WDWNT Reporter Tom Corless visited the Walt Disney World Resort last week and has some newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip, so let’s take a look:

There is now an official Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card book, $34.95

Work continues on the Tangled restrooms

Lanterns now hang over the area

A poster featuring Vladamir from the movie is hanging on the wall

There is now a wait time sign for the Express Monorail

Tarps are up on the guitar at Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster

Angry Birds: Star Wars stuff now available in Tatooine Traders

Moving to Downtown Disney, you can now see the pinsetters working through the windows at Splitsville

Taco truck is back on West Side

The Little Mermaid shirt from California is available

A painting of Beast’s Castle from New Fantasyland for sale

Work continues on the new volcano at Rainforest Cafe

A monorail pen now for sale, $9.95

The Segway experiences at Epcot were quietly shutdown this week

All tours were refunded and suspended permanently

No word yet on why this is happening, but we expect a new Innoventions exhibit will replace this soon

Work walls up on the Duffy Store, otherwise known as Disney Traders

A Piston Cup clock is now available at Art of Disney

Work continues on Splash Mountain

No more tarps and scaffolding up

The black spot is gone!

Some work still going on at the bottom of the drop

A fire extinguisher and a coke…

Grand Floridian DVC construction continues

Another new poster up at Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Work continues on the Bakery facade

Storybook Circus has some great lighting at night

The blue light is a little strange… did Aliens arrive at the station?

The rocket has lighting to go along with the smoke

Someone got a new profile pic…

Another new poster popped up at the station

Dumbo looks fantastic at night!

Color changing LED lighting under the water really adds a whole new element at night

Just a friendly reminder… OR ELSE!

Guests playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

OK, if you have to wait in line to play, it completely defeats the purpose… you see your whole story play before you even get near the window, and to be honest, as fun as it is, it isn’t worth waiting any length for. Sorry, I won’t play when lines are like this… it’s not worth it for a screen…

Cool new Phineas and Ferb shirts

Some new shirts

A Dole Whip shirt? Really? It’s nice though…

Shirts for Churros and Turkey Legs, wow…

Oh, there you are Perry…

We might be here a while… you run ahead…

Walt Disney Classics Collection Sculpture Premiere and Artist signing for 
Figment: Heights of Imagination

Event: Walt Disney Classics Collection Product Release & Artist Signing for Figment: Heights of Imagination
Special Guest: Sculptor, Bruce Lau
Event Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012
Event Times: 11:00a.m. – 1:00p.m. & 3:00p.m. – 4:00p.m.
Event Location: Art of Disney, Epcot®

Join Figment on an expedition into breathtaking wonder and towering imagination!  Creativity is a never-ending adventure, and this intrepid, little dragon is the personification of that all-too-human quest to push the boundaries of the possible and discover uncharted territories of magic and dreams.  Recreating the memorable moment in “Heights of Imagination” in which Figment scales the summit of a snow-capped peak,  this new numbered, limited edition of 500 Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture captures the daring mountaineer at the apex of his  creative powers.

 Based on original attraction reference, Figment is hand-crafted of fine porcelain, hand-painted, kiln-fired and provisioned with real rope, metal flag pole and flag, and metallic paint on the pick axe.  Sculpted by Bruce Lau with creative direction from Disney Master Artist David Pacheco, Figment stands approximately 8″ high and retails for $150.00, plus tax.

A limited number of Figment: Heights of Imagination sculptures will be available for pre-order. To pre-order Figment: Heights of Imaginationplease contact
Walt Disney Event Services at 407-827-7600.
Walt Disney Event Services is open Monday – Friday from 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. EST.

All pre-orders for Figment: Heights of Imagination must be placed with Walt Disney Event Services no later than 12:00p.m. EST Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Conquer the heights of imagination with Figment as your guide!

———————————————————–

Figment Original Art Showcase with
Disney Design Group Artist, Darren Wilson!

Event: Disney Design Group Artist Showcase

Special Guest: Disney Design Group Artist, Darren Wilson

Event Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012
Event Times: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Event Location: Art of Disney, Epcot®

Join us as we welcome celebrated Disney Design Group Artist, Darren Wilson to the Art of Disney at Epcot® for a special appearance and signing of his newest Figment inspired masterpiece, Figment on Mountain Top.

