One of Disney’s most desperate mom’s is giving advice on how to best enjoy your day at Walt Disney World. Teri Hatcher, who has a long run on ABC’s Desperate Housewives, is also a big Disney fan. In the following video she gives some advice… Read More »Teri Hatcher gives Disney travel advice
click for larger version. The updated version of the Star Tours attraction is nearing completion as evidenced by this visit from Star Wars creator George Lucas to Disneyland in Anaheim where the attraction is already undergoing test rides. Lucas was accompanied by producer Rick McCallum… Read More »George Lucas test rides new Star Tours
Over the weekend the deal combining Comcast with NBC/Universal was completed. In addition to the big shake up with control of television stations now handled a cable giant, we get a new co-owner of the Universal Orlando Resort property. Comcast joins the Blackstone Group with… Read More »Universal Studios Orlando has new co-owner, shake-up coming?
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Magic Kingdom. I thought I’d spend a little time surfing through vintage home video of the park to celebrate. Lots of great stuff out there, but I’m sharing this one today because of a unique coincidence. You… Read More »Magic Kingdom 1979 Home Video
In the same week that multiple rumors have started to spread about an expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure even to the point of survey equipment being spotted backstage, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts held a media event to highlight changes coming to Disney’s properties.
Below Al Weiss, President of Disney Parks and Resorts explains all the changes coming to Disney’s properties outside of Central Florida:
Forgetting the developments in the Disney parks around the rest of the world, and there are many, it’s hard not to compare the improvements coming to Walt Disney World with the very successful Harry Potter themed land. In the scheme of things Disney is doing a lot more than Universal Studios, but is quantity better than quality?
Follow below the jump for more from the press event:
Okay, there’s quite a lot to cover in this update from the Magic Kingdom, including some big rumors, so let’s get right to it. First off, the “Let The Memories Begin” campaign has begun and new ephemera is beginning to roll out. First Napkins,
and then cups… and also guide maps (not pictured, alas).
The tour guide courtyard is behind tarps, pretty tarps at least.
Last week the Magic Kingdom rolled out the carpets for visiting media and VIPs to showcase the latest promotion for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, “Let The Memories Begin.” The centerpiece of that promotion will be a nightly show on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom and the facade of It’s A Small World at Disneyland.
“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” is a new show is gracing the spires and turrets of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Sixteen digital projectors throw photos and videos of park guests and the history of the Walt Disney Company directly onto the facade of the castle using new digital mapping and projection technology. The result is a show that will amaze and move you as only Disney can do.
We saw the show standing about 4/5ths of the way across the hub (right near the popcorn cart). The angle wasn’t a problem, the projections cover both the front and the sides of the castle, but the distance was. To really make out all the details of the guest photos that are added to the show, you have to be somewhere between the Partner’s statue and the Castle stage. You will get a slightly different show from the sides, so maybe view it twice, three times if you want to view it from Main Street for the longer range view.
Overall I was impressed with how the show used the technology to wrap the castle with images and video. I don’t want to go into too much detail to the story and pacing since I’ve only seen it once. But as the show itself is only 10 minutes long and you can probably walk up and get a good spot 10 minutes before the show starts, I recommend you check it out for yourself on your next visit.
Follow below the jump for a special preview of the show and my complete show video, plus more on the magic behind the show:
Read More »The Magic, The Memories, and You! debuts at Magic Kingdom
I was at the Magic Kingdom early Saturday morning with my son making our usual rounds. Since the new interactive play queue for Winnie The Pooh opened, one of my son’s favorite things to do has been to get in some quality play time before the queue gets too busy. Going on the ride is actually a bit secondary to enjoying the queue, at least until the newness wears off.
As it turns out there was already a small line for the standby queue and just as we walked up, a cast member was moving aside the trees that just the day before had blocked entrance to the Tigger’s Bouncy Place section of the queue. Based on reports online, it seems like this is just a ‘soft-open’ for that section of the queue and it may or may not be open when you visit.
Looking closely at the bounce pads, it appears Disney has done some work on each one adjusting the spring mechanism to provide a stiffer spring and a shallower dip. Each pad is surrounded by new soft ground that doesn’t quite match the color of the other ground that was laid when the queue was built.
Here’s a quick video of Tigger’s Bouncy Place in action:
More photos, including other changes to the Pooh Play queue, below the jump: