R.A. Pedersen's Blog, page 4

What are they building in Innoventions Plaza at Epcot?

We walked past these walls a few times recently and didn’t give them much consideration. We snapped a few photos and figured they’d end up on the blog as part of a general update. The refurbishment walls are on the East side of the plaza near Electric Umbrella – not around Pin Central as some angles online have previously suggested. After we looked at the photos, there’s something interesting going on…

Is that what we think it is? By golly, yes it is! It’s a structure with a roof and lighting...

The Triumphant Return of the Snow Globe!

Snow Globes used to be one of the most popular vacation souvenirs at the Walt Disney World Resort. Then there was the TSA and the ban on liquids in carry-on luggage. This killed snow globe sales within Walt Disney World, though some guests do choose to either risk their snow globe being broken in checked luggage or have it shipped to their home at a somewhat costly markup.

Today, that changes!

TSA allows small snow globes in carry-on luggage when packed in a passenger’s plastic 3-1-1 bag: Snow...

Video of Celebrate the Magic Show Highlights and Interview with Show Director

The Walt Disney World resort recently debuted their new castle project show at the Magic Kingdom park called “Celebrate the Magic.” We managed to snag some footage of highlights from the show along with a quick interview with show director Katy Harris.

As Katy explains, Celebrate the Magic is based on the concept of Walt Disney’s paintbrush coming alive to share classic Disney stories with the audience. She also touches on some of the challenges in making the show work on such a complex surfac...

RFID Room Key Card Payment Rolls Out in December at Walt Disney World Resort

Over the course of the next month the Walt Disney World Resort will be installing “touch to pay” RFID readers at all of its merchandise and sales locations which accept the Disney Resort room key charge (except valet, laundry, and arcade locations in the resorts.)

Beginning in December a phased roll-out of the program will begin with select resorts having their guests create a pin-number at the time of check in. By the end of January all resorts are expected to be live on the program with touc...

Splitsville Scheduled for December 7th Grand Opening but Pretending Not to Be

Just a quick note, Splitsville is Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World has been scheduled for a Grand Opening per a media event invite they sent out over a month ago. This isn’t our invite – someone else posted it on the internet a month ago:

We’ve been not posting this information thinking Disney or Splitsville would make the announcement soon. Instead they continued the charade with another Disney Parks Blog post saying that guest need to watch their blog for the announcement. We’re putting...

Central Florida Kids Get Special Sneak Peek of New Fantasyland

Mickey Mouse and a few of his best pals opened the gates of Magic Kingdom a little early to welcome dozens of Central Florida kids to be among the first to experience New Fantasyland.

Track Talk for Test Track Schedules and More

As much as we try to ignore the current going-ons at the Walt Disney World Resort lately (Captain Jack’s interactive game in Adventureland, Captain Jack’s pretend-to-be-a-pirate thing at Hollywood Studios, Captain Jack’s new segment in the new castle projection show, other bloggers stumbling drunkenly out of Be Our Guest like Captain Jack Sparrow) it’s time to revitalize an old Epcot tradition: Track Talk.

Track Talk was a bulletin, for lack of a better term, posted daily/weekly for Cast Membe...

Test Track Press Release with New Concept Art and Models

Chevrolet designers and Walt Disney Imagineers have joined forces to give Walt Disney World Resort guests a deep look inside a professional design studio creating a first-of-its-kind multi-sensory virtual experience in automotive design.

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Chevrolet and Disney tapped their best design talent with expertise ranging from industrial and automotive design to architecture and animation. The design collaboration began 18 months ago with a few guiding principles – create an experience that is personal,...

New Look for Test Track Unveiled (Fullsize Artwork)

Today the DisneyParks blog unveiled the concept art for what will be the final look of the revised Test Track attraction at Epcot. The blog has indicated that the new look will installed this week and visible to park guests soon. Also, note the nod to World of Motion on the canopy covering. Further details indicate the Fastpass area is remaining much the same as it was, but the entrance has been reshaped to the semicircular shape we’ve seen progressing form the last several weeks in construct...

Leaked Plans for AVATAR attractions at Animal Kindom

Get it while it’s hot, supposed “leaked” plans for AVATAR attractions coming to the Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World. While we can’t vouch for the authenticity of these blueprints, they are at least interesting to ponder.