Rumors! Rumors! Rumors!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

In anticipation of the D23 Expo, here's an article from Orlando Attractions Magazine speculating on some rumors of possible changes to WDW - some old rumors that have been circling around forever, and a few new ones...

Disney’s D23 Expo starts this Friday in Anaheim, Calif. And on Friday evening, they will hold their Parks and Resorts Presentation. At the first Expo in 2009, this is where the Fantasyland expansion and new Star Tours was announced. Both of those projects had been rumors for a long time. So let’s take a look at some recent rumors and wonder which, if any will be announced Friday.

Sometimes we hear rumors then they just go away. But sometimes we hear the same rumor over and over. That usually means it’s something Disney has actually been discussing, or something the fans really want to happen. But even though Disney may be planning something, that doesn’t mean it will actually happen. Sometimes even things that are publicly announced never happen. With that in mind, here are the top Walt Disney World rumors going into the D23 Expo.

Top Walt Disney World Rumors

Adventures Club is coming back?

Ever since Disney announced they were closing the clubs in Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney, many fans have been upset. Sure they liked most of the clubs but it was the Adventures Club they were most upset about. In our very first episode of Orlando Attractions Magazine – The Show last year, we reported that a Disney cruise director told us the club would be returning. Is it actually coming back or is it just wishful thinking? Could this be a part of the plans for Pleasure Island now that Disney is rethinking their announced Hyperion Wharf plans?

Animal Kingdom is expanding?

It’s not a rumor that Disney originally had plans for another area at Animal Kingdom based on mythical creatures. Have you noticed the dragon on the benches and signs around the park? We have the yeti, but could a whole land of creatures be coming?

Another rumor for Animal Kingdom is a new land based on Australia, with kangaroos and other down under animals and attractions.

New country coming to Epcot?

Earlier this year a column in a Brazilian newspaper indicated that the country would be the next to be represented with a pavilion in World Showcase. It makes sense, seeing how many Brazilian tourists Orlando gets, but nothing has been heard since.

Monsters Inc. roller coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

This has been a persistent rumor for a long time. There is another Monsters Inc. movie coming, and the space next to Toy Story Midway Mania in Pixar Place is empty. When Mike and Sulley rode the doors along the conveyor belts in the movie, many were reminded of a roller coaster ride. A lot of fans are excited about this prospect.

More Disney Vacation Club Resorts to be built?

Disney has announced an expansion at the Grand Floridian that will cause the spa to close for about 18 months, and plans have been submitted to the county showing a tower being built on the beach area by the spa building. So we know that part is true, but Disney hasn’t announced if it will be a vacation club resort – yet.

The land next to Fort Wilderness where the old River County water park used to be has also been rumored to be the future site of a Disney Vacation Club Resort.

Personal Interactive Experiences and Games?

This one is more than a rumor, but when will it happen? Disney has announced they’re working on next generation technologies. We know they’ve been testing a Mickey Mouse who can not only meet guests but also personally talk with them. (And we may get to meet him at the D23 Expo.) We’ve also read about, and seen the concept art for interactive wristbands that will take the place of guests’ Keys to the Kingdom cards, FastPasses and PhotoPasses (Read more at dizfanatic.com). The Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure is a start, but just how soon will more technologies be added to the parks and resorts?

World of Color coming?

A spectacular fountain show called World of Color opened in Disney’s California Adventure park last year. Since its launch, fans have speculated the show may come to this coast. Could it be a nighttime show to keep guests at Animal Kingdom later? Might it replace Illuminations at Epcot? The latest rumors say it may be added to the Downtown Disney lake for all to see free. Will it be placed in some other lake, or will it come to Disney World at all?

Updated Imagination Pavilion at Epcot?

Fans have been wanting the Journey into Imagination with Figment ride to get a update just about since it changed from its original state. The Dreamfinder recently made one-time return during the Destination D event at the Contemporary. Could he be coming back to Epcot in person? The Captain EO show was supposed to be around about a year and the Imagination Pavilion has no sponsor and needs a new one. With new sponsors, come new updates, and with Captain EO and the Tiki Room returning, could this ride be the next to return to its original glory?

What else have you heard? Which of these do you want to come true? What rumors would you like to start. Remember, rumors could become reality if enough fans want them to. Disney is listening.

Be sure to check our website throughout the weekend and especially Friday night to see what Disney may announce. To be the first to know, follow us on Twitter @attractions and Like us on Facebook.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From MiceChat. Some of this is Walt Disney World and some is Disneyland...

D23 LIVE: First look at Parks and Resorts - Carousel of Projects

Here are the first pics from the Parks and Resorts: Carousel of Projects

The big centerpiece is the model of the new Fantasyland redo at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Next up are a few pieces from DCA's upcoming changes.

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree ride vehicle.

A model of Buena Vista Street

A Model of the Carthay Circle Theater

Cars Land Ride Vehicle

Destini is the future of interactive animatronics. Pretty impressive technology here that you simply must see.

One of the other highlights is a virtual overlook of the Cars Land construction. Very cool.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

More from the D23 Expo from AllEars...

