Since there were so many photos taken by WDWNT Network staff members of the inaugural D23 Expo from 9/10-9/13, we decided to combine all of them into one GIANT report featuring photos from Tom Corless, Luke Manning, Scott Smith, Matt Paul, and Myrna Litt:
This photo wasn’t taken at night, we arrived at the Anaheim Convention Center at around 5:30 AM each day
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul spent a long Saturday at the Walt Disney World Resort and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Matt started off at the Transportation and Ticket Center, on his way to the Magic Kingdom
Some exciting merchandise news released today by the What’s HapPINing Blog:
As promised, here is a first look at a new Pin of the Month collection coming to the Walt Disney World® Resort in 2010. Titled “Then and Now,” each pin in this collection will salute a current Disney attraction and its predecessor. This collection will be released starting in January 2010, and each pin will have an edition size of 1000.
The artwork for this collection was created by Disney Design Group Artist Mike Sullivan. We love the design of this pin – like we are looking into the “ThenandNow-O-Matic 3000.” For some reason, the spinner design reminds us a machine that could have been found in a Penny Arcade.
Other attractions in this collection will include:
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor – The Timekeeper
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – if you had wings
- Test Track – World of Motion
We’ve always wanted to take the time to do anything with our wings in a world where it is fun to be free.
For more details on this exciting new pin series as it becomes available, be sure to tune in to the Disney Pincast. If you haven’t started collecting pins yet, 2010 may be a good time to start 🙂
I have returned from my latest trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, and there were plenty of things going on in the last week. So let’s not waste any time, on to my photo report:
There is a large balloon promoting “UP” outside the AMC Theater in Downtown Disney West Side
Finally, here is our very last Walt Disney world photo report (we promise) from last week. This report is from WDWNT Owner Tom Corless and is quite lengthy, so let’s get started:
Starting at the Magic Kingdom on April 27th…
The Tren-D store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace officially opened this morning with a small ceremony, unlike the “Characters in Flight” balloon which is still only testing with Cast Members at this time. WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber was there to see the opening ceremony this morning and has pictures and video to share:
The ribbon awaits to be cut to open the store that has already been operating for weeks
Other than the two mangers pictured, I think Jose was the only male guest there…
Jose managed to pick up the Limited Edition pin commemorating the store’s opening
Despite what Disney said, the pin was limited to 1000 pieces, not 500
Here is a short video Jose took of the grand opening, including a look around the store and free cupcakes
It seems that there will be some merchandise released on May 1, 2009, (not all on April 28th as we previously speculated) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Among other options, 5 limited edition pins will be released to commemorate the special day:
Each pin will retail at $10.95 and will be a Limited Edition of 1500. This is a “gold-plated” version of the open edition pin we showed you a few weeks ago.
This pin has director Mickey Mouse in front of the Earful Tower
This rather simple pin features director Mickey in front of a star
This pin features Mickey sitting in the director chair on top of some film reels
The final pin features director Mickey in front of Rock ‘N’ Roller Coater and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
As most of you know, I love the parks and I love pins, so these will be absolute musts for me. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more details on the 20th anniversary celebration of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The first picture of any merchandise that will be released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1, 2009 has finally appeared. Of course, it’s an open edition pin that will be sold beginning April 28:
A very cool logo to say the least. The only thing I find a little strange is that the “20th anniversary” appears to be in the Tomorrowland logo font. No matter what, the logo looks great and I look forward to buying plenty of merchandise featuring it. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue to gather information on the historic 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1, 2009.
Join me, Tom Corless, and a cast including Jason Diffendal, Justin Heyman, Brian Martsolf, and Luke Manning for a variety show that celebrates the Walt Disney World Resort and its many fans. So what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate another week of Walt Disney World information and fun on the WDW News Today Podcast!!!
