May 16, 2013

On Saturday and Tuesday I visited the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (respectively) and took some newsworthy photos to share with you, so let’s take a look: The canopy is missing from the Haunted Mansion Should be back soon work progresses on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train in Fantasyland The steak sandwich is gone from the Be Our Guest lunch menu, replaced with a prime chuck roast beef sandwich For some reason, a Disney Visa card kiosk has been built near the Haunted Mansion Signage for A Pirate’s Adventure has been uncovered Pins are once again gone from Uptown Jewelers, replaced with ladies’ accessories Moving over to Hollywood Studios, the Lightning McQueen popcorn bucket from Cars Land is being used at Backlot...

Apr 11, 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: 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...

Mar 21, 2013

Things have been so crazy around here at WDW News Today lately that we’ve had some minor news stories slip through the cracks. In an effort to get you up to speed on some of the stories we haven’t covered on the site lately, here are newsworthy photos from myself and Dirk Wallen taken earlier in March: Some new “flat” snowglobes for sale There are some new hot sandwiches in Liberty Square Most of the arcades at Walt Disney World are replacing their prize counters with one of these An automated prize machine is a pretty cool concept The new purchase with purchase item for sale is an expandable duffle Wriost gift cards are available for the Flower and Garden Festival Work continues on expanding the Boardwalk Bakery The arcade next door...

Feb 12, 2013

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Monday and has a ton fo newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look: Work continues on Splash Mountain Splash Mountain will re-open in March Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train Pinocchio’s Village Haus has the Lemonade with Wil Berry Foam from Be Our Guest, but in a Pinocchio stein The Adventureland Veranda is behind tarps The roof is being replaced in this often neglected section of the building Another wall up in another section of the building The stage for Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial is being worked on The show is still being performed though The interactive queue is being constructed at Pirates...

The California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is shuttering for refurbishment on February 1st and will be closed until late Summer 2013. The interior of the restaurant is being remodeled with a design by the Puccini Group in San Francisco and will feature a wall of wines at the entrance and spectacular views from every table. Here are some renderings: Chef Brian Piasecki recently previewed some of the new menu options. The pork and polenta dish will become “Pork Two Ways” with wood-fired tenderloin with goat cheese polenta, and braised lacquered pork belly with country applesauce. Creative new sushi tastes include the Spicy Kaza roll with tuna, shrimp and scallops with tempura crunch and fireball sauce; Japanese-style bone marrow with crunchy...

I know it is a few days late, but I decided that I should share some newsworthy photos from my last trip to Walt Disney World with you, so let’s take a look at a couple of interesting things happening around the resort: The Epcot Center charm bracelet is now available The “Oz The Great and Powerful” playground fro the Flower and Garden Festival is being constructed near Imagination! The FastPass+ queue seems to be finished at the Seas with Nemo and Friends Yes, the cut a hole in the mural… The Main Street Bakery is closed until May to convert to Starbucks service Tomorrowland Terrace has breakfast for now FastPass+ scanners uncovered at Tomorrowland Speedway Also uncovered at the Barnstormer The umbrellas have finally arrived for...

So, 2012 is coming to a close and you’re probably now asking, “Well, what is happening at Walt Disney World in 2013?” It’s going to be nearly impossible to top all the changes and additions we had in 2012 at the Vacation Kingdom of the World, but there will be a steady diet of exciting offerings coming in 2013: Princess Fairytale Hall Disney princesses including Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White, Jasmine, Tiana and Rapunzel will have a new home for meeting their loyal subjects when Princess Fairytale Hall opens in 2013 in the shadows of Cinderella Castle. The castle-like entrance will feature walls of stone and stained glass windows leading to a large, high-ceilinged room where portraits of the princesses adorn the walls. When summoned, Magic...

In preparation for the opening of the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, the rest of the resort has been undergoing sweeping changes overt the last few months. Most of this work has been completed, so let’s take a look at the current state of the resort: Gasparilla Grill and Games is now Gasparilla Island Grill The old mats are still here The seating area was expanded and remodeled The ordering area is generally the same, just freshened up ICE CREAM! There are a lot more seats now The arcade is now next door Arcadia Games The arcade has a separate exterior entrance Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries reopened recently too There is now a huge refrigerator section for cold drinks and food Some new Grand Floridian Resort merchandise...

Dec 20, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort on Tuesday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look: IT’S ALMOST HERE! All of the Kodak picture spots will be removed soon as the sponsorship has come to an end The Cheshire Cafe sign is missing for some reason Work continues on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Gaston’s Tavern now has hot cocoa The Gaston’s Tavern stein is available again at Bonjour Village Gifts 2013 merchandise can be found just about anywhere at WDW now 2013 Duffy! The Disney Afternoon pins are now available 2013 mystery pins were recently released as well Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure mystery pin set FastPass+ testing was still...

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and a few of the resort hotels last week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip: It’s Autumn Pins available for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak has a pin Holiday pins are out Walls still up near the Haunted Mansion Tarps up on Columbia Harbor House The Yankee Trader is still behind tarps Work continues on the new restrooms in Fantasyland The Village Haus balcony is still closed, but tarps have started coming down Looks nice The souvenir cups from Gaston’s Tavern are also at Village Haus Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction continues Wow… Fun “character”...