New Theater Coming to Magic Kingdom on Main Street U.S.A. – D23 Expo 2017 News

WDWNT on July 22, 2017

Bob Chapek announced today at D23 Expo 2017 that a new venue for world-class entertainment is coming to Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom.

This new entertainment venue will be located adjacent to Main Street, U.S.A, and the design is based on the iconic Willis Wood theater in 1920s Kansas City, where Walt lived after he left Marceline.

“Across Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, we’ve been upping the game in Entertainment with shows like Frozen Live at the Hyperion,” Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts said. “It’s been a huge hit at the Disneyland Resort, and I’m sure many of you have seen it. This new theater at Walt Disney World continues that streak by bringing a new venue for world-class entertainment to the world’s biggest park.”

Although the Magic Kingdom is definitely not the world’s biggest park, as Chapek claims, a new theater akin to they Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure will be a welcome addition to the most-visited theme park in the world.

AT D23 EXPO 2017, DISNEY PARKS CHAIRMAN BOB CHAPEK SHARES PLANS FOR A NEW ENTERTAINMENT VENUE COMING TO MAGIC KINGDOM PARK — Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek unveiled plans to build a new entertainment venue, inspired by the iconic Willis Theater as it looked in 1920s Kansas City, at Magic Kingdom Park. The theater is set to bring world-class entertainment to the Walt Disney World Resort.

No dates have been released as of yet.

Superstar Television Theater Name to Change as Frozen Sing-Along Moves In; Frozen Event Details Released

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Well, we only had to wait 24 hours for Disney to confirm that “For The First Time in Forever” A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration is moving to the Superstar Television Theater this June. The Disney Parks Blog made the announcement moments ago, also stating that the former home of the American Idol Experience will now be called the Hyperion Theater, a nod to the home of the first Disney Studios in California.

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Disney also announced the full entertainment line-up for Frozen Summer Fun LIVE:

  • Frozen Royal Welcome – Twice each day, Anna, Elsa and Kristoff take part in a festive cavalcade throughout Hollywoodland, accompanied by the Royal Arendelle Flag Corps and a flurry of skaters, skiiers and ice cutters – along with lovable snowman, Olaf. Anna leads the procession in a beautiful horse-drawn sleigh, with Elsa gliding by on a stunning, ice palace float. The entire procession pauses twice along the route in tribute to these visitors from Arendelle, as everyone in Hollywoodland is invited to join in singing “Let It Go!”
  • For the First Time in Forever: A “Frozen” Sing-Along Celebration – Just in time for this year’s “Frozen” Summer Fun LIVE event, this popular show moves into the beautiful Hyperion Theater (formerly Superstar Television Theater), located right in the heart of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Royal Historians of Arendelle host a fun and comedic retelling of the unique story of their kingdom, filled with delightful, sing-along moments from “Frozen,” plus all-new in-theater effects and special appearances by Anna, Elsa and Kristoff.
  • Olaf’s Summer Cool Down – Several times each day, the Ambassador of Hollywoodland brings Olaf and some of his friends to the Event Stage to have a little fun with everyone “In Summer.” And as temperatures heat up, Olaf happily shares a burst from his personal snow cloud to cool things off.
  • “Coolest Summer Ever” Dance Party – Once the sun goes down, a dance party takes over the area around the Event Stage, with DJ Chill and some of your favorite Disney characters. Using a special event hashtag, you can share song requests and photos over social media, to be featured onscreen during the party.
  • “Frozen” Fireworks – As the night comes to a close, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf come together at the Event Stage for a grand finale to the day’s festivities, kicking off an awe-inspiring fireworks display set to the glorious music of “Frozen” and, of course, a flurry of snow!

More End Dates

WDWNT on September 1, 2008

We once again have some updates to the attraction refurbishment list for you. First up, as previously reported, today is the last day for the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries, which includes the Secret of the Stone Tiger & Random Acts of Indy shows. Various reports have been saying that the Oasis theater (home to Secret of the Stone Tiger) will not have any shows performing in it until next summer. Yet another classic example of cost-cutting!

We finally have dates for when 2 of the 3 former McDonalds locations at the Resort will open without McDonalds. Harbor Galley is planned to re-open on December 16th. Burger Invasion will re-open sometime in May 2009! But we do not yet have a date on when the Conostoga Wagon will re-open. All 3 close tomorrow.

Disney’s Electrical Parade will return on December 19th, & Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular will now return on December 12th, as opposed to December 19th, with a partial new cast.

Finally, a short refurbishment for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be conducted from December 1st to the 5th.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

Refurb Season Is Coming!

WDWNT on August 11, 2008

UPDATED @ 11:00AM

We have a few more updates for you to the attractions refurbishment list. First up, over in Entertainment, for the week of August 25th, both Disney’s Electrical Parade & Fantasmic! will not be offered on the Monday through Thursday, due to a lot of kids being back at school. The following week, both will go on hiatus. Fantasmic! will return on November 7th, & Disney’s Electrical Parade will return in mid December.

August 17th will be the last day for the lovely Ariel’s Grotto meet ‘n greet. Work will then begin on changing over that area to Pixie Hollow for Tinker Bell & her fellow Fairies. So if you want your picture taken with Ariel in her Mermaid form, August 17th will be your last day to do it until 2010!

