PHOTOS: First Look at Na’vi Translator and Collectible Cards to be Sold in Pandora – The World of AVATAR

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

Disney today shared a sneak preview at another item that will immerse guests in their in-park experience like never before and connect them to Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The item is called the Na’vi Translator.

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“This device was originally developed by Alpha Centauri Expeditions founder Marshall Lamm,” explained Cody Hampton, product developer. “The Na’vi have no written language, so the translator will be a helpful tool for any human visiting Pandora. Guests using the translator can learn how to pronounce 90 Na’vi words using interchangeable translation cards. The device also lights up at night, which makes it perfect for nighttime explorations on Pandora.”

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The Na’vi Translator set will come packaged with 15 translation cards. The device has a clasp that extends up to 12-inches and can be attached to a belt or backpack.

Additional translation cards will be sold in trading card packs, each containing eight randomly selected cards. There are some common cards such as Nouns (Blue) and Adjectives (Purple). Other cards will be less common to find in the trading packs including Animals (Orange), Phrases (Aqua), and Landscapes (Tan). The rarest cards are Plants (Green) and Gear (Yellow).

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“When selecting the words and phrases for this set, we thought about the most essential words a guest might use when exploring another country on Earth,” continued Cody. “My favorite word is ‘Ikran’ which means ‘Banshee.’ I must have said that word hundreds of times while developing products for Pandora [laughs].”

Cody partnered with Lightstorm Entertainment and Dr. Paul Frommer, creator of the Na’vi language for “Avatar,” to acquire audio recordings of spoken Na’vi words for the translator.

This product and more will be available May 27th when Pandora: The World of AVATAR officially opens to guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Club Penguin Island Launches Today

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

Today Disney has launched their new subscription-based game, Club Penguin Island.

Earlier this week the legacy game shut down for good, and now players can embark on the future of Club Penguin. All the activities one would expect are still around in this new game, including customizing characters, sharing food, playing games, and the list goes on.

http://https://youtu.be/z9xvMaJ2_aw

Club Penguin is over a decade old, and Club Penguin Island seeks to bring the franchise to a more modern audience that has grown up on mobile devices. The spirit remains the same, but the platform has changed, while the game has also evolved into a 3D experience (goodbye early 2000s flash game artwork).

As with the original Club Penguin, this game is extremely kid-friendly, with tools that are readily available to report negative content, and a strong community of respectable players, although shenanigans are commonplace in the Club Penguin community.

The game can be downloaded now on iOS and Android. You can start for free with a seven-day trail, but afterwards the game will cost $4.99 per month.

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New Details on Pandora: The World of AVATAR – No Attraction Signage, Wilderness Explorers, Banshee Connect, “AVATAR Me”, No Disney Bags, ETC.

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

Disney is starting to release more information to the cast members who will be working in Pandora: The World of AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, giving us the scoop on some things we didn’t know we would encounter when the area opens on May 27th, 2017.

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Floating mountains grace the skyline while exotic plants fill the colorful landscape inside Pandora – The World of Avatar, which opens May 27, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Reportedly, there isn’t much in the way of signage for the attractions in the land, as it would impede on the natural environment around the two rides (in story). Na’vi totem poles will be used to convey to guests what the attraction is they are entering the queue for. Whether or not this means there will be wait time signs or not remains to be seen. Also, there will be no Mickey icon readers for MagicBands as it would not make sense on Pandora, so expect custom readers or ACE crew members with iPads I suppose.

The Wilderness Explorers attraction at Animal Kingdom will be tied into the land as well, adding two more pages for guests to obtain while they are on Pandora.

Supposedly, the Na’vi River Journey attraction will feature only one Audio-Animatronic Na’vi creature, the Shaman character we were already introduced to. She will be seated along the riverbank in a crossed leg pattern, but if she were to stand, she would clock in at over 10 feet tall. There will however be additional “AAs” of some of the wildlife on Pandora.

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Windtraders, (pictured here) travelers can find Na’vi cultural items, toys, science kits, and more.