Figment on Mountain Top

Original – One of a Kind – Framed

Artist: Darren Wilson
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Unframed Dimensions: 24″W x 30″H

Retail: $3250.00

Limited Edition Canvas Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Unframed Dimensions: 18″W x 22″H

Retail: $375.00

Figment on Mountain Top is also available as a matted deluxe print for $35.00.

When Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opens this coming May, guests will find a colorful new merchandise location called the Ink & Paint Shop. For the past several months, Lyndsey Vincent, a recent intern on the Walt Disney World Professional Internship Program, has been diligently working on one important thing for the new shop. She has the unique job of designing the merchandise fixtures, and we recently spoke about her experience.

“I’ve grown up with Disney and visited Disneyland Resort every summer with my family,” said Lyndsey. “I graduated with an Interior Design degree last spring and moved from Idaho to work for Walt Disney World Resort. I didn’t know what to expect when I got here but the experience has been fun!”

Now a full-time member of the Global Retail Development team at Disney Theme Park Merchandise, Lyndsey worked closely with several departments “to put together the puzzle” that is a new location.

“Location planning was a key department that helped with the design process,” explained Lyndsey. “They provided me the number of ‘faceouts’ or areas that will carry merchandise. My job then was to design fixtures that would achieve their number while balancing other factors like traffic flow and shop design.”

Walt Disney Imagineering designed the wall spaces for the location which resemble oversized paint jars. Lyndsey explained that the fixtures will be clean and simple in form and will be neutral in color to complement the colorful palate that Imagineering used.

“We had several different versions of fixtures during the development process,” continued Lyndsey. “Ultimately, we chose clean, simple designs that remind me of an animator’s workspace. For this project, I wanted materials that had recycled content, had Greenguard certification for indoor air quality, and were manufactured in the US. The fixtures I am most excited about are the nested tables, which are made from a recycled concrete material.”

Lyndsey said she learned the importance of details from her Imagineering partners.

“Throughout this process, Imagineering taught me the importance of paying attention to the details,” remarked Lyndsey. “Guests don’t visit Disney and remark, ‘Wow – look at those amazing fixtures!’ Yet, they are an important part of any shop. When designed well, they create a great immersive shopping experience that is all Disney.”

You can see these fixtures and the location come to life when the resort begins opening in phases on May 31.

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Downtown Disney on Friday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Some of the turnstiles at Epcot are behind walls

The Epcot Christmas tree is up!

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy closing out Eat to the Beat 2011

Christmas all around Epcot

Tree at the American Adventure

The small Christmas village is already being set up

Christmas merchandise is everywhere

Everyone is scrambling for the last taste of the Food & Wine Festival

Holiday merchandise in abundance at MouseGear

The store is decorated

The gift of Vinylmation

New gift with purchase bags and watches available

A strange looking castle hybrid on some merchandise

The latest in the 40th anniversary pin of the month series

The Christmas Party sold out

Ummm, they’re sold out…

Disney Universe ad at the TTC

We start our trip to the Magic Kingdom with a look at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The Toontown tents are still bare

The Dumbo building in Storybook Circus is coming along nicely

The train station and Casey Jr. Roundhouse have really taken shape

More Mermaid construction

The Enchanted Grove is out from behind tarps and is now the Cheshire Cafe

Nice sign

Menu is the same

It now fits the Mad Tea Party theme

Mermaid

Dumbo

A wide shot of construction

Looks like a large tree has arrived on-site

The Beauty and the Beast mountain range is almost done

Another look at the tree

We’re starting to see the finished detail on Be Our Guest restaurant

A wide shot

A wide shot of Mermaid

The cottage for Enchanted Tales with Belle now has some details

The chimneys are decorated!

Still no progress on the Castle Wall

Planters still being eliminated

The Skyway station still being eliminated

Another Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom window in Liberty Square

Hidden speaker

Another game window

Another new game station

The Shootin’ Arcade is back and looks great!

Work continues on the Pecos Bill’s facade

That Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment couldn’t come sooner, the train tracks have looked like plain coaster tracks for too long

Golden Oak is back, but now only has hot dogs, drinks and desserts….

