Jon Pleszewski’s 1/21/09 Magic Kingdom Update

WDWNT on January 22, 2009

Avid WDWNT Network follower Jon Pleszewski has provided us with a fantastic photo update from around the Magic Kingdom park, so let’s take a look at some news items:

The “Celebrate Today!” banner covers the famous train station plaque that the Year of a Million Dreams banner covered for many months

The castle forecourt stage has been returned to it’s usual look, slightly freshened and ready for Dream Along with Mickey

The walls are finally down around the Golden Oak Outpost in Frontierland, which is ready to open any day now

The new seating area which will shrink the designated smoking area adjacent to it

Construction of Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration continues in Tomorrowland

Is it just me, or does it look like this isn’t going to make a February opening?

We end this great report with the arrival of more “Celebrate Today!” banners outside the Magic Kingdom. A special thanks to Jon for this update!

Supersonic Celebration Comes to Life

WDWNT on January 20, 2009

As we draw closer to it’s debut next month, more details on the new “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration” show in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. Here is what can be found on disneyworld.com:

Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration is a musical Tomorrowland street party celebrating “Galaxy Day” and features a live video version of Stitch interacting with Guests and a high-energy dance troupe. Come join the fun!

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My apologies for the very small concept art image, but it is all that is available at this time. This blurb confirms the rumor we reported a few weeks ago that the Stitch character will be part of the Living Character Initiative program and will have an interactive character on a screen talking to guests very much like the Stitch Live! attraction at the Walt Disney Studios Paris park. The fact that the official description calls this a “live video version” of Stitch is a bit disturbing from a company that has always been about creating solid stories and illusions, considering that is not in the descriptions for the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor or Turtle Talk with Crush.

Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more details on “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration” and other new offerings for “Celebrate Everyday!” become available.

Robert Ashburn’s 12/21 Magic Kingdom Update

WDWNT on December 23, 2008

Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media.Net and FTN has provided us with some his trip to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday. Let’s take a look at some newsworthy items using this new gallery option:

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Space in Tomorrowland being prepared for Stitch’s Supersonic Dance Celebration that will debut in the Spring

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The old Skyway building is also getting some much needed TLC during this time

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Haven’t seen these signs in a while, I guess this still is 1994 Tomorrowland

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Sign directing guests to the restrooms around the walls during this refurbishment

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The entire building is not under tarps

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A closer look

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Resort-wide sales continue through the holiday season

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The refurbishment of the second half of Tinker Bell’s Treasures reveals a new shop, Castle Couture

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Some great new decor can be found in the new shop

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Aurora’s dress changes colors as Fauna and Merryweather fight over red and blue

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This seems to be an extension of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, selling the princess outfits that parents can purchase

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There is a section for each princess

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The work on the upper level of Pinnochio’s Village Haus is complete and it looks great

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Work on the lower section continues

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The exterior of the Hall of Presidents is now being refurbished in preparation for the July 2009 re-opening

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The self-service kiosks at Pecos Bill’s have been moved to the center, surprising when the entire restaurant closes for refurbishment in January

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It seems people are still afraid to use them

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We’ll end this report with a nighttime picture of the new food vendor replacing the Frontierland Fry Wagon

Buzz on the Boom

WDWNT on August 30, 2008

The lovely Blue Sky Disney website put up a special world-wide Blue Sky Buzz this past Monday, which shows what Disneyland, as well as Walt Disney World & Disneyland Paris should be looking like around 2011/2012 time-frame.

As far as the Disneyland Resort goes, Honor mentions that the Maliboomer is now scheduled to be removed in 2011, as opposed to the original 2009 plan. But don’t worry, all other refurbishments, additions, & removals will still happen as originally scheduled.

Over in Disneyland, the previously talked about Stars Tours 2.0 should be up & running as the main new attraction for the 55th anniversary celebration. A complete re-do of Tomorrowland is currently scheduled to be completed for 2012, which could bring an entirely new E-Ticket attraction to that area of Disneyland.

And if you’re interested, stay tuned to Blue Sky Disney later in the week, as Honor will have up a second Blue Sky Buzz, this time looking towards the Asian Disney parks.

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.

