More Details on Disney World’s 40th Anniversary

WDWNT on August 12, 2008

While we are still a little more than 3 years away from the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 2011, there are many rumors of new additions to the Disney theme parks that are becoming more and more likely. We have already told you about the plan to renew classic attractions at the Magic Kingdom such as Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Enchanted Tiki Room, The Country Bear Jamboree, and the Hall of Presidents, as well as add a few new attractions such as a Little Mermaid dark-ride and some new nighttime entertainment offerings. Now details are emerging on some planned projects for Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios during the celebration.

By now, you are all aware of the world’s worst kept secret of Star Tours receiving its new story, queue, film, and store sometime in 2011, but you may not be aware of another film change that is now making the rounds. It appears that filming for the proposed “Soarin’ Around The World” film is set to begin soon and we can plan on seeing the updated Epcot and California Adventure E-Ticket debut sometime in late 2009/early 2010 if all goes according to plan. Epcot is also expected to be replacing Illuminations Reflections of Earth with a new show sometime in the 2009 and who can forget the still unofficial Monsters Inc. roller coaster that’s coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With all these big-budget projects and the expected financial downturn that WDW is about to go through, it will be interesting to see what from this list actually makes it off the blueprints and into the parks.

Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on these rumors as we get closer to Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary.

Minor Update: Sounds Late

WDWNT on August 6, 2008

In a minor update, the refurbishment of Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carrey and Golden Age Souvenirs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been extended to include today. The attraction and the small shop are scheduled to re-open tomorrow with little to no major changes. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more becomes available on this story.

Hall of Presidents Changing Again

WDWNT on August 4, 2008

It appears that one way or the other, some big changes are coming to the Hall of Presidents Attraction at the Magic Kingdom. It was just made official that the attraction will be closed for some major show changes from November 2008 until July of 2009. Despite that this refurbishment is now public information, what changes are going to occur remains a mystery. While we would expect the addition of an Audio-Animatronics figure of the new president of the United States (whether it be John McCain or Barack Obama) with a speaking part, it has been rumored that the new version of the show would simply add the latest president to the line-up on stage and give Abraham Lincoln a longer speaking part in the show. 

This refurbishment is now set to begin on November 1, 2008 and end on July 1, 2009. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on the future of the Hall of Presidents becomes available.

Adam Roth’s 7/27/08 Update

WDWNT on July 28, 2008

Our good friend Adam Roth from WDWCelebrations has provided us with a fantastic photo update from his latest trip to the  Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s take a look at some interesting things going on at the world this weekend:

A new spinning topiary has appeared outside the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. Expect this to be a temporary change…

Something new in Innoventions, most likely for the return of the interactive Kim Possible game at Epcot.

Some exterior work taking place as Nine Dragons Restaurant is refurbished.

While the restaurant is closed, Epcot invites you to enjoy the rest of the China Pavilion, and the restrooms in Norway.

Some construction going on in the Morocco Pavilion as well.

More exterior work on some buildings in the United Kingdom.

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Drew Carey and Golden Age Souvenirs are closed until August 5th for refurbishment.

As you can see, just having Sounds Dangerous closed has effected the crowds in this area.

Al’s Toy Barn has been completely removed and is set to become a backdrop for Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars.

The back-side of Pixar Place is complete and looks like a pretty picturesque spot to end this photo report.

Time To Turn Back Tiki-Time???

WDWNT on July 15, 2008

After months of hearing rumors that the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management will be closing sometime in the near future to make way for a Stitch-involved makeover, a new wild rumor has hit the streets of the Magic Kingdom and has cast members in De-Nile (Attempt at a Jungle Cruise joke). Strong rumors now indicate that the original budget for the postponed major Jungle Cruise attraction refurbishment maybe heading across the way to fund the restoration of the talking audio-animatronics bird show to its original splendor. In short, the original Tropical Serenade show may return to the Magic Kingdom as part of a huge marketing campaign for the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2011.

The planned campaign is going to promote the idea of guests experiencing renewed classic attractions and entertainment inspired by the resort’s past. Among the planned updates for the celebration are updates to Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, and the Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom; Journey Into Imagination and Illuminations at Epcot; and The Great Movie Ride and Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Also rumored at this time are a new firework show and updated Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom.

While most of these changes are likely to not take place (as is the nature with rumors), a few of them will make the line-up in time for October 1, 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more info on these rumored changes becomes available.

Jim Hill Goes Off the Wall-E

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Our good friend Jim Hill over at Jim Hill Media has a great article up today about the rooms currently being re-decorated to Pirates of the Caribbean and Finding Nemo over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. While the new movie themed rooms are very news-worthy, there is something towards the end of the article that is far more interesting and exciting.

When mentioning tomorrow’s article for the site, Jim brought up the rumor that plans for Shanghai Disneyland’s Tomorrowland area have it completely themed to Disney-Pixar’s Wall-E film. I found this pretty exciting since I had been told about a month ago that the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland may be getting the same treatment. Current plans include having the fictional “Buy N Large” corporation from the film Wall-E taking over tomorrowland, in order to give the land a cohesive storyline after years of mass-confusion. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Space Mountain, and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress would most likely only be touched up to reflect the new theme, but major changes would be happening to the remainder of Tomorrowlandunder the current plan. A Wall-E themed show is currently in the works in Imagineering and would most likely replace Stitch’s Great Escape (while Stitch moves over to the Enchanted Tiki Room), although there is also talk of the show replacing The Laugh Floor. Other plans include major refurbishments of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Astro Orbiter. While all of this is still rumor for now, there is a very strong possibility that most of the changes in this plan will take shape by 2012. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on the future of Tomorrowland becomes available.

Some Beary Good News

WDWNT on July 9, 2008

After a few years of neglect, the Country Bear Jamboree attraction at the Magic Kingdom will be receiving some substantial updates during a planned refurbishment to take place between September 28 and October 31, 2008. Among the upgrades coming to the attraction, is an entirely new audio sound system that should make fans of the attraction quite happy, seeing as though the audio quality for the show has been pretty bad in recent memory. We can also expect some other general maintenance to occur throughout the attraction, but don’t expect any major changes during this time. We also should not expect this to bring back the Country Bear Christmas show, at least not this year. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we hear more on this upcoming refurbishment.

Journey Into Narnia….Finally

WDWNT on June 24, 2008

The Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has finally opened for some previews before it opens officially this Friday. Studios Central picked up some great photos of what can now be considered the park’s newest attraction, and you can see them all HERE.

World Premiere

WDWNT on June 5, 2008

We finally have confirmation from Disney that the old Backlot theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been converted to a closed venue, and we now have a name to call it by:

“A new indoor concert venue to be called the Premiere Theater is being fashioned from an unused open-air theater.”

While we still don’t know exactly the uses for the theater, we believe it will first get use for special events and maybe even a Disney film premiere at some point, before finally hosting the rumored “Festival Disney” ticketed stage show concept a few years down the road. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more info becomes available; and remember, you heard it here first!!!

Plenty of SPACE for Change

WDWNT on June 5, 2008

As we have been reporting here at WDW News Today for almost a year, Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom is scheduled to go down for an extensive refurbishment beginning in January of 2009. The number one priority for Disney during this refurbishment will be to bring in new, more comfortable ride vehicles and loading gates for added safety to the attraction. However, Imagineering has a few other ideas in store for the attraction. Among those ideas are new lighting effects, a completely new queue and exit, and a unique music track to play through the new on-board speakers that each vehicle will have. We are still 6 months away from what should be the beginning of a lengthy refurbishment, but stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available.