The Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) re-opened on Saturday and WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve was there to see what has changed on the attraction in preparation for the re-launching of Space Mountain in November:
The new color-changing LED lights are running during the day
Disney has released a youtube version of the short clip that was shown of Star Tours II (in 3-D) at the D23 Expo. The video is also available in high definition by clicking the appropriate button below:
Since I have received a number of questions by email about this updated attraction, I decided it would be best to list what we know about Star Tours II thus far:
-Star Tours will close October 2010 and Star Tours II will open late summer/early fall 2011
-Star Tours II will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D (A change also being made at Muppetvision 3-D at both DHS and DCA in 2010, this was announced at the Expo as well)
-While we are not sure how it will work, pod racing (as seen in Episode I) will not be the only outcome of the attraction. It was revealed that there will be multiple films/destinations for Star Tours travelers
I know it’s a few days late, but here is the full press release we were given at the D23 Expo concerning these two exciting new projects for Walt Disney World and other on-going “Parks and Resorts” projects:
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures that will be delighting Disney guests for years to come, at the first D23 Expo. Most notable among the announcements were the confirmation of an all-new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
“Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we’re always exploring new ways to tell new stories in new places,” Rasulo told a crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center in California before taking them on a “behind-the-magic” tour of their favorite Disney destinations.
Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the tremendously-popular “Star Tours” attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2011. Based on the iconic Lucasfilm “Star Wars” films, the attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.
For Walt Disney World in Florida, Rasulo outlined plans for the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of Fantasyland by 2013. Guests will soon be able to:
-Visit their favorite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast’s castle library.
-Be Our Guest and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast’s castle.
-Fly with Dumbo high above brand new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent.
-Journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction – also opening at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011.
-Meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.Rasulo provided updates on the multi-year expansion of Disney’s California Adventure including the new “World of Color” attraction slated to open in the spring of 2010 and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its six acres of hand-carved rockwork.
Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently-announced projects including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19 unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney’s first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
As we did on the second day of the D23 Expo, here is a recap from today’s events at the Anaheim Convention Center. Today held some of the biggest announcements of the D23 Expo so far. First up is the much anticipated Walt Disney World Fantasyland expansion:
Here we see concept art of the new Fantasyland. As you can see, most of the princesses have been the inspiration in the development of the new attractions and restaurants. Pixie Hollow is also being developed fully, complete with the hometree and a Pixie play area. Many of the Disney Princesses will be getting their own realms in Fantasyland, including Belle, Cinderella, and Aurora
Another princess getting her own portion of the park is Ariel. Like its sister park on the west coast, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is inviting Ariel to be part of its world with a new Little Mermaid section of Fantasyland. The area will be dominated by Ariel and Eric’s castle, with a statue of our favorite little mermaid perched on a rock amongst the water surrounding the castle
The classic staple, Dumbo, is also getting a facelift–a second set of ride vehicles, and a three ring circus atmosphere to incorporate the feel of the original film. The ride will be “completely queue-less” with a waiting area set up with bleachers for parents. Riders waiting until their feather is called can be entertained by playing a variety of interactive games
Finally, with fanfare, a group of storm troopers, and an appearance from Darth Vader himself, Jay Rasulo announced Star Tours 2
The updated, 3D ride will entertain guests in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland with various Star Wars experiences, including a high-speed pod race
Construction for the Fantasyland expansion is expected to start sometime in early 2010, while Star Tours is expected to close in October 2010. Star Tours II is set to open in 2011, while Fantasyland and Pixie Hollow are expected to open in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
I hope you’ve been enjoying our coverage of the D23 expo. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for a round-up of day 4 of the Expo tomorrow.
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul spent yesterday at the Magic Kingdom before embarking to Disneyland and the D23 Expo. Here’s some of his newsworthy photos:
Halloween is officially upon the Walt Disney World Resort
Read More about Matt Paul’s 9/8/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
Disney has made a short press release regarding the newest prop on display as part of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Backlot Tour attraction:
The Studio Backlot tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a new prop on display, and it’s eggcellent! Guests can see the colorful chicken coop that appeared in Hannah Montana: The Movie. In the film, Miley Cyrus’ character stays up all night to rebuild the coop for her farmhand friend Travis.
Buena Vista Construction Company, Walt Disney Imagineering, and the Scenic Shops partnered to bring the movie prop to the Studios.
“Jackie Herrera is our WDI curator, and when she saw this was available, she jumped at the chance to get it here for Studios guests.” said Wyatt Winter, Walt Disney Imagineer.
Guests can see the chicken coop, which is one of the largest props on display at the Studio Backlot Tour, as they exit the Special Effects Water Tank and enter the queue for the tram tour.
WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve made a quick trip to the Magic Kingdom earlier today and has plenty of news and photos to share, so let’s get started:
Tonight was the first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Read More about Brandon Struve’s 9/4/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:
Guests staying at the Disneyland Hotel will be sleeping on new beds alongside new furniture.
“We wanted to make the rooms a more immersive experience for our guests,” said David Gill, media relations for the Disneyland Resorts.
Construction crews began work in the Dream Tower last week on the project that will take three years to tackle the entire hotel. Work includes stripping the rooms down to the bare walls, upgrading the electrical and plumbing and then bringing in carpeting, paint, furniture, beds and bathtubs.
The new furniture is being lifted into the tower via a temporary elevator mounted to the exterior of the building.
“Some of the furniture is so big that we want to get it in and out effectively without disrupting the rest of the hotel,” Gill said.
The new look for the rooms was conceived by designers at Walt Disney Imagineering, and includes many Disney touches such as hidden Mickeys in the carpeting, the bathrooms and other niches; and headboards that light up with a fiber-optics display of the world famous Disneyland fireworks above Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Other details include a pair of Mickey Mouse hands holding the lights in the dressing area. Even Tinkerbell is hiding out in the room.
“We wanted the guests to continue to feel the Disney magic when they return to the rooms from our parks,” Gill said.
The rooms will be outfitted with energy-efficient lighting and double-paned, energy-efficient windows that will be tinted blue to give the towers a new look.
The work is being done in phases, with the Dream Tower scheduled for completion in June, followed by the Magic Tower then the Wonder Tower. All the work is expected to be complete by 2012.
Disney officials declined to give a cost for the renovations.
All of the old bathtubs will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, while the beds and furniture will be offered to cast members at a highly discounted rate with proceeds donated to local charities.
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul spent a long Saturday at the Walt Disney World Resort and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Matt started off at the Transportation and Ticket Center, on his way to the Magic Kingdom
WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve took a trip around the World on Friday and has a ton of newsworthy pictures to share with us, so let’s take a look at what’s new and notable:
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom, where Halloween is in full swing
