Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Page 2

Dirk Wallen’s 2/23/13 Walt Disney World Resort Photo Report

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen takes us to all 4 Walt Disney World theme parks this time around, stopping to check progress on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train, the Tangled restroom area, the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, the Big Thunder Mountain interactive queue, and more! Let’s take a look:

RFID entrance installation continues at the Studios

The large electronic scrolling sign at Sounds Dangerous is now gone, looks like we can finally officially say the attraction is dead

The new Disney JuniorL Live on Stage debuted a few weeks ago

Doc McStuffins was added to the show

As was Sophia the First

Whoops…

It was up there for some of the show…

The Epcot 30th reveal/conceal pin set came out recently

New Spring pins

85th anniversary of the Plane Crazy short

EASTER DUFFY!

New Muppet shirt

Moving over to Animal Kingdom

Kodak picture spots are still up…

RFID entrances still being installed at Animal Kingdom as well

More Kodak

Hard to believe, but they are still installing the nets at Tree of Life

This is taking forever…

Some areas look completed

Others look like no work has even started

Beastly Bazaar will soon open as the Adventurers Outpost, a Mickey and Minnie meet and greet

The Character Landing will soon host Donald and Daisy, Pooh and Tigger are heading to Camp Minnie-Mickey

Pocahontas has already moved out of Camp Minnie-Mickey

The old theater for Pocahontas and Her Forrest Friends is still stroller parking

Some walls up in Camp Minnie-Mickey

We believe they are installing FastPass+ behind these walls at Theater in the Wild

Moving to Epcot, Flower and Garden Festival preparation is in full swing

Some scrims still up near the Oz playground

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs near Germany

Toy Story characters in the American Adventure

Lady and the Tramp in Italy

All of the booths are up… it’s so weird to see these out so early in the year…

They are giving out seed packets to promote Oz: The Great and Powerful and the festival

The Mission: Space facade is being refurbished, the ride is open still

Don’t try to park at the Polynesian Resort, there is a ton of construction equipment sitting there…

Work continues on The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. There’s some strange tower rising on the right…

Another somewhat similar structure is rising outside the building on the other side

It’s starting to look like the Grand Floridian

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, Main Street Apparel is behind tarps again

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Work continues on the Tangled restroom area

You can see the tree-stump shaped charging stations gusts can use to charge electronics

Work is nearing completion on the exit of “it’s a small world” that has been behind tarps

Columbia Harbour House is still behind tarps

Work continues on Splash Mountain which is closed until mid-March

More and more progress is being made on the interactive queue at Big Thunder Mountain

I see Marc Davis and Blaine Gibson references…

The detail on the new props is stunning

A nod to Western River Expedition, the attraction originally designed for this space

Most of the work on the mountain looks complete

A few tarps still out there…

This looks like way too much fun…

YES… MUST BLOW STUFF UP!

Max Guggenheim’s 01/20/13 DLR photo report

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

Max Guggenheim went to the Disneyland Resort on the 20th of January and captured some in progress magic! He was able to capture construction on Main Street Railroad station, Big Thunder Mountain, Mark Twain and Fantasy Faire. In this report is photo’s of Blue Bayou Bash and Blue Sky Cellar. Enjoy!

Artwork being done at the parks.Â

Facade is covered with a tarp with a neat graphic of the train station while construction continues.

Fantasy Faire slowly being built up.

Royal Theater to the left and Royal Hall in the middle being constructed.

The purple tent is Royal Theater.

The Sailing Ship Columbia is operating while Mark Twain is under refurb.

Work being done on the center Fantasmic fountain platform.

Part of Limited Time Magic.

The stage where Tiana’s Mardi Gras Celebration

Decorations for Bayou Bash

More Mardi Gras decorations.

Additional Bayou Bash decorations.

Princess and the Frog meet and greet location.

Limited Time Magic special beverage and food selections.

Blue Bayou Bash Face Painting.

Check out Blue Sky Cellar at Disney’s California Adventure for details of Fantasy Faire.

Michael Wada’s 2/17/13 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on January 3, 2013

DLNT Reporter Michael Wada was at the Disneyland Resort this past weekend and got some great pictures of Fantasy Faire and of the Oz hot air balloon.

As part as a multi-city promotion, The “Journey to Oz Balloon Tour” landed this weekend at the Disneyland Resort
1

and yes it is a real hot air balloon (we have been asked multiple times)

::__IHACKLOG_REMOTE_IMAGE_AUTODOWN_BLOCK__::4

Some filming going on as well. (LOOK AT THE MINI BALLOON!!!!!)

He must have gotten a lot of followers for that twitpic

There it is…

Neat graphic on the side of the trailer

Anyway, on to the theme park, Fantasy Faire is looking great

Maurice’s Treats has showed up

Over in Frontierland, Big Thunder is still closed

The Mark Twain still in dry dock

Michael was nice enough to go around the park and grab some pictures of the Kodak pictures spots

Despite the sponsorship being pulled, Kodak is still has a heavy presence in the park

Sleeping Beauty Castle decorated for True Love Week

Thanks for the report Michael

Conner Purzycki’s 1/17/13 DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on January 3, 2013

I was at the Disneyland Resort this afternoon and captured some newsworthy photos from all around the resort to share.

