Dirk Wallen’s 8/11-12/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on September 13, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen recently visited three of the Walt Disney World theme parks and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip. With all the D23 Expo coverage we’ve been dealing with, it has taken a while to get to this report, but better late than never, so let’s take a look:

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No more Lone Ranger preview… it’s not really playing at many theaters anymore…

MuppetVision 3-D is closed for refurbishment

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Sofia the first debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios recently

She has a nice backdrop for her meet and greet

Disney Infinity billboards are up at the Backlot Tour

Also, the 1-2-3 Mickey Mouse has been decorated to celebrate Planes…

At Epcot, work continues on adding more of the new turnstiles

FastPass+ entrance at Spaceship Earth

This food cart behind Spaceship Earth has finally opened!

No more tarps up on Fountain View and signage has been installed

FastPass+ at Turtle Talk with Crush

Work continues on Spice Road Table in Morocco

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, Halloween merchandise has been released across property

Haunted Mansion singing bust ornaments

The shirt is the same design from last year, but says 2013

Light-up popcorn bucket

During a recent refurbishment, new boats were installed at Pirates of the Caribbean

They look great and don’t bottom out, but they have been getting guests a lot more wet than the old boats and make a horrible squeaking noise when they bump into each other…

The Magic Kingdom now sells the most expensive fruit ever… let’s end with this…

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

WDWNT on July 17, 2013

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 & VIDEO: The Three Caballeros Return to Epcot for Limited Time Magic

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

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For this week’s Limited Time Magic, a number of special entertainment offerings are being offered at the Mexico pavilion at Epcot in celebration of Cinco De Mayo.

They are giving out these awesome autograph cards for the Three Caballeros

Here’s video of the Three Caballeros having fun with guests at their meet and greet:

Tom Corless’ 5/6/13 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

While visiting Epcot on Monday to see the Three Caballeros, I managed to take pictures of a few other newsworthy items around the park, so lets take a look:

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The “toothpick holder” set was updated with a retro Figment shot glass now included

Some new shirts out in Mouse Gear

Work continues on turning FountainView into a Starbucks location

Work is just getting started on Spice Road Table in the Morocco pavilion

The latest Good Luck/Bad Luck pin has Yoda, which is interesting because the set until now has consisted of classic Disney characters

A new retro Journey Into Imagination keychain came out recently

Tom Corless’ 5/8/13 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

I made a visit to Epcot during the day on Wednesday and found a few newsworthy items around the park, so let’s take a look at what’s new:

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The store at the exit of Test Track now has a name: The After Market Shop

I haven’t seen fish like this in a long time at the Seas with Nemo and Friends… it was because it was feeding time

They are growing a Mickey made of hops on Living with the Land

We think it might be for the Food & Wine Festival in the fall

The loading area was modified at Journey Into Imagination this week

The loading area was pushed way back from the loading platform

The Norway waterfall is behind walls again

New, larger restrooms are being constructed at the American Adventure, near where the festival booths are set up each year

Work continues on L’Artisan des Glaces, the France ice cream parlor

A lot of work to be done before the June opening

New Grumpy shirt in Mouse Gear

Dirk Wallen’s 5/25/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:

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Work continues on turning FountainView into a Starbucks location

The Epcot Character Spot is expected to return to its original location next week, but it looks like the entrance is moving over here

The Flower and Garden Festival is over…

No more butterflies…

The Lion King display was still up

Goodbye Oz…

Radiator Springs has been wiped from existence

The Monsters University display is gone

No visible progress on Spice Road Table in Morocco yet

At the Studios, the KODAK logo is gone from the film in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area

A large Etch-A-Sketch was installed in the Toy Story Mania queue recently. We expect this to interact with guests at some point soon…

PHOTOS & VIDEO: The Kinsey Collection Exhibit Opens at Epcot

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Walt Disney World Resort recently opened “Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from the Kinsey Collection,” an exhibit representing more than 400 years of African-American achievement and contribution. The exhibit at the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot features rare art, books and documents from the private collection of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, who have amassed the collection over 30 years. Themed to hope, belief, courage, imagination and heritage, the exhibit’s rare art, books and documents pay homage to the untold stories of African-Americans who helped build and transform a nation. Their stories of determination and courage, as well as their struggles for equality and civil rights, are at the heart of this exhibit.

We have photos and video offering a quick glimpse at the exhibit to share with you today:

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There are a few interactive exhibits with famous narrators throughout the experience

The interactive lanterns are actually pretty neat and add to what many guests might think is a dull experience:

So, what do you think of the Kinsey Collection? Is this something you will see while at Epcot?

Morocco’s Spice Road Table to Open On the Shores Of World Showcase Lagoon in 2013

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

Disney confirmed the addition of a waterside restaurant to the Morocco pavilion at Epcot earlier today.

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The restaurant will be called Spice Road Table and will have both indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant will open later this year and will feature various small plates and refreshments inspired by the cuisine of the Mediterranean.

Disney has also promised other “enhancements” to the pavilion that will be announced at another time.

So what do you think? Is another Moroccan restaurant a good idea?

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

WDWNT on April 24, 2013

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

“Limited Time Magic” Brings a Winter Wonderland to Canada at Epcot 1/14-1/20

WDWNT on March 17, 2013

From the Disney Parks Blog:

It’s Friday, and time to share our next “Limited Time Magic” surprise at the Walt Disney World Resort. Our latest extra sprinkle of Pixie Dust begins on Monday at the Canada Pavilion in Epcot.

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The forecast at Epcot this week is sunny with a chance of flurries. For one week only, January 14-20, there will be a magical Winter Wonderland location with falling snow where you and your family can meet and take photos with some of your favorite Disney characters. It’s an all new character greeting location in the Canada Pavilion.

Times for the Winter Wonderland location at Epcot are:

  • 10:30 a.m. – 2:10 p.m.
  • 3:05 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

What do you think of this Limited Time Magic offering?