DVC Member Previews for American Idol Experience and Kim Possible

WDWNT on January 9, 2009

Disney Vacation Club Member Previews for The American Idol Experience and Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure have been announced.  DVC Members must register in advance at this link for The American Idol Experience previews.  The Kim Possible Challenge is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Disney Vacation Club Members have a special opportunity to sign up to be part of a sneak preview of The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ at the Walt Disney World® Resort before it opens officially to Guests.  The sneak previews have limited availability, so sign up today to watch one of the live shows.

Dates: Feb. 5-8
Duration: Show will last approximately 30 minutes
Location: Superstar Television Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Each Disney Vacation Club Member with a valid Disney Vacation Club Member ID Card who registers to watch one of the live shows may bring as many as five Guests along to watch the show.
  • Due to limited capacity, advance registration is required.
  • Members must present their confirmation slip, their valid Member ID Card (or Key to the World card displaying a Member designation) and a photo ID at check-in.
  • Check-in begins one hour prior to the event, and Members must be checked in at least 30 minutes prior to the event.
  • As a courtesy to others, Members who register for the event and are unable to attend for any reason should re-visit the Web site to cancel their reservation and give other Members the opportunity to participate. Likewise, Members may revisit the Web site periodically to see if space has opened up to reserve their preferred time.

Disney Vacation Club Members have a special opportunity to preview Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot®, an immersive new experience designed to turn Guests into crime-fighting secret agents. This is a chance to experience the adventure before it opens officially to Guests.

Disney Vacation Club Members may embark on missions available Jan. 23-25 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (Missions begin every 15 minutes.) Missions are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Members and their Guests will begin their missions by reporting to the Team Possible Recruitment Center located on the bridge leading from Future World to World Showcase at Epcot. Members must present their Member ID card or their Key to the World card displaying a Member designation.

Update:  We have just received word that the official opening date for the Kim Possible World Showcase Challenge is being advertised in Innoventions as January 28.

Live Report from the WDW Resort

WDWNT on January 8, 2009

Tom Corless, our man on the ground, called in with this report today about Dinoland at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

As part of the tech rehearsals that have been going on for the American Idol Experience, the preshow in the queue area is operating and can be seen on the overhead monitors.  However, CMs are stationed in the area politely asking guests not to look in through the windows from outside the building.

Continuing with the removal of McDonald’s as a sponsor in the parks, all signs of McDonald’s have been removed from Dinoland.  Dinosaur, which was formerly sponsored by McDonald’s, is now sponsorless with all traces of the golden arches removed from the attraction.  In addition, the sign at the entrance to Dinoland, which previously showed McDonald’s as a sponsor, now claims Dinoland is sponsored by The Dino Institute.

As we here at WDWNT Headquarters receive more live reports from the WDW Resort, we’ll keep you updated as often as we can.

Architect of Disney Lodges Passes Away

WDWNT on January 8, 2009

Peter H. Dominick Jr., the genius behind Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Grand Californian Hotel, passed away last Thursday.  The Denver-based architect always said a turning point in his illustrious career came in the early 1990s, when he presented his design for the Wilderness Lodge to Michael Eisner, then chairman of Disney:  “During these halcyon years of Disney, when Eisner was being hailed as a modern-day Medici, we worked with one of the great creative companies of its time and collaborated with the most talented designers, working at their most creative boundaries.”

Full obituary at the Orlando Sentinel.

A great book about Disney architecture is “Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture.”

Disney Design A Tee Grand Opening on Friday, January 9

WDWNT on January 7, 2009

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Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes

Only in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace

Event: Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes Grand Opening

Grand Opening Date: Friday, January 9

Grand Opening Time: 11:30am

The first 100 guests at the Grand Opening of Disney Design A Tee presented by Hanes will receive: A Complimentary Lanyard, Button, Mini Souvenir Tee, plus a $5.00* off coupon toward the purchase of your Design A Tee!

Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes allows you to design your tee your way! Choose a short or long sleeved tee shirt in a variety of vibrant colors and create your personalized tee by choosing from over 300 pieces of Disney art and add up to four lines of text! Here you can have your name imprinted on specially designed commemorative t-shirts. Your tee shirt is printed while you wait and you can event watch them being made on the video screens in the store!

So, whether you are celebrating your birthday, commemorating your recent nuptials or identifying your family members with our special “Family Reunion” tees, you’re sure to come away with a special memory that will last a lifetime.

Breaking News: Space Mountain Refurb Finally Announced!

WDWNT on January 6, 2009

The staff here at WDW News Today will be keeping you up to date on the latest news through-out the Walt Disney World Resort while Tom Corless is down at the resort for one of his many, many trips. This update is to let everyone know that it has been made official that Space Mountain will indeed be closed from April 19th, 2009 until sometime in Fall 2009. From what we can tell, it will only be a relatively small refurb, with nothing too major happening.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for the latest on Space Mountain’s finally confirmed refurbishment.