The 'Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!' at Disney's Hollywood Studios will be closing for two days next week; May 16 and May 17 2012 for minor maintenance.
Disney have closed Soarin' at both Epcot and Disney's California Adventure for emergency maintenance. Yesterday, a rider was able to leave the ride car after the harness had locked in place, and the vehicle was about to take off. No injuries were sustained at all, but now investigators must look into both attractions to work out how the guest managed to leave the attraction. This is bad timing for Epcot, which already has Test Track closed for an extended period, Soarin' is the parks primary attraction so you can guarantee that Disney will be working to re-open the ride as soon as possible.
We've got a great video for you here, a behind the scenes look at the Fantasyland works. Check out the video below!
As part of the new DVC area being constructed at the Grand Floridian resort, the second in a series of monorail closures came into effect this week. This should run for no longer than a week, and the monorail beams will be closed from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm. Additional transport is being provided during the works, in the form of watercraft and busses.
Tough to be a Bug re-opened yesterday after being closed for a week due to am emergency closure. A small branch from The Tree of Life, which Tough to be a Bug is housed under, fell. These branches are made from metal, concrete and other tough materials, so park engineers had to take a look and ensure that the structure was safe, and to determine the cause. While no official reason (or even acknowledgement of the issue) has been provided, it does appear that they are still not 100% sure what happened. Large nets have been placed around the tree in areas they suspect may be at possible risk and work continues around the tree.
It's likely that they will be checking every joint on the tree to ensure they are not damaged.
Other areas around the tree are still currently closed, this included the animal trails and Kid's Discovery Club.
A new video has been released by Disney which takes you through the new Disney's Art of Animation Resort, specifically the Finding Nemo section, due to open on May 31. This incredably detailed video is worth a watch as it takes you through different stages of the construction and how they designed such a well presented resort. Some of the features highlighted include the amazing underwater sound system in each pool, unique to the resort.
The official page for Test Track on the Walt Disney World website was updated over the last few days and now has what appears to be some concept art for the new Test Track, sponsored by Chevrolet. The artwork doesnt show much other than that the same (or at least a very similar) ride cars will be used. You can view the artwork below, or visit the offical page to view it in full.
Test Track is scheduled to re-open on October 1st, the same day as Epcot's 30th Anniversary.
Disney have announced via the Disney Parks Blog that both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World will, as from June this year have Starbucks locations inside their parks.
Today, we’re excited to officially announce plans to bring your favorite Starbucks drinks and food items to all of our theme parks at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
In June, the first of six planned Starbucks locations is scheduled to open at Disney California Adventure park. And more locations are planned at Disneyland park and Walt Disney World Resort (Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom).
The Starbucks locations inside our parks will be designed to fit the theme of their surroundings. At Disney California Adventure park, Starbucks will be located in the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café on Buena Vista Street, a place that transports guests to 1920s Los Angeles, when Walt Disney arrived in California and a cup of coffee was the perfect way to jumpstart a busy day. The store’s location plays off the Spanish/Mexican architecture of the period, and baristas will wear 1920s-inspired attire.
The café will serve Starbucks items, including coffee and espresso beverages, Frappuccino® blended beverages, and signature breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Guests also will have their choice of Disney favorites, including signature sandwiches and other items, as well as delicious desserts and sweet treats.
The entire Tree of Life area including 'Tough to be a Bug' and Tree of Life trails are currently closed. Overnight a branch fell from the tree's structure. The reason for the branch falling is being investigated by Disney officials and the attraction looks set to remain closed until they find out the cause.
We've had reports that it was a relatively small branch, however the cause of it falling off will need to be determined. It's likely that strong winds over the weekend were the cause of the incident. Park officials will want to ensure that it's parent branch is safe.
(Remains of the Week is a weekly post wrapping up minor news items from around WDW over the last 7 days)
Disney have launched an online shop via facebook, where you can purchase new Vinylmations that are exclusive to the store.
Interior Designer, Meg Caswell has been filming at Epcot this weekend interviewing guests visiting the International Flower and Garden Festival for her new show, Meg's Great Rooms, debuting on HGTV in a couple of weeks.
The Sunshine Tree Terrace in Magic Kingdom has brought back the Citrus Swirl, a delicious frozen treat which used to be sold but vanished from menus some time ago. Using the original recipe, Citrus Swirls are offered in a cone or cup for $3.19 and are on the Disney Dining Plan as a snack option. The adorable orange bird sipper cup has also made a return. Orange Bird has been getting a lot of attention in recent weeks, even in publications such as the Celebrations Magazine.
A new range of merchandise has also been released for Orange Bird. This includes two new T'Shirts, Pins, Vinylmations and a new mickey-ear hat.
The sweet smelling soap shop reopened this week after a much needed refurbishment. The store sports a new modern look with plenty of open, well lit space. The Disney Parks Blog posted a tour video through the store, which we've provided below.
