Adam Roth’s 10/15/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom again on Monday and has some photos of New Fantasyland and other assorted newsworthy items to share:

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The castle walls have been completely revealed

No bushes now

Scuttle is a living character in the Under the Sea queue, so he can interact with guests

He also talks to the crabs

Sleepy…

We think these crabs are going to become beloved

We have to stop here…

PORK SHANK!

and some LeFou’s Brew

Souvenir mug

Still awesome

Yep…

There are books titled for the land in the Magic Kingdom next to the Donald service statue

Some Haunted Mansion wallpaper in the background as well

I don’t think Phil Holmes asked for the tribute, I’m pretty sure it was just a gesture from the Imagineers

This is the souvenir goblet that will also be available at Be Our Guest Restaurant

A lot of decorations in this store

Some work took place of the roof of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Gaston greeting guests in the town

Some filming going on

No more walls over here

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Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

A look at progress on the old Skyway site

Ummm…

Castle Dreamlights installed

Orange Bird ear hats available in Adventureland

Work continues outside of Magic Carpets of Aladdin

It’s worth mentioning that this attraction goes down for refurbishment in a few days, at which point we expect FastPass Plus to be installed

Some work has been done to the Pirates of the Caribbean queue over the last few months

Some staircases were refurbished

New lighting all around

The new merge point in place

Some work still being done

It is well-themed. It looks like toe fort was damaged in battle

The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls

Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats is gone

Now just stroller parking

Some work still being done

It is believed this all ties into a Jungle Cruise refurbishment happening in 2013

So, we’ve been staring at this thing a lot…

So, here’s what reader Chris Currie believes it is…

 My guess is it is more for people counting than security. The white rectangular box on the left side is whats called a precision stereo camera and is dedicated to people counting. The second device in from the left is an Axis Dome camera, third device in is an outdoor laser measurement device from SICK AG, another Axis Dome camera and then another box style camera.

The two dome cameras are likely used for verifying the data from the precision stereo camera and the laser management device. The box style camera could possibly be used to test people counting analytic’s in a Video Management System.

That sounds about right

But no, it has nothing to do with them using RFID for park entry, this is simply an exit test

We’re exiting… goodbye!

Adam Roth’s 9/20/12 New Fantasyland Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth took a stroll through New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom on Thursday and has some newsworthy photos of the construction to share with us:

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Castle Walls are pretty much finished

You can see the track recently installed at Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Cute details on the Castle Wall

A closer look at the track

A look back

The Storybook Circus sign is nearing completion

The grass on the top of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is looking good

A closer look at the Storybook Circus sign

Lights were on in the third tent, which we now expect to have seating and FastPass distribution for Dumbo and Barnstormer

Signage up on Pete’s Silly Sideshow

WE WILL!

Dirk Wallen’s 9/10/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen was on the scene at the Magic Kingdom earlier this morning and has some newsworthy photos to share from his trip:

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Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing

Lampposts installed in the new parking lot

If you closely, you can see the new children’s water play area themed to Alice In Wonderland that is being installed

There is a new Fall trolley show running every morning at the Magic Kingdom. We have a short video clip:

Everyone likes to point out budget-cuts and declines in show, but offering seasonal new shows like this prove Disney still cares despite what you may read elsewhere

Speaking of declines though… the bears are gone from the Brave meet and greet

This is a permanent change as Merida may not have much longer at the Magic Kingdom anyway

No one wants to color?

The new Fantasyland restroom facility project keeps chugging along

A new walkway through the Castle Walls has been set up to accommodate pavement work and other minor things

New directional signs on the walls

Work continues very slowly on finally installing the Storybook Circus entrance. Looks  like we won’t be getting the ticket booth in the concept art as there just isn’t enough path space…

First Look at Completed Section of New Fantasyland’s Castle Walls

WDWNT on August 30, 2012

WDWNT reader AJ P. found some more pictures from her trip to share and these few are pretty interesting…

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The first completed section of the Castle Wall has been revealed

It stands right near the pit left by the old Dumbo

All that remains is a stroller parking sign

It looks great!

The wall will soon stretch across this area

Adam Roth’s 2/2/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on July 27, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Thursday andf has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom was testing

Inside the Fire Station

The patches have returned

And you were worried they wouldn’t come back…

Guests are prepared for the adventure while waiting in line

Cards! Oh, they’re on the screen…

The screens are very well hidden

Off we go!

We got cards!

The portal under the train station

Some nice lighting set up

I love when they use backdrops of the land they are in

PONGO!

Cruella

Horace and Jasper

Hades disguised, as usual

An awesome rendering of Main Street

Turns sinister looking

We’re on the move again

I can’t wait to see someone try to buy this painting…

Portal opening

The cameras are really well hidden

This one is pretty well hidden too

Main Street facade work continues

Where are the portals?

Could one be here?

There it is!

