After a few days of delay, Jose Castillo has finally provided us with pictures from the last day of his latest trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. Let’s take a look at some of his pics from Monday:
The balloon window-clings have now reached the Walt Disney World buses
“Follow that bus to the best kept Disney secret!!!”
I’m sure that’s a news title you never expected to read on this website, but it’s true. In this case, it’s the wand in a form that’s even uglier than the real thing was. However, it was in use for a pretty good reason :
An 80-foot-tall hot air balloon, shaped like Epcot’s Spaceship Earth icon, floated Jan. 28, 2009 above Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., carrying the Birkett family, of Scottsdale, Ariz. The special flight was one of the dreams awarded as part of Disney Parks’ 2008 “Disney Dreams Giveaway.” On Sept. 17, 2008, Christian Birkett was chosen at random as the dream recipient while experiencing The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction at Disneyland Park in California. In addition to the tethered balloon flight, Birkett’s dream included a VIP vacation to Walt Disney World. The Disney Dreams Giveaway, part of Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams which officially ended Dec. 31, 2008, awarded a million-plus dreams throughout 2008 at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. After today’s balloon flight, Birkett commented, “When you’re up there, it feels like you’re on top of the world. It’s definitely a dream come true.” (David Roark, photographer)
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!
Matt Paul was at the Magic Kingdom on Sunday to attend the Very Merry Christmas Party, and shares with us some very interesting photos:
A huge vending location of some kind is rising up behind the construction walls in the location of the former fry wagon
You can see fixtures for signage and an awning in this picture
construction materials behind the building on the hill
Our very own Matt Paul attended this weekend’s Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade tapings, and reports back to us with these photos:
This Friday and Saturday were days for Walt Disney World Christmas Day parade taping
Dream Along With Mickey performed on a slightly modified stage for the later performances
These red curtains were put in just for the parade taping.
According to MiceAge, the opening of the DCA Preview Center has been pushed back 1 month. There are a couple of factors as to why the date was pushed back. Firstly, Jay Rasulo should be announcing Magical Celebrations, the follow-up promotion to the Year of a Million Dreams on September 18th in New York. Secondly, the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event that is happening on October 5th. Basically, Disney don’t want the “DCA message” to be lost in-between these 2 events.
So if everything goes according to plan, Cast Member & Annual Passholder previews should be held around the second week of October, with a grand opening planned to happen on October 20th. The good news in this however, is that the exhibits, as well as the 7 minute video that will play on the screen that used to play the Seasons of the Vine movie are both ready. Marketing however isn’t…
While it is already official that the 6 remaining Pleasure Island clubs, as well as the Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, will be closing forever on September 27, that may not be the full list of Walt Disney World attractions and shows departing for yesterland on that day. Rumors are now circulating that two of the Magic Kingdom shows brought to the park for the Year of a Million Dreams celebration may be making their final performances on September 27, 2008. If the rumors we’re hearing are true, this fateful Saturday in September will also be your last chance to catch Woody’s Cowboy Camp and the Main Street Family Fun Day Parade. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on these rumors.
For those of you also interested, during the very same weekend that these attractions are saying goodbye, the wonderful group over at WDWCelebrations will be putting on yet-another fantastic event titled “World Wide Weekend”. To get more information on this event and how you can be a part of It, head on over to WDWCelebrations.com. We hope to see you there!!!
A new Grand Marshal vehicle has debuted in the Magic Kingdom theme park, carrying guests of honor down the daily parade route in grand style. To fit the theme of Main Street, USA, the vehicle was designed after a 1912 touring car. The new vehicle’s design also allows guests in wheelchairs to board easily and ride in the main seating area. Also an added touch of the new vehicle — Mickey Mouse tread designs on all four tires and the spare tire attached to the rear. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)
WDW News Today has just been informed that after the conclusion of the long-running Year of a Million Dreams celebration in December 2008, Disney Parks will begin a new, smaller scale promotional program. The new promotion will be titled “Magical Celebrations” and is scheduled to begin in January 2009. The only part of the celebration that has been mentioned (still unofficial) thus far for the Walt Disney World Resort is the addition of Disneyland’s Parade of Dreams to the Magic Kingdom. No additional information is available at this time, but stay tuned to WDW News Today as more becomes available.
We’re hearing that, like with the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage last year, exclusive first rides for Toy Story Mania will be given out as prizes in the Year of a Million Dreams.
Of course this is only a rumor, but seeing as it happened last year, it’s likely to happen again this year!
