A “Mouse House” Near the White House
Tom Corless
It appears that the second Disney resort hotel outside of the parks will be built in Washington D.C., according to this press release: NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Peterson Companies announced today the sale of land at its National Harbor development near Washington, DC to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Disney is considering using the …
DLR Photo Report – 5/17/09 :: Featuring Video of Mickey’s Fun Wheel
Anthony Yacullo
It’s now time for my latest photo report from the Disneyland Resort: Some of the pieces have started being put back up on the Astro Orbitor This shade of purple, as well as a dark gold and dark blue will be the new color scheme for the Astro Orbitor
Food and Wine 2009
Tom Corless
Disney has made a press release featuring all of the details on this year’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Epcot kitchens turn up the heat for a global tasting experience worthy of every palate Sept. 25-Nov. 8 at the 14th annual Epcot International Food &Wine Festival at Walt Disney …
The Tomorrow That Never Was, Is Now a Film
Tom Corless
From the fine people over at Orlando Attractions Magazine: With the success of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, based on the theme park ride of the same name, it’s no surprise that more park-inspired films are on the way. Rumors of a Jungle Cruise movie have been bouncing around the Internet for many months, but …
WDWNT Podcast Episode 94 Now Available for Download
Tom Corless
Join me, Tom Corless, and a cast including Scott Smith, Chris Lastrapes, Kyle Duffield, John Rick, and Lee Arenberg for a variety show that celebrates the Walt Disney World Resort and its many fans. So what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate another week of Walt Disney World information and fun on the WDW News …
WDWNT Network Exclusive Interview with Pirates of the Caribbean’s Lee Arenberg
Tom Corless
We here at the WDWNT Network are proud to announce that we were able to obtain an interview with actor Lee Arenberg, who played the part of Pintel in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The interview was conducted by John Rick and Tom Corless for the Disney Pincast, but will also air on …
WDWNT Network Exclusive Interview with Pirates of the Caribbean’s Lee Arenberg
Anthony Yacullo
We here at the WDWNT Network are proud to announce that we were able to obtain an interview with actor Lee Arenberg, who played the part of Pintel in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The interview was conducted by John Rick and Tom Corless for The Disney Pincast, but will also air on …
Robert Ashburn’s 5/13/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
Tom Corless
Our good friend Robert Ashburn of Figmentsmedia.net has provided us with a few photos from his latest trip to the World, so let’s see what’s new and exciting at the Magic Kingdom: “They’re ripping the top off of Space Mountain!!!” More on that later… Some Main Street U.S.A. facades are under refurbishment
D23 Annonces Summer Line-Up of Member-Only Special Events
Tom Corless
Whether you’re in Orlando, Anaheim, Burbank, Las Vegas, New York, or Chicago, D23 members have some very special events coming their way this summer. Here is a press release about the events, as well as an upcoming D23 contest: DISNEY’S D23 FAN COMMUNITY ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2009 SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR Unique Experiences Created Exclusively for Charter …
D23’s Flowers and Fireworks
Tom Corless
D23 members visiting Walt Disney World at the end of the month will be happy to hear about a FREE special event at Epcot that’s just for them: 05.14.09 – Join D23 at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate its Members in all 50 states and more than 25 countries worldwide! Start …
“Up” and Running Tomorrow
Tom Corless
As no surprise to anyone, the characters from Disney-Pixar’s Up (in theaters May 29th) are going to be doing character meet-and-greets at Walt Disney World: Beginning May 15th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can meet Carl, Russell, and Dug from the new Disney-Pixar animated feature Up.These live characters will be located in the Animation Building …
D23 Annonces Summer Line-Up of Member-Only Special Events
Anthony Yacullo
Whether you’re in Orlando, Anaheim, Burbank, Las Vegas, New York, or Chicago, D23 members have some very special events coming their way this summer. Here is a press release about the events, as well as an upcoming D23 contest: DISNEY’S D23 FAN COMMUNITY ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2009 SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR Unique Experiences Created Exclusively for Charter …
Disney Parks Merchandise Comes to the Disney Store Online
Tom Corless
As of today, Disneystore.com (formerly Disneyshopping.com before a quick name change took place just a few days ago) is now offering a large assortment of merchandise from the U.S. Disney Parks: Mickey and the gang welcome you to “Bring the Magic Home with You” through the Disney Store website Among the Walt Disney World and …
Disney Parks Merchandise Comes to the Disney Store Online
Anthony Yacullo
As of today, Disneystore.com (formerly Disneyshopping.com before a quick name change took place just a few days ago) is now offering a large assortment of merchandise from the U.S. Disney Parks: Mickey and the gang welcome you to “Bring the Magic Home with You” through the Disney Store website Among the Walt Disney World and …
Toy Story Mania! Debuts in Wii Form This Fall
Anthony Yacullo
The OC Register’s Around Disney blog has more information on the new Wii version of Toy Story Mania! being released this fall: Disney Interactive Studios has announced plans to release “Toy Story Mania!” this fall for the Nintendo Wii console. Although many aspects of the game are still in the works, a demo version of …
Napa Rose Gains a New Record
Anthony Yacullo
ANAHEIM, Calif. – May 7, 2009 – Napa Rose restaurant Manager Joy Cushing, of Huntington Beach, California, has passed the grueling, weeklong Advanced Level Examination of the International Court of Master Sommeliers, bringing the total number of Advanced Level sommeliers working at Napa Rose to five, the most of any restaurant in the world. Cushing’s …
“Celebrate a Stitch Come True”
Tom Corless
Courtesy of the fantastic new WDWNTube video site, we have two Magic Kingdom entertainment videos to share. The first video is of the updated Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade that debuted on May 3rd: The second video comes to us by Robert Ashburn of Figmentsmedia.net and is of the new Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration show …
Shine On!
Tom Corless
ORLANDO, Fla., May 11, 2009 – Walt Disney World Resort made a clear connection between itself and the recent “shine on” sightings in Central Florida by arriving at the Coalition for the Homeless this morning on a “prize patrol” bus with Mickey Mouse and a check for $60,000 in tow. “Today is a fabulous day,” …
Myrna Litt’s 5/11/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
Our second photo report from Mothers Day comes to us from the lovely Myrna Litt: A nice Oswald shirt A long line for the swinging gondolas of Mickey’s Fun Wheel Some shots from up in the air on the Fun Wheel Work on the Grand Californian Disney Vacation Club addition is coming along nicely Spikes …
Shawn Hutchison’s 5/11/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
Shawn Hutchison returns today with his first photo report in about a month. Let’s get to it: Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and every mom got a free carnation Don Edgren’s new window on Main Street USA And Rolly Crump’s new window They’ve started to put some of the pieces back up on the Astro Orbitor …
Stephen Thomas’ 5/8/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
We here at Disneyland News Today would like to welcome Stephen Thomas as our newest staff photographer! While Stephen won’t be visiting the Resort as much as some of our other photographers, his amazing pictures and video will indeed make up for that. Let’s now get to Stephen’s first photo report: The state of the …
Backstage Pass – Summer 2009
Anthony Yacullo
Disney has made my job a little easier by putting up a pdf file of the free Annual Passholder newsletter, Backstage Pass, online. To view the summer edition of the newsletter, please click HERE.
DCA’s Premiere New Attraction…
Anthony Yacullo
According to D23: New Guest restrooms across from Golden Dreams in Disney’s California Adventure will open May 16 after a scheduled reconstruction. The restrooms adjacent to Golden Dreams will close as work continues on one of the premiere attractions in the Paradise Pier area, which is based on the movie The Little Mermaid.
Chuck Canzoneri’s 5/6/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
It’s once again for a photo report from our very own Chuck Canzoneri: The walls came down at Pixie Hollow on Wednesday This is the new fountain with octopus shaped lighting While it is very obvious that the lighting is there, it still does look quite nice A Cast Member at Pixie Hollow said the …
May the Merchandise Be With You
Tom Corless
All of the details on Star Wars Weekends 2009 merchandise (excluding pins) has been released by Disney. Here’s a look at some of what they have to offer this year:
How Much Can You Endure for an Extra Medal?
Tom Corless
Guests who participate in two select events during the Walt Disney World Fall Endurance Series will be eligible for an extra piece of hardware to take home: LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 29, 2009) – Disney Sports is creating a one-of-a-kind bonus medal for runners who complete the Fall Race Challenge, competing in two of Disney’s …
Glass Acts
Anthony Yacullo
According to D23: For one crisp spring morning, Main Street, U.S.A. transformed into Memory Lane as the tiny township welcomed its newest residents — Don Edgren and Rolly Crump — to the neighborhood. Before the park officially opened its gates for the day on April 29, family, friends and fans of the two Disney Legends …
Disney Bakery Produces Treats With Less Environmental Impact
Anthony Yacullo
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog: Do you remember how you felt around 2 p.m. Easter Sunday when you were 10? That’s kind of how you’d feel after touring Disneyland’s new central bakery off Ball Road in Anaheim with the park’s executive pastry chef, Jean-Marc Viallet. Viallet, intensely proud of the new facility …
Jose Castillo’s 4/29-5/2/09 WDW Report
Tom Corless
WDWNT’s own Jose Castillo is back from the Walt Disney World Resort and has plenty of photos to share with us, so let’s take a look: Jose arrived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Wednesday evening to enjoy Fantasmic! Park hours were expanded and a Fantasmic! was added at 10:00 PM
New DCA Refurb Project Dates
Anthony Yacullo
The DCA Project Tracker has some new information on upcoming refurbishments at Disney’s California Adventure: Construction walls will go up around Golden Dreams on May 26th, as work finally begins on The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Adventure. On June 1st, those walls will spread down to Souvenir 66, Corn Dog Castle, and Dinosaur Jack’s Sunglass Shack, …
Mickey’s Fun Wheel is Now Soft-Opened
Anthony Yacullo
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog: The Mickey’s Fun Wheel ride in Disney’s California Adventure is open for business. Disney Spokesman John McClintock said this week’s opening was a “soft” one, so the ride may be in and out of service through the week as cast members tweak the operations. The retrofitting of …
Official Details Ahoy!!!
Tom Corless
The Walt Disney World Resort website now has a page dedicated to the upcoming Pirates League in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom. Here is the info provided from Disneyworld.com: Transform yerself from a land lubber into a true buccaneer! Captain Jack Sparrow is looking for pirates of all ages to join the crew of the …
It’s Wheel-y Fun!
Anthony Yacullo
According to D23: Mickey’s Fun Wheel will be open to Guests today after a makeover which added five fab characters on the sides of each gondola and a “pie-eyed” Mickey Mouse overlooking Paradise Bay in Disney’s California Adventure Park.
Special WDWNT Podcast Episode 92 Now Available for Download
Tom Corless
Join me, Tom Corless, and a cast including Justin Heyman, Anthony Yacullo, Scott Smith, and Luke Manning for a variety show that celebrates the Walt Disney World Resort and its many fans. So what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and another week of Walt Disney World information …
Disney’s Hollywood Studios 20th Anniversary TwitPic Report
Tom Corless
Yesterday, May 1st, was of course the 20th anniversary of the Disney-MGM Studios, now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Our own Tom Corless, as well as other members of the staff were (and still are) at Walt Disney World for the festivities. As soon as they return from the Resort they’ll be providing great high …
Get a Taste of the Dark Side
Tom Corless
The backstage promotional images for this year’s Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have been released, and they’re quite whimsical: Star Wars Weekends run Fridays through Sundays from May 22nd to June 14th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Remember… Magical Only Runs For 2 Months!
Anthony Yacullo
Seems like Disneyland’s new fireworks show Magical will only be running in the summer, with Remember Dreams Come True returning this fall. According to D23: We already revealed some of the exciting details about Disneyland’s new fireworks show, Magical, last week, but there’s more to this display than meets the eye! As with every Disney …
TLT Renovation
Anthony Yacullo
D23 has put up a couple of interesting things today that I want to share with everyone. First up, a great look at the Disney’s California Adventure renovation is provided in the Summer issue of Disney twenty-three magazine: In the summer issue of twenty-three, Steven Clark and Jeffrey Epstein take readers on an exciting walk …
“Hooray For Hollywood!”
Tom Corless
D23 has a great article looking at back at the first 20 year’s of Disney’s Hollywood Studios in honor of the park’s anniversary tomorrow: Just hours before Michael D. Eisner, then chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, officially dedicated the Walt Disney World Resort’s third gated attraction, some 40 “A-List” celebrities …
Chuck Canzoneri’s 4/30/09 Photo Report
Anthony Yacullo
The photo reports just keep coming in! Here is yet another report from our very own Chuck Canzoneri: The parks were more crowded than you would expect today. This was taken at 1pm The park closed at 6pm, but the Animation Pavillion was closing earlier to prepare for a special wine event with John Lasseter …
