A Pirate’s Adventure – WDWNT Archive

Dirk Wallen’s 6/18/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The Villas at the Grand Floridian are starting to match the Grand Floridian skyline

They are racing towards an October opening

Work continues on the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

The first awnings for the bus loop have started to appear

Yep…

Tarps still up on the Adventureland Veranda

It looks like A Pirate’s Adventure is going to have FastPass+ at some point

Guests can’t board at the Frontierland Railroad Station currently as they work on the stairs

Sleepy Hollow Refreshments… say it with me… IS STILL BEHIND TARPS

Walls still up on the waterfront in Liberty Square

FastPass+ entrance at “it’s a small world” ready for testing this week

You can now buy your own Gaston’s Tavern sign at Bonjour Village Gifts

Tom Corless’ 5/11-14/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

On Saturday and Tuesday I visited the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (respectively) and took some newsworthy photos to share with you, so let’s take a look:

The canopy is missing from the Haunted Mansion

Should be back soon

work progresses on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train in Fantasyland

The steak sandwich is gone from the Be Our Guest lunch menu, replaced with a prime chuck roast beef sandwich

For some reason, a Disney Visa card kiosk has been built near the Haunted Mansion

Signage for A Pirate’s Adventure has been uncovered

Pins are once again gone from Uptown Jewelers, replaced with ladies’ accessories

Moving over to Hollywood Studios, the Lightning McQueen popcorn bucket from Cars Land is being used at Backlot Express as a healthy meal bucket

Some of the new Haunted Mansion merchandise was released at Villains in Vogue, including this new shirt

New Haunted Mansion pillow

The Darth Maul face painting ad for Star Wars Weekends was turned into a t-shirt

Legends of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard is now a store for women’s and girl’s accessories and apparel

Starting this week, there is a flash-mob with Disney characters being performed in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat daily at 3:30PM

Some new Star Wars pins came out a little early

A number of new or updated hats have been released sporting a new “Graphic Edge Collection” tag

Found a cute new tumbler at the Boardwalk

Boardwalk Bakery has some great options for breakfast

They now also have Mickey-shaped muffins!!!

I found more new hats at Beach Club

A new purchase-with-purchase watch is available featuring Sorcerer Mickey

Class of 2013 merchandise is also now available

Dirk Wallen’s 5/13-5/20/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen has been all over the Walt Disney World theme parks over the last week and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

We begin at Downtown Disney

To Pleasure Island while it is still a thing…

While nothing is going on at Adventurer’s Club…

Walls are already up for Disney Springs at the former Comedy Warehouse

The walls from inside Pleasure Island

Work happening at the Sassagoula boat dock on Pleasure Island

It’s closed, so you have to get off at Marketplace

Soon this will be The Landing

The Truckeria taco truck is at Downtown Disney

Not sure how long this has been a thing, but there is a snow-cone cart in Marketplace

They also have glazed nuts

Some new pins are out at Pin Traders, including this Remember When Figment & Dreamfinder pin

Toy Story Mania 5th anniversary pin

The pin trading nights pins are still available

Moving over to Epcot, Character Spot is still closed, but we can see a new sign where the entrance will likely now be

I have seen the kid’s shirt before, but the adult “I conquered the world” shirt looks new to me

Some work going on in Â the queue for Turtle Talk

Walls still up at the Norway pavilion waterfall

Work continues on the new, larger restrooms at the American Adventure

Work continues on Spice Road Table in Morocco

The new France pavilion ice cream parlor is set to open next month

Moving to Studios, the Monsters Inc. meet and greet is closed until the 24th to become a Monsters University meet and greet

Current progress on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

A lot of work to be done near the resort entrance still

The 24 hour day is on the Magic Kingdom times guide

The Adventureland Veranda is still behind tarps

Signage is uncovered at A Pirate’s Adventure

Tarps still up at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments

The Liberty Bell is no longer behind walls and looks great

It has seemed like forever since we have seen the facade at Columbia Harbour House…

Work continues on the former Fantasyland restrooms near Peter Pan

No visible progress on Princess Fairytale Hall

More rock-work appearing on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Still a lot of work to be done over here

The Mad Tea Party is still closed

Tom Corless & Dirk Wallen’s 3/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Things have been so crazy around here at WDW News Today lately that we’ve had some minor news stories slip through the cracks. In an effort to get you up to speed on some of the stories we haven’t covered on the site lately, here are newsworthy photos from myself and Dirk Wallen taken earlier in March:

Some new “flat” snowglobes for sale

There are some new hot sandwiches in Liberty Square

Most of the arcades at Walt Disney World are replacing their prize counters with one of these

An automated prize machine is a pretty cool concept

The new purchase with purchase item for sale is an expandable duffle

Wriost gift cards are available for the Flower and Garden Festival

Work continues on expanding the Boardwalk Bakery

The arcade next door is gone

The sign is still up and the door still enters the small ESPN shop

The arcade section is covered by a curtain

A few weeks ago, Test Track introduced a new car type guests can choose

Triton’s Treasures behind the Mine Train now has shutters on it

An ADA compliant ramp was installed on the Yankee Trader

Some of the new Haunted Mansion merchandise is for sale in Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

