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All the Walls are Down at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – April Construction Update #3

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All the Walls are Down at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train giving us our best view yet of the queue area, and finally revealing all the exterior track on the roller coaster. Sounds like a good excuse for our third update this April.

There was still quite a bit of finishing and touch up work going on. Among some painting and landscaping, Imagineers were tinkering with the new interactive queue elements and the ubiquitous on-ride photo was being installed while we were there. Cast members are telling guests it will open sometime next month. However, media have been invited for a ribbon cutting ceremony to be held on May 2nd. Everything is subject to change, of course.

There are a few elements around the track that have me worried. It looks like they’ve jury-rigged evacuation lighting around part of the track. They might have to make that more permanent before it can open to guests. But the good news is they have been testing the coaster with people, and even filmed a commercial recently.

Here’s some video taken of newly opened areas:

I hope they’re able to open it soon, it looks amazing. Head below the jump for a huge gallery of photos of the newly exposed areas.

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Inside Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Roller Coaster – The Details

Yesterday we updated you with an overall look at progress on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train construction site, today we have a collection of photos that focus on the smaller details from within the belly of the attraction. These details come from the portion of… Read More »Inside Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Roller Coaster – The Details

Disney Kingdoms Comics: Seekers of the Weird

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We’ve seen how Disney has been incorporating Marvel into their world, whether it’s in the theme parks and cruise ships or teaming up with Phineas and Ferb to save the world, but now it’s time to see how Marvel incorporates Disney into their world.

The Disney Kingdoms brand of comics launched this week with Seekers of the Kingdom #1. The first issue sets the stage as siblings, Max and Melody Keeps discover that there is more to their family than their parents have been letting on, including their adventurous Uncle Roland and a secret entrance to a strange place called the Museum of the Weird.

“Museum of the Weird” sound familiar? It’s the name of a walk through attraction that Walt wanted to build in connection with the haunted mansion and it was based on ideas by Rolly Crump.

This first issue, while full of action and weirdness, serves to set up the rest of the story, introducing us to the heroes and villains as well as something called a Coffin Clock, which the resident baddies wants to get their hands on.Read More »Disney Kingdoms Comics: Seekers of the Weird

Test Track Re-imagined

Re-Imagining Test Track with Chevy Designers and Disney Imagineers

Go behind the scenes with designers from Chevrolet and Disney’s elite Imagineers as they worked together to completely re-imagine Test Track at EPCOT. The new ride experience is more engaging and interactive plus it’s more in-tune with the modern realities of the automobile design. Something… Read More »Re-Imagining Test Track with Chevy Designers and Disney Imagineers

D23 Expo Recap: Day 1

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Friday, August 19 was opening day of the D23 Expo (I’m working under the assumption that you are familiar with D23) and it kicked off with a bang. Or a mouse, as the case may be. It always starts with a mouse.

D23 crowdsWhile the expo was open to the general ticket-buying public, it did offer a number of perks specifically to official D23 members, such as discounted passes, special “members only” events and early admission. It pays to belong, people!

Friday’s itinerary started at 9:00 a.m. with two of the aforementioned members only events, namely the Disney Store Opening Ceremony and the Radio Disney Road Crew Dance Party.

Other events that morning included an art contest with Disney.com, vintage footage showcasing the history of the Disneyland Hotel (congrats, DH, on the new ranking!), meet and greets with artists Jim Salvati and Robert Olszewski of the Disney Store and Disney Dream, respectively, and characters from Disney Channel’s Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

Then it was time for the 2011 Disney Legends Ceremony, which was, as you might imagine, magical. However, not everyone was able to attend the ceremony, so they had to settle for other really cool things like The Wonderful Words of Disney… Behind the Page: Kingdom Keepers presentation with Ridley Pearson. I would have loved to have attended this event to discuss some of my issues with the continuity, or lack thereof, within the series, but alas, Mr. Pearson was spared my fanboy criticism, and is probably the better for it.Read More »D23 Expo Recap: Day 1