PHOTOS: Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean 50th Anniversary Merchandise, including Passholder Exclusives

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Saturday, March 18th, 2017 marks a very important milestone in Disney Parks history: Pirates of the Caribbean at the Disneyland Resort turns 50 years old! In honor of this very special milestone, Disney will release some great new merchandise. width=

Guests will find several individual limited edition pins, each with an edition size of 2,500. The individual limited edition pins will also be offered in a boxed set containing one completer pin (500 edition size). In addition there are 2 commemorative ‘I Was There Shirts!’. For passholders there will be an exclusive shirt, and those who like collecting pins may also find a passholder limited edition pin (3,000 edition size). Passholders need to present a valid Annual Pass in order to purchase the exclusive shirt and pin.

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The limited edition pins, Annual Passholder pin, and boxed pin set will be released on March 16th in the following Disneyland Park locations: Westward Ho located in Frontierland; 20th Century Music Co. on Main Street, U.S.A.; and Little Green Store Command in Tomorrowland. Guests may also find these items at Disney’s Pin Traders in Downtown Disney District.

The “I Was There” Shirts will be offered in both Disneyana on Main Street, U.S.A. and Pieces of Eight in New Orleans Square on March 18th. Guests may also find a different version of the red-colored shirt via DisneyStore.com/ParkEvents but it will not be available until March 20.

Specialty food items and a souvenir cup will also be released, which you can read more about here.

VIDEO: Watch The First Teaser Trailer For Disney*Pixar’s “Coco”

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

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Disney*Pixar has released the first teaser trailer for their next animated feature, “Coco”.

Coco follows the secret musical ambitions of 12-year-old Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), who resides in a lively, loud Mexican village but comes from a family of shoemakers that may be the town’s only music-hating household. For generations, the Riveras have banned music because they believe they’ve been cursed by it; as their family history goes, Miguel’s great-grandfather abandoned his wife decades earlier to follow his own dreams of performing, leaving Imelda (Renée Victor), Miguel’s great-grandmother, to take control as the matriarch of the now-thriving Rivera line and declare music dead to the family forever.

But Miguel harbors a secret desire to seize his musical moment, inspired by his favorite singer of all time, the late Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt). It’s only after Miguel discovers an amazing link between himself and De la Cruz that he takes action to emulate the famous singer and, in doing so, accidentally enters the Land of the Dead.

In the beautiful underworld, it’s not long until Miguel encounters the souls of his own family — generations’ worth of long-dead but no less vivacious Rivera ancestors, including great-grandmother Imelda. Still, given the opportunity to roam around the Land of the Dead, Miguel decides to track down De la Cruz himself. He teams up with another friendly (and skeletal) spirit — a trickster named Hector, voiced by Gael Garcia Bernal — to find De la Cruz, earn his family’s blessing to perform, and return to the Land of the Living before time runs out.

“Coco” opens in US theatres in 3D on November 22!

Source: Disney*Pixar

Capcom Announces Six Remastered Classic Disney Games in ‘The Disney Afternoon Collection’

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Capcom has announced The Disney Afternoon Collection, a remaster featuring six of their finest NES 2D platforms from the ’80s and ’90s.

The bundle includes HD remasters of Darkwing Duck, TaleSpin, DuckTales, and Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. Both sequels for DuckTales and Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers are also included in the bundle.

http://https://youtu.be/Q4sSjd9UYpM

 

The $20 collection will feature all six games in 1080p and will be available April 18 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC (via Steam). The rereleases come with Boss Rush and Time Attack modes to add new ways to play. In addition, a rewind feature has been added to make it easier for newer plays to retry tougher sections of the more challenging levels. Museum Mode is where players will be able to looks at concept art for the games, as well as interesting facts.

This is a really nice nod to fans of these highly regarded classic platformers. For $20, it’s not a bad deal. If you have a PS4, Xbox One, or PC, you might wanna check this one out on April 18.

PHOTOS: Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Facade Breaks Out at Disney California Adventure

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Arriving today at the Disneyland Resort, it was hard to miss the now-exposed facade for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission Breakout, opening May 27th at Disney California Adventure.

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The facade as seen from outside of the main park entrance.

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The attraction was formerly the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which closed in January.

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You can see many of the details through the now-exposed scaffolding.

Some pieces of Tower of Terror remain, but not much, and not for long.

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The work as seen from Grizzly Peak Airfield.

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And lastly, the view from Cars Land.

Stay tuned for more updates on this attraction as we get closer to its opening this Summer!

WDWNT: Nerd Alert – Season Three Episode 4 Available For Download

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

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In this week’s episode, the gang talk about:

  • We review “Logan”.
  • Taylor is back from The Emerald City Comicon and he gives us his impressions.
  • Frank Oz does his best not to confirm that Yoda is back for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.
  • Finn Jones wants Netflix to make “Iron Fist” great again.
  • James Cameron delays the Avatar sequels yet again.

