DLR Photo Report – 1/18/09
Anthony Yacullo
It’s once again time for one of my photo reports from the Disneyland Resort, let’s see what’s going on at the parks: The Year of a Million Dreams decorations have been removed from the security tents. The CALIFORNIA letters are back to their original gold color scheme. Celebrate Today! banners are being put up through-out …
Celebrate a Parade of a Slightly Different Name
Tom Corless
It appears that the new/updated parade debuting at the Magic Kingdom park on January 23, 2009 has had a name change from what we have previously reported. According to upcoming entertainment schedules for the month of February, the parade will be titled the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” Parade. This slightly different name is shorter …
The Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Merchandise
Anthony Yacullo
Disney has posted pictures of a majority of the merchandise being released for The Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary event this summer, most of which will only be released at the event. Here are a few of the more interesting ones (you can find the rest HERE): A figurine of the griffin statues that adorn the …
Non-Magic Crystals
Anthony Yacullo
It seems that the newly opened Wishing Star Crystals store will be closing, along with the entire Crystal Magic chain: Effective immediately, Crystal Magic will no longer have store locations here at the Resort. These locations include Wishing Star Magic Crystals in Disneyland® Park, Off the Page in Disney’s California Adventure® Park and World of Disney® in the Downtown Disney® District. If …
Some Culinary News from the World
Jason Diffendal
While we anxiously await the return of Tom Corless, here’s some news for fans of Jiko and the California Grill from Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide blog: Brian Piasecki has left Jiko The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to take the top spot at the California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The spot …
Tom Corless Tests Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
Jason Diffendal
Tom Corless has called in today with an on-the-scene report that he is in Epcot testing the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure. He was able to test 6 of the 7 countries today and will have a full report complete with photos upon his return. Each “adventure” takes about 20-25 minutes to complete, not including …
New Concept Art for “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Street Party”
Jason Diffendal
Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party is an interactive show filled with music, dancing and surprises held in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Theme Park. The show is scheduled to debut mid-February 2009. The magic kicks off as an emcee entices you to join in the fun and Disney Characters, floats …
Inside and Behind The American Idol Experience
Tom Corless
Disney has released another video on The American Idol Experience, this time taking a look at the process involved in auditioning, plus a look inside the attraction itself: Heads up to Orlando Attractions Magazine for putting up the video. Tom Corless
Chuck Canzoneri’s 1/12/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
It’s once again time for a photo report from our very own Chuck Canzoneri: Celebration themed Floral Mickey. Looks like Tinkerbell is gone after all. Mickey-shaped balloons spread out from his head. New Celebration themed apples on sale. Anthony Yacullo
It’s a Small World AP Previews
Anthony Yacullo
Join us for a special preview of the newly enhanced “it’s a small world” before the official reopening! Dubbed “the happiest cruise that ever sailed the world” at the New York World’s Fair 45 years ago, “it’s a small world” takes you on a joyful boat ride as memorable as the delightful song that serenades …
Jose Castillo’s 1/7-1/10/09 WDW Photo Report
Tom Corless
Jose Castillo is now back home and he has many more photos from his trip to share with us: On his first day at the Resort, the Christmas Lights were still up at Epcot. Tom Corless
The Characters Are Coming!
Anthony Yacullo
Pin releases aren’t usually something I like to talk about here on DLNT, but I thought these upcoming releases at Disneyland were appropriate to talk about: On January 25th, Disney will be releasing a 6 pin set (plus 2 completer pins) featuring various Disney characters that will be featured in It’s a Small World come …
AP Previews for Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
Tom Corless
Walt Disney World Passholders can sign up for a guaranteed reservation to be among the first Guests to experience the new attraction at Epcot®: Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure. You’re invited to join Kim Possible on a secret mission to capture super villians! Join her and her team of friends, based on the characters …
Clarification: Adventurer’s Club Open!
Jason Diffendal
Our own Jose Castillo was at Pleasure Island this evening, and reports that the Adventurer’s Club was open for business! Jose went inside and has several photos of the fully-operational club, and reports that shows were going on in the library. Edit: Jose was able to clarify this morning with cast members at PI that …
Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True!