To kick off episode 83, we have your Walt Disney World Resort News and Rumor Report. In this week’s report, we will be talking about the opening of a very special museum at Epcot this summer, how you can get backstage and on-stage at the American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and just how you can speed up the check-in process for your next Walt Disney World Resort hotel stay.
Town Square Talk is also back this week, highlighting the hottest topics around our WDWNT Network of websites and podcasts. On this trip down Main Street WDWNT, we have all the details on the latest videos available through the WDWNTube Disney Parks video site, the return of the very popular Back to the Future segment on this show, and who will be filling in as the new host of the Your Ear to the World podcast
Finally, to end this weeks program, we continue our countdown of the 20 Biggest Moments in Disney’s Hollywood Studios History as voted by you with a look at what took the #11 spot on the list. We’ll also be examining just how important this moment is in the near 20 year history of the park.
To subscribe to the WDW News Today podcast on iTunes, go to this link. If you do not have iTunes, visit our Podcast Download Directory to download or listen to all of our shows
This episode is also available in an enhanced version. An enhanced podcast is a podcast with added features that standard podcasts don’t have. Enhanced podcasts include many features like Chapter listings, this lets you skip through chapters or see what is in store for this weeks show. Enhanced podcasts also have images to let you differ the chapters by. Enhanced podcasts have one negative feature, you can not play them on most mp3 players. The file format for this is a .m4a which can play on Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune. You will also need iTunes or Windows Media Player to be able to skip through chapters. If you need or would like the standard edition, download the normal edition listed below this file both on Itunes and in our podcast directory.
For those of you interested in Disney Pin Trading, the 2009 Pin Celebration at Epcot (titled the Museum of Pin-Tiquities) is just a few months away and registration opens today at 2:00 PM EST. Even though I have been involved in the hobby since it began in October 1999, this is the first major pin even I will be attending. John Rick and myself will be there on behalf of the Disney Pincast and hope to see you at the museum as well. All of the details on the event and how to register can be found below:
Disney Pin Celebration 2009 – The Museum of Pin-tiquities
June 26-28, 2009
Epcot® – World ShowPlace————————————————–
Disney Pin Traders from around the world are cordially invited to celebrate the “10,000” year history of Disney Pin Trading during Disney Pin Celebration 2009 – The Museum of Pin-tiquities. This three-day, grand opening gala will be held from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, 2009 in World ShowPlace at Epcot®.
Presented in conjunction with the Epcot® Committee For Celebrating Disney Pins, The Department of Tradeology and Fellowship of Happy Traders, this event will feature unique Disney pins created for the Museum’s opening, Disney pin trading activities, a silent and live auction of artifacts direct from the Museum’s vault and much more.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT
Registration Opens Feb. 25, 2009 (2:00 p.m. Eastern)Event admission is $115 per Guest.
**See below for special early booking discount**
(Event admission does not include Theme Park admission to Epcot® but is required to attend.)EVENT ADMISSION INCLUDES:
-Opportunity to pre-purchase limited edition pins designed especially for this event.
-“Purchase with Purchase” pin promotion for event Guests only featuring exclusive pins.
-Trading activities and games at World ShowPlace located at Epcot®.
-Limited edition commemorative gifts.
-Live and silent auctions of pre-production pins, artist proof pins and more.
-“First Trading Opportunity” to collect new Hidden Mickey pins.
-Opportunity to meet Disney Pin Partners from The Walt Disney Company.
-Two (2) $15 Gift Cards redeemable at Epcot® Food and Beverage locations.
-Plus extra special surprises throughout the event.EARLY REGISTRATION PIN:
Guests that register for this event by March 25, 2009 will received one (1) limited edition early registration pin. The edition size of this pin will be determined once early registration has been completed.EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT:
Guests that register for this event by April 25, 2009 will receive an early booking discount. The early booking admission for this event will be $100.00 per Guest. After April 25, 2009, the event admission will be $115.00 per Guest. Event admission does not include theme park admission to Epcot®.
