WDW-Tube??? Sounds Familiar….
Tom Corless
The Disney Parks have now launched their own Youtube channel, and are already running a contest to promote the new venture: Who: Walt Disney Parks & Resorts just launched The Disney Parks Channel on YouTube. What: The “My Favorite Disney Parks Memory Contest” kicks-off the channel’s launch, giving families a chance to win a once …
Mickey’s Fun Wheel Is On Its Way!
Anthony Yacullo
We’ve just been informed that the Sun Wheel’s re-theme/refurbishment will start on September 11th, 2008. The re-theme will include the new 1930’s style Mickey Mouse face, re-working of the queue, a re-paint, & the new name, Mickey’s Fun Wheel! Also planned to take place during this time is the re-theming of the Games of the …
Innoventions Dream Home Now Open to the Public
Anthony Yacullo
From the OC Register: The Innoventions Dream Home is open to the public starting today, according to Disney Spokesman John McClintock. On June 17 Disney pulled back the curtain on the new Innoventions Dream Home, but the attraction was only open for limited hours and only to annual passholders. McClintock said the home was open …
Wall-E in Hollywood Pictures Backlot
Anthony Yacullo
MouseInfo managed to get a shot of the new Wall-E display in Hollywood Pictures Backlot, where Wall-E should be appearing later this year: Anthony Yacullo
No More in “Water Parks and More”
Tom Corless
Disney will be changing some of the rules that apply to the Water Parks and More option on Walt Disney World tickets in response to the closing of the Pleasure Island clubs on September 27: Beginning September 28, 2008, the Water Park Fun & More ticket option will no longer include admission to Pleasure Island …
“How To” Help Guests
Tom Corless
In case the WDW News Today Podcast hasn’t helped you prepare for your Walt Disney World vacation over the last year it has existed (doubtful), Disney might be able to help you now: LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Families planning a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort now have access to a new online resource …
Create Your Own Mania
Tom Corless
If you head on over to the official Toy Story Mania website, you’ll now find four games you can play that are very similar to the games in the real Toy Story Midway Mania. While the four games (themed to Rex, Weezy, Slinky Dog, and Jesse) feature slightly different themes from the games in the attractions, they feature …
Hollywood Studios Update
Tom Corless
Our friends over at Studios Central have another great park update from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this time capturing changes on Pixar Place, Wall-E appearing in the Art of Disney Animation, and the final Star Wars Weekend. You can see all of the great photos HERE. Tom Corless
Play Midway Mania at Home!
Anthony Yacullo
If you head on over to the official Toy Story Mania website, you’ll now find four games you can play that are very similar to the games in the real Toy Story Midway Mania. While the four games feature different themes from the games in the attractions, they feature secret targets and ammunition multipliers, giving …
AMC-E
Anthony Yacullo
Dan-Tasmic on MiceChat managed to snap a shot of a giant inflatable Wall-E up in Downtown Disney by the AMC Theaters: (and no folks, the titles of these posts aren’t getting any more creative!) Anthony Yacullo
Article Mania!
Anthony Yacullo
Here are 3 articles from the OC Register with information on the Innoventions Dream Home, Wall-E in the parks, & an incident in New Orleans Square: The Innoventions Dream Home is still closed and will possibly open to the public next week, according to Disney Spokesman John McClintock. Last week Disney pulled back the curtain …
Win Your Own Dream Home!
