Zach Larson’s 1/10/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, including another look at the new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom attraction:

Package pick-up on Main Street is under tarps

Christmas decorations are still up…

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is set to test every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday until it officially opens

Zach’s cards

The bakery behind tarps

It looked so real…

While the parlor is closed, you can get pre-packaged ice cream treats

The Main Street bridge is being repaired

Sorcerers window in Fantasyland

Stroller parking is a mess while Fantasyland construction continues

Ariel story

Still not entirely sure how this projection even happens…

Flotsam and Jetsam

Dumbo is now closed and behind walls

The Sunshine Tree Terrace is still behind tarps

Genie in Adventureland

Iago returns to Adventureland attractions… YAY!

These have been here for a while, but a lot of Pirates of the Caribbean movie nods have been added to Tortuga Tavern

Familiar hats…

Blackbeard!

Merlin is on the Jungle Cruise!

Pecos Bill’s facade is still behind tarps

The old menu at Golden Oak Outpost has returned… is it possible that they listened to us?

Frontierland Trading Post behind tarps

Merlin on the Liberty Belle

Princess and the Frog story

This is another one of those surprising windows… how do they do it

Another look at Main Street bridge work

Last look at Christmas decorations

Not surprisingly, all these people who can't read felt they needed to be the first on the launch, despite their actions.

A new sign… but people still don’t read…

“Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree” Coming To Frontierland

From Shawn Slater on the Disney Parks Blog:

We have some great news to share today! Starting May 3, we’ll be rounding up some good times and bringing a whole new energy to Frontierland at Disneyland park with the opening of the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.

Cowboy Mickey
Encompassing the former Festival Arena site, the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree will feature music, dancing, crafts, pin trading and plenty of Disney characters in their finest Western wear. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be throwing a good, old fashioned Hoedown, where you can kick up your heels with the likes of Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Chip ‘n Dale. From time to time, classic favorites like Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck or those silly Country Bears might even stop by!

What’s more, Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree is also going to be the newest spot to catch visiting performing ensembles as part of Disney Performing Arts. Disney Performing Arts provides an opportunity for middle and high school students and community groups from across the country to perform in Disney Parks as well as take workshops taught by entertainment professionals to improve their performance skills. You’ll be able to enjoy some of these young instrumentalists, singers and dancers as they put on the performance of a lifetime onstage at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.

 

Big Thunder Mountain Gets A Golden Backstory

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Last week, we shared an image of a portrait that’s a part of a new project our Walt Disney Imagineers are currently working on – and today we’re happy to reveal the identity of that man and share details on the role he’ll play in the enhanced storyline of a certain Magic Kingdom Park attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Barnabas T. Bullion, Founder and President of Big Thunder Mining Company

The fellow’s name is Barnabas T. Bullion, and he’s the gold magnate who rules the Big Thunder Mining Company with a golden fist. Imagineers have already begun working overnight in the park on the attraction’s new interactive queue, where you’ll be able to see this portrait, as well as an additional landscape portrait of the mountain itself.

Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom Park

According to the enhanced backstory: “Barnabas T. Bullion is the founder and president of the Big Thunder Mining Company. The longtime mining magnate comes from a powerful East Coast family and considers gold to be his very birthright by virtue of his oddly appropriate name; in fact, he considers the ultimate gold strike to be his destiny. And that is why he is having so much trouble with Big Thunder Mountain. According to superstitious locals, Big Thunder Mountain is very protective of the gold it holds within, and the unfortunate soul who attempts to mine its riches is destined to fail. And so far that prophecy is coming to pass. The mine has been plagued by mysterious forces and natural disasters ever since. And yet the Big Thunder Mining Co. is still in operation. In fact, Bullion is discovering new veins of gold and digging new shafts every day, offering a closer look at the Big Thunder mining operation than ever before. But a word to the wise for anyone attempting to visit the mountain: watch out for runaway trains.”

