WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul spent a long Saturday at the Walt Disney World Resort and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Matt started off at the Transportation and Ticket Center, on his way to the Magic Kingdom
Our good friend Robert Ashburn of Figmentsmedia.net has provided us with pictures from his Thursday trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so let’s take a look at some of his photos:
Star Wars Weekends have begun, as this billboard outside the park will testify
The 20th anniversary banners are gone, replaced with ones for Star Wars Weekends
Read More about Robert Ashburn’s 5/21/09 Hollywood Studios Report
While there has been no confirmation from the Walt Disney Company as of yet, a number of credible sources have reported that the voice of Mickey Mouse for over 25 years, Wayne Allwine, passed away over the weekend. Allwine was only 62 years old and has been the voice of the world’s most famous animated character in movies, television shows, theme park attractions, parades, and stage shows since the 1983 film “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”. Wayne’s voice can also be heard in a few obscure roles in Disney feature length animated films such as “The Black Cauldron” and “The Great Mouse Detective” and was also a sound effects editor and foley artist for the Walt Disney Studios. In more recent history, Wayne has been the voice of Mickey on each and every episode the Playhouse Disney show, “The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”. Interestingly enough, he was married to Russi Taylor, who has been the voice of Minnie Mouse since 1986. Wayne was Mickey’s voice longer than anyone else before him and I don’t think I could ever get used to Mickey with another voice. You can still enjoy Wayne’s work while at the Walt Disney World Resort in “Mickey’s Philharmagic”, “Dream Along with Mickey”, “Muppetvision 3-D”, “Fantasmic!”, “Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade”, the “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade”, and the “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Street Party”.
Wayne Allwine 1947-2009
As of today, Disneystore.com (formerly Disneyshopping.com before a quick name change took place just a few days ago) is now offering a large assortment of merchandise from the U.S. Disney Parks:
Among the Walt Disney World and Disneyland merchandise available are Mickey Mouse ear hats, character autograph books, photo albums, toys (including the monorail playset and some of its accessories), apparel, snowglobes, big figures, small statues, home decor, and much more. You can start shopping right now at this link.
ORLANDO, Fla., May 11, 2009 – Walt Disney World Resort made a clear connection between itself and the recent “shine on” sightings in Central Florida by arriving at the Coalition for the Homeless this morning on a “prize patrol” bus with Mickey Mouse and a check for $60,000 in tow.
“Today is a fabulous day,” says Eugene Campbell, vice president of Community Relations and Minority Business Development for Walt Disney World Resort, with a smile. “We are sharing some of our magic by shining a spotlight on some very deserving non-profits and students who help make dreams come true in our community.”
For the next two weeks, Disney will disperse prize patrols across Central Florida to surprise, reward and recognize award recipients for two of its signature community outreach programs. Disney’s Helping Kids Shine Grants financially support non-profits that are actively involved in improving children’s lives. Disney Dreamers and Doers recognizes outstanding students who help better their communities through volunteer service.
By May 22, a total of 34 Disney’s Helping Kids Shine Grants and 15 top Dreamers and Doers Shining Stars will be awarded. Prize patrol reports and pictures will be posted on www.shineontoday.com so you can follow along on the journey across Central Florida and track the total giving.
Finally, here is our very last Walt Disney world photo report (we promise) from last week. This report is from WDWNT Owner Tom Corless and is quite lengthy, so let’s get started:
Starting at the Magic Kingdom on April 27th…
In usual fashion, Walt Disney World put out a number of new press releases all at once, giving us a lot to talk about after what has been a rather quiet period. The first piece gives us an official time frame and some already announced details about the Stich’s Supersonic Celebration show coming to the Magic Kingdom:
Interactive wizardry that combines comedy, real-time animation and live musical madness will dazzle guests during Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom.
Beginning in May, Stitch will host a zany interactive experience at the new Rockettower Plaza Stage. Guests are invited to participate in a Galaxy Day celebration when the new outdoor stage comes to life with music and a giant LED screen displays real-time, interactive animation.
