Dirk Wallen’s 6/27/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Animal Kingdom, the Villas at the Grand Floridian, and Epcot earlier today and took some great photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Starting at Animal Kingdom, Kodak signage is gone from the Camera Center

With FastPass+ currently testing, It’s Tough to be a Bug once again has a FastPass queue

There are still some construction walls up under the Tree of Life, meaning they are still installing nets under it

Wow, they’ve caught plenty of stuff…

Over at Camp Minnie-Mickey, this theater is still just stroller parking

Since it isn’t closing in this location just yet, they are using FastPass+ at Festival of the Lion King

Pocahontas has moved into one of the greeting trails at Camp Minnie-Mickey

Chip and Dale have moved into another

Work continues on the new Festival of the Lion King theater in Africa

Still not much to see

Work is wrapping up on the FastPass+ queue at Finding Nemo: The Musical

The signage is now up

Leaving Animal Kingdom, work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

I’m not crazy about the plain white sides, but I’ll hold my judgement until the building is finished

Scaffolding is down on the water side and it looks fantastic

Work continues on the new bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

More turnstile conversions happening at Epcot

The middle section that is typically the exit is walled-off

Some touch-point entrances are going to be here soon

In other news, they are still patching up the landscaping from the Flower and Garden Festival

How Early Can You Make FastPass+ Selections? New Details Emerge on MyMagic+

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

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When Disney updated the MyDisneyExperience app last night, they also updated the terms of service that guests using the app must agree to. Some details we have either speculated about or not been informed of to this point were discussed within those terms, so we have decided to highlight the more important new facts about MyMagic+:

Friends

There are two types of friends you can have within MyDisneyExperience: managed friends or connected friends. Managed friends are guests with profiles you create and manage on their behalf. Connected friends are friends who’s profiles you do not create or manage. By sending or accepting an invitation to become connected friends with someone, you authorize those connected friends to plan and modify activities for you including FastPass+ selections. Disney states is not liable for changes, so if your friends mess up your reservations, well, you’re out of luck.

Notifications

Once available, you may choose to receive special email and text alerts during your visit such as itinerary updates, notice of photo availability, and personalized on-site tips and offers. Push notifications will also be an option.

FastPass+

Disney FastPass+ service allows you to select an arrival window to experience certain park attractions, character meet and greets, and quick-service restaurants, and to arrange a viewing location for certain entertainment such as fireworks, parades and shows. You can modify FastPass+ selections for yourself, Managed Friends, and Connected Friends.

You can make FastPass+ selections for one park per day. You may only select and use a FastPass+ selection for a particular attraction, entertainment or restaurant experience once a day. When you initially make FastPass+ selections for a particular park, you will choose a FastPass+ experience set. If your plans change, you may modify the entire FastPass+ experience set until the first FastPass+ experience is used or the first unused experience expires. You may also modify any unused individual FastPass+ experience any time prior to the end of the day.

Magic Your Way ticket holders and Annual Passholders may make FastPass+ selections beginning 60 days prior to use. Selection window will vary for other tickets.

Disney reserves the right to re-assign or reschedule a FastPass+ selection due to an unplanned attraction or entertainment down time or change in operating hours. This will be useful is guiding guests away from attractions when they are down.

 

Dirk Wallen’s 1/10/13 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot earlier today to see the newly remodeled Boulangerie Patisserie in France and the IBM Think exhibit inside Innoventions, so let’s take a look at what’s going on around the park:

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Guests with RFID tickets are using the new entrance area all the way to the right, meanwhile more of the new RFID scanners are being installed

Kodak picture spots are still up

Daisy got a new meet and greet backdrop near the front of the park a few weeks ago, it is pretty retro-tastic

Epcot Character Spot is still being remodeled

Preparations underway for the Flower and Garden Festival

The new IBM exhibit quietly opened today inside Innoventions

The new exhibit is simply called Think

A look inside

There is a theater portion to the experience, still doesn’t look like much

Habit Heroes is still closed

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Work was completed on the FastPass+ entrance at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

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Ready for use

Another Kodak Picture Spot

Boulangerie Patisserie has finally opened in its expanded new home

The new indoor seating area

Mmmmmmmm….

