Hi everyone! As I reported a couple of weeks ago, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is open for a full 24 hours today for only the second time in its history. It opened at 6am this morning, and will continue to be open throughout the night, finally closing at 6am tomorrow. The event kicks off the 'Monstrous Summer' being celebrated at the parks this year, featuring a series of exciting events, with this one a contender for the best, to celebrate the release of Disney and Pixar's newest movie, Monsters University. Today's event, which is also featuring at the two parks of Disneyland California, is in full swing as I write this, having gone just over 12 hours quite recently.
One of the best things about these kinds of events is that Disney couples the unique celebrations, which I'll explain in a minute, with awesome and exclusively unique merchandise and food, which is I'm told already proving a huge hit on both coasts for this event. Not only is there the attraction of having the opportunity to spend (or at least attempt to spend) 24 hours in the world's best theme park, but by offering these unique items to guests exclusively on this day, Disney are giving them great ways to remember this rare magical experience which is an opportunity seldom encountered in life. The fact that this event is such a massive thing is, taken on its own terms, more than a good basis to create great memories for all those lucky enough to attend it, but when the opportunity to take home these 'one day only' souvenirs also arises, it makes for some pretty strong memories.
The Magic Kingdom has already seen Sulley and Mike, stars of Monsters University, be Grand Marshals for the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, with social media buzzing with news and views about this awesome appearance. Also planned for the next few hours are special late night character meet and greets, dance parties by Cinderella Castle, as well as many other exciting things. I'll be reporting tomorrow on all the goings on!
I really wanted to share that the Disney Parks Blog (which has had a cool makeover to celebrate this event) has been blogging live all day from the parks. Each update comes complete with a cool feature showing the time on both coasts at which it was posted, with posts from all of the blog's top authors a ubiquity today. Particularly intriguing is Stephen Miller's coast to coast expedition, with the Merchandise Communications Manager on his way to Disneyland from Orlando International Airport as I write this. To check out the Disney Parks Blog team's awesome live blogging, please click here! It's definitely worth taking a look!
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to check out the awesome We're Going To Walt Disney World Podcast! If you yourself are at the parks for today's unique event, I'd love to hear about it! Please feel free to comment below! Thank you and have a magical weekend!
Welcome to the World of Dreams Walt Disney World FanBlog! I hope you enjoy exploring the blog, and that you have a magical day!
Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
World of Dreams Photo of the Week
Now, you may be surprised to hear this, but this week's photo is from... a parking lot. Yes, a parking lot! The Magic Kingdom's, to be exact. Now, I know that I say this at least once a week, and probably sound like a broken record, but at Disney, everything is so amazing. In accordance with this, the parking lots really aren't mere parking lots, like you would find elsewhere, but are so much more. Clever kinetics, attractive landscaping and preliminary storytelling are all present in the Disney lots, creating an exciting environment perfectly designed to build anticipation of the many whimsical adventures which await you in the park.
With this week's photo, I have tried to epitomise everything the Disney parking lots represent. Although you can't see the park itself, this photo was taken whilst I faced toward the Magic Kingdom, and showcases the beautiful sky visible late in a sunny Floridian day. Late afternoon/early evening is my favourite time to enter the Magic Kingdom, as the beautiful skies always make the already wondrous settings of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Park's seven lands so much more magical and stunning. I think that the whole of Walt Disney World, and the Magic Kingdom in particular, looks so much more beautiful at sunset.
In this image I was also lucky enough to capture two of my favourite elements of the Disney parking lots. Firstly, there are the colourful signs detailing which zone of the lot you have parked in. In the case of the Magic Kingdom, the parking lot is divided into two sides: heroes and villains. Unfortunately, we were directed to the Villains side that day (boo), but I made sure that I told nobody(I don't want my reputation ruined!) Although quite confusing, this unique two sided system at the Magic Kingdom, which is still fairly new, is great fun to park in, adding a whole new dimension to the lot. The other awesome thing in the picture is the tram. Although it's just a means of transporting guests from one side of the vast parking lots to the other, the trams really are great fun to ride, and a really special way to approach a park. Oh, and they make tearing yourself away from it a little easier!
