Earlier this week we shared our visits to Starbucks and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train construction in New Fantasyland. But there are more changes happening all the time at the Magic Kingdom. Here are a few I captured:
Here’s the latest update from the last attraction scheduled to open in New Fantasyland – the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Construction is definitely moving along. More of back side, Prince Eric’s Village across from The Little Mermaid, is finished and detail rock work starting to wrap completely around the mountain. They’ve added the last piece of track and have begun working on some of the details around the track. That said there’s still a long way to go for a 2014 opening.
Don’t have time for a video? I’ve included some photos below the jump:
Read More »Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Update – New Fantasyland
Huge interior of new Starbucks.
The Starbucks sponsored Main Street Bakery has opened at the Magic Kingdom. For some it’s a blessing to have ‘real’ coffee available in the parks, for others, its an intrusion of the outside world into the magic. The final execution is a very high capacity, smoothly run Starbucks with a few Disney touches added to make it just magical enough.
There is not as much merchandise as at a regular Starbucks, indeed hardly any beyond bags of coffee, but you’ll find all the coffee, tea, and other drinks you’ve come to love at your local Starbucks. Although we were led to believe that much of the old menu would transfer to the new location, the baked goods are mostly what you would find in a regular Starbucks. The egg and cheese croissant and super large cinnamon roll are both absent to name a few. Disney is apparently looking for new homes for the cinnamon roll, but in the meantime you can find it in Gaston’s in New Fantasyland.
The use of the Starbucks logo is tasteful – not overpowering, but not absent either. Disney has created a backstory complete with ‘grand opening’ photos and a collection of coffee paraphernalia from the owner’s trip around the world collecting photographs and unique items from different societies and their coffee habits. That backstory also includes the use of Starbucks original two-finned mermaid figure (modified slightly for Disney audiences) and there’s even a couple hidden mermaids scattered around the store.Read More »Starbucks Sponsored Main Street Bakery Opens at Magic Kingdom
If you ever made a wish and tossed a few coins into one of Walt Disney World’s fountains or wishing wells, you may have seen the signage stating that your donation was doing to ‘Disney Hand’ and would be earmarked to help children everywhere. Have you ever wondered what type of wishes those donations are making come true? Cinderella’s Wishing Well at Magic Kingdom is one of those designated locations and has been host to millions of wishes being made. Today, it was the place where one of those wishes came true.
Gathering up the small coins and pennies tossed by hopeful guests, Walt Disney World Resort donated $15,000 to the Foundation for Foster Children. The non-profit organization helps children living with foster families realize some of their own wishes such as access to summer camps, art classes, social activities, tutoring and even cakes on special occasions.
“One of our goals is to increase public awareness and support for more than 1,400 foster children who live in Central Florida,” said Betsey Bell, executive director of the Foundation for Foster Children. “This donation enables us to give these kids new opportunities and experiences that will help them succeed and become contributing members of our community.” Read More »Where Do The Wishing Well Coins Go At Disney World
Disney’s Contemporary Resort was one of two hotels to open with the Magic Kingdom back in 1971. Disney partnered with US Steel to come up with what was seen as an innovative way of building the Contemporary with the goal of making it the resort’s… Read More »Retro Video: US Steel Builds The Contemporary
From near the Winnie the Pooh ride, the mountain is decidedly unfinished.
Construction on the final attraction that is a part of New Fantasyland is coming along nicely, if a bit slow. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is currently schedule to open some time in 2014. If you look at the ‘back half’ (the side facing the Little Mermaid attraction) you would be forgiven to thinking it was almost done. But a look at it from the Winnie the Pooh side and you’ll see they have a very long way to go.
A closer look at one of the exterior hill lifts.
Disney Parks has released this really cute Monsters University “Entrance” Exam to help kick-off the Monstrous Summer and a nifty bit of synergistic cross-promotion for the movie.
Click to embiggen.
To pass the test, check out the doors above and then answer where the monsters would pop up in the Magic Kingdom if they stepped through the door for a scare.
Write down your answers starting at the top left and moving across. Hint: A couple attractions are repeated.
Answers and your score are below the cut:
Read More »If Monsters University Was Set at The Magic Kingdom This Would Be Entrance Exam
Haven’t we been here before? Last year on leap day both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom stayed open for a magical 24 hours to celebrate one more Disney day! We were there and had a blast.
At the time, I recall thinking there was no particular reason to do that again, but here I am at the Magic Kingdom yet again ready to do it all over again. Am I crazy? Probably. But it’s crazy in a good way, I think.
The official 24 hour day kicked off with an 6AM ceremony. The theme is Monstrous Summer All-Nighter, so of course Mike and Sulley from Monsters University were there.
Mickey and Minnie were even up early to welcome some press to the park.