Tom Corless & Dirk Wallen’s 3/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Things have been so crazy around here at WDW News Today lately that we’ve had some minor news stories slip through the cracks. In an effort to get you up to speed on some of the stories we haven’t covered on the site lately, here are newsworthy photos from myself and Dirk Wallen taken earlier in March:

Some new “flat” snowglobes for sale

There are some new hot sandwiches in Liberty Square

Most of the arcades at Walt Disney World are replacing their prize counters with one of these

An automated prize machine is a pretty cool concept

The new purchase with purchase item for sale is an expandable duffle

Wriost gift cards are available for the Flower and Garden Festival

Work continues on expanding the Boardwalk Bakery

The arcade next door is gone

The sign is still up and the door still enters the small ESPN shop

The arcade section is covered by a curtain

A few weeks ago, Test Track introduced a new car type guests can choose

Triton’s Treasures behind the Mine Train now has shutters on it

An ADA compliant ramp was installed on the Yankee Trader

Some of the new Haunted Mansion merchandise is for sale in Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe

Picture frame

Hourglass

Coasters

Work continues on installing A Pirate’s Adventure in Adventureland

Work continues on the exterior of the Adventureland Veranda

Rumors indicate that this may finally become a Pirate restaurant in 2014 once the Disney Fairies move out

More tarps on the front of the building

St. Patrick’s Day shirt

Spring Break and graduation merchandise out

Two new Oswald shirts for sale

Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny are in town square

Awwwwww

More Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

Some trees up on the mountain

We can finally see some rock work

In preparation for FastPAss+, a large section of the Pirates of the Caribbean queue has been re-routed

Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

Thanks for reading!

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!

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…

VIDEO: Full Play-Test of “A Pirates Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas”

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Earlier today, the Magic Kingdom opened “A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas” for a few hours to guests as part of a very early play-test. The attraction does not currently have an opening date, but we were informed today that what we would see during the course of this test is a very early version of the attraction, so please keep in mind that things may change a lot before this attraction actually opens.

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Guests are recruited at the former Crow’s Nest in Adventureland and are given a map and magic talisman to go off on one of five pirate raids through Adventureland. Only two of these raids were available today. The raids are similar to Sorcerers in the Magic Kingdom as guests are sent station to station following a map to complete assignments. The actions in this particular attraction are a lot more automated, but all of the effects involve physical effects instead of screens much like Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure.

Here is video of one of the raids:

UPDATE: We also have video of the second raid that was play-tested today at the Magic Kingdom:


For older guests who know the park well, a raid should take no more than 7-10 minutes. For younger or inexperienced guests, Disney expects it to take somewhere between 15-20 minutes. The attraction is intended for children ages 8-10, so don’t expect to have the time of your life if you are an older guest. That being said, I felt the physical props better fit the park than the screens used in Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.

Stay tuned for more coverage of A Pirate’s Adventure as we get closer to the official opening of this attraction.

So, what do you think of A Pirate’s Adventure so far?

Everyone Likes a Red Head

WDWNT on March 18, 2013

 

Meet the two newest red heads of Vinylmation. First, Julie Young. She has been a long time merchandiser with Disney Pins and according to the Disney Parks Blog is coming over to Vinylmation. She also was in one of Steven Miller’s interviews when he joined the team back 9 years ago. Congrats to Julie!

Also, Julie seems to be holding what we can only assume is a Park Starz version of the Red Head from Pirates of the Caribbean. Could this be another Park Starz 2 figure? (She doesn’t say anything about the figure in her interview.) How do you think it compares to the famous animatronic?

Thanks to Michael for taking a closer look. He spotted what looks like it maybe be a Park Starz Orange Bird in the background. What do you think?
Well Steven Miller already answered this question, with a big fat YES!

We also noticed the packaging for Park Starz 2…

Mickey’s Circus- Movie Based Vinylmation

WDWNT on December 15, 2012

Disney announced that they will make a better effort putting out the Vinylmation when the movie hits the theaters from now on.

There will be four total 3″/Jr. LE Combo sets released around the March 2013 launch of Oz The Great and Powerful. They are all designed by Ron Cohee. 

