WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul visited the Walt Disney World Resort yesterday and has a plethora of newsworthy photos to share with us:

Getting ready for Star Wars Weekends at the Studios

Lighting for Mulch, Sweat, and Shears nighttime show during Summer Nightastic! is already up

This “Hot Set” is heating up….

Ponyo being advertised

Star Wars Weekends sets have been assembled for Meet and Greets

Darth Vader will be meeting guests here

“Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

MuppetVision 3D is looking good after its recent refurbishment

A look at some of the screens and props in the pre-show lobby

Dorothy, Dina, and Max. Debby was sick, so the union sent him….

Work continues on the New York Street facade

Leaving DHS, the Best Friends Luxury Pet Resort is coming along nicely

The Four Seasons Resort looks almost finished from the outside

Moving to the Magic Kingdom, the Disney Clothiers (Emporium) facade is still being refurbished

Same goes for Casey’s

Chip and Dale now do meet and greets outside of the Supersonic Celebration Stage

Some walls near Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

Still no visible progress

Ariel’s Grotto is coming down

“This ain’t gonna be pretty…”

Mary Poppins and Bert now meet at the carousel

Peter Pan’s Flight is still under tarps

Liberty Tree tavern still behind tarps

Toy Story 3 Merchandise is now available at the Frontierland Trading Post

To see more Vinylmation, check out The Vinylmation Station!

Pirate Goofy now meets guests outside Pirates of the Caribbean

Ariel and Prince Eric are meeting guests at the Adventureland Veranda

Ballpark Nachos are now available at Casey’s Corner

Celebrate Today banners have been removed from the Magic Kingdom. Could we be getting Summer Nightastic banners?

And now for a short trip back to the Studios…

A Prince of Persia billboard can be seen near Pixar Place

Can’t go to Hollywood without enjoying the citizens

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster re-opens tomorrow

“What’s New, What’s Next” – Interviews

“Celebrate Volunteers” Media Event

Epcot “Can Do” Cavalcade

“Disney’s Friends for Change” – Private Concert featuring Demi Lovato & Joe Jonas

Stage set up behind the Fountain of Nations

Giant volunteering cans all over the park

“Can I take this home?”

It’s all in the details

Temporary tents near Canada

Presentation inside World Showplace

That’s a giant balloon wall

Jammitors performing as people entered

Kermit the Frog and Sweetums were there

Ty Pennington from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was there to help out

The balloons lifted to reveal….

The world’s largest canned goods structure!

Matt and Banks help put together Haiti care packages with all the volunteers

Jordan Francis from Camp Rock helping to plant trees

Adam Hicks of Disney XD’s Zeke and Luther and Ernie D from Radio Disney in the background

Alyson Stoner from Camp Rock & Phineas and Ferb planting trees with Matt Paul

Tom Bergeron was there to film for an episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos

He took the time to take pictures and sign autographs for guests

Tom Bergeron takes a picture with Matt and Banks

The sculpture being disassembled to be sent away to families in need

Disney’s Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade came to Epcot for the day

Trucks filled with care packages follow the parade through World Showcase

Balloons!!!

The stage is set for the concerts

Wonderful food provided by the “Dinner Impossible” team and Epcot’s chefs

Salad cones?

More giant cans

The ingredients

Even tables looked like cans

“All-Star Weekend” performed first

Robert Irvine from Dinner Impossible prepared the food for the event, it will be on an upcoming episode of the show on Food Network

Ernie D from Radio Disney again

Introduces the Disney Channel stars

Including Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas

Lovato and Jonas performed

They performed a song we assume will be used for the upcoming “Disneynature’s Oceans” films

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2010) –Against the backdrop of a world-record sculpture of canned goods destined for food banks, Disney Parks officials on Thursday announced a major milestone with the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, a first-of-its-kind effort to help inspire 1 million people to perform volunteer service.

Since the program’s launch only six weeks ago, more than 600,000 people in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada have volunteered or signed up for volunteer projects in their communities, announced Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

“With the launch of our ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ program, we hoped to spark something truly special,” Staggs said. “But even we have been overwhelmed with the response.”

To recognize their good deeds, in 2010 Disney Parks is celebrating those who volunteer through the program by giving them a free one-day admission to either a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Volunteers can start the search and sign-up process by going to www.disneyparks.com.

HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute and the largest volunteer network in the nation, is supporting the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program by connecting volunteers with projects.

According to Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of Points of Light Institute, 10,000 community organizations, through the Disney Parks program, are getting the volunteers they need to meet important community challenges.

“The level of volunteerism we have seen in the first weeks of 2010 is tracking to new highs,” she said. “Our dream at HandsOn Network is for everyone to recognize their power to make a difference. Disney is helping us make that dream a reality, a million times over.”

Since the launch of the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program on Jan. 1, 2010, volunteers have trekked through wetlands near Long Beach, Calif., and through mountain preserves in Phoenix, Ariz., clearing away non-native vegetation. A continent away, volunteers have whisked away trash on Atlantic Coast beaches in Brevard County and Dade County, Fla. In Port Huron, Mich., “soccer families” have picked up paint brushes to help spruce up a community center. In Atlanta, Ga., volunteers have assisted hospitalized children as they create arts and crafts projects. And with the forecast for a cold night ahead, the homeless in Central Florida were handed blankets by caring volunteers.

In addition to celebrating the “Give A Day, Get a Disney Day” program, Disney Parks welcomed to Walt Disney World Resort Thursday other outstanding volunteer families from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada who gave back to their communities in special ways, as part of Disney’s celebration of family volunteerism in 2010.

