Photo Reports – Page 8 – WDWNT Archive

Dirk Wallen’s 3/20/15 WDW Photo Report (Polynesian Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, ETC.)

WDWNT on April 13, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen was all over the Walt Disney World Resort this week and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look at what’s new and exciting:

Starting at the Polynesian, the right side of the entrance is out from behind walls and looking good

The pool area is nearing completion also

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, work on the center of the hub is picking up speed

New planters await railings

The old Rose Garden is now being demolished as part of the hub expansion

The final remnants of the Plaza Swan Boats are being erased

Moving over to the Studios, walls are up around the former site of the Sorcerer’s Hat, at least through late-April

Strange to see this sight again, but if Echo Lake is demolished, it won’t be a sight for long

Over at Epcot, work continues on the mysterious “colorful” new Innoventions exhibit

Meanwhile, there is no visible progress on the Frozen attraction

Moving to Disney Springs, the Marketplace Co-Op has these Adventurer’s Club signs back in stock

These photos were taken just before the first pedestrian bridge was installed yesterday

The Town Center will rise upon this site over the next 12-14 months

One large structure is already rising

The small park area in front of Planet Hollywood and the Orange Garage entrance is nearing completion

New planters being installed outside Harley Davidson

No visible progress on STK Orlando, the supposed replacement for the BET Soundstage

The Hangar restaurant is now completely sealed, but still no announcement from Disney

The new Margarita Bar and pier in the Marketplace is coming along nicely

The BOATHOUSE, as seen from the Village Causeway

Still to early to tell, but this looks like one fo the facades that will hide the second parking garage from view

A lot of work still to be done on Morimoto Asia

Meanwhile, flags have gone up outside of the BOATHOUSE, leading us to believe it is nearing completion

Work on the dock is wrapping up

Another look at the Hangar Restaurant, whatever it might be…

PHOTOS: Concept Art Exhibit for PIXAR’s “Inside Out” Opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on April 13, 2015

Yesterday, a new exhibit opened in the Production Gallery at the Magic of Disney Animation in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new exhibit celebrates art from the upcoming PIXAR film Inside Out:

A panoramic view of the exhibit

Marquette statues and artwork make up the exhibit

There is for sure a theme park with a castle in Riley’s mind…

PIXAR clearly tried to delve into what places and ideas exist to a child… and there’s apparently some corporate synergy with this one…

There also might be a roller coaster through Riley’s mind…

The exhibit is now open, so go check it out while you wait for the release of Inside Out this June!

Photos by Kelly Derda

Drik Wallen & Brian Carey’s 3/2/15 WDW Photo Report (Polynesian, Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Let’s catch up with what’s new and exciting at Walt Disney World with some photos from our reporters taken in the last week or so:

The Polynesian Resort bungalows look just about ready

Work is also wrapping up on the villas as we have less than a month until opening

Rock work has appeared on the remodeled volcano pool

The kids water-play area looks like a lot of fun

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, some of the Main Street facades are still behind tarps

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is still closed for a few more days for modifications

The refurbishment of the Castle continues

Moving on to Downtown Disney/Disney Springs, new planters and lights seem to be going in all over the place

Beautifully Disney has closed in the Marketplace Co-Op, to be replaced with Wonderground Gallery

A new Margarita bar is being built in the Marketplace

Work continues on the Boathouse, which will open soon in The Landing

They are enclosing the hangar restaurant

St. Patrick’s Day and Easter Eachez Vinylmation now for sale at D Street

Some of the planters by Planet Hollywood have come out from behind walls

The escalators and stairs that will take guests out of the Orange parking structure are almost finished

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC recently opened in The Landing

This is the samecompany that operated Babycakes inside the Pollo Campero building

Dirk Wallen’s 3/3/15 WDW Photo Report (Hat is Gone, Toy Story Mania Expansion, Haramabe Marketplace, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom this week and has some great newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

NO MORE SORCERER’S HAT

Neverbeast banners up in the Animation Courtyard

Also, an ad for Big Hero 6 on Blu-ray

A Tomorrowland billboard has gone up by PIXAR Place

An Inside Out billboard at the other end of the street

Still no signs of life at the Backlot Tour

A Cinderella billboard behind the Great Movie Ride

After years of waiting, walls are up outside of Stage 1, possibly the home of a third Toy Story Mania track

Moving over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, walls have engulfed what was the Island Merchantile pin cart

Work continues on Rivers of Light

From Everest, you can see the vertical construction of AVATAR

Also, the prep work for Rivers of Light

We assume the need to run pipes through the viewing area is for some water effects that will take place in the audience, similar to World of Color

Work continues on revamping the entrance to Kali River Rapids

Work continues on the new Africa Marketplace area, including the Harambe Marketplace restaurant

Some of the buildings in the marketplace are nearing completion

A look at the AVATAR construction walls… still nothing to see here

And one last look at Rivers of Light construction

PHOTOS & VIDEO: A Look at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

The 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival has begun and we have some coverage of this year’s event to share with you today!

