Jose Eber’s 3/23/09 Magic Kingdom Video Report

WDWNT on March 26, 2009

WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber has provided us with two excellent videos (both available in High Definition by hitting the “HD” button at the bottom of each window) from his latest trip to the Magic Kingdom on Monday. The first video features a look at construction of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration in Tomorrowland and the second features a look inside Space Mountain from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority while the interior lights are on (a view that may no longer be possible come November). Enjoy:

News from the February 2009 Mickey Monitor

WDWNT on February 2, 2009

The latest edition of the Mickey Monitor annual passholder publication is now available for viewing and offers a number of newsworthy announcements on some upcoming Walt Disney World attractions and special events. Here are some highlights:

-Passholders are being informed that Space Mountain will be closed for a “Space-Lift” beginning in April 2009. The article confirms that the track layout and the exterior look of the Mountain will not be touched during the refurbishment. While no reopening date is given, an opportunity to own a piece of the classic Magic Kingdom attraction is. For all the details on how to win a piece of Space Mountain, consult the Mickey Monitor and WDW Annual Passholder website.

-The article with top billing in this issue has a lot of information on the 2009 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, including a complete list of performers for the Flower Power concert series.

-Another article has more details on the upcoming “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party”. The parade/show will feature contemporary Radio Disney music, as well as some classic Disney tunes as characters emerge from large party boxes around the hub to party with guests in front of Cinderella Castle. The parade/show will perform multiple times daily at the Magic Kingdom beginning February 12th.

-Star Wars Weekends 2009 will be held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between May 22 and June 14, 2009.

More information on all of these special events and attractions, plus much more, can be found in this month’s issue of the Mickey Monitor which can be found HERE.

Breaking News: Space Mountain Refurb Finally Announced!

WDWNT on January 6, 2009

The staff here at WDW News Today will be keeping you up to date on the latest news through-out the Walt Disney World Resort while Tom Corless is down at the resort for one of his many, many trips. This update is to let everyone know that it has been made official that Space Mountain will indeed be closed from April 19th, 2009 until sometime in Fall 2009. From what we can tell, it will only be a relatively small refurb, with nothing too major happening.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today for the latest on Space Mountain’s finally confirmed refurbishment.

Weekend News Round-Up

WDWNT on December 29, 2008

Here are a few news items that have come up over the weekend:

-In case you haven’t heard yet, the window for making Advance Dining Reservations for Walt Disney World table service locations has been set back to 90 days. It appears the days of calling up for reservations 6 months in advance are over and you may now have to time your calls at precisely at 90 days out if you hope to get seating at your favorite restaurant during your trip. It seems that this is in preparation for the system switching to online sometime in the very near future.

-Space Mountain is currently expected to close for refurbishment in April 2009. We do not know the length of the closure at this time, but stay tuned.

-In case you haven’t listened to it yet, the 2008 Christmas Podcast Parade is now available for download through iTunes or through our podcast download page. Be sure to check out our annual comedy podcast if you haven’t already!!!

Plan on Celebrating Without Space

WDWNT on December 11, 2008

I just received the 2009 Disney Parks Vacation Planning DVD in the mail yesterday and here are some notes on what I found inside:

-The package and DVD is littered with balloons, it looks like a seasonal overlay of the 2008 DVD, very similar:

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-The WDW brochure inside has also been updated for the celebration:

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-More interestingly, this brochure features a map of the Magic Kingdom missing one of its signature attractions…

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Notice there is no mention of Space Mountain, it simply sits there as a mystery structure

As many of you who follow this site are well aware, Space Mountain is scheduled for a still “unannounced” refurbishment in 2009, and the fact that the attraction is missing from this pamphlet and the DVD itself should remove the doubt from anyone’s mind about upcoming changes over at Space Mountain next year. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we gather more information on this rumored refurbishment.

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.

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.