The new show incorporates the same interactive technology used in “Turtle Talk With Crush” and “Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.” Shows will take place six times daily.
Looking for some sweet fun at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?
There’s a lot “s’more” new fun in store at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa each evening when guests staying at the resort can roast marshmallows around a Mickey-shaped campfire, sing favorite camp tunes on the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon and see the “stars” – both on the silver screen and in the sky – as they watch a family-friendly Disney film on the moonlit beach. S’mores kits and marshmallows are available for purchase during the campfire and movie. For more information about recreational activities at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, visit Disneyworld.com or call 407/824-4321.
The line-up for this year’s Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot has been released and includes WDWNT’s favorite group, Bjorn Again:
The whole family will be rockin’ and rollin’ to legendary music this summer at Epcot when popular tribute bands take the stage at America Gardens Theatre.
Seven tribute bands will recreate classic hits from musical icons under the stars as part of the Sounds Like Summer concert series. Concerts, which are included in regular Epcot admission, are nightly at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. (except July 4, when show times will be 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.).
Here is the lineup (subject to change):
June. 15-21 – Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees
June 22-28 – Hotel California – A Tribute to the Eagles
June 29-July 8 – Slippery When Wet – A Tribute to Bon Jovi
July 9-19 – Bjorn Again – A Tribute to ABBA
July 20-26 – The Sounds of the Supremes – A Tribute to the Supremes
July 27-Aug. 2 – 2U – A Tribute to U2
Aug. 3-9 – Petty Theft – A Tribute to Tom Petty.
Even though it has been runnign for a few week’s now, Disney is finally publicizing the new farwell show at Animal Kingdom:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests get so involved in adventures with birds and beasts of many kinds that they tend to put off one of their priorities all day long: a little quality time with Disney characters.
“So when guests come out of the park, they are absolutely determined to see our characters,” said Chris Ambrose, general manager of entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
In a classic example of giving guests what they want, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has launched Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering, an interactive experience near the theme park entrance each evening during park closing.
Khaki-clad cast – including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy – gather to bid farewell to guests with a music-filled celebration. Cast members shake their pom-poms and urge guests to join in the street-party fun by dancing to the music and forming a conga line procession while Mickey, Minnie and Goofy keep the beat from atop their safari vehicle.
“We’ve created a way for our guests to experience our characters … and it’s a way for us to have a fun, exciting way to end the day at Animal Kingdom,” Ambrose said.
Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on all of these items as it becomes available.
It seems that there will be some merchandise released on May 1, 2009, (not all on April 28th as we previously speculated) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Among other options, 5 limited edition pins will be released to commemorate the special day:
Each pin will retail at $10.95 and will be a Limited Edition of 1500. This is a “gold-plated” version of the open edition pin we showed you a few weeks ago.
This pin has director Mickey Mouse in front of the Earful Tower
This rather simple pin features director Mickey in front of a star
This pin features Mickey sitting in the director chair on top of some film reels
The final pin features director Mickey in front of Rock ‘N’ Roller Coater and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
As most of you know, I love the parks and I love pins, so these will be absolute musts for me. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more details on the 20th anniversary celebration of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The official Star Wars website has posted a great many pictures of the latest Disney/Star Wars merchandise that will be available during Star Wars Weekends 2009 (and beyond) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
The third series of Disney/Star Wars action figures features Goofy as Chewbacca, Mickey as an X-Wing Pilot, Minnie as “Slave” Princess Leia, Donald as a Stormtrooper, and Chip & Dale as Ewoks
This Jedi Training Academy boxed action figure set will $39.95
This exclusive Stormtrooper helmet bank measures 8.5 inches tall and will retail for $18.95
This bank is 11.5 inches tall and will retail for $12.95
The first picture of any merchandise that will be released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1, 2009 has finally appeared. Of course, it’s an open edition pin that will be sold beginning April 28:
A very cool logo to say the least. The only thing I find a little strange is that the “20th anniversary” appears to be in the Tomorrowland logo font. No matter what, the logo looks great and I look forward to buying plenty of merchandise featuring it. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue to gather information on the historic 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1, 2009.