The only thing that I have changed about this photo is to slightly tweak the saturation, in order to fully emphasise and credit the true beauty of the sky, as this photo was taken on a pretty bad camera! I hope you like it!
Thank you for reading! I would also like to thank everyone who has been making kind comments about this Blog, especially on Facebook. It's a truly great feeling to be able to share my passion for Disney with all of you, and know that my work's appreciated!
I hope you're having a magical week!
With this week's photo, I have tried to epitomise everything the Disney parking lots represent. Although you can't see the park itself, this photo was taken whilst I faced toward the Magic Kingdom, and showcases the beautiful sky visible late in a sunny Floridian day. Late afternoon/early evening is my favourite time to enter the Magic Kingdom, as the beautiful skies always make the already wondrous settings of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Park's seven lands so much more magical and stunning. I think that the whole of Walt Disney World, and the Magic Kingdom in particular, looks so much more beautiful at sunset.
In this image I was also lucky enough to capture two of my favourite elements of the Disney parking lots. Firstly, there are the colourful signs detailing which zone of the lot you have parked in. In the case of the Magic Kingdom, the parking lot is divided into two sides: heroes and villains. Unfortunately, we were directed to the Villains side that day (boo), but I made sure that I told nobody(I don't want my reputation ruined!) Although quite confusing, this unique two sided system at the Magic Kingdom, which is still fairly new, is great fun to park in, adding a whole new dimension to the lot. The other awesome thing in the picture is the tram. Although it's just a means of transporting guests from one side of the vast parking lots to the other, the trams really are great fun to ride, and a really special way to approach a park. Oh, and they make tearing yourself away from it a little easier!
The only thing that I have changed about this photo is to slightly tweak the saturation, in order to fully emphasise and credit the true beauty of the sky, as this photo was taken on a pretty bad camera! I hope you like it!
Thank you for reading! I would also like to thank everyone who has been making kind comments about this Blog, especially on Facebook. It's a truly great feeling to be able to share my passion for Disney with all of you, and know that my work's appreciated!
I hope you're having a magical week!
Friday, March 1, 2013
Attraction Review- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Before I start today, I would just like to give you a massive apology for the lateness of this post. I would have published it last Friday, as per normal, but it seems that Blogger had a problem with their servers, and I was unable to access my account for several days. Obviously this is all out of my control, but I will endeavour to prevent this happening again.
One of the things I love most about Walt Disney World is how the wonderful theme parks are still full of classic Disney Attractions. For me, the Magic Kingdom shows this better than any other park, creating a perfect balance of both old and nostalgic, and new and exciting attractions. The thing Disney does so well with these classic and nostalgic attractions is to maintain the high standards which have come to be expected of the Disney Parks, whilst still retaining the charm and character of the attraction in question.
When looking at the Magic Kingdom in particular, many such attractions spring to mind, with the task of picking out just one outstanding attraction almost impossible. Each one has, obviously, always been a guest favourite, a crucial factor in the longevity of any Disney Attraction. The Magic Kingdom attraction I'm looking at today, however, perfectly epitomises all these points, having been a Tomorrowland staple since it opened in July 1975, 4 years after the park itself. I am of course referring to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, or the TTA as we Disney Fans affectionately know it.
This incredible attraction takes guests on an interesting tour around Tomorrowland, including glimpses into several of Tomorrowland's exciting attractions, such as Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. Narrated by Mike Brassell, this attraction represents a mass transportation system of the future as imagined by the Disney Imagineers, and is actually considered to be a genuinely feasible prototype for future transportation systems. Indeed, the same ride systems used in this attraction are used in the Inter-Terminal Train at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which was built by the Disney Imagineers for the Airport. It still functions and operates today as a means of transportation around the airport.
Guests board the TTA at a second floor station below the Astro Orbitor attraction, with the entire attraction taking place above Tomorrowland. Your adventure around this magnificent area of the Magic Kingdom takes place in one of the attraction's 32 ride vehicles, which are extremely pleasant, and lovely and comfortable for your 10 minute journey.
The TTA really is one of those remarkably rare attractions which are absolute perfection, however it is unique amongst the small group of attractions of this pedigree. When you think of such attractions, the Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest, among others, spring to mind. These Imagineering masterpieces are state of the art, utilising some of the most complex and mind boggling technologies known to man, creating a stunning attraction. The TTA, on the other hand, is about as technologically advanced as the WDW buses!
Weirdly enough, instead of being a criticism, this is actually a compliment! It is the blissful simplicity of the attraction which is one of the crucial ingredients to its winning formula, and when combined with the setting, atmosphere and theming which Disney does so splendidly, it makes the TTA pretty much unbeatable. On its own, the ride is very basic, nothing special. If you took just the track and vehicles and placed them in an empty parking lot, it would be nowhere near as enjoyable. Whereas, when you put it into the whimsical setting of the Magic Kingdom, it instantly makes the attraction so much more than a track and some vehicles.
With such a perfect attraction on offer, you'd think that lines for it would be longer than the time it's taking Disney to build a fifth WDW park (and that's a WHOLE other topic), but I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by the reality. The TTA is actually one of the easiest attractions at WDW to get on! Although it's very popular, especially amongst Disney fans, lines for the PeopleMover are almost always a walk on, and if not, under 10 minutes. I've visited the Magic Kingdom at one of the busiest times of year, and still only waited 5 minutes for the TTA at the busiest time of day! For a ten minute attraction, that's a great time return (200%). Therefore, you can visit the TTA pretty much whenever you want!
Here's how I rate the TTA in the following categories, and why:
Thrill~ 9/10
Whilst the TTA is awesome, it's not thrilling in the traditional way, but more sensually. The raised track is the perfect vantage point to take in the exquisite sights, sounds and smells of Tomorrowland, which combine to make it one of my favourite themed areas in all of Walt Disney World.
Scariness~ 6/10
This attraction has no speed or drops, but does feature a fairly lengthy segment in the dark, and I mean DARK, as you go through Space Mountain. This can be pretty scary, as you can't see a thing, and can hear the Space Mountain cars whizzing all around you, creating a cool but scary effect. It's not really all that bad, but can be scary, especially for guests who are uncomfortable in the dark.
Theming~ 9/10~
Like I previously mentioned, the theming is such an integral part of this attraction. We all know that a good theme should really make you feel like you are wherever its portraying, like you are living, or visiting, that world. Whilst not WDW's most elaborate, the TTC's theme does this perfectly, transporting you to the dream version of the future which the whole of Tomorrowland represents so well.
Educational~ 7/10
The clever narration on the TTA does inform you of Tomorrowland's many attractions, just not in a particularly factual way. You do, however, pass a model of 'Progress City', which was Walt Disney's vision for a futuristic city, the concept which inspired Epcot, the theme park we know and love today. This is an awesome touch, and provides an awesome opportunity to learn about the city, if only very briefly. The attraction also represents a very probable future mode of transportation- very interesting to learn about, especially since PeopleMovers could be a massive part of our everyday lives in 50, or even 40 years time.
Fun~ 10/10
Fun is one of those vital elements that every attraction must have to be at all successful, and fun is the element which the TTA is richest in. Only Disney could take a prototype transportation network and turn it into an enjoyable attraction- and they've done so incredibly well. Another great thing they've managed to pull off is making the tour of Tomorrowland dimension of the attraction fun; instead of simply promoting each attraction. Also, the TTA is great for people watching, and has great views in general, including two segments of the ride which offer unmatched views of the Hub and Cinderella Castle, providing a great opportunity to snap a quick picture. And who could forget the ingenious joke which is cleverly incorporated into the attraction during one of its indoor sections. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say that it involves a certain person... called Tom.
