Celebrate America Canceled!
Anthony Yacullo
We have been hearing several reports that last nights 4th of July fireworks show, Disney’s Celebrate America, was canceled half-way due to winds (as with New Years). UPDATE: Here’s a short video of the fireworks last night from inside Disneyland when the show was cut off & the cancellation announcement was made: [youtube]https://youtube.com/watch?v=8i5V7aaYAGM[/youtube] But for …
Pure Enchantment Goes Dark
Tom Corless
When major construction begins on the Liberty Square bridge this August, Spectromagic will be getting a two week vacation. While Spectromagic will not be performing at the Magic Kingdom from August 15 to the 29, there will be two showings of the park’s daytime parade. The Disney Dreams Come True Parade will be running two performancesduring …
A History Lesson
Tom Corless
Here is a short time line explaining the history and many developments in audio-animatronics technology over the years: Early 1950s Walt Disney purchases a mechanical bird while vacationing in Europe. The souvenir becomes the inspiration for Audio-Animatronics technology. 1951 Work begins on “Project Little Man.” Roger Broggie and Wathel Rogers, pioneers in Audio-Animatronicstechnology, create a …
MintCrocodile’s Monorail Red Update
Anthony Yacullo
Staff Photographer MintCrocodile is back with a second update from yesterday, this time taking a look at the beautiful, now operating, Monorail Red:
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: All of Innoventions, including the new Innoventions Dream Home, is now finally open! Would you believe that Innoventions actually has a line!? Tom Morrow still greets guests on video & as an animatronic… … …
Review of the New Monorail
Anthony Yacullo
From the OC Register: At about 5 p.m. today the first members of the public boarded the new Mark VII Monorail at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland station. While some people who went on the first red monorail trip seemed to think it was just another monorail, some guests were thrilled to be on the new train. “It …
MintCrocodile’s DLR Pictorial
Anthony Yacullo
Staff Photographer MintCrocodile is back with a look at the latest happenings around the Disneyland Resort: A these 2 lines new? New sign for the Art of Disney at the exit of Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years The Dream banners are back Monorail Red is finally taking guests Speaking of stuff that finally happened… …
Monorail Red Will Open to the Public Tonight!
Anthony Yacullo
From the OC Register: Disney’s Monorail Red (or Mark VII) will open to the public this evening as part of a “soft opening.” Disney Spokeswoman Betsy Sanchez said this afternoon that the new monorail train will be open on and off again throughout the weekend. The Mark VII line of trains (three in all) will …
Cut-Outs or Virtual?
Anthony Yacullo
Last night I was watching Toy Story 2, & during the Woody’s Roundup TV show part of the movie, I noticed something I had seen before in Toy Story Midway Mania: In case you didn’t realize, those are the virtual prizes that you can win in Toy Story Midway Mania Just an interesting tidbit I …
Changes Coming to the Esplanade
Anthony Yacullo
From Laughing Place: Disneyland have approached Rick Caruso of Caruso Affiliated – the developers of the Grove at Farmer’s Market and Americana at Brand in Glendale about developing a new esplanade between Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Park that will also bring the WET Design-conceived fountains from Americana to the Disneyland Resort.
More From Screamscape
Anthony Yacullo
Here’s a little bit more from Screamscape, this time on some Disneyland Park rumors: 2008 – It’s A Small World Rehab – Rumor – (7/3/08) According to Screamscape sources Disneyland is moving ahead with a scaled back plan to renovate Small World by adding in a few Disney character figures into the mix in appropriate …
Little Mermaid Construction Starting This Fall?
Anthony Yacullo
From Screamscape: Late 2010 or Early 2011 – Voyage of the Little Mermaid – Confirmed – (7/3/08) According to the latest rumors Little Mermaid may have been pushed up a bit to either open in mid to late 2010 now. Meanwhile full construction on The Little Mermaid ride is now expected to begin sometime this …
Leg Traders
Anthony Yacullo
From KABC: ANAHEIM (KABC) — The Anaheim Fire Department responded to Tomorrowland in Disneyland at 7:21 a.m. after reports that a worker fell from a ladder onto a roof. Officials said the worker fell while working on the roof of a gift shop near the Space Mountain ride. Rescuers were able to get the worker …
Problems, Problems, Problems!
Anthony Yacullo
We’ve been experiencing a few problems with the site today (what’s new?), meaning that the site had to be re-installed in some aspects. We’ve managed to get the site back to a functioning order, & should hopefully have it completely back to normal tomorrow! Sorry for any inconvenience this may of caused you, & keep …
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:
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.
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!)
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 …
