Vinylmation Speculation

WDWNT on April 27, 2011

Sometimes it’s fun to take some Vinylmation info and rumors out there and speculate on what’s to come. We know Disney plans to put out an alien Vinylmation after this mysterious picture was posted on the Vinylmation blog yesterday:

Couple this, with the rumor of a Robots series coming to Disney Stores… and you get the weirdest and coolest set made to date:
DV Artist rendering of possible Vinylmation series
We contacted Disney today and they do not have a comment at this time on the rumored Disney Store exclusive Robots or Cutesters Like Us series. We will let you know the details when we hear more.
As for the Alien, he may also be a release at the upcoming Sci Fi Trading Academy at Disneyland on June 24th (Details). So far, only pins have been announced as far as merchandise available at the event. A quick look at the catalog of pins shows that most are Disney or “fun” themed designs… only one came close to the classic alien look of the above Vinylmation concept art.
That pin catalog also gave us peak at a Robot themed pin set, filled with Disney Robots from past and present:
This great looking set includes Aly San San (Star Tours 2), R2-MK (Star Wars Weekends), WALL-E, V.I.N.CENT (Disney’s Black Hole), B.E.N. (Disney’s Treasure Planet). Might we see a Vinylmation set along the same lines?
What do you think about the Alien? Just an upcoming Urban figure or a Sci Fi set? How about the possibility of a Robots series and another Cutesters themed set? It’s fun to speculate on what’s to come in Vinylmation and we will be sure to bring you any official news from Disney as we get it.

What’s Happening in the Hitchhiking Ghost Scene of the Haunted Mansion?

WDWNT on February 28, 2011

Last week, the Disney fan community exploded when Disney placed temporary tarps and projections of ghosts Phineas, Ezra, and Gus in the hitchhiking ghost scene of the Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom without any announcement. Rumors have indicated that new, interactive elements are coming to the Haunted Mansion, both in the queue and on the ride. We may have a clue to what’s happening inside:

If you look very closely at the Fall 2010 issues of Disney’s Twenty-three magazine, you would see this piece of concept art fairly hidden in the article on Walt Disney Imagineering. The artwork shows two guests being frightened by all three of the ghosts in what has to be projection form. If this artwork is any indication, when work on the scene is complete, guest’s reflections will have the ghosts floating around them both inside and outside of the vehicle.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on these changes to the Haunted Mansion become available.

Haunted Mansion and Princess Rooms Coming to WDW?

WDWNT on August 11, 2010

In a recent survey sent out to guests who recently completed a Walt Disney World Resort hotel stay, guests were asked about their interest in two particular vanity resort rooms (similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean themed rooms now available at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort). The following pictures are from that survey emailed to particular guests:

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The first room is themed to The Haunted Mansion

The second room type is Princess themed

Will these rooms be built? And where? Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available.

You’ll Be Looking for Droids at Star Wars Weekends

WDWNT on May 3, 2010

We were quite excited to tell you that Jedi Mickey Mouse would get his own astromech droid companion in the form of toys, pins, and more a few weeks ago, but R2-MK may be doing a bit more at Star Wars Weekends 2010. He may actually be appearing. Rumors indicate that a “walk-around” living character of R2-MK will be making appearances with Jedi Mickey at Star Wars Weekends this year. While this is just a rumor at this point, we have been hearing rumblings that the character is backstage at Walt Disney World and should appear when Star Wars Weekends begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 21st. Star Wars Weekends events then run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Studios until June 13th.

Showboat Jubilee to Keep Rolling on the River?

WDWNT on December 30, 2009

Despite Disney first reporting that the “Princess and the Frog” inspired Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee would only run at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park until January 3, 2010, it appears WDW will get to keep the well-received procession down the Rivers of America a little longer. According to the official Walt Disney World website, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee will be running past January 3 and performing up to 5 times a day. While it is a possibility that this is a mistake by the Walt Disney World website, it seems unlikely since the show is listed to perform at least through June 2010. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this breaking story.

Studio Backlot Bulldozed???