Featuring a little Audio Animatronic type fortune teller who bore a strong resemblance to Tom Morrow, only sporting a moustache and a turban, the Amazing Destini will actually interact with you in a very individualized experience. (I could swear I took a photo of him, but I guess I didn't. You'll have to wait until I get back over there!) You talk to him, and he responds, telling your future in an amusing demonstration. At first I thought it was akin to Turtle Talk with Crush, where a live human is somehow watching and reacting to you, but in talking to the Imagineers on hand, I learned that no, Destini is completely acting on his own. Clearly, they are using some sort of facial recognition technology, but Destini can also tell if there are others around you, and can also tell the denomination of coin you insert in his slot to start the fortune-telling process. According to the Imagineers, they aren't quite ready to put Destini into the parks yet, but I really do think he'd be quite popular just about anywhere -- the repeatability factor is high, since he has so many different "fortunes" in his repertoire, you'll seldom get the same experience twice.

To cap off the evening, we were allowed to browse through the Treasures of the Disney Archives exhibit upstairs, even able to take photos of some of the amazing memorabilia that's on display. Deb Wills put up a short video showcasing these items here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOFOJLn8G9o&feature=player_embedded

And here are some stills:

All in all, it was a great way to rev up my excitement for the next few days -- I can't wait to get out there and see what else the Expo has in store!

If you're not already, be sure to follow the AllEars.Net Team on Twitter:

I'm @dcdeb_allears

Deb Wills is @AllEarsDeb

and the site is @AllEarsNet

Laura Gilbreath will be blogging each day, and other members of the team, including Jeanine Yamanaka and Lee Zimmerman, will be attending presentations and taking photos and videos to share with you in the coming days.

Oh, look at the time! I better get going or else I'll miss everything!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From WDW Magic...

D23 Parks and Resorts presentation - no new announcements for Walt Disney World

Aug 19, 2011

Today's D23 presenation is now complete with no new additions announced for Walt Disney World. You can see it how it unfolded below, and join in the discussion here.

6:30pm EDT - Scheduled start time

6:32pm EDT - Still not started - running a little late

6:32pm EDT - 10 minute delay announced

6:35pm EDT - New start time of 6:40pm EDT

6:41pm EDT - Presentation now beginning

6:45pm EDT - This is a long 10 minutes. Still waiting to start

6:49pm EDT - We are underway!

6:51pm EDT - Parks video montage now playing

6:52pm EDT - Mickey Mouse on stage!

6:53pm EDT - Mickey Mouse is rocking the drums on stage

6:55pm EDT - Articulating head Mickey now introducing Tom Staggs

6:55pm EDT - Mickey having live onstage conversation with Tom Staggs

6:57pm EDT - Mickey now leaving the stage and Tom is addressing the audience

6:58pm EDT - Tom is talking about the various projects underway around the world

7:04pm EDT - Tom now talking about Fantasyland

7:05pm EDT - Bruce Vaughn from WDI now on stage

7:06pm EDT - Bruce is talking about the creative process that goes into a project like Fantasyland

7:07pm EDT - Video of Fantasyland digital model

7:09pm EDT - "Taking meet and greets to a whole new level"

7:09pm EDT - Lumiere coming to life in the Beauty and the Beast area

7:11pm EDT - Snow White Coaster - "our best family coaster"

7:14pm EDT - Now showing a partial CGI ride through of the Snow White coaster

7:15pm EDT - Bruce Vaughn now leaving the stage

7:16pm EDT - Tom Staggs now talking Hawaii DVC

7:26pm EDT - Videos including Seven Dwarfs ride through now here

7:35pm EDT - Shanghai Disneyland castle will have a ride passing through the castle as a finale

7:38pm EDT - Take a detailed look at Shanghai DL castle

7:40pm EDT - Now talking DCA expansion and Cars Land with Kathy Magnum

7:51pm EDT - Disneyland Resort President now on stage talking about the changes at Disneyland

7:55pm EDT - Personalized experiences at Disneyland announced with Fantasy Faire

7:57pm EDT - Presentation now over - no new announcements for additions to WDW

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From WDW News Today...

The Great Destini Amazes at the 2011 D23 Expo

Posted on August 24, 2011

While living characters in the Disney Parks is not necessarily a new thing, The Great Destini is an amazing, autonomous audioo-animatronic living character that was first tested at Innoventions at Disneyland a few months ago. Destini was brought out again for the D23 Expo last weekend and we got a pretty good look at him. It is time to be amazed by a marvel of Walt Disney Imagineering, The Great Destini!

http://vimeo.com/28129563

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From WDW Magic...

Day after D23 Expo - Tom Staggs comments on lack of Walt Disney World announcements

Aug 22, 2011

In a very interesting development, Tom Staggs (Chairman Walt Disney Parks and Resorts) has commented on the official Disney parks website about the lack of announcements made for Walt Disney World at the recent D23 Expo.

The sentence likely to catch most people's eyes is "We have several incredible projects currently in the works and look forward to sharing more information with all of you in the weeks and months ahead, including new details regarding Downtown Disney in Florida."

Here is the full comment on the Disney Parks Blog.

"Thanks to all of you for your responses. Your passion, energy and affection for our parks and resorts is the reason we do what we do so I appreciate your feedback. I know many of you were hoping for announcements regarding new projects from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, especially at Walt Disney World Resort, so I wanted to take a moment to address those comments.

The projects we’ve already announced represent the largest period of growth ever in Disney Parks’ history. We’re working hard to create new and exciting experiences for our guests around the world and while the timing isn’t always right to announce another big project, we like to use opportunities like the D23 Expo to update fans like you on the great progress we’re making. We have several incredible projects currently in the works and look forward to sharing more information with all of you in the weeks and months ahead, including new details regarding Downtown Disney in Florida. "