Dirk Wallen’s 7/27-29/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney over the last three days and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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More touch-point entrances are being installed at Epcot

The exit has been moved to accommodate this work

Work continues on Fountain View which will open as Starbucks in the Fall

This booth is once again out from behind walls… let’s see if it actually opens this time…

The latest Remember When pin is out, featuring Journey Into Jungle Book from Animal Kingdom

Walls are still up around this planter on World Showcase promenade

Hard to see, but roads have been paved for the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

There is some major concrete work happening outside of the Emporium

Walls are down from around this sign

White tarps up on this Main Street facade for whatever reason

Planes merchandise has landed at the Emporium

New crossword Mickey Mouse iPhone 5 phone case

These walls are still up in Liberty Square

Walls still up at the old Peter Pan restrooms in Fantasyland

This awesome sign featuring the two lines at the Mad Tea Party finally went back up this week

Still nothing to see at Princess Fairytale Hall

Plenty to see over at the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train site

You can now see hills and valleys where the trains will dive down and rise up… this looks pretty incredible…

Work has just about wrapped up on the back of the mountain

We’re still waiting for Triton’s Treasures to open

One tarp is still up on the building

FastPass+ running at Magic Carpets of Aladdin

The FastPass+ entrance is also ready to go at Pirates of the Caribbean

A new marquee and times board are up at the American Idol Experience

Signage points FastPass+ guests down to here to enter

The Hollywood Brown Derby is testing a new lunch menu right now and it looks amazing

Moving to the Studios, Planes banners are up in the Animation Courtyard

Planes and Frozen billboards up in the Animation Courtyard as well

FastPass+ at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

Moving to Downtown Disney, one of the West Side parking lots has already been closed for construction

Demolition continues at the former Comedy Warehouse

A new bridge is being constructed from the West Side to Pleasure Island, going around the planned construction area

Dirk Wallen’s 7/10-12/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot last week and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian as we approach the opening in October

Things are still a bit of a mess right now

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, the post for the Hall of Champions sign is walled

Cinderella’s fountain is still roped off from guests… we think some Brazilian tourists tried to bathe in it…

Still nothing to see over at Princess Fairytale Hall

FastPass+ has been testing a lot at the Magic Kingdom

A look at the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

A look at the backside along with Triton’s Treasures

This portion where the track makes a wide turn and dives underground looks exciting!

Moving over to Animal Kingdom, work continues on the new Festival of the Lion King theater

The walls now have some themed signage

You can see the crane from various places in Africa

On Kilimanjaro Safaris, the Addax are still in place…

But they are still trying to re-introduce the Zebras

So the Zebras may make a full-time return soon… or not

Work has been completed on the FastPass+ queue at Finding Nemo: the Musical

Heading over to Epcot, another round of turnstile conversions has begun

FountainView is still preparing to be the next Starbucks location in the fall

Walls are still up around what should have been a new food cart months ago…

The FastPAss+ signage is up and running at Journey Into Imagination with Figment

Signs also went up at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Work continues on Spice Road Table in Morocco

We can see construction going vertical now

PHOTOS: Main Street Bakery Serving Starbucks Holds Limited Soft-Opening

Earlier today, the Main Street Bakery held a limited soft-opening as they prepare to open with Starbucks items to serve guests on Tuesday. We were lucky enough to be a part of that test today and I managed to take some photos of the largely remodeled Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom for you to enjoy:

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There are Starbucks bags in the window

They were using vouchers to manage guests and what they could order

A look at the breakfast menu

The Starbucks drink menu

A look around inside

They still sell plenty of pastries

There are no more seats, but there are a few counters you can eat at

The walls are well-decorated

There are some hidden Starbucks mermaids in the bakery

They sell bags of Starbucks coffee… yep…

So, what do you think of new look for the Main Street Bakery at the Magic Kingdom?

Dirk Wallen’s 6/10/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Monday and has plenty of newsworthy photos to share with us, so lets take a look:

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Work is still in the early stages for the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

A look at the Villas at the Grand Floridian from across the lagoon

An up-close look

The Main Street Bakery should re-open as a Starbucks location any day now

]The former Hall of Champions is still behind tarps

The unexplained tarps are still up on the facade of the Adventureland Veranda

Some work taking place on the second level of Grizzly Hall required the removal of the Jamboree sign

Tarps still up at Sleepy Hallow Refreshments

Columbia Harbour House is also still behind tarps

Some walls up by the boat dock as well

Nothing new over at the former Peter Pan restrooms

The absence of tarps at Princess Fairytale Hall may mean we are just a few weeks away from a soft-opening

The new signage was quickly installed and un-installed recently at the Mad Tea Party, it should be back soon

Slowly the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train facade is looking more and more complete

the section on the backside that is finished opened as a stroller parking area

HEY! Lone Ranger pins are put already if you want them. Oh, you don’t? Well, they are here if you change your mind…

Dirk Wallen’s 5/10-11/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom this weekend and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on the Villas at the Grand Floridian

Windows are being installed now

It’s starting to look like part of the Grand Floridian

A look from across the Seven Seas Lagoon

Work continues on the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom

Not much to see yet

Getting to the Magic Kingdom, tarps are still up on Main Street Apparel next to Casey’s Corner

Starbucks opens in the Main Street Bakery next month

Sleepy Hollow Refreshments is still behind tarps

In a strange tuern of events, a Disney Visa card kiosk has opened at the old Keelboat dock

This space had been used for Haunted Mansion extended queue

The Liberty Bell is behind walls

Tarps still up on Columbia Harbour House

Tarps also still up on the Fantasyland side

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

The Mad Tea Party is still closed for refurbishment, which we believe to consist of changes to the queue

Everyday, the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train is looking better and better

The backside looks nearly complete

The rock-work here matches Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Moving over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 15th anniversary merchandise is still available

Work continues on the new home for Festival of the Lion King in Africa

ADDAX!