They have fancy gold trays…

More my speed… there is an assortment of Phineas and Ferb snacks now available around World Showcase

Holiday decorations are gone

Goodbye Paper Tickets! RFID Tickets Now Rolling Out at Walt Disney World

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

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Disney has issued a formal statement to cast members about the roll-out of new RFID tickets this week as they prepare for the launch of MyMagic+:

As we convert our theme park entrances to touch points, single or multi-day tickets purchased at Vacation Planning and Guest Relations locations beginning Jan. 30 will be enabled with radio frequency (RF) technology. Guests with these tickets will be able to utilize the main entrance touch points to enter the parks as well as turnstiles.

The rollout of the new tickets will happen over several days, one park at a time. The tentative schedule is Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Jan. 30, Magic Kingdom on Jan. 31, Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Feb. 1 and Downtown Disney on Feb. 4. The remaining locations will follow.

These new single or multi-day tickets will be available onsite at Guest Relations and Vacation Planning locations. Guests who have the new tickets will be able to use the main entrance touch points as well as turnstiles. The tickets function just like the current tickets and Guests can still get FASTPASS tickets from the FASTPASS machines in our theme parks. The new tickets will be plastic and more durable than the current paper tickets. The tickets will have a green background to further help Cast Members and Guests differentiate between the ticket media types.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I use this ticket at the turnstiles?
A. Yes, this ticket works in the turnstiles and at the main entrance touch points.
Q. Will I still be able to get FASTPASS tickets from the FASTPASS machines?
A. Yes, this will work in the FASTPASS machines.
Q. I have an Annual Pass. Can I convert it to a ticket that works at the touch points?
A. You will be able to do this in the future. We value our Annual Passholders and want you to be among the first Guests to be able to experience MyMagic+. All Passholders will receive communication soon on how to convert their pass to become part of the MyMagic+ experience. When this exciting opportunity to convert your pass arrives, you’ll be able to enter our theme parks through the main entrance touch points.
Q. Why can’t I use my ticket at the new main entrance touch points?
A. Not all tickets are enabled to work at the main entrance touch points. We are in the process of converting our park entrances and also changing our tickets to be compatible with the main entrance touch points. Currently only Key to the World cards and single or multi-day tickets purchased onsite are compatible with the new touch points. All Guests can still utilize the turnstiles to enter our theme parks.

Tom Corless’ 1/14-1/17/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

I know it is a few days late, but I decided that I should share some newsworthy photos from my last trip to Walt Disney World with you, so let’s take a look at a couple of interesting things happening around the resort:

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The Epcot Center charm bracelet is now available

The “Oz The Great and Powerful” playground fro the Flower and Garden Festival is being constructed near Imagination!

The FastPass+ queue seems to be finished at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Yes, the cut a hole in the mural…

The Main Street Bakery is closed until May to convert to Starbucks service

Tomorrowland Terrace has breakfast for now

FastPass+ scanners uncovered at Tomorrowland Speedway

Also uncovered at the Barnstormer

The umbrellas have finally arrived for the tables in Storybook Circus

The construction walls at the Grand Floridian now sport concept art for the Villas at the Grand Floridian

The FastPass+ scanners at Toy Story Midway Mania are tinker-toys!

The exhibit area at the Magic of Disney Animation now has a poster up for Frozen

There is also a poster for Planes

A Walt Disney World charm bracelet has also been released

There’s a ticket from 1981 on it

They also sell a large charm with this artwork

There is a Dumbo New Fantasyland board game out now

New magnet clips, including the Orange Bird

The kids cups at restaurants now match the light-up character they come with

A temporary banner has gone up at the Animal Kingdom turnstiles to let resort guests know they can enter here with their RFID tickets

Fab 5 figurines have been released, they are only $12.95 each

A new surprise release pin set has been started celebrating extinct attractions. The first pin is the Mickey Mouse Revue!

“MyMagic+” and “MagicBand” Are About to Change the Way You Visit Walt Disney World

WDWNT on January 9, 2013

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We’ve been keeping you updated on tests of FastPass+ and “Order Ahead” dining over the last few months, well, now we have the official word from Disney on how all of this “Next-Gen” technology will tie together to change the way guests experience Walt Disney World. If you have been following this site and our podcast for any amount of time, you have probably heard us discuss much of what we will explain in this post, but this is the first time we are getting the info straight from a Disney document. To protect our sources, we will not be showing you the document itself, but rather telling you the more interesting or important points of a release that was given to certain WDW cast members. Alright, let’s take a look at what “MyMagic+” and “MagicBand” mean for the future of Disney Parks:

Soon, Walt Disney World Resort will introduce tools that allow guests to use technology to customize and personalize their vacation, along with more guest enhancements that will continue to be tested and implemented in the coming years. Many of these efforts are part of MyMagic+, which has the ability to connect nearly all aspects of the guest experience.

