Goodbye Pleasure Island, Hello Hyperion Wharf!

WDWNT Author on November 18, 2010

Huge announcement from the Disney Parks Blog today:

How about that? New dining, shopping and entertainment experiences are in the works for Downtown Disneyand today we’re sharing a first look at what to expect in the future for the 120-acre complex. Look closely and you’ll see that Pleasure Island will evolve into a vibrant waterfront district called “Hyperion Wharf.”

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The district will come to life with a nostalgic yet modern take on an early 20th century port city and amusement pier. By day, stylish boutiques and innovative restaurants will draw you in and by night, thousands of lights will transform the area into an electric wonderland.

Taking its name from Hyperion, the Greek god of light, as well as the street on which Walt Disney built his first major animation studio, the wharf district will also feature a relaxing lakeside park and enhanced pedestrian walkways. And its diverse eateries will expand dining availability at Downtown Disney by more than 25 percent.

Along with the new wharf district, other projects are underway at Downtown Disney, including:

  • An extensive renovation of Lego Imagination Center, which will increase its overall footprint by nearly 3,500 square-feet and add new Lego exterior models featuring scenes from classic Disney movies.
  • Enhancements at AMC Theatres that will take the movie-going experience at Downtown Disney to the next level with new digital technology, a Concession Stand of the Future and Florida’s first Fork & Screen Theater; and…
  • Numerous new or renovated retail shops and merchandise vignettes, as well as additional atmosphere entertainment, throughout Downtown Disney.

Construction on the district begins immediately and it’s scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Pretty exciting, huh?

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Queue

WDWNT Author on November 16, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom Park this week, you’ll be the first to see a series of new enhancements to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The changes begin with a re-designed load area and a re-imagined gift shop called Hundred Acre Goods specializing in apparel, toys, plush characters and collectibles featuring Pooh and his friends.

Also this week, the attraction entrance will be temporarily relocated to the FASTPASS return lane while enhancements continue on several interactive elements being added to the queue. And beginning Thanksgiving week, young guests will start their adventure through the Hundred Acre Wood by jumping with Tigger, crawling through Eeyore’s house and playing in Rabbit’s garden before they board the attraction. And there’s more to come, with new elements debuting throughout the next month.

These enhancements will have a temporary impact on FASTPASS distribution which will not be available until the enhanced queue opens. Soon, we’ll resume FASTPASS distribution for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at Mickey’s PhilharMagic where it will remain during Fantasyland’s expansion.

Mad Tea Party Gives New Paint Scheme a Whirl

WDWNT Author on November 11, 2010

The Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland has re-opened from a lenthy reurbishment with a brand new roof and an entirely new pastel color scheme. WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee was on the scene and has some video to share of the recently refreshed attraction (embedded via the WDWNTube):

Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights Dances with “Phineas and Ferb” in 2010

WDWNT Author on November 10, 2010

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is back at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year with a few new additions and some changes:

-In between some of the dance sequences, a staged radio interview with the creator of the spectacle, Jennings Osborne, takes place
-One building has a falling snow effect in the windows, you’ll see this in our video during one of the dance sequences
-Two new sequences starring characters from the Disney Channel original series “Phineas and Ferb” have been added. In the first, Phineas and Ferb fix some technical problems with the lights and then have them dance to “Christmas is Starting Now” from the Phineas and Ferb Christmas Special. The second skit has Dr. Doofenshmirtz attempting to take over the display before being foiled by Perry the Platapus.

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee brings us a video of the Spectacle with all of these new additions, courtesy of the WDWNTube:

“Disney Junior – Live on Stage!” Coming March 2011

WDWNT Author on November 9, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Disney California Adventure park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida will celebrate the premiere of Disney Channel’s new multiplatform brand, Disney Junior, with “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!” next year. The lively show in the Parks will debut with new characters, some new adventures and a new marquee.

Children and parents who now enjoy the popular “Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage!” at both Parks can look forward to sharing this new production, which brings back three audience favorites (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,Handy Manny and Little Einsteins) and also introduces a brand new segment based on Disney Junior’s newest series that will debut in February 2011, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.”

“Jake and the Never Land Pirates” will air on Disney Junior in February 2011 and will share the magical and adventurous world of Never Land with preschoolers. Children will be drawn to the main character Jake, an enthusiastic young boy who leads a team of kid pirates (Cubby and Izzy, along with their faithful pirate parrot, Skully) in fun adventures that encourage interactive responses from young viewers. The clever premise provides kids and families with a fun way to learn teamwork.

“Jake and the Never Land Pirates” on Disney Junior

Stories from the show will come to life in the Parks with colorful, puppet versions of some of the most popular Disney Junior characters, bright visuals, whimsical scenery that fills the stage, catchy songs and interactive moments.

“Disney Junior – Live on Stage” is scheduled to debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure park in March 2011.

Disney Vacation Club Slips On Disney’s California Coast Hotel

WDWNT Author on November 5, 2010

An interesting document has leaked onto the internet confirming Disney Vacation Club will be building another resort at Walt Disney World in the next few years. Earlier this year, rumors of a California-themed resort to be located between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort began circulating. Well, it seems those rumors are true:

DISNEY VACATION CLUB CALIFORNIA COAST HOTEL – ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Disney Vacation Club decided to extend its hotel experience with their new California Coast Resort at H1, Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, Florida. George Coon was invited by the DVC Design Team to work under the direct supervision of GSB Architects, and Mr. Wing Chao, providing design direction for this next and possibly best of the DVC properties in Orlando. California’s remarkable coast offers an experience of recognizable icons which were chosen to be represented in separate hotel experiences including; Venice Beach, Casa del Mar, Montage, the Balboa Pavilion, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, and Santa Barbara. The project is presently in the Schematic Design Phase.

COMPLETION DATE: Estimated 2012

SIZE: Estimated 1,208 units

PROJECT COST: To Be Determined

No more details are available at this time, but stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on this breaking story.

Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream Re-Opens with New Exhibits

WDWNT Author on November 4, 2010

While it was delayed for a few hours, Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream re-opened from it’s refurbishment that began in August with a few new exhibits and a general refreshing. Here’s what’s new:

-1964-65 World’s Fair display featuring Mr. Lincoln animatronic and the “it’s a small world” facade

-The exhibits featuring work from after Walt’s life are called “The Legacy Continues”, the walls are now lined with pictures from all different arms of the Walt Disney Company in a running timeline

-A new display featuring EPCOT Center animatronics such as the Horizons butler robot, Figment, and some of the characters from Kitchen Kabaret

-Movie props from “Honey, I Blew Up the Kid”, “TRON”, “The Rocketeer” and more are now on display

-The Re-Imagined Paradise Pier model that once appeared at the Blue Sky Cellar in Disney California Adventure is now on display

-Small models of some of the fountain statues from Hong Kong Disneyland are on display

-More “Legacy Continues” exhibits are listed as coming Fall 2010, it is possible that a lot of what you see may still change at that time

In the meantime, here is what the exhibit looked like today when it re-opened and WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee was on the scene to capture it on video:

10/26/10 Fantasyland Expansion Video Update

WDWNT Author on October 28, 2010

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee brings us his second Fantasyland video update he recorded at the Magic Kingdom on October 26th. The video includes progress at the Mad Tea Party, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, “Be Our Guest” Restaurant, and a first look at what the new facade and queue for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will look like when the attraction re-opens in November: