The Swiss Family Treehouse at the Magic Kingdom unexpectedly closed today for a refurbishment that is now scheduled to continue through the end of the month. With such a sudden unannounced closure, we can only guess that something was discovered to be wrong with the classic walk-through exhibit that has forced it to close for repairs on such short notice.
Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on this refurbishment becomes available.
Walt Disney World has launched a new interactive website just to distribute details to guests on the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties at the Magic Kingdom, currently taking place on select evenings until the end of October. The website features the popular “Boo-To-You” theme song from the party’s parade as well as narration from a ghostly voice that actually moves between the left and right audio channels, mimicking the voice-over effects from the stretching room scene of the Haunted Mansion. You can also view a special performance of the Cadaver Dans (otherwise known as Main Street U.S.A.’s Dapper Dans) singing “Grim Grinning Ghosts” while visiting the purple and black website. To get more information on the fireworks, candy, characters, and parade that make up this spirited nighttime after-hours event, be sure to go HERE.
DVC members received an email this morning from “Deevy See, the First Lady of Disney Vacation Club,” with “the big announcement” including a link to this YouTube video. The email also mentions that viewers will see the new resort on an upcoming Travel Channel special “Season of Disney: Disney’s Best Kept Secret” to be aired on September 18 at 8:00 pm EDT.
The Orlando Sentinel also published a full article this morning:
The Walt Disney Co.‘s rapidly growing time-share division takes an aggressive step forward today when it unveils plans for two new resorts in Orlando — even as Disney Vacation Club battles some of the strongest financial headwinds it has ever faced.
Disney this morning will formally reveal plans for its Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, confirming earlier reports that the 15-story tower rising just beyond the Magic Kingdom will be used for time shares. The company also will unveil plans to sell time shares at the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, a secluded community of 60 units that is being rebuilt in a forested pocket of Walt Disney World.
The twin announcements ensure that Celebration-based Disney Vacation Club, which has grown to nine resorts and more than 350,000 members, will have more time shares for sale in 2009 than it has ever had before.
Company executives say they are confident of strong demand for their newest resorts despite the slumping U.S. economy, which has eroded consumer spending and made financing for big-ticket purchases such as time shares harder to obtain.
“What we’re trying to do, particularly with the resorts that we build on site [at Walt Disney World], is really provide something that’s unique, something that you can’t get any other place in Central Florida — and, really, in the world,” said Jim Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club. “With these two resorts, we believe we’ve done that.”
The company is especially optimistic about the roughly 300-unit Bay Lake Tower, which will be linked to the iconic Contemporary Resort by a fifth-floor pedestrian bridge and will feature the first time shares Disney has ever sold within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom theme park. Sales will begin Sunday, with first crack going to existing Vacation Club owners.
“We think it’s going to do very, very well,” Lewis said. “That is a premium location . . . right across the street — literally — from our flagship park.”
Disney will command a premium price for that convenience. Lewis said prices at Bay Lake Tower will begin at $18,000 — the most expensive starting point of any Vacation Club resort. Prices at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, which opened its first phase last year, begin just below $17,000.
The 60 elevated homes comprising the Treehouse Villas will be built as a new phase of the Saratoga Springs resort near Downtown Disney. A sales date and prices haven’t yet been set.
The Treehouse Villas will open next summer. Bay Lake Tower will follow in the fall.
Although different in size and theme, Disney says both resorts share a similar heritage.
The Contemporary, which was just the second hotel to open at Walt Disney World, is one of the park’s most recognizable monuments, with its mammoth, A-frame structure straddling the resort’s monorail. The Treehouses have stood in a quiet corner of the park since 1975, used at various times as hotel rooms, Disney Institute housing, and dorms for international student-employees.
Design challenges
When designers first set to work on blueprints for an addition to the Contemporary, concepts ranged from copies of the main hotel to a “George Jetson”-like theme, said Bill Hanus, director of development at Walt Disney Imagineering. But they worried about constructing a building that could be seen as competing with the original. They opted instead to build a crescent-shaped tower, hoping the Bay Lake Tower’s curved architecture will complement the angular Contemporary.
