Some of the WDWNT staff attended the D23 First Anniversary on March 5th at the Magic Kingdom

Splash Mountain is looking great

Work on Cinderella Castle continues

Matt Paul tries on some new glasses….

Disney’s Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade rolls on despite the end of volunteer giveaways by Disney

A spilling pain can has been added to the top of the second ladder

Tinker Bell’s Fairy Treasures is closed to become the portrait gallery for the Bibbidi Bobidi Boutique

Tinker Bell merchandise has moved into Castle Couture next door

Tinker Bell merchandise inside Castle Couture

Work continues on the facade of Peter Pan’s Flight

Matt has some fun in the Laughin’ Place

A presentation about the Fantasyland Expansion was held inside Mickey’s Philharmagic

Monorail track cleaning continues in Epcot

Looks brand new

Work continues on the new Cantina de San Angel in Mexico

Looks like it will be extending out into the lagoon quite a bit

A new store is being constructed just outside of the China pavilion

Ponyo merchandise available at the Japan pavilion

The water play area in Future World East is finally out from behind walls and looks brand new

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.

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.

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.

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.

The theme for this year is “The Great Outdoors”, even though this is the only area that showcases that theme

The Flower and Garden Festival began in 1994

Working water feature

The Lion King is celebrated behind Spaceship Earth

Princess Tiana’s Wedding Bayou is located behind Mouse Gear

Little displays like this allow guests to color items on to provided sheets

Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden expands to include the butterfly house this year

The cage where Tinker Bell is held in the next film is part of the display

Animal characters can be found around the butterfly house

Oceans is on the way

Starfish and Dolphins in the flower bed to celebrate Oceans

Scar and Zazu near the front of the park

Follow the elephants to Garden Town

A little sparse

No sign here this year

Map of Garden Town

The pillars still decorated for the Food and Wine Festival

This year’s merchandise

Bambi garden statues available

Stitch outside Mission:Space

The Jammitors are out in their Flower and Garden gear

Ask the Expert near the Fountain of Nations

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Mickey and Minnie volunteers near the American Adventure

Aladdin in Morocco

The Art of Living Green

Complete with an Eco-wall

Beauty and the Beast

Lumiere, Chip, Mrs. Potts, and Cogsworth

The giant lips have also returned this year

Aurora and Prince Phillip

Cinderella and her prince

Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the Crocodile

Bambi, Flower, and Thumper

Ben Ali Gator and Hyacinth Hippo from Fantasia

Hop-lo and the other mushrooms from Fantasia

Thanks for visiting with us!

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

Time to take the field

Just about every sign has been changed

The Atlanta Braves personally welcomed us

Time to check out the ESPN Innovation Lab

The mobile Champion Custom Tee Center

They can customize the back of just about any WWOS shirt

Cameras now cover the entire complex so highlights can be recorded and shown either at the complex or actually on ESPN programming

The Jostens Center

A look at the new Wide World of Sports awards

Packages available for WDW Marathon Events

Another Custom Tee Center in the Jostens Center

Wide World of Sports Grill

The Playstation Arena

This game isn’t even out yet!

ESPN plans to use all of their networks to air events and highlights from Wide World of Sports

ESPN3.com and WDW resort TV will broadcast full events for families to enjoy when they return to their home or hotel room

Walt Disney World Resort is an official home for World Cup 2010 viewing

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios ESPN the Weekend coverage

The huge Sports Zone set-up in the shadows of Tower of Terror

Hard to believe that Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster is in there

The following pictures are brought to you by “The Disney Pincast” and “The Vinylmation Station“. Here’s artist Adrianne Draude with her Haunted Mansion stretching room collection

Vinylmation Park Series #4 and Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Exclusive

Upcoming Nightmare Before Christmas series

Urban Series #4

Upcoming pin series dedicated to Disney Animated Shorts

More upcoming pins

Disney Design Group artist Monty Maldovan shows us “The Black Cauldron” anniversary Vinylmation

D Street is coming to Downtown Disney West Side

Items have been removed from the Adventurer’s Club, rumors indicate that they are headed to Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Point area

A “Nanooze” exhibit has opened inside Innoventions East

You can zoom in on various objects

Like a butterfly

Or a rock

Nanooze magazines are all around the seating area

More zooming

You have to use the wheels to zoom in and out

There is also the “Rope Scope”

Place the “Rope Scope” over an item to see what it would look like if you were riding Adventures Thru Innerspace….

The new exhibit replaces a seating area and is at least better than a seating area

Princess and the Frog exhibit already set-up for the Flower and Garden Festival

St. Patrick’s Day merchandise in Mouse Gear

New merchandise location being built in China

Over at the Magic Kingdom, pins have moved out of Uptown Jewelers

The pin frames are still up though

Women’s apparel and accessories now fill the space

The facade work on the Athletic Club is finally complete

Work on the Plaza continues

The new pin location across from the Magic Kingdom tip board

Tarps still up on the Tomorrowland Terrace

New speakers and ceiling fans have been installed for the return of the fireworks dessert parties

Work has begun on the new facade for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh before it closes for refurbishment

The Space Mountain loading gates have received new blue lights

For some reason, “confetti” was added to the top of this ladder in the Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade