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Ep. 090 Strawberry Field This week we record live at Disney’s Boardwalk hotel with Zoe. We talk all about Haunted Mansion, Cinderella and the new Japan series. We get Zoe’s take on some of the Mickey’s Circus previews and fight about what is a Dole Whip. We also have an interview with custom artist Aaralyn. |
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:
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
The Magic Kingdom parking entrance has been completely repainted
Looks nice, but the letters are still missing
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…
MissMouse1928 posted this picture on the Vinylmation Connection forums
It is a preview of 4 of the upcoming Haunted Mansion set figures. Here we have Phineas, one of the hitchhiking ghosts. As expected, he is designed on a clear blue vinyl body. I like the use of the bold white for his brows and black for the eyes. Master Gracey is also here in the front right. It looks like Cesar’s ghost in the back left. His spirit almost seems to have a green tint to it. Nice to see different uses of the clear bodies here. We can also see what appears to be one of the singing busts.
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 Josh Siegel visited the Magic Kingdom on Sunday to complete his Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom quest and he took some newsworthy photos from his trip to share with us:
Pain and Panic disguised as happy woodland creatures
DEFEATED!
Merlin has statues of all of the villains
Hades has another challenge for us…
Chernabog!
Time to rest after defeating all of the villains
Ooooooo, a badge!
Hades isn’t happy
He’s trapped…
All of the Villains are stuck in a snowglobe
Progress on the old Dumbo
Mostly intact still
The Castle Wall waits to grow over this plot
The construction site is still a bit messy
The stroller parking situation is getting bad
Work ont turning the Skyway into a new path and restrooms continues
PLEASE… there will be nowhere to walk…
Land clearing for the new path
Most of the pet cemetery has been moved to accommodate the work
The Disney Parks have some exciting and unique mefchandise offerings coming up in 2012 and Steven Miller was nice enough to share a sneak peek at some of the product on the Disney Parks Blog:
I feel like a time traveler at Disney Theme Park Merchandise. I’m surrounded by developers and artists who are already creating cool things that will arrive in late 2012 (a long development time is essential for many categories). I wanted to give you a sneak preview of their work in what I hope will be a recurring article. The article title is a nod to my favorite Disney attraction, Horizons, which also gave a glimpse into the future. Here are a few of my favorite items currently in production.
I’ve been a long time fan of The Haunted Mansion clock and the timepiece pictured above is a worthy tribute. It’s heavy and the details on the watch and figure are impressive. Disney Design Group artist Caley Hicks, who also designed the Vinylmation – Flags series, created the artwork. Releasing in a few months, this is the last timepiece in our Vinylmation watch series. The set will have an edition size of 750 and a retail of $175.
Our next stop – a new mystery pin set coming this summer to the Disneyland Resort. This limited release set contains 12 pins (plus a few chasers), and was designed by Disney Design Group artists Quynh Kimball and John Henselmeier (from Starspeeder 1000 Vehicle Playset fame). Product developer Jeanne Lewis told me that this collection “highlights favorite Disneyland attractions in license plate form.” Her favorite pin is “World of Color”, while mine is the Jungle Cruise (with Duffy The Disney Bear a close second, of course).
I like wearing ties (as you may have seen in previous Disney Parks Blog articles). That article contained a sneak preview of a new tie coming this year. There are a few additional items arriving in April that I think are super cool – bow ties! All I need now is a hat.
Speaking of hats, here is a first look at the Buzz Lightyear-themed Disney Ear Hat that will be arriving this fall. It is part of the Disney character ear hat collection that was first introduced last August.
Sadly, unlike Horizons, you won’t be able to choose your own ending to this article. But stay tuned as more cool things are coming.
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us (including a lot of New Fantasyland), so let’s take a look:
Work has begun on the new path into Liberty Square from Fantasyland
The path will cut around the Yankee Trader
Walls still up at the Skyway station, soon to be restrooms
Dumbo closes in the original location on January 9th
Plenty of trees planted in New Fantasyland now, these will be staying
The pavement is a bit messy still
Castle wall construction
PROGRESS!
Prince Eric’s castle is coming along nicely
Awww…
Not too bad…
Another look at the Castle Walls
The first interactive queue
A look at Maurice’s Cottage
Work on the new Dumbo queue
The tower that Goofini will crash through is coming along as well
Belle’s Village
Mermaid rock-work
Bonjour Village Gifts
Goodbye old Dumbo…
Although we will see this one again, slightly remodeled for Storybook Circus
The Barnstormer building looks great off in the distance
If you look in the bottom right, you can see the Dumbo title “D” clearly on the new spinner
What a mess!
Hopefully this will be cleaned up and ready to open next month
This area will take a little longer…
More of Belle’s Village
A better look at barnstormer and the top of the new Dumbo
They have practically rebuilt these tents from scratch at this point
The Be Our Guest restaurant building
Work continues on the facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
A lot of construction workers out and about
That’s still one long wall…
Work has shifted into high-speed on Dumbo
Some Storybook Circus pavement is now visible
Back to Under the Sea
Back to Dumbo and Storybook Circus
Maurice’s Cottage, home to Enchanted Tales with Belle
The Castle Wall again
Cement, FINALLY!
Some Haunted Mansion 40th anniversary shirts have been released
Big Thunder Mountain is closing for a 4.5 month refurbishment on Monday
Rumors are that an interactive queue, some new show elements, and a general fix-up will happen over this period
Work pretty much started months ago when the railroad ties were removed
More Main Street facades are being worked on and these will be like this until May. Here is the Bakery
Work continues on the new semi-announced Disney Vacation Club wing at the Grand Floridian
Ads for a special Florida resident pass up outside of the TTC
Go wild today!
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!
Update 9/16/12 @VM_Paris just tweeted this picture seemingly confirming the existence of the HM Variants. Earlier this week, HM blind boxes were mistakenly released in Paris. Two notes… these are ones we see in the leaked photos below and also the color looks different but that could be just the light.
It’s been a long time coming, but the Haunted Mansion series is set to be released on September 21s and 22nd. We might have just found a big reason for both the delay and why you’ll want to buy this series…
An anonymous source sent us these pictures of what seem to be variants of the figures. Only rumor at the moment, but these figures definitely take the floating wedding cake. They appear to be non clear versions of several of the figures. They also appear to be made of the plastic that would glow in the dark. Can you imagine that??? Above is Phineas and the Hatbox Ghost, although the hatbox ghost losses his gold tooth for some reason. Below we also have a version of Gus. Who knows how many of the figures get this version. What if there is a glow in the dark version of everyone? The ghosts with all glowing bodies and the non ghosts with glowing eyes or other parts?
Of course, these also could be prototypes of an earlier version of the figures before they settled on clear. These could also be, but much more unlikely, some LE combo or something. We’ll know in a week.
Here’s a look at what we think it might look like if it glows.
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Ep. 089 Squares We are now a week removed from all the announcments at Mickey’s Circus. So this week we go more in-depth about our opinions on the upcoming sets and our personal highs and lows from the previews. |