Repeatability~ 10/10
Due to the length of this attraction, and the amount to see, you could ride it 1000 times and still not have taken it all in! The clever gags and spectacular theming will make you want to ride it again and again, it truly is one of those attractions which makes you want to get right back in line after disembarking! It's also really good for repeat rides if you enjoy people watching, as that's always constantly changing, of course.
And finally, my overall rating of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover~ 10/10
The TTA is, quite simply, one of my all time favourite attractions. It's wondrous, fantastic, awe-inspiring, everything I could possibly ask for in a Disney attraction. I love its charm and nostalgia as well, they are two of the defining principals of the TTA, and I also love everything else about it, to be honest!
It just goes to show that the magic is everywhere in the Disney Parks, and that the spirit and charm of a great attraction never falters. It's what sets aside Disney attractions from the rest.
Now I would love to hear what YOU think! Are my views valid, or am I a little too positive? Are you also a big TTA fan, or do you not see what all the fuss is about? Please share on Facebook, in the comments below, or by emailing worldofdreamsblog@gmail.com. I love hearing from my readers!
Thanks for reading, and may your day be full of magic!
One of the things I love most about Walt Disney World is how the wonderful theme parks are still full of classic Disney Attractions. For me, the Magic Kingdom shows this better than any other park, creating a perfect balance of both old and nostalgic, and new and exciting attractions. The thing Disney does so well with these classic and nostalgic attractions is to maintain the high standards which have come to be expected of the Disney Parks, whilst still retaining the charm and character of the attraction in question.
When looking at the Magic Kingdom in particular, many such attractions spring to mind, with the task of picking out just one outstanding attraction almost impossible. Each one has, obviously, always been a guest favourite, a crucial factor in the longevity of any Disney Attraction. The Magic Kingdom attraction I'm looking at today, however, perfectly epitomises all these points, having been a Tomorrowland staple since it opened in July 1975, 4 years after the park itself. I am of course referring to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, or the TTA as we Disney Fans affectionately know it.
This incredible attraction takes guests on an interesting tour around Tomorrowland, including glimpses into several of Tomorrowland's exciting attractions, such as Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. Narrated by Mike Brassell, this attraction represents a mass transportation system of the future as imagined by the Disney Imagineers, and is actually considered to be a genuinely feasible prototype for future transportation systems. Indeed, the same ride systems used in this attraction are used in the Inter-Terminal Train at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which was built by the Disney Imagineers for the Airport. It still functions and operates today as a means of transportation around the airport.
Guests board the TTA at a second floor station below the Astro Orbitor attraction, with the entire attraction taking place above Tomorrowland. Your adventure around this magnificent area of the Magic Kingdom takes place in one of the attraction's 32 ride vehicles, which are extremely pleasant, and lovely and comfortable for your 10 minute journey.
The TTA really is one of those remarkably rare attractions which are absolute perfection, however it is unique amongst the small group of attractions of this pedigree. When you think of such attractions, the Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest, among others, spring to mind. These Imagineering masterpieces are state of the art, utilising some of the most complex and mind boggling technologies known to man, creating a stunning attraction. The TTA, on the other hand, is about as technologically advanced as the WDW buses!
Weirdly enough, instead of being a criticism, this is actually a compliment! It is the blissful simplicity of the attraction which is one of the crucial ingredients to its winning formula, and when combined with the setting, atmosphere and theming which Disney does so splendidly, it makes the TTA pretty much unbeatable. On its own, the ride is very basic, nothing special. If you took just the track and vehicles and placed them in an empty parking lot, it would be nowhere near as enjoyable. Whereas, when you put it into the whimsical setting of the Magic Kingdom, it instantly makes the attraction so much more than a track and some vehicles.
