WDW Photo Update 7/7/08

It’s time for another of WDWNT’s photo reports from the World. Let’s see what’s going on at the Vacation Kingdom: The Nine Dragons ODV is now open outside the main China pavilion in Epcot. Here’s the menu. The fountain at the entrance of Epcot is now operating again. A new (lovely) 4-pack pin set. Here … Read more

WDW Holiday Line-up Takes Shape

Here is a press release with all the events and their running dates for the 2008 Holiday Season at the Walt Disney World Resort: LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World Resort blings in the holidays Nov. 10 with sparkling, jewel-like crystals adorning the iconic Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom – a glistening light-show … Read more

WDW News Today Live! Tonight

We will once again present WDW News Today Live! this evening from 8:00pm to 10:00pm EST, and we hope you will join us for yet another fun live program. For those of you who do not know what this is, it is a show broadcasted live over the internet using an application called Talkshoe. By … Read more

Pure Enchantment Goes Dark

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 … Read more

A History Lesson

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 … Read more

WDW-Tube??? Sounds Familiar….

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 … Read more

No More in “Water Parks and More”

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 … Read more

“How To” Help Guests

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 … Read more

Create Your Own Mania

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 … Read more

Hollywood Studios Update

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.

Downtown Disney Update

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 … Read more

Up, Up, and Away Over The Closed Clubs

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 … Read more

More Downtown Disney Details

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. … Read more

Character Dining Changes

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 … Read more

No More Pleasure On This Island

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 — … Read more

American Idol Experienced

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” … Read more