May 9, 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: 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...

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...

Mar 3, 2013

Test Track: First Impressions by Ron D’Anna December 11, 1998 was a landmark day at Epcot. While not officially open, it was the first day Test Track saw riders. After over two years of waiting and delays, Epcot received its first thrill ride. While official Cast Member previews would begin the next day, Epcot cast members and their guests got to experience the attraction before anyone else. However, though I wasn’t working at Epcot, I managed to get in with a group of friends that night as well. After years of waiting for the ride to open, I was there for its first night, and what appeared to be its first breakdown. Just as I pulled into the unload area, the ride suddenly stopped and the Imagineers who had been lining the platforms scattered. It was a truly...

Mar 1, 2013

You already know that MagicBand will forever change the guest experience when it debuts as part of MyMagic+ later this year. However, some new details have emerged that you might not be aware of: Made of a hypoallergenic material, MagicBand is flexible and comfortable to wear. It has ridges on the backside that help air circulate between the band and the wrist. It has been designed to withstand hot and cold temperatures. It is also waterproof. The MagicBand easily scales to fit nearly any guest. It is adjustable and has a peel away layer to make the band small enough to fit children. Guests who visit MyDisneyExperience before their vacation will have the opportunity to personalize their MagicBand with one of seven colors (Green, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Black,...

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen visited the Magic Kingdom on Saturday and has some fantastic pictures of new progress on the Big Thunder Mountain interactive queue, A Pirate’s Life: Treasures of the Seven Seas, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and more, so let’s take a look: While the Main Street Bakery is closed, guests can head to the Tomorrowland Terrace Plenty of options at Tomorrowland Terrace, including beignets! The flowers in the hub have gone to Valentine’s Day colors and the ducks love it… Valentine’s Day cupcakes available at Big Top Treats I’ve heard of panning for gold… More props and interactive elements have been installed in the queue at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad The “exploding” crates are...

Test Track presented by Chevrolet is now officially open at Epcot and if you haven’t had a chance to check out this great new offering, well, we have you covered. First up, we take an in-depth look at the car and truck design process: Then we have video of the on-ride portion where you take your car for a ride on the Sim Track: One of the post show features that was added a few days later was the Driving Tables, where you take you car you designed and race it against other guests: To top it all off, we have a comprehensive video that includes all the video from above, but also the facade, queue, loading area, and more post-show elements. Enjoy this comprehensive look at Test Track presented by Chevrolet: So, what do you think of the new Test...

With Test Track presented by Chevrolet officially opening tomorrow, we decided it might be a good idea to prepare you for thr rigors of designing your own custom car for ther Sim-Track. The following video will take you through the design process for both a car and a truck and will show you how each decision you make can affect your final score....

By Anonymous (It’s a Secret) Wednesday night, I had the privilege of taking a sneak preview ride on the all new Test Track.  What I saw can easily be described in one word: breathtaking.  Before I go into further detail, I should warn you that this review will be very spoiler heavy, so if you want to be surprised, please read no more.  There is no shame in wanting to experience the attraction with no knowledge of it – in fact, it’s my preferred way to do it.  But if spoilers aren’t a concern to you, then welcome to the SimTrack! The entrance plaza is sleek.  Plenty of blues and silvers set the tone for your experience, and the whole thing is very futuristic.  It’s amazing how much I thought I was back in the 80′s.  The...

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot and the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and has a bunch of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look: Habit Heroes – still closed The exterior of Test Track is making quick progress as we race towards soft openings Signage about to go up They finally painted the exit A look over the walls Epcot Christmas tree Food and Wine is now over, but at least we have the memories… The temporary Epcot Character Spot is in the old Epcot 25th Anniversary exhibit space The backdrop is retro-tastic… Some remnants of the exhibit remain The actual Character Spot in down for a lengthy refurbishment Looks like it is going to be a while Still using the same...

General Motors released a number of photos and a press release about Test Track presented by Chevrolet opening at Epcot soon: DETROIT – Chevrolet designers and Walt Disney Imagineers have joined forces to give Walt Disney World Resort guests a deep look inside a professional design studio creating a first-of-its-kind multi-sensory virtual experience in automotive design. Chevrolet and Disney tapped their best design talent with expertise ranging from industrial and automotive design to architecture and animation. The design collaboration began 18 months ago with a few guiding principles – create an experience that is personal, future-focused and optimistic. The two teams met regularly throughout the development process in both GM’s Design studios in Warren,...