With such a perfect attraction on offer, you'd think that lines for it would be longer than the time it's taking Disney to build a fifth WDW park (and that's a WHOLE other topic), but I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by the reality. The TTA is actually one of the easiest attractions at WDW to get on! Although it's very popular, especially amongst Disney fans, lines for the PeopleMover are almost always a walk on, and if not, under 10 minutes. I've visited the Magic Kingdom at one of the busiest times of year, and still only waited 5 minutes for the TTA at the busiest time of day! For a ten minute attraction, that's a great time return (200%). Therefore, you can visit the TTA pretty much whenever you want!
Here's how I rate the TTA in the following categories, and why:
Thrill~ 9/10
Whilst the TTA is awesome, it's not thrilling in the traditional way, but more sensually. The raised track is the perfect vantage point to take in the exquisite sights, sounds and smells of Tomorrowland, which combine to make it one of my favourite themed areas in all of Walt Disney World.
Scariness~ 6/10
This attraction has no speed or drops, but does feature a fairly lengthy segment in the dark, and I mean DARK, as you go through Space Mountain. This can be pretty scary, as you can't see a thing, and can hear the Space Mountain cars whizzing all around you, creating a cool but scary effect. It's not really all that bad, but can be scary, especially for guests who are uncomfortable in the dark.
Theming~ 9/10~
Like I previously mentioned, the theming is such an integral part of this attraction. We all know that a good theme should really make you feel like you are wherever its portraying, like you are living, or visiting, that world. Whilst not WDW's most elaborate, the TTC's theme does this perfectly, transporting you to the dream version of the future which the whole of Tomorrowland represents so well.
Educational~ 7/10
The clever narration on the TTA does inform you of Tomorrowland's many attractions, just not in a particularly factual way. You do, however, pass a model of 'Progress City', which was Walt Disney's vision for a futuristic city, the concept which inspired Epcot, the theme park we know and love today. This is an awesome touch, and provides an awesome opportunity to learn about the city, if only very briefly. The attraction also represents a very probable future mode of transportation- very interesting to learn about, especially since PeopleMovers could be a massive part of our everyday lives in 50, or even 40 years time.
Fun~ 10/10
Fun is one of those vital elements that every attraction must have to be at all successful, and fun is the element which the TTA is richest in. Only Disney could take a prototype transportation network and turn it into an enjoyable attraction- and they've done so incredibly well. Another great thing they've managed to pull off is making the tour of Tomorrowland dimension of the attraction fun; instead of simply promoting each attraction. Also, the TTA is great for people watching, and has great views in general, including two segments of the ride which offer unmatched views of the Hub and Cinderella Castle, providing a great opportunity to snap a quick picture. And who could forget the ingenious joke which is cleverly incorporated into the attraction during one of its indoor sections. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say that it involves a certain person... called Tom.
Repeatability~ 10/10
Due to the length of this attraction, and the amount to see, you could ride it 1000 times and still not have taken it all in! The clever gags and spectacular theming will make you want to ride it again and again, it truly is one of those attractions which makes you want to get right back in line after disembarking! It's also really good for repeat rides if you enjoy people watching, as that's always constantly changing, of course.
And finally, my overall rating of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover~ 10/10
The TTA is, quite simply, one of my all time favourite attractions. It's wondrous, fantastic, awe-inspiring, everything I could possibly ask for in a Disney attraction. I love its charm and nostalgia as well, they are two of the defining principals of the TTA, and I also love everything else about it, to be honest!
It just goes to show that the magic is everywhere in the Disney Parks, and that the spirit and charm of a great attraction never falters. It's what sets aside Disney attractions from the rest.
Now I would love to hear what YOU think! Are my views valid, or am I a little too positive? Are you also a big TTA fan, or do you not see what all the fuss is about? Please share on Facebook, in the comments below, or by emailing worldofdreamsblog@gmail.com. I love hearing from my readers!