Look for these new additions and a number of additional interactive elements in the coming months at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the wildest ride in the wilderness!

It sounds like the new interactive queue that we have been talking about for Big Thunder Mountain will be ready for guests soon with an extra dose of a certain Imagineer. As we all know the Big Thunder Queue is one of the worst queues anywhere on property so I think we are all anxiously awaiting this change. What do you think of the enhanced back story?

Adam Roth’s 12/10/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney yesterday and took plenty of newsworthy photos, so let’s take a look at what’s new:

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It appears some of the elements for the Adventureland interactive game have been installed

This icon should help guests locate the game area

Not sure what this will do

A different icon near this cannon

You can see the cannon aiming at something behind this tarp

Another game area

Looks like there is a skeleton under the water where the Junior Jungle Boats used to be

Another game area being set-up

The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls

We expect this is where the game will begin for guests

Golden Oak Outpost is closed again…

The tower from Tangled visible from Frontierland

Kind of strange…

Work is speeding along on the restrooms on the former Skyway site, rumors still indicate we will see guest charging stations for electronics in this area as well

The tower was installed recently

The Royal Majesty Makers out and about in Fantasyland

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction continues

The construction walls were updated with the Dwarfs now mimicking the areas they are in

This scene is near Enchanted Tales with Belle

The small Lumiere on the signage now swings his arms back and forth

Looks like another device built by Maurice

More new Mine Train walls

Some new concept art shows off the interactive queue

Looks like fun

The finale scene

Everyone has clocked in, meaning they are working hard on the new attraction

Another look at Mine Train

Some more walls came down revealing a small section of the bridge

A look from the other side

100 minutes for Mermaid… yeah, Fantasyland is a total failure 😉

All of the screen-based wait times signs in the park were themed recently, all of them now match the physical signage now

The back side of Mine Train

Triton’s Treasures is being built and is coming along quickly

Wait for Ariel’s Grotto

Some cool walls you can look through were put up as well

Let’s take a look inside

A lot of work still to be done

This wall is near Winnie-The-Pooh

Near the Mad Tea Party

Another look through the walls

Moving to Downtown Disney, the volcano at Rainforest Cafe is coming along nicely

Splitsville opens December 19th

Curl is also moving to some small space next door to Splitsville

Looks like there is space for another store as well

There’s an outside bar as well

Zach Larson’s 2/6/12 WDW Photo Report

From Super Bowl MVP parades to Animal Kingdom, WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson brings us around the world with him on a very busy photo report. Let’s take a look:

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Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

overgrowth getting cleared away

Meanwhile, some brush is being cleared from this island in the Seven Seas Lagoon

The main street characters were out entertaining guests waiting for Eli Manning to parade down the street. I really don’t like the new one in the beige shorts…

They were offering free balloons with every audio guide purchased! 😉

Giants fans out in force

Here comes the Super Bowl MVP

Congratulations to our hometown champions, the New York Giants… even though I’m a Dolphins fan… stop laughing…

The Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment rolls on

I love this sign

The Pecos Bill’s facade is out from behind tarps and looks great

More of the facade still covered

The Frontierland Trading Post still behind tarps

Pathway work continues and Electrical Parade takes a break and Celebrate a Dream Come True stays on Main Street

Work continues on the old Fantasyland Skyway

Restrooms are coming, but rumors say to expect more

Rumors indicate that a Tangled play area and an area for guests to rest and recharge electronics is coming

Work continues on the Peter Pan’s Flight queue

Crane up in New Fantasyland

The new Tomorrowland/Fantasyland vending cart costume is a better fit for Tomorrowland in my opinion

Work continues on the castle walls

The crane! The crane!

Storybook Circus

The Dumbo queue is coming along

Beast’s Castle

They are finally topping Prince Eric’s Castle at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

A spire finally appears at the very edge of the castle! PROGRESS!

