Joe Hogarty’s 3/21/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Today we welcome WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty to the team with his very first photo report! Joe visited the Magic Kingdom to catch Splash Mountain now that it has reopened from refurbishment, but he also got some pictures of progress on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train and A Pirate’s Adventure to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The scariest opening photo of any report ever…

Don’t worry, it’s just a prop for “A Pirate’s Adventure”

Make sure to brush your teeth kids

Jack’s compass

Letter from Sparrow

We suspect this bird (similar to the one from World Showcase Adventure) will talk to guests… is it Cotton’s parrot?

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Something yet to be installed?

This large shell just recently appeared

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Splash Mountain just re-opened from refurbishment and it looks fantastic!

The clothes look brand new

Every animatronic is working flawlessly

Some shrubbery was added around Brer Fox

Oooooo, new lighting…

The store is pretty much unchanged

The blue shirt is new

Otherwise, a lot of the same merchandise

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland

Work also continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

The track is almost done!

This side hasn’t changed much

The other side has made some major progress

It looks like this side is finally going to be covered soon

Some new steel near Storybook Circus

The backside is starting to look like a mountain

Triton’s Treasures is also coming along nicely

Chimneys now up on the shop which may open before the Summer

I see a mountain…

It’s nice to finally see rock work

Thanks for your first report Joe!

A Look at the Past and Future of WDW Offered to Passholders Updating to RFID Tickets

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Annual Passholders upgrading their tickets at the Odyssey Center at Epcot received a pleasant surprise when they showed up… (Thanks to Jose Castillo and Dirk Wallen for the photos)

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The set-up is a little nicer than we expected

Kudos to Disney for putting the effort in to make the exchange process pleasant

The tickets… you actually get to pick what character you get!

Signage talks about what the new pass can do and will do

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BUT WHEN?

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The MagicBands and the box they will be delivered in was on display. The black MagicBand now appears to be grey…

One of the original Figment animatronics on display

A Kitchen Kabaret character as well

Walt Disney World tickets through the years on display

Some recent innovations

Tom Morrow 2.0 from Innoventions

Cast name tags through the years

Pegleg Pete is back at Disney World! He was recently spotted at Disneyland

The history of audio-animtronics discussed

After they get their new pass, Passholders can test it out on some of the new entrance touch points

Dirk Wallen’s 3/25/13 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot on Monday and has some newsworthy photos from his trip to share with us:

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BUTTERFLIES!!!

Who wants generic Easter crap?

The KODAK picture spots are still up around the parks

The Future World Easter Egg Hunt is in full swing

Bunny Ring Toss

Nothing stranger than the Epcot font on an egg…

Tarps are still up on the Mission: Space facade

Some filming being done, BE SURE TO PUSH THE DUFFYS!!!

MORE BUTTERFLIES!!!

Joe Hogarty’s 4/2/13 Animal Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Work being done on the bridge to Africa, believed to be connected to the work on the new Festival of the Lion King Theater

This could be extended queue for the show

We haven’t checked on the Tree of Life nets in a while

Seems most of the paths are covered now

There is one small section still not completed

Mickey-shaped snacks?

A look at the Africa bridge from the other direction

PINE CONE!!!

I am Batman!

Awwww, kitty!

They were being active

SLURP!

RAWR!

More…

Almost done…

The Adventurers Outpost still has not opened

Maybe soon…

Dirk Wallen’s 4/5-7/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen has been all-over the Walt Disney World Resort as of late and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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While most of the new parking lot at the Grand Floridian Villas is open, some is still closed to accommodate construction

Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

This appears to be the drop-off area

Iron Man-O-Rail running

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Main Street Bakery

The new Dumbo popcorn bucket available on Main Street

Purty

Work continues on the exterior of the Adventureland Veranda

The glass canopy on the other side of the building is still missing

Some work happening at the Swiss Family Treehouse while it is open

Kodak picture spots are still up around the parks

Some new Splash Mountain shirts have come out

Work continues on Columbia Harbor House

The other side looks completely new

More rock-work appearing everyday on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

A new shirt featuring Main Street U.S.A.

Some new sports shirts

They put a cardboard popcorn bucket inside the Dumbo popcorn bucket

Moving over to Epcot, work continues on the facade of Mission: Space

Walls are already up and work has begun on the Spice Road Table restaurant in Morocco

A temporary stage is now up for Mo Rockin’

Work continues on turning the old France bakery into an ice cream parlor

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

Kodak signage is gone from Muppetvision 3-D

A dance party truck was rolled out on Streets of America to deal with the heavier crowds recently

The Disney Truck Shop at Downtown Disney

The latest pin in the 2013 poster collection was released last week

Huey, Dewey, and Louie are now 75 years old

Disney-PIXAR Vinylmation pins are now on sale

Joe Hogarty’s 4/11/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos (including A Pirate’s Adventure, the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train, Princess Aurora’s new costume, and more) to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Stage set for the AFV taping

I love that it actually fits Main Street U.S.A.

Beautiful day at the Magic Kingdom

Jack Sparrow What-Not?

The Crow’s Nest will be the starting point for A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

There is a queue set up now

The sign above the entrance is covered

Tangled tower

It has become a popular photo spot

No visible progress on Princess Fairytale Hall

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

More scaffolding going up on the west side

Meanwhile, the facade on the east side is nearing completion

It looks nearly complete from this side

The track was wrapped to accommodate other work

Triton’s Treasures should be open by the Summer

New rock work going up

Other than a few walls that were enclosed, nothing new over here

The Mad Tea Party is closed for refurbishment

IRON MAN-O-RAIL

WOOSH!

Princess Aurora has received an updated costume as well now

Looks nice

Jack Sparrow really let himself go…

Joe Hogarty’s 4/11/13 Hollywood Studios Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty also visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Thursday and has some newsworthy photos from around the park to share with us:

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The exterior refurbishment at Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster is completed

The guitar now has a shiny finish

Looks nice

Did you know Superman’s cape is in the AFI exhibit?

Near PIXAR Place, one billboard now advertises The Lone Ranger

The other is a cute billboard for Monsters University

Since the parades in the park are gone, characters are staying out later by the Sorcerer’s Hat

While Britto isn’t a new item, the Art of Disney stores are now carrying a lot more of them

I think they are really strange

Dirk Wallen’s 4/17/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so lets take a look:

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Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing

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Work continues on a third bus loop for the Magic Kingdom

The Grand Floridian Villas off in the distance

There is still a ton of construction equipment put in the Polynesian Resort parking lot

Some work being done to the planter in front of the train station

Beautifully Disney products now available in the Emporium

The Swiss Family Treehouse s being fixed up while it is open

The Adventureland Veranda facade is still being worked on

Sleepy Hollow Refreshments is still behind tarps

The exterior refurbishment of Columbia Harbour House rolls on

Tarps now up on this end of the building

On the Fantasyland side, the Peter Pan restrooms have been closed and are behind tarps

No visible progress on Princess Fairytale Hall

Mad Tea Party refurbishment ongoing

The first real details of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train attraction are beginning to emerge