PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 10/31/17 (MARVEL Invasion, New Princess & Tinker Bell Merchandise, Halloween Party, Club 33, ETC.)
Our latest photo report brings us to the Magic Kingdom for one last look at the Halloween season before Christmas settles in next week.
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom
The last Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Part is on November 1st, and then it’s full speed to the Christmas season at the park.
A section of the Emporium is still behind tarps.
Items in the Vera Bradley Alice in Wonderland collection are buy one, get one 50% off at Uptown Jewelers.
The Little Mermaid collection is also available here.
A smaller version of The Dress Shop has opened towards Casey’s Corner. Many of the dresses, purses, and more from the Disney Springs shop can be found here now.
For some reason, this limited release shirt from ShopDisney is being sold in the parks concurrently. The location makes sense as this space was the House of Magic many years ago. Hopefully, more limited release shirts like this get released at the parks as well. Sadly, the matching MagicBand is online only.
The more confusing part is putting the shirt in a window that’s currently boarded up and no one can see…
Even though a few parties remain, any guest at the Magic Kingdom can now buy select items from the event.
As I said last year, I don’t agree with this. At least wait for the last party to end or send it to the outlets. It takes away one of the parks of the very expensive party ticket.
The Club That’s Made Not for You and Me
As we reported over the weekend, work has begun on what will likely be the Club 33 locations for the Magic Kingdom, the remainder of the old Adventureland Veranda.
The path into Adventureland is quite narrow right now due to the work.
Some are speculating that this work is actually for a permanent Moana meet and greet, but it seems way too extensive for something so minor.
Giant sections of awning that have been there since the 70’s have been removed. This wouldn’t be necessary for a meet and greet and could have been kept.
With a little tree clearing, the patio would offer some unique fireworks views for Club 33 guests.
This and That
All of the trees between Be Our Guest Restaurant and the village had to be removed due to hurricane damage.
In fairness, it doesn’t look terrible since all of the walls the trees covered are well-themed.
We’re still hoping they plant some new trees, at least to cover this speaker tower.
Work continues on the outdoor covered seating area at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. Should open very soon.
Pecos Bill’s has added an menu with pictures… it’s a window cling.
Splash Mountain is still closed for refurbishment.
Some new holiday plush for sale. Goofy’s sweater features bulbs that actually light up.
You can get the blown-glass Monorail ornament personalized at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
For some reason, they have a Haunted Mansion merchandise cart out in front of the store selling accessories. I suppose this is to capitalize on Halloween Party guests.
Princess ApparelÂ
A number of new Princess items were released recently, including this Snow White line.
$36.99
$39.99
$36.99
$39.99
Sir Mickey’s has the new Little Mermaid line as well.
The collection also includes this hoodie, $49.99.
Jasmine top, $36.99
Aurora top, $36.99
Belle long sleeve top, $44.99
There are also 4 new Tinker Bell shirts. They range in price from $36.99-39.99.
A large section of Sir Mickey’s is now selling items from Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.
This pillow is exclusive to the parks.
It retails for $27.99.
Shop ‘Till You Drop
BREAKING: Another Splash Mountain Refurbishment Set for 2018 at the Magic Kingdom
Despite currently being closed through November 16th, 2017, Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom will be closing again for refurbishment in early 2018.
The second refurbishment will take place January 8th through February 1st, 2018. The reasoning for this second closure is unknown, but may be related to some leftover work that can’t be completed during this ongoing refurbishment. The Magic Kingdom would want the attraction open again for the busy holiday season, thus why it will still reopening in November but going down once more in January.
This information was distributed today to Disney travel agents.
PHOTO REPORT: The Magic Kingdom 10/13/17 (Alien Encounter, Passholder Lines, Splash Mountain Closure, Etc.)
Our latest photo report brings us to the Magic Kingdom for Fall weather and the lighter crowds of the season. I’m of course joking, it has been above 90 degrees everyday and the parks have been super crowded, but we went anyway…
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom
Annual Passholder entrances don’t seem to be leaving anytime soon as they now have more permanent signage.
