EPCOT Center Returns!!! (Sort Of)

WDWNT on April 12, 2009

Disney pin collectors and Epcot purists should be happy about this 6 pin boxed-set coming out later this year at the Walt Disney World Resort (courtesy of Disneypins.com):

blog_20090412_epcotsetjpg

Among the notable pieces of the collection are the original Future World, World Showcase, Spaceship Earth, and Epcot Center logos, the Dreamfinder and Figment pin, and a pin replicating the opening day Epcot Center ticket. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today and the Disney Pincast for more information on this and other upcoming Disney pins.

Celebrate Eating at Tutto Italia

WDWNT on February 20, 2009

Even though I strongly dislike the restaurant, I applaud the effort to keep the experience at the “Tutto Italia Ristorante” in the Italy pavilion at Epcot fresh with special dining events like this one:

Carnevale di Venezia is February 23 to March 4 at Tutto Italia Ristorante at Epcot

A special lunch and dinner menu will be available to guests featuring scrumptious Italian cuisine. During the celebration, guests can choose one of two pre-selected appetizers, entrees and desserts. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. A special performance by “Viva Venezia” will occur each evening during dinner inside the restaurant – see weekly times guide for show times. The musical trio, known as the “strolling musicians”, will serenade guests with traditional Venetian music. Call (407) WDW-DINE for dining reservations.

BREAKING NEWS: Disney Inks Huge Deal with Verizon Wireless

WDWNT on November 12, 2008

This just in from the Walt Disney World Resort:

November 12, 2008 – Marking a first in both the travel and mobile industries, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Verizon are teaming up for a multi-year relationship designed to enhance the guest experience – before, during and after guests arrive at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.  This alignment allows guests to have a personal tour guide right in their wireless phones along with reliable new services at the parks. Early next year guests will also use Verizon Wireless’ technology when experiencing Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an ultra-interactive attraction coming to Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort.

“With more than 90 percent of families bringing a mobile phone into our Parks, our objective was to enhance the magical Disney experience through innovative wireless technology,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  “Imagine receiving up to the minute tips on special Park activities with just the touch of a button or receiving a call from Buzz Lightyear welcoming you to the Magic Kingdom.”

Beginning next year, guests will be able to access an array of features on their Verizon Wireless phones while at the Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort to help them make the most of their Disney experiences.  Planned services include an exclusive mobile application that will give guests with Verizon Wireless service the ability to easily locate shows, restaurants and the Disney characters anywhere inside the Parks; get real-time attraction availability information; access mobile games; receive messages from characters and more. Verizon Wireless is also continuing to invest in its wireless network from coast to coast, and the relationship with Disney means the wireless users will benefit from further enhancements to the Verizon Wireless network in the Parks. 

John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media and marketing for Verizon, said, “All of our efforts focus on one goal: making the Disney experience even better for our customers.  There are few life experiences that are more memorable than visiting a Disney Park, and now guests with Verizon Wireless service will unlock even more magic from their visit – by navigating the Parks easier and faster with instant access to key information such as ‘Where’s Mickey now?’ and other special features – even when they travel home and share their experiences with family and friends.”

In addition, guests visiting Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort in early 2009 will be among the first to experience Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure.  An ultra-interactive attraction, Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure invites guests of all ages to team up with members of Team Possible to save the world from various comical villains and their mad inventions.  Armed with an official Verizon Wireless “Kimmunicator,” guests will use these handheld devices to help maneuver through the mission.  The interactive wireless theme park game was inspired by Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning animated series, “Kim Possible.”  

While Verizon Wireless customers will have exclusive access to an array of enhanced features, Disney and Verizon are also working to ensure that some mobile information such as dining locations, show times and locations will be available to all Parks visitors, regardless of their wireless company.  

Additional details will be available next year as the companies expect to add a suite of services and functionalities to help guests at Disney Parks have the most magical experience.  For more information about Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, visit www.disney.com.  For more information about Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

Disney Parks and Resorts – Taking Guests to New Frontiers

The agreement between Disney and Verizon is another step in a series of new initiatives that highlight the latest technologies from Disney Parks and Resorts with a continued focus on improving guest experience and providing immersive entertainment. Disney Parks and Resorts continue to exemplify how technologies can be used to build new connections and redefine how guests plan and enjoy their vacations.  From the time guests begin planning their vacation using Walt Disney World Resort in 3D on Google Earth or tuning into Disney Travel on Demand, the experience is designed to make their lives easier.  Guests can take their vacation experience to a new level with Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an interactive wireless theme park game for families, and by personalizing and sharing their Disney experiences when they return home, using DisneyLink, a desktop application.

Now I can’t say we haven’t discussed some of these ideas for a while, but we weren’t always expecting Disney to align with Verizon for this content. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we gather more information on this breaking news.

