Downtown Stage Construction
WDWNT Photographer Steve Wieczorek provides us with construction pictures of the new stage at the Downtown Disney Marketplace:
A WDWNT Weekend Update
I thought I would take this time to address a few short subjects in one post just to make sure everyone is caught up on what’s going on with WDW and WDWNT right now:
-We have opened our fantastic poll allowing you to choose what you think are the 20 biggest moments in the history of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Just go HERE, pick 20 moments, and hit submit. The 20 biggest moments as voted by you will then be counted down every week on the WDW News Today Podcast until the anniversary on May 1, 2009. Voting closes on December 4 at midnight, so don’t miss out!!!
-Disney has released a picture of the completed facade of the new American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (we should have our own pictures of the completed building very soon, until then check out THIS photo report on the WDW News Today Community Forums):
IT’S SHOWTIME!: Disney’s Hollywood Studios raises the curtain on the newest showbiz-themed attraction, “The American Idol Experience.” All the excitement of the popular “American Idol” TV show comes to life in a first-of-its-kind attraction where Walt Disney World guests can vote on their favorite performance, or audition with the chance to perform on stage. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (David Roark, photographer)
-Ellen’s Energy Adventure at Epcot will be closed for a lengthy refurbishment from January 5 through March 22, 2009. During this time, some general maintenance will occur. It is also rumored that Imagineering will use this a a time to look around the attraction for possible changes.
-Reported on the WDW News Today Community Forums:
Beginning December 1st, anyone booked for lunch at Tusker House (at Disney’s Animal Kingdom) between 1:00pm and 1:40pm will receive a ticket for reserved seating at the Finding Nemo (The Musical) 3:15pm show. If you are already booked during that time frame you will qualify for the reserved seating ticket. Only reservations between 1:00pm and 1:40pm qualify. One ticker per person dining.
-Also Reported on the WDW News Today Community Forums, Disney launching an online check-in service for resort guests:
Disney’s Online Check-In service enables Guests to simplify their arrival by allowing them to go online and provide information related to their upcoming stay. On a Guest’s scheduled arrival date, since check-in information will have been provided previously online by the Guest, they may experience a streamlined check-in at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels or Disney Vacation Club resorts. A welcome folder with their Key to the World Card will be waiting at a designated Disney’s Online Check-In area in the resort hotel lobby. Guests will need to present valid photo ID to pick up the folder and complete check-in. Guests may check-in online beginning 10 days prior to their arrival date. Web site addresses for Disney’s Online Check-In service will vary based on the original method of booking. As Guests are completing Disney’s Online Check-In service, select Guests will have an opportunity to apply for the Disney Rewards® Visa Card® that could be used during their stay. This service launches in January, 2009.
A lot to process, but hopefully we have everyone caught up on current Walt Disney World and WDW News Today events before the big holiday week begins.
The Whirl Takes A While
It appears the project of completely replacing all the track and refurbishing all the vehicles for the Primeval Whirl roller coaster attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was a bigger project than originally expected. The attraction has been closed since early September and was supposed to re-open on November 16th, however, that did not happen. The ride is now scheduled to return to service in early December, a full three weeks later than we were originally told. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on this becomes available and to keep up with all of the upcoming and current refurbishments around the Walt Disney World Resort, be sure to check out the frequently updated “Attraction Updates” page.
Jose Eber’s 11/15/08 WDW Photo Report
Here is another fantastic photo (and video) report by WDWNT Photographer Jose Eber from his latest trip to the world:
Refurbishments on the Fantasyland facades has now moved on to Pinnocchio’s Village Haus
Work is now 100% complete on the new Liberty Square Bridge, no more work in the waterways
Christmas has now taken over Main Street U.S.A.
Tinker Bell movie merchandise has taken over some of the windows
This window that was full of Year of a Million Dreams merchandise has been changed, the first piece of the celebration to disappear with just about a month and a half left in it.
Fresh paint going on another facade on Main Street
Moving over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Contempo Cafe is now open
Here’s a video of the Cafe (boy is it loud on that floor now)
The Holiday napkins have arrived
New promotion, similar bag… 🙁
Continuing construction on the Bay Lake Tower addition
An arial view of the bridge
The lesser seen side of the Bay Lake Tower
Click the above image for a larger version
Here’s a video of the construction on the Bay Lake Tower Jose has taken
Chocolate Advent character with some awesome artwork
Same can be said for these holiday cards
We’ll end this report by looking at this cool recordable gift card holder, again featuring that artwork we love so much
Thanks for the update Jose!!!