They may not be Zebras, but they will do…

The Anadapur ice cream truck is back, but still behind walls

You have to cross the park for soft-serve ice cream…

Queue modifications happening at Finding Nemo: The Musical

Dirk Wallen’s 4/23/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom last week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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The Rainforest Cafe volcano is done

Tons of Marvel stuff in Once Upon a Toy

They also now have the Star Wars Droid Factory

Over at Epcot, work continues on turing Fountain View into a Starbucks location

The old Character Spot is still closed… at this point I’m starting to think it will become Starbucks seating…

Tarps are down at Mission: Space and the facade looks great

Tarps are up where Spice Road Table will be going in Morocco

A temporary stage up for Mo’ Rockin’

The waterfall at Maelstrom is being worked on again for some reason

Moving to Animal Kingdom, the Anandapur Ice Cream truck is gone

Work continues on the new home for Festival of the Lion King in Africa

Starbucks Coming To Main Street U.S.A

The long rumored Starbucks location inside Disneyland has finally been announced on the Disney Parks Blog:

I’ve got updates to share with you today about some big changes coming to Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland park. First, Starbucks will be making its much-anticipated debut inside Market House this fall. To make room for this exciting addition, Market House will close next month to begin an expansion into the adjacent space currently occupied by Disneyana.

“Starbucks

Disney art and collectible fans will soon be able to find all their favorite treasures in one location, as Disneyana will move to a new home inside the Bank of Main Street building, the current location of the Disney Gallery. The new, combined location will continue to present a rotating Gallery Exhibit, featuring Walt Disney Imagineering concept art and pieces from local artists. (In fact, we will have information soon about the newest exhibit, featuring art inspired by Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer.)

Market House will reopen this fall, still themed as a turn-of-the-century general store, serving Starbucks products and a selection of specialty Disney pastries.

This new Starbucks location was announced just weeks after concept art surfaced of the new Starbucks location in Florida in the Main Street Bakery at The Magic Kingdom.

Dirk Wallen’s 12/8/13 Disney Springs/Downtown Disney Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Downtown Disney on Sunday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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Here’s how the parking structure construction looks to guests

A third food truck has arrived on the West Side

It’s the World Showcase of Flavors

There is some mystery construction happening outside of House of Blues

Nothing new to see at the West side Starbucks location

 A look over some construction walls on Pleasure Island

There is one small structure that is now enclosed

The remains of Comedy Warehouse

No visible work over here yet

Demolition of Captain Jack’s has begun so a new pedestrian bridge can be constructed in the Marketplace

A second Downtown Disney Starbucks is now going up next door to World of Disney in the Marketplace

Concept Art Revealed for the New Main Street Bakery with Starbucks!

For those of you who have been wondering how different the Main Street Bakery will be when it reopens in May with Starbucks inside, we managed to uncover some concept art of the interior that you will find very interesting:

MainStreetBakery

The interior is currently being gutted and is getting an entirely new design. Hopefully this new layout will speed up the lines and clear out some of the congestion that was always a problem with the old bakery.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on the Main Street Bakery featuring Starbucks products. In the meantime, what do you think of this new look for the Bakery?

Tom Corless’ 1/14-1/17/13 WDW Photo Report

I know it is a few days late, but I decided that I should share some newsworthy photos from my last trip to Walt Disney World with you, so let’s take a look at a couple of interesting things happening around the resort:

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The Epcot Center charm bracelet is now available

The “Oz The Great and Powerful” playground fro the Flower and Garden Festival is being constructed near Imagination!

The FastPass+ queue seems to be finished at the Seas with Nemo and Friends

Yes, the cut a hole in the mural…

The Main Street Bakery is closed until May to convert to Starbucks service

Tomorrowland Terrace has breakfast for now

FastPass+ scanners uncovered at Tomorrowland Speedway

Also uncovered at the Barnstormer

The umbrellas have finally arrived for the tables in Storybook Circus

The construction walls at the Grand Floridian now sport concept art for the Villas at the Grand Floridian

The FastPass+ scanners at Toy Story Midway Mania are tinker-toys!

The exhibit area at the Magic of Disney Animation now has a poster up for Frozen

There is also a poster for Planes

A Walt Disney World charm bracelet has also been released

There’s a ticket from 1981 on it

They also sell a large charm with this artwork

There is a Dumbo New Fantasyland board game out now

New magnet clips, including the Orange Bird

The kids cups at restaurants now match the light-up character they come with

A temporary banner has gone up at the Animal Kingdom turnstiles to let resort guests know they can enter here with their RFID tickets

Fab 5 figurines have been released, they are only $12.95 each

A new surprise release pin set has been started celebrating extinct attractions. The first pin is the Mickey Mouse Revue!