Thor Raganrok merchandise is now available throughout the resort.
The Citrus Swirl Orange Float has been added to them menu boards at Sunshine Tree Terrace. You can check out our review here.
Columbus Day Week has been particularly busy. Here, the Jungle Cruise FastPass return line stretches back almost to the entrance of the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.
The line goes on for niles…
And niles, and niles, and niles, and if you don’t believe me, you are in…
Well, probably you’re in the standby line then, because who would believe this?
The refurbishment of Splash Mountain rolls on. For a better look at the all of the work being done (mostly repainting), check out our video below:
Permanent signage for the lines and exits at the Lunching Pad has arrived. There had been big “foamcore” signs here for the last few weeks.
Mobile Order is available there as well, which I’ve already used a few times just to order a soda with no wait on these hot and busy days at the Magic Kingdom.
While Stitch’s Great Escape is closed seasonally, it is now being used for Stitch’s Alien Encounter Character Greeting during the day.
Signage outside informs guests that the attraction is closed, since the presence of a line might lead to thoughts of the contrary.
It was so crowded… (how crowded was it?) It was so crowded that the Country Bear Jamboree show that we went to was completely full!
SHOP NOW: Splash Mountain 25th, A Bug’s Land 15th Anniversary Limited Release T-Shirts
Shop Disney has released two new attraction anniversary shirts today. The first shirt is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom, while the second shirt is celebrating the 15th anniversary of A Bug’s Land at California Adventure.
Splash Mountain 25th Anniversary T-Shirt – $27.99
A Bug’s Land 15th Anniversary T-Shirt – $27.99
Just click on the shirts to buy them now!
PHOTOS, VIDEO: Watch a Splash Mountain Ride Breakdown Evacuation, Woman Jumps Out of Log Despite Safety Warnings
If you are a hardcore Disney Parks fan, you no doubt wear your ride evacuations like a badge of honor. While other guests are often angry or scared during an attraction breakdown, you are excited at the possibility of walking through a show scene in a ride and out some backstage exit door, undoubtedly seeing something you weren’t meant to see. In fact, many guests pay for backstage tours just to see such things, but there are many areas that even those do not travel. On Friday, I was “lucky” enough to experience an “evac” on a ride that I had never before, Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom.
Our log became “jammed” just before the lift hill into the final drop. We were maybe stuck for 15-20 minutes before someone came to help us, but boy, do people get antsy after about 10…
Apparently this is a very common occurrence at the attraction, as guests think it is OK to slip through the lap bars and jump out of the log on their own. Obviously, this is incredibly stupid and no one should do this, considering someone who jumped out of a ride vehicle on this attraction once died (albeit while the attraction was in motion).
While I didn’t capture it on film, another guest jumped out of the log as the cast repeatedly yelled at him over the PA system not to. He then urged his wife to jump out, as the cast continued to yell her to please not move and for both of them to stay where they were. He eventually pulled his wife out unwillingly, eventually then running into the cast members who were coming to get them out of the vehicle safely (if they had only waited about 30 more seconds). The most comical part was when the wife pointed at her husband as if to say “he made me do it”, for fear they would both be ejected from the park by the Disney employees. I am unaware if any action was taken, but I doubt it. I know this might be controversial, but the cast members probably have enough to deal with at that moment, trying to make sure that the remaining guests get out safely.
Either way, this was my first evacuation on Splash Mountain and it was easily the one where I saw the most guests not adhering to safety instructions, which is much scarier than a ride breaking in my book.
So, what do you think? Have you ever witnessed a similar situation on a ny of your trips to Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments.
If you enjoy similar videos, please check out my experience being “evaced” from The Haunted Mansion last year.
Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom to be Closed Summer/Fall 2017 for Refurbishment
Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom will be going down for an almost 3 month long refurbishment this Summer and Fall.