Adam Roth’s 11/14 Mini-Photo Report
Our own Adam Roth of WDWCelebrations has provided us with a short photo report looking at the refurbished Fuel for Thought exhibit at the exit of Test Track at Epcot:
Not all that much has changed here since the walls went up
They cleaned up the exhibit quite a bit, certainly more floor room now
You can get an inside look at how Hybrid vehicles from GM work
Over at The Land, they are preparing for a new exhibit.
Matt Paul’s 11/10/08 WDW Photo Update
Here with his first photo report from the Walt Disney World Resort is our own Matt Paul, who spent yesterday visiting three of the theme parks. Let’s see what he found at the World:
Let’s begin at Epcot
The new IBM Thinkplace inside Innoventions is still coming soon
With the end of the Food and Wine Festival, this spot waits for its holiday display
This small area is still being worked on, perhaps for the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
The Christmas display at the park entrance is starting to be put in place
A strange recycling bin now stands near the ramp to the Epcot Monorail station
Now we’ll move over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The final Super Soap Weekend at Walt Disney World will take place this weekend
The usual stage has been set-up outside the Sorcerer’s Hat
Because of the stage, the High School Musical show will be performing on the Streets of America
A lot has happened since we last looked at the American Idol Experience
All of the signage is up and the attraction is nearing completion
A large screen stands outside the Superstar Television Theater waiting for the first show to begin
The American Idol Experience sign
I think it looks great
The name of the theater is still way too cool 🙂
Matt thought this was a cool picture
Golden Age Souvenirs has closed again as it prepares for some American Idol merchandise
A new logo has appeared on the trampoline units for Block Party Bash
Finally, over to the Magic Kingdom
Here it is, the first of many Cinderella Castle Dreamlights photos for 2008
Even after seeing it in person, I can’t help but say “WOW”
We’ll end Matt’s report with a very cool 2008 holiday shirt with an awesome tag-line: “Joy from the World”
Adam Roth’s 11/8/08 WDW Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth of WDWCelebrations has provided us with another fantastic photo update from around the Walt Disney World Resort during his latest trip. Let’s see what’s new around the world:
The display in the window of the Toy Soldier store over at the United Kingdom pavilion has some new decorations
If you look at the blocks, they spell out Kim Possible
This is another element the country’s shops have added for the upcoming Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure game
Adam ran into a familiar face to those of you who used to visit the Adventurer’s Club at Pleasure Island. Most of the former PI entertainers have already been moved to other roles throughout the Resort.
Tarps are still up in Japan, always seems to be up in this pavilion
A quick look at the old Body Wars attraction exit inside the Festival Center, which closes again today until the beginning of the Flower and Garden Festival in 2009
The Kim Possible game displays are waiting for use inside Innoventions East and West and feature some new wanted posters of Villains from the show
Adam found something rather funny at one of the Food and Wine Festival kiosks
Hosted by Anheuser-Bush
Serving InBev’s (the new owners of the company) signature Stella Artois
Another piece that will be part of the Kim Possible Adventure for the China pavilion
On his way to the Magic Kingdom, Adam snapped some quick shots of continuing work on Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The Bay Lake Tower continues to take shape
The construction site is starting to get pretty clean
Over to the Magic Kingdom
The final strands of the Cinderella Castle Dreamlights have been put in place
The Hall of Presidents….
still closed until July 🙂
We’ll end this report with Adam’s best score to date on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (I didn’t have the heart to tell him how many times I’ve gotten the perfect score)
Thanks Adam!!!
Suddenly Swiss Shut-down
The Swiss Family Treehouse at the Magic Kingdom unexpectedly closed today for a refurbishment that is now scheduled to continue through the end of the month. With such a sudden unannounced closure, we can only guess that something was discovered to be wrong with the classic walk-through exhibit that has forced it to close for repairs on such short notice.
Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on this refurbishment becomes available.
09/04/08 WDW Photo Update by Jason Diffendal
Staff member Jason Diffendal of WDWCelebrations.com has provided us with some very interesting pictures from around WDW during his latest trip. Let’s take a look at a few newsworthy items:
Starting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new Night of Joy event logo has taken over the entrance billboard. I really like the new logo, something about those colors…
The stage in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat is almost ready for the Night(s) of Joy.
While the temporary stage is set, High School Musical 2: School’s Out will be performing on the Streets of America. This shows final performance is going to be September 13th, with the updated High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show to debut on October 24th.
Work on something continues at the end of Sunset Blvd.
Mouse About Town, Once Upon a Time, and Sunset Club Couture (Sunset Blvd. Shops) have all closed to be refurbished and change over to selling just clothing. This is a horrible decision, which moves the watchmaker into the Art of Disney over in the Animation Courtyard and leaves the park with more limited options when it comes to collectibles and home goods. It appears the restrooms next door are also closed at this time.
Moving over to Epcot, wait times make the off-season seem a little more off this year.
“These wait times look so good, I want one!”
Food and Wine Festival preparation outside the American Adventure
The Morocco gallery is closed while a new exhibit is added. The new exhibit will open on September 25.
Epcot rushing together the International Food & Wine Festival, which begins September 26.
Exterior work continues on the United Kingdom pavilion.
Moving over to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Liberty Bell in Liberty Square
Work on the Fantasyland facades continues, now expanded onto Tinker Bell’s Treasures
Even though the new Liberty Square bridge is complete, work continues in the waters below it.
More columns around Main Street U.S.A. are being painted. Wonder how many average guests even noticed this one…
Even the napkins are getting into the Halloween spirit this year.
We end this special report with a Halloween cup you could get next time you buy a Coke at WDW. Thanks for the report Jason!
John Corigliano’s WDW Photo Update 8/31-9/1/08
WDWNT is back from the not-so-crowded Walt Disney World theme parks with another fantastic photo report. Let’s take a look at all the newsworthy happenings from around the world:
Starting at Disney’s hollywood Studios, this special stage has been set up for the Night of Joy events
Construction on the American Idol Experience
They are painting the entire building in a new blue color-scheme
This is where the old poster that featured a few ABC shows such as Good Morning America used to be.
A few color changes on the tower.
Not sure what this is, signage perhaps?
A few more of the statues have been removed.
We expect this exhibit to make a move to somewhere else in the studios soon…
A Bolt billboard up in Animation Courtyard.
As previously reported, Single Rider has been removed from Toy Story Midway Mania.
The current Cars character meet-and-greet by Pixar Place…
The new meet-and-greet being constructed where Al’s Toy Barn was. Looks like it will have some pretty cool, recognizable, movie inspired theming.
A nice looking Tapestry Woven Throw.
And here’s a new Disney’s Hollywood Studios Tapestry Woven Throw.
You can’t see it all that well in this picture, but the Osbourne lights are starting to be put up.
You can get a better look at the lights in this picture.
The Muppet Vision 3-D balloon is still down on the Streets of America.
More painting on the opposite side of the American Idol Experience building.
The limo is back up on the Rock ‘n Roller Coaster sign.
The attraction was closed for 4 hours due to technical difficulties… A rare sight indeed!
Moving over to Epcot… Innoventions might as well be called Construction Land, as there have been so many new projects going on there lately.
This is where the IBM exhibit used to be.
The IBM logo is still there.
We’re less than a month away from this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival!
Another rare sight, the Sheriff of Nottingham from Robin Hood outside the American Adventure!
This sign at Soarin’ could use some fixing up.
day.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/2818851439_749793f477_b-500×375.jpg” alt=”” width=”500″ height=”375″ />Halloween Decorations are now up at the Magic Kingdom
New statues around the hub on Main Street U.S.A.
They even light up in certain places at night
Banners up at the majestic train station.
Banners on the side of the Exposition Hall.
The Exposition Hall.
City Hall.
Work is still being done on these columns outside the Emporium.
Halloween decorations inside the Emporium.
Very, very short wait times for the Magic Kingdom
The off-season is here
The Liberty Square bridge is one again open to guest flow & parades. It looks pretty good.
However work is still going on in the water beneath the bridge.
New concrete in Liberty Square
The Liberty Bell is behind walls.
They’re working on wiring by & beneath the McDonalds Fry Cart in Frontierland. It’s been going on for 7 months now.
They have repainted the castle stone wall above Snow White’s Scary Adventures (the light tone wall). It looks much better in my opinion.
Same work being done on the Mickey’s PhilharMagic facade.
A funky new Mickey Mouse shirt.
A cool new shirt for the 15th anniversary of Nightmare Before Christmas.
Construction on the new north wing of the Contemporary Resort.
And to cap off this photo report, a billboard advertising T-Rex (and new employees) on the way to Walt Disney World.