Tom Corless
UPDATED 1/11/09 – 6:58PM: We have just been told that the Celebrate Disney Dreams Come True Parade will debut on January 23rd, 2009. We have another report live from Walt Disney World just sent in by Tom Corless, on the Disney Dreams Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom, or as we soon will be …
David Cook Talks About The American Idol Experience
Tom Corless
Here’s an official Disney video with American Idol Season 7 winner David Cook talking about the upcoming American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: You can watch the video in high quality HERE. Tom Corless
Robert Ashburn’s 1/10/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
Tom Corless
Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media.Net and FTN has provided us with our second photo report of the day looking at some of the latest going-ons at The Magic Kingdom: Disney Fairies display in the Emporium. Tom Corless
Matt Paul’s 1/10/09 Photo Report
Tom Corless
Along with Tom Corless and Jose Castillo, Matt Paul is also down at the Walt Disney World Resort at the moment and has some interesting photos for us: We’ll start off this photo report just for the heck of it with a few shots from Block Party Bash. Tom Corless
Jose Castillo’s Disney Design-a-Tee Photo Report
Tom Corless
Our on the spot reporter Jose Castillo was at the grand opening of the new Disney Design-a-Tee store in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Here are a selection of his photos from the event: The store getting set up for the grand opening. Tom Corless
The Forgotten Land
Anthony Yacullo
An area at Disney’s California Adventure we rarely ever talk about is Pacific Wharf. But now it seems that land will be getting some attention in the very near future. First up, walls should be going up around the deserted Lucky Fortune Cookery restaurant this Monday, & that restaurant will become the new home of …
2fer Ticket is Back… And So Is DCA’s Attendance!
Anthony Yacullo
Disneyland is once again offering the 2fer ticket this year & they have released a press release with more information on the tickets: ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 8, 2009) – Southern California families looking for value and the best way to spend their limited entertainment dollars will find an unbeatable offer at the Disneyland Resort in …
DVC Member Previews for American Idol Experience and Kim Possible
Jason Diffendal
Disney Vacation Club Member Previews for The American Idol Experience and Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure have been announced. DVC Members must register in advance at this link for The American Idol Experience previews. The Kim Possible Challenge is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Disney Vacation Club Members have a special opportunity to …
Ratatouille Float Cut From the Pixar Play Parade
Anthony Yacullo
In some late breaking news, it seems the Ratatouille float in the Pixar Play Parade has been removed from the parade due to budget cuts, as it is the float that has the most performers. The float will most likely return for the peak seasons such as spring break & the summer. Stay tuned to …
Myrna Litt’s 1/8/09 Soda Fountain & Studio Store Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
Myrna Litt popped into the Soda Fountain & Studio Store today & grabbed a few pictures for us: Pinocchio is coming to the El Capitan on January 23rd. They are setting up a new 2 month promotion featuring a candy shop. Not really sure what it is at the moment. Anthony Yacullo
Jose Castillo’s 1/7/09 Hollywood Studios Photo Report
Tom Corless
Our technical director Jose Castillo is currently at the Walt Disney World Resort and has provided us with these photos from his first day at the Resort yesterday, which took him to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: It was a very wet day yesterday. More photos including American Idol Experience and Toy Story Midway Mania after the …
Live Report from the WDW Resort
Jason Diffendal
Tom Corless, our man on the ground, called in with this report today about Dinoland at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As part of the tech rehearsals that have been going on for the American Idol Experience, the preshow in the queue area is operating and can be …
Chuck Canzoneri’s 1/7/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
Chuck Canzoneri is here with his latest photo report (and as will usually be the case with Chuck, he provides his own captions): Celebrate Today! merchandise in the Emporium. I’m not sure if this popcorn bucket is new or not? New Celebrate Today! popcorn containers. Took this at the Carnation Cafe where if you were …
Shanghai Disneyland Announcement, but not from Disney
Jason Diffendal
