Carl Rishi’s Walt Disney World Photo Report

WDWNT reader Carl Rishi was nice enough to offer some of his photos from his latest trip for us to share, so let’s take a look:

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A look at the times guide

The free button

Special cake pops available

They have cupcakes with the stained glass artwork featured in The Magic, The Memories, and You! romance segment

Looking good

Prince Eric’s castle is looking great

The Muppets Star Wars toys are now available

St. Patrick’s Day Mickey plush

Easter Duffy

Flower and Garden topiaries were up already

Disney Offers First Look Inside New Fantasyland’s “Be Our Guest” Restaurant

From Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:

“Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test!” Or so the song goes. Who doesn’t love this playful scene from “Beauty and The Beast,” in which the enchanted staff welcomes Belle to the castle in grand style?

And speaking of “style,” Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has been busy recreating the castle’s very detailed beauty in the form of the Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.

In this video, provided by WDI, Senior Concept Designer Ted Robledo presents our very first sneak peek inside this highly anticipated restaurant. Imagineers recently put the finishing touches on one of its major elements: a massive mural that will serve as the restaurant’s backdrop. Here, Ted shows how WDI combined digital technology with traditional artistry to create a sweeping landscape that gives guests the feeling that they really are walking into a part of the film.

First Look at Storybook Circus Without Construction Walls!

WDWNT reader Jessica Walker was nice enough to provide us with some photos she took at the Magic Kingdom yesterday. Just wait until you see these…

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The Fantasyland Station looks just about finished

Some final painting and it should be ready to open!

Men at work

So the walls start coming down around this end of the Station… by the way, those are copper gutters… expensive stuff!

Imagineering gets ready to hand operations over to the Magic Kingdom

We can kind of see The Barnstormer from here…

OK! WALLS ARE DOWN! The Barnstormer queue is now located on this side of the building

The queue looks to have some great props of various Goofy stunts

A small poster next to the prop better explains the stunt

You can see a smoking rocket and other props strewn about

It looks like Goofy splattered paint all over the wood railings…

The back of the tower/lift hill

We can somewhat see something Goofy crashed through off to the left side of the building

I think they’re saying “We’re done!”

Construction walls already up near the tents which will open later this year

You can now see lights and canvas hung from the Dumbo queue which will open with Storybook Circus!

It’s almost time!

While a little further down the road, Belle’s Village is looking better and better every day

Prince Eric’s castle looks great too! Thanks for the photos Jessica!

More Photos of Storybook Circus with Construction Walls Down!

Well, everyone enjoyed the photos we shared yesterday so much that WDWNT reader Jessica Walker decided to take another pass at Storybook Circus from the Walt Disney World Railroad, and there was plenty more to see:

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Most of the Fantasyland Station is now visible

Plenty of construction going on inside the building though

Still a little more work to be done

But the workers are excited to near completion!

Cool vest!

Even cooler vest!

Oh Goofy!

If you like behind the props in the queue, you can see the red Barnstormer plane vehicle

This queue is much improved

They were fixing the smoking rocket

Some final touches being added

We can see the front of the train!

From the other side, the detail on Dumbo is slowly appearing

I love the lighting fixtures in Storybook Circus

Well, this is what we get for making fun of DCA…

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

“Be Our Guest” Restaurant

Enchanted Tales with Belle

So, the Skyway is gone, clock-tower and all… Thanks again for the photos Jessica!

New Cast Costumes Send Guests Further into the Fantasy of New Fantasyland

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Some of the first areas of our New Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom Park will be opening by late March, featuring a re-imagined version of The Barnstormer and a relocated Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction. When they debut, cast members working in these areas will be wearing new costumes inspired by the “Big Top” setting of Storybook Circus.

The Creative Entertainment Costuming team worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to develop these designs to bring the environment of Storybook Circus to life. The bold colors evoke the spirit of the ringmaster or sideshow barker, while the tails and detailing provide a period look of the 1930s.

In this video, you’ll see how the partnership between Walt Disney Imagineering and Creative Entertainment has produced an entire collection of unique costumes to be worn by cast members in each area of New Fantasyland, creating a rich sense of place and community.

An In-Depth Look at New Fantasyland’s Storybook Circus

While we wait for more pictures and video, I decided to post WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth’s twitter pictures of today’s Storybook Circus opening. Let’s take a closer look at the first piece of the New Fantasyland puzzle:

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Dumbo looks great in the new pastel colors!

The story scenes on the bottom of the carousel were a nice touch

Great attention to detail

The rest of Fantasyland has a long way to go…

PINK ELEPHANTS ON PARADE!

The other Dumbo spinner will take a while

Barnstormer signage

A look across the way

The back of the Barnstormer sign has a reference to Wiseacre Farm from Toontown Fair

This poster is up on the construction walls… including Humphrey the Bear eating a candy apple? Maybe he’ll be getting a food service location of some kind?

The Dumbo interactive queue isn’t open yet

Dumbo sign

Inside the queue

Lots of little popcorn lights on the queue

Dumbo looks great with the water feature!

Work continues on the tents

I can’t wait to see this at night

WATER!

Another new sign

Cool poster

I like that the flat people have now stepped into a three-dimensional scene…

Another cool poster

A magic feather!