09/04/08 WDW Photo Update by Jason Diffendal

WDWNT on September 5, 2008

Staff member Jason Diffendal of WDWCelebrations.com has provided us with some very interesting pictures from around WDW during his latest trip. Let’s take a look at a few newsworthy items:

Starting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the new Night of Joy event logo has taken over the entrance billboard. I really like the new logo, something about those colors…

The stage in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat is almost ready for the Night(s) of Joy.

While the temporary stage is set, High School Musical 2: School’s Out will be performing on the Streets of America. This shows final performance is going to be September 13th, with the updated High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show to debut on October 24th.

Work on something continues at the end of Sunset Blvd.

Mouse About Town, Once Upon a Time, and Sunset Club Couture (Sunset Blvd. Shops) have all closed to be refurbished and change over to selling just clothing. This is a horrible decision, which moves the watchmaker into the Art of Disney over in the Animation Courtyard and leaves the park with more limited options when it comes to collectibles and home goods. It appears the restrooms next door are also closed at this time.

Moving over to Epcot, wait times make the off-season seem a little more off this year.

“These wait times look so good, I want one!”

Food and Wine Festival preparation outside the American Adventure

The Morocco gallery is closed while a new exhibit is added. The new exhibit will open on September 25.

Epcot rushing together the International Food & Wine Festival, which begins September 26.

Exterior work continues on the United Kingdom pavilion.

Moving over to the Magic Kingdom, work continues on the Liberty Bell in Liberty Square

Work on the Fantasyland facades continues, now expanded onto Tinker Bell’s Treasures

Even though the new Liberty Square bridge is complete, work continues in the waters below it.

More columns around Main Street U.S.A. are being painted. Wonder how many average guests even noticed this one…

Even the napkins are getting into the Halloween spirit this year.

We end this special report with a Halloween cup you could get next time you buy a Coke at WDW. Thanks for the report Jason!

Kim Possible Coming Back

WDWNT on August 22, 2008

As first reported by WDW News Today and the WDW News Today Podcast, it is now official that the interactive Kim Possible experience at Epcot is returning this year:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Epcot guests at Walt Disney World Resort will be treated to a brand new, highly interactive attraction inspired by Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning animated series, Disney’s Kim Possible.  The new experience is slated to premiere in late 2008.

Using the latest technology, Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure invites guests of all ages to become secret agents, teaming up with members of Team Possible to save the world from various comical villains and their mad inventions.

As guests embark on this international adventure, they will receive an official “Kimmunicator,” at kiosks throughout Epcot.  The interactive, handheld device is designed to help them maneuver through the mission.  Using state-of-the-art technology, the interactive device connects guests with a variety of Kim Possible characters who provide clues to stop villains from taking over the world.  The highly interactive devices also allow guests to control top-secret equipment hidden inside theWorld Showcase pavilions, creating an ultra-interactive adventure jam-packed with mystery and excitement.

Guests can play Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure in seven of theWorld Showcase pavilions: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France andUnited Kingdom.  Each pavilion features a unique mission including distinctive visual events and a different super villain from the animated series.

“Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure is an example of a next generation attraction that offers fun and excitement for the entire family,” said Jim MacPhee, Epcot vice president. “We are constantly exploring new ways to provide immersive experiences to Epcot guests, and this new offering will add to our dynamic portfolio.”

“Today’s emerging generation expects more immersive, personal and interactive experiences in every facet of their lives, including their entertainment choices,” added Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering.  “As leaders in family entertainment, Disney theme parks push the envelope by combining state-of-the-art technology with creative storytelling to enhance the overall Disney vacation experience.”

Epcot is a place of innovation, imagination, human achievement and endless possibilities.  The park encompasses two “lands” of discovery: Future World, a showcase of new ideas and technology, and World Showcase, a kaleidoscope of nations celebrating cultural heritage, arts and entertainment.  For more information, guests may call 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com.

Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure will open at Walt Disney World Resort during “The Year of a Million Dreams” celebration. 

A worldwide hit for kids and families, Disney’s “Kim Possible” is an Emmy Award-winning animated series from creators/executive producers Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle and Walt Disney Television Animation.  It tells the story of an average high school cheerleader, Kim Possible, who, in her spare time, happens to save the world from super villains.  With the aid of her enthusiastic pals, this contemporary heroine is capable in ways few high school students ever imagine.  On the flipside, she realizes that defeating the bad guys comes easier than coping with the typical teen pressures of schooling and socializing.  Viewers’ connection to “Kim Possible” led to a successful off-TV franchise for The Walt Disney Company including Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable characters at Disney Parks &  Resorts, DVDs, books, video games and Disney Consumer Product’s line of “Kim  Possible” branded products available at mass retailers  nationwide.