Time To Turn Back Tiki-Time???

WDWNT on July 15, 2008

After months of hearing rumors that the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management will be closing sometime in the near future to make way for a Stitch-involved makeover, a new wild rumor has hit the streets of the Magic Kingdom and has cast members in De-Nile (Attempt at a Jungle Cruise joke). Strong rumors now indicate that the original budget for the postponed major Jungle Cruise attraction refurbishment maybe heading across the way to fund the restoration of the talking audio-animatronics bird show to its original splendor. In short, the original Tropical Serenade show may return to the Magic Kingdom as part of a huge marketing campaign for the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2011.

The planned campaign is going to promote the idea of guests experiencing renewed classic attractions and entertainment inspired by the resort’s past. Among the planned updates for the celebration are updates to Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, and the Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom; Journey Into Imagination and Illuminations at Epcot; and The Great Movie Ride and Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Also rumored at this time are a new firework show and updated Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom.

While most of these changes are likely to not take place (as is the nature with rumors), a few of them will make the line-up in time for October 1, 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more info on these rumored changes becomes available.

Temporary Dining Changes

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Reported by the Dis:

Disney will begin implementing a new reservation system that combines dining, recreation and tour bookings.

The conversion will start on July 21, 2008 and is expected to be functioning on October 24. While this is taking place, the latest dining reservation date which can be booked in advance is January 25, 2009. Once the new system is operating, it will revert to the 180 day Advance Dining Reservation window.

The exceptions to the shortened ADR booking window are Cinderella’s Royal Table, Chef Mickey’s and Victoria & Albert’s.

 

This updated system has been in the works for a while and is now finally being implemented. The rate of error from the old system necessitated the changes and the new system should work much more efficiently than the old. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we attempt to gain an official confirmation of these changes.

Earful Tire

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

A new Grand Marshal vehicle has debuted in the Magic Kingdom theme park, carrying guests of honor down the daily parade route in grand style. To fit the theme of Main Street, USA, the vehicle was designed after a 1912 touring car. The new vehicle’s design also allows guests in wheelchairs to board easily and ride in the main seating area. Also an added touch of the new vehicle — Mickey Mouse tread designs on all four tires and the spare tire attached to the rear. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

Jim Hill Goes Off the Wall-E

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Our good friend Jim Hill over at Jim Hill Media has a great article up today about the rooms currently being re-decorated to Pirates of the Caribbean and Finding Nemo over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. While the new movie themed rooms are very news-worthy, there is something towards the end of the article that is far more interesting and exciting.

When mentioning tomorrow’s article for the site, Jim brought up the rumor that plans for Shanghai Disneyland’s Tomorrowland area have it completely themed to Disney-Pixar’s Wall-E film. I found this pretty exciting since I had been told about a month ago that the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland may be getting the same treatment. Current plans include having the fictional “Buy N Large” corporation from the film Wall-E taking over tomorrowland, in order to give the land a cohesive storyline after years of mass-confusion. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Space Mountain, and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress would most likely only be touched up to reflect the new theme, but major changes would be happening to the remainder of Tomorrowlandunder the current plan. A Wall-E themed show is currently in the works in Imagineering and would most likely replace Stitch’s Great Escape (while Stitch moves over to the Enchanted Tiki Room), although there is also talk of the show replacing The Laugh Floor. Other plans include major refurbishments of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Astro Orbiter. While all of this is still rumor for now, there is a very strong possibility that most of the changes in this plan will take shape by 2012. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on the future of Tomorrowland becomes available.

Here We Go Again…

WDWNT on July 12, 2008

Laughing Place managed to snap a few pictures of a special promotion in Downtown Disney for the new reality show on ABC, High School Musical: Get in the Picture. Here are a few of them:


It looks as if you spin this wheel, & you either win prizes or get to play a game of some sort


Now are these free to every guest, or do you win them?


There’s another promotion going on by the ESPN Zone, having to do with the Honda Pilot

To see more of Laughing Place’s pictures of these promotions, & more from through-out the whole resort, click here!

School’s Out for Senior Year

WDWNT on July 11, 2008

The popular High School Musical: School’s Out roaming stage show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now scheduled to make its final performance at the park on September 13, 2008. However, don’t get too happy if you’re not a fan of the Disney Channel’s mega-hit movie series. On October 24, just around the time the new film in the series is released in theaters everywhere, a new roaming stage show themed to High School Musical 3: Senior Year will be hitting the streets at Hollywood Studios. Stay tuned for more details on the new show as they become available.

Colors of the Wind Goes Black

WDWNT on July 11, 2008

Breaking news from the Orlando Sentinel:

After a 10-year run, the live ‘Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends’ show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close Sept. 27, Walt Disney World announced Thursday.

No immediate replacement is planned for the amphitheater. The Pocahontas character will remain in the park, though three actors must audition for other shows.

The remainder of the 28-member cast and crew will be reassigned, said spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez.

With no replacement for this show coming soon, I think we can now begin to talk about the land being cleared behind Camp Minnie-Mickey. We can now let the rumors begin….

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on this breaking news.

Magic Kingdom Parade Update

WDWNT on July 10, 2008

According to the Walt Disney World Cast Member website, the following changes will be made (highlighted items have not been previously announced) at the Magic Kingdom during the replacement of the Liberty Square bridge:

In our ongoing quest for continuous improvement, the Magic Kingdom Liberty Square Bridge will be closed from Friday, August 15 through Friday, August 29, 2008, for routine maintenance. The refurbished bridge is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, August 30. During this “Maintaining the Magic” refurbishment, we are reducing the grade on the bridge, making it easier to navigate for the parade vehicles, carts and other hand-pushed assets that will travel across the bridge, once it’s reopened.

While the Liberty Square Bridge is closed for refurbishment, additional entertainment enhancements will be offered to minimize any impact this closure might have on our shows and our Guest experience, including the following:

* In addition to our normal 3pm Disney Dreams Come True Parade, a second Disney’s Dream Come True Parade is planned for 7pm.
* Both Disney Dreams Come True Parades will follow a modified route, traveling from Town Square down Main Street, U.S.A., and circling around the Hub and back down Main Street, U.S.A, to step-off at the Fire House area gate.
* Because the SpectroMagic parade floats are too large for the modified parade route, SpectroMagic will not be performed from August 15-29. However, additional experiences will be offered in the evening, including additional Castle Shows, extended evening Character meet-and-greets in Town Square and additional performances of the Woody’s Cowboy Camp show.
* Wishes fireworks will be performed as scheduled.

Movin’ on Down To Moderate

WDWNT on July 9, 2008

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are now being listed as a Moderate resort option on the official Walt Disney World Resort website. No reason for the option’s downgrade from Deluxe to Moderate has been made available at this time, but due to the overwhelming size of these accommodations, it is highly doubtful that a price change is going to happen anytime in the near future. The only rumored explanation for the change is that by listing it with the other Moderate resorts, Disney hopes bookings for the location will increase. WDW News Today will continue to update you on this story as more information becomes available.

Some Beary Good News

WDWNT on July 9, 2008

After a few years of neglect, the Country Bear Jamboree attraction at the Magic Kingdom will be receiving some substantial updates during a planned refurbishment to take place between September 28 and October 31, 2008. Among the upgrades coming to the attraction, is an entirely new audio sound system that should make fans of the attraction quite happy, seeing as though the audio quality for the show has been pretty bad in recent memory. We can also expect some other general maintenance to occur throughout the attraction, but don’t expect any major changes during this time. We also should not expect this to bring back the Country Bear Christmas show, at least not this year. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we hear more on this upcoming refurbishment.