Fantasyland Station is looking great

The old Dumbo spinner is now sitting next to the completed new spinner

I really love the pastels

It’s hard to improve a simple spinner, but I think they have

Circus tents

Awww….

Bye balloons… sniff…

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Main Street bridge work continues

Center Street still behind tarps

Chamber of Commerce/Package Pick-Up behind tarps as well

Cosmic Ray’s installed these screen menu boards a while ago

I like this shot…

Lights were on in Space Mountain

Long line for the Peoplemover

Something is missing…

Oooooo…

Walls still up behind the shrunken pet cemetery

Ooooo….

Another new Haunted Mansion shirt

On to Epcot

Test Track on the map, get them while you can

Kind of empty…

The screen works!

This scene may be gone soon…

GM cars out in the loop

Punch it Chewie!

Plenty of blue Chevy labeled cars out

The VISION House is coming to Innoventions soon

Habit Heroes is testing

Some clever puns… good thing this isn’t DCA…

The Final Boss, He's defeated with exercise.

There were quite a few bugs and they weren’t allowing pics inside, so listen to next week’s podcast for a full review

Doors locked for some reason

MINE!

No, they are not putting FASTPASS machines in…

Nemo?

In case you don’t know how to play Simon…

Preparations have begun for the Flower and garden Festival

They keep adding more and more signs for Kim Possible

The new Future World directional signs

The Canada facade refurbishment is done and it looks brand new

Leave a Legacy being fixed up

Over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, work continues on one of the paths in the Oasis

Kali River Rapids is closed for refurbishment

These were added some time ago, but the seating area at the Yak and Yeti counter service now has covered sections

I miss these signs that don’t say dream builders…

The drink window was open

Adam Roth’s 2/13/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Monday to do some homework (if only we were so lucky) and he managed to take plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us in the process:

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Let’s grab a times guide

 The parade route is back to normal

Work continues on the bakery and center street facades

The bakery is open

Plaza Ice Cream still closed

Work continues on the supports in Tomorrowland

 

This side of the Dumbo queue is finally being painted

 

Scaffolding coming down on the circus tent queue area

 

The other Dumbo centrifuge is in place

 

They are working everyday to get the attraction up and running as soon as possible

 

 

Beast’s Castle

 

 

The Mermaid rock-work is being extended to hide the show building from view in Storybook Circus

 

Rooftops and patios are appearing on Prince Eric’s castle

 


A close-up of the castle

 

 

It looks great!

 

 

The artwork is back on the great wall of Fantasyland

 

The Castle Wall is finally showing some progress

 

The Seven Dwarves Mine shop lives out a stay of execution until the wall moves this direction

 

Walkways are still tight at the moment

 

This is the first time we’ve actually seen people working on the wall

 

We can see some detail at the top of the wall

 

The Fantasyland Skyway station is gones and now we have a giant pile of dirt

 

You can clearly see The Hauted Mansion, but this will change

 

Just a lot of dirt…

 

Work on the Peter Pan’s Flight queue continues

 

 

 

 

Walls up where the pathway will go next to the Haunted Mansion

 

Hard to believe this opened almost a year ago

It has grown in nicely

 

Some things were changed…

 

 

Some things were added as less-than-capable guests walked through…

 

 

Other things that were added

 

The pet cemetary is missing some pieces while the new path is worked on

 

Time for some Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

 

 

 

Pongo looks a little angry…

Love the cards

 

What’s the best part about Sorcerers? Inclusion of often ignored characters

 

The old Fife & Drum food service location closed for decades is back in use

 

This is a second location where you can begin your quest

This card has been changed to remove Slinky Dog from the background. Apprently, Disney doesn’t have the rights to use him…

 

Frontierland Trading Post still behind tarps

 

 

The tower that the Barnstormer will now crash through looks finished

 

The Big Thunder Mountain refurb rolls on

 

Lift hill replacemtn and roof repairs being done now

 