There are touches of symmetry: Exterior grooves marking each floor are aligned in both buildings, and a rooftop lounge on the Bay Lake Tower matches the California Grill restaurant on top of the Contemporary.Inside, designers have made sure to emphasize the views that they hope will ultimately make Bay Lake Tower one of Disney Vacation Club’s most sought-after resorts. Rooms will contain nearly wall-length windows that open to views of the Magic Kingdom or Bay Lake. Some bathrooms will even have sliding walls allowing guests to watch fireworks while soaking in tubs.
“It feels like a Tomorrowland building,” Hanus said, alluding to the section of the Magic Kingdom that the tower overlooks.
Saving trees
Each of the new Treehouse Villas has been manufactured in sections at a factory in Wingate, Pa., and they are being installed by cranes that lift them over existing treetops. That approach will allow Disney to build modern, 1,200-square-foot homes without damaging the lush, campsite feel that many Disney fans recall, said Jim Durham, vice president of resort projects for Imagineering.
Disney Vacation Club is now scheduled to have space in four time-share resorts for sale in 2009, with Bay Lake Tower and the Treehouse Villas joining the Animal Kingdom Villas and the upcoming Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland in California. It will be the first time the company has had four resorts for sale at once.
Disney is also in the early stages of developing a roughly 800-room resort in Hawaii that will include both time shares and hotel rooms.“It’s certainly going to be challenging,” said Jeremy Glaser, a lodging industry analyst with the research firm Morningstar Inc. “I think they’ll find buyers, just not at the same speed as they were before.”
But Lewis said Disney’s investment in Bay Lake Tower and the Treehouse Villas demonstrate its confidence that its time-share business will remain strong.
“During tough economic times, people are really a little bit more receptive to a message regarding how you can save money on future vacations,” Lewis said. “Clearly, we’re not recession-proof. But we are recession-resilient.”
The following report has been posted by MickeyNews.com:
Though it’s getting rave reviews from park guests, if you have certain health conditions it may not be right for you. “We expected it to be relatively gentle and similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride in the MagicKingdom, but once we got on it we were surprised to find that it was a rough ride,” said Stephen Ashley, author of the guide book Walt Disney World with Disabilities. “For my wife Sarah it was a bit of a shock, and if she had known what it was like she probably would have chosen not to try it because of her neck problem.”This highly advanced interactive ride opened in June 2008, and it’s become one of the most popular rides at Disney. Considered a 4-D experience, it’s inspired by Disney Pixar’s “Toy Story” films. Guests will be “shrunk” to toy size to play an assortment of midway games with the stars of the film; Woody, Buzz, Rex, Hamm and others. Using a spring action shooter gun, participants will shoot 3-D targets for points.
Using newer technology, this experience will be a blast for a large percentage of Disney guests. However the motion and special effects may be challenging for those with certain conditions including neck and back problems, weakness, epilepsy, balance issues and vertigo. It has rough tracks, jerky motion, high speed turns and spins and sudden stops that can feel quite rough. Regardless, many people even with mild to moderate health issues will be able to participate and enjoy it.
Want to know what to expect? You can find a thorough description of Toy Story Mania on www.Diz-Abled.com. It includes in-depth details about the physical and emotional feel of the ride, along with tips for riding with greater comfort. The description is designed to assist travelers in deciding whether the ride is appropriate for them.
Stephen Ashley posts sections of the book Walt Disney World with Disabilities on the official website; however he does not ordinarily include ride and attraction excerpts. “We made an exception for this one ride. We just released the revised and updated version of Walt Disney World with Disabilities, making it current to 2009,” explained Ashley. “My wife Sarah and I had tested out Toy Story Mania after the book went to print, so we decided to write a full article and place it on the website.” That web article along with the book provides readers an up-to-date 2009 version of Walt Disney World with Disabilities. The article includes photos of the attraction including the queue and the ride cars, as well as a link to a video of the ride in motion.
The description of Toy Story Mania will be included in the next edition of Walt Disney World with Disabilities. The book is designed to support travelers with minor to major health and emotional concerns so they can safely and comfortably enjoy Disney to the fullest.
