In-Depth Look at the Finding Nemo & Cars Wings of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

WDWNT’s own Katey McGregor went on a special tour of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort on Monday and was nice enough to take a number of photos to share with us prior to the resort’s official opening on May 31st:

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Pulling up to the resort

One of the large sketches on the exterior of the main building

A palette of colors dominate the check-in area, while early character concepts cover the opposite wall

An animator at work in the lobby. I hope this is a regular thing and not just something they were doing for the special event…

Wall opposite the front desk, showing concept art for the main characters of all four films. You can even catch a glimpse of British Sabastian!

More concept art from lobby

Some of your favorite characters looked a little different at first

Concept from the four films makes up this awesome lighting fixture- look for the hidden John Lasseter signature :)

Storyboard artwork covers a chandelier

Hidden John Lasseter signature!

This one is actually signed by hand by John Lasseter

Watercolor renderings outside the Ink & Paint Shop

More artwork on another wall

Cars section of food court

Landscapes of Flavor has 4 themed sections like the resort – Cars

Little Mermaid section of food court

The Little Mermaid

Lighting fixture in Little Mermaid section of food court- it's Ariel's treasure cave!

Lighting fixture for the Finding Nemo part of food court

Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo food court section

Lion King section of

Lion King

The Ink and Paint Shop looks ready to go

Front of resort

The back of the Cars wing

Even the staircases are themed to the different films

A glimpse of the Lion King section- you can see Simba on Pride Rock way back there if you look closely

The Lion King section is coming along nicely

Close up of Pride Rock- you can see Simba through the trees

I can kind of see Simba there…

Big Blue- the largest pool at any resort- is to the right

Finding Nemo is ready to open on May 31st

It's the EAC!

The jellyfish spout water

A look inside the rooms

Inscription on Nemo bathroom mirror

Nemo bathrooms designed to look like a submarine!

The bathroom looks like the sunken ship where the sharks live

Shower curtain in other bathroom

Shower curtain

Nemo playground

Squirt’s Righteous Reef

Restroom and Laundry signs made up of little fish

Ha…

Welcome to Radiator Springs!

A little bit of Cars Land in Florida

Sheriff hiding near the billboard as always

A picture with Doc Hudson

The Cadillac Range is on the buildings

Cozy Cone Motel is straight ahead, and the pool is behind it

Some of the town establishments were built

They even have the Cozy Cone sign

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

Guests are staying at the Wheel Well Motel

I didn’t know Luigi sold Lightyear tires

Another building has an entrance through Casa Della Tires

Guido!

The Cozy Cone motel

A look inside the rooms

The TV is on a toolbox

brilliant

The bathroom is a car wash…

Thanks for the report Katey!

Adam Roth’s 5/19-20/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom this past weekend, so let’s take a look at his photos, including an in-depth look at the Fantasyland model now on display at Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream:

Darth Vader cupcake

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Adam had himself frozen in carbonite in the ABC sound Studio, former home of Sounds Dangerous

Pretty neat for $120

Star Wars Weekends merchandise is in the tent behind Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster again, Darth’s Mall

The huge Fantasyland model has moved in at One Man’s Dream

super cool

Princess Fairytale Hall won’t change the exterior of Snow White too much according to the model

A sign explains the model to guests

Some stuff isn’t labeled, like Triton’s Treasures, Ariel’s Grotto, and some minor facilities like restrooms, food stands, etc.

Some interesting points to note from this artwork:

  • Pete’s Silly Sideshow is the entire second tent towards the back and it appears it will remain a meet and greet experience only. We know Goofy should be there, but no other characters have been announced yet.
  • The unlabeled building next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow is probably the Humphrey the Bear counter service location that has been rumored, but again, we have no further confirmation.
  • You can make out the train lines that lead to the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station if you look closely at Storybook Circus.
  • Triton’s Treasures (the Little Mermaid gift shop) does not appear behind the Mine Train anymore, so it may be gone from the plans altogether.
  • The unlabeled building between Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour Village Gifts is a restroom facility.
  • You can see the track layout of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, including when it goes through the show building with the dark-ride type scenes.

So I guess they will be done by 2013 unofficially?

The Mine Train looks pretty awesome

A closer look at the Mine Train track layout

The recent rockwork expansion at Little Mermaid is present

Let’s take a look at the real thing

The two tents are covered

The Circus animals from the Splash ‘N’ Soak Station are peeking over the wall

A wall has appeared near the Silly Sideshow tent

A look over the walls at Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station

Jose Castillo’s 5/29/12 Epcot Photo Report

Contrary to popular belief, there is some newsworthy stuff going on at Epcot right now. Our good friend Jose Castillo has some photos to share from our journey to the park on Tuesday:

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Removal of Kim Possible has begun for the installation of Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure

Habit Heroes is still closed

Test Track closed too, but not a surprise…

The Test Track All-Stars entertaining guests

Work continues on the exterior of Maelstrom in Norway

Brave sand artwork in progress at the time

So, one of the Universe of Energy ride vehicles got a new plastic body with a light and dark blue color scheme

It definitely wasn’t painted as it felt like brand new plastic

Not only is the Pizza truck gone, but the tables and props are gone too

Jose got a new camera, so he took some artsy shots…

Youy can clearly see the new automated door that will act as the Turtle Talk entrance

A new sign at the exit of the Seas with Nemo and Friends ride

We haven’t had this photo yet, but Chiquita has been sponsor for a few months now

Perry the Platypus ear hat!