The attraction will be closed August 28th through November 16th, 2017, reopening on the 17th should all go according to plan.
Splash Mountain Disney Parks Tsum Tsum Collection Released Today
A Disney Parks exclusive Tsum Tsum series was surprise released on the Shop Disney Parks App today. The series features characters from Splash Mountain.
Again, these Tsum Tsum are available now, but only through the Shop Disney Parks app. There is no word as of yet if they will be released in the parks, but we can only assume that they will at some point in the future.
PHOTO REPORT: Disneyland Resort 10/17/16 (Tower of Terror Covered, Star Wars Land, New Fantasmic, ETC.)
Disneyland Reporter Conner Purzycki return us to the Disneyland Resort this week to see all of the latest happenings. The Tower of Terror is quickly vanishing, Star Wars land is quickly appearing, and 2 new sneak preview attractions are being offered. Let’s take a look:
Star Wars Land Construction
With the warped Tower of Terror off in the distance, work continues on the Star Wars themed land for Disneyland Park.
One of the portals into the land taking shape already.
While it may appear that the Disneyland version is ahead of Hollywood Studios, all of the additional work required to transition out of the other lands in the park and to separate the new land from the Rivers of America is all far more intricate than any transition will be at Walt Disney World. Guests will not to to enter through tunnels in Florida.
The massive “Battle with the First Order” attraction is being excavated. It reportedly will be the largest single attraction Disney has ever built.
The new waterfront for Rivers of America and new staging area for the updated Fantasmic! will need to be ready by next summer, so they are much further along than anything else in the project.
Downtown Disney Anaheim
Well it looks like Sprinkles isn’t going over here, between Starbucks and Disney Vacation Club.
A number of Food Trucks are currently available to guests at Downtown Disney.
If you were betting the Something Silver location would be home to Sprinkles, it seems unlikely that space could be converted by November.
It seems highly likely that this space between the other Starbucks and Jamba Juice is where Sprinkles will end up.
The facade work on the World of Disney store continues while the store is open.
Welcome to Disneyland
The canon moved to its new home recently, now just behind a fence in the planter. It’s nice to see Disneyland trying to fix the Main Street crowding issues where they can without removing history.
Christmas lights are already reinstalled on the hub trees.
This and That
Work continues to get the Rivers of America and Fantasmic! back in action for Summer 2017.
While Disney is trying to hide them from us, we can clearly see projectors for new projection mapping effects in Fantasmic!
They are kind of big and hard to hide in fairness.
Obligatory duck photo.
Rolling refurbishments in Critter Country are now taking place through November 3rd, everything but Splash Mountain opens on weekend during that period.
Star Wars Land as seen from Critter Country.
The facades work on Peter Pan’s Flight was completed and the building looks great.
Now let’s Trolley on over to Disney California Adventure, shall we?
Doctor Strange and Fixing the Backlot
The Doctor Strange sneak peek has moved in at the Sunset Showcase.
The backlot stage is finally coming down after 6 years, hopefully the Sorcerer Mickey fountain will be returning.
The lighting rigs in front of the former Hollywood and Dine are already gone.
The Tower of Terror Breaks Out
Tarps have now expanded to the front of the Tower of Terror facade. It’s hard to believe it is open, but Disney would hate to lose Tower of Terror for the busy holiday season. If all goes according to plan, they would like to have Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout open by late-May.
Interestingly enough, Disney is not using FastPass for the attraction currently. This combined with the demand of guests to see it one last time is making for some crazy wait times.
I would be lying if I said the Tower of Terror at DCA has had an 85 minute wait on a regular basis at any point in its existence. For all the people who knock the advent of FastPass, this is why it exists. It deters people from getting in line all at once by giving them another option.
Moana Sneak Peek
The Moana sneak peek has moved in at the “it’s tough to be a bug” theater.
