WDWNT videographer and photographer Matt Paul spent last weekend visiting the Walt Disney World Resort and reports back to us with an amazing amount of newsworthy photos to share:
Let’s go there!
Closer…
“Celebrate Today!” decorations on the Monorails.
“Celebrate Today!” decorations also on the busses.
An old location for Guest Relations sits dormant outside the park.
The windows still feature the original Epcot Center logo.
“Celebrate Today!” banners near the entrance
Welcome to Epcot
As part of the environmentality program, recycling bins are now being placed next to all trash cans at the Resort
It looks like they re-paved this little section before the turnstiles
You can celebrate your birthday at Epcot with free admission
Let’s see how many times we can say celebrate in one report…
The Flower and Garden Festival is in full bloom now
Most of the pieces from this scene were moved to Epcot from Hollywood Studios for the Flower and Garden Festival
This screen is in need of an update
Never seen that sign before…
Topiaries of Ben Ali Gator and Hyacinth Hippo from the Dance of the Hours sequence in Fantasia
The Fountain of Nations is finally out from construction walls.
Celebrate with big balloons inside MouseGear
The Jamitors have received a little face-lift for the Flower and Garden Festival
Big flowers and long waits describe last weekend
Stitch appropriately by Mission Space
The Universe of Energy re-opens from refurbishment later this week
Now let’s take a tour of Garden Town.
Information kiosk at the entrance to Garden Town.
The Festival Guide.
A map of Garden Town.
A seminar from the University of Florida.
Festival merchandise.
A cool springtime Figment plush that has been out for a few weeks now
Not much remains of the Body Wars attraction
This sign still remains, apart from being whited-out.
Mickey welcomes you to Garden Town.
In the former Making of Me theater, is The Making of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival video.
A display for Disney Nature’s “Earth”
The Disneynature “Castle”.
It features a display on the other side of it
American Idol Experience merchandise on sale at Club Cool
This may substantiate rumors that Coca-Cola sponsored the attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
The Epcot timeline still remains outside of the former Epcot 25th anniversary gallery
The closed door to the former gallery that now holds Segway vehicles
A new ramp for ducks in Future World
We’re now joining in with other Disney fan-sites in posting duck photos
Flowers are certainly in bloom at Epcot in the Spring.
Do I see what I think I see?
People at the Imagination pavilion?
Matt says that Journey Into Imagination with Figment had a 20 minute wait on Friday
Gardens near Imagination!
Contrary to some rumors, the Fountain of Nations stage remains.
However it does look quite broken up.
Minnie’s Butterfly Garden is presented by Disney Nature’s Earth.
This sign explains exactly what Disney Nature is.
The Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure was down most of Friday
This hat reminds me of Kyle Duffield on the Disneyland News Today Podcast
The waterfall at the Canada pavilion is up and running again
The oddest choice of topiaries for the festival has to be these perfume bottles in France
He seemed interested in Belle, but I think he then saw the Beast…
Davy Jones kicks off the Flower Power concert series this year
Set-up for the concert that night
Is it a secret if you tell everyone?
Someone must have lost to a villain…
A Dragon topiary in China
Tarps up in China as usual
Construction walls as well
Very cool posters at the Kim Possible Recruitment Center on the World Showcase bridge
Now we move over to Fort Wilderness where there is a refurbishment of the pool area in progress
There is another strange refurbishment going on over here as well
The Tri-Circle D Ranch
Hi there!
Bay Lake Tower looks great from Bay Lake
The main feature pool is open at the Contemporary while some work goes on around it
A new series of signs in the Grand Canyon Concourse for the Outer Rim Bar, Chef Mickey’s, and Contempo Cafe
“Celebrate Today!” at the Polynesian Resort
My personal favorite, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
The Year of a Million Dreams banner is finally gone!
Something doesn’t fit here…
The end of the dock at the Grand Floridian appears to be closed
Has this roof at the Polynesian been re-painted?
A look over at the Magic Kingdom
An awesome “Celebrate Today!” shop window on Main Street U.S.A.
Now onto Saturday, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Toy Story Mania billboard is once again up at the entrance to the park
These signs at are at each park’s ticket booths, and are customized to each individual park
The new Hollywood Studios map that debuted with The American Idol Experience back in February
The Sorcerer’s Hat’s looks fantastic!
“Up” billboard.
I’m sorry we had to put this photo up…
but this “Bolt” billboard should make up for it.
Rumors suggest that Mr. Spell may soon be “talking” to guests walking by
The Mickey Avenue sign has returned outside Journey into Narnia
Mickey Avenue still seems to be at the park, just much smaller thanks to Pixar Place
Pixar Place sign
A Green Army Man signing hollow cardboard in Pixar Place
Soundstage 1 awaits its next production, rumored to be a suspended Monsters Inc. roller coaster
The Studio Backlot Tour is still closed to remove the live speaker and add an automated spiel
You can see some of the trams parked at the loading/unloading area
Auditions being held at The American Idol Experience.
New lights inside the Sorcerer’s Hat as well
An American Idol Experience merchandise cart has been added to the central hub of the park
Goofy portrays Randy Jackson in this shirt
The American Idol Experience performs every hour on the hour from 11am to 7pm, except for 3pm, when Block Party Bash is shown
The backside of Keystone Clothiers under tarps again
The returning plaque awaits the 20th Anniversary on May 1st
Construction walls outside Sunset Club Couture
Fairfax fries is closed to remove McDonald’s
You can visit Rosie’s while it is closed
Watch out!!!!
The Drew Carrey billboard on the top of Sounds Dangerous is gone and the electronic board is off
Don’t expect it to ever operate again either
According to Disney: Achieve performance excellence in the only all-Disney-produced competitive music festival. When you own the Disney stage, you own the world. Join Festival Disney and give your talented ensemble the chance to compete with instrumental, choral and auxiliary groups from schools across the country.
Now it’s time to leave the glistening gold of Hollywood…
and enter Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the first time in ages here on WDWNT!
Animal Kingdom is not left out of the celebration
Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends is still listed on the Entertainment board, even though it has not performed in 6 months
The theater is still pretty much in-tact.
A really long line for Kilimanjaro Safaris Fastpass return
Walt Disney World’s least talked about parade is definitely the underrated Mickey’s Jamin’ Jungle Parade, so here are a selection of Matt’s parade photos
Finding Nemo quotes in the line for Finding Nemo: The Musical
“In the big blue world!”
No longer made a possible by Mcdonald’s Corporation
Now back to the Magic Kingdom
The walls at Exposition Hall have become an impromptu stroller parking area
Hula hoops for pre-parade entertainment and fun come on a new cart
“What will you celebrate?”
An exterior refurbishment is now taking place on the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe
The Hall of Presidents facade still under tarps
Even though they built a new Liberty Square Bridge, it always seems to be under refurbishment
The Diamond Horseshoe still has a few tarps up as well
They are on the side of the building
A small construction wall up near the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland
Night is approaching
The Tomorrowland rocks are still being worked on.
The walls around the ex-Galaxy Palace Theater have come down revealing a new character meet ‘n’ greet area.
Not completely finished yet though
Construction on the Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration stage continues
The control booth is just about finished
This entrance area may look very different come November
The Village Fry Shoppe is still open, but probably not for long
This is the last place in the parks to get McDonald’s food
Wishes! from Fantasyland
“What they can’t do these days!”
We end Matt’s gigantic report with the three new signs at the Contemporary in the evening after Wishes!
Thanks for your report Matt!
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