Pretty funny

Don’t drink and drive

WE’LL CONTINUE

A crane visible over the park

Some of the displays from the pin station are missing while bridge work continues

Sorcerers can also sign up in Liberty Square

Pavement being worked on in Frontierland

More and more permanent markers showing up

I really love these windows with the opening curtains

More new pavement

Lawrence from Princess and the Frog

Louis the alligator

You have to free Tiana from a snake

Merlin on the Jungle Cruise

The Lion King story

Again, some funny moments to be found

Fighting a hyena

They have been here fo a while, but plenty of Pirates movie references can be found in Tortuga Tavern

More movie details

The color changing fireplace is pretty neat

Sunshine Tree Terrace now has a window

The lighting on the upper portion is pretty nice

Work continues on the new path between Fantasyland and Liberty Square

Less and less trees and shrubs

Some rumors claim that a Tangled play area and a rest area where guests can re-charage electronics is being added in addition to the new restrooms

Work continues on queue changes at Peter Pan’s Flight as they prepare for the new interactive queue

HUGE crane up in New Fantasyland

Work continues on the Castle Walls

Work continues on the new Dumbo queue as Goofy crashes through a tower…

Storybook Circus may very well soft-open by the end of the month

The train station and roundhouse looks great!

More rock-work appearing on Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The archways extending from the castle look almost finished

Work continues on Belle’s Village

Signage about to go up, either for the restrooms or Ariel’s Grotto meet and greet

Another look at the train station

The new color schemes on the Dumbo uses a lot of pastels for more of a circus feel

Workers up on the station

AWESOME…

Time to battle Maleficent

Still just a sticker in Fantasyland

Here’s a detailed marker

On to the Mermaid story

Pretty funny

Flotsam and Jetsam

The shark from The Little Mermaid

I LOVE Merlin’s window

A new cart has appeared in Tomorrowland, and I must say, I really like the look of it

R2-D2 popcorn bucket available far away from Star Tours

Goofy’s new tower at the Barnstormer

Crane at dusk… I’m sure you want this as a wallpaper

The long murals on the Fantasyland construction walls are back

A far away look at the Skyway area construction

You can clearly see The Haunted Mansion

A lot of dirt on the move

Big Thunder closed for refurbishment

I love this sign

The workers are done for the day

Fantasyland Station

Yummmm

I’m getting hungry…

And for all you Alien Encounter fans…

Enjoy!

Josh Siegel’s 1/15/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on July 27, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited the Magic Kingdom on Sunday to complete his Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom quest and he took some newsworthy photos from his trip to share with us:

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Pain and Panic disguised as happy woodland creatures

DEFEATED!

Merlin has statues of all of the villains

Hades has another challenge for us…

Chernabog!

Time to rest after defeating all of the villains

Ooooooo, a badge!

Hades isn’t happy

He’s trapped…

All of the Villains are stuck in a snowglobe

Progress on the old Dumbo

Mostly intact still

The Castle Wall waits to grow over this plot

The construction site is still a bit messy

The stroller parking situation is getting bad

Work ont turning the Skyway into a new path and restrooms continues

PLEASE… there will be nowhere to walk…

Land clearing for the new path

Most of the pet cemetery has been moved to accommodate the work

Zach Larson’s 1/6/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot on Friday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

More Main Street U.S.A. facades are going behind tarps, this should be the last batch

A temporary sidewalk ramp installed

Signs point guests around to the meet and greet FASTPASS distribution

Center Street tarps still up

The Bakery is now behind tarps

A temporary cart is also serving some bakery items

Plaza Ice Cream is closed

This facade will be behind tarps soon

Storybook Circus construction

Dumbo is almost ready to roll

The queue seems a bit behind

Dumbo was testing

We’re ready… we’ve been ready…

Belle’s Village

Trees in place, this is most likely where they will be staying

The details on Prince Eric’s castle are visible

The Beast’s Castle, Maurice’s Cottage, and the Castle Wall all in this shot

The path around Yankee Trader is now being constructed

It will put guests right about here

See?

The Madame Leota merchandise cart has moved closer to Columbia Harbor House

The Frontier Trading Post is still behind tarps

Pecos Bill’s is still behind tarps as well

Big Thunder is closing for a few months for major upgrades on the 9th

The queue should be the most radically different thing when it re-opens

The Barnstormer/Great Goofini looks like it is nearing completion

The times guide has been expanded to include the parade route, probably since it will change to a short loop this week as Electrical Parade goes dark for a paving project

Over to Hollywood Studios, where Toluca Legs Turkey Company is back in action…

During PIXAR Pals, an escape route… I mean alternate route is being opened to help guest flow

IT’S DONE! Oh, wrong park…

MUSH! MUSH!

Now on to Epcot

The tip board still works! A new record!

It indicates if FASTPASS is available

Time is almost up…

The pre-show monitors are now flat screens!

More and more cars are getting the Chevy branding

The new directional signage in Future World is color-coded and looks great!

Is it open?

Barely…

Oh, this side has lights…

No visible progress on the upcoming Habit Heroes exhibit

Thanks for the report Zach!

