WDWNT Reporter Cody Smith visited three of the Walt Disney World parks on Thursday (including Animal Kingdom) and he has a number of newsworthy photos to share from his trip, so let’s take a look:
The giant Mickey wreath is back on Disney’s Contemporary Resort
It seems our favorite little dragon endured a major malfunction last night. During the 9:00 showing of Fantasmic!, Murphy, about half-way through her performance, suddenly leaned forward with her snout almost touching the stage. The show was immediately canceled and the Mist Screens went up to attempt to block the view. Uh-Oh!!
If you look closely at the picture below, notice the tear in the neck of the figure…
The second showing was canceled that night. Disney has announced that Fantasmic! will continue to show without the Dragon. Tonight (8/29/10) is the last night of Summer Nightastic for The Disneyland Resort for 2010. Fantasmic is now only scheduled to show Friday through Sunday through September.
If you’ll be spending the very busy July 4th holiday at Walt Disney World, you may want to take note of the following:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Guests celebrating the Fourth of July at Walt Disney World Resort will have a choice of fireworks shows as Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios present special pyrotechnics, and Epcot adds a patriotic “tag” to its famous “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” spectacular. Here’s what’s in store (entertainment and park hours are subject to change without notice):
Magic Kingdom – “Celebrate America Fireworks” will fill the sky at 9 p.m. July 4 (guests who’d like to begin the celebratory weekend a day early can enjoy the special fireworks on July 3 at 9 p.m.). After the fireworks, guests can enjoy Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” of lights, music and magic at 10 p.m. and midnight on July 4 (on July 3, the parade will be at 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 8 a.m.-1 a.m.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Special fireworks set to a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack will be presented at 9:50 p.m. on July 4, providing guests with a bonus nighttime entertainment extravaganza to complement “Fantasmic!” (which will be at 9 and 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Epcot – “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” which features dazzling special effects, colorful lasers, brilliant fireworks, and fiery torches all choreographed to a musical score, becomes even more dynamic on July 4 as the normal show is supplemented with a patriotic finale. The performance begins at 10 p.m. Earlier in the day, guests will be treated to the Voices of Liberty 4th of July Concert – featuring an expanded cast of singers plus the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps and Disney characters – at 12:30, 1:45 and 3 p.m. on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Guests can enjoy all the regular attractions and shows on July 4 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Exciting news from our good friend Brady MacDonald over at the LA Times Travel Blog:
After months of false starts and frustrating anticipation, the Fantasmic dragon will finally take the stage at Disneyland tonight (Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009) at 8:15 p.m., according to park officials.
Despite top billing, the oft-delayed dragon failed to appear during the Anaheim theme park’s Summer Nightastic promotion.
Expect big crowds along the Rivers of America tonight as the news spreads via the blogosphere, Twittersphere and Disneysphere.
During the rest of the week, Fantasmic plays at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. over the four-day Labor Day Weekend (Friday-Monday). On high attendance days, Disneyland often adds a third Fantasmic show.
After Labor Day, Fantasmic switches to a weekend-only schedule (Friday-Sunday) until the Christmas holidays.
According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:
The image of a giant glowing dragon spitting fire graces most promotional material — billboards, flags, fliers — for Disney’s Summer Nightastic events.
But the theme park’s official summer season will end this weekend without any appearance of the dragon in the water-and-light Fantasmic show because of technical difficulties.
Still, Disney officials promise that fans should get ample time to see the dragon, once it’s ready, because the Fantasmic show will be extended until the end of the year, said John McClintock, a Disneyland spokesman. Disney recently decided to add extra time for the show. On busy days, a third show is added at 11:30 p.m.
But a firm date for the dragon’s debut has yet to be released.
The dragon was supposed to emerge as the centerpiece of a revamped Fantasmic show, stretching 35 feet high in 17 seconds as “Sleeping Beauty” character Maleficent transformed into a dragon in the water and light show. The dragon then was to ignite the Rivers of America for 25 seconds, according to Disney’s press materials.
The dragon was designed to be 40 feet tall by 28 feet wide, weighing about 10,000 pounds.
But the dragon has yet to get off the ground in public, prompting much debate and discussion among Disney fans online. Fans even gave the dragon the nickname of Murphy after Murphy’s Law.
