“Let the Memories Begin” Press Event Live Coverage

WDWNT on January 19, 2011

Our venerable CEO Tom Corless is attending tonight’s “Let the Memories Begin” press event at the Magic Kingdom, and we will be updating this post with the announcements live as they happen:

7:17 PM – Attendees are seated in the Fantasyland Theater; Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, has taken the stage to kick off the presentation.

7:20 PM – Weiss confirms Disney is “moving forward” with Shanghai Disneyland.

7:22 PM – WDW President Meg Crofton has taken the stage.  “Let the Memories Begin” campaign officially begins.

7:27 PM – Recap of recent openings:  The new Pooh queue, Tangled Meet and Greet, Via Napoli, La Hacienda de San Angel, and the Pixar Pals debut.

7:30 PM – Darth Vader and Stormtroopers on stage as Star Tours opening date announced as May 20 during Star Wars Weekends.

7:32 PM – Imagineer Eric Jacobson takes the stage to talk about the Fantasyland expansion.

7:34 PM – Fantasyland info as already reported this morning.  Storybook Circus will take the space originally allocated to Pixie Hollow.  Snow White Mine Train Coaster.  Beast’s Castle will seat 550 guests, with counter service at lunch and table service at dinner.  Goofy’s Barnstormer will transform into The Great Goofini.

7:38 PM – Princess Fairytale Hall (meet and greet) will replace Snow White’s Scary Adventures (an original 1971 opening day dark ride attraction).

7:43 PM – Show Director Alan Bruun talks about The Magic, the Memories, and You castle projections, saying that it is more than just a slide show on Cinderella Castle.  Uses 16 projectors located around the hub, projecting 500 photos taken that day at the parks.

7:49 PM – An artist’s rendering of the castle projections, with hundreds of screaming fans filling the hub.  A new song, “Let the Memories Begin,” will accompany the show.

7:51 PM – Al Weiss now takes the stage again to conclude the presentation.

Check back with WDW News Today as more information becomes available on all of today’s announcements.

Goodbye Snow White, Hello Mine Train

WDWNT on January 18, 2011

As expected Disney has officially announced some major changes to the New Fantasyland expansion plans. Included in the changes are the official new theme for the Barnstormer, and the official announcement of the closure of Snow White’s Scary Adventure to make way for the new Dwarf’s Mine Train ride. Also tucked away in the annoucement the confirmation that we will not be getting Pixie Hollow at the Magic Kingdom. As always stay tuned to WDW News Today as more details become avalible.

From the Disney Parks Blog:

The Updated Fantasyland

As many of you know, we’re in the midst of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, which will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. And we’re thrilled about the expansion because it’ll allow us to tell our treasured stories in new ways and give you the opportunity to interact with some of our beloved characters like never before. Today, we’d like to give you a first glimpse of the progress we’re making in bringing these stories to life and a look at some of the art will be sharing with the media later tonight.

Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid

First, work is already well underway on many of the experiences we’ve already told you about, so let’s start with Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid. In this attraction, Ariel and all her friends will entertain you in a ride-through adventure featuring favorite songs from the popular animated feature.

Not too far from Ariel’s new home, construction is underway on Beast’s castle which will stand majestically upon a hill. You will cross over a stone bridge as you arrive at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Set in the halls of the Beast’s Castle, this location will seat up to 550 guests and offer “great food fast” service by day and full table service dining in the evening. Just outside the restaurant, you will also be able to explore Belle’s Village, which includes Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts.

Nearby at Belle’s cottage, a magical mirror is the doorway to a captivating new kind of experience, where Belle, Lumiere and guests participate in a lively re-telling of the “tale as old as time.” In Enchanted Tales with Belle, the adventure begins at Maurice’s cottage, where you’ll step through an enchanted mirror that magically transports you to Beast’s library for an interactive storytelling session with Belle.

Additions to Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Just across the way is the brand new Storybook Circus, where we’re doubling the fun by adding another carousel to Dumbo the Flying Elephant. While you wait to board this Fantasyland favorite, you’ll have a chance to join the circus and step inside the Big Top for fun-filled interactive experiences for kids of all ages. Alongside Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the existing Barnstormer is getting a new look as well, featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini. This exciting attraction will take you on a twisting, turning, daredevil, roller coaster “flight” high above the circus fun.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

As with any project of this scale, we’ve also continued to look for additional ways to surprise and delight our guests and I think you’ll be pleased. One opportunity we’re especially excited about is the chance to tell Snow White’s story in a fresh new way. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will take you on a rollicking, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth as they whisk along the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.

Our other Disney princesses will also be getting a new home (actually, they prefer to call it a castle) in the all new Princess Fairytale Hall. Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel, will greet you in an elegant royal court at the location where Snow White’s Scary Adventures is today. This new experience will be in place of some of the earlier plans we shared regarding opportunities to interact with your favorite princesses.

And Tinkerbell and her fairy friends will be joining the cast at Epcot where they will have special roles bringing the flora and fauna to life during the Flower and Garden Festival.

The New Fantasyland will be constructed in phases with most new experiences open by 2013. We look forward to sharing more with you as our work progresses.

New Spiel on the Walt Disney World Railroad

WDWNT on December 24, 2010

With all of the changes coming to the Magic Kingdom in the coming months and years, it was only a matter of time before the recorded spiels on the Walt Disney World Railroad had to be changed. Well, they were changed on Thursday. There is a new voice and narration on the trains for the first time since the opening of Toontown Fair in 1996. The new spiels include the addition of Jack Sparrow to Pirates of the Caribbean (Just to give you an idea how long it has been since this has been changed) and mentions of all the new attractions coming as part of the Fantasyland Forest Expansion. The spiels also include Mickey’s Toontown Fair despite it closing in February, so expect to see the narration change frequently.  Banks Lee was there to capture the new spiels as well as a ride on the Railroad in video, so enjoy:

Disney Confirms Toontown Fair Closing February 11, 2011

WDWNT on December 10, 2010

An important Fantasyland expansion update from the Disney Parks Blog:

As many of you know, we’re in the midst of the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, which will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. In order to make way for this transformation, it’s important to let you know Mickey’s Toontown Fair will close in early February.

Mickey's Toontown Fair

That doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about some of your favorite characters. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the Disney princesses will move to Town Square in the location currently known as Town Square Exposition Hall in spring 2011. Until that location is ready, they will continue to greet guests throughout Magic Kingdom. Meanwhile, Tinker Bell will relocate to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and her other fairy friends will appear later in the spring at Epcot. The Walt Disney World Railroad will stay open, but the Toontown station will remain closed during construction.

We hope you will pardon our dust as work progresses and if you’d like to experience Mickey’s Toontown Fair, you’ll have until Feb. 11 to make those plans. Remember, there are still many other entertainment experiences throughout Magic Kingdom to delight everyone in the family.

Fantasyland construction will be completed in phases with most new experiences open by 2013. This expansion is particularly exciting because it will enable us to share treasured stories with you in a whole new way. We’ll share more with you here as our work progresses.

Book Opens On New Pooh Queue Overnight

WDWNT on November 23, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Construction of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at Magic Kingdom

After the last guest left Magic Kingdom Park one night last week, Walt Disney Imagineers unveiled some magic. While you slept, they removed construction walls surrounding The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and gave a first look at their amazing work.

The queue and exterior façade for the classic Fantasyland attraction have been completely re-imagined. You can now enjoy a fully immersive interactive adventure through the Hundred Acre Wood that includes visits to Tigger’s Bouncy Place, Rabbit’s Garden, Eeyore’s Gloomy Place and Pooh’s Hunny Hives. Here’s a peek at the work that took place. Enjoy.