Hostess with the Mostess – Top 5 Water Rides at Disney World Results
Welcome back to WDWNT’s Hostess with the Mostess! The best place for your weekly Disney fix! It has been unbelievable hot where I live! While swimming in my pool I was inspired to talk about the cool, refreshing, and exciting water rides of Walt Disney World.
If you are behind and missed last week’s post you can read it right here. As a little reminder, here is my list.
Kali River Rapids
My Top 5 Favorite Water Rides at Walt Disney World.
- 5. Maelstrom/Frozen Ever After
- 4. Jungle Cruise
- 3. Pirates of the Caribbean
- 2. Kali River Rapids
- 1. Splash Mountain
Now let’s see how you voted!
5. Frozen Ever After. Frozen did not get much love. Only two voters represented this new attraction. Is it because it’s just not a fan favorite or could it be because it’s so new and not many have ridden it yet? What do you think? I am very excited to take my first ride to Arendelle next month!
4. Jungle Cruise came in at number four. I was surprised at first that this attraction did not make it further up on the list, but when I looked at the numbers it was only one vote away for tying for number three! Jungle Cruise is without a doubt on my “list.” You know the list that every Disney fanatic has … the attractions you would want to work on if you ever become a Disney Cast Member. I am sure I am not the only one … right? That just gave me a great idea! That would make for a really fun countdown! If you do not already have a list, you better start thinking about what attractions at Disney World you would want to work on because you know I will want to hear from you!
3. Kali River Rapids barely made it into the number three spot. Brandon said, “I’ll have to disagree with the Kali River Rapids. We rode that for the first time this year. After 2.5 hours standing in line, the ride lasted for 2 minutes. It was a complete let down. Everyone on our raft were saying, ‘That’s it?!’ I will never waste my time on that again.” Brandon has a great point. Kali is very short and not worth a long wait. Even though it is my number two pick, I would never wait in a long line for it. Fastpass all the way!
2. Yo Ho, let’s go to our number two pick! I’m sure you guessed it by that corny introduction … Pirates of the Caribbean! That’s right folks; those swashbuckling singers must have stolen everyone’s hearts! This Pirate adventure certainly deserves it’s placement at number two! Trivia question … Paul Frees voiced many of the pirates including the Auctioneer, what other Magic Kingdom attraction did he voice another important role?
1. Splash Mountain blew all of the other attractions out of the water! Brer Rabbit raced way ahead of the competition and landed in first with ease. I had a feeling that Splash Mountain would be the fan favorite. How can it not? There is so much fun and Disney detail packed into that log flume it is a magical treat with every ride!
Our honorable mention comes from Travis, “I voted Splash Mountain, but if we’re permitted to dig into the past, I have to mention 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Incredible ride, gone too soon …” Since I brought up Maelstrom, I think it’s only fair to include 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I am too young to have experienced its greatness. But I have done a lot of research and have heard from a lot of people how wonderful it was. My Dad raves about that attraction and I know he would want nothing more than to have the opportunity to ride it.
Splash Mountain, Tokyo Disneyland
Staying Dry on Water Rides
Before I go, I am going to share some of my Hostess tips on how to stay dry on these wet attractions. Part of the fun is getting wet! But that doesn’t mean you want to get soaked.
– Ponchos. They are wonderful things! They are so compact and take up no room at all in your bag. It is so easy to throw one on before the ride. Make sure you purchase one at the Dollar Store before your trip. They are much more expensive in the parks. Ponchos are great at keeping you dry from all of the water coming at you from above. But they are even better when it comes to the real problem … you know what I’m talking about. Yes, that’s right, that pesky puddle of water that sits on the seat and is just waiting to give you a soggy bottom. Ponchos come to the rescue! They are long enough to sit on and help to keep your derriere dry!
– Another helpful item that you can take with you is a gallon bag. These bags are perfect for keeping your personal items dry. Water can easily seep through your bags or pockets and get to that phone or worse yet the cash you saved for that Mickey Mouse ice cream bar. Gasp! In order to prevent an ice cream-less disaster, just put all of your personal items in a gallon bag for safety.
