Conner went to the Disneyland resort on the 9th of this month. He was able to capture photo’s of the Main Street U.S.A train station refurbishment and continued construction on Royal Hall. He also grabbed photo’s of all the renovations and entertainment happening in Frontierland. Conner captured some photos of Muppet Vision 3D which recently returned.
The huge refurb that has been rumored for Big Thunder for months now has just been announced. From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:
In the normal course of a Disney Parks attraction’s lifespan, there are periods of time when it is necessary to close for a major refurbishment. You may recall that this was the case last year with the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which now looks better than ever with its fresh snowfall. Up next at Disneyland park, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close January 7 for refurbishment, reopening in fall 2013. Updates being made to the attraction will include:
- New ride vehicles (but don’t worry – they’ll still look like the trains that you know and love!)
- Track replacement (but the attraction will still follow its current course)
- Repainting portions of the mountain itself (Walt Disney Imagineering has once again carefully studied Bryce Canyon for inspiration)
We’ll have more updates on these and other aspects of the refurbishment throughout the year, but if you’d like to experience the “wildest ride in the wilderness” one more time before it begins, head on over to Disneyland park by January 6 – its last day of operation until fall 2013.
After a few months down for refurbishment, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad returned to service at the Magic Kingdom last week. Let’s start with the positive: the entire track was replaced, every square inch of the ride repainted, and many previously broken effects were repaired. The long broken geyser scene looks brand-new with every single opening blasting a tall pillar of water into the sky.
On the other side, the boulder scene during the final lift hill was completely shut down. In short, non-moving rocks were placed where moving boulders once stood. Also, a lot of effects are still missing, but we assume this was in a rush to open on time. As for the interactive queue…. it’s on the way. As you watch our video, you’ll notice large brown crates scattered through the queue along with some new walls and railings. The interactive queue is definitely coming soon, it just hasn’t been installed yet. Take a look for yourself:
The Country Bear Jamboree returned to operation at the Magic Kingdom on October 17th following a 2 month refurbishment. As expected, all of the lighting, audio, and audio-animatronics were upgraded or fixed and all of the technical aspects of the attraction are working and looking better than ever. However, rumors of cuts in the show to make it shorter and increase the theoretical hourly capacity also came to fruition. We have video of the show to share with you so you can see the multiple songs, verses and lines fo dialogies cut from the show:
For those either unfamiliar with the show or in case you forgot what the show formerly was, I have compiled a list of everything that has been removed:
Opening and Pianjo
Buff: “We can’t hang around here all day”
Max: “Takes a little doin’ to set these things up”
Henry: OK, OK boys, take it easy, take it easy, now we’re ready to start. Sorry folks, I’ll be right with you. (Clears throat)”
Henry: “But enough of this chat chat, yak-yak, and flim-flam. Just refrain from hibernatin’ (laugh), and we’ll all enjoy the show because we’ve got a lot to give.”
(Several seconds of Pianjo number cut)
Bear Band Serenade with Five Bear Rugs
Henry: “Plus Gomer” (When introducing Five Bear Rugs number)
(One verse of “One sure thing the bear band’s got is real old country rhythm” cut)
Fractured Folk Song by Henry and Wendell
Song completely removed from show
If Ya’ Can’t Bite, Don’t Growl (Moved up in the show)
No cuts
My Woman Ain’t Pretty by Liverlips McGrowl
No cuts
Mama Don’t Whup Little Buford by Henry and Wendell
No cuts
Tears Will Be The Chaser For Your Wine by Trixie
(Introduction)
Henry: “A little bit of ever-lovin’ cuddlesome fluff”
(Ending)
Henry: “Beautiful, beautiful. That was a mighty big song Trixie.”
Trixie: “Oh thank ya’ Henry (giggles)”
Buff: “That sure ain’t all that’s big”
Max: “Well, you’re no lightweight yourself Buff.”
Henry: “Boys, boys, watch your manners.”
Melvin: “Yeah, if you can’t say somethin’ nice…”
Henry: “Now boys, boys, ok now boys if you just stop carrying on like, we just might dedicate this next song to ya’ll. And we so dedicate.”
Devilish Mary performed by Five Bear Rugs
Song completely removed from show
How Long Will My Baby Be Gone performed by Shaker
No cuts
All The Guys That Turn Me On Turn Me Down by Bunny, Bubbles, and Beulah
Repetition of “Nothing ever seems to work for me” at end of number
Heart We Did All That We Could by Teddi Barra
(Introduction)
Henry: “Swing it teddy!”
