General Resort News

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A History Lesson

Friday, July 4th, 2008

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 miniature figure that is [...]

WDW-Tube??? Sounds Familiar….

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

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 in [...]

No More in “Water Parks and More”

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

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 nightclubs.
Guests who [...]

“How To” Help Guests

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

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 at [...]

Create Your Own Mania

Monday, June 30th, 2008

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 [...]

Downtown Disney Update

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

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 Marketplace.
-The [...]

Up, Up, and Away Over The Closed Clubs

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

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 similar to [...]

More Downtown Disney Details

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

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. Also [...]

No More Pleasure On This Island

Friday, June 27th, 2008

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 — will close [...]

Disney-Pixar’s Wall-E

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

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 [...]

From The Biggest City To The World

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg poses with Mickey Mouse at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. June 20, 2008. Bloomberg was at Walt Disney World Resort taking part in the first annual “Excellence in Action” education reform summit, presented by The Foundation for Excellence in Education. The foundation was launched in [...]

Trouble at the Wilderness Lodge

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) — A manager at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge hotel was arrested Wednesday for charging $1,200 on a guests’ credit card.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies said 44 year old Patrick Noze stole a credit card out of a guest’s wallet and charged the card for auto repairs.
The owner of the Orlando [...]

John Corigliano WDW Photo Update 6/18/08

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

John Corigliano is back with a new photo report from Walt Disney World from this past weekend. Let’s start off at the Magic Kingdom:

Pirates of the Caribbean is closed for refurbishment.

There’s a bunch of new merchandise from Mickey’s PhilarMagic available, you can find pics of them all HERE.

The new Create Your Own Ear Hat stand [...]

Sounds Fabulous???

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

With the upcoming refurbishment of Sounds Dangerous starring Drew Carey at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, comes an interesting rumor about the future of the space it occupies. The latest rumors for the park in general suggest that Disney will attempt to bring a tween audience in by using their multiple successful Disney Channel programs in attractions and entertainment offerings. A copy of [...]

Another CM Arrested on Child Porn Charges

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

From the Orlando Sentinel:
A Walt Disney World employee was arrested this morning on three counts of possessing child pornography.
Investigators served a search warrant at the home of Charles Hurrey, 29, on Cagan Crossing’s Boulevard in Clermont this morning and found three videos depicting children engaging in sex acts with adults and each other on an [...]

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