Regarding merchandise, AVATAR products will only be sold in Pandora and not anywhere else in the park. There will also be specific daytime and nighttime merchandise, such as flip flops, staffs, and spears that interact with their surroundings in the land in the evenings. Disney Parks branded bags and receipts will also not exist on Pandora, instead, everything will be branded to Alpha Centauri Expeditions.

The D-Tech “AVATAR Me” station that can be somewhat made out in the store concept art is apparently a real thing, similar to when Disney offered the service where guests could become a Jedi or a Stormtrooper. There is also a “Banshee Connect” service where you will be matched with a tiny plush version of the beast; a robotic creature that you can take home with you for a price.

The stores will include a bead station where guests can make their own bead necklace or bracelet. As well, the Na’vi artifacts that will be for sale will be actual, hand painted props.

We will share more tidbits like this with you as we inch closer to the opening of Pandora: The World of AVATAR on May 27th, 2017.

Beyonce Is The Favorite To Play Nala In Jon Favreru’s Live Action Remake Of The “The Lion King”

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

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Variety is reporting that Beyonce is director Jon Favreau’s top choice to play Simba’s love interest, Nala,  in the upcoming live action remake of “The Lion King”.

According to Variety:

Sources tell Variety that Beyonce is director Jon Favreau’s top choice to voice Nala in the upcoming remake.

Insiders stress that the Grammy winner has not made a decision regarding the film yet, as the star is pregnant with twins. But since it’s a voice-acting role, sources say the studio and director will do whatever it takes to accommodate her schedule. The songstress announced her pregnancy in early February and dropped out as a Coachella headliner by month’s end. Lady Gaga will replace the “Single Ladies” singer at the desert music and arts festival next month.

This would mark Beyonce’s first film role since lending her voice to the Fox animated film”Epic.” Her other major movie credits include the 2009 thriller “Obsessed,” 2006 movie musical “Dreamgirls,” and 2002 Mike Myers comedy “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”

Source: Variety

VIDEO: March Madness Restaurant Tournament Concludes, Inappropriate Tees and More on WDW News Tonight

WDWNT on April 6, 2017

This week on WDW News Tonight…

    • We concluded our 2017 WDWNT March Madness: Table Service Restaurants tournament and named a champion. See the full bracket here.
    • We also concluded our 2nd annual March Tragic Tee Shirt tournament to select the tee shirt Disney will not dare to make… but we will! See it soon in our Tee Public Shop.

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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.

RUMOR: Animal Kingdom to Offer Nightly Extra Magic Hours During AVATAR Opening Summer

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

From what we are being told, nightly Extra Magic Hours for Disney resort guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom might be a thing once Pandora: The World of AVATAR opens.

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According to sources, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will offer nightly Extra Magic Hours from May 27th through July 4th, 2017. Extra Magic Hours are exclusive to Walt Disney World resort hotel guests and allow them private time to experience attractions, dining, and more. In the evening, these events are usually two hours long, occurring right after park opening. There is no word as of yet how long these nightly offerings at Animal Kingdom will be though, as Disney has never offered them on so many consecutive nights at one park before.

With the incredible demand Disney is expecting for Pandora: The World of AVATAR this Summer, it seems they are trying to make sure that their resort guests get a chance to see everything the new land has to offer.

This is still just rumored at this time. Disney has yet to officially announce these Extra Magic Hours changes.

CONFIRMED: Disney Junior Dance Party Replacing Show at California Adventure

WDWNT on March 27, 2017

Starting May 26th, 2017, guests traveling with little ones to California Adventure can find some new show experiences inspired by some hit shows on Disney Junior.

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This new show will be called the ‘Disney Junior Dance Party’ and will feature stories from “Mickey and the Roadster Racers,” as well as “Doc McStuffins,” “Sofia the First” and “The Lion Guard.” The show will include live appearances from some characters, fun music from Disney Junior and much more.

The all-new “Disney Junior Dance Party” opening this summer will introduce a musically infused, interactive concert format that involves guests directly in the experience. This show will be replacing the former ‘Disney Junior: Live on Stage!’.

The changes come after union disputes about puppeteer wages, as we reported previously.

The all-new “Disney Junior Dance Party” show debuts in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure park on May 26, 2017.