Join hosts Joe Hogarty, Jack McCarthy, Taylor Katcher and Eric Lancy!

WDWNT: Nerd Alert – Season Three Episode 4 is now available for download through WDW News Today: Original Programing  and iTunes!

VIDEO: Take A Look at the Massive AT-ATs Coming to Star Wars Land

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

Today Disney has released a brand new video on the new Star Wars Lands at both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios. They give us a short look at the new AT-AT vehicles that will be in the massive E-ticket attraction where guests are caught in a battle. Here is the video below from the Disney Parks Blog:

Star Wars Land opens to the public at both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios in 2019. Stay posted on WDWNT for future updates on all things Star Wars Land in the years to come.

Sign-Up & Play Along for Prizes in 2017 WDWNT March Madness Restaurant Tournament

WDWNT on March 17, 2017

It is almost time for the 2017 WDW News Tonight March Madness Tournament! This year we picked 64 Walt Disney World table service restaurants to battle it out for the honor of all-time greatest place to eat at the Vacation Kingdom of the World!

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Join us for some heated debates, as you root for your picks to make it all the way and collect some great prize packs from Theme Park Connection in the process. And of course, YOU can affect the results with your vote! Here’s how it all works:

There is a pre-tournament registration for the 2017 March Madness Restaurant Tournament starting today. Click here to fill out and submit a form with your full name, email, mailing address and phone number. The the form must be filled out in full before Noon (Eastern) on March 22, 2017.

We will in return send you an email with 4 randomly assigned Walt Disney World restaurants that will be yours in the tournament. You will be assigned 1 restaurant from the 1-4 seed category, 1 from the 5-8 seed category, 1 from the 9-12 seed category, and 1 from the 13-16 seed category.

We then encourage you to tune-in to WDW News Tonight from 9-11 ET on March 22nd to listen and take part in the first few rounds of the tournament. And again on March 29th from 9-11 PM ET for the conclusion of the tournament.

The four restaurants you will be assigned can win points for each victory they gain in the tournament. The point distribution is as follows:

1st Round Win – 1 Point
2nd Round Win – 1 Points
“Swell Sixteen” Round Win – 2 Points
“Exciting Eight” Round Win – 2 Points
“Fantasmic Four” Round Win – 3 Points
Championship Round Win – 3 Points

The winner of each match is decided by the illustrious panel constructed from the finest members of the WDWNT staff (or whoever can show up that night). Each panelist counts for a single vote. Majority vote decides the winning Walt Disney World Park restaurant in each match up.

However, listeners WHO REGISTER to play along can change the outcome by calling in. A listener who is registered and playing in our contest may call in once on March 22nd and once on March 29th and place a vote for an restaurant that is worth 2 votes… more than any single panelist! So you have it ready, the call in number is 407-774-8255. Due to potential listening delays, your call does not have to come in while we are deliberating that match up live on air. We will accept calls up until 11:05 ET on March 22nd and a TBD time on March 29th. But the best way to make sure your vote counts is to be listening live.

Returning this year, we will give the people in the live chat a chance to sway the votes as well! First, you can use the live chat to voice your opinions on each match up and try to sway our panelists. Second, whenever you type (in all caps to stand out) I VOTE FOR _____ (fill in the black with your pick), you will have the chance to win a prize from Theme Park Connection. At the end of each round, we will pick out one vote from the chat, count that vote, and send you a prize from Theme Park Connection. Registered participants CAN chat vote, so this is a chance for extra votes and extra prizes!

The top 8 players in terms of points amassed throughout the tournament will receive prize packs from Theme Park Connection. The top player will receive a grand prize package and be declared the WDW News Tonight March Madness 2017 champion.

Hosted by radio veterans and life-long Disney fans Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, WDW News Tonight is a live, weekly, audio and video program presented on 105.5 FM, 660 AM, and AM 1520 WBZW in Orlando, Florida, as well as online at WDWNewsTonight.com every Wednesday from 9-11pm EST. The show covers the Walt Disney World Resort and other Disney news. The show combines the latest headlines, comedy, trending vacation topics, call in games, and in-depth discussions to bring Disney fans a one-of-a-kind 2-hour program covering the Disney Parks. While the show is being live-streamed in both audio and video, listeners and viewers also interact via a live chat online. The show is also available on demand as an audio download, online audio stream and can be watched live or recorded on YouTube.

This Week in Disney History: March 5th – March 11th

WDWNT on March 6, 2017

This week in Disney history we will take a look at some of the milestones that happened in the history of the Walt Disney Company during the  week of March 5th-March 11th. All of the factoids are here to inform you and broaden your knowledge so that you too can “be in the know” of Disney History. History and Disney are 2 of my greatest passions and I hope you all enjoy reading and learning about the history of Disney each and every week. This article is designed to share some of the things that help shape and mold the beautiful company we know and love today.

