Hello, and welcome to [B]Dateline Disney World![/B] This week, we have yet another [B]Magic Kingdom[/B] construction update, some other tidbits from around that park, as well as some news from over at [B]Epcot[/B]. Let’s dive right in!
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Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!!
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| [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] |
Lots of things happening every week with the New Fantasyland project. Starting all the way to the left, we really did not see a whole bunch of movement where the Tangled restroom/supposed meet and greet is going.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0402.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0365.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0366.jpg[/img]
The base for Rapunzel’s tower might have grown a little bit, not entirely sure.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0364.jpg[/img]
Heading over to the Castle Wall, we saw more progress and more detail work. Let’s start with the more complete left side of the wall.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0367.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0368.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0399.jpg[/img]
Lots of grout was put in on the arches to fill in the gaps that were there last week.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0369.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0370.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0371.jpg[/img]
On the right side of the wall, they continue to play catch up, but now the arches are starting to get detail pieces on that side as well.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0372.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0398.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0395.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0396.jpg[/img]
Definitely coming along.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0397.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0394.jpg[/img]
On Thursday, Disney pushed back the Wall in one spot. Here are some shots of it.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_3369-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_3370-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
It is now pretty easy to get up close, see and photograph the details of the wall.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_3376-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_3373-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
There is also a definite difference here in the surface treatment, I’m just not sure if it was like that before this area got walled off, or if it is new for the Fantasyland Expansion.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_3379-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_3371-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_3378-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
Heading over to the Beauty and the Beast area, work is continuing on Gaston’s Tavern, with some attention being put on the arches with windows on the top of the building, as well as the completion of the roofing on the spire in the back.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0375.jpg[/img]
Bonjour! Village Gifts still looks just about the same.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0376.jpg[/img]
Maurice’s Cottage from Storybook Circus.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0385.jpg[/img]
These things that I’ve no clue what they are started to see plywood go up, which means that pretty soon you’ll be seeing detail on them. They look to be at the start of the bridge into the Be Our Guest restaurant.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0377.jpg[/img]
Heading over to the Seven Dwars Mine Train, this is what the site looks like today.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0384.jpg[/img]
The large crane on site was picking things up and dropping them to the Mine Train area all day.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0407.jpg[/img]
Little things have been added to the main hill over the past week.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0378.jpg[/img]
Not too much visible change has happened at the Little Mermaid dark ride.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0379.jpg[/img]
This extra rock work is just about finished, although there were workers painting there this week.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0380.jpg[/img]
The rock detail is superb, and I can’t wait to see it up close.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0381.jpg[/img]
Hopefully once the cranes are done being used, they will be able to cover up this steel that is showing with more beautiful rock formations.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0382.jpg[/img]
Heading over to Storybook Circus, we saw more skeleton work on the third circus tent, which is tucked all the way in the back.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0383.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0389.jpg[/img]
The back of the building is pure concrete, which will surely see detail and theme in the future.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0392.jpg[/img]
It is also clear from the skeleton that the third tent will not be round like the two big ones in front of it.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0391.jpg[/img]
I have no idea what is going in here, but my best guess would be some sort of food location.
Also in Storybook Circus, Dumbo has received a Fastpass distribution sign.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0386.jpg[/img]
It wasn’t turned on, but it seemed complete, so I’m sure it will be on soon.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0387.jpg[/img]
I know I’ve said that I’m not a huge fan of running all over the park just to get a Dumbo Fastpass, but it is nice that Disney is putting up a sign to show people what time the distribution is for, just so they don’t run all the way over to Philharmagic to see that the time conflicts with a dining reservation or something like that.
| [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] |
Early in the day this week, there were FOUR Main Street Vehicles out. This is more than I have ever seen at one time at the Magic Kingdom. The Double Decker bus was out, which is my favorite, so I snapped a few shots of it.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0362.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0360.jpg[/img]
Over in Tomorrowland, there is some refurb work going on at the bridge that leads over from the Hub.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0404.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0405.jpg[/img]
The Water Wheel that I reported on as being fixed along the Rivers of America was once again dry and not spinning this week, which was sad.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0401.jpg[/img]
As many of you know, photography is a pure passion of mine, and not just the type that involves shooting over construction walls! So I was thrilled this week when I got to borrow a Canon fisheye lens from my friends over at Kingdom Camera Rentals, who are based out of Orlando and provide camera, lens, and package rentals for vacationers staying at Walt Disney World. So, here are some fishy shots I captured in the Magic Kingdom this week!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0420-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0425-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0430-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0423-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0424-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0441-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
Wild and distorted photos out of the way, let’s head to Epcot!
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Welcome to Epcot!
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0299-Edit.j.jpg[/img]
| [center][size=5][b]This and That[/b][/size] [img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-SZZMqhJ/0/O/inside-epcot-02.png[/img][/center] |
Nothing super news worthy going on at Epcot, but there are some things that are going on.
Over by Test Track, some more walls have popped up.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0272.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0273.jpg[/img]
Perhaps this is the end of the Cool Wash slushie station. It would make sense seeing as that place went with the theme of the old Test Track. If they keep it around, expect cohesion in the theme with the redesign.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0274.jpg[/img]
This wall has been up around the fountain at La Hacienda de San Angel for a few weeks now. Anyone know why it’s been up for so long and what it’s for?
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0288.jpg[/img]
Over in Germany, I noticed this happen when one of the kids playing the new Phineas and Ferb game that replaced Kim Possible held up his phone.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0303.jpg[/img]
To me, it looked a little tacky, and not very much in the style of World Showcase. But, it is pretty well obscured and only comes out when someone holds up the phone. The Phineas and Ferb game also seems to be outrageously popular, so I suppose it is ok.
There are also walls up to the right of the entrance to Le Cellier.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0336.jpg[/img]
And lastly, it is pretty clear that the Highland Games have ended.
[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld718-IMG_0339.jpg[/img]
I kind of liked the Games, and it seems like there is a little bit of dead space there now that both the Games and Flower and Garden Festival are over. But, those wide vistas are part of what make Epcot special and feel expansive, so it’s a win win situation.
Well, that just about wraps things up for this week’s Dateline Disney World. What do you think is going in the third tent in Storybook Circus? Are you excited to see what direction Disney goes in with the Test Track refurbishment? Let us know in the comments!! Enjoy The Dark Knight Rises this weekend!
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]