3″ Oz with Jr. Monkey LE Combo Set

3″ Glinda with Jr. China Doll Combo Set

Celebrating The Lone Ranger on the silver screen in the Summer of 2013 will be this 3″ LE Combo pack featuring Tonto and The Lone Ranger. They are designed by Eric Caszatt who took great care to give us an accessory crow on Tonto’s head instead of just painting it on. 

The release of Pixar’s Monsters University movie in June will have it’s own 12 figure blind box series dedicated to it. 

Mike and Sully, all ready for college, were shown off at Mickey’s Circus. Then we got to see the shining example of NOT being released with the movie hitting theaters… or Blu-Ray… POTC On Stranger Tides.

Pirates Come Ashore for Christmas

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

On December 21, 2012 the long awaited Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides open window series will be released at D-Streets. They will cost $14.95 each and are open edition. We first saw the concept art for this series back in 2011.

Dirk Wallen’s 10/9/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom and Epcot on Tuesday and he has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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A strange large canopy has appeared near the Magic Kingdom turnstiles… Not sure if it is RFID related or for something else…

Magic Carpets of Aladdin is open while some exterior work is being done

The Yankee Trader is still behind tarps

A view of the new walkway and restroom area from the front of the Haunted Mansion

A look at the former Skyway site

Princess Fairytale Hall construction

The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts are now available and they offer aid in the playing of the game!

OK… if you are buying more than that for Ebay, you are pretty dumb as they are not a limited edition item…

Frankenweenie flopped at the box office, but the shops at the parks are full of movie merchandise

It’s like they knew what the box office would be like…

I would expect to see all this stuff at the outlets and Cast Connection very soon…

Work continues on the Grand Floridian Disney Vacation Club wing

It is now set for a late-2013 opening

The parking lot is almost done

Moving over to Epcot, work is being done on Innoventions Plaza and the Electric Umbrella exterior

Test Track is now set to open December 6th

I expect these signs to vanish soon…

Adam Roth’s 10/15/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom again on Monday and has some photos of New Fantasyland and other assorted newsworthy items to share:

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The castle walls have been completely revealed

No bushes now

Scuttle is a living character in the Under the Sea queue, so he can interact with guests

He also talks to the crabs

Sleepy…

We think these crabs are going to become beloved

We have to stop here…

PORK SHANK!

and some LeFou’s Brew

Souvenir mug

Still awesome

Yep…

There are books titled for the land in the Magic Kingdom next to the Donald service statue

Some Haunted Mansion wallpaper in the background as well

I don’t think Phil Holmes asked for the tribute, I’m pretty sure it was just a gesture from the Imagineers

This is the souvenir goblet that will also be available at Be Our Guest Restaurant

A lot of decorations in this store

Some work took place of the roof of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Gaston greeting guests in the town

Some filming going on

No more walls over here

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Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

A look at progress on the old Skyway site

Ummm…

Castle Dreamlights installed

Orange Bird ear hats available in Adventureland

Work continues outside of Magic Carpets of Aladdin

It’s worth mentioning that this attraction goes down for refurbishment in a few days, at which point we expect FastPass Plus to be installed

Some work has been done to the Pirates of the Caribbean queue over the last few months

Some staircases were refurbished

New lighting all around

The new merge point in place

Some work still being done

It is well-themed. It looks like toe fort was damaged in battle

The Crow’s Nest is still behind walls

Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats is gone

Now just stroller parking

Some work still being done

It is believed this all ties into a Jungle Cruise refurbishment happening in 2013

So, we’ve been staring at this thing a lot…

So, here’s what reader Chris Currie believes it is…

 My guess is it is more for people counting than security. The white rectangular box on the left side is whats called a precision stereo camera and is dedicated to people counting. The second device in from the left is an Axis Dome camera, third device in is an outdoor laser measurement device from SICK AG, another Axis Dome camera and then another box style camera.

The two dome cameras are likely used for verifying the data from the precision stereo camera and the laser management device. The box style camera could possibly be used to test people counting analytic’s in a Video Management System.

That sounds about right

But no, it has nothing to do with them using RFID for park entry, this is simply an exit test

We’re exiting… goodbye!