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Loading ...Jose Castillo’s 3/5-3/6/10 WDW Photo Report
March 13, 2010 at 11:46 PM EST
WDWNT Network’s Jose Castillo recently visited the Walt Disney World Resort and has a few newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:
Some of the WDWNT staff attended the D23 First Anniversary on March 5th at the Magic Kingdom
Topics: Epcot, Photo Reports, Shopping, The Magic Kingdom | |
Cantina de San Angel Update
March 12, 2010 at 5:50 PM EST
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Another construction wall at Epcot, this time it’s at the Mexico Pavilion along the World Showcase Lagoon waterfront. The popular Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding, and when the wall comes down there will be 400 seats – both al fresco and air-conditioned seating for lunch and a coveted spot for dinner and viewing IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, the nightly Epcot fireworks spectacular. A table-service restaurant will occupy half the space.
We hear that the tall frozen margaritas stay on the menu when the new eatery opens in the fall, just in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Until then, you can get your guacamole fix inside at San Angel Inn, or at La Cava de Tequila, with 95 varieties of tequila to taste (our preference is the buttery avocado margarita, the richness cut with fresh lime juice and agave nectar syrup). If you’re just passing by, the Taqueria del Lago kiosk serves Mexican favorites such as nachos and mixes a delicious margarita for sipping and strolling.
We have high hopes for a fresh menu, and expect delicious south-of-the border creations from the folks at San Angel Inn LLC, who have run both the outside eatery and the pavilion’s San Angel Inn for a quarter of a century.
First Look at the “Tronorail”
March 10, 2010 at 4:21 PM EST
WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber was able to take a few photos of Monorail Coral being “wrapped” into a Tron Legacy light cycle, as was announced earlier today:
Topics: General Resort News, Photo Reports | |
Light Cycles to Illuminate “Highway in the Sky”
March 10, 2010 at 2:39 PM EST
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Nope, your eyes are not deceiving you…that’s a light cycle from the Tron universe on our “highway in the sky.” And today, we’re sharing a first look at the attention-grabbing art coming to the Walt Disney World Resort.
The transformed trains will be visible on the Epcot monorail line as early as this month. And if you look close, you’ll notice that the design of the futuristic motorcycle-like vehicles from the upcoming film Tron: Legacy also includes walls of trailing colored light.
Tron: Legacy is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on December 17. But there will be more updates to come before then so keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for the latest.
Topics: General Resort News | |
Disney Announces “Premier Passport” for U.S. Parks
March 10, 2010 at 12:58 PM EST
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Breaking news…we just announced during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting that a new premium annual pass for admission to the parks at both Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort will be offered beginning Thursday. It’s called “Disney Premier Passport” and it’ll feature the same benefits you get with the “premium” annual passes for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts for $700, plus applicable- sales tax.
So, what’s in it for you? At Walt Disney World:
- Unlimited admission for a period of one year to all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, including park hopping privileges
- Unlimited admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks
- Unlimited admission to DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex(valid only on event days; some events require an additional admission charge) and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course (greens fee only. Tee time reservations are required and subject to availability)
- Parking at all four Theme Parks
- Subscription to Mickey Monitor, a collectible Passholder-only publication
And at Disneyland Resort:
- Unlimited admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Parks for a period of one year, including park hopping privileges
- Parking at any pay-on-entry parking lot
- Subscription to Backstage Pass.
- Complimentary subscription to Disney’s Family Fun Magazine (one per household)
If you’re already holding a Premium Annual Pass for both Resorts, you’ll automatically be issued a “Disney Premier Passport” – with an expiration date based on the later of the two annual passes. You may also upgrade your annual or seasonal pass for one resort to a “Disney Premier Passport” for an additional fee.
The Passport will be available for sale at the Disneyland Resort box office and Walt Disney World Guest Relations windows beginning tomorrow. So, sound interesting? Let us know what you think.
Topics: General Resort News | |
D23 Announces Destination D 2010 & D23 Expo 2011
March 10, 2010 at 12:45 PM EST
BURBANK, Calif. – March 10, 2010 – It’s a milestone year for the Disneyland® Resort, and D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans is celebrating with the premiere of DESTINATION D, a brand-new, two-day event exclusively for D23 Members that illuminates Disney’s fascinating history.
D23 announced its latest members-only event on its first anniversary – capping a year in which Disney’s first-ever fan community grew to encompass tens of thousands of members from all 50 U.S. states and more than 30 countries worldwide.
The inaugural DESTINATION D, whose theme is “Disneyland ’55,” will be held this Sept. 24-25. DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 will take D23 Members on a journey through the design, creation, debut and magical history of the world’s first Disney theme park. The first DESTINATION D will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel.
DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 will offer two full days of special presentations, panels, screenings and guest speakers that let fans meet and talk with key figures in Disneyland’s history. Future DESTINATION D events will explore other important aspects of Disney’s creative legacy. Following its premiere in September, DESTINATION D will alternate annually with the enormously popular D23 EXPO.
The next D23 EXPO is set for Aug. 19-21, 2011, returning to the Anaheim Convention Center. Tickets for the 2011 D23 EXPO will go on sale Aug. 19 (one year in advance), with specially priced tickets available exclusively to D23 Members. In addition, D23 Charter Members will have access to a special Charter Member Lounge at the 2011 D23 EXPO, at no additional cost.
The first-ever D23 EXPO attracted nearly 40,000 Disney fans when it debuted last September, bringing the entire world of Disney under one massive roof. During the D23 EXPO, fans were treated to appearances by superstars like Johnny Depp, Miley Cyrus and John Travolta; explored exciting, new concepts and attractions from Disney Parks and Walt Disney Imagineering; peered into Disney’s history at special panels, presentations and displays; and discovered the newest entertainment, products and events from throughout The Walt Disney Company.
“The first D23 EXPO surpassed all of our expectations, and our 2011 Expo is already shaping up to be a jaw-dropping, not-to-be missed showcase of the best and brightest Disney has to offer,” said Steven Clark, head of D23.
“We’re very excited to also be creating an entirely new event with DESTINATION D, which will bring Disney’s fascinating history to D23 Members in ways no other Disney fan can experience,” Clark said. “There’s nowhere on earth quite as special as Disneyland, and we want fans to see it as they never have before.”
The D23 team is in the midst of developing exclusive programming for DESTINATION D – but an early peek at plans reveals a host of special speakers, presentations and panels throughout the two-day event, including:
- “Disneyland: The Way We Were” – Disney’s Chief Archivist Dave Smith will look back at highlights from Disneyland history;
- “Disney Undiscovered” – An exploration of never-built projects and attractions developed for Disneyland;
- “23 on 55” – The Walt Disney Archives celebrates Disneyland’s 55th anniversary;
- “Weird Disney” – A showcase for some of the quirky, little-known facts, places, people and ideas that even the most avid fan might not know.
More details on the programming and events planned for DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 – as well as details about the 2011 D23 EXPO – will be available soon at www.disney.com/D23. Tickets will go on sale early this summer.
DESTINATION D joins a lineup of special events throughout 2010 designed exclusively for D23 Members. Among them are free screenings of classic Disney movies during the “50 & Fabulous” film festival at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank; members-only tours of the famed Walt Disney Archives; an exclusive Sip & Stroll event during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival; and holiday-themed Magic and Merriment weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Topics: D23 | |
A Closer Look at the 2010 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
March 9, 2010 at 6:44 PM EST
Instead of posting one enormous photo report from our latest trip to Walt Disney World, we decided to break it up a little bit. The 2010 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival began at Epcot on March 3rd despite an incredibly cold winter in Central Florida. Don’t be deceived by the photos below, these pictures are from this year’s festival, Disney just recycled a number of the topiaries and such from 2009. We hope you enjoy these photos taken by Jose Castillo and Tom Corless:
The theme for this year is “The Great Outdoors”, even though this is the only area that showcases that theme
Topics: Epcot, Photo Reports | |
New Concept Art of the Fantasyland Forest Expansion
March 8, 2010 at 4:11 PM EST
While the presentation about the Fantasyland Expansion during the D23 First Anniversary party did not allow photography of any kind, there were ten pieces of artwork on display at Ariel’s Grotto during the party, some new, some you may have seen before:
The overall view, nothing new here
Old concept art of Dumbo’s Circus area and the “Dueling Dumbos”
The exterior of “Dreams Come True with Cinderella”
Old concept art of “Under The Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid”. A new version of this artwork was shown during the presentation, however, photography was not allowed. The ride will use omnimover vehicles very much like those found at the Seas with Nemo and Friends
Old concept art of “A Birthday Surprise for Sleeping Beauty”
Old concept art of “Dreams Come True with Cinderella”
Old concept art of Gaston’s Tavern
New concept art of the cottage that will hold the magic mirror transporting guests into “Enchanted Tales with Belle”
Older concept art of “Be Our Guest” Restaurant, but take note of the “living character” Lumiere being wheeled around, along with the stained glass windows featuring Beauty and the Beast characters towards the back of the room
New concept art showing the entrance to the Beast’s Castle and the “Be Our Guest” Restaurant
Topics: The Magic Kingdom | |
Video of Updated Frontierland Hoedown
March 8, 2010 at 10:46 AM EST
Although it is not listed on any Magic Kingdom times guides yet, Disney is testing a new version of the long-running Frontierland Hoedown daily at 9:40, 10:40, & 11:40AM daily. Here is a video of the updated show taken by WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee:
Topics: The Magic Kingdom | |
Tom Corless’ 2/25-2/28/10 WDW Photo Report
March 2, 2010 at 1:20 PM EST
Tom Corless took a trip down to the Walt Disney World Resort to cover the re-opening of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and has a number of newsworthy photos from all over WDW to share:
Time to take the field
Topics: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, General Resort News, Photo Reports, Shopping, The Magic Kingdom | |