Time To Turn Back Tiki-Time???

WDWNT on July 15, 2008

After months of hearing rumors that the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management will be closing sometime in the near future to make way for a Stitch-involved makeover, a new wild rumor has hit the streets of the Magic Kingdom and has cast members in De-Nile (Attempt at a Jungle Cruise joke). Strong rumors now indicate that the original budget for the postponed major Jungle Cruise attraction refurbishment maybe heading across the way to fund the restoration of the talking audio-animatronics bird show to its original splendor. In short, the original Tropical Serenade show may return to the Magic Kingdom as part of a huge marketing campaign for the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2011.

The planned campaign is going to promote the idea of guests experiencing renewed classic attractions and entertainment inspired by the resort’s past. Among the planned updates for the celebration are updates to Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, and the Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom; Journey Into Imagination and Illuminations at Epcot; and The Great Movie Ride and Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Also rumored at this time are a new firework show and updated Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom.

While most of these changes are likely to not take place (as is the nature with rumors), a few of them will make the line-up in time for October 1, 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more info on these rumored changes becomes available.

Imagination Unclear

WDWNT on April 4, 2008

Another permit has been filed to perform construction on the Imagination pavilion at Epcot, however, it is unclear as to what area it is for. The permit states that work will be done to “build new partition walls and install metal doors” somewhere in the area, most likely either for the new character meet and greet area to replace Figment’s Place or to update the old Imageworks that lay dormant in the upstairs of the current attraction. To see the permit that was filed, go HERE. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on this as it becomes available.

Thanks to Adam Roth of WDWCelebrations for the update!!!

Catching Up With the World

WDWNT on March 27, 2008

As we catch up on the last two days, here is some Walt Disney World news that has come out since our site difficulties:

-As reported on our forums, the Figment’s Place meet and greet and the Figment walk around character have been retired at Epcot. Expect Dreamfinder and his “little” purple dragon to return to the park sometime in the next few months, probably late 2008/early 2009.

-The “Partners” statue depicting Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse at the Magic Kingdom has been repainted with a new look. Some of the Mickey (his face, pants, and shoes) has been repainted gold. The new look is very nice and we hope to have a picture of it up soon.

25 Years of Purple Dragons and Bearded Men in Top Hats

WDWNT on March 5, 2008

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Figment, Dreamfinder, and the beloved Journey Into Imagination attraction, we here at WDW News Today will be celebrating with some very special commemorative events. You probably noticed our bright orange and purple colors we have adopted for this festive occasion (inspired by a certain dragon), but we will also have a bunch of special content prepared for this week’s edition of the WDW News Today podcast, episode 33. So stay tuned for special Imagination themed content over the next two weeks here on the WDW News Today website and podcast!!!

Imagination Clarification

WDWNT on January 30, 2008

According to some of our sources here at WDW News Today, the permit filed for “Imagination Demolition” is only part of the routine refurbishment now going on inside Epcot’s Imagination pavilion. However, we are still hearing that some of the folks from Walt Disney Imagineering are using this opportunity to survey and plan future attraction development inside the building. While a new attraction may or may not be on the near horizon, there will certainly be something new to see in the Imagination pavilion within the next 3-4 years. Stay tuned to WDW News Today and the WDW News Today podcast this week as more information becomes available.

Imagine This

WDWNT on January 29, 2008

We may have seen the end of the  Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction at Epcot according to a shocking new permit filed recently. The permit is for “Imagination Demolition”; take the name for what its worth. The scheduled one month refurbishment of the attraction that started today, may be something much bigger. We may finally have confirmation of a major refurbishment for the Imagination attraction that has been anxiously awaited for some time. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more on this breaking story as it becomes available.

News From Around the World

WDWNT on January 29, 2008

Random news from around the Walt Disney World resort:

-The new Monsters Inc. meet and greet location near the Backlot Tour is now open. The former location behind the ABC Theater has been stripped of all Monsters Inc. signage.

-Mater and Lightning McQueen from Cars are now appearing in front of the Pixar Place construction wall facing the Backlot Tour. The automotive duo will find a new home along with some other Pixar characters when Pixar Place opens in Spring 2008.

-The Dreamfinder and Figment meet and greet characters at Epcot may make their triumphant return by the end of the summer, all depending on when the attraction closes for it’s HUGE refurbishment. The Journey Into Imagination with Figment attraction is currently closed so that Imagineering can survey their future job site.

Open and Close

WDWNT on January 28, 2008

While Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom and the new and improved Playhouse Disney Live! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios re-opened today, some other attractions have been shuttered for refurbishment. Among the latest attractions to close for refurbishment are Journey Into Imagination with Figment at Epcot, Imageworks at Epcot, and Snow White’s Scary Adventures at the Magic Kingdom. These new attraction closures come in addition to ongoing refurbishments of Splash Mountain, The American Adventure, and Journey Into Narnia. Remember, you can always check our attraction closures page to see what refurbishments are occurring now and in the future.

More Than A Refurbishment

WDWNT on January 12, 2008

It has just been announced that both Journey Into Imagination with Figment and Imageworks at Epcot will be closed from January 28 to February 24. While some minor refurbishing will be done, there will also be testing of some new effects for a BIG planned refurbishment of the attraction in the coming year. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on this in the coming weeks.

Finally, Some Imagination

WDWNT on December 12, 2007

In what will probably be the first of many, a permit has been filed to refurbish and change the post show area of the Imagination pavillion at Epcot.  This will most likely be the first step in revamping the pavillion, which as spent almost a decade in dismay. These plans have been sitting around for a while, but it appears that the conclusion of work on Spaceship Earth has finally opened the door for this project. This particular permit can be found HERE.

Discuss this developement HERE.