This report doesn’t surprise me in the least. While I think the new Hollywood Studios attraction is something great for all guests, I have seen people in my party who have vertigo take medication such as Dramamine to experience the attraction without any discomfort. The fast motion of the new age “Toy Story Trams” is certainly enough to make the experience unfavorable for those with motion sickness and may lead to some updated warning signs outside the attraction in the not-so-distant future.
In a rather unexpected turn of events, Disney is changing the name of the well-liked Disney Dining Experience to “Tables in Wonderland”. The announcement also comes with some details on special events cardholders can experience during the 2008 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival:
On the occasion of the 13th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, we are pleased to announce that we will be launching a new name for the Disney Dining Experience.
Our Festival, which will take place from September 26 – November 9, 2008 will celebrate Cities in Wonderland, and following that theme, your dining club will be named Tables in Wonderland as of September 15, 2008.
This new name will not alter any of your current benefits. We have simply decided to do this to help distinguish your membership from any other dining privileges at Walt Disney World Resort that bares a similar name to the Disney Dining Experience.
You may continue to use your current card until expiration and your renewal card will reflect the new name, Tables in Wonderland.
In addition, we look forward to seeing you during the Festival. The team has planned an exciting line-up of events for the entire 45 days. We are particularly excited about hosting the Bocuse d’Or Culinary Competition on September 26th and September 27th from 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. on each day.
Chefs Paul Bocuse, Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller invite you to watch some of the countries top professional chefs compete live to earn the privilege to represent the United States at the renowned Bocuse d’Or International Cuisine Competition in Lyon, France 2009.
Plan to attend this unique event with Al Roker and Dana Cowin, Editor in Chief, Food & Wine Magazine as host emcees. Several celebrity chefs will be judging the Event and will be available for book signings throughout both days. Viewing the Competition is included in park admission.
Also, the Gala Dinner on Saturday, September 27th will be a rare treat and a lot of fun. More information on this event, including the menu will be sent on a separate e-mail . . . an event not to be missed!
We wish you a delicious journey as you explore Cities in Wonderland during the Festival, and as a member of Tables in Wonderland all year around.
A special thanks to Jason Diffendal of WDWCelebrations for the news. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on this as it becomes available.
Paperwork was filed by Disney that officially christens the new north wing of the Contemporary Resort as “The Bay Lake Tower”, and home to the Disney Vacation Club “Villas at Disney’s Contemporary Resort”. A formal announcement should be made within a month, and then sales should begin sometime shortly thereafter. Until that time, you can peruse the paperwork filed by going HERE.
For more details on this project as it becomes available, stay tuned to WDW News Today.
WDWNT is back with another photo report from the Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s start this report at the Magic Kingdom:
Some lovely pumpkin decorations next to the Mickey floral.
A beautiful pumpkin Mickey floral.
Mickey’s face is colored with actual pumpkins.
The Minnie Mouse statue from the hub is missing.
Donald in a Davy Crockett style costume that I have never seen him in before.
An area blocked off for refurbishment in the queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Some work being done near the bridge to Splash Mountain.
The never-ending construction continues behind the Frontierland Fry Cart. 8 months and counting…
Decorations for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party along the back path from Mickey’s Toontown Fair to Tomorrowland.
More of these scarecrows have appeared on Main Street U.S.A.
Moving over to Epcot, a new Fantasmic CD for both WDW & Disneyland is on sale at MouseGear.
As you can see, the CD includes the both the Disneyland & WDW versions of the show, as well as the Disneyland exit music.
This lovely new woman’s T-Shirt is on sale at both resorts.
Stuffed Minnie Mouse in her new costume for this year.
A stuffed Mickey Mouse also in his new attire.
A beautiful glow-in-the-dark Halloween shirt for this year.
More Halloween merchandise.
The Epcot Pin Celebration took place this weekend, titled Pin Trading University.
A statue of the new Disney Pin Trading Mascot “Bobby Pinback” at the entrance to World Showplace.
John met up with John Rick of the Central Jersey Disney Pin Traders & The Disney Pincast.
John Rick gathered some great audio from the event which will be airing on the Disney Pincast over the next few weeks.
