R.A. Pedersen's Blog, page 13

Photos to Prove There Is Nothing To See Yet at Test Track

We just want to prove we haven’t been entirely slacking off with the Epcot coverage and in particular our coverage of the Test Track 2.0 conversion. In fact, we were just there super-sleuthing, climbing up on things, darting behind other things, pretending to be stealthy, shining bright lights in cast member’s faces, asking difficult questions (what time IS the three o’clock parade?!?), and generally being obnoxious.

Sadly, there’s just nothing to report about right now. All the interesting wo...

Brave Brings Free Wifi to Epcot June 1st to July 8th

Disney tried to disguise its latest attempt to test out offering free Wifi in Epcot for a trial period as a movie tie-in at a children’s play area. But we’re on to you Disney – we’re watching.. always watching…

From June 1-July 8, Epcot will serve as the setting for the Brave – The Highland Games Tournament, a kid-focused offering that will include games like Mini Caber Toss, Cake Toss, Haggis Flip and archery. There will also be a kids’ playground with enhanced free wireless. The tournament w...

Photos of New Blue Universe of Energy Vehicle

So we heard the Universe of Energy got a brand new blue vehicle. We were suspicious, because Energy are pretty special. They can’t just be painted – as someone said “they painted it blue.”

They’re made out of heat formed plastic. Plastic which, when exposed to any sort of heat – or direct sunlight when they try to remove them from the building for painting for example – would result in the plastic attempting to return to its original flat sheet shape thanks to the properties of shape memory. M...

A Quick Tour of the Expanded Italy Pavilion at Epcot

With the recent debut of Tutto Gusto wine cellar at the Italy pavilion at Epcot, there now are three delicious ways to enjoy the tastes of Italy: Tutto Gusto, Via Napoli and Tutto Italia.

Operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, Tutto Gusto joins the line-up in the pavilion’s expanded dining, offering 200 Italian wines, Italian beers, coffees and a selection of authentic Italian small plates.

“We are always looking at ways to keep Epcot fresh and vibrant for our guests,” says Erin Youngs, vice...

High Resolution Test Track Concept Art Scrutiny

We managed to get our paws on some high-resolution versions of the Test Track concept art.If you go give it to some other websites, we will cut you. These are giant files, so click embiggen.

Oo… aah… exciting, right? Well, let’s get down to nitty-gritty and start scoping them out with our peepers! Up first, the classic montage that first popped up on the Disney World website. This version actually has more to see – extra people, and in higher resolution the people look less like they’re wearin...

Fastpass Pre Arrival Itinerary Planning Testing at Magic Kingdom Starting May 1st

The Magic Kingdom park at the Walt Disney World resort will be testing Fastpass Pre-Arrival Itinerary Planning for the next two weeks with selected guests booked through the Disney Travel Company.

The test will involve a special Fastpass for the Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, Mickey’s Philharmagic, and Stitch’s Great Escape attractions. Guests will be asked their preferences for attractions and time slots prior to arrival at the Magic Kingdom and then be paired with an itinerary. They will be...

Who Is Behind the New Test Track?

First – let’s make this abundantly clear. No attraction is the work of a single person. It takes lots of people doing lots of things to make a show come together. Lots of labor hours and blood/sweat/tears/etc.. from many people get poured into the pool to make the rides and shows we all love and enjoy. This little blurb on the blog is not meant to pretend that anyone who contributed is not significant.

Rather, we just happened to find one of them that stuck out today as interesting. Disney has...

Cars Lands and Buena Vista Street Behind the Scenes Construction Video

We don’t get to cover much of what goes on over at the Disneyland resort in California, but occasionally something comes along and we get a snippet of the excitement. In this case, it’s a fun montage of film segments produced to showcase what’s been going on behind the scenes to make the whole makeover of California Adventure come together. It gives a nice sense of perspective to the perspective to the projective, as well as some glances into the attractions we haven’t seen otherwise. Enjoy.

Test Track Concept Art Examined

The Disney Parks Blog released the first official concept art for the overhaul of Test Track in Epcot and it’s a real departure from the old attraction is aesthetics. We’re rather pleased with how it’s looking – and it is keeping with what we’ve heard about it being very much a TRON-inspired sort of look. Let’s break it down piece by piece.

For starters there’s the apparent new overall logo for the pavilion. We do wish they had gone back to the circle logo from the original Epcot design, but i...

June Launch of New Phineas and Ferb Epcot Adventure Confirmed

Disney let this little tidbit slip by with one of their larger press updates, giving us some more details about the upcoming Phineas and Ferb themed adventure coming to Epcot. It confirmed the rumored June opening as well as the inclusion of handheld devices similar to the old “Kimmunicators” along with keeping the current country lineup.

Secret Agents to Foil Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s Evil Plans

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Debuting in June at Epcot, Disney Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adven...