Magic Kingdom “New Fantasyland” Construction Update – 6/6/12

What’s the latest on the New Fantasyland project at the Magic Kingdom? I took plenty of photos during my most recent trip of the progress, so let’s take a look:

Snow White’s Scary Adventures is closed….

Walls go down to Sir Mickey’s

The Seven Dwarfs’ Mine is still open

Speaking of the Seven Dwarfs’, here’s the progress on the Mine Train

The Dumbo marquee was finally installed and the Timothy figure from the old ride is back!

The back of the sign is pretty neat

Work continues on the former Tigger’s Bouncy Place

Rumor is that Winnie the Pooh and Tigger will be doing meet and greets in this new spot

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The facade of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is looking great

More Mine Train

The second Dumbo spinner was testing all week, should be open any day now

Another look at Mermaid

Big Top Souvenirs still under construction

More Mermaid

The new Dumbo sign on a sunnier day…

The hose that the monkey uses to spray guests will go across the entire Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station

Guests have been ripping the handles off of the luggage near the train station

They aren’t doing too well

Some were completely ripped off

Hadn’t see this reference yet

The unlabeled structure next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow is coming along nicely

Pete’s Silly Sideshow progress

Another look at the mystery structure

Some new steel has appeared at the base of the Mine Train

Looks like one of the lower hills

A new stand-by wait sign up at the second dumbo spinner

An arrow was added to the construction walls so it is clearer to guests what is back in Storybook Circus

A day later and a primer coat of paint is going on the new covered area in the Pooh queue

The Castle Walls are coming along quickly

Walls also up near the Carousel

The old Skyway site is still pretty barren

Tarps up at “it’s a small world”

Art of Animation Resort Offers A Little Bit of Cars Land in Florida

Opening on June 18th, the Cars wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is already expected to be the most popular wing of the hotel. We took a lot of pictures over the construction fences during our stay, so let’s see how the next phase of the resort is doing (You may also want to check out our photos from a few weeks ago for a look inside the Cars rooms):

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Sheriff sits below a billboard from the film

The back of one of the Cars buildings

Doc Hudson

Flo

Yes, the Cozy Cone Sign has neon, and unlike the one in the movie, it spins…

Ramone

Mater

Cozy Cone cabanas around the pool

The back of another building

The Cozy Cone cabanas will be first-come, first-serve

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

The Wheel-Well Motel in the very back

In the windows of the Cozy Cone Motel, we spotted postcards…

And the little alarm clocks from the film

Great signage

Gas pumps at the Wheel-Well

Lightning McQueen and Sally

A peek inside a cabana

Dirk Wallen’s 6/17/12 Downtown Disney Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney on Sunday and has a few newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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The new volcano rises at Rainforest Cafe

Adventurer’s Club still closed…

Work continues on Splitsville at Downtown Disney

Cool new shirts

FATHER’S DAY DUFFY

Another cool pair of shirts

Adam Roth’s 6/23/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and he has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us. Dueling Dumbos are flying, Casey Jr. is splashing and soaking, and whole lot is going on at the park, so let’s take a look:

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Let’s get right to Fantasyland

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

More steel rises

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid looms in the distance

The new Winnie the Pooh meet and greet is open, replacing Tigger’s Bouncy Place

Dumbo FASTPASS is running and at Philharmagic’s old machines

Another look at Mine Train

Mermaid rockwork extending down towards Storybook Circus

Big Top Souvenirs

We finally have dueling Dumbos!

Timothy now spins and moves on the sign

Only 30 minutes for stand-by… it’s working…

A large wall has appeared on the Mine Train structure

Back to Dumbo

FASTPASS return will skip the tent queue

Love the magic feather on the clock…

The old Dumbo is back as the new Dumbo! Wait… what?

“Transformers: The Ride was much better!”

No interactive queue today 🙁

A photo with two Dumbos? MIND BLOWN!

Disney released some footage of the dueling Dumbos for you to enjoy:

More Mine Train

Big Top Souvenirs

Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is open

Casey Jr. got fenced in… apparently there were some safety issues with the water and guests climbing in

Other than that, the area looks great!

The animals spin and spray, much nicer than other water play areas

Poor Casey sits in a time out…

The attraction sign is pretty cool too

The backs of the 4 train cars have the years that each WDW park opened – 71, 82, 89, and 98

A nicely themed new merchandise cart sells fitting water-play merchandise

and hats…

This car will be the most popular with the fanboys… they will gather here and tell tales of Horizons

The area behind Casey still needs some work…

This PIXAR short reference was added a few weeks ago

You may recognize this emblem from Town Square Theater

Casey does look pretty great though

He even blinks!

