R.A. Pedersen's Blog, page 16
March 31, 2012
Epcot Overnight Fireworks Testing Advisory for April 4th
A quick note: Epcot will be testing pyrotechnics overnight April 4, 2012, from 11:30pm – 1am above and around the World Showcase lagoon. While we'd optimistically like to bevel otherwise, these tests are often the result of mundane changes in supplies for the nightly fireworks shows. Lest someone be in the area and spy something completely new and different, don't get your hope set too high that there's going to be a fabulous new production in time for Epcot's 30th this fall.
In the meantime, ...
March 28, 2012
The EPCOT Center is Alive and Well and Relevant to Boot
If you were wondering if Disney was still sticking to the whole "Walt Disney World as a whole is EPCOT and we use the EPCOT building codes to maintain this pristine EPCOT Center…." despite having dropped that name from the theme park you're in luck.
Slated for deployment in early 2013, the new GIS-enriched Accela Automation system will enable RCID's Building & Safety, Fire Prevention and Planning & Engineering departments to more efficiently manage their projects within Walt Disney World and...
March 26, 2012
Walt Disney World Test Track April-September Overhaul Canceled?
On January 6th of this year a whole bunch of Disney theme park blogs ran the Disney-PR supplied blurb and photo from the Disney parks blog that was carefully crafted to be light on hard details:
Beginning this fall, Epcot guests will be able to enjoy a re-imagined version of the popular Future World attraction, Test Track presented by Chevrolet.
This new version of the attraction will transform the current testing workshop into the sleek "Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot," where guests can...
March 22, 2012
Art of Animation to Open with RFID Room Keys for Phase 1 NextGen
Disney has announced today that the Art of Animation Resort will be opening its wings in the following order:
Finding Nemo (Grand opening) – Opens May 31
Cars – Opens June 18
Lion King – Opens August 10
Little Mermaid – Opens September 15
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And if this all isn't good and well exciting enough – Ok, for most of us who has been to a Disney resort, it really isn't – there's now been hard hat tours of the resort site. These tours have revealed that the Art of Animation Resort is going to be the first ...
March 20, 2012
B-Roll: New Fantasyland Storybook Circus Day and Night Footage
Hidy-ho there explorers! We're sick, so we're not posting much this week. In the meantime, Disney at least is putting out some spiffy B-roll footage of the new Fantasyland expansion areas that opened recently in the Magic Kingdom. You can add your own monotone newscaster voice over the videos if you really want the full effect. If you have any questions or need anything we'll be unconscious in the other room – enjoy!
Day:
Night:
March 18, 2012
Splitsville at WDW Downtown Disney Gets Redesigned Again for Autumn Opening
Another few months, another completely different rendering for what the anticipated Splitsville bowling alley at Downtown Disney in the Walt Disney World Resort will look like:
New details about the location have also emerged. Splitsville has been working with Disney for three years to make the project come to life: the 15 million potential bowlers who visit Downtown Disney's main drag each year will have access to 30 bowling lanes and 750 seats for dining. The 50,000 sq. ft. location is a...
March 14, 2012
Grand Floridian DVC to Add Water Play Area to Resort
Disney has filed additional paperwork for the forthcoming Grand Floridian DVC resort at Walt Disney World. In addition the 147 villas scheduled to be erected in the t-shaped building built out into the lagoon we told you about in our previous update, there are now plans to construct a children's water-play area as well.
The water play area, though part of the DVC expansion, will be situated between the main pool and the main building of the existing Grand Floridian Resort. It will essentially ...
Ultralight Aircraft Display Coming to Animal Kingdom
In a baffling turn of events, Disney Imagineering has contracted InterAmerica Stage to install an "Ultra-Light Aircraft Package" at the Conservation Station in Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World.
Per wikipedia: "the term ultralight aviation refers to light-weight, 1- or 2-person fixed-wing aircraft" but what this has to do with Animal Kingdom or the Conservation Station in particular is a bit baffling. Perhaps there is going to be some exhibit on how the aircraft is used f...
Epcot Seas Gets Bigger Holes and Hallways
A quick photo update from the Seas with Nemo and Friends, where the big hole in the building facade is getting even bigger and the interior hallway is getting more interior.As you can see from the photos there's now a big blue tarp covering what is ostensibly a much larger hole than before. Also, inside the hallway is nearing completion – as we explored it in our previous update, it runs along the first switchback segment of the Nemo ride queue after the beach scene. It starts right behind...
March 13, 2012
Disney Announces Phineas and Ferb to Replace Kim Possible at Epcot
It's official and formal – Fineas and Ferb will replace the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure this summer.
Agent P's World Showcase adventure will seemingly use the same technology (just not calling them Kimmunicators) and cover the same country pavilions – sorry Canada, Italy, and Morocco. Also Dr. Doofenshmirtz.is confirmed to be the villain/antagonist for the revised attraction.
Disney wont give any clues to a date beyond "Summer" but we were previously told June.
