Dirk Wallen’s 2/10/15 Disney Springs & Flamingo Crossings Photo Report

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney (Disney Springs) and the future site of Flamingo Crossings this week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

2.6.15

Signage is up for Sanuk in The Landing

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Signage up for Sound Lion as well

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Ape by Sunglass Hut has already opened

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The store specializes in sunglasses that are sportswear related

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A new section of pier being constructed in the Marketplace

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Construction has begun on the Town Center area

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The view of the construction from the Orange parking structure

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The first structure rising appears to be a pedestrian walkway over Buena Vista Drive

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The two hotels under construction at Flaming Crossings are coming up quickly

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Both hotels will open in 2016

Tom Corless’ 2/12/15 WDW Photo Report (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Polynesian Village Resort, ETC.)

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

Over the last week, I visited Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the Magic Kingdom, and Epcot, so let’s see what’s new at the Walt Disney World Resort right now:

 Starting at the Polynesian, Moana Mercantile expanded into the sundries area which has been remodeled

They finally have digital park hour boards at the Polynesian

The new sundries section

The ATM moved upstairs

The controversial lobby…

New sigage up throughout the Great Ceremonial House

Signage for Trader Sam’s is covered up

A look at the future home of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Work continues on the pool area

A new kid’s slide being installed

A new building for boat rentals being constructed as well

The nearly-completed bungalows off in the distance

The DVC location has moved, now with a kiosk and a small meeting room

From the monorail platform, we can see work on the left side of the Great Ceremonial House exterior

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, scrims reveal that work inside Uptown Jewelers is related to Pandora moving in

Splash Mountain is open again, but the restrooms nearby have not

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid is closed for modifications to the ride similar to California’s version

This picture was taken just a day before the Video Arcade sign came down

The Rockettower Plaza Stage is the latest victim of the new Tomorrowland color scheme

Work continues on the new Magic Kingdom hub area

Another planter around the Partners Statue has been removed

New, smaller planters are being installed

The old production booths are going to be coming down soon

Fountains will flank both sides of Main Street

Golden Oak Outpost was actually open, now with one less set of waffle fries to offer

The Sunglass Hut in Adventureland has giant pin trading sunglasses…

More hub construction

Valentine’s Day cupcakes at the Bakery

Moving over to Epcot, preparation is underway for the Flower and Garden Festival

Where the Test the Limits Labs once stood in Innoventions are now construction walls

Not sure if this is a clue to what is coming

 

TSUM TSUM PINS ARE OUT! Find them if you can!

PHOTOS: The Village Causeway (Marketplace Bridge) Finally Opens at Disney Springs/Downtown Disney

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

We’ve been watching construction for what seems like forever, but the Village Causeway, the bridge across the Marketplace section of what will be Disney Springs, opened to guests today with some small merchandise stands (Photos by WDWNT Reporter Jose Castillo):

Some really great details to be found on the bridge

Florida Both Co. sells specialty soaps

Kate and Leo doesn’t seem to be Titanic related…

They sell toys

Icon Jewelry

Flour and Sugar is operated by Basin

They have Florida inspired cookies

Different areas of Florida are represented, tying into the Disney Springs story

The store is pretty much operated on an iPad

Looking out from the Village Causeway

Some really nice views

The bridge itself is a nice architectural piece

You can now get from Rainforest Cafe to the LEGO Store in record time

The new marina is still being constructed

PHOTOS: See the NEW “Hollywood Tower Hotel Authentic” Tower of Terror Merchandise at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

 

 

The Hollywood Tower Authentic merchandise line launched today at Tower Hotel Gifts at the exit of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror:

 

The artist appearance taking place today to celebrate the launch

Many of the displays in the store were updated as well

Tin sign

Magnet

Luggage tags

We’ll share more pictures of new items as they become available.

Brian Carey’s 2/17/15 Disney Springs/Downtown Disney Photo Report

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

One of our newest WDWNT reporters, Brian Carey, brings us his very first report today, taking a look that all that is new at Disney Springs/Downtown Disney:

The decorative panels on the outside of parking structure have started going up

What’s New? signs can now be found, helping guests find the newer additions

Sound Lion is now open

A look inside Sanuk

The Art of Shaving (not shown) and Apex (shown above) are now open as well.

Havaianas will be going in this location. For those unfamiliar, Havaianas sells flip flops and sandals from Brazil.

Chapel Hats is open

And of course the stands on the bridge (Village Causeway) are open

GHOSTS!

A look at the bridge from afar

Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC is still not open

Probably a lot of furnishing left to do based on this shot

The former Pleasure Island dead zone is now coming to life as The Landing

Still no details on Disney’s Hangar restaurant, which will be a table service location

The bar is located on a boat on the side of the building

The dock at the Boathouse is nearly complete

Back over to The Landing, inside the Art of Shaving

Shaving is expensive…

Thanks for the report Brian and welcome to the team!

