My FOX Orlando has posted some pictures taking an inside look at what the room interiors will look like at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort:
A look inside the Cars rooms, where guests are staying at the Cozy Cone Motel
The Lion King rooms are themed to the “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” sequence
Finding Nemo rooms
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
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.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
When you walk into one of the newly renovated villas at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, you really notice a difference. I liked them before, but wow, they are really nice. The hardwood floors and whimsical window treatments caught my eye.
And I personally think they nailed it with the bedding. The warm colors are very elegant while still capturing the playful nature of Key West. The villas also have fancy new granite countertops, pretty new light fixtures and of course flat screen TVs. The housekeeping staff sure has fun creating the towel animals placed throughout the villas. Check out the images shot this week.
The page on DisneyWorld.com for the upcoming Art of Animation Resort has been created and features a new piece of concept art and some more concrete details on Walt Disney World’s newest resort hotel:
Coming soon: a new Walt Disney World Resort! Disney’s Art of Animation Resort hotel, a Disney Value Resort hotel, will draw its inspiration from 4 classic Disney animated films: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Disney·Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Cars.Booking dates for this family-friendly resort, scheduled to open Summer of 2012, have not been announced yet. Please continue to check back for more information and details.
Step into some of your favorite stories! Each one of the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort buildings are being designed to make you feel like you are part of one of 4 beloved animated films. Trace the movie’s theme, from the playful courtyards to the festive room interiors.
The 864 rooms planned within The Little Mermaid buildings will be sea-inspired with an eye towards value.
The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo buildings are planned to exclusively feature family suites which accommodate up to six guests. The concepts show a total of 1,120 family suites—all arranged for added space and comfort.
The concept for these family suites include:
- 2 separate bathrooms
- A master bedroom
- 3 separate sleeping areas within the living space, which includes an “Inovabed”—an impressive piece of furniture that transforms from a generously sized dining or work table to a comfortable bed in seconds.
Kids and kids at heart will be able to romp through one of the 4 courtyards—one courtyard for each film—where there will be icons and sculptures to interact with and play around. Make a splash in the main pool—complete with a pool bar—or relax in one of the 2 quiet pool areas. Planned amenities at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort include an animation-themed food court, arcade, retail location and interior airline check-in stations.
Location and General Information
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is scheduled to be located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It will be a smoke-free Resort; smoking will be permitted only in designated outdoor smoking locations.
In a recent survey sent out to guests who recently completed a Walt Disney World Resort hotel stay, guests were asked about their interest in two particular vanity resort rooms (similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean themed rooms now available at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort). The following pictures are from that survey emailed to particular guests:
The first room is themed to The Haunted Mansion
The second room type is Princess themed
Will these rooms be built? And where? Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Hi everyone…a cool new zero-entry feature pool will be ready for summer fun at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa — in 2011. It’ll take the place of one of the resort’s “quiet pools” at the Walt Disney World resort and will be nearly three times as big. I think it will be a real crowd pleaser for folks not staying near the popular High Rock Springs feature pool. When complete, the new themed area will include a 146-foot water slide, expanded deck, 1,200-square-foot kids’ play area, plus a quick-service poolside eatery.
WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber was able to get an up-close look at the Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, including the lobby and pool area, and has video to share of his experience:
Mobile Room Ready Notification Service allows Guests who arrive prior to their check-in time at Disney owned and operated Resort hotels to recieve either a text message or automated voice message when their room is available.
During the check-in process at a Disney Resort, Guests can provide a cell/mobile telephone number and request a return notification preference. When the Disney Resort room is ready, a text message or automated call will be sent to the Guest’s cell/mobile phone number with the room number.
Guests who participate in this new service can enjoy increased flexibility upon arrival at the Disney Resort as their cell/mobile telephone will notify them when their room is ready. Guests may then continue their current activities or proceed to their Disney Resort room.
Guest may of course choose not to participate in this service and will still be able to call the Resort’s room availability telephone number provided to them upon arrival to check the status of their Disney Resort room, or visit the Resort Front Desk at anytime.
Mobile Room Ready Notification Service is now available for Guests staying at Disney operated resort hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disneyland Resort and all Disney Vacation Club resorts.
Note: if Guests opt to use the text message notification option, standard text message rates apply. Guests should check with their cell/mobile phone carrier for details on their particular plan.
In usual fashion, Walt Disney World put out a number of new press releases all at once, giving us a lot to talk about after what has been a rather quiet period. The first piece gives us an official time frame and some already announced details about the Stich’s Supersonic Celebration show coming to the Magic Kingdom:
Interactive wizardry that combines comedy, real-time animation and live musical madness will dazzle guests during Stitch’s SuperSonic Celebration in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom.
Beginning in May, Stitch will host a zany interactive experience at the new Rockettower Plaza Stage. Guests are invited to participate in a Galaxy Day celebration when the new outdoor stage comes to life with music and a giant LED screen displays real-time, interactive animation.
The new show incorporates the same interactive technology used in “Turtle Talk With Crush” and “Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.” Shows will take place six times daily.
Looking for some sweet fun at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa?
There’s a lot “s’more” new fun in store at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa each evening when guests staying at the resort can roast marshmallows around a Mickey-shaped campfire, sing favorite camp tunes on the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon and see the “stars” – both on the silver screen and in the sky – as they watch a family-friendly Disney film on the moonlit beach. S’mores kits and marshmallows are available for purchase during the campfire and movie. For more information about recreational activities at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, visit Disneyworld.com or call 407/824-4321.
The line-up for this year’s Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot has been released and includes WDWNT’s favorite group, Bjorn Again:
The whole family will be rockin’ and rollin’ to legendary music this summer at Epcot when popular tribute bands take the stage at America Gardens Theatre.
Seven tribute bands will recreate classic hits from musical icons under the stars as part of the Sounds Like Summer concert series. Concerts, which are included in regular Epcot admission, are nightly at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. (except July 4, when show times will be 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.).
Here is the lineup (subject to change):
June. 15-21 – Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees
June 22-28 – Hotel California – A Tribute to the Eagles
June 29-July 8 – Slippery When Wet – A Tribute to Bon Jovi
July 9-19 – Bjorn Again – A Tribute to ABBA
July 20-26 – The Sounds of the Supremes – A Tribute to the Supremes
July 27-Aug. 2 – 2U – A Tribute to U2
Aug. 3-9 – Petty Theft – A Tribute to Tom Petty.
Even though it has been runnign for a few week’s now, Disney is finally publicizing the new farwell show at Animal Kingdom:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom guests get so involved in adventures with birds and beasts of many kinds that they tend to put off one of their priorities all day long: a little quality time with Disney characters.
“So when guests come out of the park, they are absolutely determined to see our characters,” said Chris Ambrose, general manager of entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
In a classic example of giving guests what they want, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has launched Adventurers’ Celebration Gathering, an interactive experience near the theme park entrance each evening during park closing.
Khaki-clad cast – including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy – gather to bid farewell to guests with a music-filled celebration. Cast members shake their pom-poms and urge guests to join in the street-party fun by dancing to the music and forming a conga line procession while Mickey, Minnie and Goofy keep the beat from atop their safari vehicle.
“We’ve created a way for our guests to experience our characters … and it’s a way for us to have a fun, exciting way to end the day at Animal Kingdom,” Ambrose said.
Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on all of these items as it becomes available.