– Some rides have special tricks to stay dry. On Splash Mountain, I have found there are two places you can sit in the log to stay a little drier. The left side of the boat and the back row does not get as much water. I always put my hands up on Chickapin Hill (AKA the big drop), but right before we get to the bottom I put my hands down and duck down as far as I can. This obviously does not prevent the water that is coming down on you, but your face and hair will stay dry!
– On Kali River Rapids there isn’t much hope for staying dry unless maybe wearing a poncho. The most important tip I can offer will at least help keep your feet dry. And let’s be honest, wet socks and shoes are one of the worst parts of getting soaked. Keep your feet up on the bar in front of you during the ride. The floor of the raft fills up with water and in order to keep your feet away from the forming pool, you have to put your feet up!
– What if you want to get soaked but not stay soaked? In that case, I say take extra socks and a hand towel. Having wet feet is pretty miserable but carrying extra shoes and clothes can get really bulky. A good compromise would be to pack extra socks and a hand towel in one of those handy dandy gallon bags. Your feet will thank you and you would be surprised how much water a little hand towel can remove!
– My last tip is all in the planning. I suppose planning does not really keep you dry per say, but it does help in those wet situations. First things first, do not wear white or clingy clothes. They will only become a bigger hassle! Second, try to plan out the time you will be riding the attraction. You do not want to show up to your dinner reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table soaked. Not only will you be uncomfortable but the air conditioning will make for a very cold evening. Make sure you have plenty of time to dry off before other important plans.
My Extra Magic Tip for the week: Hand dryers. Use them! These little guys can be very helpful when you’re drenched.
Thank you to everyone who voted and commented. As always it is so much fun to learn about what you think! Remember to check back next week for another countdown of my favorites!
See ya real soon!
Tom Corless’ 12/8/14 WDW Photo Report (Hub Remodel, New Magic Kingdom Merchandise, Animal Kingdom Construction, ETC.)
I recently visited the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom theme parks at Walt Disney World and have plenty of newsworthy photos to share with you from my trip, so let’s see what’s new and exciting:
We begin with the latest progress on the Hub at the Magic Kingdom
It may look rough, but with some dirt moved, some lamps installed, and some concrete poured, this is done
The other side looks a lot more complete
Most of the lamp & speaker towers are already installed here, leading us to believe this side will open by Christmas week
The new lampposts are nice, but I will miss the green coloring on everything…
A look over the walls from the other side
So… this happened…
Anyway… there are touch-points at the exit of Splash Mountain now to claim your photos
Provided everyone kept their clothes on, you can tap this to get your pictures
The “Made with Magic” wand is now out
You can change the color of other Made with Magic items
An incredible new line of Magic Kingdom merchandise has been released
I LOVE this notebook
Not related, but a new shirt
Some 2015 items are out
iPhone 6 Plus cases have arrived in GIANT packaging
Moving over to Animal Kingdom, work continues on the new pathway on Discovery Island
Walls in front of the Tree of Life were pushed back
So there’s a new area with planters that has been revealed
New Animal Kingdom merchandise
Not much new to see at the walls to AVATAR
Can’t see much at the future site of the Africa Marketplace either
Rivers of Light construction still isn’t much to look at yet…
The other side of Disney Outfitters and the new walkway through Discovery Island
Some people believe the work near Flame Tree BBQ is for a covered queue, but it looks like a service window to me…
It’s fairly small, but has openings on each side…
I’m guessing Starbucks or maybe a place to offer picnic packages once Rivers of Light begins in 2016
A look at the new path in front of the Tree of Life
Expedition Everest also has touch-points to claim photos as well
Not quite as well themed as some of the other ones…
I at first was excited about this Expedition Everest shirt
Until I saw that i had the wrong year…
Animal Kingdom is open after dark most nights currently, so if you can, get over there and do some walking around with the park’s light son (yes, they have lights)
See? LIGHTS!