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The endless refurbishment continues on the Adventureland/Frontierland passage

The covering is no longer on the Sorcerers window near Pirates of the Caribbean

Exterior refurbishment on Sunshine Tree Terrace continues

Another finished Sorcerers window

Work continues on the Swiss Family Treehouse

Apparently this window is finished

Space Mountain gets into the spirit of the Christmas Party

Rocketower Plaza Stage decorated

The sign now has the stage name

Beautiful

Muppetvision 3-D decorated as we move over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posters for The Muppets are now up

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is back!

They have completely replaced this canopy with new lights that can be individually programmed to dance with the music

A billboard for Once Upon a Time

The windows tested last year are back with some cool functions

Prep and Landing characters now appear

More Once Upon a Time posters

New cameras were installed on Tower of Terror and the border on the photos was also updated, the pictures look a lot clearer!

Sunset Boulevard decorated

Hollywood Boulevard as well

On to Downtown Disney…

This garland used to be outside of Muppetvision, now it’s here

Work continues on Splitsville

A long way to go

The remodeled Sunglass Icon is open

Blink by Wet Seal is also open

Pleasure Island was full of activity

The renamed Adventurers Hut

KUNGALOOSH!

Festival of the Masters cupcakes available

Getting ready for the festival

Nope…

Nope…

Nope…

Nope… sorry, I mean a tree outside of Fulton’s and Portobello…

Kids being entertained at the marketplace stage

Christmas at World of Disney

Event: Key to the Kingdom Ink and Paint Cel Premiere
Special Guests: Disney Design Group Artist, Costa Alavezos and Ink & Paint Artists, James Bonserio, Erin Magill, Theodora M. DeLaney, David Rippberger, Lynn Rippberger, Sharon K. Vincent
Event Date: Saturday, September 3, 2011
Event Times: 10:00am -1:00pm & 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Event Location: Studios Animation Gallery, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™

Celebrate 40 Magical years with the newest commemorative release from the Disney Studios Ink & Paint Team!

Key to the Kingdom captures the essence of wonder and excitement that comprised the magical kingdom since it opened its gates on October 1, 1971.

The talented Ink & Paint team hand painted the iconic Mickey Mouse and loveable Pluto onto each Key to the Kingdom cel in this celebratory release comprised of 1500 cels.

An exclusively designed pin has been created to commemorate the release of the new cel, the pin is available with the first 750 orders placed for a framed cel only.

Key to the Kingdom
Limited Edition Pin

The Ink and Paint cel frames are wooden frames with options of either black or gold finishing.  All Ink and Paint cels are framed in museum grade plexi to preserve the delicate art.

If you are unable to attend the premiere of Key to the Kingdom, but would still like to purchase the Ink & Paint cel, please contact Walt Disney Event Services to pre-order your cel.

All pre-orders must be placed with
Walt Disney Event Services no later than
Friday, September 2, 2011 by 3:00pm EST.

Walt Disney Event Services
at 407-827-7600
Monday – Friday
9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Key to the Kingdom  IS AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING FRAME OPTIONS:
FRAMING OPTIONS & RETAILS
Unframed Cel	$125
Black Frame and Cel	$215
Black Frame with Pin and Cel	$240
Black Frame with Pin, Postcard and Cel	$265
Gold Frame and Cel	$290

One aspect of working for Disney that I enjoy is the culture of continuous improvement. You may recall that I love quotes from Walt Disney and I recently found one that summarized his approach to improvements at Disney Parks: “Whenever I go on a ride, I’m always thinking of what’s wrong with the thing and how it can be improved.” A great example of this philosophy in action is now found at MouseGear in Epcot. I recently visited this merchandise location to speak with Mike Myers, Manager for Merchandise Operations at Epcot, about some of the enhancements.

“When MouseGear opened in 1999, it quickly became a top shopping destination in Epcot,” explained Mike. “Around 18 months ago, we wondered how we could improve on the shopping experience for our guests. [MouseGear] was a good location but we wanted to make it a great location.”

That challenge was met by a team of individuals representing global retail design, operations, planning, product development, facility asset management, sourcing and Walt Disney Imagineering who worked together on this next evolution of MouseGear. Construction started in August 2010 and was completed in phases until this past month.

At first glance you may not notice the improvements, as they are seamless to the experience. For me, I immediately noticed a difference as I worked in MouseGear over 10 years ago. The location felt bigger and Mike confirmed my observation.

“One improvement made was lowering the fixtures that hold merchandise,” continued Mike. “By lowering the fixtures, the location feels more spacious. We also relocated the registers to strategic points throughout the store thus making checkout easier.”

