Tidbits
December 2010
New Heritage
12/27/10 The American Heritage Gallery re-opened at the end of November, several weeks later than originally expected. The Epcot exhibit has retained the name of National Treasures, but has updated or changed most of the displays.
8/9/10 The American Heritage Gallery located in the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, has closed for refurbishment. The exhibit is expected to re-open in Late August – Early September 2010. At the time of the closure it was not announced what the exhibit would feature when it re-opened.
SnackMark
12/27/10 The Walt Disney World resort has rolled-out a new Disney branded snack series over the past few weeks. Chip selections have been replaced with a new Disney-branded line at snack carts and counter service locations. The line features silhouettes of Donald, Pluto, Mickey or Goofy on the package and come in Kettle Cooked Potato Chip, Kettle Cooked BBQ Potato Chip, Baked Cheese Curl, and Nacho Tortilla Chip varieties. At in-park snack carts, the items are priced at $3 each.
A Character Corral
12/27/10 Over a year after the initial tests, Disney’s Hollywood Studios resumed using temporary queues for some character Meet & Greet locations. The procedure now features Cast setting up a perimeter of black poles and a large black box with the Character meet and greet logo all connected with a black strap. Like the previous tests, this perimeter is used to aid in crowd control for Meet & Greet locations without a permanent area & queue.
10/8/09 Disney’s Hollywood Studios has recently been testing a new crowd control measure to make Meet & Greet locations without a permanent area & queue go more smoothly. Prior to the meet & greet start Character Cast set up a perimeter for the meet & greet area with blue pylons and a large black box with the Character meet and greet logo all connected with a red chain. These items more or less provide a fence that prevents Guests from accessing the meet & greet with-out waiting in the formed queue. The test of this new procedure has been reported at the morning Meet & Greets around the Sorcerer Hat.
Gearing-up for Change
12/27/10 Epcot’s main merchandise spot recently unveiled a new layout. Mouse Gear, located in Epcot’s Future World, has rearranged many of its merchandise displays and has moved its checkout location. The checkout location has moved from the back wall of the store and split between new locations with individual queues per register group. According to Cast, the re-design has allowed the store to carry more merchandise.
A Cart Contraption
12/27/10 A new snack cart, themed as one of Maurice’s inventions, has opened in Fantasyland near the perimeter of the Fantasyland Expansion Project. The highly themed cart serves popcorn, ice cream novelties, and bottled Coca-Cola products. The cart is reported to not be temporary and will be incorporated into the Beauty & the Beast themed section of the Fantasyland Expansion when it opens.
Market Replacement
12/27/10Three Downtown Disney Marketplace retail locations are slated to close in the New Year, two permanently and one temporarily. Summer Sands, Pooh Corner, and Mickey’s Mart are slated to close January 15, 2011. After renovations to the building, new LittleMissMatched and Mickey’s Mart locations will open in Spring 2011. The LittleMissMatched Downtown Disney Westside location is planned to close and transfer operations to the new Marketplace location.
