BREAKING: Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon Cancelled Along with All Saturday Events

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

 

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Walt Disney World has officially cancelled the Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon and all race events for tomorrow, Saturday, January 7th, 2017:

In an abundance of caution, the Walt Disney World Resort has cancelled all running events on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 due to weather conditions. This includes the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and the Disney Kids Races. In addition, the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo will delay opening until 11 a.m. While we share our Guests’ obvious disappointment, the safety of our Guests and Cast is most important. Weather tracking has indicated there is an elevated risk of lightning in the area of the racecourse. In addition, there are sections of the course that do not provide immediate access to shelter. Both of these factors have influenced this difficult decision.

All registered half marathon runners will receive their half marathon medal and may choose from one of the following options:

  • A full refund for their race registration in the form of a Disney gift card.
  • Two One-Day Park Hopper tickets.
  • Defer registration to another runDisney half marathon race in the U.S. within the next 24 months, subject to availability.
  • We can offer limited availability to run the full marathon on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 during the regularly scheduled race.

All registered runDisney Kids Race runners will receive their Kids Race medal and a full race registration in the form of a Disney gift card.

Details on the fulfillment of the above options will be communicated by 10 p.m. this evening.

LIVE STREAM: Last Magic Kingdom Train Station Welcome Show

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

Join us at 8:40 AM on January 8, 2017 for a live stream of the very last welcome show in front of the Main Street Train Station.

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We also have a HD video of the final show for you to enjoy now:

Be sure to join us tomorrow morning for the first-ever “Let the Magic Begin” show from Cinderella Castle at 8:55AM.

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 12/27/16 (Kingdom Cabanas, New Merchandise, Gingerbread Houses, Etc.)

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

Our latest photo report brings us to the Magic Kingdom and its nearby resorts for a holiday season jaunt. We’ll be checking out some changes around the park and the fantastic holiday decor at the resorts this time around, so let’s get started:

A Walk in the Park

We start our day with a monorail ride from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

The original graphic MagicBands continue to be sold, despite the looming presence of the MagicBand 2.

I found these ridiculous, oversized baseball caps for sale inside Fantasy Faire. Who is buying these?

It is always important to remember that Figaro is a Cat. Oh, and he is also a t-shirt… (Cheap plug)

Instead of dating the pressed penny book every year, this awesome new design was released recently.

The menu at the Jungle Navigation Ltd. Skipper Canteen was altered recently, so be sure to check out our review of the modified menu.

Hey, in case I forget… HAPPY GNU YEAR EVERYBODY!

At the Kingdom, Kingdom Cabanas…

There is some heavy construction work happening in Tomorrowland by the site of the Kingdom Cabanas.

Signage on the work alls directs guests to the restrooms, Space Mountain, and of course, the nearby Face Painting kiosk.

There are only 2 cabanas left standing at this point, so one has to wonder how much of a success they have been.

Holiday Shopping

Another electronic pressed penny machine has showed up, this one at the exit of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

This weird laser sculpture of Mickey Mouse painting was released recently at Art of Disney locations.

This pretty awesome Snow White and the Seven dwarfs Giclee was released recently as well.

Disney seems to be eliminating the big plastic luggage tags they introduced along with the TAG line of merchandise earlier this year. In their place are these new rubber tags, which seems like a good idea as my large plastic tag broke off on its first flight…

WE CAN’T LEAVE OUT THE STAR WARS!!!

My favorite unnecessary feature is how they all say luggage tag, I guess to prevent airline agents from removing them…

How much insanely cute plush can you handle?

Resort Hoppin’

Construction continues on the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a visit to the Grand Floridian to see all of the decorations.

Check-in for 1900 Park Fare has moved back to the hallway near the Grand Floridian Cafe, a welcome change in my book.

I had to stop at the gingerbread house to pick up my annual pin.

The gingerbread display at the Contemporary continues to be Frozen themed this year.

2017 Merchandise

2017 merchandise is now available resort-wide.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: December 2016 Aerial Flyover of Pandora: The World of AVATAR As It Nears Completion

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

 

After the exciting inside look at Pandora: The World of AVATAR that we got to see on the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration special, we decided it might be a good time to take to the skies and take a look at Animal Kingdom’s newest land from above and see how it is coming along.

The below video is the longest of the sort that we have filmed to date, as we fly around the entire perimeter of the land, giving you a 360 degree view of Pandora just months ahead of its Summer 2017 opening.

The video, as well as the photos below, show a project rapidly approaching completion (finally). Hopefully the land will be open to guests by Memorial Day 2017, or at the very least by the 4th of July.

It appears that the full fleet of boats for the Navi River Journey are being loaded in this week. This indicates that the ride is likely finished and now they will begin cycling a full fleet of boats inside of the attraction.

Very little scaffolding remains on the mountain range, meanwhile, Pongu Pongu Refreshments, Windtraders, and Satuli Canteen appear to be just about finished from the exterior

Pongu Pongu Refreshments is the small building on the right side of the above photo, just north of the hangar-looking building, which is home to Satuli Canteen. We believe that Windtraders is the small building to the right of the Canteen, but we have been unable to confirm that as of yet.

Even from this angle, never intended to be seen by a guest, the mountains appear to be floating.

Pavement has been laid finally, no longer leaving dirt trails between the sights of Pandora.

The large cranes were moved off-site in the last two weeks, leaving the skyline of the park closer to its finished product.

So, what do you think of Pandora: The World of AVATAR? Are you excited yet?

Walt Disney World Unveils New 2017 Offers with Free Tickets and Meals

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

Walt Disney World began two new special offers today…

You can save up to 25% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels for stays most nights Feb. 20-June 10, 2017. Book by Feb. 26, 2017 for stays most nights Feb. 20-June 10, 2017. Book by March 30, 2017 for stays most nights April 9-June 10, 2017.

Plus, you can get one more day added to your ticket when you upgrade to a Magic Your Way room and ticket package with a minimum 4-day Ticket.

OR

Savor Quick-Service Meals this Summer with a 5-Night/6-Day Disney Value Resort Hotel Package where can enjoy a FREE one meal per person, per night at select Walt Disney World Resort quick-service dining locations when you buy a non-discounted 5-night/6-day Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package at a select Disney Value Resort hotel for arrivals most nights May 30-Aug. 24, 2017 when you book by Feb. 12, 2017.

Be sure to go to Magical Travel to book these offers and many others today.

Magic Kingdom Retiring Train Station Welcome Show, Castle Show to Replace

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

The way Disney opens Magic Kingdom Park will never be the same again starting on January 9.

If you’ve experienced the park’s “opening moment” during previous vacations, you may recall waiting at the front of the Main Street Railroad Station to kick off the day.

Beginning January 9, guests will be allowed to enter the Main Street, U.S.A. area of the park even earlier than the park’s scheduled opening time. This will allow guests time to savor the charm of Main Street, U.S.A., enjoy breakfast or a warm drink at the Main Street Bakery featuring Starbucks. Then promptly at opening, a new welcome show will officially open the park for the day on the Castle Forecourt Stage. A Royal Herald will appear to deliver a proclamation and welcome a few familiar characters to the stage, officially opening the park so “the magic can begin!”

PHOTOS, VIDEO: December 2016 Flyover of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Construction (Star Wars & Toy Story Lands)

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

 

We take to the skies again today, this time to look at the latest progress on the Star Wars and Toy Story themed lands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As you’ll see below, a little progress has been made since our last flyover.

The Toy Story Land is starting to take shape, but there still just isn’t much to look at over on the Star Wars side.

With probably 2-2.5 years to go, there is certainly time to build this land, but I would hope to see some progress soon.

We also have a quick video of our flyover to share with you today:

Disney Releasing Album for Rivers of Light & Tree of Life Awakenings

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

 

While we we still do not know when Rivers of Light will finally debut at Animal Kingdom, when it does, Disney is planning to release a new album featuring music from the much-maligned show, as well as the beloved Tree of Life Awakenings nightly projection shows.

The album should be released at Walt Disney World in early-2017.

PHOTOS: Orange Bird Dress, AVATAR Pins, & Epcot 35th Items Coming in 2017

WDWNT on January 8, 2017

Disney today is previewing a number of items that will be released at the parks in 2017.

A little Orange Bird dress with the pattern above will be released soon.

Frontierlamd will be the next Disney Parks exclusive Tsum Tsum series, featuring some of the Country Bears and the Goat from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

In addition to the exclusive preview we gave you of some Epcot 35th Anniversary merchandise a few weeks ago, Disney is now previewing the mug and the license plate which will be available.

Two tea sets based on Pirates of the Caribbean and Cinderella Castle are coming to Disney Parks in 2017.

There is also a series of limited edition Pandora: The World of AVATAR pins based on the construction walls located outside of the area currently.

Further previews of these and other items can be found here.

Disney Researching Addition of AVATAR and MARVEL Character Meet and Greets

WDWNT on December 26, 2016

Disney Parks would like to know just how badly you would like to meet characters from AVATAR, Guardians of the Galaxy, and more.

A recent survey to guests indicates that Disney may look to add these characters as Meet and Greet experiences in the near future.

A recent announcement about Pandora: The World of AVATAR seemed to indicate that there would be no meet and greets, but this survey may say otherwise.

A fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film is slated to hit theaters next year, so a return of characters from the films would not be unlikely.

As always, we take these survey questions with a grain of salt, but they could give us some insight as to Disney’s plans for the future.