Thanks for reading, and may your day be full of magic!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
World of Dreams Photo of the Week
New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom is truly breathtaking. With this multi- million dollar expansion, Disney have taken all the things which made the Classic Fantasyland amazing, and made them even better still, creating what now is by far the Magic Kingdom's best themed area. One of my favourite parts of the expansion is Storybook Circus, which is a, you guessed it, circus themed area. I think that the Imagineers have got Storybook Circus just right, and I really enjoyed exploring it last October- the details are incredible.
The centrepiece of this unique area of Fantasyland is the new Dumbo attraction. Unlike the old Dumbo, which was located near the old Snow White's Scary Adventures, this new Dumbo features two versions of the attraction right next to each other, both served by one of Disney's innovative interactive queues. My family and I were lucky enough to get a Surprise Fastpass for Dumbo on our last trip, and, despite the fact that we are way to old for it, we rode it! It was great fun, and brought back memories of when I first visited a Disney Park, which was Disneyland Paris in 2005. Dumbo was the first thing I rode there.
This week's photo is of the 'spoke' of the Dumbo attraction, taken from the Fastpass queue just before boarding my 'Elephant'! I have edited it slightly to improve the quality, but haven't done so in any other way, as the beautiful colours which Dumbo is painted in don't need enhancing!
I would love to hear your opinions on the photo! Do you think it's a good angle, or should I have focused on the whole attraction? Please share your views in the comments!
Thank you for reading, I really appreciate your support! Have a magical day!
The centrepiece of this unique area of Fantasyland is the new Dumbo attraction. Unlike the old Dumbo, which was located near the old Snow White's Scary Adventures, this new Dumbo features two versions of the attraction right next to each other, both served by one of Disney's innovative interactive queues. My family and I were lucky enough to get a Surprise Fastpass for Dumbo on our last trip, and, despite the fact that we are way to old for it, we rode it! It was great fun, and brought back memories of when I first visited a Disney Park, which was Disneyland Paris in 2005. Dumbo was the first thing I rode there.
This week's photo is of the 'spoke' of the Dumbo attraction, taken from the Fastpass queue just before boarding my 'Elephant'! I have edited it slightly to improve the quality, but haven't done so in any other way, as the beautiful colours which Dumbo is painted in don't need enhancing!
I would love to hear your opinions on the photo! Do you think it's a good angle, or should I have focused on the whole attraction? Please share your views in the comments!
Thank you for reading, I really appreciate your support! Have a magical day!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
World of Dreams Photo of the Week
The photograph I have selected this week is of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which can be found in the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. I captured this image of 'The Wildest Ride In The Wilderness' whilst riding the Walt Disney World Railroad, which passes right by Big Thunder Mountain, presenting an exceptional opportunity to photograph what I consider to be one of Walt Disney World's best themed attractions. I was torn as to how I should edit this photo, so I have made two edits of the original, and posted both. I hope you like them!
Thank you for reading, and have a magical day!
Thank you for reading, and have a magical day!
Friday, December 28, 2012
A Look Ahead At The New Year And 'Limited Time Magic'
It was announced a while ago that an exciting new campaign would be coming to the Disney Parks in 2013. Called 'Limited Time Magic', the campaign, which will last the whole year, and sounds amazing. The whole idea of Limited Time Magic is to introduce surprise mini events at random times which will only feature in The Parks for a limited time. For example; from December 30th to January 5th, the Magic Kingdom will be home to Tomorrowland's 'Bling in the New Year' Party, making its debut. The Party, which I understand from the Disney Parks Blog will be included in regular admission, will feature live entertainment alongside appearances from Characters, who will help Guests welcome in the New Year!
Disney have also recently announced the 'Year of the Ear', a celebration which will see brand new and exclusive Ear Hats released on a monthly basis next year. The Hats, which will be limited edition, will also hopefully be available in many Walt Disney World stores.
We also know that a special announcement, similar to last year's concerning 'One More Disney Day', will be made on 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest'. The announcement, which was, well, announced, during the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade on Tuesday, is thought to concern another campaign named 'Disney Time', which will supposedly involve some kind of sweepstakes. Nothing is certain, and most of the facts about the announcement may be mere speculation, but some Disney Fansites have reported that Disney are already preparing websites for 'Disney Time'.
