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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.

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

New Track Revealed as More Walls Come Down Around Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

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Inevitably, I release a construction update video and a day or two later, more walls come down around the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It happened again, so yesterday I went back to get photos and video of the newly opened areas.

Operations training is well underway with many cast members on Day 3 of training. We could start seeing Cast Member previews and then soft openings next week some time, but no official word on that.

A few more photos below the jump in case you can’t watch the video.

Read More »New Track Revealed as More Walls Come Down Around Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Wrapping Up The Final Details of New Fantasyland

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We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. This week contractors were kept very busy working on the long list of little details that needed finishing around the attraction. From new welding on the track, to a wider emergency staircase, to a whole bunch more trees, Snow White’s Mountain has really changed character in just the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, testing has begun with actual people riding the roller coaster. The May 2nd grand opening will bring the newest family-style coaster and the final element of New Fantasyland. On board the attraction, guests will be treated to an exciting, musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine” as the lovable world of Sleepy, Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, Happy and Dopey comes to life.

One feature will be first-of-its-kind ride vehicles mounted in cradle-like pivots that allow the vehicles to swing back and forth during the ride. Adding to the fun, the journey will be accompanied by beloved music from the Disney film classic. On their adventure, riders pass by animated figures of Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs and playful forest critters.

More details in our photo gallery below the jump:

Read More »Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Wrapping Up The Final Details of New Fantasyland

Virtual Ride-Through of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Roller Coaster

Chalk one up for Disney’s marketing team at Yellow Shoes Creative Group. They’ve created this amazing computer graphic virtual version of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to use in advertising the ride. It’s only 15 seconds long, but does a great job of portraying the… Read More »Virtual Ride-Through of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Roller Coaster

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Removes More Walls As Work Continues

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The final phases of work on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train are rapidly approaching. Disney just removed even more walls from around the left side of Snow White’s Mountain revealing more of the track and theme details. It’s amazing how close the cars will pass in front of guests. There should be some great photo opportunities.

Still no official soft opening date, but the grand opening ribbon cutting for press will be on May 2! So expect it to be open to the public shortly before or after that date. If you can’t watch the video above, I have over a dozen photos from my walking tour around the mountain below the jump:

Read More »Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Removes More Walls As Work Continues

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Update – March 2014

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As we saw in February’s 2nd update, the walls are down around a small section of Snow White Mountain at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It will be the last area to open as part of Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland expansion. Since February a lot more landscaping work has been done, to the point where it is practically a forest in some parts. But in other areas there is still a ways to go on just covering the dirt. As we saw in the ride-through POV video, there is also a lot of finished touches on buildings and interior sets.

We still have no word on an official opening date, but some say soft opens could come as soon as late April or early May. We do know that the media event will be the last few days of April. Cast member previews usually start either shortly before media events or shortly after them and then once cast members are done, annual passholders get a chance, and finally soft openings. But sometimes that’s all thrown out the window too. So don’t make any plans until it is official or if you do make plans, have a backup ready in case it isn’t ready. Those coming in June should most likely be able to ride, but nothing is certain. This is a completely unique ride system that Disney had built. Nothing like it exists.

As usual, we have both video and photos from all around Snow White Mountain.

Photos are below the jump:
Read More »Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Update – March 2014

Disneyland’s Updated Big Thunder Mountain Railroad POV Video

Reader Dan sends in the following video from Disneyland’s newly refurbished, and slightly upgraded, version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Big Thunder Mountain has reopened after a long refurbishment. Disney has revamped the track, painted the mountain, added new life to Rainbow Ridge and has… Read More »Disneyland’s Updated Big Thunder Mountain Railroad POV Video

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Returns To Disneyland March 17

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It’s been a long time Disneyland fans, but your patience is about to pay off. A much needed, very thorough, refurbishment to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is almost over. The well-known wildest ride in the wilderness reopens March 17 with an upgraded track, restoration of the historic Rainbow Ridge Mining Town, new paint on portions of the mountain, and updates to the train vehicles. Disney has thrown in a few new surprises, too.

While you wait for March 17 to roll around, here’s a POV on-ride video to enjoy and a list of fun facts:

  • Along with the new track, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens in 2014 with an enhanced audio system that sharpens the sounds heard by guests on the trains and in the caverns and buildings. Even the wildlife at Big Thunder can be heard more distinctly.
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad celebrated its grand opening in September 1979, becoming the third peak in the Disneyland Park “mountain range of thrill rides.” It was preceded by Matterhorn Bobsleds (1959) and Space Mountain (1977) and followed by Splash Mountain (1989).Read More »Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Returns To Disneyland March 17