PHOTOS, VIDEO: New Look Mickey Mouse Character Debuts at Town Square Theater Meet & Greet at Magic Kingdom

You may recall that Mickey Mouse got a bit of an updated look last year at many meet & greet locations and in various shows around the Disney Parks. Well, now guests can meet the new-look Mickey as a magician in the Town Square Theater at the Magic Kingdom.

Of course, Mickey is still talking to guests, as you can see in our video below.

Town Square Theater is open daily at the Magic Kingdom on Main Street U.S.A., available via both a standby queue and FastPass+ reservations.

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Tinker Bell Moves to Town Square Theater at the Magic Kingdom

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A few weeks ago, Tinker Bell’s Nook in the former Adventureland Veranda restaurant at the Magic Kingdom was closed and Tinker Bell has now flown on over to Town Square Theater on Main Street U.S.A.. Tinker Bell’s new home replaces the Princess meet and greet area in Town Square Theater which was shuttered in the Summer of 2013 when Princess Fairytale Hall opened in New Fantasyland.

The journey begins with a cast member initiating a magical Pixie Dust effect, shrinking you down to the size of a pixie…

It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it doesn’t appear to be a permanent home for Tinker Bell either. If there are plans to move the meet and greet again at some future time, it is unclear where or when that would be,

Rumors indicate that the meet and greet was moved so that the Adventureland Veranda could once again become a restaurant (since the Magic Kingdom constantly has table service restaurants that are completely booked for reservations at busy dinner times). Only time will tell if this rumor comes to fruition.

VIDEO: Talking Mickey Mouse Meet-And-Greet At Walt Disney World “Magically” Debuts

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We have been talking about talking Mickey Mouse for a long, long time on WDWNT and we’re happy to report that the meet-and-greet experience finally permanently installed on October 22nd! We took a trip over to the Magic Kingdom last night to see Mickey in action and it was honestly everything I thought it would be and more. This video of Mickey interacting with other guests and our kids needs to be seen to be believed:

Eventually Mickey will know the guest’s name and more information about them once they walk in with their MagicBands, but until then he is still talking up a storm and delighting guests daily at the Magic Kingdom in Town Square Theater.

In my opinion, talking Mickey is one of those things that will stun every guest and may even become the highlight of their vacation. The time Mickey now spends with the guest is so much more meaningful since he can reach into a bag of tricks and truly personalize the interaction he has with them. The “tea cup” experience we had is just one of a countless number of “bits” Mickey can utilize to interact and I expect it will very rare to get the same experience twice. Our kids have met Mickey countless times, so as you can see in the video, they were practically stunned silent when he spoke to them. This isn’t a negative however as when we asked them if they liked talking to Mickey after we had exited, they had clearly thought it was very cool and enjoyed it immensely. We will for sure keep going back to see more of what Mickey can do!

So, what do you think? Is this something that will forever change the Walt Disney World Experience? Do you like the idea of talking to your favorite character?

Joe Hogarty’s 9/18/13 WDW (Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot) Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty Visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios last week and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Castle Dreamlights are already being installed

Princesses are gone from Town Square Theater, now it is just Mickey

Pluto has an umbrella!

As always, so does Mary Poppins

Moving over to Epcot

The new restrooms at the American Adventure have opened

A new water fountain was installed as well

The new restrooms are really nice

They have Dyson Airblades

Mirrors by the doorway

We can start to see Spice Road Table taking shape in Morocco

The restaurant has an interesting look

The new stage for Mo’ Rockin’

Pooh and Tigger meeting guests at International Gateway while their U.K. home is being refurbished

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Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is already being installed

Frozen billboards up in the Animation Courtyard

Banners are up for Toy Story of Terror in the Animation Courtyard

Another Frozen billboard on Mickey Avenue

Joe Hogarty’s 4/11/13 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Joe Hogarty visited the Magic Kingdom yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos (including A Pirate’s Adventure, the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train, Princess Aurora’s new costume, and more) to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Stage set for the AFV taping

I love that it actually fits Main Street U.S.A.

Beautiful day at the Magic Kingdom

Jack Sparrow What-Not?

The Crow’s Nest will be the starting point for A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

There is a queue set up now

The sign above the entrance is covered

Tangled tower

It has become a popular photo spot

No visible progress on Princess Fairytale Hall

Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train

More scaffolding going up on the west side

Meanwhile, the facade on the east side is nearing completion

It looks nearly complete from this side

The track was wrapped to accommodate other work

Triton’s Treasures should be open by the Summer

New rock work going up

Other than a few walls that were enclosed, nothing new over here

The Mad Tea Party is closed for refurbishment

IRON MAN-O-RAIL

WOOSH!

Princess Aurora has received an updated costume as well now

Looks nice

Jack Sparrow really let himself go…

Zach Larson’s 1/6/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot on Friday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing

More Main Street U.S.A. facades are going behind tarps, this should be the last batch

A temporary sidewalk ramp installed

Signs point guests around to the meet and greet FASTPASS distribution

Center Street tarps still up

The Bakery is now behind tarps

A temporary cart is also serving some bakery items

Plaza Ice Cream is closed

This facade will be behind tarps soon

Storybook Circus construction

Dumbo is almost ready to roll

The queue seems a bit behind

Dumbo was testing

We’re ready… we’ve been ready…

Belle’s Village

Trees in place, this is most likely where they will be staying

The details on Prince Eric’s castle are visible

The Beast’s Castle, Maurice’s Cottage, and the Castle Wall all in this shot

The path around Yankee Trader is now being constructed

It will put guests right about here

See?

The Madame Leota merchandise cart has moved closer to Columbia Harbor House

The Frontier Trading Post is still behind tarps

Pecos Bill’s is still behind tarps as well

Big Thunder is closing for a few months for major upgrades on the 9th

The queue should be the most radically different thing when it re-opens

The Barnstormer/Great Goofini looks like it is nearing completion

The times guide has been expanded to include the parade route, probably since it will change to a short loop this week as Electrical Parade goes dark for a paving project

Over to Hollywood Studios, where Toluca Legs Turkey Company is back in action…

During PIXAR Pals, an escape route… I mean alternate route is being opened to help guest flow

IT’S DONE! Oh, wrong park…

MUSH! MUSH!

Now on to Epcot

The tip board still works! A new record!

It indicates if FASTPASS is available

Time is almost up…

The pre-show monitors are now flat screens!

More and more cars are getting the Chevy branding

The new directional signage in Future World is color-coded and looks great!

Is it open?

Barely…

Oh, this side has lights…

No visible progress on the upcoming Habit Heroes exhibit

Thanks for the report Zach!

Adam Roth’s 12/26/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth recently visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom and took a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so strap in for a lengthy look around Walt Disney World:

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Adam caught the Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special inside the ABC Sound Studio, former home of Sounds Dangerous

In case you don’t know, Comedy Warehouse was a club at Pleasure Island

Just a sticker, but shows effort for a very temporary attraction

Control booth

The show is improv, comedy’s ugly cousin…

OK…

I’ve been running this site for five years, and this is easily the lowest moment…

Adam enjoyed it and so did guests, so we’ll see what the future holds…

Booths from the Food & Wine festival being used to meet dining demands

The Magic of Disney animation added a campus map a while ago… it’s trying to look like a real animation studio

Nothing says Italian like fast food meatballs…

The Premiere Theater is showing holiday cartoons

“Curse you Perry the Platypus!”

The daily schedule

The “italian” restaurant

It looks awful…

The stage is set for New Year’s Eve

Adam is a good colorer…

I’m so proud…

The Monsters University logo now up inside the Magic of Disney Animation

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, we arrive at Sleepy Hollow

What could we be here for?

Of course!

Here is the chicken sandwich without the usual spread

The ham, prosciutto, and swiss sandwich

The Diamond Horseshoe was open

Somewhere, a child cries…

“MICKEY!”

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is performing daily now

“Yay! We didn’t have to buy a party ticket! But this place is packed…”

Christopher Robin was added to the parade this year, but the Pooh tree float is gone

Duffy joins the fun

The skiers were new for this year

Awwwww…

Bo Creep… I mean, Bo Peep

A personal favorite

Another personal favorite

However long that is, it’s too long…

Too long!

Could we cut out this step thing!

Storybook Circus construction as seen from the TTA

The lower level rock-work taking shape at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The back of the Dumbo queue building was painted green

Three digits…

A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas is performing daily

Spot the Captain EO reference?

Eye did! Get it? Eye did!

Instead of having him on screen, Stitch appears on stage now

Some new props had to be made for the changes

The new tower at Barnstormer is rising up around the track

There is a lot of color on the Dumbo queue

They are pretty much rebuilding the old tents

Oooooo, I spot a dirty word…

Scaffolding up over the Dumbo queue building

The roof over the two covered queue areas is coming along

You can see the new Dumbo spinner through the queue

The train station is almost done

Another look at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The caverns are now visible

Belle’s Village is starting to look good

Another look at the Storybook Circus train station

Back to Under the Sea

Prince Eric’s castle

Notice Mr. Stork at the top of the new Dumbo spinner

Back to Belle’s village

Maurice’s cottage

Be Our Guest restuarant

A panoramic view of construction

Some of the Storybook Circus pavement has been revealed

wagon wheel marks and horse footprints litter the path, a beautiful detail

The mountain range looks great

The sun sets on the old Dumbo…

Some work has been done on the Castle Wall

A stone wall has popped up next to it

The edge of the rock-work

A chimney through the trees

Holy Nana!

You’d have to have a hook for a brain to wait in that

“it’s a long line”

Nice sign

The new path near the Haunted Mansion is being worked on

Non-alcoholic sangria from Tortuga Tavern

YUM!

Time to light the Castle

Purty…

New details were unveiled in the Town Square Theater queue for Mickey

Notes for advertisements made by Mickey sit on a bulletin board

Gotta love these details

Mailboxes

A reference to the first attraction in this space, the Walt Disney Story

The Bill Justice character mural that used to stand in this space lives on with these rolled up pictures of it in one of the mailboxes

A great addition to a pretty bland room of the queue

A new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window in Fantasyland

Hidden camera

Another window in Fantasyland

This appears to be Merlin’s house as you can see Archimedes’ bird house in the back

Another Fantasyland window

Not so hidden

The last reference to Tinker Bell’s Treasures has been turned into a Sorcerers window

The Main Street Electrical Parade is supposedly leaving before Summer 2012, so get in your last views while you can

The holiday edition of “The Magic, the Memories, and You!” is still performing

Some Holiday Wishes! photos

Yowza…

Quick, let’s take the secret exit out of this photo report!

Talking Mickey Makes a Short Stop at Town Square Theater

Well, talking Mickey Mouse made his way to Florida last night with a short test period at Town Square Theater during the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Disney has released a short video of the test:

He was only out for about 30 minutes last night, but is already causing quite a stir amongst guests. Don’t worry about missing him, rumor is that talking Mickey will be around for at least the next two weeks, if not permanently at Town Square Theater. We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.