Tidbits January 2014

[Figment!]

Tidbits
January 2014

Where There’s Smoke

1/20/14 A new Counter Service Dining location has opened in Downtown Disney Westside. The Smokehouse opened today (1/20/14) offering Guests a new counter service option adjoined to the House of Blues restaurant. The new location features Smoked Turkey Legs, Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwiches, Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, St. Lous Ribs, Hot Dogs, and Housemade Cole Slaw. Entrees are priced $7.99 - $12.99. As the new location has replaced the ticket building, event tickets are now sold in the gift shop area.

Benching Mickey

1/20/14 Further details have been announced regarding the type of merchandise planned to be available at the Marketplace Co Op. Disney Parks has announced that the home products section will be named "Centerpiece" and will carry a number of unique theme park related items. Announced items have included salt & pepper shakers shaped like Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tommorowland trash cans; an Orange Bird pitcher and glassware set; and attraction poster plates and glassware.

11/27/13 Earlier this month, Downtown Disney announced that the Team Mickey store in the Marketplace will be replaced by “ The Marketplace Co Op” in Early 2014. The new store will feature six sections: beauty accessories, women's fashion accessories, D-Tech brand accessories, sports apparel & collectibles, home products, and girl’s fashion accessories.

Shopping Shake-Up

1/15/14 The Heritage House in the Liberty Square section of the Magic Kingdom has been re-purposed. The location closed on January 4th and re-opened as a MyMagic+ Service Station on January 14th.

1/12/14 Two Magic Kingdom stores and one Disney Resort store will not be ringing in the New Year. The Wyland Galleries at Disney’s Polynesian resort ceased operation on December 31, 2013. Heritage House in Liberty Square and Seven Dwarf's Mine Train shop in Fantasyland will both reportedly cease operation in January 2014. Guests in search of these locations’ former merchandise are being directed to the Wyland Galleries location at Disney’s Boardwalk and other Magic Kingdom retail locations.

A Short Freeze

1/12/14 Character Cast have reported that the Anna and Elsa Meet & Greet in Epcot’s Norway pavilion has been extended through January 31, 2014. Cast are also speculating that the offering may be extended again or become permanent if the Meet & Greet remains at its current level of popularity.

10/20/13 Epcot will be celebrating the release of animated feature film Frozen through the Late Fall and Early Winter. Epcot’s Norway pavilion will offer a Meet & Greet location with Anna and Elsa from Early November through January 4, 2014.

Still Sweet

1/12/14 Although a popular storefront will undergo renovations through the Winter and Early Spring, Guests will still be able to grab a sweet treat on Main Street. Despite the lengthy refurbishment of the location’s façade from January 13th through April 11th, the Main Street Confectionary will remain open to Guests during this time.

Danceasaurs

1/12/14 The Animal Kingdom introduced a new entertainment offering on January 6, 2014. Dinoland USA is hosting a Character Dance Party twice daily at 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Recent dance parties have offered appearances from Slim, Gypsy, Princess Atta, Rafiki and Mushu or Slim, Gypsy, Terk and Br'er Fox.

Seating Switches

1/12/14 The Magic Kingdom has begun a new project to offer more enclosed seating at one of its most popular counter-service restaurants while recently completing a project to expand the outdoor seating at another popular counter-service restaurant. A renovation project has begun to enclose the patio section of Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tommorowland. The project has been announced to convert the patio space into an enclosed, air conditioned seating area. The newly enclosed section of the restaurant is planned to open Mid-February 2014. A renovation of the outdoor seating area of Pinocchio's Village Haus in Fantasyland has recently been completed. Although the renovations have reportedly expanded the outdoor dining area, it appears that most of the expanded seating is in the form of new benches that do not offer a table for setting one’s food.

Pardon Our Pixie Dust

1/12/14 Due to ongoing renovations in the area, the Aladdin and Jasmine Meet & Greet in Adventureland has been temporarily moved to a new location. Through February 13th, Guests will find the pair meeting at the Adventureland Veranda.

[Jeff]

Thanks

[Ian]

Two Magic Kingdom stores and one Disney Resort store will not be ringing in the New Year. The Wyland Galleries at Disney’s Polynesian resort ceased operation on December 31, 2013.

I've often wondered how the heck this store stayed in business so long. I mean they have very nice things, but do people really go on vacation to Disney World and fly home with a $2,700 oil painting of two dolphins and a sea turtle?

[Crow]

I've often wondered how the heck this store stayed in business so long. I mean they have very nice things, but do people really go on vacation to Disney World and fly home with a $2,700 oil painting of two dolphins and a sea turtle?

yea I look..but also wondered how they could keep both locations going

[kakn7294]

I've often wondered how the heck this store stayed in business so long. I mean they have very nice things, but do people really go on vacation to Disney World and fly home with a $2,700 oil painting of two dolphins and a sea turtle?

I've totally wondered the same thing! Beautiful stuff but most of it cost more than my whole trip did...

[Tekneek]

1/12/14[/B][/COLOR] The Animal Kingdom introduced a new entertainment offering on January 6, 2014. Dinoland USA is hosting a Character Dance Party twice daily at 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Recent dance parties have offered appearances from Slim, Gypsy, Princess Atta, Rafiki and Mushu or Slim, Gypsy, Terk and Briar Fox.

Is Briar Fox a new character, or do you mean Brer Fox?

[Figment!]

Is Briar Fox a new character, or do you mean Brer Fox?

Fixed.

[vizsla]

Thanks for the updates.

[Melanie]

The Confectionary facade is ALREADY undergoing refurbishment?

[PirateLover]

We actually walked in Heritage House yesterday to look around, only to find it had been cleared out. It's now a FP+ Station. Also, are all the patio locations of Cosmic Rays being enclosed? We just ate there yesterday and I didn't see any construction going on. When the weather is nice, the small patio overlooking the rose garden and castle is a great locale. I got a beautiful sunset pic from there.

[Figment!]

The Confectionary facade is ALREADY undergoing refurbishment?

Looks like the last refurb was completed in June of 2011.

We actually walked in Heritage House yesterday to look around, only to find it had been cleared out. It's now a FP+ Station.

Thanks for the confirmation. It reportedly closed on the 4th and re-opened as a MyMagic+ Service Station yesterday (14th).

Also, are all the patio locations of Cosmic Rays being enclosed?

The Cast report wasn't clear on the amount of existing outdoor area included in the project.

We just ate there yesterday and I didn't see any construction going on.

Haven't gotten a confirmation on a construction start yet, only the report that the project was moving forward.

[PirateLover]

Thanks for all the info!

[Crow]

had seen a rumor about Journey into Imagination closing...but haven't heard anything the last month or so...any news

[DisneyDawgette]

had seen a rumor about Journey into Imagination closing...but haven't heard anything the last month or so...any news

As far as I know, JII is nearing it's last leg (if it has not already). When I made mention to a Cast Member in December that I was sad Figment would be going away, she responded, "Yes, I am too!"
Nothing official here, of course. But a pretty good support for the claim.

[Figment!]

had seen a rumor about Journey into Imagination closing...but haven't heard anything the last month or so...any news

So far there have not been any internal announcements or construction permits to indicate that any plans are moving forward.

Currently, the most common internet rumour is that the closure plans are on-hold.

[mickclub1955]

I know that Kodak owns the rights to Figment and DreamFinder and they are in Bankruptcy or close to it. Is there any way Disney could by the rights? It would help out Disney and Kodak. Disney buys everything else. I guess Kodak would have to be willing, but what have they got to lose, they are on their last leg as it is?

[Figment!]

**Update**

[vizsla]

Thanks for the updates.

[pdrlkr]

Thank Jason!

[Crow]

So far there have not been any internal announcements or construction permits to indicate that any plans are moving forward.

Currently, the most common internet rumour is that the closure plans are on-hold.

so its still and awaiting any news