  • My Disney Experience, a new website and mobile application, will provide a one-stop shop for all things Walt Disney World during every phase of a guest’s vacation. Guests may use My Disney Experience to get information on all Walt Disney World offerings, reserve dining and other experiences and make FastPass+ selections in advance.
  • Disney FastPass+ service will allow guests to lock in some of their must-do attractions and show experiences in advance, freeing them to explore and discover the magic in Walt Disney World theme parks and resort hotels. For the first time, guests will be able to reserve firework and parade viewing areas, shows, Disney Character Greetings and more.
  • The new MagicBand, worn on the wrist, will become the key to unlocking the magic, serving as room key, park admission, access to FastPass+ selections, PhotoPass card and payment account (optional) all rolled into one.
  • MyMagic+, as well as other guest experience enhancements, will continue to be tested and implemented in the coming years. We are continually looking at ways to take the entire Disney Parks experience to the next level at all of our destinations based on the unique ways our guests enjoy diverse sites. Guests, Cast, Crew, and Imagineer feedback will continue to be a critical part of the process in shaping these offerings.

“MyMagic+” has been slowly rolling out to guests over the last few weeks, most noticeably with the installation of “touch to pay” machines at most stores and RFID scanners at the entrance to all 4 theme parks. The new Walt Disney World website is also prepared for these additions including FastPass+:

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If you try to make a dining reservation for the Be Our Guest Restaurant and it is not available, it will tell you that Disney FastPass+ Quick Service may be available. This will be the system that allows you to get a time window to go to the restaurant and even allow you to order your food before you arrive, just like the “Order Ahead” test from a few weeks ago. Of course if you hit the “Request Now” button, it does not work yet.

So, when will “MyMagic+” and “MagicBand” roll out? We don’t really know yet. We’ve heard as early as February we could see the first guests walking around the parks with the RFID MagicBand, but only time will tell. Stay tuned for more information on this breaking story as it becomes available.

What do you think of the concept of “MyMagic+” and “MagicBand”?

Fastpass Plus Testing About to Resume at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

Walt Disney World is once again gearing up for a test of Fastpass Plus service as evidenced by the many kiosks and poles we’ve seen installed at many Magic Kingdom attractions. Disney confirmed the test to travel agents today:

At the Walt Disney World® Resort we’re constantly looking for ways to make the Guest experience even better. As a part of these efforts, over the next several months we’ll be testing enhancements to our very popular Disney FASTPASS® service at the Walt Disney World Resort. The test, called Disney FastPass+, will allow a small number of Guests to make Disney FastPass+ selections for some of their favorite experiences at Magic Kingdom® Park before they even leave home.

During this test period, select Guests who are registered to use Disney’s Magical Express service will be offered the opportunity to go online to pre-select four Disney FastPass+ experiences at Magic Kingdom Park. Guests eligible for this test will be notified via mail, at the mailing address provided during the booking process. It’s important for you to pass along these invitations to your Clients in order for them to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Information that we collect from your Clients solely through this test will not be used for marketing purposes. As always, we may send marketing communications to these Clients due to separate past or future interactions between us and these Clients.

While this exciting concept is currently only in the test phase, we’ll continue to share information on the wide range of new, innovative experiences we will be testing and implementing over the coming year, which are designed to make a Walt Disney World vacation even more magical! Stay tuned to Disney Travel News for more information.

Rumor is that the test is currently scheduled for the end of September. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Adam Roth’s 8/18/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

WDWNT’s diligent reporter Adam Roth was on the scene at Walt Disney World this weekend, visiting Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. Adam took a number of newsworthy photos on his trip, so let’s take a look at what’s new and exciting:

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Art of disney at Epcot recently was refurbished and is now open once again, now featuring the Castle Collection merchandise

Looks like they just cleaned up the place a bit

They did rearrange some shelves

Work continues to prepare a new entrance at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

This new wave awning replaces the plain umbrellas that had been here

Work continues on a new entrance, presumed to be a new queue for Turtle Talk with Crush

Work continues on what we believe is a DVC booth near Canada

Bistro De Paris is gone…

It will be replaced with a new restaurant from the same company after 30 years at Epcot

The bakery is also being expanded

Construction walls up inside the shop next door

Food and Wine Festival preparations underway

No more Vanity Fair, now the sponsor is Chase

Nice to know that the new patio at Tutto Italia can be enclosed in bad weather

This fountain outside of La Hacienda has been like this for months…

The new exhibit inside the Mexico pavilion seems to be just about finished

Donald was meeting guests inside

The Cool Wash by Test Track is still behind walls

Work continues on Test Track

Heading over to the Magic Kingdom, we can see Grand Floridian DVC construction

AVENGERAIL!

