Who Doesn’t Like Picnics or Parties?

WDWNT on April 11, 2009

The good people over at LaughingPlace.com have reported two interesting news bits from around the Walt Disney World Resort that I feel are of interest. The first piece concerns a new dining option at Animal Kingdom:

Animal Kingdom has introduced a new program – Picnic in the Park. The following is from the brochure:

Turn your meal at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park into an adventure with Picnic in the Park!

Tier 1 – Sandwiches
Select from Turkey Focaccia, Chicken Wrap, Ham Grinder or Tuna Pita

Meal for Three – $24.99 + tax
3 Sandwiches, 1 side, 3 desserts, 3 bottles of Dasani water

Meal for Four – $32.99 + tax
4 Sandwiches, 1 side, 4 desserts, 4 bottles of Dasani water

Meal for Five – $40.99 + tax
5 Sandwiches, 1 side, 5 desserts, 5 bottles of Dasani water

Meal for Six – $48.99 + tax
6 Sandwiches, 1 side, 6 desserts, 6 bottles of Dasani water

Sides: Chips, coleslaw, corn medley, green beans, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, orza pasta, oven-roasted potato wedges, seasonal fruit salad, tomato & cucumber salad

Desserts: Apple, brownie, cookie, cornbread, crisped rice treat, orange

Tier 2 – Rotisserie Chicken or Ham

Meal for Three – $29.99 + tax
8 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 lb of Ham, 2 sides, 3 desserts, 3 bottles of Dasani water

Meal for Four – $38.99 + tax
8 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 1/4 lb of Ham, 3 sides, 4 desserts, 4 bottles of Dassani water

Meal for Five – $47.99 + tax
10 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 1/2 lb of Ham, 4 sides, 5 desserts, 5 bottles of Dassani water

Meal for Six – $56.99 + tax
12 Pieces of Rotisserie Chicken or 1 3/4 lb of Ham, 5 sides, 6 desserts, 6 bottles of Dassani water

Sides: Chips, coleslaw, corn medley, green beans, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, orza pasta, oven-roasted potato wedges, seasonal fruit salad, tomato & cucumber salad

Desserts: Apple, brownie, cookie, cornbread, crisped rice treat, orange

Note: No substitutions allowed

Details

  • Stop by the Picnic in the Park podium, located in front of Guest Relations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park to place your order, or visit the Tusker House Restaurant podium in Africa. Orders must be placed between the hours of Park Opening and 1:30pm.
  • Select which tier of entrées you would like and your choice of sides and desserts.
  • Each order comes in a reusable bag packed with plates and utensils, plus a map to help guide you to picnic spots throughout the Park.
  • When placing your order, you’ll also be able to select a pick-up time at least two hours after the time the order is placed.
  • You may pick up your order at Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery, adjacent to Tusker House Restaurant in Africa (indicated by H on the map on the reverse side). Payment is due upon pick-up.
  • If you are on a Disney dining plan, Picnic in the Park may be used as a Quick Service Meal. Requires one
    Adult entitlement per meal ordered. For example, a Meal for Three will require three Adult entitlements.

There are 14 picnic locations spread throughout the park

The picnic prices seem very reasonable and it sounds like a great dining option for Animal Kingdom, which only offers a short list of eateries. The second piece of news leads us to believe Pleasure Island is coming back to life (sort of):

Downtown Disney has introduced “Celebrate Tonight!”, a high-energy street party focusing on guest celebrations. Guests are invited to join in with the DJs (spinning party hits), stilt walkers and party crew for group dances and sing-alongs to celebrate anything and everything. Celebrate Tonight! is now running 5pm-11pm Sunday through Thursday and 6pm-Midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

From the sounds of this, the Pleasure Island clubs will remain closed as guests party in the streets rather than indoors. A strange decision, but it will certainly be interesting to see how many guests actually attend these nightly parties. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on both of these breaking stories.

Jose Eber’s 3/23/09 Magic Kingdom Video Report

WDWNT on March 26, 2009

WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber has provided us with two excellent videos (both available in High Definition by hitting the “HD” button at the bottom of each window) from his latest trip to the Magic Kingdom on Monday. The first video features a look at construction of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration in Tomorrowland and the second features a look inside Space Mountain from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority while the interior lights are on (a view that may no longer be possible come November). Enjoy:

Robert Ashburn’s 3/13/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on March 16, 2009

Our good friend Robert Ashburn of Figmentsmedia.net visited the Magic Kingdom on a less-than supernatural Friday the 13th and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us:

Posters for Disney-Pixar’s “Up” and Disney Channel’s “Sonny with a Chance” at the Transportation and Ticket Center

Some exterior work on the Exposition Hall on Main Street U.S.A.

Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 3/13/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

Not Sure What to Celebrate?

WDWNT on March 14, 2009

In case you weren’t sure what you can celebrate at Disney Parks in 2009, here are some promotional videos recently released by Disney:

Jose Eber’s 3/10/09 Supersonic Photo Update

WDWNT on March 11, 2009

WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber was visiting the Magic Kingdom yesterday and took some pictures of the continuing construction for Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration in Tomorrowland:

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The main stage now has the large metal canopy that can be seen in the concept artwork

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The structure across from the stage now also has some futuristic accents being added to it

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You can see some futuristic pylons that will hold speakers being added to the side of the stage in this picture

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A little blurry, but you can make out the box where the speaker is located within the pylon

More Details Emerge on “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration”

WDWNT on March 4, 2009

Walt Disney World has finally provided us with a larger piece of concept art for the upcoming “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration” show at the Magic Kingdom, as well as an updated description of what exactly this Tomorrowland show is about:

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Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration is a musical stage show that celebrates Galaxy Day in the Tomorrowland area of Magic Kingdom Theme Park. Get ready to party with a high-energy dance troupe and a very special live video appearance from Stitch. Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration is scheduled to debut late spring 2009.

A live broadcast of the Tomorrowland News Network, with your host Tip Trendo, is interrupted by a video transmission from Stitch, who has “borrowed” a space cruiser assigned to cover Galaxy Day—a special celebration where everyone around the galaxy celebrates everything worth celebrating.

Stitch is always up for a good party! Join Stitch, Tip, the singing Galactic Girls and some surprise guests for an out-of-this-world party filled with music and dancing. Learn some space-age dance moves and groove to old favorites and original songs with the intergalactic crew on stage.

Just because Stitch appears on a screen, don’t think this show is the same every time! Stitch interacts with the audience, and every show is a unique experience filled with fun and surprises.

As previously reported, the Stitch on-screen that will interact with guests is very similar to the characters you can see in both the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and Turtle Talk with Crush. I’m actually quite surprised at how well this show will tie-into the Tomorrowland story-line, beginning as a news transmission from the Tomorrowland News Network broadcasting to the imaginary city. Is this the beginning of a cohesive story-line for the Tomorrowland of the new Millennium? We can only hope. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue to gain details on the upcoming “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration” show at the Magic Kingdom.