Here are a few of John Rick’s pictures from Pin Trading University:
Upcoming 15th Anniversary Nightmare Before Christmas pins from the Disneyland Resort.
Upcoming 50th anniversary Sleeping Beauty pins from the Disneyland Resort.
A 20th Anniversary Little Mermaid pin collection being released next March at Disneyland.
A new starter set for next year’s Magical Celebrations, “Celebrate Everyday!”
A preview of some new Hidden Mickey pins from WDW
October 2009 is the 10th anniversary of Disney Pin Trading.
Concept for pins on the 40th Anniversary of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion next year.
Some pins our own John Rick won at the celebration!!!
Steven Miller previewed next year’s Epcot Pin Celebration
The Museum of Pin-Tiquities will be next year’s WDW Pin Event.
Next year’s summer pin festival at Disneyland will celebrate 40th anniversary of The Haunted Mansion.
And now back to John Corigliano’s pictures, over at Downtown Disney:
T-Rex Restaurant is starting to look really nice.
The restaurant opens this October.
New palm trees have been planted outside the restaurant.
As usual, check out Johnâs Flickr page for plenty more photos from his trips to the World!
The latest Dateline Disneyland article on MiceAge has a fine update on construction through-out the Disneyland Resort. Let’s take a look at some of the latest happenings:
The King Triton & Ariel statues have been removed, as well as most of the current theming in Ariel’s Grotto.
This is what has become of the turntable where Ariel entered to meet ‘n greet guests. No word on if the turntable structure will remain for Pixie Hollow.
A construction wall has popped up near the old Fantasyland Skyway Station. Don’t get your hopes up though, because there’s no way the Skyway is ever returning.
Let’s take a quick tour of the new Wishing Star Crystals store, which opened August 30th.
A window display.
In the store, you can buy personalized “magic crystals”.
The Conestoga Wagon near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is still 100% in tact.
This sign is in place at Harbour Galley.
Some of the exterior Haunted Mansion Holiday decorations have already arrived, & are waiting to be installed in the queue area.
Many of the Halloween displays in the shop windows on Main Street USA have already been installed.
Finally, over at Department 56 in Downtown Disney, the new wall sectioning off the store looks to be mostly complete.
Staff member Jason Diffendal of WDWCelebrations.com has provided us with some very interesting pictures from around WDW during his latest trip. Let’s take a look at a few newsworthy items:
Starting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new Night of Joy event logo has taken over the entrance billboard. I really like the new logo, something about those colors…
The stage in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat is almost ready for the Night(s) of Joy.
While the temporary stage is set, High School Musical 2: School’s Out will be performing on the Streets of America. This shows final performance is going to be September 13th, with the updated High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show to debut on October 24th.
Work on something continues at the end of Sunset Blvd.
Mouse About Town, Once Upon a Time, and Sunset Club Couture (Sunset Blvd. Shops) have all closed to be refurbished and change over to selling just clothing. This is a horrible decision, which moves the watchmaker into the Art of Disney over in the Animation Courtyard and leaves the park with more limited options when it comes to collectibles and home goods. It appears the restrooms next door are also closed at this time.
Moving over to Epcot, wait times make the off-season seem a little more off this year.
“These wait times look so good, I want one!”
Food and Wine Festival preparation outside the American Adventure
The Morocco gallery is closed while a new exhibit is added. The new exhibit will open on September 25.
Epcot rushing together the International Food & Wine Festival, which begins September 26.
Exterior work continues on the United Kingdom pavilion.
Moving over to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Liberty Bell in Liberty Square
Work on the Fantasyland facades continues, now expanded onto Tinker Bell’s Treasures
Even though the new Liberty Square bridge is complete, work continues in the waters below it.
More columns around Main Street U.S.A. are being painted. Wonder how many average guests even noticed this one…
Even the napkins are getting into the Halloween spirit this year.
We end this special report with a Halloween cup you could get next time you buy a Coke at WDW. Thanks for the report Jason!
Here’s a quick look at the new costumes that Disney’s most famous couples will be sporting this halloween during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party:
Mickey and Minnie Mouse
Donald and Daisy Duck