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Original photo of Journey into Imagination at Epcot (I thank imagineeringdisney.com for allowing me to use their photo)

This Week In Disney History March 5th-March 11th. 

  • On March 5th, 1983, the attraction Journey Into Imagination debuted to the public at Epcot. The attraction was about the Dreamfinder teaching Figment and guests to use their imaginations. In 1999, the attraction was updated and reimagined with a change in name to Journey into YOUR Imagination. In 2002, it was reimagined again as guests were unhappy with the changes, becoming Journey Into Imagintion with Figment.
  • On March 6th, 2013, the 20th Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival began.
  • On March 7th, 1942, former Walt Disney Company CEO, Michael Eisner, was born in Mount Kisco, New York. His reign as CEO of the Walt Disney Company began in 1984 and ended in 2005.
  • On March 8th, 1983, former President Ronald Reagan visited EPCOT Center and made a speech about what the promises of Epcot would bring and why it was so important to Walt Disney.
  • On March 9th, 2014, the new daytime parade Festival of Fantasy debuted at Magic Kingdom.  The parade still runs daily at 3:00 PM.

  • On March 10th, 2009, D23: the first official Disney Fanclub, was founded. The “D” stands for Disney, and “23” pays homage to when the Walt Disney Company was created in 1923.
  • Finally, On March 11th, 2007, the Disney Broadway show ‘Tarzan‘ celebrated its 350th show performance.

“Happiness is a state of mind. It’s just according to the way you look at things.”-Walt Disney

This Week in Disney History: March 12th-March 18th

WDWNT on March 6, 2017

In this week’s edition of ‘This Week in Disney History’ we will explore historical events within the Walt Disney company that helped shape and form the company as it exists today. We will explore the week of March 12th – March 18th. I hope you enjoy this week’s edition as much as I love and enjoy writing about Disney history. I also hope you can have a passion for Disney history just as much as I have a passion for Disney history. I would also like to write other unique articles for the readers. If you have any suggestions or ideas on topics you would like to read, especially Disney history, please comment your ideas and I will happily consider them for future articles. After all, this is for you, not me.

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Billy Crystal- Voice actor for Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc.

This Week in Disney History: March 12th-March 18th.

  • On March 12th, 1938, Disney’s first full-length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, is released in the United Kingdom.
  • On March 13th, 1928, Walt Disney travels by train from New York to California. This train ride is significant because while in New York, Walt Disney lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. After losing the rights to Charles Mintz and Universal Pictures, he hopped on a train and decided to head home. Then while on his ride he got a crazy idea, and telegraphed a message to his brother Roy which read: “LEAVING TONITE STOPPING OVER KC ARRIVE HOME SUNDAY MORNING SEVEN THIRTY DON’T WORRY EVERYTHING OK WILL GIVE DETAILS WHEN ARRIVE.” Walt told Roy not to worry because of an idea he had, and he would explain when he got home. What was that crazy idea you ask? By losing Oswald, Disney developed on that train ride one of the most famous, beloved, and well know Disney characters of all time; Mickey Mouse.
  • On March 14th, 1948, famous comedian, and voice-over actor, Billy Crystal was born in Long Beach, New York. Crystal is the voice of Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc., as well as the Mike Car from Cars.
  • On March 15th, 2001, the 450-millionth guest was welcomed into the Disneyland Park in California. The lucky guest was Mark Ramirez of Texas, a civilian production management specialist for the U.S. Air Force. It was his first visit to Disneyland. Ramirez, his wife, and 3 daughters were all honored during a ceremony where he was presented a lifetime pass to the Disneyland Resort (Disneyland and Disney California Adventure), a stay at the new Disney’s Grand Californian Resort and Spa Hotel and a gift pack. He was also given the honor of changing the official attendance sign at Disneyland’s Train Station from 400 million to 450 million.
  • On March 16th, 2002, The Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, held its grand opening. During the grand opening, the 2nd Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster debuts. The Walt Disney Studios Park is Disney’s 10th theme park worldwide.
  • On March 17th, 1999, Test Track officially opened at Epcot. The ride was presented by General Motors, and was the fastest ride Disney Imagineers have created.

  • Finally, on March 18th, 1967, the well-beloved and famous Disneyland attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, opened to the public. The debut kicked off with great excitement, as a group of marauding sea-dogs, led by Wally Boag, first sailed the ship Columbia before bursting through the new attraction’s doors with a battering ram! This was the last attraction Walt Disney worked on extensively before his death. March 18th, 2017, marks the 50th anniversary of the attraction. For more history of this amazing attraction, tune in to Back to the Future LIVE! – The Complete history of Pirates of the Caribbean.

“Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better. I worry about many things, but not about water over the dam.” – Walt Disney