“Today we are here to celebrate you,” Staggs told the families. “With each of your efforts, you make a difference.”

Canned-Food Structure Unveiled, Verified Largest-Ever by Guinness World Records®

As part of the event celebrating family volunteers and to dramatize the spirit of giving, Walt Disney World Resort on Thursday unveiled a mammoth structure of canned goods – food that will be donated to food banks in Orlando, Miami and Atlanta.

The canned food sculpture – titled “Celebrate Volunteers” – was revealed for media and guests at Epcot. Disney VoluntEARS shaped the sculpture with a larger-than-life Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto – all sculpted out of cans. Goofy’s trademark hat consisted of cans of bread crumbs, for instance. Mickey’s famous head was shaped from cans of black olives, and cans of sliced pineapple made up Pluto’s eyes.

The cans represent approximately 70,000 meals, according to Dave Krepcho, president/CEO of Second Harvest of Central Florida. “Each can makes a difference in someone’s life who cannot afford this food,” he said. “Much of this food goes to children in need, working moms trying to provide, senior citizens coping on fixed incomes and people whose disabilities keep them from working.”

The spectacular, character-themed structure – consisting officially of 115,527 cans – was also a world record, according to Guinness World Records, the internationally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. Guinness World Records Thursday authenticated the achievement as the Largest Canned Food Structure ever created, easily eclipsing the previous record of 54,527 cans set in June 2009 in New Zealand.

Some volunteer families also shared star billing Thursday with stars of the Disney Channel and Disney XD. As part of Disney’s youth environmental movement, Friends for Change: Project Green (www.Disney.com/ProjectGreen), Joe Jonas, Demi Lovato and others joined the celebration, making special appearances throughout the day to show what’s possible when kids and families get together and volunteer to help the planet.

Other changes to the Magic Kingdom parade in early 2010 may include the permanent removal of the show stops that were added to the parade during the name change from the Disney Dreams Come True Parade in January 2009.

As usual, anything not announced yet by Disney should be taken as a rumor, but these reports are from reputable sources inside the company. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on this breaking story.

A Christmas Carol has filled the windows of the store

This sight will be gone soon

Halloween window displays were still up

The following Vinylmation pictures can also be seen on The Vinylmation Station website

Even though the Holiday Vinylmation is displayed, they are sold out

Urban Series #2 still available…

As is Clear Series #1 and Park Series #2

The first 3 series of Vinylmation Park pins were available as well

Some NYC christmas merchandise is available for the last time

Plenty of holiday plush

More holiday merchandise

This was a placemat, I’m hoping for more merchandise with this artwork

Some more elegant decorations

As I stated earlier, I was visiting the store for the final Disney Pin Trading Morning, and many other guests did the same. This line for a pin board was much longer than this picture shows.

The crowded pin trading area

When raffles were drawn, a huge crowd gathered

A special board was made for the event, it is supposed to be going to the next Trading Night at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Most wrote a special message, I wrote my name….

Everyone who attended the event received a very special gift

We received the “Celebrate Everyday” Mickey & Minnie pin that was released in January, but with a special gold finish!!!

NOTE: If WDW/DLR annual passholders or valid multi-day ticket holders participate, they can choose from one of the following special rewards:
• Special Fastpass cards for certain attractions for up to five additional members of your party
• A collectible Ear Hat figurine with exclusive trading pins
• Donate the free ticket to a non-profit organization designated by Disney

Here is more informtaion on the promotion that was posted today on the Disney Parks Blog:

Breaking news…as we just announced on Good Morning America, if you give a day of volunteer service to a participating organization, you’ll get one day of free admission to a Disney Park. It’s a first-of-its-kind program we’re calling “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

And yes, it’s that simple — a free one-day ticket to a Disneyland or Walt Disney World theme park for guests who volunteer a day of service to a participating organization. We’re celebrating you and the good things you do for your communities.

Our program officially begins on January 1, 2010. When it’s live, you’ll be able to visit www.DisneyParks.com or www.DisneyParks.ca and search for an eligible volunteer project. After completing the volunteer work, an e-mail will be sent from Disney with a link to print out a certificate to redeem at a theme park for a free one-day, one-park admission. And if you’re unable to use the ticket, it can be donated to a charity designated by Disney.

With this announcement, we’re looking for 1 million people with a passion to make a difference. And we’re working with HandsOn Network to do it. They’re helping make sure you find the perfect volunteer work. And many of the program’s volunteer opportunities will be for the family.

Also, you’ll notice that we’re raising awareness for grass-roots community volunteerism in more cities than just Chicago. Disney VoluntEARS are joining local volunteers in cities across the United States and Canada today. Work projects involving more than 1,000 volunteers are happening in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami and across Canada — Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver.

We’ll be posting more details about the program and how it may involve your city on the @DisneyParks Twitter account and right here.

Of course, there are some official details you should know about: Must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see disneyparks.ca.

The campaign website also finally explains why we saw so much in-park filming with The Muppets at Disneyland a few weeks ago. The Muppets are the stars of the marketing for 2010, you’ll be seeing the Jim Henson creations on a special North America tour and on nationally televised ads. The website for the tour (sponsored by Southwest Airlines) is definitely worth checking out for all the Muppet insanity and free downloads you can currently enjoy. Soon the site will have more details on the tour (including dates) that will run throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada to spread the word about helping you community. The promotion has even garnered some star power beyond the beloved Muppets. Commercials featuring James Denton, Taye Diggs, and Teri Hatcher working along with their furry friends to help the community are also available on the official site and will probably begin airing on Disney-owned television networks starting this week.

Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on the 2010 promotion, “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day!”.