I don’t make these sorts of declarations very often, but I feel pretty confident saying Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge sets a new standard for immersive storytelling at Walt Disney World. The story telling begins the moment you walk in to the land with a creative… Read More »Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge walk-through via Toy Story Land entrance
Took a short walk through the Magic Kingdom yesterday using Facebook LIVE. While wandering around I pointed out a few of the magical details that I love, including a special family moment – my grandfather’s window on Main Street. Thanks for watching. For the best… Read More »Magic Kingdom Walking Tour
Just a few days ago, I was recounting the wonderful walking tour of Disneyland’s Dark Water system that Disney fan BBS owner John Clark used to offer (back when Disneyland security didn’t mind if you took a small group on a personal tour through the… Read More »How the California drought is affecting Disneyland
We recently toured The Lion King section of Art of Animation Resort. That was one of three sections with new buildings at the resort, but The Little Mermaid section is actually the finished versions of the old Legendary section of Pop Century that remained unfinished for nearly a decade.
But now it looks great. King Triton and Ursula loom large in giant sculptures and Ariel and her gang hold court throughout the resorts courtyard. It features exterior walk-ways and entrances like the hotels over in Pop century. There are over 600 cutout objects on the resort balconies.
In the gallery below, we continue our walking tour of the resort under the sea.
Read More »Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid Walking Tour
When Disney’s Art of Animation resort opened in 2012, it was the first new hotel to be opened on property in seven years. The resort took over what was the “Legendary Years” of Pop Century Resort, that had been sitting undeveloped for nearly 10 years. Some of the sections that had already started construction were left to rot becoming known as Disney’s “Ghost Hotel.”
The good news is that Disney took extra care to make Art of Animation a terrific resort. I’m particularly impressed with the resorts themed sections, which consist of Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.
It had been a few years since I’d been back to the resort, but we stopped in for lunch and took a tour of the resort last week. Turns out the place still looks very good.
Head below a look at The Lion King section to get this tour started:
Read More »Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Lion King Section Tour
Astro Orbitor is being reassembled atop the PeopleMover
It’s off-season again at the Magic Kingdom and that means construction walls are already popping up all over the park. We have a look at a few of the changes going on around the park that are visible from on-stage. I don’t have a lot of pictures of the Halloween decor because I’ll be heading to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tonight, but there are some ‘Fall’ decorations you might appreciate.
This time of year at the parks is one of my favorites. The weather starts to chill and the crowds begin to thin. That means us locals finally get a chance to go on those new and major attractions we’ve been avoiding all summer due to long lines. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Anna & Elsa meet and greet anyone?
Yankee Traders will reopen as a Haunted Mansion themed shop after a brief refurbishment
For now, all the heavy construction action is going on over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs. But I would not be entirely suprised to hear that the Magic Kingdom will get something new when it comes to the Star Wars attractions that will be added to the parks.
Finally, although I don’t have any photos of it, the crane is back to install the Cinderella Castle Dream Lights for Christmas season. You’ll just have to find a unique angle to take that castle photo from. Also, if you haven’t already seen it, don’t miss our September update from the Magic Kingdom Plaza / Hub construction project.
More photos below the jump:
Read More »Magic Kingdom Photo Update – September 2014
Want to feel transported to Disney magic today? Set aside an hour and take a long walk through Tokyo Disney Sea, thought of as Disney Imagineering’s most detailed creation, in this one-take video (note the helpful annotations): [via LaughingPlace.com]
Back in the day when I used to haunt the original Disneyland park in Anaheim, I looked to take whatever walking tour Guest Relations would offer. If there was no new tour on the horizon, there was often an unofficial tour to enjoy too. One… Read More »Disneyland Horticulture and Garden Tour