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Ears the News with Richard


Enchanted Tales with Belle is now in limited previews. A limited number of invited guests were taken through the attraction.  This does not change the official start of previews beginning on 11/19/2012.

FASTPASS+ will be testing with a limited number of pre-selected guests from September 18 to September 24, 2012.  Guests will be contacted to take part in the test before arrival.  FASTPASS+ has already seen preliminary testing, but with recent implementations of in-park Wi-Fi and the introduction of the 'My Disney Experience App', this next round of testing should be a lot closer to the final product.
Photo from Disney Parks Blog

Periwinkle from the upcoming Disney Fairies movie "Secret of the Wings" will be coming to the Magic Kingdom in on 9/9/2012. She will be inside Tinker Bell's Magic Nook in Adventureland.












'Phineas and Ferb & YOU: A Brand New Reality' opened 9/1/2012 at Downtown Disney West Side.
The augmented reality activity allows you to interact with characters Phineas, Ferb, Dr. Doofenshmirtz, and Agent P on a screen, augmented with your own image. The activity is free, and also enables you to share a complimentary digital photo of your experience. Wait times were around 20 minutes yesterday, and it is located next to Bongos on the West Side.  The experience will operate from 9/1/2012 to 12/1/2012, from 2:00 PM to 9:30 PM daily.

Check out the video and photos below for a look at 'Phineas and Ferb & YOU: A Brand New Reality' in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_wTwmKbgcc&feature=player_embedded
 Video from wdwmagic.com

The new Fantasyland restrooms are starting to take shape now with the structural steel outlines of the buildings now in place.  

Photo from Disney Parks Blog

With just about a week to go until the first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, the Magic Kingdom is already fully decorated for the season.

The large crane is currently scheduled to be onsite for the castle Dream Lights installation from 9/16/2012 to 10/1/2012

The Studio Backlot Tour is scheduled to be closed for refurbishment 10/8/2012 to 11/16/2012, reopening on November 17, 2012.  The American Film Institute Showcase in the post-show area will also be closed.

The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids playground at Disney's Hollywood Studios has added a second set of refurbishment dates. The attraction is already scheduled o go down from 9/10/2012 to 9/14/2012. It will now also go down from 10/8/2012 to 11/16/2012.

'Big Top Souvenirs' in Storybook Circus now has its entrance marquee and signage in place. The merchandise location will feature an on-stage kitchen, similar in setup to the Main Street Confectionery, where guests can watch Cast Members create the treats, and then take their pick from the display cases. Along with the sweet treats, 'Big Top Souvenirs' will stock a whole range of merchandise, including Dumbo and Casey Jr. items.

'Big Top Souvenirs' is expected to open in time for the other Fantasyland openings on 11/19/ 2012.

Photo from Disney Parks Blog
'LeFou's Brew' and warm cinnamon rolls will be the stars of the menu for the new quick service restaurant opening in the new Fantasyland on 11/19/2012. 'LeFou’s Brew,' named after Gaston’s sidekick in 'Beauty and the Beast,' is a no-sugar added frozen apple juice with a hint of toasted marshmallow, topped with all-natural passion fruit-mango foam. It will also be available in a souvenir stein.


Entertainment site IGN is today reporting that Disney's Animal Kingdom AVATAR project has been delayed, along with Cameron's sequels to the original AVATAR movie. The reason being sited is “creative differences between James Cameron and Walt Disney Imagineering," the article speculates that we will be waiting longer than the originally announced timeframe.

Disney's Animal Kingdom has just rolled out updated menus featuring new foods and a range of specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  

Here is a run down of the additions.

Bradley Falls Kiosk - Edamame beans, Asian noodle salad
Flame Tree Barbecue - Smoked chicken salad
Pizzafari - Chicken and vegetable pasta salad
Tamu Tamu - Fresh fruit salad
Restaurantosaurus - Chicken BLT salad, mac'n cheese hot dog


Flame Tree Barbecue - Mandarin Orange Lemonade
Petri-Fries - Frozen Blueberry-Mango Rum Lemonade
Restaurantosaurus - Lychee Coconut Rum Lemonade, Wild Berry Mango Rum Lemonade, Lychee Lemonade
Dino Diner - Frozen Bacardi Raspberry Rum Lemonade 
Safari Pretzel - Frozen Mango Rum Lemonade
Harambe Popcorn - Jungle Juice
Pizzafari - EPPA Organic Sangria

Disney's Animal Kingdom has installed a new pedestrian walkway from the Unicorn parking lot to the main entrance.

The new official Walt Disney World app 'My Disney Experience' is now available on Android smart phones for download from Google Play.  Amazon Android Marketplace downloads will also soon be available.

Disney announced that it will be adding an additional 1000 seats of capacity for Fantasmic! at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. The location currently has capacity of 6900 seats, and 3000 standing, although the standing space is rarely used.  Disney will be converting the standing areas at the rear of the amphitheater into the additional 1000 seats.

The 2012 Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights installation is now underway at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The first few strings of lights are now up on the Streets of America, the first of over 5 million to be installed.  The 2012 Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights are to be shown from 11/9/2012 to 1/4/2013.




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