Disney has continued to release the same official statement about the dragon:
“Our goal is to exceed our Guests’ expectations every day. Because the dragon is technically complex and the largest and most fully animated Disney character ever created for a live stage show, we want it to be perfect before adding it to Fantasmic! However, Fantasmic! is a summer tradition at Disneyland, and we’re glad we have been able to offer the show throughout the summer. We’re happy so many Guests have been able to experience it.”
Al Lutz, editor of Miceage.com, a Disney watchdog blog, said he has heard that the dragon may be up soon, but he isn’t sure he believes it after so many delays. Lutz has monitored the behind-the-scenes problems on his blog.
“I’ve never seen so much attention on one thing,” Lutz said of the fans. “I find it fascinating.”
The Summer Nightastic season officially runs June 12 through Sunday, although some features will go beyond this weekend.
Here is the schedule for some promotions:
- Disney’s Electrical Parade in Disney’s California Adventure will go on for the last time Sunday.
- Sunday is the last day for Southern California residents to buy three day passes for $99. The first visit must be made on Sunday at the latest.
- The fireworks show, called “Magical,” will go on nightly through Labor Day and on weekends until Sept. 20. A special Halloween fireworks show is set to begin Sept. 25.
- Fantasmic shows will be nightly through Labor Day and on weekends through the end of the year.
Our own Conner Purzycki has sent in a video of the updated Fantasmic, featuring just the new Crocodile and Flotsam and Jetsam (no dragon unfortunately). Here’s his video, embedded through our wonderful WDWNTube Disney Parks Video Site:
Summer Nightastic begins tonight at the Disneyland Resort, and in honor of that, here’s a new Disney press video with footage from all three main offerings, as well as interviews with Carla Carlile (show director for Fantasmic), Denny Newell (senior show director for Disney’s Electrical Parade), and John Addis (senior show director for Magical):
Disney have put up a few new press videos in the past couple of days promoting Summer Nightastic which I wanted to share with everyone:
A magical moment happens on Main Street, U.S.A. when a young man proposes to his girlfriend on a Summer evening at Disneyland.
Make a 3D dragon roar to life, summon Tinker Bell, and launch fireworks — right on your screen! Its all part of the incredible lineup of entertainment during Summer Nightastic at the Disneyland Resort, June 12 August 23. Find out more at Disneyland.com/fantasmic3D.
This summer experience the night in a whole new light, at Disneyland Resort’s Summer Nightastic event. Watch in awe as Fantasmic! ignites the night with awesome new, lifelike creatures—like a 40 ft.-tall, fire-breathing dragon—and amazing HD animation that practically leaps off the giant mist screens! Get your glow-on all summer, from June 12th through August 23rd!
Disneyland has now officially announced the entertainment cutbacks for 2009:
As The Year of a Million Dreams celebration comes to a close and the Disneyland® Resort heads into 2009, entertainment offerings and show times are being updated for the kick-off of “What will you celebrate?”
Disneyland Park
- A Christmas Fantasy Parade and “Believe In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular will run through Sunday, Jan. 4 to close out the holiday season.
- Disney’s Princess Fantasy Faire will have its last showings of the Royal Coronation Ceremony and Disney Princess Storytelling on Sunday, Jan. 4. Disney Princess Meet & Greet will continue to remain at the Fantasyland Theatre.
- “Remember Dreams Come True” Fireworks Spectacular will return to the skies above Disneyland® on Jan. 17-19 (Martin Luther King Jr. weekend) and Feb. 13-16 (President’s Day weekend). The show is scheduled to make a full return in March 2009.
- Fantasmic! will continue to run daily through most of January and February.
- Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams will not return to Disneyland® Park after the holidays. There will be no parades at Disneyland® Park after the holidays due to track work being done on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Celebrate! A Street Party will make its debut down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland® Park on March 27.
Disney’s California Adventure Park
- Disney’s Electrical Parade will have its final run on Sunday, Jan. 4 at Disney’s California Adventure® Park and will not return until June 12 for the summer season.
Beginning Monday January 5th:
- Pixar Play Parade at Disney’s California Adventure® Park will be dark on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! will be dark on Mondays through Thursdays.
- Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular will be dark on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
All entertainment offerings are subject to change without notice.
It’s once again time for a photo report from Mrs. Myrna Litt. She visited the Disneyland Resort yesterday as Christmas decorations have started to be put up:
Anyone know why there was a conductor in this restaurant’s train?
Christmas decorations have started to be put up in Sunshine Plaza.
Scaff-holding is up around the Sun Wheel.
I absolutely love these construction walls at the bottom of the picture! An absolutely fantastic design choice.
