Town Square Theater

Town Square Theater (formerly the Exposition Hall) will become a permanent location for Mickey Mouse meet 'n greets ... And it will become the first character experience to feature Disney's FASTPASS.

 “This isn’t just remodeling Expo Hall; it is completely re-imagining this entire venue as a beautiful Victorian-era theater and the new home for Mickey Mouse,” Jon Georges, WDI Director, senior show producer, said.

Town Square Theater is scheduled to open this spring, while New Fantasyland will open in phases beginning in late 2012.

Disney Concept Art

H/T: Matt Roseboom at Orlando Attractions Magazine

Star Wars Weekends 2011

Star Wars Weekends return to Disney's Hollywood Studios on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 20th-June 12th.

The new and improved Star Tours will also return as a 3-D attraction.

C-3PO, also known as Anthony Daniels, will be the featured guest for at least the first weekend.

Personally, I'd love to see THIS guy:

The New and Improved Fantasyland

Scratch the first New and Improved Fantasyland announcement.
For whatever reason(s), some changes have been made (no more Pixie Hollow).

The new news:

"The largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history is under way, a project that will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. Scheduled to open in phases beginning in late 2012, the new Fantasyland will immerse guests in Disney stories as never before."

Among the planned highlights:

* Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid:
   A major attraction featuring an Omnimover motion system on which Guests will travel with Ariel and her friends.

* The Castle of the Beast:
   Feature: the Be Our Guest Restaurant with seating for 550, will offer counter service by day and full (and pricier) table service dining in the evening.

Nearby in Belle's Village, will be Gaston's Tavern (a small eatery) and Bonjour! Village Gifts (for your purchasing pleasure).

* Maurice's Workshop:
   Guests will be transported via a magical mirror to the Beast's library to meet Belle and Lumiere, and will share in an interactive retelling of the "tale as old as time."

* The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train:
   Guests will take a rollicking, musical ride into the mine "where a million diamonds shine."  The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system. 

* Princess Fairytale Hall:
   A royal court on the site where Snow White's Scary Adventures stands today. Disney princesses Aurora, Cinderella, Tiana, Rapunzel and others will greet guests.
(Uh oh, no more SWSA?? Stand by for the Save SWSA petitions!)

* Storybook Circus:
   Not one but two circling carousels of airborne pachyderms on Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Double Dumbos!!).  Guests can also experience an array of family games and interactive wonders for kids of all ages (hey, are you talkin' to ME??) inside the big top.

* the Barnstormer will get a new look as well, featuring Goofy as The Great Goofini.

Artist Rendering: Walt Disney Co / Orlando Attractions Magazine

Take THAT, Harry Potter!

Orlando Attractions: New Fantasyland

Orlando Sentinel: Fantasyland Expansion

Confession #15 : I Am A Planner

I am SUCH a planner that my family teases me about having OCD about it.

O.K. I'll admit that I probably am Obsessive/Compulsive in the trip planning area and I'll also say that this is not a bad thing as long as you are flexible (have a Plan B - and be flexible with it, too).

I cannot imagine coming to WDW and NOT having a daily (but flexible) plan for parks and dining. In fact, if you haven't made prior plans for dining, good luck on eating at the more popular places.

I am planning for a Dollywood trip this spring.
Unfortunately, DW does not have the information base that WDW has.

Google: Disney World trip planning. There are 314,00 results.

Google: Dollywood trip planning. There is 1 (one) result.

So. If any Dollywood veterans are reading this and have helpful hints, ideas, suggestions, must-do and don't bother lists, please, please drop a note in the comments.  My family will thank you.

TIA!

Opening and Closing @ WDW

Opening:

WDW has released more details about the new Art of Animation resort:

Located adjacent to the Pop Century Resort (the site was originally supposed to be Phase II of Pop), the Art of Animation Resort will be a Value Resort and will feature 864 themed rooms in 'The Little Mermaid' wings and 1,120 family suites in 'The Lion King',' Cars' and 'Finding Nemo' wings.

The 1st phase - the 'Finding Nemo' suites- will open May 2012, and the last phase by the end of 2012 (the 2012 apocalypse notwithstanding)  will be 'The Little Mermaid'-themed rooms.

 Concept Art: Walt Disney Company

Closing:

Toontown Fair at the Magic Kingdom will close forever in February 2011. After the 11th, the Barnstormer will be the only thing left standing (and that will be re-themed).


Now, I swear that I heard a local newsperson report that Mickey's and Minnie's houses will be re-located ( to DHS ??)  and I have to say that I hope this is TRUE because Minnie's House
is one of my most favorite things in the MK.

Does anyone have verification of this?

The Latest (and Hottest) WDW Rumor ...

... is regarding something I posted about before: adding AUSTRALIA to Disney's Animal Kingdom!


Wishful Thinking #2: Animal Kingdom

The DisneyBlog makes an interesting and pertinent comment regarding transportation from Discovery Island to the new area. I personally think it would be most cool to re-theme the Wildlife Express and use it; maybe even incorporate the current area of Rafiki's Planet Watch into the Outback and move Planet Watch over to Camp Minnie Mickey.

Oh, the possibilities!!


Sources:    G'Day Mate

Hyperion Wharf

Disney has just announced (today/noon/local news) that Pleasure Island will soon be no more ... after receiving an extreme makeover it will become ...

Hyperion Wharf 

 "a nostalgic, yet modern take on an early 20th century port city and amusement pier".

Photo: The Orlando Sentinel / The Daily Disney

Most of the existing buildings ( BET Soundstage, the Adventurer's Club, Rock 'n Roll Beach Club, Motion ) will be bulldozed and from the rubble will rise "numerous new or renovated retail shops and merchandise vignettes, as well as additional atmosphere entertainment".


Hyperion Park will open in stages - with a waterfront park area to be open by next summer. The whole thing should be complete by 2013.

ALSO: the AMC 24 Theatres will undergo renovation as well, with new digital technology, an up-graded concession stand, and a dine-in "Fork & Screen" theater.

Today, 44 Years Ago

On this date - November 15th - in 1965, Walt and Roy officially announce the "Florida project", meaning Walt Disney World, of course.

But did you know that Orlando was not Disney's 1st choice for the new park site?

It was St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1963, Walt and company were all set to sign the documents, when at a cocktail party the night before the signing, August Busch Jr, of the Anheuser-Busch brewery dynasty, reputedly shot off his mouth: "Any man who thinks he can design an attraction that is going to be a success in this city and not serve beer or liquor ought to have his head examined."

Well, Walt did not want beer, or any alcoholic beverage, sold in his Family-friendly park, nor did he need to have his head examined, so the next morning he gathered up his crew and left town.

Or so the story goes.


I wonder what Walt would do today about the alcohol sold in his beloved parks, besides spin at Warp 6?

Food & Wine 2010 Review

My son and his bride planned their trip to visit us (and Mickey) during the Food & Wine Festival this year.

I picked up a couple of "Passports" and we stopped at all of the kiosks to get the stamps, plus the Festival center to get the final one.

Although we didn't sample everything, here is our review of those we did:

On a scale of YUMMY to YUCKY

YUMMY:

*** The waffles (Belgium) - Unanimous approval
*** Braised short ribs (France) - seconds-worthy
*** Cherry Colada (Puerto Rico) - OLE!!
*** Chicken Chipotle Sausage (Canada) - even hard-to please hubby liked this
*** Vidal Icewine (Canada) - better than last year; hubby liked this, too

** Creme Brulee au Chocolat (France)
** Pecan Bread Pudding (Hops & Barley)
    *note: the 1st one was quite good, the 2nd one was slightly less so & had only one pecan
** Rosemount Traminer Riesling (Australia)
** Ginger Ice Cream (China)
** Chocolate Lava Cake with Baileys Irish Cream Ganache (Ireland)
** Bunratty Meade Honey Wine (Ireland)

* Godiva Iced chocolate (Belgium) - might've liked it better if the ice had been crushed

* Spanish Almond Cake (Spain) - pound cake with almonds, but tasty
* Bohae Bokbunjajoo/blackberry rice wine (South Korea) - too strong for me, but the Boy liked it

SO-SO:

* Esquites (Mexico)- eh
* Churro (Mexico) - not crispy, almost on the yuck list
* Wafu Ribettes (Japan) - eh
* Pork Pot Stickers (China) - not hot, not as good as last year
* Kinjiang BBQ Chicken Stick (China)- eh
* Green Tea Plum Wine Cooler (China) - not as good as last year
* Lettuce wraps with pork & kimchi sauce (South Korea)

YUCKY:

- BBQ short rib (South Korea) - even tho the sauce was tasty, overall very disappointing
- Heirloom Tomatoes (US) - didn't even finish this
- Bison Chili (US) - unanimous vote for the yuck-o-meter
- Cheese Fondue (Charcuterie & Cheese) - bleech

We got the gift cards on the wrist bands this year and I have to say that they were a unanimous hit! We'll definitely use them next year (for which we're already saving $$$$).

Real Life Disney: Chip & Dale

I love this picture. 

Dunno who or where, nor the source.