WDWNT Fan Meets – August 1st and 2nd at the Disneyland Resort

I’d like to remind everyone about our upcoming fan meets at the Disneyland Resort on Saturday August 1st and Sunday August 2nd. First up on Saturday:

Come enjoy an evening of fun on Saturday, August 1st, with the WDWNT Network and Disneyland News Today staff at Disney’s California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort. Among the fun and surprises, here is a schedule of group gatherings that will be a part of the unofficial fan meet:

4:00 PM – Meet outside the Blue Sky Cellar for distribution of “free gift” Group walk through the Blue Sky Cellar
4:30 PM – Meet directly in front of the Blue Sky Cellar to watch the Pixar Play Parade
5:30 PM – Group meet n’ mingle (and possibly some eating) at Bountiful Valley Farmer’s Market
6:30 PM – Meet for group photo and showing of MuppetVision 3-D in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot
7:15 PM – Meet for group ride on Mickey’s Fun Wheel in Paradise Pier
8:00 PM – Meet in front the former Orange Stinger attraction (Silly Symphony Swings construction walls) to watch Disney’s Electrical Parade

Then on Sunday:

Come enjoy an afternoon of fun on Sunday, 8/2/09 with the WDWNT Network and Disneyland News Today staff at Disneyland Park. Among the fun and surprises, here is a schedule of group gatherings that will be a part of the fan meet:

3:00 PM – Meet n’ mingle and group photo at Carnation Gardens on Main Street U.S.A.
3:30 PM – Meet for group showing of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland
4:15 PM – Meet for group ride on the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
5:00 PM – Meet for group ride on Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square
5:45 PM – Meet for group ride through the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square
6:30 PM – Group meet n’ mingle (and possibly some eating) at the Hungry Bear Restaurant
7:30 PM – Meet for group ride on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country
8:00 PM – Meet in the hub on Main Street U.S.A. to view “Magical – Disney’s New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations In the Stars”

You can R.S.V.P. (although not necessary to attend) and get more information on Facebook about the Saturday meet at this link or our forums at this link and the Sunday meet at this link or our forums at this link. These will be the first fan meets the WDWNT Network has done at the Disneyland Resort, and we hope you come by and enjoy the fun with us!

The World Famous Jungle Cruise Music Video

It looks like the very talented Weird Al Yankovic has produced yet another masterpiece, this time a song and video that I think all of us will enjoy. His latest single is titled “Skipper Dan” and revolves around Disneyland’s classic attraction, the Jungle Cruise. This song will eventually be released on his next album, believed to be on the way in 2010. Enjoy:

“Skipper Dan” by Weird Al

The World Famous Jungle Cruise Music Video

It looks like the very talented Weird Al Yankovic has produced yet another masterpiece, this time a song and video that I think all of us will enjoy. His latest single is titled “Skipper Dan” and revolves around the Magic Kingdom’s classic attraction, The Jungle Cruise. This song will eventually be released on his next album, believed to be on the way in 2010. Enjoy:

“Skipper Dan” by Weird Al

I’m Lovin’ It!

A whole load of new refurbishments during September & October have been announced. There’s so many, that I’m just gonna bullet them bellow:

  • French Market – 9/2/08-9/19/08
  • Sailing Ship Columbia – 9/2/08-10/25/08
  • Conostoga Wagon – 9/2/08-????
  • Fantasmic – 9/2/08-????
  • Harbour Galley – 9/2/08-????
  • Big Thunder Ranch – 9/15/08-9/27/08
  • Pirates of the Caribbean – 10/13/08-????
  • Jungle Cruise – 10/20/08-10/22/08
  • Gadget’s Go-Coaster – 10/20/08-????
  • Burger Invasion – 9/2/08-????

It’s interesting to note that all 3 McDonalds locations in the Resort (Conostoga Wagon, Harbour Galley, & Burger Invasion) will be closed starting September 2nd, for an undetermined amount of time. Could this be the end for McDonalds at the Disneyland Resort?

Also, the Hyperion Theater refurbishment has been pushed back to start on September 29th, instead of September 2nd. We still have no information on when it will end, but it should be in time for the Christmas season.

Finally, I just want to remind everyone of the already announced refurbs:

  • Plaza Pavilion – 1/11/08-10/10/08
  • It’s a Small World – 1/22/08-11/28/08
  • Mark Twain Riverboat – 8/25/08-8/27/08
  • The Haunted Mansion – 9/8/08-9/25/08
  • Flik’s Flyers – 9/2/08-9/12/08
  • Sun Wheel – 9/11/08-????

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

Time To Turn Back Tiki-Time???

After months of hearing rumors that the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management will be closing sometime in the near future to make way for a Stitch-involved makeover, a new wild rumor has hit the streets of the Magic Kingdom and has cast members in De-Nile (Attempt at a Jungle Cruise joke). Strong rumors now indicate that the original budget for the postponed major Jungle Cruise attraction refurbishment maybe heading across the way to fund the restoration of the talking audio-animatronics bird show to its original splendor. In short, the original Tropical Serenade show may return to the Magic Kingdom as part of a huge marketing campaign for the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2011.

The planned campaign is going to promote the idea of guests experiencing renewed classic attractions and entertainment inspired by the resort’s past. Among the planned updates for the celebration are updates to Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, and the Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom; Journey Into Imagination and Illuminations at Epcot; and The Great Movie Ride and Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Also rumored at this time are a new firework show and updated Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom.

While most of these changes are likely to not take place (as is the nature with rumors), a few of them will make the line-up in time for October 1, 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more info on these rumored changes becomes available.

The Happiest Cruise That Ever Got Laughs

The Jungle Cruise attraction returned into service at the Magic Kingdom this past Memorial Day weekend with a few noticeable changes. The first thing you should notice while aboard is that most of the props and sets throughout the attraction have been repainted and repaired, all looking practically brand new. Besides the general maintenance, some of the audio-animatronics characters from the attraction are still missing or have been removed. The Tiger from the cave scene and Chief Nami (the man holding the two shrunken heads near the very end) were still missing from the attraction as of early Wendesday morning. WDW News Today will be sure to keep an eye on the attraction in the coming weeks, as it is believed that this was only the first phase of a larger refurbishment that thisclassic Magic Kingdom attraction will be receiving in the near future.

MintCrocodile’s DLR Update

Our friend MintCrocodile has some great pictures of the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries (which debuted today), & a couple of things from DCA that I want to highlight here:


A look at the special guide-map for this event


Various “hidden secrets” in the Jungle Cruise & the Indiana Jones Adventure


A special picture opportunity has been set up


The Secret of the Stone Tiger show has replaced Aladdin’s Oasis


Another show with Indy & some bad guy takes place in the streets of Adventureland


Quickly moving over to DCA… The Sunshine Plaza Fountain is now back in operation


The second food stand by Toy Story Midway Mania is the be the Hot Dog Hut

You can find plenty more of MintCrocodile’s wonderful pictures at his SmugMug page!