Dirk Wallen’s 2/4-2/8/14 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney over the last few days, so let’s take a look at everything happening around Walt Disney World right now:

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Nikon photo spot now in place near the Rose Garden

Some more planter work happening near the hub… rumors suggest this may all be related to a new nighttime show for the park…

See ya’ later trash can…

The facade at the Enchanted Tiki Room is getting some work done

The Nikon picture spot at Splash Mountain isn’t quite picturesque yet…

The Splash Mountain refurbishment continues

Tarps up on the buildings in Liberty Square and the castle crane looming behind it

The Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin FastPass machines are being removed

Plenty of Valentine’s Day treats are available at Big Top Treats

Moving over to Disney’s Polynesian Resort, DVC wing construction is in full swing

I love these signs…

Gates up on the beach

The work out in the water on the rumored bungalows

Over at Epcot, the former Kim Possible kiosk area is now a MyMagic+ service center

Prep work for the Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing now

Another Nikon picture spot

The Darkroom at Hollywood Studios is still presented by Kodak

Yet there is a Nikon Picture Spot not too far away

The Monsters University meet and greet is becoming the Monsters Inc. meet and greet again

Backlot tour is still closed

Frozen billboard up in the backlot

Pirate Fairy and Jungle Book billboards up in the Animation Courtyard

Nikon picture spot at Animal Kingdom

A decent size line for FastPass+

AVATAR construction is happening folks…

Some work happening outside of Expedition Everest

A look at the new Festival of the Lion King theater from high up on Everest

Looks like there is a lot of work to still be done

On to Downtown Disney… Disney Springs… whatever it is…

Not much visible progress to the West Side Starbucks

Not much to see on Pleasure Island either

But there is something happening behind these walls

Here is the site for the large water-side building in The Landing

Bridge work in the Marketplace is happening quickly

The stage area near Fulton’s has been behind walls for a few weeks now

The staging area for the bridge is across from T-Rex behind the DVC booth

The Marketplace Starbucks is also coming along slowly

Guests watching construction take place

Cinderella outside of World of Disney received a backdrop on the construction walls for the Starbucks

Some strange new men’s shirts on sale

Team Mickey is now closed to become the Marketplace Co-Op

New Star Wars MagicBandits have arrived

There is also an R2-D2 MagicSlider!

Dirk Wallen’s 11/18/13 WDW (Magic Kingdom & Disney Springs) Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

The statue with the Brer characters is back at Splash Mountain, but still behind walls for now

A look at the now-completed signage package at the Haunted Mansion

Peter Pan’s flight is back from refurbishment and looking great!

Legacy FastPass did return, but should be going away soon…

Walls up outside of the Village Haus

Work progressing on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

Structures rising and taking shape

Plenty of seasonal treats can be found nearby at Big Top Souvenirs

What was supposed to be the Triton’s Treasures gift shop is instead a Disney Vacation Club kiosk, but at least it is really beautiful

Great pieces on the wall

A map inside with characters from The Little Mermaid

It is really gorgeous and well-themed for what it is

A look back at Mine Train

The Tomorrowland Stage decorated for a Totally Tomorrowland Christmas

Mickey santa popcorn buckets available

Work is wrapping up on the new Magic Kingdom bus loop and it should be ready for Thanksgiving week

There is a strange floating bridge near the Grand Floridian… not sure what for

Work has begun on the Disney Vacation Club wing at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Moving over to Downtown Disney

Vertical construction is starting on the parking structure

Disney Quest was repainted a few weeks back, and at night, there is some new lighting that really livens up the building:

Some work going on outside of the House of Blues

Fit 2 Run is now open on the West Side next door to Curl

Christmas Tree inside Splittsville

Wetzel’s Pretzels has closed and is becoming Starbucks

Starbucks will open here in the Spring of 2014

Pleasure Island is now the walkway…

Disney Springs construction is in full swing

Constructions walls are now adorned with concept art

Here’s a new piece we had not previously seen

We have out first new structure!

Another look at that new concept art

All that’s left is the outline of the building…

More new concept art for The Landing at Disney Springs

While the store is closed, you can buy Raglan Road merchandise outside

Work beginning on removing the Captain Jack’s Marina and installing a new bridge

You can meet Santa at Downtown Disney throughout the season

Olaf from Frozen is over here for some reason

Demolition should begin shortly on the Captain Jack’s building

Over on the new Pleasure Island by-pass bridge, you can catch the water transportation to and from the area

Another look at The Landing concept art

More new concept art

We saw this piece back when we leaked the Disney Springs information in March

Here, a parking structure will soon rise…

Dirk Wallen’s 4/5-7/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen has been all-over the Walt Disney World Resort as of late and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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While most of the new parking lot at the Grand Floridian Villas is open, some is still closed to accommodate construction

Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

This appears to be the drop-off area

Iron Man-O-Rail running

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Main Street Bakery

The new Dumbo popcorn bucket available on Main Street

Purty

Work continues on the exterior of the Adventureland Veranda

The glass canopy on the other side of the building is still missing

Some work happening at the Swiss Family Treehouse while it is open

Kodak picture spots are still up around the parks

Some new Splash Mountain shirts have come out

Work continues on Columbia Harbor House

The other side looks completely new

More rock-work appearing everyday on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

A new shirt featuring Main Street U.S.A.

Some new sports shirts

They put a cardboard popcorn bucket inside the Dumbo popcorn bucket

Moving over to Epcot, work continues on the facade of Mission: Space

Walls are already up and work has begun on the Spice Road Table restaurant in Morocco

A temporary stage is now up for Mo Rockin’

Work continues on turning the old France bakery into an ice cream parlor

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios…

Kodak signage is gone from Muppetvision 3-D

A dance party truck was rolled out on Streets of America to deal with the heavier crowds recently

The Disney Truck Shop at Downtown Disney

The latest pin in the 2013 poster collection was released last week

Huey, Dewey, and Louie are now 75 years old

Disney-PIXAR Vinylmation pins are now on sale

Joe Hogarty’s 3/21/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

Today we welcome WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty to the team with his very first photo report! Joe visited the Magic Kingdom to catch Splash Mountain now that it has reopened from refurbishment, but he also got some pictures of progress on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train and A Pirate’s Adventure to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The scariest opening photo of any report ever…

Don’t worry, it’s just a prop for “A Pirate’s Adventure”

Make sure to brush your teeth kids

Jack’s compass

Letter from Sparrow

We suspect this bird (similar to the one from World Showcase Adventure) will talk to guests… is it Cotton’s parrot?

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Something yet to be installed?

This large shell just recently appeared

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Splash Mountain just re-opened from refurbishment and it looks fantastic!

The clothes look brand new

Every animatronic is working flawlessly

Some shrubbery was added around Brer Fox

Oooooo, new lighting…

The store is pretty much unchanged

The blue shirt is new

Otherwise, a lot of the same merchandise

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland

Work also continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

The track is almost done!

This side hasn’t changed much

The other side has made some major progress

It looks like this side is finally going to be covered soon

Some new steel near Storybook Circus

The backside is starting to look like a mountain

Triton’s Treasures is also coming along nicely

Chimneys now up on the shop which may open before the Summer

I see a mountain…

It’s nice to finally see rock work

Thanks for your first report Joe!

Dirk Wallen’s 2/2/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and has some fantastic pictures of new progress on the Big Thunder Mountain interactive queue, A Pirate’s Life: Treasures of the Seven Seas, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and more, so let’s take a look:

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While the Main Street Bakery is closed, guests can head to the Tomorrowland Terrace

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Plenty of options at Tomorrowland Terrace, including beignets!

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The flowers in the hub have gone to Valentine’s Day colors and the ducks love it…

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Valentine’s Day cupcakes available at Big Top Treats

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I’ve heard of panning for gold…

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More props and interactive elements have been installed in the queue at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

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The “exploding” crates are no longer under tarps

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These huge machines popped up in the second-half of the queue over the weekend

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It looks like guests will play some sort of game where they turn a lever

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Spinning handles on the back of another machine

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The refurbishment of Splash Mountain continues

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Lots of painting going on

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Golden Oak Outpost is closed again

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Work continues on the Adventureland Veranda building

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Another area of the building is also walled-off

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The Crow’s Nest is out from behind tarps and it looks quite different… we expect it to play a role in “A Pirate’s Adventure”

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More props for “A Pirate’s Adventure” have been installed throughout Adventureland

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Jack Sparrow’s compass

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This was the first prop installed a few months ago

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A cannon

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Ball and chains

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Some props by the Jungle Cruise

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Nearby, a pirate skeleton lies under the water near a treasure chest

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It appears these skulls near the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance will talk

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Another strange set of props

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Gun powder

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Sleepy Hollow Refreshments is open while the exterior is refurbished

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Walls up outside of the Haunted Mansion and Yankee Trader

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Tarps still up on Columbia Harbour House

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The latest progress on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

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Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day lanyards are out

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As is the new Test Track logo pin

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Over at The Villas at the Grand Floridian, we can start to make out windows

“Everybody’s Got a Lap-Bar in Place” – Video of Splash Mountain’s New Logs

Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom re-opened from refurbishment today with new logs utilizing lap bars to keep guests in the seats. WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee was on the scene and remarked they are”comfy, have plenty of room, and no different then those you would find at Big Thunder Mountain”. You can judge for yourself in this video and enjoy a full ride-through Chic-A-Pin Hill: