Matthew Heid, Author at WDW News Today

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 10/20/20 (Long Wait Times, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Plexiglass Testing, Socially Distanced Characters, and More)

October 22, 2020 Matthew Heid

Despite today being overcast, it was still a crowded day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with much to see. Good morning from Disney’s Hollywood Studios! The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror had a 50 minute wait stretching down Sunset Blvd. Slinky Dog Dash had a wait time of 90 minutes stretching all the way to Voyage … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: EPCOT 10/19/20 (New Annual Passholder Magnets, Vintage-Style Classic Disney Character Figures, Construction, and More)

October 20, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited EPCOT on a rainy uncrowded day to see what was in store for us. Join us as we explore the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Good morning from EPCOT! Scaffolding has returned to the pylons shortly after having been removed a few days ago. Spaceship Earth was down for technical difficulties in the … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 10/6/20 (Fifi Character Added To “it’s a small world”, New Black Panther and Nightmare Before Christmas Magnets, TRON Lightcycle Run Construction, and More)

October 7, 2020 Matthew Heid

Minnie Mouse as a Butterfly Princess in Halloween Cavalcade

We visited Magic Kingdom on a partially cloudy day with plenty of crowds, Fall fun, and new things to see. The Disney princesses and Fairy Godmother greeted from the Walt Disney World Railroad station this morning. The bypass between Main Street, U.S.A. and Tomorrowland was open. Social distancing tape was in place for the Main … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Animal Kingdom 10/4/20 (Long Wait Times, Kilimanjaro Safaris Goat Exhibit Construction, Dino-Rama Voucher Booth, and More)

October 4, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom on a humid and cloudy day to see what was in store for us. Progress is being made on Kilimanjaro Safaris’ new goat exhibit, a new voucher booth has appeared in Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama, and wait times are increasing. Jambo! Guests flocked to Avatar Flight of Passage in the … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 10/2/20 (Splashdown Photos Restocked, The Friar’s Nook and Spring Rolls Cart Reopen, Casey’s Corner Courtyard Construction Completed, and More)

October 3, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited Magic Kingdom on a lovely day with several new and familiar sights to see. Good morning from Magic Kingdom! The courtyard between Casey’s Corner and First Aid has reopened after several months of construction. Splash Mountain celebrated its “official” 28th anniversary here at Magic Kingdom today! It actually opened to guests in July … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: EPCOT 10/1/20 (Shark Transfer, The Donut Box and Cool Wash Opening Preparations, NFL Stadium Food Favorites Sign, and More)

October 2, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited EPCOT on a not so crowded day with some slightly lower temperatures. Let’s see what the park had in store for us today. Good morning from EPCOT! The scratch on one of the pylons still hasn’t been repaired. Hopefully it can be fixed soon. The park experienced some pretty small crowds today with … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: EPCOT 9/27/20 (Construction, Increasing Crowds, The Donut Box and Cool Wash Reopening Preparations, Marine Life, Mariachi Cobre, and More)

September 30, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited EPCOT over the weekend to check on new attraction construction and reopening preparations for a couple of food and beverage locations. Crowds are starting to return to their pre-pandemic levels with longer wait times. Construction continues on the entrance fountain. Hopefully this scratch on one of the pylons will be repaired soon. Spaceship … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 9/23/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Restocked, Cinderella’s Royal Table Reopening, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 40th Anniversary, and More)

September 26, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited Magic Kingdom today for the wildest 40th anniversary celebration in the wilderness and to see some new merchandise. Some surprises were in store for us as well. The Cadaver Dans perform from the Walt Disney World Railroad Train Station in the morning. One “Makin’ a Splash!” Splash Mountain print by John Coulter was … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 9/21/20 (Heavy Crowds, Rex Pajamas, Hollywood Brown Derby Canopy Refurbishment, and More)

September 24, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios on a hot and crowded day where it appears that guest attendance is returning to pre-pandemic levels. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror started at a 20 minute wait when we arrived, but it soon jumped up to 45 minutes with a line stretching down Sunset Blvd. Rock ‘n’ Roller … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: EPCOT 9/22/20 (Construction, Fish & Chips Minnie Mouse Ear Headband, Space 220 Sign, and More)

September 23, 2020 Matthew Heid

Construction, new merchandise, and reopening preparations for a few straggling Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival kiosks were in store for us at EPCOT today. Good morning from EPCOT! The pylons have been uncovered after having plastic over them. The standby entrance sign for Spaceship Earth was not displaying any wait times, even … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: EPCOT 9/17/20 (Updated Ratatouille Sign, Play! Pavilion Roof Panel Replacement, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Progress, and More)

September 21, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited EPCOT on a cloudy, not-so-crowded day to check out the construction of several new attractions and any other adventure that was in store for us. Spaceship Earth had a five minute wait at park opening, according to the My Disney Experience app. The attraction’s stand-by entrance sign wasn’t displaying wait times. Roof panel … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 9/16/20 (Socially Distanced Halloween Characters, TRON Lightcycle Run Construction, Light Crowds, and More)

September 20, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited Magic Kingdom on a cloudy, not-so-crowded day to get into the Halloween spirit. Mickey Mouse and his friends greeted us in their Halloween attire from the Walt Disney World Railroad Station. Winnie the Pooh and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood rode around on the trolley wearing cute Halloween costumes. Mickey “Jack-O-Lantern … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: EPCOT 9/15/20 (Light Weekday Crowds, Socially Distanced Characters, Construction Updates, and More)

September 17, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited EPCOT on a day that was quite cloudy and empty. Construction has resumed on many upcoming attractions, and characters continue to socially distance from guests. Construction continues on the EPCOT main entrance fountain restoration. The lower half of the pylons are wrapped in protective covering to prevent damage. As the overhaul continues, walls … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 9/13/20 (Splash Mountain Evacuation, Long Wait Times, Socially Distanced Characters, and More)

September 15, 2020 Matthew Heid

Despite being a humid cloudy day with some liquid sunshine, Magic Kingdom still reached capacity. Join us as we see what’s in store for us at The Most Magical Place on Earth! Good morning from Magic Kingdom! Guests were evacuated from Splash Mountain shortly after the park opened. Guests lined up bright and early to … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Disney’s Animal Kingdom 9/10/20 (Scar Cupcake, New Kilimanjaro Safaris Structure, John Smith, and More)

September 12, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom on a not-so-crowded day after Labor Day weekend to see what was in store for us. It’s Tough to be a Bug! had a five-minute wait in the morning. You can find a reference to “Countdown to Extinction,” which was the original name of “DINOSAUR” until 2000, on this bulletin … Read more

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 9/11/20 (American Flag at Half-Staff, Splash Mountain Merchandise Restocked, Halloween Mickey Pumpkin Pandora Charm, and More)

September 12, 2020 Matthew Heid

We visited Magic Kingdom on a cloudy, not-so-crowded day with some scattered thunderstorms. The liquid sunshine doesn’t bother us, though. A rainy day at Disney is better than a rainy day at home. On 9/11, Americans remember the horrific terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. American flags around the country, including at … Read more