This is always pretty disturbing…

Looking into Mermaid, you can see trees and ship wreckage are now visible

The new Winnie the Pooh meet and greet

Castle Wall construction

Mystery walls still up by the Carousel

Snow White is still closed… and it ain’t reopening anytime soon…

Only visible change is the missing attraction sign which we assume has gone to the archives

Dumbo FASTPASS, that way!

It isn’t going to open, so I’m not sure why he turned around…

If you haven’t exited by now…

Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo now share the Philharmagic FASTPASS distribution

The new signs are cool, and they give you the standby wait for each ride

More Castle Wall work

Vertical construction has begun on the old Skyway area

Looks like Rapunzel’s tower to me 😉

For the nerd in your family, anything on this shelf will do

The Crow’s Nest is closed! The sign is down… it would be a shame to lose one of the park’s oldest shops, formerly sponsored by Kodak…. We’ll keep an eye on this

Wendell!

Not sure what happened here

Skyway construction visible from across the park

Work continues on the Main Street Bakery

I still think this has something to do with Starbucks…

Package Pick-Up still behind tarps as well

As is The Confectionary and the Chapeau

Looks like the Snow White poster is finally down and now Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom has its own poster

Big Thunder Mountain is on the maps now… I can’t remember the last time that happened

Photos & Video: Cars Wing Opens at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Thanks to WDWNT photographers Jeff Lukas and Adam Roth, we have an in-depth look at the Cars wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort which opened recently. Let’s take a look:

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Welcome to Radiator Springs

Doc Hudson

Sheriff

Ramone

One building enters through Tow Mater’s junkyard

Flo

The Cadillac Range

The Cozy Cone office has restrooms

Another building enters through Casa Della Tires

Unlike in the movie, the sign spins

Luigi

Guido

The Cozy Cones are first-come first-serve cabanas

The back building is the Wheel Well Motel

Lightning McQueen

Sally

Fillmore

Sarge’s Surplus Hut

Sarge

The interior hallways look great

Hidden mickey in the carpet

A look inside the rooms

The sink area looks like a car wash

The table has a map of Route 66

Convertible sofa… GET IT?

Awww, Mater is sleeping

The Lion King wing opens August 10th

Rafiki!

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Back to Cars

Flo’s license plate

Ramone’s plate

Hidden car

Alright… that’s too cool

Looking back towards Nemo

Here’s a video of the new wing:

Adam Roth’s 9/6/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot yesterday and has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The parks are dead

You can see FastPass+ installed at the end

Probably a 5…

FastPass+ installed at Tower as well

Ummmm….

The old Carthay Theater on Sunset Boulevard

Eat your heart out DCA

How am I supposed to take a shortcut through Starring Roles if you are fixing the path?

Heading into Magic of Disney Animation

John Lasseter in Wreck-It Ralph form

Fantastic video game humor on dispaly

Ha

Artists working hard on the new Ink and Paint Cells

There is a Fix-It Felix machine on display, although it is behind glass 🙁

The movie ads on the wall have been updated

Will do a barrel roll? OK, I MUST see this film…

The Animation Gallery still has railroad merchandise

As well as 40th anniversary and “it’s a small world” merchandise

Neat!

Work continues on The Legend of Jack Sparrow

Some strange white markings have appeared on the walls

I’m guessing these are supposed to be the dotted line on a treasure map, but it is too early to tell

I originally thought they might be markers for something, but I don’t think so

We’ll find out soon enough

A crane backstage for some reason

NO WAY…

Yep…

Wow, a TRON penny machine

This machine probably made more money than the movie did… ZING

Phineas and Ferb merchandise has taken over the old Loony Bin

Wait…

Yeah, that isn’t what that was meant for…

The smoking section near Star Tours is behind walls

This planter in front of Sounds Dangerous is also behind walls

American Idol Experience is ready for FastPass+

Moving over to Epcot, Adam was so excited about the blue vehicles at Universe of Energy that he couldn’t hold his camera still

The Test Track facade is getting ripped apart

Wow…

Food and Wine Festival preparations are well underway

After months of work, the La Hacienda fountain is out from behind walls!

Ummm, you’re in the wrong area, Italy is behind you…

AHHHHH!

Wendell from the Country Bears was out as well

“Am I early? “

Cool World Showcase shirt!

Some work being done near the waterway in the France pavilion

Work continues on what is believed to be a DVC booth near the Canada pavilion

More walls up near the Refreshment Port

KHALUA PORK SLIDERS! SOON!

Dirk Wallen’s 9/14/12 Downtown Disney Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen went to check out the progress on several projects happening at Downtown Disney right now, so let’s see what’s going on:

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Characters in Flight is still down

Phineas and Ferb and You is running currently at the West Side

Guests get super-imposed in the cartoon

A nearby merchandise cart

Work continues on Splitsville… does it seem like they are a bit behind to anyone else? They are supposed to open sometime in the Fall.

Not sure if these are new but these carts are located between Marketplace and Pleasure Island

Work moving slowly on the new exterior and bar at Rainforest Cafe as well

Some work is also being done on the exterior of T-Rex

Ads are already up for the D-Tech Me princess experience at World of Disney