A giant crane is in place right over Big Thunder.

It looks bigger in person

Work on the center Fantasmic fountain is underway

New Orleans Bayou Bash has already been setup getting ready for the event kickoff tomorrow

Very temporary looking speaker setup

Mark Twain still in dry dock for its annual refurbishment

Christmas decorations still coming down in New Orleans Square

Blue sky and no more snow on the castle

Now for the juicy stuff, Fantasy Faire

A new structure has sprung up where previously a path led to Fantasyland

A closer look at that new structure

Over in DCA, it seems the Hyperion Bridge which crosses over Buena Vista Street was painted overnight to a new darker beige color

I don’t particularly mind the color change, I’m just curious why?

Over in Cars Land, one side of Mater’s is being resurfaced

Over in Flo’s the giant rotisserie out front has been removed

Odd to see this in the middle of the day

Thanks for reading

Big Thunder Mountain Refurbishment Announced January 7th – Fall 2013

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

The huge refurb that has been rumored for Big Thunder for months now has just been announced. From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

In the normal course of a Disney Parks attraction’s lifespan, there are periods of time when it is necessary to close for a major refurbishment. You may recall that this was the case last year with the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which now looks better than ever with its fresh snowfall. Up next at Disneyland park, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close January 7 for refurbishment, reopening in fall 2013.

Updates being made to the attraction will include:

New ride vehicles (but don’t worry – they’ll still look like the trains that you know and love!)

Track replacement (but the attraction will still follow its current course)

Repainting portions of the mountain itself (Walt Disney Imagineering has once again carefully studied Bryce Canyon for inspiration)

We’ll have more updates on these and other aspects of the refurbishment throughout the year, but if you’d like to experience the “wildest ride in the wilderness” one more time before it begins, head on over to Disneyland park by January 6 – its last day of operation until fall 2013.

More End Dates

WDWNT on September 1, 2008

We once again have some updates to the attraction refurbishment list for you. First up, as previously reported, today is the last day for the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries, which includes the Secret of the Stone Tiger & Random Acts of Indy shows. Various reports have been saying that the Oasis theater (home to Secret of the Stone Tiger) will not have any shows performing in it until next summer. Yet another classic example of cost-cutting!

We finally have dates for when 2 of the 3 former McDonalds locations at the Resort will open without McDonalds. Harbor Galley is planned to re-open on December 16th. Burger Invasion will re-open sometime in May 2009! But we do not yet have a date on when the Conostoga Wagon will re-open. All 3 close tomorrow.

Disney’s Electrical Parade will return on December 19th, & Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular will now return on December 12th, as opposed to December 19th, with a partial new cast.

Finally, a short refurbishment for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be conducted from December 1st to the 5th.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

The Goat Is Gone Again!

WDWNT on July 21, 2008

According to various reports, the Goat is once again missing from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I’m guessing again it’s just for regular maintenance, & he should return soon.

Weekend Round-Up

WDWNT on July 19, 2008

It’s been a news filled past few days, & there’s been a few things that we haven’t reported, as well as some updates, that were covered in this week’s Monday in the Parks update on MiceAge. Let’s take a look through some of the news pieces brought up:

After going missing for a second time in a year, the Goat in Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has returned.
We here at Disneyland News Today reported earlier this week on the closing of the Vineyard Room at Disney’s California Adventure on August 31st. Well apparently, for the last few years, the restaurant has only been opening on weekends, & it seems that these last few weekends that it’s supposed to be opened… Well basically, it won’t be. Again, it’s not confirmed, but highly likely.
Last Friday, both the Green Army Men stand before the security check & the Honda Pilot display in the Esplanade were removed, & everything is back to normal in that general area.
Also, the All-American College Band had its last performance at Disneyland last Friday, due to the performers heading back to school.
The Magic Morning early entry to Disneyland Park for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests that is usually offered on Sundays, will not be offered Sunday August 31st due to the Disneyland Half Marathon. It will instead be offered Saturday August 30th.

And now a couple of pieces of news in pictures:

As we reported earlier this week, the Grand Marshall Pre-Parade to Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams no longer features the dancers, characters, or the Year of a Million Dreams banner at the beginning

Yesterday at 5:45pm, Ariel made her final ever exit from Ariel’s Grotto

Refurb Time!

WDWNT on May 13, 2008

We have 3 new additions to the attractions refurbishments list. First up, Mickey’s House will be closed from May 12th through May 15th. Donald’s Boat will be closed for a rather long refurbishment from May 19th through June 20th. Finally, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed just on May 20th.

As always, be sure to keep an eye out on our Attractions Refurbishment page for the latest attraction refurbs!

Big Thunder Mountain Mini-Refurb?

WDWNT on April 5, 2008

A refurbishment for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was/is planned for April 28th through May 1st. But looking through Disneyland.com, it seems that the planned refurbishment has been removed.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today to see if this refurbishment happens or not.

Tag: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad