Frontierland – WDWNT Archive

PHOTOS REPORT: Disneyland Resort 10/23/17 (Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Mountain Range Appears, Splitsville, New Dress Shop, ETC.)

WDWNT on October 25, 2017

WDWNT reporter Conner Purzycki brings us back to the Disneyland Resort for a long-overdue photo report from The Happiest Place on Earth.

Rockin’ Galaxy’s Edge

The first pieces of sculpted metal rock-work on top of the show buildings in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have appeared.

From the Mickey and Friends parking structure, the two attraction buildings fill most of the skyline.

Walls have sealed in most of the “Battle Escape” attraction at this point.

Despite the height, the highest points will only be visible in the park from the back of Frontierland and Toontown, both of which surprisingly blend nicely with the mountain’s tallest peaks.

This is probably our last look inside “Battle Escape” at the Disneyland Resort before the whole building is enclosed.

Looking past “Battle Escape” towards the Millennium Falcon attraction.

You Can Always Go… Downtown

Tarps are on on Tortilla Joe’s facing the Disneyland Monorail station.

Work continues on Splitsville, set to open before the end of 2017.

Between Sprinkles and D-Street, the VR experience “Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire” will open on January 5th, 2018.

I guess January 5th is technically still a day before the traditional holiday season ends…

Not to be outdone by Orlando, Downtown Disney Anaheim now has the Disney Dress Shop, selling all of the very popular Disney Parks dresses released this year.

Ridemakerz is operating with adjusted hours right now, for some reason.

One of the former Disney information booths just outside of the esplanade is now a Haagen-Dazs location, because money.

Welcome to Disneyland

A construction crane looms behind the Sailing Ship Columbia and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

River Belle Terrace is being converted into a full-fledged table service restaurant, removing all of the leftover setup from when it was a quick service eatery.

Livin’ on the Edge

We now journey to the back of Frontierland and Critter Country to check out Galaxy’s Edge from the other side.

Some of the rock-work will peek over, but none of it will look out of place, which is nice.

The real question is where will Disneyland set up the queue to enter the land? Will it be here, or towards the center entrance behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? They have less than two years to figure it out.

A peek through the walls gives us a great look at that newly installed mountain range.

2019 can’t get here soon enough…

REVIEW: Maple Popcorn Now Available at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on January 29, 2017

Tokyo Disneyland move over, because Walt Disney World is getting into the freshly-popped flavored popcorn game.

Maple Popcorn is now available at the cart adjacent to Westward Ho in Frontierland. You can buy a single serving, acquire it in a souvenir bucket, and even refill any refillable Walt Disney World popcorn bucket for just $1.50.

Of course I had to have some! So how was it? I LOVED IT!

It may look like caramel corn, but I enjoyed it much more than I do that. The coating is thinner, so it lacks the often plastic-like chewiness of caramel corn. The maple popcorn has a light maple syrup flavor which is just perfect (in my opinion). Yes sure to try it the next time you are at the park!

Hopefully more will be on the way (Epcot offers 3 flavors at the cart near Imagination), but this is a great start.

BREAKING: The Notorious Banjo Brothers & Bob Act to Conclude at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

After 16 years of entertaining families, it seems like 10/1/16, the 45th anniversary of Magic Kingdom, will be the last time The Notorious Banjo Brothers & Bob will ever perform in Frontierland.

As with recent cuts such as Scoop Sanderson, it seems to be related to the start of fiscal 2017 for the company and the financial fallout from a rather slow summer season in general.

Notorious Banjo Bros and Bob

Be sure to catch their final shows at the following times on Saturday, October 1st:

11:00 A.M., 12:20 P.M, 1:20 P.M., 2:05 P.M. 3:30 P.M., 4:20 P.M. & 5:20 P.M.

Joe Hogarty’s 3/21/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Today we welcome WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty to the team with his very first photo report! Joe visited the Magic Kingdom to catch Splash Mountain now that it has reopened from refurbishment, but he also got some pictures of progress on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train and A Pirate’s Adventure to share with us, so let’s take a look:

The scariest opening photo of any report ever…

Don’t worry, it’s just a prop for “A Pirate’s Adventure”

Make sure to brush your teeth kids

Jack’s compass

Letter from Sparrow

We suspect this bird (similar to the one from World Showcase Adventure) will talk to guests… is it Cotton’s parrot?

Something yet to be installed?

This large shell just recently appeared

Splash Mountain just re-opened from refurbishment and it looks fantastic!

The clothes look brand new

Every animatronic is working flawlessly

Some shrubbery was added around Brer Fox

Oooooo, new lighting…

The store is pretty much unchanged

The blue shirt is new

Otherwise, a lot of the same merchandise

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland

Work also continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

The track is almost done!

This side hasn’t changed much

The other side has made some major progress

It looks like this side is finally going to be covered soon

Some new steel near Storybook Circus

The backside is starting to look like a mountain

Triton’s Treasures is also coming along nicely

Chimneys now up on the shop which may open before the Summer

I see a mountain…

It’s nice to finally see rock work

Thanks for your first report Joe!

VIDEO: Big Thunder Mountain Interactive Queue Soft-Opens!

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

As of yesterday, the interactive queue at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom was turned on. That being said, it is still not officially open and some stations and effects are still yet to be turned on. We have video of the working elements in the queue including the detonators, the large air fans, and the auto-cannary machines. Take a look:

VIDEO: Imagineers Give In-Depth Look at Big Thunder Mountain Interactive Queue

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

Since it was announced a few months ago, we have wondered exactly what will take place in the interactive queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom. Well, wonder no more. In this video, Disney Imagineers take us behind the scenes at Big Thunder and show us the props and backstory that make up the new interactive queue:

So, what do you think?

Dirk Wallen’s 2/2/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and has some fantastic pictures of new progress on the Big Thunder Mountain interactive queue, A Pirate’s Life: Treasures of the Seven Seas, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and more, so let’s take a look:

While the Main Street Bakery is closed, guests can head to the Tomorrowland Terrace

Plenty of options at Tomorrowland Terrace, including beignets!

The flowers in the hub have gone to Valentine’s Day colors and the ducks love it…

Valentine’s Day cupcakes available at Big Top Treats

I’ve heard of panning for gold…

More props and interactive elements have been installed in the queue at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The “exploding” crates are no longer under tarps

These huge machines popped up in the second-half of the queue over the weekend

It looks like guests will play some sort of game where they turn a lever

Spinning handles on the back of another machine

The refurbishment of Splash Mountain continues

Lots of painting going on

Golden Oak Outpost is closed again

Work continues on the Adventureland Veranda building

Another area of the building is also walled-off

The Crow’s Nest is out from behind tarps and it looks quite different… we expect it to play a role in “A Pirate’s Adventure”

More props for “A Pirate’s Adventure” have been installed throughout Adventureland

Jack Sparrow’s compass

This was the first prop installed a few months ago

A cannon

Ball and chains

Some props by the Jungle Cruise

Nearby, a pirate skeleton lies under the water near a treasure chest

It appears these skulls near the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance will talk

Another strange set of props

Gun powder

Sleepy Hollow Refreshments is open while the exterior is refurbished

Walls up outside of the Haunted Mansion and Yankee Trader

Tarps still up on Columbia Harbour House

The latest progress on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day lanyards are out

As is the new Test Track logo pin

Over at The Villas at the Grand Floridian, we can start to make out windows

Video: A Salute to The Golden Horseshoe Revue

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

Watch as the beloved show in Frontierland graces the stage of the Golden Horseshoe once more as Miss Lily hosts A Salute to The Golden Horseshoe Revue. The show is a part of Limited Time Magic and runs January 10-14, January 17-21, January 24-28 and January 31-February 4. Are you ready for a A Rip Roarin’ Good Ole Time?

Work Continues on “Explosive” Interactive Queue at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

As work continues on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad interactive queue at the Magic Kingdom, we can see more and more of what exactly we can expect while we wait in line. Let’s take a look at the latest progress:

These signs were installed recently