Adam Roth’s 1/6/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on July 16, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us (including a lot of New Fantasyland), so let’s take a look:

Work has begun on the new path into Liberty Square from Fantasyland

The path will cut around the Yankee Trader

Walls still up at the Skyway station, soon to be restrooms

Dumbo closes in the original location on January 9th

Plenty of trees planted in New Fantasyland now, these will be staying

The pavement is a bit messy still

Castle wall construction

PROGRESS!

Prince Eric’s castle is coming along nicely

Awww…

Not too bad…

Another look at the Castle Walls

The first interactive queue

A look at Maurice’s Cottage

Work on the new Dumbo queue

The tower that Goofini will crash through is coming along as well

Belle’s Village

Mermaid rock-work

Bonjour Village Gifts

Goodbye old Dumbo…

Although we will see this one again, slightly remodeled for Storybook Circus

The Barnstormer building looks great off in the distance

If you look in the bottom right, you can see the Dumbo title “D” clearly on the new spinner

What a mess!

Hopefully this will be cleaned up and ready to open next month

This area will take a little longer…

More of Belle’s Village

A better look at barnstormer and the top of the new Dumbo

They have practically rebuilt these tents from scratch at this point

The Be Our Guest restaurant building

Work continues on the facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

A lot of construction workers out and about

That’s still one long wall…

Work has shifted into high-speed on Dumbo

Some Storybook Circus pavement is now visible

Back to Under the Sea

Back to Dumbo and Storybook Circus

Maurice’s Cottage, home to Enchanted Tales with Belle

The Castle Wall again

Cement, FINALLY!

Some Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary shirts have been released

Big Thunder Mountain is closing for a 4.5 month refurbishment on Monday


Rumors are that an interactive queue, some new show elements, and a general fix-up will happen over this period

Work pretty much started months ago when the railroad ties were removed

More Main Street facades are being worked on and these will be like this until May. Here is the Bakery

Work continues on the new semi-announced Disney Vacation Club wing at the Grand Floridian

Ads for a special Florida resident pass up outside of the TTC

Go wild today!

Even More Aerial Pictures of New Fantasyland – March 2012

WDWNT on April 19, 2012

Courtesy of Scott Keating and scottkeating.net, we once again have some fantastic aerial photos of Fantasyland to share with you:

Supports for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train are going up

The base of the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is in place at Storybook Circus and the second tent is now fully covered

A lot of work still to go on the second Dumbo spinner

The bases for the Castle Walls are starting to go in at the old Dumbo site

Josh Siegel’s 2/23/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on February 25, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The Bakery is still behind tarps

A tarp came down in the bad weather

Some lighted effects added to another Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window

A line building for some of the windows

A new poster inside the Fire Station

A decent amount of guests waiting

The Chapeau is still behind tarps

Some new, smaller trees planted in Town Square

Chamber of commerce (package pick-up) is also still behind tarps

A temporary wheelchair ramp installed while work is being done

Another look at the new trees everyone seems to hate

I don’t see what all of the commotion is about… they’re trees…

Another look at the Chapeau/Confectionary

They fixed the fallen tarp on Center Street

Some of the facades came out from behind the tarps and look great

The Bakery tarps in the daytime

Plaza Ice Cream is still closed

Work continues on the Main Street bridge

The Dumbo building is coming along nicely

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid coming along nicely

One of the large tents has already been covered

Some kind of wall rising, possibly for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train

The new rock-work at the edge of the Mermaid facade taking shape

Belle’s Village

The crane! The crane!

The facade of Enchanted Tales with Belle is finally getting some detail

A better look at the new covered tent

Tigger’s Bounce Area is still closed…

This may be made into a Pooh meet and greet area in the not too distant future

Plenty of trees planted in Storybook Circus

A billboard for The Barnstormer is now up, you can spot it over the Dumbo queue

Another look at Enchanted Tales with Belle

Another look towards Dumbo and Barnstormer

The days are numbered for this store

And we all know this closes May 31st now

The unveiled portion of Castle Wall looks nice

Guests being prevented from going upstairs at Pinocchio’s Village Haus

A portion of walls near the restrooms remains

This piece of wall was already revealed

A new wheelchair ramp has been installed at Peter Pan’s Flight in preparation for the new interactive queue addition once the new restrooms open

I hope we can spare a few shields to decorate this…

Work continues on the former Skyway plot

The Haunted Mansion is clearly visible

What a mess

Work continues on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

One new roof looks pretty much finished

MAdame Leota’s cart out in Liberty Square

40th anniversary shirts

I haven’t seen this out in a while, but now it’s at the cart

Some new pavement along the parade route

Some new pavement that looks like wooden planks

Work continues by the Vacation Club booth

Work was completed on the Frontierland Trading Post facade

I assume that the missing part of the sign will return soon

This facade looks brand new

Some pieces still being worked on

Sunshine Tree Terrace still behind tarps

Some signage was recently installed at the Sorcerers station in Liberty Square

Good luck Sorcerers!