We will have more on this breaking story as it becomes available, so stay tuned!

What’s New & Notable at Not-So-Scary 2011

WDWNT on August 29, 2011

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom is a perennial guest favorite for the character meet and greets, special entertainment, and of course, the candy. If you are planning on attending any of the parties this year, you’ll want to check out this nifty guide we’ve compiled. We’ve even included a few things you won’t find on any Disney provided guide:

Treat Trails (Candy Stations)

  • Trader Sam’s Tiki Treats – Jungle Cruise Landing
  • Louis Gator’s Bayou Goodies – Riverboat Landing
  • Pirate’s Booty Treats – Pirates of the Caribbean queue
  • Woody’s Happy Harvest – Diamond Horseshoe
  • Peter’s Candy Flight – Peter Pan extended queue
  • Br’er Rabbits Laughing Place Candy Patch – Splash Mountain queue, features 3 candy stops
  • Pinocchio’s Candy Closet – Pinocchio’s Village Haus Patio area (Werthers)
  • Max’s Pit Stop Treats – Speedway between the Merchandise cart and the Tea Cups
  • Town Square Theater – Exit of Mickey & Minnie meet and greet
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Candy Blast – Buzz Lightyear meet and greet area
  • Tour Guide Gardens – Exit of Duffy meet and greet
  • Stitch’s Spaceport Snacks – Tomorrowland Plaza (by Space Mountain FastPass)
  • Stitch’s Great Escape Treats – Stitch’s Great Escape (not advertised)
  • Turnstiles
  • Tomorrowland Terrace – Kellogg’s and Disney Interactive
  • Kiss Goodnight Treat Trough – Available after first parade

Special Event Entertainment

  • Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade – Magic Kingdom Parade Route – 8:15pm and 10:30pm
  • Happy Hallo’Wishes’  – Park Wide – 9:30pm
  • Villian’s Mix & Mingle – Castle Stage – 7:45pm, 8:50pm, 10:05pm and 11:15pm
  • Stitch’s Club 626 Dance Party – Rockettower Plaza Stage, Tomorrowland – featuring: Goofy, Pluto, Chip, Dale and Stitch – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Woody’s Happy Harvest Dance Party – Diamond Horseshoe, Liberty Square – featuring: Woody, Jessie and Bullseye – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am

Character Meet and Greets

  • Mickey and Minnie – Town Square Theater, Main Street – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Disney Princesses – Town Square Theater, Main Street – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Duffy the Disney Bear – Tour Guide Gardens, Main Street – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Pooh and Friends – Flag Pole Planter, Town Square, Main Street – Cntinuous (except for Parade times) 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Disney Villian’s – Castle Hub – Continuous (except for Parade times) – featuring: Captain Hook, Step Sister & Lady Tremaine, Lotso, Jafar, Hades, Gaston
  • 7 Dwarfs – Splash Mountain Exit, Frontierland – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Madame Carlotta and Rinotta (back to back) – Haunted Mansion lawn -Liberty Square – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Tiana and Naveen – Enchanted Glade, Liberty Square – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Tinker Bell and Disney Fairies – Adventureland Veranda, Adventureland – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Donald and Daisy – Gazebo outside Veranda, Adventureland – Continuous (except for Parade times) 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Timon and Rafiki – next to Swiss Family Treehouse, Adventureland – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Tarzan, Jane and Terk – Veranda Porch, Adventureland – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie and Abu – Next to Carpet ride, Adventureland – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Alice and Mad Hatter – Mad Tea Party, Fantasyland – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am
  • Buzz Lightyear – Galaxy Gate, Tomorrowland – Continuous 7:00pm to 12:00am

Arnold Palmer Golf Management Takes Over WDW Golf Courses

WDWNT on August 24, 2011

From Darrell Fry on the Disney Parks Blog:

The golf courses here at Walt Disney World Resort have long been favorites among guests and industry experts. Now the golf experience here is about to get even better.

We announced today that we are pairing up with one of the biggest names in golf – Arnold Palmer. Arnold Palmer Golf Management is going to operate, manage, maintain and help promote Disney’s five golf courses – the Magnolia, the Palm, Oak Trail, Osprey Ridge and Lake Buena Vista starting Sept. 25.

In a nutshell, this is going to be a stroke of golf genius for anyone who comes to Disney to play golf. That’s because the Palmer name is known for innovative course designs and elements created personally by Palmer, some of which are visible amid its portfolio of renowned courses that stretches from Hawaii to Connecticut. And when you blend that with Disney Park’s already family-friendly environment and its rich golf heritage, what you’ll get is a mixture that further enhances Disney Golf’s stature as a unique golf destination experience that appeals to golfers of all levels.

The creative brainstorming will begin soon, but Palmer has already said he’s “looking forward to the opportunity’’ to work with Disney. And he said he plans to designate the Palm course as one of his signature courses with elements designed by him.

Just think…Arnie and Disney? That has to be a pairing that finishes at the top of the leaderboard.

Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel has some more details:

  • Roughly 330 Disney employees will be impacted by the move. Disney said each will be offered other jobs, at comparable pay, elsewhere at the resort.
  • As part of the deal, Palmer will personally oversee a redesign of Disney’s Palm course. The renovation isn’t likely to be complete until at least 2013.
  • Disney began scaling back its golf operations several years ago when it opted to close a sixth course, Eagle Pines, and use the land for a new subdivision of multimillion-dollar homes. That project, dubbed “Golden Oak,” is currently under construction.
  • Disney also has a deal to sell its Osprey Ridge course to Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, which plans to build one of its luxury hotels at Disney World. That project has been delayed until at least 2014 and Arnold Palmer Golf Management will operate the course until the Four Seasons is built.

You can read the entire article online at the Orlando Sentinel.