I believe that there will also be another announcement on New Year's Eve, this one currently remaining completely under wraps. My only guess is that it may concern the addition of Cars Land to Disney's Hollywood Studios, which I recently reported on.
I hope that you and your loved ones had a truly magical Christmas, and I wish you a prosperous, Disney-filled New Year! Thanks for reading!
Disney have also recently announced the 'Year of the Ear', a celebration which will see brand new and exclusive Ear Hats released on a monthly basis next year. The Hats, which will be limited edition, will also hopefully be available in many Walt Disney World stores.
We also know that a special announcement, similar to last year's concerning 'One More Disney Day', will be made on 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest'. The announcement, which was, well, announced, during the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade on Tuesday, is thought to concern another campaign named 'Disney Time', which will supposedly involve some kind of sweepstakes. Nothing is certain, and most of the facts about the announcement may be mere speculation, but some Disney Fansites have reported that Disney are already preparing websites for 'Disney Time'.
I believe that there will also be another announcement on New Year's Eve, this one currently remaining completely under wraps. My only guess is that it may concern the addition of Cars Land to Disney's Hollywood Studios, which I recently reported on.
I hope that you and your loved ones had a truly magical Christmas, and I wish you a prosperous, Disney-filled New Year! Thanks for reading!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
As The Official Opening Of New Fantasyland Approaches, Sightings Of A Dragon Are Reported In WDW...
Thursday December 6th is going to be a big day for Walt Disney World. On a day which has certainly already cemented itself in WDW history, the resort will see not one, not two, but three major new Official Openings; with the Animal Kingdom the only theme park not to have an attraction making its debut. All three have been going through soft openings, or 'Dress Rehearsals', but are being officially opened on Thursday.
Firstly; The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow will be opening in Hollywood Studios' Soundstage 4 (where the Journey Into Narnia walkthrough attraction was housed). As with Narnia, the Captain Jack attraction will be a walkthrough, and Disney have promised that it will include content from every Pirates of the Caribbean movie. They are also claiming it to be 'a first of its kind sensory experience', and that, if you haven't experienced this attraction; 'you don't know Jack... Yet'. As always, the detail which has gone into both the concept art and the attraction itself are stunning, in a way that only Disney can pull off. If you want to see for yourself, WDW Magic have a great selection of photos.
Next, we head over to Epcot, where the long awaited and eagerly anticipated Test Track 2.0 will be starting its engine! Closed for refurbishment since spring this year, the re-imagined Test Track, now presented by Chevrolet is the second attraction to be premiering on Thursday. The old, moderately popular queue has been replaced with a futuristic queue, where you get the opportunity to design your own car, before boarding an equally futuristic 'SimCar', which will take you on a thrilling adventure around Test Track's amazing circuit. Upon exiting the ride, guests will have the opportunity to make a commercial for their car design, have their picture taken with it, and race it around a virtual track. It sounds like another awesome Disney attraction!
Last, but certainly not least, there is 'the big one'. The second, biggest phase of the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland will be opening, comprising of the Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast areas. The Storybook Circus area (first phase) opened last March, and the second phase has been doing Soft Openings, meaning that I was fortunate enough to get to experience both on my recent trip in October. Having actually been there, I can tell you that the New Fantasyland area is absolutely stunning- another spectacular feat of Disney Imagineering. The theming is superb, the attractions equally so, and from what I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if Fantasyland knocks Frontierland off its perch as the Magic Kingdom's most popular land, especially after the third phase (Snow White) opens in 2014.
Thursday will see several additions to Fantasyland, the most notable of which being Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, and the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Gaston's Tavern, a counter service restaurant, will also be opening, alongside Enchanted Tales With Belle; an interactive storytelling experience, and several gift shops and snack carts.