While the Walt Disney Company continues to deny it has agreed to build a park in Shanghai, reports are surfacing that the official state-run Shanghai Securities News has announced that the talks have been completed and the project will be announced soon. Stay tuned to WDWNewsToday as more information on this new development in the …
Architect of Disney Lodges Passes Away
Jason Diffendal
Peter H. Dominick Jr., the genius behind Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Grand Californian Hotel, passed away last Thursday. The Denver-based architect always said a turning point in his illustrious career came in the early 1990s, when he presented his design for the Wilderness Lodge to Michael Eisner, then chairman of Disney: “During …
Disneyland Resort News & Rumor Report
Anthony Yacullo
Here’s a round-up of some of the latest rumors that our sources here at Disneyland News Today have been hearing: Due to construction on the World of Color Amphitheater, which is right by where the second High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! show stop is, only one show stop will be made per show, …
Myrna Litt’s 1/6/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
It’s once again time for a photo report from our very own Myrna Litt. Let’s take a look around the Disneyland Resort as the Christmas decorations start to come down: The Year of a Million Dreams themed Mickey floral is being removed for a new What Will You Celebrate? themed floral. Here you can see …
Disney Design A Tee Grand Opening on Friday, January 9
Tom Corless
Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes Only in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace Event: Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes Grand Opening Grand Opening Date: Friday, January 9 Grand Opening Time: 11:30am The first 100 guests at the Grand Opening of Disney Design A Tee presented by Hanes will receive: A Complimentary Lanyard, …
Disney Parks Celebrate U.S. Military With Free, Multi-day Admission to Theme Parks in 2009
Anthony Yacullo
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. / ANAHEIM, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2009) — As Disney Parks ask “What Will You Celebrate?” and invite guests to turn their personal milestones into magical family vacations in 2009, America’s military personnel will have one more reason to celebrate: Free multi-day admission to Disney’s U.S. theme parks. With the “Disney’s Armed …
Breaking News: Space Mountain Refurb Finally Announced!
Tom Corless
The staff here at WDW News Today will be keeping you up to date on the latest news through-out the Walt Disney World Resort while Tom Corless is down at the resort for one of his many, many trips. This update is to let everyone know that it has been made official that Space Mountain …
The Haunted Mansion Just Got Scarier
Anthony Yacullo
Both Haunted Mansion Holiday & It’s a Small World Holiday close tomorrow to have their respective holiday overlays removed. In honor of this, I felt it right to post this little bit of interesting Haunted Mansion Holiday related news: Quirky filmmaker Tim Burton gets a first glimpse of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction, which is based on …
Jose Eber’s 1/2/09 WDW Update
Tom Corless
WDWNT Photographer Jose Eber has some interesting updates from outside the parks to share with us today, so let’s take a look: Some work going on at the Monorail platform of the Transportation and Ticket Center A closer look The Bay Lake Tower addition to Disney’s Contemporary Resort continues to take shape A close-up shot later in …
Celebrate Little Princesses in April
Anthony Yacullo
2 new, small additions are coming to Disneyland Park this April. Firstly, Big Thunder Ranch will close for removal of Santa’s Reindeer Round-up this Monday, & will be closed all the way through April, when on the 2nd it will re-open as the Celebration Round-up and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch. The good news about …
“Take Flight” in 2009
Tom Corless
WDWNT cast member Jose Eber has provided us with construction photos of the upcoming Characters in Flight balloon at Downtown Disney, which will take guest high above the ground for a small price beginning in the Spring: Signs showing what the area will look like upon completion. As you an see, the balloon will be decorated with …
DLR Photo Report – New Years Day 2009
Anthony Yacullo
*** WE HAVE 3 NEW PHOTO REPORTS FOR YOU TODAY. SCROLL DOWN FOR CHUCK’S & MYRNA’S PHOTO REPORTS FROM NEW YEARS EVE. *** And here is our last photo report for the day, mine from yesterday, New Years Day: New banners for What Will You Celebrate? along the Mickey & Friends Tram Route. There are …
Chuck Canzoneri’s New Years Eve Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
And now for our second photo report, also from New Years Eve, from Chuck Canzoneri. For this photo report, I’ll leave the captions to Chuck: The park hours sign at Mickey & Friends. We got there at 8AM. 8:34am & the tickets windows are as full as I’ve ever seen them. A look through the …