Tidbits December 2007

[Figment!]

Tidbits
December 2007

Mission: Possible?

12/28/07 Walt Disney Imagineering has been quietly filing for small construction projects around World Showcase for a yet-to-be-defined interactive game. Over the last several months construction permits have been filed to to install and support electrical infrastructure for an interactive game in the Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France, and United Kingdom pavilions. Based on the previous test run the Team Possible interactive adventure in this section of the park, it is widely expected that this work is for a permanent version of this offering. No time table has been stated in the permits for when all of the work will be complete nor when the "interactive game" will begin.

Los Changes

12/28/07 Rix Lounge & Cafe' Rix opened at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort earlier this month, albeit ~45 days behind schedule. In addition to the features previously reported for Rix Lounge, it has also been announced that it features a private party room called "Las Ventanas". Cafe' Rix serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast currently consists of an offering of assorted breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and pastries. Lunch & Dinner currently consists of Paninis, Flatbreads, Salads, Sandwiches,Wraps, Select Beer & Wines, and Assorted Desserts. The Lunch and Dinner offerings are served until Midnight.

4/17/07 Disney's Coronado Springs resort is undergoing some fairly drastic changes to it's light dining and retail options during the second half of this year. The resort is currently in the process of adding a new refreshment location called "Laguna Bar" to the resort's promenade area. The new watering hole is scheduled to open April 29, 2007. In addition, the resort's current lounge is also undergoing an expansion. Francisco's closed for refurbishment April 16 and is scheduled to re-open in a larger form October 13, 2007. When Francisco's replacement opens it will reportedly be a Cafe & Lounge location.

Ringing in a New Grille

12/21/07 Disney's Yacht Club resort has announced a nomenclature change to one of its dining venues starting in 2008. Effective January 1, 2008 the Yacht Club Galley will be renamed Captain's Grille. It has yet to be announced with this name change will bring any menu changes as well.

Epicurean Expansion

12/21/07 The Magic Kingdom has internally announced expanded dining offerings during the Peak Christmas/New Year Period. The park is operating all three of its Seasonal Dining Venues, adding additional serving periods and additional offerings to several of its regular venues, and adding several temporary dining kiosks. The expanded offerings were announced as follows:

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café will serve breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. daily, December 23- 31.

The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station will be open for lunch and dinner as follows:
December 22 -28: 11:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
December 29-31: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m.
January 1-5: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

The Diamond Horseshoe will be serving quick service lunch December 23 - January 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In addition, a full service traditional turkey dinner will be offered from December 24 - 31. Dinner will be served between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on those dates.

El Pirata y el Perico Restaurante will open daily for lunch December 22 - January 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. December 28 - 31, El Pirata will offer extended operating hours until 8:00 p.m.

Sleepy Hollow will open for waffles daily at 7:00 a.m.

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor will open at 7:00 a.m. daily for "Coffee Express," offering coffee, hot cocoa and pastries.

New carts and kiosks will be open in several locations:

A Tomorrowland Kiosk will serve burgers, sandwiches and a salad.
Another cart in Tomorrowland will serve hot wings and chili.
In Fantasyland, a cart will serve a turkey wrap and Caesar salad.
The Center Street Hog Dog cart will return on December 25.

Items with-out dates appear to be effective 12/23/07 through 12/31/07 based on a related announcment.

Minus MGM

12/21/07 In preparation of the park's change-over, Disney-MGM Studios has begun to remove all Disney-MGM signage. Earlier this week, the Disney-MGM marquee was removed from the Animation Courtyard Arch. More recently, the Disney-MGM logo on the Earful Tower has been painted over.

Jambo January

12/12/07 Disney Vacation Club representatives recently announced a new completion date for the conversion of Disney Vacation Club units in the Jambo House section of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. The remaining units have been announced to be complete by January 29, 2008--4 months ahead of the originally announced completion date.

Image(Re)Works

12/12/07 Construction permits have been filed to refurbish the ImageWorks - The Kodak "What If" Labs post-show area. The general description of improvements is listed as, "Refurbish and Refresh interior finishes including: Paint, Light Fixtures, Projectors, and Floor Covering." While this planned work has re-sparked speculation/rumours of a refurbishment to the attraction, there is currently no concrete evidence of planned changes beyond repair and refreshing of the post-show area. A time frame for the filed work has yet to be announced internally or otherwise.

Future Fuel

12/12/07 Attraction Cast have reported that 2 new car types have recently been tested on the Tommorowland Indy Speedway. One test car is reportedly a gas/electric hybrid car and the other is a Ethanol-85 powered car. The tests were reportedly conducted during the last week of November and the first week of December, 2007. Neither a goal of these tests nor a time frame for any potential wide-scale implementations are reportedly known at this time.

[Figment!]

Nullifying North

12/12/07 The replacement structure for the North Garden Wing at the Contemporary resort continues to rise. The structure is currently 3 stories tall and shows signs of continuing to build further stories.

5/1/07 The demolition of the North Garden Wing at Disney's Contemporary Resort is complete. The entire footprint of the former building has been razed.

Post Show: Tomorrow

12/3/07 Siemens has announced the exhibits to be opened in the second phase of its Project Tomorrow post-show.