Max: “Wow, here she comes”
Buff: (Whistling)
Blood On The Saddle by Big Al
No cuts
The Ballad of Davy Crockett performed by Henry and Sammy
No cuts
Ole Slew Foot By All Bears
Opening verse removed
Exit and We Hope That You’ll Be Comin’ Back Again
(Opening)
Henry: “And bear around to see us again”
(Song)
Several lines of “We Hope That You’ll Be Comin’ Back Again” removed including spoke dialogue like “We had such fun but don’t you cry” & “We just can’t bear to say goodbye”
Luckily we have video of the original show that you can still enjoy:
So, what do you think of the changes to the Country Bear Jamboree? Good, bad, or a little bit of both?
Courtesy of Scott Keating and scottkeating.net, we once again have some fantastic aerial photos of Fantasyland to share with you:
The base of the old Dumbo is still lingering, guess it isn’t that easy to completely remove…
A lot going on here: The bridge that will serve as the entrance to the Be Our Guest Restaurant is nearing completion, the Mermaid queue entrance is out from behind scaffolding and appears mostly complete with the exception of pavement, and we can now make out a distinguishable footprint for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train
Another angle shows that Gaston’s Tavern is far behind the other buildings in the village
We can now see where the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is going in Storybook Circus, but what lies beyond it in the tents is mostly a mystery…
Getting away from Fantasyland, the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment rolls on with most of the queue being rebuilt, all track being replaced, and a visible fresh coat of paint being applied to the entire mountain
Work continues on the DVC wing of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
From Shawn Slater of Disney Parks Blog:
There’s something new this Halloween Time at Disneyland park, and it’s happening over at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree in Frontierland. That’s where you’ll find a magical Halloween Carnival filled with fun for the whole family, with favorite Disney characters in Halloween costumes, special Halloween entertainment, amazing pumpkin carvers, activities, holiday merchandise, yummy treats and even the Disney Villains!
You can make your own Halloween mask at the craft station, and then join Mickey Mouse and his pals in a “Mask-Parade.” Try your hand at carnival games, like tossing rings on a witch’s hat or spinning the Crystal Ball Fortune Wheel to seek your own happy Halloween fortune. Everyone’s favorite Frontierland musical group joins the fun, too, as Billy Hill and the “Haunted” Hillbillies take the stage six times a day for a round of appropriately spooky tunes, all done in their inimitable bluegrass style.
The highlight of the Halloween Carnival is sure to be the Magic Cauldron Sideshow. Dare to venture into this tented area, and you may be asked to help cast a magic spell, conjuring a Disney Villain from his or her realm to meet your group before returning to worlds beyond. Disney Villains fans will want to visit more than once, since you never know which Disney Villain might be summoned each time. Sounds like a real “scream!”
The Halloween Carnival at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree opens September 14 and continues most days through October 31. Please check the park Times Guide for daily operating schedules.
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:
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
WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, including Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom play-testing and Grand Floridian DVC wing construction, so let’s take a look:
Work continues on the Main Street Bakery facade
Is this crane for Fantasyland construction? No…
They are fixing a few small things on the Castle
Nice to see maintenance being done after such a short period of time
That is one tall crane
Work continues on the Main Street bridge
Renovations continue inside Plaza Ice Cream
Main Street characters out and about
The Chapeau and some of the Confectionary behind tarps
It is a strange look down Main Street these days
Package Pick-Up/Chamber of Commerce also behind tarps
Time to take a look at the progress on the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment
Almost every roof is being replaced
Painting the mountain
They sure are friendly!
Some scrims are up to block some of the view
Still plenty to see though
Tumbleweed is practically being rebuilt, as are the lift hills
Another roof being replaced
Workers still up on the Castle
No, it can’t be…
EVERYONE RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!
The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom windows on Main Street have all been installed
Sorcerers play-tests every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday currently
A window under the Train Station
I warned you that more and more Disney Store merchandise is invading the parks…
Many windows now have a permanant floor marking
A look at Robert’s cards
Now let’s take a quick look at the construiction progress on the Grand Floridian Disney Vacation Club wing
Nothing to see here yet…
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Thursday andf has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom was testing
Inside the Fire Station
The patches have returned
And you were worried they wouldn’t come back…
Guests are prepared for the adventure while waiting in line
Cards! Oh, they’re on the screen…
The screens are very well hidden
Off we go!
We got cards!
The portal under the train station
Some nice lighting set up
I love when they use backdrops of the land they are in
PONGO!
Cruella
Horace and Jasper
Hades disguised, as usual
An awesome rendering of Main Street
Turns sinister looking
We’re on the move again
I can’t wait to see someone try to buy this painting…
Portal opening
The cameras are really well hidden
This one is pretty well hidden too
Main Street facade work continues
Where are the portals?
Could one be here?
There it is!
Pretty funny
Don’t drink and drive
WE’LL CONTINUE
A crane visible over the park
Some of the displays from the pin station are missing while bridge work continues
Sorcerers can also sign up in Liberty Square
Pavement being worked on in Frontierland
More and more permanent markers showing up
I really love these windows with the opening curtains
More new pavement
Lawrence from Princess and the Frog
Louis the alligator
You have to free Tiana from a snake
Merlin on the Jungle Cruise
The Lion King story
Again, some funny moments to be found
Fighting a hyena
They have been here fo a while, but plenty of Pirates movie references can be found in Tortuga Tavern
More movie details
The color changing fireplace is pretty neat
Sunshine Tree Terrace now has a window
The lighting on the upper portion is pretty nice
Work continues on the new path between Fantasyland and Liberty Square
Less and less trees and shrubs
Some rumors claim that a Tangled play area and a rest area where guests can re-charage electronics is being added in addition to the new restrooms
Work continues on queue changes at Peter Pan’s Flight as they prepare for the new interactive queue
HUGE crane up in New Fantasyland
Work continues on the Castle Walls
Work continues on the new Dumbo queue as Goofy crashes through a tower…
Storybook Circus may very well soft-open by the end of the month
The train station and roundhouse looks great!
More rock-work appearing on Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
The archways extending from the castle look almost finished
Work continues on Belle’s Village
Signage about to go up, either for the restrooms or Ariel’s Grotto meet and greet
Another look at the train station
The new color schemes on the Dumbo uses a lot of pastels for more of a circus feel
Workers up on the station
AWESOME…
Time to battle Maleficent
Still just a sticker in Fantasyland
Here’s a detailed marker
On to the Mermaid story
Pretty funny
Flotsam and Jetsam
The shark from The Little Mermaid
I LOVE Merlin’s window
A new cart has appeared in Tomorrowland, and I must say, I really like the look of it
R2-D2 popcorn bucket available far away from Star Tours
Goofy’s new tower at the Barnstormer
Crane at dusk… I’m sure you want this as a wallpaper
The long murals on the Fantasyland construction walls are back
A far away look at the Skyway area construction
You can clearly see The Haunted Mansion
A lot of dirt on the move
Big Thunder closed for refurbishment
I love this sign
The workers are done for the day
Fantasyland Station
Yummmm
I’m getting hungry…
And for all you Alien Encounter fans…
Enjoy!
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot on Friday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing
More Main Street U.S.A. facades are going behind tarps, this should be the last batch
A temporary sidewalk ramp installed
Signs point guests around to the meet and greet FASTPASS distribution
Center Street tarps still up
The Bakery is now behind tarps
A temporary cart is also serving some bakery items
Plaza Ice Cream is closed
This facade will be behind tarps soon
Storybook Circus construction
Dumbo is almost ready to roll
The queue seems a bit behind
Dumbo was testing
We’re ready… we’ve been ready…
Belle’s Village
Trees in place, this is most likely where they will be staying
The details on Prince Eric’s castle are visible
The Beast’s Castle, Maurice’s Cottage, and the Castle Wall all in this shot
The path around Yankee Trader is now being constructed
It will put guests right about here
See?
The Madame Leota merchandise cart has moved closer to Columbia Harbor House
The Frontier Trading Post is still behind tarps
Pecos Bill’s is still behind tarps as well
Big Thunder is closing for a few months for major upgrades on the 9th
The queue should be the most radically different thing when it re-opens
The Barnstormer/Great Goofini looks like it is nearing completion
The times guide has been expanded to include the parade route, probably since it will change to a short loop this week as Electrical Parade goes dark for a paving project
Over to Hollywood Studios, where Toluca Legs Turkey Company is back in action…
During PIXAR Pals, an escape route… I mean alternate route is being opened to help guest flow
IT’S DONE! Oh, wrong park…
MUSH! MUSH!
Now on to Epcot
The tip board still works! A new record!
It indicates if FASTPASS is available
Time is almost up…
The pre-show monitors are now flat screens!
More and more cars are getting the Chevy branding
The new directional signage in Future World is color-coded and looks great!
Is it open?
Barely…
Oh, this side has lights…
No visible progress on the upcoming Habit Heroes exhibit
Thanks for the report Zach!
