Storybook Circus Soft Opening Photos
With spring break crowds already in town, the Magic Kingdom put the rush on to open at least part of Storybook Circus to help alleviate the crush. Here are some of the first photos to hit the net. More later!
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Disney World Water Parks – Cool Off In Style
Do you feel that? It feels…sticky and humid, or as us Floridians call it, the indication of the return to summer weather. Do you know what else that means? Water Parks! One of the best things about Florida is the abundance of water parks in Orlando and across the state. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are some great water parks not on Disney property, (Try Adventure Island, Wet N’ Wild or Aquatica!), but Disney Water Parks are piece de resistance. Two highly themed worlds that transport you into a world of liquid goodness. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are wonderful additions to the Walt Disney World Resort that should NOT be ignored while you are on a vacation to the area. Here is a brief synopsis of the two parks “back stories” (Those imagineers…always wanted to tell a story!).
Typhoon Lagoon is how it is now after a (shockingly) typhoon ripped though a tropical paradise… well… used to be a tropical paradise. Boats, Cargo, everything was thrown all over the area, creating the rides and landmarks seen throughout the park. For example, Miss Tilly is the name of the shrimp boat atop Mount Mayday. (P.S. Remember, every half an hour, Miss Tilly shoots a 50 foot water geyser!) It opened in 1989.
Blizzard Beach has a more detailed story behind its creation. On this tiny sliver of the Disney property, a freak snowstorm hit. This, of course, launched the creation of Florida’s first ski resort. Amazingly, (That was sarcasm) the snow melted. The entrepreneurs had no idea what to do with themselves, until they saw an alligator (The park’s mascot, Ice Gator) sliding down one of the old slopes. They decided to turn the area into a water park…the smarter choice. The park opened in 1995.
Typhoon Lagoon has the world’s largest wave pool, while Blizzard Beach has the world’s tallest and fastest water slide. Typhoon Lagoon has a free to swim in Shark Reef, while Blizzard Beach has a really cool ski lift. They both have their own unique style.
Extra Disney Day at The Magic Kingdom
Yes, believe it or not, I’m at the Magic Kingdom for Leap Day 2012. The park is open for 24 hours (6am to 6am) for the One More Disney Day bi-coastal event. I don’t know if I’m going to make it all 24 hours, but you have to be here early, like I was this morning, in order to give it a try.
My main goal is to get as much of the Sorcerers of The Magic Kingdom finished as possible. I’m not the only one with that idea. The queue for Space Mountain was shorter than SotMK for a while this morning.
As I go through the day I’ll come back and add any commentary or breaking news to this thread. I’ll be in the park overnight (at least that’s the plan). If you’re in the park and you see me tweeting as @TheDisneyBlog, please come over and say howdy.
Mickey & Minnie look like they just woke up. Or are those Light Magic costumes?
Magic Kingdom Update – Rolling in the Park (Part 3)
With Part three, we’ve reached the end of this week’s Magic Kingdom update. See part one and part two if you missed them. But there was some breaking news today about New Fantasyland that will help fill up our calendar over the coming months.
First Disney World announced the closing date for Snow White’s Scary Adventures in Fantasyland. May 31st is the final day to ride this 1971 original attraction. It will be replaced later this year with “The Princess Fairy Tale Hall.” Snow White will still have a presence in the park when the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opens in late 2013 or early 2014. I’m very sad to see the dark ride go, particularly to make way for a meet and greet, but I am excited about the new roller coaster.
Another major timeline update was released today. The plan has always been to open New Fantasyland in stages, even Storybook Circus will open in stages. But now we know that late in March 2012 Storybook Circus will open with one of the two new spinners at Dumbo, the Great Goofini (formerly Goofy’s Barnstormer) and the Fantasyland Train Station. This should help with the flow around Fantasyland and add some much needed kid friendly attractions back into the mix at the Magic Kingdom as summer approaches.
Notice the trees. These new skinny trees replaced the more round ones that have been there for at last 8 years. It’s definitely a different aesthetic, doesn’t look as ‘home town’ as I would hope.
Facade work is still going on here and on the Main Street Bakery.
Read More »Magic Kingdom Update – Rolling in the Park (Part 3)
Kelly Clarkson visits Walt Disney World
Singing sensation Kelly Clarkson was spotted at Walt Disney World having fun with friends and family. While there she took the time to post with a pair Disney characters who are also familiar with transformation — Beauty and the Beast. Clarkson was in town to… Read More »Kelly Clarkson visits Walt Disney World
New Fastpass, How Strategies Might Change
Coming in early March, Fastpass will have new rules that, really, go back to the roots of the Fastpass system. Now, you can enter the Fastpass queue up to 5 minutes before your selected time window and until 15 minutes after your window. I know… Read More »New Fastpass, How Strategies Might Change
Paula Abdul Greets Minnie Mouse for Special Valentine’s Day Photo
Entertainer Paula Abdul spent Valentine’s day enjoying the Disney theme parks. Here she is in Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Minnie Mouse. I wonder if Paula dropped in on the American Idol Experience. That would have been a shocker. Btw, look carefully and you’ll notice that… Read More »Paula Abdul Greets Minnie Mouse for Special Valentine’s Day Photo
Magic Kingdom Photo Update – making progress to New Fantasyland opening (Part 1)
Have a long update from our visit to the Magic Kingdom this weekend. So long it’s going to take at least two posts (Update: here’s part two) to get it all in. Nearly every pic has a larger version if you click on it to help you see the detail since some of the photos are taken from a distance due to construction walls and what not.
There are still many tarps and bridges under construction around the park. I didn’t take new photos of Main Street or Adventureland, but there is still work under way in both locations.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom was option for play testing again today. They continue to refine the check-in process. Remember to bring your Sorcerer’s Key along with your deck. You an ask for five cards for every member with a valid admission, but they default to just give you five cards per party. While it’s still only on the ‘easy’ level, if you have a 4-10 year old this is a lot of fun. For older kids (adults too) it’s a great collectible. Addicting, really.
The good news is that the Firefighter patches have been returned to the FireHouse.
Read More »Magic Kingdom Photo Update – making progress to New Fantasyland opening (Part 1)