The following descriptions were internally announced:

Phase II Exhibits - Winter 2007/2008

• Innervision - showcasing Siemens Corporate Research technologies
• Power City - bringing the challenges of today's urban city centers and Siemens energy generation, management and distribution solutions together
• Globe [part two] - visitors will have the opportunity to provide their e-mail address and receive a Spaceship Earth postcard featuring their personalized photo captured during the ride.

The description of the second phase of the globe confirms previous reports of an on-ride photo being added as part of the ride refurbishment.

Crystal Changes

12/3/07 Crystal Arts located on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom has recently undergone a few changes. The store has recently undergone a minor expansion and still present construction walls appear to hint that the location will expand even further. The retail location's merchandise has also expanded. Much of the medieval art items (including swords) that were offered in the King's Gallery shop have now appeared at the Crystal Arts location.

A Sans Central Cinema

12/3/07 The Art of Disney has opened inside the Main Street Cinema. The location's marque has been updated to read "Now Showing | The Art of Disney". In keeping with the Cinema theme of the location, the store features a screen showing Mickey Mouse shorts.

10/22/07 Work permits and the location's marquee both confirm the that Main Street Cinema will be the new home to an Art of Disney location when it re-opens from its current refurbishment. The Marquee outside the location currently reads, "Coming Soon | The Art of Disney". Additionally, work permits have been filed citing the conversion of the space. The location is currently scheduled to re-open from refurbishment November 21, 2007.

8/13/07 Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom has announced that VMK Central will be ceasing operation inside of the Main Street Cinema on September 30, 2007.

A More Contemporary Tower

11/26/07 The new Fantasia store has opened.

11/15/07 The new Fantasia store is nearing completion on the Grand Concourse level. The new store appears to have exactly followed the displayed concept art. If work finishes on its current path, the new store is expected to open around Thanksgiving Weekend.

8/23/07 Concept art has been hung on construction walls for the new Fantasia Shop that will re-place the collection of Kiosks in the central area at the one end of the Concourse. The concept art depicts an elongated open air (no ceiling) store with large Mickey Mouse Icon Frame entrances at both ends. Besides the construction walls, no further work has progressed on the new store likely delaying the opening from its tentative "August 2007" date.

SnaCOT

11/26/07 Almost 6 full months after being internally announced, Epcot has opened two new snack kiosks in the World Showcase section of the park. The kiosks are named Promenade Refreshments and Fife and Drum Tavern, they are located at the World Showcase entrance to Future World and the American Adventure pavilion, respectively. Both locations feature the same menu, which is as follows:

Turkey Leg $5.75
Hot Dog $4.25
Hot Dog with Chips $6.25
Souvenir Bucket of Popcorn $3.75
Box of Popcorn $2.75
Pretzel $3.50
cheese Sauce $1.00
Strawberry, Banana, Cappuccino or Tropical Smoothies $4.25
Soft Serve Ice Cream Served in a Waffle Cone $4.00
Frozen Lemonade $3.50
Coca-Cola Fountain Products $2.25
Coca-Cola Fountain Products in a Souvenir Mug $4.50
Dasani Bottled Water $1.25 & $2.00
Michelobe Ultra, Michelobe or Seasonal Selection Draft Beer $6.25

Both locations do participate as Snack Locations on the Disney Dining Plan. They currently are accepting Snack Credits for all Non-Souvenir items priced at or below $4.00.

6/2/07 Epcot Cast have reported that two new snack locations are planned for Epcot. A new snack kiosk is reportedly planned to be added near the vicinity of the the American Gardens Theater. Additionally, a new snack and beverage kiosk is reportedly planned for to be placed at the World Showcase entrance to Future World. While no hard time table has been reported, both kiosks are reported to start installation Summer 2007.

[Maleficent's Dad]

Thanks, Jason!

The Orlando Sentinel has an article about SSE today. It looks like things are moving along nicely!

[ibrowse17]

Looking forward to seeing the new stuff, thanks

[pdrlkr]

Thanks Jason!

[wedway fan]

thanks!

[Stitichgawrsh]

Will there be a future VMK Central location in the Magic Kingdom?

[vizsla]

Thanks for the updates.

[scoot241]

On-ride photo on SSE? Doesn't seem like the right ride to have a flash randomly go off. I know sometimes the flash gets incorporated into the ride fairly well (see Buzz Lightyear), but on a dark quiet ride like SSE, I don't know how they'd blend that in.

We'll see...

[Jeff]

Thanks for info!

[chrisb26]

Thanks for the update!

Will there be a future VMK Central location in the Magic Kingdom?

As of right now it doesn't look like it. I haven't heard of anything about them bringing back the quests at WDW or DLR for that matter.

[bear_necessity]

We saw the new food Kiosks in the World Showcase this past weekend. They look fantastic and are a great addition.

[Bethanymouse]

Thanks for the new info Jason!

[Figment!]

**Update**

[Figment!]

**Update**

[Bethanymouse]

Thanks for all of the updated info Jason!

[Figment!]

**Update**

[chrisb26]

Thanks for the update.

Just saw what you said about the MGM Signs and the funny thing is on my last trip to MGM knowing that they would be changing the name of the park I took time to notice just how many things said MGM on them signs where everywhere from the road signs driving in to the small signs around the parking lot and bus area. I just want to know what they are going to do with the hundreds of signs now

They don't have to throw them out they can always send one my way ill gladly take it off their hands

[vizsla]

Thanks for the updates.