Hello, and welcome to Dateline Disney World. We were on limited time (fun reference there) this week, so we only have for you what’s going on at the Magic Kingdom, but it still comes out to 50 photos, and some fun things to discuss, so let’s go!
If you’d like to support the column and shop on Amazon.com
, just click HERE
| [img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-tgSgFTp/0/O/magickingdom-5.png[/img] |
Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9945.jpg[/img]
Work is still being done to install the new RFID turnstiles at the park.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0028.jpg[/img]
I’m sure many of you have seen the back and forth between Rep. Markey and Mr. Iger on this topic. Very interesting stuff, and Iger’s letter probably didn’t do him any favors when it comes to making fans, as he came off as somewhat rude. Certainly if a frontline CM said those things to a guest, they’d be fired on the spot. Heading into the park, you can see that the Dream Lights have now been removed from Cinderella Castle, and the castle just looks a whole lot cleaner, and is much nicer for photographs.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9951.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9954.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0012.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0016.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0017.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0020.jpg[/img]
| [center][size=5][b]Construction Kingdom[/b][/size] [img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-M7dg4fZ/0/O/inside-magickingdom-02.png[/img][/center] |
Not a lot has changed over at the Tangled restroom area, so here are two quick shots of it.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9974.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9975.jpg[/img]
However, over at the Mine Train though, there was a lot of change. The shape of the mountain/hill is starting to become more clear, and I think that this attraction will certainly be surprising guests, given a lot of the negative hype around it.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9979.jpg[/img]
Here’s a look through the walls on the left side of the site.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9980.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9981.jpg[/img]
You can see here how much mesh is up that will soon be covered in rock work.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9983.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9985.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9991.jpg[/img]
They’ve started putting mesh and wire on the top of the hill as well.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9992.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9996.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9997.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9998.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9999.jpg[/img]
Cottages are coming along nicely.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9987.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0005.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0004.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0006.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0001.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0003.jpg[/img]
And a few shots from through the wall on the right hand side.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0007.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0008.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0009.jpg[/img]
You can see the track swooping down either in or out of the station here.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0010.jpg[/img]
They’ve also extended out the walls on the front half of the area, making the Winnie the Pooh walkways rather narrow. But, they probably have to do this, since it seems they are starting to branch off from working on just the main hill of this attraction.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9993.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9994.jpg[/img]
| [center][size=5][b]This and That[/b][/size] [img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-M7dg4fZ/0/O/inside-magickingdom-02.png[/img][/center] |
Main Street is looking quite good right now.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9946.jpg[/img]
For some reason though, they have yet to put the statue of Roy and Minnie back in Town Square where it belongs. It is currently out in front of City Hall.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0022.jpg[/img]
The bakery is still down for Starbucking.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9947.jpg[/img]
Sleepy Hollow refurb continues, but it is still open for those great waffle sandwiches.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9958.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9959.jpg[/img]
In Adventureland, another scrim has gone up behind the wall next to Aloha Isle.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9962.jpg[/img]
This building, the old Crow’s Nest gift shop is still closed and behind walls. I had the thought while I was in the park that this could possibly end up being the home base for the new Pirate interactive game.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9964.jpg[/img]
Splash Mountain continues its long refurbishment.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9965.jpg[/img]
Beautiful day on the Rivers of America!!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9967.jpg[/img]
Scrims have extended in Liberty Square to almost cover Columbia Harbor House, and it seems that some pavement work is happening there now as well.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9971.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9972.jpg[/img]
This scrim is still up at the exit to it’s a small world.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9973.jpg[/img]
Nothing new to report on at the old Snow White resting place.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9976.jpg[/img]
The Dream Lights are down, but when I was in the park, the crane was still parked there, blocking the Tomorrowland walkway and the Sir Mickey’s gift shop.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9977.jpg[/img]
Winnie the Pooh has reopened after a short refurbishment last week.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9995.jpg[/img]
The Barnstormer is currently closed for refurbishment.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_0002.jpg[/img]
And finally, the facade for the Little Mermaid attraction still looks great!!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld1302013-IMG_9984.jpg[/img]
Well, that’s going to do it for this week. What are your thoughts on Iger’s response to Rep. Markey? Are you pleased with the forward motion of the construction and refurbishments at the Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!!
If you’d like to support Dateline Disney World and you shop regularly at Amazon.com
If you enjoyed the column, especially the photos, and you want to check out more photos and tutorials on Disney photography, please check out my photo site, [URL=”http://www.DisneyPhotographyBlog.com”]Disney Photography Blog[/URL]. And if you like listening more than reading, you can hear us talk about Disney and photography on my podcast, [URL=”http://www.ISO5571.com”]ISO5571[/URL]