Josh Siegel’s 10/10/11 Epcot Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Josh Siegel visited Epcot on Monday to experience the Food & Wine Festival and captured a plethora of newsworthy photos while he was there, so let’s take a look:
Complete Details on Magic Kingdom 40th Anniversary Artist Celebration
If you have been following the updates we have been making on wdwnewstoday.com/wdw40, you already know that October 1st at the Magic Kingdom will bring a ton of artist signing events to the park for the 40th anniversary and the release of new merchandise to mark the special occasion. Well, Disney has released details on a few more pieces that will be available on that day:
Celebrate 40 Years of Walt Disney World Magic on Saturday, October 1st!
Walt Disney World® Resort 40th Anniversary
Artist Signing Events at Magic Kingdom® Park!
Have you marked your calendars for the 40th Anniversary Celebration at Walt Disney World?
Join us on Saturday, October 1 for an anniversary celebration at Magic Kingdom Park commemorating 40 years of Disney magic.
Throughout the celebration, renowned Disney Artists will appear throughout Magic Kingdom Park for meet & greets and artist signings at Diamond Horseshoe and Uptown Jewelers.
40th Anniversary Kooky Pen Signing
Special Guests: Kooky Pen Creator, Brent Reese and
Disney Design Group Artist, Costa Alavezos
Signing Location and Time:
Diamond Horseshoe, 9:00am-11:00am
Disney Traditions Haunted Mansion
Organ Player Sculpture Signing
Special Guest: Disney Traditions Artist, Jim Shore
Signing Location and Time:
Uptown Jewelers, 11:00am-2:00pm
Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary Collection
by Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily
Special Guests: Disney Artists, Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily
Signing Location and Time:
Diamond Horseshoe, 1:00pm-3:00pm & 4:00pm-5:00pm
Original Artwork and Custom 40th Anniversary Vinylmation created by NOAH
Special Guest: Artist, Noah
Signing Location and Time:
Diamond Horseshoe, 11:30am-1:30pm & 4:00pm-5:00pm
40th Anniversary Celebration Artwork
Special Guest: Artist, Greg McCullough
Signing Location and Time:
Diamond Horseshoe, 11:30am-1:30pm & 4:00pm-5:00pm
Miniature Replica Magic Kingdom Toll Plaza and Haunted Mansion by Robert Olszewski
Special Guest: Miniaturist, Robert Olszewski
Signing Location and Time:
Uptown Jewelers, 12:00pm-2:00pm & 4:00pm-5:00pm
Magic Kingdom and Haunted Mansion Limited Edition Mixed Media Sculptures Signing
Special Guest: Artist, Dave Avanzino
Signing Location and Time:
Diamond Horseshoe, 1:00 pm-3:00pm & 4pm-5pm
40th Anniversary Limited Edition Artisan Watch Collection
Special Guest, Disney Artisan Watch Artist, Gene Gonda
Signing Location and Time:
Uptown Jewelers, 1:00pm-3:00pm
What’s New & What’s Next for Vinylmation
This past weekend, Epcot’s World Showplace hosted The Florida Project pin and Vinylmation event. I was lucky enough to attend the event which had several small conferences announcing the future of both collecting hobbies. The following Vinylmation Chat Session was held on Sunday afternoon and reveals some incredible new products being released under the Vinylmation label:
Coral Rivera’s 9/2/11 WDW Mini-Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Coral Rivera is back with a few quick updates from the Magic Kingdom & Epcot, so let’s take a look:
Halloween decorations up at the Magic Kingdom
“Key to the Kingdom” WDW 40th Anniversary Ink and Paint Cel Premieres
Art of Disney Parks recently announced a new Ink and Paint Cel that is on the way just in time for Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary:
Event: Key to the Kingdom Ink and Paint Cel Premiere
Special Guests: Disney Design Group Artist, Costa Alavezos and Ink & Paint Artists, James Bonserio, Erin Magill, Theodora M. DeLaney, David Rippberger, Lynn Rippberger, Sharon K. Vincent
Event Date: Saturday, September 3, 2011
Event Times: 10:00am -1:00pm & 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Event Location: Studios Animation Gallery, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™Celebrate 40 Magical years with the newest commemorative release from the Disney Studios Ink & Paint Team!
Key to the Kingdom captures the essence of wonder and excitement that comprised the magical kingdom since it opened its gates on October 1, 1971.
The talented Ink & Paint team hand painted the iconic Mickey Mouse and loveable Pluto onto each Key to the Kingdom cel in this celebratory release comprised of 1500 cels.
An exclusively designed pin has been created to commemorate the release of the new cel, the pin is available with the first 750 orders placed for a framed cel only.
Key to the Kingdom
Limited Edition PinThe Ink and Paint cel frames are wooden frames with options of either black or gold finishing. All Ink and Paint cels are framed in museum grade plexi to preserve the delicate art.
If you are unable to attend the premiere of Key to the Kingdom, but would still like to purchase the Ink & Paint cel, please contact Walt Disney Event Services to pre-order your cel.
