Adam Roth’s 7/27/08 Update

WDWNT on July 28, 2008

Our good friend Adam Roth from WDWCelebrations has provided us with a fantastic photo update from his latest trip to the  Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s take a look at some interesting things going on at the world this weekend:

A new spinning topiary has appeared outside the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. Expect this to be a temporary change…

Something new in Innoventions, most likely for the return of the interactive Kim Possible game at Epcot.

Some exterior work taking place as Nine Dragons Restaurant is refurbished.

While the restaurant is closed, Epcot invites you to enjoy the rest of the China Pavilion, and the restrooms in Norway.

Some construction going on in the Morocco Pavilion as well.

More exterior work on some buildings in the United Kingdom.

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Drew Carey and Golden Age Souvenirs are closed until August 5th for refurbishment.

As you can see, just having Sounds Dangerous closed has effected the crowds in this area.

Al’s Toy Barn has been completely removed and is set to become a backdrop for Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars.

The back-side of Pixar Place is complete and looks like a pretty picturesque spot to end this photo report.

Getting Ready for Magical Celebrations

WDWNT on July 23, 2008

In case you didn’t hear our last report on Magical Celebrations a few weeks ago, It is set to be the event that replaces the Year of a Million Dreams Celebration at the Walt Disney World Resort in January 2009. However, don’t expect free giveaways and new entertainment to be the focus of the next year-long marketing campaign.

Much like the celebration of Magical Gatherings back in 2004, Magical Celebrations is set to be the starting point for a line-up of new add-on vacation offerings that will be offered to guests looking to celebrate lifetime milestones during their vacation. As Jim Hill reported in his latest article on Jim Hill Media, Disney has just purchased some new Internet domain names that will be just a small part of the 2009 event.

Better yet, let’s talk about the new Disney Weddings packages that the company will soon be offering. Which will cover everything from elaborate on-property proposals …

  • DISNEYPROPOSALS.COM

… to honeymoons that will now allow newly blended families to bring the kids along with their post-wedding trip to the Resort.

  • DISNEYFAMILYMOONS.COM

Or — better yet — how about a honeymoon package for stressed over-achievers who don’t really have the time to vacation at WDW.

  • DISNEYMINIMOONS.COM

    •  

    While Married Couples will find a number of new offerings during this celebration, those looking to mark birthdays, anniversaries, and just about anything-else will find a variety of new ways to celebrate good times around the resort.

    Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more details on this new celebration as we get closer to January 2009 and the beginning of Magical Celebrations.

    As Far As Attendance, The Party’s Over

    WDWNT on July 22, 2008

    In another sign that things are about to get ugly in the attendance department for the Walt Disney World Resort, the October 3 scheduled Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom has been cancelled. The stranger part of this equation is that the park closing time will remain at 7pm, perhaps another cost-cutting measure to insure profits despite the expected low crowd levels, especially for what is already a slow time of year for the parks. If you ordered tickets to this October 3 party, you can call (407) W-Disney to move your tickets to another party or obtain a refund.

    One Monster Coaster

    WDWNT on July 21, 2008

    Just as we briefly mentioned at the end of last week, rumors are swirling that an inverted roller coaster themed to Disney Pixar’s Monsters Inc. will be the next major new attraction for the Walt Disney World Resort after the opening of the American Idol Experience this January. Our good friend Jim Hill over at Jim Hill Media had a lengthy article about the proposed Hollywood Studios roller coaster today, although he did go into more detail on some other upcoming projects as well.

    Jim also mentioned two new attractions that were first rumored to the public right here on WDW News Today over the course of the last year. First mentioned was that the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure will be themed to “A Bug’s Life” (probably in the very-near future), and next was the Little Mermaid dark ride that will most likely be heading over to Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom in October of 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for updates on all of these very strong rumors, and be sure to read Jim Hill’s article HERE.

    Some Imagination, Huh?

    WDWNT on July 19, 2008

    A press release about entertainment at Walt Disney World was just released. Part of it shows that during the slower times of year, Fantasmic will only be performed 2 nights a week:

    We regularly evaluate and refine our operations. At the same time we unveil The American Idol Experience in January 2009, we will make an adjustment to our operation by offering Fantasmic! on select evenings each week. Fantasmic! will be performed two times weekly –generally Mondays and Thursdays – and more often during our busiest times of the year.

    On nights when Fantasmic! is not performed, Guests (with appropriate ticket media) will continue to have the opportunity to enjoy nightly fireworks spectaculars such as Wishes at the Magic Kingdom® Park and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot®.

    Showtimes will be published for Guests in the Times Guide, which is available at the theme parks, and online at disneyworld.com.

    A Real Passholder Event!!! (Finally)

    WDWNT on July 17, 2008

    It seems there may actually be an event that is exclusive to Walt Disney World Passholders coming this September:

    Saturday and Sunday, September 27 & 28, you’re (Walt Disney World Passholders) invited to an exclusive Magic Kingdom screening of the eagerly anticipated new animated feature, Tinker Bell. You’ll be seeing it more than three weeks before the general public does on DVD and Blu-ray October 28!