It now advertises the home video release of the film

It turned into a nice day

The Country Bear Jamboree is closing for a few months this week

Some people seem convinced the show will be shortened and some songs will be removed

Shaker says “Probably not”

Trixie would be sad…

Gomer is befuddled

Some people think Big Al will be cut… yeah, OK…

The Yankee Trader is now behind tarps as work continues on the new path and restrooms in Fantasyland

Next-gen FASTPASS looks ready to go at the Haunted Mansion

The store is open during this

A strange structure has risen on the Skyway site which makes these people angry at each-other…

Chubby Moonliner?

I’m not sure what that is supposed to be

Next-gen FASTPASS installed at Peter Pan as well

People like to lean on things

The castle walls are nearing completion

Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train construction

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

Caught someone picking their nose… fantastic!

Just like in the concept art, Prince Eric’s castle is visible just over the mountain

Next-Gen FASTPASS at Winnie the Pooh

More grass appearing on the roof of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Big Top Souvenirs

Next-Gen FASTPASS installed here as well

The presumed Humphrey the Bear counter service location through the trees

Looks like a sign will be installed soon

Another look at the roof grass…

Work continues on the Tomorrowland bridge

And the old Swan Boats dock

Infrastructure for the eventual move to RFID tickets is being installed at the Magic Kingdom entrance

Another look at Grand Floridian construction

Selected Guests Being Emailed Prior to WDW Trip for FastPass Plus Testing

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

So, here’s what guests picked at random for the FastPass Plus test are getting in their inboxes right now:

So not only are they signing up for the date and attractions they wish to experience ahead of their trip, but they will be mailed the FastPass Plus cards prior to their arrival. This is what the system should be like if ever permanently implemented down the road. It seems that the scheduled test dates are September 18th through the 24th.

Stay tuned to WDWNT as more information becomes available on this breaking story.

Select Disney World Guests Testing Next-Gen RFID FASTPASS System

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Starting on May 1st, select Walt Disney World guests checking-in for Magical Express at Orlando International Airport have been asked to complete a survey. If they choose to answer the survey, well, then the fun begins. A guest relations cast member will provide the family with two lists of select Magic Kingdom attractions, asking them to pick 2 from each list. Here are all of the attraction involved in the test:

  • Mickey at Town Square Theater
  • Princesses at Town Square Theater
  • Stitch’s Great Escape (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Space Mountain
  • The Many adventure of Winnie the Pooh
  • Mickey’s Philharmagic (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • The Haunted Mansion (Does not currently offer FASTPASS)
  • Splash Mountain
  • The Jungle Cruise

After selecting 2 from each list, the cast member will ask the guest what day they will be visiting the Magic Kingdom, if they are celebrating anything, and then give the guests some plastic yellow cards that says FASTPASS. These cards contain a small RFID-chip inside that contains some information based on what information was provided. Among that info will be reserved FASTPASS times on the 4 attractions selected from the list above. Guests are to be sent an email at a requested address with their final itinerary.

Here’s what the email guests are receiving looks like

Guests then take their cards to the Magic Kingdom and are invited to put them to good use. When you head over to a corresponding attraction at the proper time, you will be scanning your card at a temporary pole with a Mickey icon on it or at a PDA device also sporting the same Mickey icon (Town Square Theater is using this system and not the poles). When the card is scanned, the icon should turn green to enter. If you get a blue icon, you have done something wrong.

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One of the readers installed at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

At every location they have an iPad or a PDA that will tell them if you are too early, too late, or on-time when you swipe your card at the reader. Should you be wrong or need to check your schedule, they will refer you to one of 5 locations where you can currently do this. The 5 locations set-up to help guests throughout the park are City Hall, and kiosks near Jungle Cruise, Stitch’s Great Escape, Splash Mountain, and Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Another interesting factoid is that cast members will see all kinds of information about you when you scan your card at the reader. They can see your name and even if you are celebrating anything. You’ll recall rumors we’ve discussed of Disney using the same RFID technology in attractions to make them actually acknowledge your name or what you are celebrating that day. Yes, the future has arrived, but only for a short time. The test is scheduled to end May 15th.