Posted on Jun 14, 2012
Posted in: Events
Disney have provided details of the celebrities set to host the 2012 Candlelight Processional at Epcot. The Candlelight Processional is a yearly event held at the American Gardens Theatre in the World Showcase, featuring celebrity guests telling the Christmas story accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and grand choir.
The list below shows the provisional lineup, and we must stress that this is by no means a set-in-stone list of celebrities. There are usually a few changes as the events get closer.
Nov. 23–25: Isabella Rossellini (film/TV star and wildlife conversationalist)
Nov. 26–29: Neil Patrick Harris (Emmy Award-winner, Broadway star and TV host)
Nov. 30–Dec. 1: Whoopi Goldberg (television host, actress and comedian)
Dec. 11–13: Jodi Benson (singer and actress)
Dec. 14–16: Olivia Newton John (singer and actress)
Dec. 20–22: Trace Adkins (Award-Winning Country music artist)
Dec. 23–25: Gary Sinise (actor and musician)
Dec. 29–30: Marlee Matlin (Academy Award-winning actor and TV star)
The Candlelight Processional is just one part of Epcot's Holidays Around the World, where the story of Christmas is portrayed by the different cultures around the World Showcase. To finish off the evening, the IllumiNations - Reflections of Earth firework show ends with a spirited holiday finale.
Information on dinner packages for the Candlelight Processional will be released later in the year.
Posted on Jun 12, 2012
Posted in: Blizzard Beach
Blizzard Beach is set to host the "World's Largest Swimming Lesson", an event previously held at Typhoon Lagoon. The nation's top water safety and training groups will join forces to present "The World's Largest Swimming Lesson" (aka WLSL). The event will be held on Thursdau, June 14 2012 and is being held to raise awareness about the importance of safety in the swimming pool to children, to help prevent drowning. During the event waterparks and swimming pools around the world will host WLSL lessons at 11am ET (3PM UTC), with the hope of breaking the Guinness World Record.
Participents should register at 9am near the wave pool, all guests will require a park ticket. Guests aged 8 and above can take part alone. Guests under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Blizzard Beach will still operate as normal, but expect the park to be abnormally busy.
Posted on May 30, 2012
Posted in: Animal Kingdom
From June 3rd through to June 30th 2012, Disney's Animal Kingdom will be offering an enhanced line-up of entertainment and food. 'Sundowner Celebration' provides guests in Africa, Asia and Discovery Island additional entertainment along with a range of new unique foods and beverages. The park has done this several times before, with the largest and most elaborate being 'The Taste of Africa Street Party' held in 2010.
There is no news yet on what the items on offer will include, but based on the previous similar events, specialized food kiosks and DJ dance parties are possibilities.
Posted on May 30, 2012
Posted in: Rehabs and Closures
The Country Bear Jambory, located in Magic Kingdom is scheduled to close from August 22nd through to October 17th (reopening on October 18th 2012). Given the extended length of this refurbishment, the ride will likely receive a 'mid-sized' revamp, which usually includes repainting, replacing worn/damaged props and possibly modifications to the auto-animatronic figurines.
Posted on May 30, 2012
Posted in: Rehabs and Closures
The Liberty Square Riverboat, at Magic Kingdom will be closed for a short refurbishment from August 4th to August 10th (reopening on August 11th 2012).
Posted on May 30, 2012
Posted in: Events
Disney have released some details on what to expect at the 2012 International Food & Wine Festival, to be held at Epcot from September 28 through to November 12 (a record 46 days!).
For this years festival, there are several new features, provided by the official Disney Parks Blog:
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Two new festival marketplaces: TERRA Marketplace offers vegan menu items, including Trick’n Chick’n Curry with Basmati Rice and Chili Colorado with House-Made Chips and Cashew Cheese. The FLORIDA Marketplace introduces fresh twists on regional flavors. There are more than 25 ethnic and regional marketplaces in all.
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Feel like a VIP with Marketplace Chef Tours. Each Wednesday, festival chefs host a walking-and-tasting tour around World Showcase with stops at several international marketplaces. You get to taste five marketplace dishes and five beverage items, like beer, wine and cocktails – and learn a few culinary secrets.
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More kid-friendly tastes. Kids of all ages can try inventive new sips during the family’s marketplace dine-around. Pair with yummy bites like beef empanadas and cheese fondue (new this year).
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Don’t miss (free) Eat to the Beat! Check out pop acts like Smash Mouth (October 11-12) and Javier Colon, winner of “The Voice” (October 13-14). With 18 different bands, look for Blues Traveler (November 5-6) and Dennis DeYoung, original member of STYX (November 7-8). Night Ranger kicks off the concert series September 28-30, and other returning fan favorites include Boyz II Men, The Pointer Sisters, Sister Hazel and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
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Back for an encore: look for HGTV designers, celeb chefs, culinary demos and wine seminars, and special culinary programs – more than 270 chefs are showing off for the festival. And, yes, the fab Party for the Senses returns October 6, 13, 20, 27 and November 3.
If you'll be visiting Disney World whilst the International Food & Wine Festival is on, you can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) to make reservations for select events. Full details will be finalized closer to the start of the festival.
WDWFans will be present at the festival, providing an exclusive look at this years delicious delights!
Posted on May 28, 2012
Posted in: Park Updates
Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have been temporarily closed as the Tropical Storm Beryl hits the theme park areas. The storm is expected to move away fairly quickly however the water parks will remain closed until park officials are happy that it is safe to resume operations.
Posted on May 28, 2012
Posted in: Rehabs and Closures
Big Thunder Mountain today re-opens after a 5 month refurbishment. The ride closed on January 9th, after notice was given in early October 2011, this was something Disney had long been planning as the ride was in desperate need of work, with multiple effects missing for some time and areas of the ride showing its age with general wear and tear.
Over the last week, the ride has opened several times for a 'soft opening' launch, and the general consensus has been positive.
Here's a rundown of what we know has already been done as part of the maintenance:
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Queue area shortened, with queue lines made wider
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The undercover queue area is now air conditioned
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Complete paint overhaul both on the ride and in the surrounding areas
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Almost all the wood work was rebuilt
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Replacements to some track rails and track supports
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Geysers at the exit have been repaired, along with the sound effects.
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Water features at the front of the station and mountain now work.
One fix that has not been performed is the moving rock scene. Whilst there is a possibility that it was just switched off during the soft opening, it does seem as though there may have been a deeper issue there.
As part of the queue changes, the standby and fastpass lines have been switched around. It does also appear that there will be an interactive queue system, however it was not running during the soft-opening.
Posted on May 22, 2012
Posted in: Avatarland
James Cameron has released a few small pieces of information about the upcoming Avatarland at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom theme park. He said that Avatarland would include a ride that simulates flight.
This leads us to believe that something along the lines of the technology used for Soarin may be used. We've seen concepts of a 'moving Soarin' in the past, which would possibly be used for future flight-simulation rides. Think the Universe of Energy, meets Soarin and you'll get a rough idea of what we're thinking.
This is the first real detail on Avatarland and many believed that the project had stalled however this appears to be confirmation that planning work is still being carried out.
We'll have more information on the upcoming Avatarland as soon as its released!
Posted on May 09, 2012
Posted in: Downtown Disney
Disney have announced that 'Car Marsters Weekend' will be returning to Downtown Disney on June 2nd and June 3rd 2012. Launched last year, Car Marsters Weekend is a single-weekend event, celebrating the Disney 'Cars' movies with a number of character meet and greets ,with Mater, Fin McMissile and Lightning McQueen.
The event will include:
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Cars movie marathon at AMC Downtown Disney 24 (showing Cars and Cars 2)
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An appearence by automotive designer, Chip Foose, who contributed to the design of Ramone and in the Cars section of Disney's Art of Animation Resort
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A LEGO interactive 'Cars' zone
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A live DJ
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Food Trucks
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Jay Ward, Cars guardien will also make an appearence.
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Test drive Ridemakerz model cars
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Car show presented by Hess, with over 100 classic, muscle and exotic cars on display.
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GM's latest and greatest car models on display