    From the storytellers at Walt Disney Picturescomes a spectacular, full-length CG animated featurefilled with magic and asventure starring Tinker Bell. It takes you into the secret world of Pixie Hollow, where you’ll hear Tinker Bell speak for the very first time.

    This imaginative new film also introduces you to delightful new friends in Pixie Hollo-a place coming soon to Magic Kingdom park, where you’ll be able to meet Tinker Bell, Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta and Silvernist in person!

    Passholder Screening Fun Facts:
    Saturday and Sunday, September 27 & 28
    Magic Kingdom Park
    For show times & to sign up,
    visit disneyworld.com/passholder
    (note: registration is not yet available)

    Not only does this article in the August issue of the Mickey Monitor release the event information, it is the first actual confirmation of the addition of a Pixie Hollow meet and greet area to the Magic Kingdom. Stay tuned to WDW News Today to find out when registration for this special event will open.

    Taste Test Track

    WDWNT on July 17, 2008

    Remember the old Leave a Legacy kiosk over at Epcot? If you do, then you probably know it was shutdown last summer and has been a dead-zone pretty much since that time. However, as you can see by the picture below, work has already begun on fixing up the area:

    If the rumors I’m hearing are true, we should see some representatives from the food and beverage division of the Walt Disney World Resort setting up shop here in the near future. The reason: this spot is set to become a taste-testing area, where different food and beverage ideas and concepts can be tested with the general public. While we’re not sure if this means guests can line-up to taste what’s next for the World, I’m thinking that they will just be pulling random guests out of the crowds to do all the testing (much like they do for all of the other different “experiments” they perform around the resort). While none of this is confirmed as of this moment, It is highly likely to happen in some way, shape, or form. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on this Epcot location.

    EpcotServo’s 7/15/08 Photo Update

    WDWNT on July 17, 2008

    Our good friend EpcotServo has posted yet another fantastic photo update from Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, here are a few of the pics from the report:

    Dino-sue is getting repainted over in Hester and Chester’s Dino-Rama

    New Hollywood Studios merchandise featuring the park’s skyline, the fab five, the Genie, and a number of Pixar characters

    The Hanes sponsorship has finally begun at Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster

    Three new Toy Story Mania mugs are now available for purchase

    They actually say Midway Mania

    I’ll be sure to pick up all three of these my next visit to the studios

    New kids shirt

    Note: you can’t ring children in Toy Story Midway Mania, only Little Green Men

    Pixar Animation Studios merchandise is now also being sold here

    The smaller spring-action-shooters are now for sale, still no sign of the bigger ones. Notice that there are still plenty of opening day pins and shirts available at the shop.

    For the remainder of EpcotServo’s great photo report, head HERE

    As Usual, Celebrities Visiting Walt Disney World

    WDWNT on July 16, 2008

    Singing superstar Mariah Carey and award-winning actor Nick Cannon are pictured with another famous show business couple — Mickey and Minnie Mouse — July 15, 2008 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Carey and Cannon spent several days at Walt Disney World Resort, enjoying attractions in all four theme parks, fireworks shows and Disney cuisine. Among their favorite attractions — The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Mariah’s favorite) and Space Mountain (Nick’s favorite). (Diana Zalucky, photographer)

    Actress Kristen Alderson (right), star of the ABC Daytime drama “One Life to Live,” takes a spin in a giant teacup with her cousin, Colleen Kingston (left), July 10, 2008 on the Mad Tea Party attraction at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Alderson, who has portrayed the role of “Starr Manning” on the ABC soap opera for 10 years, is vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort with family this week. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

    Grammy Award-winning musician Dave Matthews (left) shares a laugh with six-year-old daughter Grace (right), July 8, 2008 at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Matthews, a solo artist and lead singer and guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling rock group “Dave Matthews Band,” spent the day at the Walt Disney World Resort with family and friends. Dave Matthews Band’s 41-city summer concert tour continues in Tampa, Fla. on July 9. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

    Dining Changes Official

    WDWNT on July 15, 2008

    Here is the official announcement from Disney on changes to the dining reservation system:

    The Walt Disney World® Resort will release a new reservation booking system for dining, recreation and tour reservations in late October 2008. The new reservation system will replace our current Dining Reservation System and will allow you to book multiple dining reservations for your Clients in one experience, while associating reservations to your Clients’ Walt Disney World Resort room reservations.

    In the future, Travel Agents and Guests will be able to make dining reservations online at disneytravelagents.com and disneyworld.com with this new reservation booking system. The launch date for this enhancement will be announced at a later date.

    As a result of the system upgrade, effective July 29 through late October 2008, Guests will be able to book dining reservations up to Jan. 25, 2009 arrivals.  In late October, booking processes will return to normal, allowing Guests to book up to 180 days of arrival.

    The system upgrade will not impact Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Chef Mickey’s Restaurant. Those three venues will continue to observe the normal booking processes throughout the system cutover.

    There you have it, as expected, you will soon be able to make all your Disney vacation reservations online in one motion, making the overall experience much easier. Expect the new system to be in order around January 2009.