 

Some paint has also been applied to lower level rock-work

 

 

Progress is appearing rapidly

 

The backside of the Be Our Guest Restaurant

A look at Fantasyland Station

 

Lighting fixtures installed

 

Hi there

 

Still there…

 

Roof is covered

 

The Barnstormer is just about finished

 

 

 

A fair amount of landscaping left to complete

 

The backside of the Dumbo building

The Sorcerers Series – Battling Dr. Facilier

We are happy to continue our series of videos walking you through all of the adventures you can experience at Walt Disney World’s latest attraction, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. We go on down the bayou to Liberty Square and Frontierland to battle Dr. Facilier and his friends on the other side this time:

Tim Alcoser’s 4th Of July Disneyland Photo Report

DLNT Reporter Tim Alcoser was at the Disneyland Resort for the 4th of July and grabbed some photos of the special festivities as well as the huge crowds that came to the resort on Independence Day. Take a look…

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This sign has Sam the Eagle and Ollie Owl from America Sings on it. Neat.

A new gallery has opened up on Main Street, replacing the Disneyland Railroad gallery.

The new exhibit Crowning Achievements has opened in the Disney Galley.

Packed crowds hours before the fireworks.

Busy day on Main Street

The All American College Band starts off the festivities before the parade.

The All-Star American College Band out before the parade

The 3rd Division Marine Aircraft Wing Band makes it's way down Main Street USA.

A Gunnery-Sergeant leads the team.

The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band marching down Main Street

Even cast members pause a moment to cheer on the band.

The Marine Band played at the Big Thunder Jamboree.

More crowds than Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree has ever seen.

The Marine on the far left is not wearing a white belt because he is an officer, and they wear different belts.

Two female Marines play the

We will have video up tomorrow of the performance

I take a brief pause from the hustle and bustle of The Hub.

One of the busiest days of the year for Disneyland.

Crowds waiting for Celebrate America

Everyone is crammed in tight.  But being a single viewer, I am able to just barely squeeze in a small spot.

I duck into the Main Street Theater to escape the crowds. Thanks for reading!

Thanks for reading

Adam Roth’s 12/4/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Walt Disney World on Sunday, stopping at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Let’s take a look at the newsworthy photos:

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Another Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window

There are many ways to hide a camera

The attention to detail is amazing

A window in Frontierland

These pads tell guests where to stand

Work continues on the Frontier Trading Post facade

The Pecos Bill’s facade looks great

The Adventureland/Frontierland passage is finally finished!

It looks quite nice

The buildings next door also look great

Work is now happening on the back side of Pecos Bill’s/Tortuga Tavern

A fireplace in Tortuga Tavern is a Sorcerers play area

Camera holes

Speaker

Argghhh, we found another!

The Sunshine Tree Terrace is still behind tarps

Another little mat out in Adventureland

It now looks like there is a piece of cloth in the back

The Swiss Family Treehouse re-opened a few weeks ago

Another mat…

Not so hidden cameras

They completely rebuilt the entrance canopy

Looks brand new

No visible progress on the Fire Station which will open as the main location for Sorcerers in early 2012

As we leave the Magic Kingdom, we see work on the Grand Floridian DVC wing is picking up

Adam took a trip over to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort per our request to see how construction was going

It looks like it is going great!

The Cadillac Range has appeared on the Cars buildings

Sketches of Luigi

Sketches of Guido

Finding Nemo building

Large coral outside

A look into the pool area

Another look at Cars

This hotel is going to be heavenly…

A wide shot

The Little Mermaid wing

Staircase construction

The Lion King building is far from finished

Back to Nemo

Crush is under wraps, please don’t try this at home…

A school of fish up on the building

More newly installed props

Mr. Ray is wrapped up

More Little Mermaid buildings

Construction trailers

It’s Christmas at Pop Century, so raise the roof tiles…

So, oranges under a mini-van…

WHAT?