Take 5: New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

posted on December 1st, 2012 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

The New Fantasyland grand opening at Magic Kingdom Park is just around the corner, but for more than a year now, the Disney Parks Blog has been working with our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering to bring you regular behind-the-scenes looks. When it officially opens on December 6, the New Fantasyland area will bring the stories of “Dumbo,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and many more to life with attractions and dining locations such as Storybook Circus, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid and Be Our Guest Restaurant. With just 5 days until New Fantasyland opens, get 5 inside looks into the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history.

Take 5: New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

All in the Details: 10 Reasons You’ll Love New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park – Here are the top ten reasons why you’ll love New Fantasyland, no matter what age you are.

Let the Magic Begin! New Fantasyland Preview Period Begins Today at Magic Kingdom Park
– The Preview Period for the New Fantasyland area is officially underway! Find out what areas you can expect to experience today when you visit Magic Kingdom Park.

Disney Parks Blog Time Capsule: November 2011 – See what sneak peeks we were sharing of New Fantasyland on the Disney Parks Blog just one year ago.

Our Top Five Most Popular Looks Inside New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park – For more than a year now, fellow blog author Jennifer Fickley-Baker has been bringing you regular behind-the-scenes looks at the New Fantasyland expansion in her “All in the Details” weekly series. Get the five most popular looks in this post.

New Magic in the Making at Walt Disney World Resort
– Check out some of the magical details coming in the New Fantasyland expansion of Magic Kingdom Park. We can’t wait to take you beyond the walls of Cinderella Castle starting December 6!

Tagged: Imagineers, MK, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney Imagineers Unveil the Backstory of Barnabas T. Bullion, Founder and President of Big Thunder Mining Company

posted on November 19th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Last week, we shared an image of a portrait that’s a part of a new project our Walt Disney Imagineers are currently working on – and today we’re happy to reveal the identity of that man and share details on the role he’ll play in the enhanced storyline of a certain Magic Kingdom Park attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

The fellow’s name is Barnabas T. Bullion, and he’s the gold magnate who rules the Big Thunder Mining Company with a golden fist. Imagineers have already begun working overnight in the park on the attraction’s new interactive queue, where you’ll be able to see this portrait, as well as an additional landscape portrait of the mountain itself.

According to the enhanced backstory: “Barnabas T. Bullion is the founder and president of the Big Thunder Mining Company. The longtime mining magnate comes from a powerful East Coast family and considers gold to be his very birthright by virtue of his oddly appropriate name; in fact, he considers the ultimate gold strike to be his destiny. And that is why he is having so much trouble with Big Thunder Mountain. According to superstitious locals, Big Thunder Mountain is very protective of the gold it holds within, and the unfortunate soul who attempts to mine its riches is destined to fail. And so far that prophecy is coming to pass. The mine has been plagued by mysterious forces and natural disasters ever since. And yet the Big Thunder Mining Co. is still in operation. In fact, Bullion is discovering new veins of gold and digging new shafts every day, offering a closer look at the Big Thunder mining operation than ever before. But a word to the wise for anyone attempting to visit the mountain: watch out for runaway trains.”

Look for these new additions and a number of additional interactive elements in the coming months at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the wildest ride in the wilderness!

Look below for more news from Magic Kingdom Park:

1 Reply

Tagged: Imagineers, MK, WDW

Filed: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney Imagineers Unveil a Mysterious Portrait as a Hint to an Upcoming Walt Disney World Resort Project

posted on November 15th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Who doesn’t love a good mystery – and we just happen to have one to share with you today. Our friends in Walt Disney Imagineering just sent us this portrait as a sneak peek of one of their upcoming Walt Disney World Resort projects. Any ideas which attraction this may soon be a part of?

Here’s one hint to the identity of this fine fellow: “His obsession with gold will ultimately lead him to ruin.”

Leave your guess in the “comments” section below.

23 Replies

Tagged: Imagineers, WDW

Filed: Walt Disney World Resort

Guests Can Soon Interact with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in New Immersive Queue

posted on September 24th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Today we have an exciting update on something new that’s in the works in Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is about to get a new interactive queue.

We’ve previously shared updates here on the Disney Parks Blog about enhanced queues that have been added to other attractions at the park – these interactive queues immediately allow guests to immerse themselves in the story of an attraction while they wait to board. Such experiences can already be found at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the Haunted Mansion, and most recently, Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Storybook Circus.

Our friends at Walt Disney Imagineering just shared with us that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland is next in line for such an addition. When it opens, guests will be able to participate in the story of the Big Thunder Mining Company like never before. It’s guaranteed to be a blast!

See more about the enhanced queues at Walt Disney World Resort in these posts:

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Tagged: Imagineers, MK, WDW

Filed: Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

Chat Live with Walt Disney Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick Today at 1:15 p.m. EDT

posted on August 27th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Who’s ready to talk Test Track?

Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick will be with us right here on the Disney Parks Blog, beginning at 1:15 p.m. EDT, to answer some of your questions about what’s changing at the attraction. We’ve received a ton of questions so far, but please keep them coming. You can submit your queries right here for Melissa during the chat.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=99c1bbdaf4" >Reimagined Test Track Live Chat with Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick</a>

Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog and follow @WaltDisneyWorld on Twitter for the latest Test Track changes. While you’re on Twitter, join in the conversation by using the hashtag #TestTrack.

Tagged: Epcot, Imagineers, Test Track, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

Join Us for a Live Chat on August 27 about the Reimagined Test Track at Walt Disney World Resort

posted on August 22nd, 2012 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

Since Jennifer shared those first renderings of our reimagined Test Track at Epcot, there’s been a steady stream of requests for more. Well, we’ve got something better than an update. On August 27, Disney Parks Blog readers will be the first to chat live with one of the key Imagineers working on the project – Melissa Jeselnick.

Join Us for a Live Chat With Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick on August 27 about the Reimagined Test Track at Walt Disney World Resort

Melissa is an Assistant Project Manager with Walt Disney Imagineering and the person to talk to about Test Track. She’s been with the company for eight years and has worked on some of your favorites, including Disney Phineas and Ferb Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, The Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Toy Story Midway Mania, Pixar Street, Soarin’ and more.

Melissa will be chatting about how you’ll be able to design your own custom concept vehicle when the attraction is reopened in late fall and how you’ll be able to put it through its paces on the hills and switchbacks of the Test Track circuit.

We’ll also be sharing something you’ve never seen before from the attraction, so mark your calendar. You can also share any early questions in the comments below and then check back on August 27 at 1:15 p.m. See you then.

2 Replies

Tagged: Epcot, Imagineers, Test Track, WDW

Filed: Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort

Live Chat: Talk In-Park Gaming With Imagineer Jonathan Ackley

posted on June 7th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Are you a fan of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom? Can’t wait for Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure to debut this summer? You’re in luck because today’s live chat is about to begin and it’s all about our in-park gaming experiences!

Imagineer Jonathan Ackley will join us right here to answer some of your questions about the behind-the-scenes creation of these interactive experiences. Our chat will begin promptly at 1:15 p.m. but feel free to begin submitting your questions in the comments before we begin. We’ll answer as many as possible in the allotted time.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=beb9fe5859" >In-Park Gaming With Imagineers Jonathan Ackley</a>

Tagged: Imagineers, WDW

Filed: Walt Disney World Resort

Disney Parks Blog Live Chat with Imagineer Jonathan Ackley Set for June 7

posted on May 31st, 2012 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

This year, we’ve shared many inside looks at our new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom role-playing game and our interactive experience Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure here on the Disney Parks Blog. But on June 7 at 1:15 p.m. Orlando time, you’ll have access like never before. We’re thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with Walt Disney Imagineering to bring you a live chat with Imagineer Jonathan Ackley.

If you don’t know Jonathan, you should. He’s a senior project producer and creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering who focuses on interactive shows at Disney Parks. His work includes helping create the animation you encounter on a Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom adventure. He also designed the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot and most recently worked on Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure.

Get to know Jonathan and take a look at what he shared earlier this year.

You can share any early questions for Jonathan today in the comments below. See you back here for the live chat next week.

Tagged: Imagineers, Video, WDW

Filed: Walt Disney World Resort

All About the Details at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café at Disneyland Park

posted on May 1st, 2012 by Erin Glover, Manager, Social Media and Print, Disneyland Resort

One of my favorite places for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack time, coffee time – any time, really – is Jolly Holiday Bakery Café at Disneyland park. From the sandwiches and sweets to the enchanting details, it has quickly become a guest favorite. But no matter how many times you stop by for a treat, you’ll always find new details you never noticed before. In the video below, Jonathan Peters from Walt Disney Imagineering shows us some of the special touches at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café.

Tagged: Dining, DL, DLR, Imagineers, Video

Filed: Disney Dining, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

Historic Orange Bird Returns to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park

posted on April 17th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

UPDATE: New Orange Bird images have emerged from this morning’s announcement. Check out the new images below!

Well, isn’t this a surprise?

Early this morning, D23 representatives announced the return of the historic Orange Bird character live in Adventureland before a small group of D23 members.

In case you aren’t familiar, Orange Bird was a character who was developed specifically for Magic Kingdom Park in the 1970s. This cheerful bird originally greeted families at Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland, where guests could also enjoy citrus drinks and buy Orange Bird gifts. At one time, the character even had his own record, which was released in 1971 to feature “The Orange Bird Song” – a tune penned by the Sherman Brothers (composers of the songs in “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book”).

Beginning today, Orange Bird will return to Sunshine Tree Terrace signage and quirky drink cups, and a new line of Orange Bird merchandise has already appeared on the shelves! Also, an Orange Bird statue that was on display at Sunshine Tree Terrace in the 1970s was retrieved from the WDI Sculpture Studio in California, and is now on display.

We’ll have photos to share from the announcement shortly, but in the meantime, here’s a brand-new desktop wallpaper by Jason “Tiki” Tackett for you to enjoy!