Adam Roth’s 10/12-14/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth has been all over the Disney Parks this weekend. Here are some assorted photos (that don’t include his 400 from New Fantasyland) he took at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot:

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Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts available at Sir Mickey’s

Work continues on the restrooms going in at the old Skyway site

Yankee Trader still behind tarps

Weird…

Rock-work appearing

FastPass Plus still installed at Haunted Mansion

The Magic Kingdom is getting ready for RFID park entry

We believe that the purpose of the steel truss at the park entrance is a test for a new possible exit

Cast members have been routing guests leaving the park through wider gates in the center and counting off the guests exiting

A weird test, but they want to see if it allows better guest flow

The Grand Floridian DVC wing off in the distance

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The Magic Kingdom parking entrance has been completely repainted

Looks nice, but the letters are still missing

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Moving to Epcot, FastPass Plus installed at Turtle Talk with Crush

FastPass Plus installed for Seas with Nemo and Friends ride

Hops and Barley got a sign to help guests find it

It’s hidden in the back of the American Adventure

Disney Parks wine is celebrating 1 year

Work continues on Test Track

Neat…

We can start to make out changes in the facade

A circular shape is starting to jut out from the existing facade

COOL WASH!

Looks like new banners are about to be hung up on the canopy

Here’s what is left of the Epcot 30th anniversary merchandise

Some work going on in Innoventions central

I don’t think they are taking down the canopy

It doesn’t reach The Electric Umbrella

Kim Possible was here…

Habit Heroes is still closed

FastPass Plus installed at Spaceship Earth

Seems like overkill for a merge point

We end with the friendliest buildings on earth… they share a door…

Adam Roth’s 9/24/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Downtown Disney, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us from this trip, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on Splitsville at Downtown Disney

Spotted construction workers

Still looks nothing like the concept art…

The Phineas and Ferb topiary from Epcot is now near the Phines and Ferb & You attraction

Guests were waiting for it to open

Blink has been open for a while now, don’t think we have shown it yet…

John Carter Vinylmation is now at D Street

Adam is probably the only person who has bought them

They had better hurry up…

Moving over to Epcot

Some work going on at both ends of the turnstiles

A great Epcot 30th anniversary display is up in the window at Art of Disney

They are pretty much ready for the Food and Wine festival, starting Friday

You can still buy these

The Cool Wash near Test Track is out from behind walls and now features the new “Sim Car”

The area got fixed up nicely

The dummy sports the new logo

A large hole is now in the front of Test Track

Goodbye old entrance

A new chimney installed at the Norway pavilion… we assume Agent P related…

The work on the Norway waterfall is done

Some other roof work is wrapping up

The new American Adventure cast costumes have debuted… these ones are pretty bad. Did somebody say McDonald’s?

The attraction host costumes are actually very nice

The Festival Shop actually has real doors this year…

Chase seems to be a sponsor ready to burn cash

All of the booths are ready to go

The DVC booth near Canada is just about complete

Told ya’ it was a DVC booth!

Work going on next to the Refreshment Port as well

Display at the front of World Showcase

Framing props…

WATERMELON PATCH

Apparently the cranberry bog is coming back

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Celebrity 5 & 10 is behind tarps

FastPass+ installed at Indiana Jones

Adam Roth’s 9/6/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot yesterday and has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The parks are dead

You can see FastPass+ installed at the end

Probably a 5…

FastPass+ installed at Tower as well

Ummmm….

The old Carthay Theater on Sunset Boulevard

Eat your heart out DCA

How am I supposed to take a shortcut through Starring Roles if you are fixing the path?

Heading into Magic of Disney Animation

John Lasseter in Wreck-It Ralph form

Fantastic video game humor on dispaly

Ha

Artists working hard on the new Ink and Paint Cells

There is a Fix-It Felix machine on display, although it is behind glass 🙁

The movie ads on the wall have been updated

Will do a barrel roll? OK, I MUST see this film…

The Animation Gallery still has railroad merchandise

As well as 40th anniversary and “it’s a small world” merchandise

Neat!

Work continues on The Legend of Jack Sparrow

Some strange white markings have appeared on the walls

I’m guessing these are supposed to be the dotted line on a treasure map, but it is too early to tell

I originally thought they might be markers for something, but I don’t think so

We’ll find out soon enough

A crane backstage for some reason

NO WAY…

Yep…

Wow, a TRON penny machine

This machine probably made more money than the movie did… ZING

Phineas and Ferb merchandise has taken over the old Loony Bin

Wait…

Yeah, that isn’t what that was meant for…

The smoking section near Star Tours is behind walls

This planter in front of Sounds Dangerous is also behind walls

American Idol Experience is ready for FastPass+

Moving over to Epcot, Adam was so excited about the blue vehicles at Universe of Energy that he couldn’t hold his camera still

The Test Track facade is getting ripped apart

Wow…

Food and Wine Festival preparations are well underway

After months of work, the La Hacienda fountain is out from behind walls!

Ummm, you’re in the wrong area, Italy is behind you…

AHHHHH!

Wendell from the Country Bears was out as well

“Am I early? “

Cool World Showcase shirt!

Some work being done near the waterway in the France pavilion

Work continues on what is believed to be a DVC booth near the Canada pavilion

More walls up near the Refreshment Port

KHALUA PORK SLIDERS! SOON!

Robert Ashburn’s 3/13/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on September 8, 2012

Here’s a quick photo update from around the Magic Kingdom from a few days ago, courtesy of Reporter Robert Ashburn:

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Grand Floridian DVC construction continues

Another new poster up at Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Work continues on the Bakery facade

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Storybook Circus has some great lighting at night

The blue light is a little strange… did Aliens arrive at the station?

The rocket has lighting to go along with the smoke

Someone got a new profile pic…

Another new poster popped up at the station

Dumbo looks fantastic at night!

Color changing LED lighting under the water really adds a whole new element at night

Just a friendly reminder… OR ELSE!

Guests playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

OK, if you have to wait in line to play, it completely defeats the purpose… you see your whole story play before you even get near the window, and to be honest, as fun as it is, it isn’t worth waiting any length for. Sorry, I won’t play when lines are like this… it’s not worth it for a screen…

Cool new Phineas and Ferb shirts

Some new shirts

A Dole Whip shirt? Really? It’s nice though…

Shirts for Churros and Turkey Legs, wow…

Oh, there you are Perry…

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We might be here a while… you run ahead…

FastPass+ Ride Reservation System Gets Cleaned Up For a Third Test Run

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

Walt Disney World cast members are currently testing FastPass+ at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios through Saturday. I got to play around with the registration system a bit earlier today and I have to say it is looking a lot better than it was during the last testing period. Here’s what we have learned about the process:

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Once you log-in, each guest can choose a character avatar (only 8 available now) and mark if they are celebrating anything

The current test allows one day at Magic Kingdom and one day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

You pick the day you want to visit that park…

The current test allows you to pick one experience from the first category and 2 experiences from the second

You will then get 4 options with different times for each experience

You can always make changes based on availability

You can change times or experiences, you can even change it for individual guests in your party

All other available times are listed if you want to change times

The main menu has a variety of options

We will be out in the field testing FastPass+ this weekend, so stay tuned for complete coverage!

Recent FastPass+ Test a Success at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on May 31, 2012

As we told you a few days ago, we were set to test the FastPass+ system at the Magic Kingdom over the weekend. Well, we sent reporter Zach Larson to try out the system and unlike previous tests, it seems things went really well:

Here are the cards guests used for this test

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Now that the permanent machines for scanning FastPass+ cards have been installed, here’s a look at what will happen when you successfully use the system:

Unlike previous tests, most reports we have read stated that all FastPasses that were possessed on guests card worked and scanned properly. With this successful test underway and new turnstiles & touch-to-pay machines popping-up around the resort, it is only a matter of weeks until FastPass+ and various “Next-Gen” experiences roll out to guests officially. We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.