R.A. Pedersen's Blog, page 9

Walt Disney World Helps Write Story of New Library

Walt Disney World donated $150,000 to the Osceola Board of County Commissioners for its public library project in Celebration, giving residents of West Osceola access to a greater number of books, computers and other public resources.

The library, already under construction and expected to open early next year, will feature a collection of resources double the size of what’s currently available at the West Osceola Library near Celebration.It will also include a children’s area, meeting space f...

Skyway Restroom Replacement Rockets Skyward

We could actually call it Rapunzel’s Rocket, as it’s actually supposed to be a Rapunzel theme area, but really it’s a tower on a restroom building. Regardless, it looks like Disney is building another Rocket to the Moon at the moment.

At the other end of the new pathway, the Yankee Trader has been partially boarded up to get a 360-degree overhaul. The building was never originally designed to be seen from all sides so work is being done to make it guest-appropriate from all vantage points. The...

New Fantasyland Photo Update August 14th

Another day, another set of photos from New Fantasyland. Seven Dwarfs Mines Train is beginning to look like a real mountain as the structure is enclosed.

Elsewhere, it’s turret time! The castle walls are nearing completion as Disney prepares to open the area for the announced previews soon. Enchanted Tales with belle should be the first area to open to the public, followed by the Be Our Guest Restaurant area and shopping along with the Little Mermaid section and attraction. We’ve heard cast me...

Seas with Nemo at Epcot debuts New Grand Entrance for FASTPASS

When the Living Seas pavilion was modified to become the Seas with Nemo and friends many fans were aghast that the simple mural of the sun-setting-into-the-sea aesthetic was thrown aside from the main entrance for giant cutouts of the characters from the Finding Nemo franchise. Well, now with the forthcoming addition of a FASTPASS line at the attraction there’s been yet another major change in the look of the building.

Though not entirely complete, the entrance “statement” (we’re really not su...

Test Track 2.0 Current Progress and Behind the Wall Photos

A quick photo update from Test Track 2.0 – as Disney has begun calling it internally, though this is unlikely to become its name formally. As always, click to enlarge.

It’s a bit hard to see from the photo from shot taken from the monorail, but two of the six auxiliary doors on the front of the building have been completely filled in with masonry and are now part of the main wall. We were about to say “again” but that area wasn’t originally a wall when the building was World of Motion. You can...

Preview and Grand Opening Dates Set for New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

There’s more to come as the expansion of the New Fantasyland – nearly doubling in size — continues at Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, so many more attractions are coming on line later this year that Dec. 6, 2012 has been set as the Grand Opening of Fantasyland. Previews begin Nov. 19.

Slated to make their debuts:

Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid , a major attraction where guests will travel with Ariel and her friends through their exciting adventures above and below the waves – a...

D23 Epcot 30th Anniversary Celebration is Sold Out

It took a bit longer than most people expected, but the D23 Epcot 30thAnniversaryEvent being held onSeptember29th is officially SOLD OUT for all levels of event admission and is now only accepting wait list requests.

Preview of Awarding Winning IBM THINK Exhibit Coming to Epcot Fall 2012

IBM’s THINK was an interactive “pop up” technology exhibit at Lincoln Center in the fall on 2011 that explored the role of technology in improving our daily lives and the world we live in. The exhibit included videos, touch screen maps, interactive media panels and mobile applications. The most visible element of the exhibit was the large digital wall, stretching 123 feet outside the converted parking garage of Lincoln Center on Columbus Avenue.

The digital wall visualized real-time live strea...

Food Porn Preview of Epcot 2012 International Food and Wine Festival

Time for food porn! Put down that tattered copy of50 Shades of Gray and get on over here for the good stuff. Today we’re taking a look at some of the sultry and seductive offerings coming to us at Epcot’s 2012 International Food and Wine Festival this fall.

Why not start with something big and beefy? Le Cellie’s popular wild mushroom beef filet mignon with truffle butter sauce is paired with the perfect syrah from the Canada marketplace. For those who might have to work their way up to the rea...

Major Changes Coming to Studio Tram Tour at Disney Hollywood Studios in 2013

Disney filed permits today to get the ball rolling on work to revamped the much maligned Studio Tram Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. The attraction has sagged in attendance recently as it has been systematically reduced over the years from a half-day multi-part attraction to a mere shell of its former offerings that few guests are interested in seeing anymore.

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The paperwork notes that these initial projects that focus on the queue and tram loading areas should be compl...