Again, great details

You can see the train tracks that will come from the Roundhouse, where the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station will be

These restrooms are amazing…

Plenty of luggage outside the Fantasyland Station exit

Animal prints in the pavement

Carolwood Park… I don’t have to tell you what an awesome Walt reference this is…

Booth at the entrance to Barnstormer

New signage for the train

Casey Jr. weathervane

Nice LED lighting

Even though the path to Tomorrowland is open, work still to be done

Some old train tracks

Tracks run all over the place in this section

Goofy crashed

This could have just been a cutout, but they even put a fringe where Goofy went through…

A Main Street cart out to handle guest demands for spring break

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

NEW GARBAGE CANS

This will eventually be the FASTPASS/xPASS collection point

Love the costumes

Speakers and cameras themed nicely

I see you old Dumbo…

There are peanuts in the pavement… wow…

FASTPASS/xPASS queue ready for The Barnstormer as well

See you real soon Storybook Circus, we’ll be back for more pictures and video!

VIDEO: The Barnstormer starring the Great Goofini

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth brings us the first on-ride video of The Barnstormer starring the Great Goofini. The track is still the same, but there are two new props for guests to “crash” though and a very different atmosphere with the Storybook Circus all around:

Even More Photos of the Opening of Storybook Circus

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth took a ton of photos of today’s opening of Storybook Circus at the Magic Kingdom. As if we didn’t have enough coverage today, here’s a whole lot more:

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The entrance to Circus is still a mess of walls

Fantastic artwork up on the walls

Humphrey the Bear with a candy apple… I smell a new counter service loaction

Temporary carts from Main Street fill the walkway

There’s something weird about these outside of the area

Extended queue out for Dumbo

The Dumbo building is pretty awesome

Walls where the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak is going soon

The tents are far from finished

The Barnstormer queue uses targets to cover guests

A Rocketeer reference? Or just a coincidence?

I see Imagineer hats…

Hidden Wiseacre Farm reference

Lit fuse

A lot of extended queue

WORLD’S COOLEST RESTROOMS

They look happy in their new costumes 🙂

Peanuts in the pavement…

Walls still up along the Speedway

Taking some publicity shots

A lot of work left to go on the tents

Dumbo is on the map now

Not only is Storybook Circus on the map, but the Castle Wall and the new Pooh facade made it as well

Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is coming soon

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

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

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Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom was testing

There is a window at the head of the queue area to give guests more info

It is still a fire station, just with three added Sorcerers stations

WDWFD used instead of the customary MKFD

Package Pick-up/Chamber of Commerce behind tarps

Pooh and Tigger now greeting guests in the garden

New flowers planted for the season

Roy and Minnie await the move back to Town Square

Some of the Confectionary and The Chapeau facades behind tarps

Sign pointing guests to character FASTPASS

Waits are short

This will soon be a Sorcerers window

A well hidden window

I can’t wait for someone to ask a price on it…

Another window

Yet another… they probably should move that bench…

The WDW/DLR trains merchandise in the window

Center Street behind tarps

The Bakery as well

This will complete the multi-year Main Street facade clean-up

I want ice cream… sniff…

I want soft serve ice cream… sniff…

The Main Street bridge is being repaired

Way too many in the treehouse for a not-so-busy day…

The Sunshine Tree Terrace is still behind tarps

The restaurant is closed, but the Sorcerers window inside is still available

Pecos Bill’s behind tarps

I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am about the Golden Oak Outpost menu returning

Big Thunder Mountain is closed for refurbishment through late-May

Cool pin trading idea

Looks like they are already rebuilding this lift hill

Frontierland Trading Post behind tarps as well

Madame Leota’s cart is now close to the Liberty Belle dock

LOVE this shirt!

From far away, we can see the roof of a tunnel being replaced

Workers out on the track as well

all of the railroad ties were removed to be replaced as well

Work continues on the new Fantasyland/Liberty Square path

The pet cemetery is being moved, it should return later

Walls in Fantasyland

Some trees being removed

Peter Pan’s Flight is being painted before the interactive queue installation begins this week

This will soon be a restroom

Dumbo removal

The beginning of the new Castle Wall

This should begin to grow shortly

A look over the walls

The old gives way to the new

The circus tent top is starting to appear

Another look at the new Dumbo queue, now set to open in March

Less and less scaffolding visible on the Be Our Guest Restaurant

Some final touches of snow being added to the Beast’s Castle

Belle’s Village

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Storybook Circus tents

Fantasyland Station

Back to Dumbo

You can see some of the Storybook Circus pavement already

The brick facade is starting to appear and it looks spectacular!

Back to Mermaid

Back to Belle’s Village

Enchanted Tales with Belle

Wide shot

Circus tent covering should go up on these queues soon

Timothy is expected to return as an audio-animatronic living character since he won’t be on the spinner anymore

All of the racks in the Seven Dwarfs Mine store are gone

The store will either be removed or replaced during the Castle Wall construction

Say goodbye to the diamond mine theme

This stroller parking is getting out of hand

The Sorcerers window in Frotnierland has a lighted element

It’s pretty cool

1/13/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter visited the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Friday the 13th, so get ready for a not-so-spooky look at what’s new in the parks:

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A new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window has appeared under the Main Street train station

Some new wall art was added to the Town Square Theater queue

Very creative

I think we’re going to see an elephant fly!

There he goes

He seems happy about it

Moving on to Studios

A look at the wait times

The stage is still up in front of the Sorcerers Hat

A pretty long wait for Star Tours

Most of the Muppetvision posters were replaced with posters for  The Muppets

The lenticular Muppets poster was also replaced inside the pre-show area

Osborne Lights are being taken down

Some Narnia props were moved to the Backlot Tour

The Block Party Bash cones are still sitting back here

The old fire truck that used to be located near the exit of Muppetvision 3-D was restored and is now along the Backlot tour route

Some minor changes over at the Magic of Disney Animation

The animation studio theme is being embraced with new signage

There is a campus map as if it were a real studio