Although all of these things are exciting additions to the Magic Kingdom, they have been overshadowed in recent weeks by rumours of a Dragon heading 'back home' to New Fantasyland. The Dragon rumours first surfaced back in June, when Imagineers were spotted testing an actual flying Dragon (which I believe they now have a patent for) at an airfield in California. At the time, it was speculated that the Dragon was for the upcoming Avatar Land at the Animal Kingdom, but ever since Disney have begun dropping hints through a blog post and a Tumblr Blog, people are certain the Dragon is headed to New Fantasyland. Lots of ideas are being bounced around- including the possibility of Epcot's Figment being somehow involved! Disney have, in their usual style, been feeding us little tidbits of info about this- and the links above are really worth a look, the story they've created for this is incredible, especially the interview with an 'anonyMOUSE' source. Sightings of the mysterious beast have begun appearing all over the place now- and I for one cannot wait for the reveal!
I'd love to hear your views on this! If you want to share your views, please feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for reading, and have a magical day!
Firstly; The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow will be opening in Hollywood Studios' Soundstage 4 (where the Journey Into Narnia walkthrough attraction was housed). As with Narnia, the Captain Jack attraction will be a walkthrough, and Disney have promised that it will include content from every Pirates of the Caribbean movie. They are also claiming it to be 'a first of its kind sensory experience', and that, if you haven't experienced this attraction; 'you don't know Jack... Yet'. As always, the detail which has gone into both the concept art and the attraction itself are stunning, in a way that only Disney can pull off. If you want to see for yourself, WDW Magic have a great selection of photos.
Next, we head over to Epcot, where the long awaited and eagerly anticipated Test Track 2.0 will be starting its engine! Closed for refurbishment since spring this year, the re-imagined Test Track, now presented by Chevrolet is the second attraction to be premiering on Thursday. The old, moderately popular queue has been replaced with a futuristic queue, where you get the opportunity to design your own car, before boarding an equally futuristic 'SimCar', which will take you on a thrilling adventure around Test Track's amazing circuit. Upon exiting the ride, guests will have the opportunity to make a commercial for their car design, have their picture taken with it, and race it around a virtual track. It sounds like another awesome Disney attraction!
Last, but certainly not least, there is 'the big one'. The second, biggest phase of the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland will be opening, comprising of the Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast areas. The Storybook Circus area (first phase) opened last March, and the second phase has been doing Soft Openings, meaning that I was fortunate enough to get to experience both on my recent trip in October. Having actually been there, I can tell you that the New Fantasyland area is absolutely stunning- another spectacular feat of Disney Imagineering. The theming is superb, the attractions equally so, and from what I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if Fantasyland knocks Frontierland off its perch as the Magic Kingdom's most popular land, especially after the third phase (Snow White) opens in 2014.
Thursday will see several additions to Fantasyland, the most notable of which being Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, and the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Gaston's Tavern, a counter service restaurant, will also be opening, alongside Enchanted Tales With Belle; an interactive storytelling experience, and several gift shops and snack carts.
Although all of these things are exciting additions to the Magic Kingdom, they have been overshadowed in recent weeks by rumours of a Dragon heading 'back home' to New Fantasyland. The Dragon rumours first surfaced back in June, when Imagineers were spotted testing an actual flying Dragon (which I believe they now have a patent for) at an airfield in California. At the time, it was speculated that the Dragon was for the upcoming Avatar Land at the Animal Kingdom, but ever since Disney have begun dropping hints through a blog post and a Tumblr Blog, people are certain the Dragon is headed to New Fantasyland. Lots of ideas are being bounced around- including the possibility of Epcot's Figment being somehow involved! Disney have, in their usual style, been feeding us little tidbits of info about this- and the links above are really worth a look, the story they've created for this is incredible, especially the interview with an 'anonyMOUSE' source. Sightings of the mysterious beast have begun appearing all over the place now- and I for one cannot wait for the reveal!
I'd love to hear your views on this! If you want to share your views, please feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for reading, and have a magical day!
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