Posted on Aug 01, 2012
Posted in: Fantasyland
Disney have annuocned via the Walt Disney World Passholder website that there will be passholder previews for the new Fantastland expansion area in Magic Kingdom in November 2012. This allows passholders to visit the new areas before they open to the public.
Full details:
New Fantasyland Passholder Preview
Be among the first to experience the enchantment of New Fantasyland during a special Passholder Preview in November 2012! Upon completion, Fantasyland will nearly double in size - for the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom Park.
Registration details are coming soon and will be communicated via email and here on the Passholder website. Event capacity is limited, so be sure to watch for these updates! Valid Magic Kingdom Theme Park admission is required to attend this event.
Posted on Aug 01, 2012
Posted in: Magic Kingdom
Disney have activated park-wide free WiFi at the magic kingdom. We heard earlier in the week that a new 'Next Gen Experience' was set to debute this month, and it would appear that Disney opted to allow free WiFi over slower 3G wireless, to allow for a faster internet access experience.
The other parks, as well as Downtown Disney will be given the same park-wide WiFi in the next few months. Disney completed a complimentary WiFi rollout at all of its resort hotels a few months ago.
Speeds of the WiFi have generally been slow to average, with guests reporting issues with video and voice calls using services such as Skype and FaceTime. WDWFans testes the resort WiFi at the beach club this week, and found the same results, with in-room WiFi being very slow (making voice and video calls impossible). The resort's lobby and pool wifi points were considerably faster, so the speed issues are likely down to signal quality and too many people on each connection.
It's expected that the WiFi service will improve over time as the rollout continues.
Posted on Aug 01, 2012
Posted in: Fantasyland
Disney have shared some photos of Maurice's Cottage, a new building in the New Fantasyland area of the Magic Kingdom. Maurice's Cottage will be home to the new Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction. Enchanted Tales with Belle will feature Belle and Lumiere from Disney's classic Beauty and the Beast movie. Guests will participate in a reading from the Beauty and the Beast story, making it more than your typical 'meet and greet' spot.
We've hears whispers that the attraction may be offering a soft-opening as early as September 1 2012, so if you're in the parks keep an eye out and you may just get lucky! Judging by the photos released, the attraction looks very much near completed.
Click below to view the photos!
Posted on Jul 31, 2012
Posted in: Epcot
With Test Track still undergoing heavy refurbishment for its re-launch later this year, we've got three new photos exclusive to WDWFans. As you can see the majority of construction work is still taking place inside the main building, however some work has now been done to the exterior area of the ride.
As usual, click the thumbnails to view a larger version of the photograph.
(Photos courtesy Tim Mills & not for redistribution without WDWFans concent)
Posted on Jul 30, 2012
Posted in: Food & Wine Festival
Disney have release full details on the 'Special Experiences' being offered at the 2012 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Bookings for the individual special experiences open at 7:00 am on August 14 2012. The International Food and Wind Festival will run from September 28 - November 12 2012.
It's recommended that guests looking to attend the special experiences book early as many will sell out very quickly!
Click below to read more and view the special experiences being offered.
Posted on Jul 30, 2012
Posted in: Events
With the London 2012 Olympic Games now in full swing, guests at Walt Disney World can watch the games from a number of locations throughout the resorts. The games launched on July 27 and run through to August 12 2012. The following locations around Walt Disney World have provided viewing for the games:
Parks & Shopping Areas
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Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park - Rainforest Cafe (park entry not required)
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Downtown Disney - Fulton's Crab House, Paridiso 37, Rainforest Cafe, Wolfgang Puck Cafe and House of Blues
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Disney's Boardwalk - ESPN Club
Resorts
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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Sanaa Lounge (Kidani Village), Mahi Pool Bar (Kidani Village), Uzima Springs Pool Bar (Jambo House) and Victoria Falls (Jambo House)
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Disney's Beach Club Resort - Crew's Cup Lounge
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Disney's Yacht Club Resort - Martha's Vineyard
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Disney's Contemporary Resort - The Wave Lounge
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Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa - Mizner's Lounge
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Disney's Port Orleans Resort (Riverside) - Muddy Rivers Pool Bar and River Roost Lounge
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Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Scat Cat's Lounge
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Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort - Gurgling Suitcase at On the Rocks Pool Bar and The Turf Club Lounge
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Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground - Crockett's
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Disney's Wilderness Lodge - Territory Lounge
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Disney's All-Star Sports Resort - All pool bars
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Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort - Banana Cabana
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Disney's Coronado Springs Resort - Rix Lounge
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Disney's Polunesian Resort - Tambu Lounge
Posted on Jul 27, 2012
Posted in: Marketplace
From August 3 to August 12, 2012 you can visit Jake and the Never Land Pirates at Downtown Disney, where they will be performing daily at 2pm, 3pm and 5pm. The show will be on the Waterside Stage, directly opposite from the World of Disney store. Full details from the official Walt Disney World site ate as follows:
Come see Jake, Sharky and Bones at the Downtown Disney Marketplace at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Ahoy, mateys! Get ready for a special series of LIVE musical performances by The Never Land Pirate Band-featuring Jake, Sharky and Bones from the Disney Junior original series Jake and the Never Land Pirates!
August 3 through August 12, 2012, visit the Waterside Stage, located near World of Disney at Downtown Disney Marketplace, for toe-tapping tunes from these popular Disney Junior Characters.
Performances
Dance and sing along with this lively crew to swashbuckling favorites like:
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"Roll up the Map"
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"Castaway on Pirate Island"
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"Talk Like a Pirate"
Music from Jake and the Never Land Pirates has been lauded for appealing to kids and adults alike. Guests of all ages are sure to say, "Yo ho, let's go!"
Schedule and Show Times
With multiple shows each day, it's easy to catch a performance. Performance schedule is as follows:
Friday, August 3 - Sunday, August 12, 2012
Performances at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Never Land Pirate Band is only in town for a limited time-be sure to see them before they sail away!
Posted on Jul 26, 2012
Posted in: Fantasyland
"Big Top Souvenirs" in the new Fantasyland Storybook Circus are of Magic Kingdom is set to feature an on-stage kitchen when it opens later this year. In much the same style as the kitchen in Main Street Confectionary, guests will be able to watch Cast Members create delicious treats right before their eyes.
Items expected to be sold at Big Top Souvenirs include a range of sweet treats and the traditional park merchandise comprising of toys, games, clothing, home-ware, etc. Dumbo and Casey Jr items will also be offered here.
Disney have not yet provided an opening date for Big Top Souvenirs, however we expect it to open towards the end of the year, at the same time as the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Other attractions set to open around the same time include Enchanted Tales with Bell and Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid.
Posted on Jul 26, 2012
Posted in: Hollywood Studios
Disney have confirmed the 2012 dates for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios. They will be shown from November 9 2012 to January 4 2013 every day.
During the Osborne Lights, the Streets of America section of Hollywood Studios is covered in millions of brightly twinking christmas lights, all dancing in time to music, with fake snow falling from the rooftops.
Posted on Jul 21, 2012
Posted in: Art of Disney
Epcot's "Art of Disney" shop in Future World is set for a short refurbishment at short notice, from July 23 o July 30 2012 and re-opens on July 31.