All pre-orders must be placed with
Walt Disney Event Services no later than
Friday, September 2, 2011 by 3:00pm EST.Walt Disney Event Services
at 407-827-7600
Monday – Friday
9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Key to the Kingdom
IS AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING FRAME OPTIONS:FRAMING OPTIONS & RETAILS
Unframed Cel $125 Black Frame and Cel $215 Black Frame with Pin and Cel $240 Black Frame with Pin, Postcard and Cel $265 Gold Frame and Cel $290
Get on the Grid with the Tronorail & Other New Toys at the D23 Expo
From Steven Miller on the Disney Parks Blog:
A few weeks ago my fellow author Michelle Harker gave you a first look at some new items coming to the D23 Expo Dream Store on Aug. 19-21. I begged her to let me write about some of the new toys and games that will make their debut at the Expo. I can summarize my reasons for wanting to write this article in three words – “TRON: Legacy” Monorail.
You may recall that I’m a huge fan of anything Tron. I remember the day in March 2011 that Cody Hampton, Associate Product Developer for Toys and Games, shared with me the first sample of this new die-cast vehicle. I was as excited as the first day I saw the actual “TRON: Legacy” monorail at Epcot. The monorail measures approximately 12 inches long and has wheels on the bottom of it. The toy will have an edition size of 3,000 and will be packaged two different ways – Sam Flynn’s blue Lightcycle version and Clu’s yellow Lightcycle version (roughly 1,500 of each packaging version were made). While the toy will debut at the D23 Expo, there will be limited quantities also offered at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Speaking of monorails, this past April I gave you a first look at the new Disneyland Monorail toy that is coming toDisney Parks. One of the coolest new features which Cody didn’t want to spoil is the remote control, a first for the monorail playset! When the sound button is pressed, you will hear the infamous monorail welcome spiel. Similar to the actual Disneyland Resort monorail, the doors only open on one side. The tops on some of the cabins also open so mini-figures can be placed inside.
Do you know what year the monorail was first introduced at Disneyland? The official opening was June 14, 1959, and it was the first daily operating monorail in the United States. If you answered that question correctly, then I challenge you to a game of “Trivial Pursuit: Disney For All” edition (it seems no one else wants to play with me ever since I’ve read “Disney A to Z” twice).
This new version of the classic Trivial Pursuit game will feature three question types (as the official press release describes): “’Take 2 Trivia’ – giving two chances to earn the wedge, ‘My Disney’ – a little personal trivia sparked by favorite Disney moments or characters, and ‘Disney List’ – work together to create lists or choose which don’t belong.”
Adam Roth’s 7/23/11 Epcot & Magic Kingdom Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited The Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Saturday and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us (including Fantasyland Expansion progress), so let’s take a look:
A good portion of Epcot was being rented out for a party
Read More about Adam Roth’s 7/23/11 Epcot & Magic Kingdom Photo Report
Adam Roth’s 7/15/11 Epcot Photo Report
Believe it or not, the Magic Kingdom isn’t the only park with news to talk about. Adam Roth proves the point with a ton of photos from his latest trip to Epcot on Friday:
The Refreshment Port has a new menu
Haunted Mansion Merchandise Event Coming September 30th!
On the eve of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary, a celebration of the 40th birthday of the Florida Haunted Mansion is taking place. From Dana Trujillo on the Disney Parks Blog:
Materialize, foolish mortals at the Room For 1 More merchandise event, which will celebrate one of our park’s most beloved attractions, the Haunted Mansion, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Sept. 30, 2011.
We invite you to step through the graveyard gates of the Haunted Mansion cemetery, recreated with “ghoulish delight” at the resort. Here you can dine in a mist-enshrouded banquet realm hidden among the crypts. While organ music plays, restless spirits will rise to entertain you during a feast provided by our ghoulish gastronomists.
Looking for somewhere to retire? Might I suggest our Ghost Gallery in the Library, where you’ll want to keep the supernatural in suspense by bidding on priceless first editions and other creepy keepsakes in our silent auction.
Room For 1 More event – P“LOTS” includes:
- Be the first to pre-purchase limited-edition event logo products, Haunted Mansion-themed collectibles and Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary collectibles.
- A deadly silent auction that includes a performance art lot by Noah.
- Meet and greets with world-renowned artists such as Robert Olszewski, Jim Shore, Greg McCullough and more.
- A cryptic conversation with our council of Walt Disney Imagineers.
- Ghostly dinner feast with haunting sounds and full-bodied entertainment.
- A deadly departure gift … don’t forget to hurry back!
Mortals dying to attend the Room For 1 More event can request tickets through July 20. For more details and a sneak peek at the treasures that will be featured at the event, visit ArtofDisneyParks.com.
Happy haunting!
UPDATE:
More information can be found (including a look at all of the merchandise) at ArtofDisneyParks.com.
Zach Larson’s 7/4/11 WDW Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited three of the Walt Disney World theme parks for the 4th of July holiday, here are some newsworthy photos from his day:
World Showcase has some new mouse ear hats for each country