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Dumbo Interactive Queue Preview from Storybook Circus

Yesterday I shared some of the changes to the exterior of the new twin-spinner Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction in Storybook Circus, today I’m excited to be sharing some photos of the interior of that attractions. Wait, you say. Why would a spinner have an interior? It’s all part of Imagineering’s plan to make waiting for the ride less painful.

Back when WDI first started talking about the new Dumbo queue they said rather than lining up in a switchbacks, it would be a place where kids could move freely and interact with various elements in the building. Parents would be able to wait comfortably while watching their kids run around. One’s place in line would be held virtually and an announcement would indicate when your boarding group was ready to head to the loading zone.

Looking at these pictures shared by Disney, that vision looks essentially intact. Perhaps it’s a bit more playground / obstacle course than I envisioned.

Also, Disney says that instead of an announcement to tell you when to grab your kid and head to a loading zone, some sort of paging device will be used. Disney has tested out, in theory, how this system will work during some experiments over at Rock-n-Roller Coaster. According to sources, results were mixed. So we’ll keep a close eye on how this is working out once it opens to guests.

Update: Video of the queue ‘in use’ by kids and some background on the project from an Imagineer.

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Hurricane Forecast Revised Upward

The hurricane prediction team has revised its forecast for the 2012 season that began yesterday. Previously, they believed there would be 10 named storms, with 3 major storms. Now they have upped that number to 13. Considering there have already been 2 storms this year,… Read More »Hurricane Forecast Revised Upward

Squirrel Impedes Monorail at Walt Disney World

When I lived out in California, there were frequent problems with ducks or seagulls camping out on the monorail beam. Usually a horn honk or two would scare them off, but sometimes it could take quite a few attempts to clear the beam. Thanks to the magic of ubiquitous smart phones, we now get to see the equivalent problem unfold at Walt Disney World.

According to reports, the resort loop at the Magic Kingdom Monorail was delayed by 45 minutes as the pilot of Monorail Gold attempted to clear the beam of a poor little squirrel who, for some reason, wouldn’t run down a support beam and instead, kept running straight down the line all the way from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom Monorail Station where it finally jumped off the track into the station.

Kudos to the pilot for being sensitive to other forms of life! Apparently the Monorail Gold pilot is not the only friend to squirrels at the Walt Disney World Monorail. Check out this video below the jump: The Squirrel Whisperer!

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Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Finding Nemo Suites Tour

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (DAAR) officially opens later this week. When completed it will add over a thousand rooms to Walt Disney World and a new level of theming for ‘Value’ level accommodations. Most of the rooms at DAAR will be of the family… Read More »Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Finding Nemo Suites Tour

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Opens for Test After Rehab

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The Magic Kingdom’s popular western themed roller coaster reopened today after a months long rehabilitation process. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had extensive work done to its track, show scenes, primary queue, and lighting.

Where the queue was a tightly formed switchback that was seldom fully utilized, the new queue is better themed but shorter. It still has switchbacks, but the queue is wider and there are added show scenes. Also new to the queue is air conditioning. The new wider queue seems to be a conscious decision to accommodate American’s new wider body shapes.

I’m a little concerned about some of the new railings in the queue, they seem designed to cause welts on the heads of young children at the right height. Additionally, there are random boxes in the queue that have already become defacto benches. Without fastpass a full length queue was a wait of less than 30 minutes. Adding in Fastpass and the standby queue could be very long.

In the ride itself, many safety rails, paths, and lights have been added. The new LED safety lights really stood out as we rode, but I’m sure that over time they’ll fade into the background like other safety features. With the exception of some lighting a good attempt was made to theme the added safety features. Most show elements got a general makeover and many effects that haven’t worked in a long time are now functioning fine, even the geyser in the exit queue:

Big Thunder is supposed to return to regular operation on Monday and is not guaranteed to be open between now and then.

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New Segment added to The Magic, The Memories, & You – The Magic Kingdom Castle Projection Show

A new section celebrating summer has been added to the popular Castle Digital Projection show called The Magic, The Memories, and You! It kicks off with Phineas & Ferb and includes segments with The Lion King and Ariel, the Little Mermaid (not coincidentally two characters opening up at the Art of Animation Resort, I’m sure).

The Magic, The Memories, and You! plays at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Concept art for the show below the jump:

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Keeping an eye on Beryl

By now, you’ve likely heard about Sub-Tropical Storm Beryl. Right now, most models have agreed on a landfall by Sunday night with tropical storm warnings stretching between Charleston and Daytona Beach. the median being Brunswick, GA. Because of the width of this system, there will… Read More »Keeping an eye on Beryl

Fire plays havoc with traffic near Walt Disney World

A brush fire is burning across the I4 freeway from Walt Disney World. Here’s a map showing where the fire is located. Right now there are closures on the I4 both directions and International Drive is closed in the area. So far the fire has… Read More »Fire plays havoc with traffic near Walt Disney World