Test Track, with its new sponsorship from Chevrolet, officially opens on Thursday. Cast member previews have been under way for a few days and photos have been slowly leaking out along with short reviews like “Amazing!” “Awesome” and “Lots of Fun.” I was able to… Read More »Inside the new Test Track at EPCOT, Non-Spoilery
It’s the holiday season again and the Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom are once again wowing guests with their icy beauty. But how do they make that magic happen? Earlier this month, Disney went behind-the-scenes with Creative Director Reed Jones… Read More »How Disney Creates the Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle for the Holidays
While at the Festival of the Masters last weekend, I took some photos of changes at Downtown Disney Orlando. Alas, I had to shoot around the artist booths a bit, but there are still a few major projects underway that we need to check in with.
Up first is Splitsville. It’s scheduled to be open in less than a month, but the exterior looks a long ways off to me.
Here’s a quick preview video for the location:
You may have heard that the Seven Dwarfs are getting a new mountain in New Fantasyland, but that’s not the only mountain being added to Walt Disney World. Rainforest Cafe has replaced their volcano with a new version that the promise will be very exciting. After a long wait, they’ve even started adding rock work to the steel skeleton of the mountain.Read More »Downtown Disney Orlando – Photo Update
A new digital projection castle show officially premiered this week. Each night guests at the Magic Kingdom will experience the new nighttime show, filled with special effects and magic, projected onto Cinderella Castle. In “Celebrate the Magic,” 189-foot tall Cinderella Castle becomes a shimmering canvas, transforming the Castle into a rocket, a gingerbread house, a circus tent, a jungle, a video game, the Cheshire Cat and more. Dozens of favorite Disney and Pixar characters also appear in playful animated sequences. Right now Cinderella Castle is decorated with holiday lights, which adds an extra element of magic as well.
“Celebrate the Magic” is a journey to the heart of the most beloved Disney stories and characters, according to show director Katy Harris. The show features many new segments, including Brave and Wreck-it Ralph, and also incorporate favorite elements from the previous projection show , “The Magic, The Memories and You!,” which ran from January of 2011 to September 2012.
Here’s a short video with highlights from the show and a few comments from the show’s producer Katy Harris.
The spectacle is scheduled most nights, with up to two shows per night, depending on theme park operating hours and other special ticketed events. If you can’t make it out to the park to see it in person, I’ve included a full length version of the show below the jump:
Read More »Celebrate The Magic – Complete Video of new Castle Projection Show
The Festival of the Masters event at Downtown Disney is often thought of the cream of the crop for artists on the art show circuit. You have to have won a prize at one of the other shows in order to secure an invitation for… Read More »Highlights from the 2012 Festival of the Masters
With all the clubs in Pleasure Island shuttered, Disney has moved the nightly entertainment out onto the sidewalks with bands, magicians, and even living statues. Turns out, the living statues are pretty popular. Families stop and watch as the statue comes to life to interact… Read More »Living Statues attract Crowds at Downtown Disney
The Be Our Guest Dining room features two rooms out of the movie and a third inspired by great moments from the film. The two rooms from the movie, the ballroom and west wing, will be open for both lunch and dinner service, while the… Read More »Be Our Guest restaurant – Video Tour of All Three Dining Rooms
Beast’s Rose in the west wing of Be Our Guest
Over the weekend a few guests were allowed in among the cast member previews of New Fantasyland and I managed to grab this video of the magical transformation that occurs in the mysterious West Wing of the Beauty & The Beast themed Be Our Guest restaurant. The time to pay attention is when a thunderstorm rolls in, first the rose drops a petal, then the prince’s portrait flashes to include the beast during a a bolt of lightning.
Sorry for the shakey bits there. Neither effect is all that special technology wise, but when placed within the room straight out of the movie, albeit set up for dining, the feeling is magical.
A few more photos of The West Wing below the jump:
Read More »Magical Transformation in the West Wing at Be Our Guest Restaurant