Anthony Yacullo
From BizJournals: Taylor Morrison Inc. is giving away a home inspired by the recently unveiled Innoventions Dream Home at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based home builder has launched an online contest that runs through Aug. 20 with the winner able to choose a home in one of Taylor Morrison’s communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, …
Downtown Disney Update
Tom Corless
Orlando Attractions Magazine has gained possession of some of the concept art for the new stores and restaurants coming soon to Downtown Disney. Some interesting notes from the photos: -Mickey’s T-Shirt Factory will replace or take up most of the Wonderful World of Memories store next to the Art of Disney in the Downtown Disney …
Up, Up, and Away Over The Closed Clubs
Tom Corless
From the Orlando Sentinel: Disney World also is sprucing up Downtown Disney’s other two areas, adding restaurants, expanding and updating a band shell, refurbishing and updating other businesses, and bringing in a giant tethered-balloon attraction that visitors will be able to ride in, going up more than 300 feet above Village Lake. This will be …
Magical Texting
Anthony Yacullo
Here are a couple of little tidbits from MousePlanet that I wanted to share with y’all: Disney’s PhotoPass service is testing out a series of new “Magic Photos” at locations around Disneyland. Now you can duel with Darth Vader in Tomorrowland, or join the Hitchhiking Ghosts near the Haunted Mansion. Look for the PhotoPass cast …
More Downtown Disney Details
Tom Corless
Here are some more details on the changes coming to Downtown Disney, including the replacements for some of the Pleasure Island clubs: Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (June 27, 2008)– Walt Disney World Resort today unveiled a new vision for Downtown Disney, with extraordinary new shopping, dining and other experiences including a completely re-imagined Pleasure Island. …
Character Dining Changes
Tom Corless
Some interesting rumors about dining changes to Walt Disney World are making the rounds this weekend, claiming that the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Tree Tavern restaurant will be removing its character dinner as an option in January 2009 and that Epcot’s Garden Grill Restaurant inside The Land pavilion will remove the lunch option and only offer a character …
Hotel Protest
Anthony Yacullo
From MyFox Los Angeles: Workers at Disneyland Hotels are fighting to keep their health insurance benefits. Contract negotiations with Disney are not going well so the hotel workers took their fight to Main Street and Disneyland itself. Gigi Graciette was in Anaheim, where workers and their supporters held a candlelight vigil. You can find a …
A Softer Side of Indy
Anthony Yacullo
From the OC Register: A softer side of Indiana Jones is coming to Disneyland. During an interview this week, Glenn Kelman a Disney Entertainment Productions senior show director, said that direct hits choreographed into the “Secrets of the Stone Tiger” and the related Adventureland stunt show will be taken out. Kelman said there are three …
No More Pleasure On This Island
Tom Corless
From the Orlando Sentinel: The six nightclubs at Pleasure Island will soon shut down, as Walt Disney World redevelops the adult-focused district at Downtown Disney. BET SoundStage Club, Mannequins Dance Palace, 8Trax and three other nightclubs that have for years catered largely to young, single adults — rather than to Disney’s bread-and-butter family market — …
Dateline Disneyland Picture Update
Anthony Yacullo
Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge: A peek behind the construction walls outside the old Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough For about a couple of weeks now, Power City in Innovention’s Project Tomorrow hasn’t been operating And the Future Choice Stations …
MintCrocodile’s 6/26 DLR Update
Anthony Yacullo
Staff Photographer MintCrocodile was also at the Disneyland Resort yesterday, & he managed to find a few things that I didn’t snap: The golden apple is back at the entrance to Snow White’s Scary Adventures The new menu at the French Market A new wait time sign outside Pirates of the Caribbean First High School …
DLR Pictorial – Part 2: 6/24-6/26
Anthony Yacullo
Now here’s the second part of my pictorial, covering Tuesday the 24th, through Thursday the 26th: Here are a few more shots of the Innoventions Dream Home Plaza Pavilion behind tarps Now let’s take a look at the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries! Here’s the pointless photo spot The new, awesome, Secret of the …
American Idol Experienced
Tom Corless
I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!: Singer David Cook, who was recently crowned “American Idol” champion on the popular television show, poses during a break in shooting June 26, 2008 in a Los Angeles recording studio. A crew from Walt Disney World in Florida taped video segments with Cook to utilize in “The American Idol Experience” …
DLR Pictorial – Part 1: 6/23
Anthony Yacullo
I’m back from a wonderful 4 day trip to the Disneyland Resort, which included checking out the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries, & of course Toy Story Midway Mania. Let’s start this pictorial off with my pictures from Monday: Sign for Toy Story “Midway” Mania in the Esplanade The Adventure Roadmap was handed out …
Disney-Pixar’s Wall-E
Tom Corless
Besides loving the Disney Parks, most of the staff here at WDW News Today are big fans of all the Disney and Pixar animated films. As most of you know, Disney and Pixar’s newest film, Wall-E, opens in theaters everywhere June 27. In honor of this release, we have assembled a number of videos to watch …
It’s Opening Again!!!
Tom Corless
From disneypins.com, some news on the release of the long-awaited Toy Story Mania opening day pin: Walt Disney World® Resort released their Opening Day 2008 pin today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™. Alex Maher also created the artwork for this pin. Below is an image of the new merchandise location near the attraction which opened this past …
Hollywood Studios and Epcot Update
Tom Corless
Our good friend EpcotServo has finally returned with a new photo update featuring some of the new happenings around Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When you head over to his update, be sure to take a look at the now completed Pixar Place meet-and-greet, the Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian exhibit, and the new quick service food …
Pixie’s Anyone? Or How About an Arabian Adventure?
Anthony Yacullo
After speculation on the net arose stating that Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular would not be returning after the 3 month Hyperion refurb starting in Sept, I found auditions for the show on the Disney Auditions website. There are 3 listed. One for singers, actors and puppeteers on July 21, 2008 at 10am at the Screenland …
WALL-E Struts his Stuff Down the Brown Carpet!
Anthony Yacullo
On Saturday, June 21, 2008, the newest Disney*Pixar Animation Studios movie premiered, WALL-E. Courtesy of a Special Update on MiceChat, we provide for you a lovely video of WALL-E making his Grance Entrance debut. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5im0hqsuIRo[/youtube] Anthony Yacullo
Journey Into Narnia….Finally
Tom Corless
The Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has finally opened for some previews before it opens officially this Friday. Studios Central picked up some great photos of what can now be considered the park’s newest attraction, and you can see them all HERE. Tom Corless
We Did It!!!
Tom Corless
Thanks to all who voted for us in the Disney Links Web Awards, leading to our gold award!!! I think it fits our site well, so lets enjoy our spoils: Did we ever tell you how much we like you??? Tom Corless
Pixar Place Opens Wide For Food (And Guest Flow)
Tom Corless
Studios Central has some great pictures of a finally wall-less Pixar Place area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The small shop and Hey-Howdy-Hey Take Away locations are now both open, even though the store hasn’t received all the new Toy Story Mania merchandise yet (still missing some planned merchandise, should be for sale by this fall). …
Details on The American Idol Experience
Tom Corless
Our good friend Jim Hill over at jimhilllmedia.com has put up a great article today giving away some of the details on how the new American Idol Experience attraction will run once it opens officially at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in January 2009. Jim goes through most of he details for this attraction in the article, …
Podcast Episode 48 Now Available for Download
Tom Corless
Join me, Tom Corless, and a cast including Jason Diffendal, John Corigliano, Justin Heyman, Denise Hafto, Kelly Russo and Luke Manning for a show that Bridges the Gaps Between You and the World. Sit back, relax, and enjoy all of the Walt Disney World information and fun we have to offer on this edition of …
I’m On The Road Again!
Anthony Yacullo
I’m going to be at the lovely Disneyland Resort from Monday to Thursday this week, so I’ll obviously be unavailable to post. Hopefully Tom Corless & SparkyLD will step up & post a few things while I’m gone. Don’t worry though, because I’ll be back on Friday with the usual DLR Pictorial, at least 3 …
TSMM Single Rider Line
Anthony Yacullo
It seems that the Single Rider line for Toy Story Midway Mania has been set up earlier than we original thought. We’re not sure if it’s being used yet, but it’s definitely there. Picture by BCC Anthony Yacullo
DisneyGeek DLR Picture Update
Anthony Yacullo
Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from the latest DLR Update on DisneyGeek: A sign for the Adventure Roadmaps Some Downtown Disney coupon thing The popularity of Toy Story Midway Mania is rubbing off on the rest of the Pier A pin trading cart for the upcoming …
DCA News
Anthony Yacullo
We have a couple of pieces of news from the 2 newest DCA Pixar attractions to go over. First off, the Pixar Play Parade has returned to its (almost) original form. The entire a Bug’s Life float is now completely back. However, the order of the floats has changed slightly. The Ratatouille & a Bug’s …
From The Biggest City To The World
Tom Corless
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg poses with Mickey Mouse at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. June 20, 2008. Bloomberg was at Walt Disney World Resort taking part in the first annual “Excellence in Action” education reform summit, presented by The Foundation for Excellence in Education. The foundation was launched in …