Picture frame

Hourglass

Coasters

Work continues on installing A Pirate’s Adventure in Adventureland

Work continues on the exterior of the Adventureland Veranda

Rumors indicate that this may finally become a Pirate restaurant in 2014 once the Disney Fairies move out

More tarps on the front of the building

St. Patrick’s Day shirt

Spring Break and graduation merchandise out

Two new Oswald shirts for sale

Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny are in town square

Awwwwww

More Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

Some trees up on the mountain

We can finally see some rock work

In preparation for FastPAss+, a large section of the Pirates of the Caribbean queue has been re-routed

Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

Thanks for reading!

Joe Hogarty’s 3/21/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Today we welcome WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty to the team with his very first photo report! Joe visited the Magic Kingdom to catch Splash Mountain now that it has reopened from refurbishment, but he also got some pictures of progress on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train and A Pirate’s Adventure to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The scariest opening photo of any report ever…

Don’t worry, it’s just a prop for “A Pirate’s Adventure”

Make sure to brush your teeth kids

Jack’s compass

Letter from Sparrow

We suspect this bird (similar to the one from World Showcase Adventure) will talk to guests… is it Cotton’s parrot?

Something yet to be installed?

This large shell just recently appeared

Splash Mountain just re-opened from refurbishment and it looks fantastic!

The clothes look brand new

Every animatronic is working flawlessly

Some shrubbery was added around Brer Fox

Oooooo, new lighting…

The store is pretty much unchanged

The blue shirt is new

Otherwise, a lot of the same merchandise

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland

Work also continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

The track is almost done!

This side hasn’t changed much

The other side has made some major progress

It looks like this side is finally going to be covered soon

Some new steel near Storybook Circus

The backside is starting to look like a mountain

Triton’s Treasures is also coming along nicely

Chimneys now up on the shop which may open before the Summer

I see a mountain…

It’s nice to finally see rock work

Thanks for your first report Joe!

Imagineers Offer a Video Preview of A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

The new interactive game in Adventureland called A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas will be opening to guests soon and Imagineers were nice enough to provide a video preview of the latest Magic Kingdom attraction:

What do you think of the new game coming to the Magic Kingdom?

Joe Hogarty’s 4/11/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos (including A Pirate’s Adventure, the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train, Princess Aurora’s new costume, and more) to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Stage set for the AFV taping

I love that it actually fits Main Street U.S.A.

Beautiful day at the Magic Kingdom

Jack Sparrow What-Not?

The Crow’s Nest will be the starting point for A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

There is a queue set up now

The sign above the entrance is covered

Tangled tower

It has become a popular photo spot

No visible progress on Princess Fairytale Hall

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

More scaffolding going up on the west side

Meanwhile, the facade on the east side is nearing completion

It looks nearly complete from this side

The track was wrapped to accommodate other work

Triton’s Treasures should be open by the Summer

New rock work going up

Other than a few walls that were enclosed, nothing new over here

The Mad Tea Party is closed for refurbishment

IRON MAN-O-RAIL

WOOSH!

Princess Aurora has received an updated costume as well now

Looks nice

Jack Sparrow really let himself go…

VIDEO: Full Play-Test of “A Pirates Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas”

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Earlier today, the Magic Kingdom opened “A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas” for a few hours to guests as part of a very early play-test. The attraction does not currently have an opening date, but we were informed today that what we would see during the course of this test is a very early version of the attraction, so please keep in mind that things may change a lot before this attraction actually opens.

Guests are recruited at the former Crow’s Nest in Adventureland and are given a map and magic talisman to go off on one of five pirate raids through Adventureland. Only two of these raids were available today. The raids are similar to Sorcerers in the Magic Kingdom as guests are sent station to station following a map to complete assignments. The actions in this particular attraction are a lot more automated, but all of the effects involve physical effects instead of screens much like Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure.

Here is video of one of the raids:

UPDATE: We also have video of the second raid that was play-tested today at the Magic Kingdom:

For older guests who know the park well, a raid should take no more than 7-10 minutes. For younger or inexperienced guests, Disney expects it to take somewhere between 15-20 minutes. The attraction is intended for children ages 8-10, so don’t expect to have the time of your life if you are an older guest. That being said, I felt the physical props better fit the park than the screens used in Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.

Stay tuned for more coverage of A Pirate’s Adventure as we get closer to the official opening of this attraction.

So, what do you think of A Pirate’s Adventure so far?

Dirk Wallen’s 2/2/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and has some fantastic pictures of new progress on the Big Thunder Mountain interactive queue, A Pirate’s Life: Treasures of the Seven Seas, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and more, so let’s take a look:

While the Main Street Bakery is closed, guests can head to the Tomorrowland Terrace