Jim Hill Goes Off the Wall-E

WDWNT on July 14, 2008

Our good friend Jim Hill over at Jim Hill Media has a great article up today about the rooms currently being re-decorated to Pirates of the Caribbean and Finding Nemo over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. While the new movie themed rooms are very news-worthy, there is something towards the end of the article that is far more interesting and exciting.

When mentioning tomorrow’s article for the site, Jim brought up the rumor that plans for Shanghai Disneyland’s Tomorrowland area have it completely themed to Disney-Pixar’s Wall-E film. I found this pretty exciting since I had been told about a month ago that the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland may be getting the same treatment. Current plans include having the fictional “Buy N Large” corporation from the film Wall-E taking over tomorrowland, in order to give the land a cohesive storyline after years of mass-confusion. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Space Mountain, and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress would most likely only be touched up to reflect the new theme, but major changes would be happening to the remainder of Tomorrowlandunder the current plan. A Wall-E themed show is currently in the works in Imagineering and would most likely replace Stitch’s Great Escape (while Stitch moves over to the Enchanted Tiki Room), although there is also talk of the show replacing The Laugh Floor. Other plans include major refurbishments of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and the Astro Orbiter. While all of this is still rumor for now, there is a very strong possibility that most of the changes in this plan will take shape by 2012. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on the future of Tomorrowland becomes available.

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on July 4, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:


All of Innoventions, including the new Innoventions Dream Home, is now finally open!


Would you believe that Innoventions actually has a line!?


Tom Morrow still greets guests on video & as an animatronic…


… Not sure how this will work with all the new stuff


From Tom, you apparently go on to a mini-game show about ABC TV shows (no prizes awarded, of course)


The inner walls are lined with various murals featuring past & present Tomorrowland icons


From there you finally enter the Innoventions Dream Home! Check the Dateline Disneyland article for a full photo guide of the new Dream home (way too many pictures to share here). The link is at the top of this post


You exit the Dream Home through the Elias Family Party Tent…


… And then you go up the stairs that take you to the Segway Experience on the 2nd floor


Here’s a look at the placing of the new Wall-E meet ‘n greet in Hollywood Pictures Backlot


These sponsor themed ads are apparently new

Be sure to check the Dateline Disneyland article for, as I said, many more pictures of the Innoventions Dream Home, as well as a look at Toy Story Midway Mania, the Grand Californian Expansion, & new posters inside the Disneyland Hotel! The link is at the top of the post.

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on July 4, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:


The latest map covers, promoting the Summer of Hidden Mysteries & Toy Story Midway Mania


The latest attractions at the Resort are promoted in the inside flap

Adventure Roadmaps are given to guests at the parking lot toll booths, as part of the TSMM/Honda Pilot cross promotion


Really easy trivia questions to answer as you make your way around DCA, & then send it in for the sweepstakes


Toy Story Midway Mania now being promoted at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station


As mentioned yesterday, the Green Army Men are in the Esplanade letting guests know that Toy Story Midway Mania is in fact in DCA, & not Disneyland


Guests can climb into this Honda Pilot & check it out, much like with the post-show at Test Track in Epcot… “DCA or Bust!”


Toy Story **cough Midway cough*** Mania ad in the Esplanade


This toy Spring Action Shooters, that a certain Staff Member of DLNT badly wants, are now available in the Midway Mercantile


Even though the Innoventions Dream Home is now proclaimed open, regular guests can not enter it. I presume all guests must still enter through the exit of Innoventions. Be sure to check out this Dateline Disneyland update (linked at the beginning of this post) for many “up above” pictures!


The Tomorrowland/Fantasyland smoking area has finally been moved from by the Tomorrowland Train Station…


… It’s now the back half of Fantasia Gardens


Work is finally going on at the old Seasons of the Vine theater

Leg Traders

WDWNT on July 3, 2008

From KABC:

ANAHEIM (KABC) — The Anaheim Fire Department responded to Tomorrowland in Disneyland at 7:21 a.m. after reports that a worker fell from a ladder onto a roof.

Officials said the worker fell while working on the roof of a gift shop near the Space Mountain ride.

Rescuers were able to get the worker off the roof using a crane, and he was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

“A roofing consultant lost his balance and fell approximately 5 feet resulting in a minor shoulder injury. He was transported to western medical center for evaluation,” said Disneyland spokeswoman Betsy Sanchez in a statement.

Authorities said worker is in his 70s and suffered minor injures.

The park was not open at the time of the accident.