WDWNT on December 28, 2009

A few days ago, we reported on an interesting refurbishment that was announced for both the Studio Backlot Tour and the Studio Catering Co. at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, scheduled to take place between February 15, 2010 and March 28, 2010. A few days later, it was announced that the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure would be closed for refurbishment during that same period. Rumors are now circulating that these closures are for more than routine maintenance, they may indeed be permanent closures. These rumors go back to a few previous reports we had made about possible changes to the Hollywood Studios backlot area (Which can be read HERE and HERE), including rumors of a Monsters Inc. themed roller-coaster going into the vacant Soundstage 1, a smaller version of Radiator Springs Racers replacing the Backlot Studio Tour, the Backlot Catering Co. becoming a Monsters Inc. or Ratatouille themed eatery, and the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure would being re-themed to “A Bug’s Life”.

Again, this is simply a rumor at this time, but if true, these locations will permanently close on February 15th and will not return on March 29th as Disney is stating. Since this is all rumor at this point, we don’t know when any phases of the changes would be completed or if Disney will simply let the locations sit and wait for work to near completion on the huge Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom. It is very hard to believe that Disney would conduct huge expansions of both the Studio Backlot at Hollywood Studios and Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom simultaneously, but it is also very strange to see three major pieces of the backlot area go down for refurbishment at the same time. As you can see in this report, our information is limited, but we will report more on this breaking story as more becomes available. Stay tuned….

The Muppets are Coming to the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on December 13, 2009

Disney stated at the D23 Expo in September that 2010 would be the year of the Muppets. Not only are the Muppets the stars of the Disney Parks “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” campaign in 2010, but their presence in the parks might be a bit greater. Along with the refurbishment of Muppetvision 3-D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios scheduled for next year, the Muppets will be proceeding down Main Street U.S.A. in a daily pre-parade. Starting January, The Muppets “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” themed pre-parade will come down the Magic Kingdom parade route, preceding the 3:00 PM Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade. The Muppets guests will be seeing in the park will not be the giant Muppet characters that appeared at Hollywood Studios a few years ago, but ACTUAL Muppet characters.

Other changes to the Magic Kingdom parade in early 2010 may include the permanent removal of the show stops that were added to the parade during the name change from the Disney Dreams Come True Parade in January 2009.

As usual, anything not announced yet by Disney should be taken as a rumor, but these reports are from reputable sources inside the company. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this breaking story.

We Were “Totally” Right About Tomorrowland Stage

WDWNT on August 28, 2009

According to the Orlando Sentinel Theme Park Rangers Blog:

A trusted source reports that Disney is reviving a Stitch show that will be presented this year during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. It’s name: “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas,” but it will include the rascally character.

Expect it on the stage where Stitch was previously seen for the short-lived, much-panned Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration.

A Disney official told me they have nothing to announce at this time.

In an 8/16 photo report, I remarked that a new show was set to debut on the stage in November and that modifications were currently being made to the stage. It appears my sources were correct and we can expect “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas” to fill the gap caused by the demolition of the Galaxy Palace Theater and “Mickey’s Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this breaking story.

Imagineering Video Hints at the Future of the Disney Parks

WDWNT on August 27, 2009

With the huge D23 Expo just a few days away, could this video be peppered with tidbits teasing some announcements for the future of the Disney Parks, or are some of these things a little further off?:

Some interesting notes with the times in the video they appear:

-At 0:19, there are fountains set on fire. Is this something we will see in World of Color at Disney’s California Adventure or somewhere else?

-At 0:45, there is a portrait of Master Gracey that changes as the Imagineer waves his hand over it, could this technology be coming to The Haunted Mansion?

-At 1:14, there are two men animating a Jack Sparrow character through motion capture technology. Is this for the interactive experience coming to the Disney Cruise Line?

-At 1:52, there is a space alien (we think it’s an alien) behind an Imagineer. Could this be something new for Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom or for the next generation Star Tours attraction?

-From 2:17 to 2:21, you can see a man walking in a real environment and interacting with projected characters, a creature made of ice and Tinker Bell. For a while I have been hearing rumors of an experience where guests would be able to enter environments and interact with “real” characters via RFID technology. Could this be it?

-At 2:22, there is a really strange (but very cool) spinning simulator-type vehicle with mounted guns. What could this be?

This very interesting video has left me with a ton of questions that I hope will be answered at the D23 Expo. What do you think these things are? Be sure to let us know in the WDWNT Network Community Forums!