The New Orleans Square Railroad Station will close on September 2nd for repaving of the station & surrounding area (including the area in front of the Haunted Mansion). Trains will just go straight through that station, & continue on to Toontown. It’s due to re-open on October 17th.

Big Thunder Ranch will be closed from September 15th to the 25th (it originally was planned to be closed until the 27th) so they can add the Woody’s Halloween Round-up overlay. It will then be closed from November 3rd until the 20th for the Santa’s Reindeer Round-up overlay.

The previously planned Pirates of the Caribbean refurbishment that was to of gone from October 13th to November 14th seems to have been completely removed from the list.

A second Mark Twain Riverboat refurbishment will happen in November (the first is from August 25th-29th), from the 3rd to the 5th.

Finally for Disneyland Park, the new store, replacing New Century Timepieces will open September 30th, & the It’s a Small World Toy Shop will open before the attraction on September 28th. And over at It’s a Small World itself, the new flume has been painted.

One quick thing over at DCA, the Hyperion Theater refurbishment that starts on September 2nd, finally has an end date, that being December 18th.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

Refurbishment Updates

WDWNT on August 4, 2008

We have a couple more updates to the attractions refurbishments list. First up, it looks like the Harbor Galley, Conostoga Wagon, & Burger Invasion refurbishments wont last as long as we originally thought. The refurbishments will start on September 2nd & end on September 26th. It looks like they’ll all just get new menus, & have all McDonalds references removed. So it seems we’ll have to wait a little while longer for a Burger Invasion re-theme.

Also, last week it had looked like Disney moved back the refurbishment of the Hyperion Theater to start on September 29th, but that is no longer true, & will start as originally planned on September 2nd.

Finally a little update on It’s a Small World… The new flume apparently has apparently been installed, & the attraction will be going through a 10 week test & adjust phase, & if all goes according to plan, it will re-open on November 29th.

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

I’m Lovin’ It!

WDWNT on July 24, 2008

A whole load of new refurbishments during September & October have been announced. There’s so many, that I’m just gonna bullet them bellow:

  • French Market – 9/2/08-9/19/08
  • Sailing Ship Columbia – 9/2/08-10/25/08
  • Conostoga Wagon – 9/2/08-????
  • Fantasmic – 9/2/08-????
  • Harbour Galley – 9/2/08-????
  • Big Thunder Ranch – 9/15/08-9/27/08
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – 10/13/08-????
  • Jungle Cruise – 10/20/08-10/22/08
  • Gadget’s Go-Coaster – 10/20/08-????
  • Burger Invasion – 9/2/08-????

It’s interesting to note that all 3 McDonalds locations in the Resort (Conostoga Wagon, Harbour Galley, & Burger Invasion) will be closed starting September 2nd, for an undetermined amount of time. Could this be the end for McDonalds at the Disneyland Resort?

Also, the Hyperion Theater refurbishment has been pushed back to start on September 29th, instead of September 2nd. We still have no information on when it will end, but it should be in time for the Christmas season.

Finally, I just want to remind everyone of the already announced refurbs:

  • Plaza Pavilion – 1/11/08-10/10/08
  • It’s a Small World – 1/22/08-11/28/08
  • Mark Twain Riverboat – 8/25/08-8/27/08
  • The Haunted Mansion – 9/8/08-9/25/08
  • Flik’s Flyers – 9/2/08-9/12/08
  • Sun Wheel – 9/11/08-????

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

Whole New Perfomers

WDWNT on July 22, 2008

According to the OC Register, Disney is looking for new performers in the Aladdin stage show at DCA. This Wednesday there will be an auditon at 2pm, as listed on the Disney Auditions website. Similar auditions will be held in New York City on July 29th.

Again, as previously reported, the Hyperion Theater will be closed from September 2nd through early December for “rehabilitation & system upgrades”. Aladdin will then return in time for Christmas!

Is Disney’s Aladdin Leaving?

WDWNT on July 10, 2008

From the OC Register:

Is Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular closed after July 21st?

The question above was asked on a MiceChat discussion board by someone identified as “moncho.” He said that he checked the Disneyland calendar and that the show is not scheduled after July 20.

Disney Spokesman John McClintock said the Disney’s California Adventure show will be closed between late September and early December. McClintock said the show will be down for rehabilitation and system upgrades. The show will then reopen in early December, McClintock said.

It’s Refurb Time Again!

WDWNT on June 10, 2008

We have quite a few new refurbishments to add to the Attractions Refurbishments list. First off, the French Market will be closed for one day on June 24th. The Mark Twain Riverboat will be closed from August 25th to the 27th. And the Haunted Mansion will be closed for it’s conversion to Haunted Mansion Holiday from September 8th to the 25th.

There’s also a couple of refurbs that we know when they’ll start, but not when they’ll finish. Gadget’s Go-Coaster’s refurbishment will start on September 8th, & the Hyperion Theater’s refurbishment will start on September 2nd, perhaps for a new show?

As always, stay tuned to our Attractions Refurbishments page for the latest attraction refurb info!