Cast Suits-Up for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

WDWNT on April 5, 2011

While this isn’t huge news, the orange suits that have been a staple of Star Tours cast members for many years are history. Instead, Disney has developed some new costumes to better fit “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue”:

Blue and gold is most certainly the new colors of the Star Tours company, but not terribly different from the colors used in the last attraction. Here’s a look at what Cast Members will be wearing at the retail location Tatooine Traders:

You may also want to take note that the artwork indicates the Starspeeder in the queue is still there, just repainted to be the Starspeeder 1000. As always, stay tuned for more information on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.

Haunted Mansion Debuts New, Cutting-Edge Hitchhiking Ghost Scene

WDWNT on April 4, 2011

After months of speculation as to what was changing in the famous Hitchhiking Ghost scene at the Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion, we don’t have to wonder any longer. Phineas, Ezra, and Gus are now executing some ghostly gags through the use of new infrared technology that was installed while the temporary curtains and projection ghosts (or Curtain Ghosts as we have been jokingly calling them) were displayed. Guests are now seeing their heads “vanish” before their very eyes and ghosts not only sitting in the vehicle with them, but also on top of their Doombuggy. The technology also recognizes if there is one, two, or even no one in the Doombuggy and gives different effects accordingly as you’ll see in the provided video. This is just the first version of this scene to be tested while Imagineering works out the kinks with the system. Once this test and adjust period is through, expect to see the effect improved through some simple software updates and then rolled out to the Haunted Mansion attractions around the world. Without any further ado, here’s a quick look at the new scene:

Phineas & Ferb, Pirates, Pooh, and Cars Characters Around the World

WDWNT on April 4, 2011

Here are a few character updates for Walt Disney World in the next few weeks:

-From the Disney Parks Blog:

Heads up pirate fans – we’re happy to break the news that a new scalawag will land at Magic Kingdom Park in time for the May 20 opening of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”

The new pirate will be Angelica, who is portrayed by actress Penelope Cruz in the film. Angelica is the daughter of the legendary pirate captain, Blackbeard, and she’ll appear in Adventureland beginning April 15.

According to our partners in Entertainment, Angelica is “a world-famous pirate with a reputation for skill and cunning – rivaled only by that of Captain Jack. Fresh from her pursuit of the Fountain of Youth, Angelica, along with several loyal crewmen, will establish her headquarters adjacent to the Pirate’s League in search of willing pirates for future adventures.”

-In other news: Lightning McQueen will be replacing Herbie The Love Bug in “Lights, Motors Action! Extreme Stunt Show” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting in June to promote Cars 2. A remodeled meet and greet with Lightning and Mater should also debut around that time in the space next to the Premiere Theater where the current “Casa Della Tires” meet and greet resides.

-To promote “Winnie-the-Pooh”, Pooh is replacing Lotso inside the Magic of Disney Animation. The Lotso meet and greet will close towards the end of April.

-The Phineas and Ferb “play and greet” experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios previously announced will be debuting on May 16th. Guests will take part in the filming of a movie with the characters when the experience begins next month.

First Look at Ariel “Under The Sea”

WDWNT on April 4, 2011

Again, while we have to wait another year for Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid to open at the Magic Kingdom, the California Adventure attraction is opening June 3rd and the Disney Parks Blog is offering another look at some cutting-edge audio-animatronic technology:

We are just a couple of months away from the official opening of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure park. Walt Disney Imagineers are working hard to make sure you feel transported into Ariel’s world through every detail – the water, the fish, the hair….yes, the hair! Ariel’s hair posed a particular challenge for Imagineers, one they hadn’t encountered before – how do you make hair that’s technically out of the water look like it’s floating underwater? Take a look at their progress.

Destinations Officially Announced for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

WDWNT on April 2, 2011

From Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald on the Disney Parks Blog:

It won’t be long now before Star Tours re-launches and “The Adventures Continue” at both Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California! But where in the galaxy are we going?

We know a lot of you have been wondering and asking, and today we are happy to reveal the final destinations you can expect to visit when Star Tours resumes service. You already know we’re going to Tatooine for the Boonta Eve Podrace and to Coruscant.

Additional destinations include a visit to the beautiful planet of Naboo, a rare tour of the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk, and a trip to the icy planet Hoth (seen above in a still image from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back).

Of course, no Star Tours adventure would be complete without an unexpected visit to the Death Star, this time above the planet Geonosis.

In addition, we’ll be departing from a spectacular new Spaceport, created just for the new Star Tours voyages.

As revealed earlier, these destinations will be combined in more than 50 different story adventures, so you’ll never know where the Force will take you!

It appears that our speculation was correct with the exception of Bespin which was not mentioned above, but may still be in the attraction. Regardless, the possibility of “50 different story adventures” sounds like we’ll be riding this attraction a lot once it opens on May 20th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Who knows, maybe we’ll be blasting off before then…

Robert Ashburn’s 3/30/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on March 31, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday to attend the soft-opening of Town Square Theater, but believe it or not, there is other stuff going on at the park! Who would have though? Anyway, here are some other newsworthy photos from the Magic Kingdom

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The covers for “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” projectors still look out of place…

Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 3/30/11 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

Video Walkthrough of Town Square Theater

WDWNT on March 31, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee visited Town Square Theater at the Magic Kingdom during it’s soft opening on March 30th and has a video walkthrough of the experience in both the Mickey and Princess meet and greets: