Fantasyland Expansion – Page 2

Joe Hogarty’s 11/4/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 4, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited the Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Monday and has a number of newsworthy items to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

Triton’s Treasures is no longer a thing, these space originally meant for a shop will now be a Disney Vacation Club kiosk

As much as I hate to say it, the sign is beautiful

There is a squid weathervane on the building

We believe this to be a reference to the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction

Work continues on Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train as we approach 2014

We can now see a small building rising near the track

We expect this to be the queue

We believe this to be the entrance

Looking good!

Frozen merchandise can now be found in the Emporium

Some of it is the same you can find at the Disney Store

Moving over to Epcot, Spaceship Earth is awfully dirty

Hopefully there is some way to get up there and clean it

Plenty of Christmas merchandise out in the parks already

Happy holidays!

PHOTOS: A Pre-Opening Look at New Fantasyland’s Princess Fairytale Hall

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

While Princess Fairytale Hall may open tomorrow at the Magic Kingdom, we have some photos from a limited preview of the new meet and greet to share with you right now courtesy of WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen:

The sign underneath the marquee

The stained glass windows feature icons and characters from Cinderella

The elegant queue

Princess portraits adorn the walls

There is a nod to Snow White’s Scary Adventures

One book is open and it’s Snow White… you can even see the scene where the witch gives Snow White the apple

The books on display

Beautiful artwork

The meet and greet areas are really pretty

Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora

Cinderella

Cinderella’s Glass Slipper on display

The exit

Stay tuned on September 18th as we cover the grand opening of Princess Fairytale Hall at the Magic Kingdom!

Dirk Wallen’s 10/9/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

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

The final turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom are being converted to touch-point entrances

Some pavement outside of the Confectionery being worked on

The entirety of Main Street will be repaved in January in preparation for Festival of Fantasy

A few weeks ago, Sleepy Hollow got a new sign and a new name, now the Sleepy Hollow Inn

All of the walls are down around the old Peter Pan restroom area

A new backdrop for the Peter Pan and Wendy meet and greet was revealed

Peter Pan’s Flight is down for refurbishment

It appears that paper FastPass (or legacy if you prefer) is gone forever at Peter Pan’s Flight

Some work going on at Pinocchio’s Village Haus, but the restaurant remains open

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train in New Fantasyland

A look through the wall reveals that the pathway and fence along the ride are finished

The cake cups are still available at Cheshire Cafe, so they must be doing well

A new Madame Leota Haunted Mansion phone case available for the iPhone 5

The Grand Floridian Villas are scheduled to open on the 23rd

Work is wrapping up

The walkway to the older buildings is the last piece to be completed

Until it is done, there are going to be some monorail downtimes daily

Dirk Wallen’s 8/24/13 WDW (Magic Kingdom & Epcot) Photo Report

WDWNT on September 13, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Saturday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip so let’s take a look:

Work continues on the pavement outside of the Emporium

Work is wrapping up on this facade across the street on Uptown Jewelers

The Haunted Mansion no longer gives you a choice, if you go stand-by, you go through the interactive queue

Tarps still up at the former Fantasyland restrooms

The marquee and signage for Princess Fairytale Hall has finally gone up

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train attraction

Still a bit messy in there…

It’s looking better every day

Some new details emerging over the walls

While not open yet, the new food stand near Triton’s Treasures and across from The Little Mermaid is out from behind walls

This stand will specialize in healthier options, but will have 5 flavors of shaved ice!

Moving over to Epcot, they are still fixing up some sections of Leave a Legacy

Walls are up outside of Project Tomorrow, near Spaceship Earth

The seating area in Innoventions West is back without any changes made… seems it was just temporary office space

The Segway area is still closed with no signs of life or replacement

Joe Hogarty’s 8/29/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on September 13, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited the Magic Kingdom on August 29th and has some great photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

It’s Halloween at the Magic Kingdom

September 18th, Princess Fairytale Hall will finally open

Each of the 11 princesses has an icon on the facade

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction rolls along

Prince Eric’s Village Market has opened since this photo was taken

Triton’s Treasures is still being worked on

Hope you enjoyed this photo report!

Joe Hogarty’s 9/10/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on September 13, 2013

Hearing walls had come down around Princess Fairytale Hall in New Fantasyland, WDWNT reporter Joe Hogarty decided to visit the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday this week and he has a number fo newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

A beautiful day

work on the curb by the emporium is finished, so work has now moved across the street to the Confectionery

Walls came down around Princess Fairytale Hall, giving us a look at the gorgeous facade

A closer look at the 11 Princess shields on the facade

The exterior queue

Let’s move over to the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Plenty of workers up on the mountain

An Imagineer checking out some details

These posts have appeared recently

Prince Eric’s Village Market is now open

This wall was recently completed on the back of the mountain

I wonder what the story is with these areas that look like someone broke through them

Another mine opening is now visible

Scary…

For the first time we can see an awning where we assume the entrance to the queue will be

The Jungle Cruise is closed for refurbishment, mostly queue modifications being made

Over at Pirates of the Caribbean…

A few weeks ago, these new boats arrived

They are very nice, but there are a few issues

First off, they are going down the flume awkwardly and taking on a lot of water

Secondly, the ruber on the front and back of the boats make an awful noise when they touch another boat… hopefully all of this will be resolved

Facade work still taking place on the Adventureland Veranda

Tom Corless’ 7/12-14/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

I spent a majority of last weekend visiting the Magic Kingdom and I took a number of newsworthy photos to share, so let’s take a look at what’s new around the park:

The Villas at the Grand Floridian are looking great

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, the MyMagic+ service center is sitting dormant in Town Square Theater for now

Speaking of Town Square Theater, some guests decided to write on Mickey’s hand…

This is not alright people…

A few new character banks are now on sale

There is also now a kid’s Toodles shirt

Another pair of giant glasses has come out, this pair looks like Minnie’s bow

The gutters have returned to Sleepy Hallow Refreshments, meaning work is finally done on the facade

The new ear hat ornaments can be found at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

The shoe ornaments are still in stock as well

There is now a Haunted Mansion candlestick holder available

Everything but the Haunted Mansion throw blanket is currently available

Some new Winnie the Pooh merchandise has arrived at Hundred Acre Goods

Some new shirts with Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore

FastPass+ signage at the Tomorrowland Speedway

Work is speeding up on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train in New Fantasyland

So, after the new FastPass+ merge point at “it’s a small world”, there is currently a free-for-all of people in line with no divider… hopefully this will be fixed before FastPass+ rolls out

The stroller name tags currently feature Disney Planes

You can now get Monster Energy Drink at some food carts

In an effort to keep strollers away from Pirate’s Adventure kiosks, signage was added. People don’t read…

The replica of the Be Our Guest Restaurant music box has finally been released and retails for $90

Dirk Wallen’s 7/27-29/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on August 7, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney over the last three days and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

More touch-point entrances are being installed at Epcot

The exit has been moved to accommodate this work

Work continues on Fountain View which will open as Starbucks in the Fall

This booth is once again out from behind walls… let’s see if it actually opens this time…

The latest Remember When pin is out, featuring Journey Into Jungle Book from Animal Kingdom

Walls are still up around this planter on World Showcase promenade

Hard to see, but roads have been paved for the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

There is some major concrete work happening outside of the Emporium

Walls are down from around this sign

White tarps up on this Main Street facade for whatever reason

Planes merchandise has landed at the Emporium

New crossword Mickey Mouse iPhone 5 phone case

These walls are still up in Liberty Square

Walls still up at the old Peter Pan restrooms in Fantasyland

This awesome sign featuring the two lines at the Mad Tea Party finally went back up this week

Still nothing to see at Princess Fairytale Hall

Plenty to see over at the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train site

You can now see hills and valleys where the trains will dive down and rise up… this looks pretty incredible…

Work has just about wrapped up on the back of the mountain

We’re still waiting for Triton’s Treasures to open

One tarp is still up on the building

FastPass+ running at Magic Carpets of Aladdin

The FastPass+ entrance is also ready to go at Pirates of the Caribbean

A new marquee and times board are up at the American Idol Experience

Signage points FastPass+ guests down to here to enter

The Hollywood Brown Derby is testing a new lunch menu right now and it looks amazing

Moving to the Studios, Planes banners are up in the Animation Courtyard

Planes and Frozen billboards up in the Animation Courtyard as well

FastPass+ at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

Moving to Downtown Disney, one of the West Side parking lots has already been closed for construction

Demolition continues at the former Comedy Warehouse

A new bridge is being constructed from the West Side to Pleasure Island, going around the planned construction area

Dirk Wallen’s 6/10/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Monday and has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us, so lets take a look:

Work is still in the early stages for the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

A look at the Villas at the Grand Floridian from across the lagoon

An up-close look

The Main Street Bakery should re-open as a Starbucks location any day now

]The former Hall of Champions is still behind tarps

The unexplained tarps are still up on the facade of the Adventureland Veranda

Some work taking place on the second level of Grizzly Hall required the removal of the Jamboree sign

Tarps still up at Sleepy Hallow Refreshments

Columbia Harbour House is also still behind tarps

Some walls up by the boat dock as well

Nothing new over at the former Peter Pan restrooms

The absence of tarps at Princess Fairytale Hall may mean we are just a few weeks away from a soft-opening

The new signage was quickly installed and un-installed recently at the Mad Tea Party, it should be back soon

Slowly the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train facade is looking more and more complete

the section on the backside that is finished opened as a stroller parking area

HEY! Lone Ranger pins are put already if you want them. Oh, you don’t? Well, they are here if you change your mind…

Tom Corless’ 6/5-6/15/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

This photo report may be a bit late, but I figured it was better lat than never. I have been all over the Walt Disney World parks the last few days and I have taken a lot of photos, so let’s look at what is new and noteworthy at the Vacation Kingdom of the World:

A ton of new merchandise has been released at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Window decal

Magnet

Mug

Shot-glass… I mean toothpick holder

I really like the artwork a lot

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, there are some new hats for sale in the Emporium

Those are… different…

There is now a trading box just for Park Starz Vinylmation at Frontierland Trading Outpost

A strange wall up in Liberty Square, somewhat near the Haunted Mansion

The canopy was recently replaced in the Haunted Mansion queue

Some work is taking place on the second level of Grizzly Hall, so the Country Bear Jamboree sign is down

You can now get a frozen root beer slush at Pecos Bill’s

More importantly, you can get it in a Lone Ranger boot-shaped cup!

It’s actually quite big

Tarps are down at Princess Fairytale Hall, but we still can’t see much…

Work continues on the much-anticipated Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train attraction

A section on the back of the mountain is out from behind walls

It serves as stroller parking for Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Triton’s Treasures looks like it might open very soon

The path to Storybook Circus from Mermaid is now officially open all the time

There is stroller parking for Ariel’s Grotto as well

A look at the other side of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Moving to Epcot, that new food cart that never opened has now been ripped down again…

I’m not really sure what the deal is with this kiosk and if it will ever actually open

One of the escalators in The Land is being repaired

The Mickey made of hops is growing in nicely at Living with the Land

With the escalator broken, the backstage area near Soarin’ is being used to exit guests out of the bottom floor of The Land

Cool

It dumps guests out by the Imagination! restrooms

There are some cool attraction poster magnets being sold now

Some new iPhone 5 cases have been released, including Oswald

New Grumpy case for the iPhone 4S

“Mine!” case for the iPhone 5

New Mickey case for the iPhone 5

There was a new Star Tours case for the iPhone 4S and 5 out at Tatooine Traders a few days ago, but last we checked it had sold out for the 5

Staying at Studios, FastPass+ signage about to go up at Disney Junior

Some props and costumes from Oz: The Great and Powerful are now on display at the AFI Showcase

There is a wacky souvenir cup that comes in two sizes now available at Backlot Express….

The Monsters University topiary from the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival has found its way to the front of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the Monstrous Summer