First up, WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty shares hundreds of his photos of the character topiary figures, playgrounds, and more:

We also have two videos to share with you, the first showing off some of the topiary characters at this year’s festival:

Second, there is a garden celebrating the upcoming PIXAR film Inside Out:

Reviews of all of the kiosks and a full rundown of the event can be found on an upcoming episode of the WDW News Today Podcast. More videos will be uploaded over the course of the next week as well, so stay tuned!

PHOTOS: First Pedestrian Bridge Across Buena Vista Drive Being Installed as part of Disney Springs

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

If you drove down Buena Vista Drive this past weekend, you surely noticed all of the work happening on both sides of the road, including the giant pieces of the first pedestrian bridge to be installed over the busy roads.

The bridge will be installed on March 19th between 1AM and 7AM. Road detours will be occurring during those hours to accommodate for the work. The bridge should open a few weeks after that.

This will be the fist of several pedestrian bridges being installed as part of the Disney Springs project, aiming to speed-up the flow of traffic in the area by removing several traffic lights and expanding lanes.

PHOTOS BY DIRK WALLEN

Dirk Wallen’s 3/10/15 WDW Photo Report (Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom, Polynesian, Hollywood Studios, ETC.)

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen traveled far and wide this week, visiting Disney Springs, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Polynesian Village Resort, and the Magic Kingdom, taking plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us today:

Starting at Disney Springs, work continues on the area outside of the AMC

The Wonderground Gallery opened inside the Marketplace Co-Op recently

Also new at the Co-Op is The Sign Shop, selling soem brand new Disney-inspired signage

The finishing touches being placed on the rear facade of Raglan Road

The Boathouse is nearing completion

The facade of the Hangar restaurant is now being worked on

The new pier area and margarita bar in the Marketplace should be open soon

Moving over to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the new volcano pool area is nearing completion

Cinderella merchandise has invaded the Emporium at the Magic Kingdom

Even with Cinderella’s Royal Table re-opened, work continues on the castle via the infamous crane

The Sorcerer’s Hat may be gone, but the foundation and such from it will still take a bit to remove

The tarps are down at what we expect to be the TCM sponsored photo-op at the end of the Great Movie Ride

Work has begun on the Toy Story Mania expansion we told you about last year

St. Patrick’s Day snacks have started appearing around the resort

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!!

PHOTOS: Aloha Isle and Dole Whips Swap Places with Sunshine Tree Terrace

WDWNT on March 19, 2015

Effective today, Sunshine Tree Terrace and the ever-popular Aloha Isle in Adventureland have switched places:

Sunshine Tree Terrace taking the place of Aloha Isle

The Little Orange Bird will move in soon, for now he is nowhere to be found

So, the Citrus Swirl is now over here

Aloha Isle by Dole is now next door to the Enchanted Tiki Room

And Dole Whips over here

The change is being made to alleviate the long lines for Aloha Isle and the over-crowding of the area outside of the former Adventureland Veranda (also formerly Tinker Bell’s Nook). Rumor has it that the former restaurant may be turned in a new table service dining location and removing the more popular Aloha Isle from the area would alleviate some of the pressure of having to share the restaurants promenade with a lengthy Dole Whip line. Only time will tell.

PHOTOS BY KELLY DERDA

PHOTOS: Trolley Car Cafe Starbucks Opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

Tom Corless was at the Trolley Car Cafe soft opening today and took a ton of great pictures! On the corner of Hollywood and Sunset at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the location officially opens on Tuesday, but today guests are able to enter by obtaining a voucher. Entry is via the patio on Hollywood Blvd., with the exit through the side door onto Sunset Blvd.

The menu is a standard Starbucks menu.

The interior theming is spectacular!

The utensil dispensers even have a Trolley Car Cafe logo.

Not only does the interior look great, the food does too!

These are the vouchers you need to get in for the soft opening. They are handing them out at random on Hollywood Blvd.

The Trolley Car Cafe has several different logos, all of which seem well done.

Tom Corless’ 2/6/15 WDW Photo Report (Hollywood Studios, New Resort Merchandise, Cornbread Waffle Sandwich, ETC.)

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

This week, I visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Old Key West, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to see what was new and exciting, so let’s take a look at the photos I took around Walt Disney World over the last several days:

No hat… just the Theater…