Dirk Wallen’s 7/27-29/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney over the last three days and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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More touch-point entrances are being installed at Epcot

The exit has been moved to accommodate this work

Work continues on Fountain View which will open as Starbucks in the Fall

This booth is once again out from behind walls… let’s see if it actually opens this time…

The latest Remember When pin is out, featuring Journey Into Jungle Book from Animal Kingdom

Walls are still up around this planter on World Showcase promenade

Hard to see, but roads have been paved for the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

There is some major concrete work happening outside of the Emporium

Walls are down from around this sign

White tarps up on this Main Street facade for whatever reason

Planes merchandise has landed at the Emporium

New crossword Mickey Mouse iPhone 5 phone case

These walls are still up in Liberty Square

Walls still up at the old Peter Pan restrooms in Fantasyland

This awesome sign featuring the two lines at the Mad Tea Party finally went back up this week

Still nothing to see at Princess Fairytale Hall

Plenty to see over at the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train site

You can now see hills and valleys where the trains will dive down and rise up… this looks pretty incredible…

Work has just about wrapped up on the back of the mountain

We’re still waiting for Triton’s Treasures to open

One tarp is still up on the building

FastPass+ running at Magic Carpets of Aladdin

The FastPass+ entrance is also ready to go at Pirates of the Caribbean

A new marquee and times board are up at the American Idol Experience

Signage points FastPass+ guests down to here to enter

The Hollywood Brown Derby is testing a new lunch menu right now and it looks amazing

Moving to the Studios, Planes banners are up in the Animation Courtyard

Planes and Frozen billboards up in the Animation Courtyard as well

FastPass+ at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

Moving to Downtown Disney, one of the West Side parking lots has already been closed for construction

Demolition continues at the former Comedy Warehouse

A new bridge is being constructed from the West Side to Pleasure Island, going around the planned construction area

Episode 143 Texting

Ep. 142 Texting

This week we review Park 13 and the Frozen vinyls. We also talk about the new Hawaii and Vegas figures featuring Stitch. This episode is also our 2013 Dee Vee Award wrap up were we run down some of the numbers from and interesting stats from the show.


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Update To Disney Animated App Adds “Frozen” Content

Today, Disney Interactive update their Disney Animated app to include new content from the current #1 film in the nation, Frozen. Fans can now discover how Frozen‘s beloved characters were developed by animators as well as learn about the art and inspiration behind Elsa’s kingdom of  Arendelle with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to concept art, character sketches, test animations and more.

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Using an authentic recreation of the visual effects animation system used in the film, the app’s users can control Elsa’s magical snow and create their own animations which can be shared via e-mail or social media.

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Disney Animated gives users an inside look at all the art and technology used to create all of Walt Disney Animation Studios films from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs up to this year’s Frozen. The app also features digital story chapters packed with interactive images, animated clips, user-animated authentic Disney 3D character models, a browsable timeline of all 53 Disney feature animated films, an interactive color map and much more.

 

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The Disney Animated app is available for the special price of $9.99 from the Apple App Store or you can learn more at Disney.com/Animated.

 

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

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!