This means the “wall of registers” that I recall from my time at MouseGear is gone! Mike explained that new colorful signage and carpet were also added to the mix.

“Each product area now has a color-coded sign and label that appear on new store directional maps located at each entrance,” said Mike. “We installed new carpeting that creates a pathway to make it easier for guests to explore.”

One final detail that is easy to spot is the cast members’ new costumes. I love the nod to Spaceship Earth on the front of the shirt, and the colors look sharp (they match the colors now used in the location)! Mike explained that one item was added to the costume that may be familiar to many guests.

“During the costume review process, Gina Errico, General Manager of Merchandise at Epcot, suggested a ‘Hidden Mickey’ be added to the costume,” continued Mike. “We loved the idea as ‘Hidden Mickeys’ are found in many locations at Disney Parks. We added a small one to the back of the cast members’ shirts. But don’t tell anyone!”

Materialize, foolish mortals at the Room For 1 More merchandise event, which will celebrate one of our park’s most beloved attractions, the Haunted Mansion, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Sept. 30, 2011.

We invite you to step through the graveyard gates of the Haunted Mansion cemetery, recreated with “ghoulish delight” at the resort. Here you can dine in a mist-enshrouded banquet realm hidden among the crypts. While organ music plays, restless spirits will rise to entertain you during a feast provided by our ghoulish gastronomists.

Looking for somewhere to retire? Might I suggest our Ghost Gallery in the Library, where you’ll want to keep the supernatural in suspense by bidding on priceless first editions and other creepy keepsakes in our silent auction.

Room For 1 More event – P“LOTS” includes:

• Be the first to pre-purchase limited-edition event logo products, Haunted Mansion-themed collectibles and Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary collectibles.
• A deadly silent auction that includes a performance art lot by Noah.
• Meet and greets with world-renowned artists such as Robert Olszewski, Jim Shore, Greg McCullough and more.
• A cryptic conversation with our council of Walt Disney Imagineers.
• Ghostly dinner feast with haunting sounds and full-bodied entertainment.
• A deadly departure gift … don’t forget to hurry back!

Mortals dying to attend the Room For 1 More event can request tickets through July 20. For more details and a sneak peek at the treasures that will be featured at the event, visit ArtofDisneyParks.com.

Happy haunting!

UPDATE:

More information can be found (including a look at all of the merchandise) at ArtofDisneyParks.com.

World Showcase has some new mouse ear hats for each country

The fountain at the American Adventure behind walls on July 4th… how unpatriotic!

Captain America merchandise available at the American Adventure

Work going on outside of Japan pavilion

Mandatory Spaceship Earth shot

Moving over to the Magic Kingdom

SHAG 40th anniversary shirt!

This may look like a hamburger, but it’s not…

It’s actually a new gourmet cupcake available at the Main Street Bakery! The bun is cake, the burger is a brownie, and the fries are cookies!

Crowded Tomorrowland

I think Mary is lost…

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man got hairy…

Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade closed for refurbishment

Pecos Bill’s facade still behind tarps since we checked 24 hours earlier…

Angelica out greeting guests in Adventureland

Main Street Firehouse closes July 11th, merchandise will be moving into the Emporium and they will still collect firehouse patches

TRONORAIL!

The Tronorail was recently in an intense lightcycle battle…

Back to Epcot, Don’t Waste It is gone

Seems every pavilion has walls… these are outside of La Hacienda De San Angel

A new store has opened in The Outpost called Bead Outpost

Guess what they sell?

If you said beads, you are correct!

Those who seek the spirit of Norway face peril and adventure, but more often find scissor lifts…

The glass pyramids have seen better days

This si what you have all been waiting for, NEW DUFFY CLOTHES!

KACHOW!

Now on to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Anaheim Produce is out of refurbishment and looks great!

Kids were kept entertained by the remnants of Block Party Bash

Was this repainted? It looks new…

Phineas & Ferb Play and Greet is popular

The Cars 2 meet and greet finally opened a few days ago

Lightning McQueen and Mater now appear along with the 4 Piston Cups (1 Hudson Hornet cup) that Lightning has won

The remnants of Star Wars Weekends

Walls are finally down on the queue level of Tower of Terror

Looks fantastic!

New Tower of Terror shirts

Time for Celebrate America!

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