News Round Up 2016

[Flyerjab]

I will add a few photos of the Avatar rock work from a trip we took last week.





I visited WDW last year on six separate occasions and I can safely say that this was the busiest I have seen as far as sheer number of workers on the rock work, all as busy as a bunch of beavers building a dam. The view from the park entrance is also becoming more impressive. There were a lot more people standing and staring in between the bag check and magic band scanners.

 

[ej119]

Construction walls muppets style?

https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/690933766919999488

I really hope these Muppet re-theming rumors turn out to be true!

 

[rteetz]

Rivers of light and more photo update

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/01/animal-kingdom-update-rivers-of-light.html

 

[rteetz]

Just listened to the latest Disney Dish podcast with Jim Hill and Len Testa

2016 will be a lot of demo and site prep at DHS

The Bob Weis promotion is a good thing for Disney and Disney fans. Weis is responsible for the old Hollywood entrance and street leading to the Chinese theater.

The rest of the episode was on the history of Mission Space.

Disney has always had space based attractions starting with tomorrowland at Disneyland.

A space pavilion was planned for Epcot but was cut as concerns with NASA downsizing, and they couldn't find a sponsor for it.

GE decided to not renew its Horizons Epcot Venter sponsorship which was supposed to lead to a new space "pavilion" using the horizons building.

EuroDisney caused Disney to become financially cautious.

In 1999 Compact signed a deal for sponsorship at WDW. However they were soon acquired HP. Originally the deal was 10 years and supposed to be for Disney Quests around the world. They only ever had two of them, Chicago and of course the only one left Orlando. Disney moved their sponsorship to the up and coming attraction Mission Space.

Carly Fiorina was the HP president or CEO at the time. All of the Disney big shots and Carly were at the press event. NASA astronauts were also brought in for the event. Len Testa worked the event. A man with a jet pack flew around at the event. Len asked an astronaut how not to throw up during a take off.

This ride was supposed to go everywhere, Anaheim, Tokyo, Paris, but troubles like the Columbia or challenger and the bad press the ride got (people getting sick) forced it not too.

This ride was built for fastpass. This led them to have a good way to incorporate the "green" version for those who wanted a less intense ride. The cards are actually a safety feature

 

[nkosiek]

Has there been any new info on the Tiffins place going in AK sometime this Spring? Menu, opening date, anything?

 

[rteetz]

Has there been any new info on the Tiffins place going in AK sometime this Spring? Menu, opening date, anything?

Nope. Said to open same time as rivers of light and nighttime safaris.

 

[lugnut33]

The movie Avatar 2 has been delayed. Originally set to open in Dec. 2017, it's now been pushed out to an undetermined date. Not sure how that will effect the construction project.

 

[rteetz]

Photos of the walls of Pizza Planet

http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/pizz...-off-as-major-refurbishment-gets-underway.htm

 

[rteetz]

Back section of SoA is blocked off

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...s-of-america-at-disneys-hollywood-studios.htm

 

[rteetz]

Celebrate Africa event returns to AKL

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/01/celebrate-africa-event-returns-to.html

 

[rteetz]

The Neverland tunnels remain a mystery

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2016/01/pi-update-neverland-tunnels-project.html

 

[rteetz]

DHS photo update including new DHS themed merchandise

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/01/photo...tudios-zootopia-star-wars-osborne-lights-etc/

 

[skier_pete]

The Neverland tunnels remain a mystery

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2016/01/pi-update-neverland-tunnels-project.html

The Edison / Neverland Tunnels are the one piece of Disney Springs that keeps my interest piqued. I am not sure exactly how this is going to work, but it seems like the only bit of uniqueness in what is rapidly becoming an overpriced strip mall.

 

[rteetz]

The Edison / Neverland Tunnels are the one piece of Disney Springs that keeps my interest piqued. I am not sure exactly how this is going to work, but it seems like the only bit of uniqueness in what is rapidly becoming an overpriced strip mall.

I'm most interested in why this is taking so long to show progress. Maybe something happened that caused a delay? I don't know but it just seems like there is more to it.

 

[twebber55]

The movie Avatar 2 has been delayed. Originally set to open in Dec. 2017, it's now been pushed out to an undetermined date. Not sure how that will effect the construction project.

it doesnt effect it at all

 

[Eoghann]

The Edison / Neverland Tunnels are the one piece of Disney Springs that keeps my interest piqued. I am not sure exactly how this is going to work, but it seems like the only bit of uniqueness in what is rapidly becoming an overpriced strip mall.

Be fair. It's going to be a very pretty overpriced strip mall.

 

[rteetz]

Disneylands photopass is expanding

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ass-service-in-new-ways-at-disneyland-resort/

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Be fair. It's going to be a very pretty overpriced strip mall.

More likely a pretty overpriced strip mall

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

The Neverland tunnels remain a mystery

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2016/01/pi-update-neverland-tunnels-project.html

The Edison / Neverland Tunnels are the one piece of Disney Springs that keeps my interest piqued. I am not sure exactly how this is going to work, but it seems like the only bit of uniqueness in what is rapidly becoming an overpriced strip mall.

Agreed. Jock Lindsay's hangar bar and these two places are what will bring me to downtown springs, so I hope the Neverland tunnels open.

I like distinctive, one of a kind experiences on my vacations. I think with the height of nerd culture in today's society that themed places like this are an over looked money maker.

Sure, lots of people go to Disney for their kids, but there's also a large group of us adults who would love adult themed Disney places/events. People threw money at Disney for club villain and the villains soiree, which are the two events I could think of most like the Neverland tunnels.

 

[lugnut33]

it doesnt effect it at all

It might if there is source material from the new movie used in Avatarland.