Kelly Derda’s 2/20/15 WDW Photo Report (Magic Kingdom Changes, Epcot Flower and Garden Prep, ETC.)

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

One of the newest WDWNT Reporters, Kelly Derda, visited the Magic Kingdom and epcot this week and has some great, newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

After decades of guests attempting to run onto the Mickey floral at the Train Station, a railing has been put up, similar to Disneyland

Already?

New Anna and Elsa ear hat ornaments have been released

The back section of Uptown Jewelers has re-opened…

It’s a Pandora jewelry store…

Nothing about the decor screams Main Street

A really odd addition as part of their sponsorship deal with Disney

The Tomorrowland Arcade remains closed thanks to Florida laws on game prizes

Really pretty absurd, right?

A more permanant sign asking for just three guests per Doombuggy at the Haunted Mansion

Moving over to Epcot, preperation for the Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing

Many of the flower beds already planted have been covered due to the cold weather

The Terra booth in place

A playground by Imagination!

The Cars playground over by Test Track

The butterfly garden going up

Thanks for the report Kelly!

PHOTOS: First Section of New Magic Kingdom Hub Opens to Guests

WDWNT on February 26, 2015

The first section of the new Magic Kingdom hub opened to guests this afternoon, revealing many months of work that has gone into turning the old waterway space into expanded paths and nighttime show viewing space for the park:

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The side of the hub with Casey’s Corner is now open to guests, no word on when the other side might open

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I would think this is hub west since it faces west, but this sign isn’t helping

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The area with AstroTurf will be used for FastPass+ fireworks viewing

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Wishes! is presented by Pandora jewelry, so the sections is sponsored as well

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Some railings are still missing today

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A great fountain flanks both sides of the hub now

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The smaller hub statues that once surrounded Partners are now spread out around the hub

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Lots of path space to make traversing the park easier

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A look back at the viewing area

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The views of the Castle from the section are really nice

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Some more railings that need to be installed

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WHICH HUB IS IT?!?!

PHOTOS: Demolition of the Sorcerer’s Hat Begins at Hollywood Studios

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

Demolition has begun for the Sorcerer’s Hat at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

 

The gold spirals under the hat are the first piece to go…

 

On the walls around the hat, ads for the park’s attractions can be found

 

Also, the Earful Tower, which is now more visible with the trees in the center hub of the park coming down

 

It will be a few weeks until the hat is completely down, with work in the area wrapping up around April/May

 

This side is looking really bad, so probably best  that it comes down

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

 

Guests leaving the park in the evening will find the hat completely dark, but the Earful Tower is now in plain sight, and the Chinese Theater will follow once the hat comes down.

Tom Corless’ 1/22/15 Magic Kingdom Photo Report (Hub Construction, Barnstormer Queue, Polynesian DVC, ETC.)

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

I took a trip to the Magic Kingdom this past weekend to see the new Peter Pan queue in action and managed to take some photos of some other newsworthy things happening around the park right now:

 

The entire back section of Uptown Jewelers is closed, likely Pandora jewelry related

New “it’s a small world” fleece throw

New attraction poster magnets

Island Supply Sunglass Hut opened in Adventureland recently

Even though it has closed yet, some of the new black-light elements coming to Under the Sea have already been installed

The covered extended queue at the Barnstormer was recently completed

There are some cool details on the coverings

Another reference to the original Barnstormer

The back section of the main circle in the hub is now closed off and the Partners statue behind walls

Progress as seen from the Tomorrowland bridge

The old production booths near the Castle are going to be replaced, so a temporary booth is going up

Walls are up around the old booths

Another look at the center

The castle stage shows will go dark for a few weeks as well

Water features now being installed on the Adventureland side

Walls also up in front of the train station for some reason

The entrance arch for the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows has gone up

Dirk Wallen’s 1/26/15 Disney Springs Photo Report (BOATHOUSE Construction, Signs Go Up, ETC.)

WDWNT on January 29, 2015

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney over the weekend and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on the Marketplace bridge

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Some new pins were released this week, including Mardi Gras…

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President’s Day…

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And Valentine’s Day

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Signs on the shops around the Landing have indeed started to go up, beginning with Chapel Hats

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Scaffolding has come down at the BOATHOUSE

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Work is wrapping up out by the dock for BOATHOUSE as well

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The “hangar” restaurant is still unannounced

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But we can see there is an outdoor seating area disguised as a suspended boat

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Work on the shores of the West Side continue, just across from Starbucks and Harley Davidson

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From upstairs at Planet Hollywood, we can get a good look at the work on the Town Center and the finishing touches for the Orange parking structure

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By 2016, the Town Center will be standing in this space