Tidbits
May 2009
Low Tide
5/26/09 Disney’s Beach Club Resort has cannibalized one of its two lounges to provide more seating at its popular Table Service Dining location. The Rip Tide Lounge has closed and construction has commenced to absorb the lounge into the adjacent Cape May Cafe. Construction permits have been filed for the location with the General Description of Work as, “change of decor to convert the space to additional seating for Cape May Cafe. Conversion of the bar to a server side station”.
A Life-Like Light?
5/26/09 Work appears to be visibly progressing on the previously reported streetmosphere Audio-Animatronic planned for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Construction walls and scrim have recently been added to the Lighting Building area of Pixar Place, which has previously reported to be the future home of a Luxor Jr. Audio-Animatronic. Studios Cast are reporting that the new audio-animatronic is tentatively planned to start a testingin Early June 2009.
3/10/09 Rumours swirling among Studios Cast regarding a new character feature for Pixar Place have begun to become more concrete. During construction of Pixar Place there had been some loose rumours among Studios Cast that a Luxor Jr. Audio-Animatronic would debut in the Pixar Place section in October 2008. According to these rumours, the audio-animatronic would appear intermittently through-out the day on a ledge in the upper section of the Lighting Building. Although the rumours never manifested, recent construction permits appear to indicate work is continuing on the project. About a month ago, a construction permit with the general description of work of "Luxo Speakers Package" was filed. More recently, construction permits were filed with the general description of work as "Luxo at Mania Building; Add aluminum structure includes all electrical" and "Pixar Street Figure Masking Package". While these fillings do not indicate any update to the timetable for this potential project, they do appear to indicate that progress is likely continuing.
Veggie Veggie Picnic Picnic
5/15/09 Animal Kingdom’s Picnic in the Park program has now added vegetarian options to its line-up. Tier 1 options now include a Portobello Mushroom and Vegetable Wrap as a sandwich option, although Tier 2 still remains with-out a vegetarian option. An additional vegetarian side dish has also been added, Tandoori Spiced Tofu with Zucchini. (Post Script: I hope someone gets the Disney reference in this items title)
Stage Ahoy
5/15/09 Construction permits have been filed to build a new stage in Adventureland. According to the permits, the existing “Steel Drum Stage” area that is used for Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial is to undergo renovations to build a new, taller stage for the show. It has yet to be announced how this future construction may affect the daily show.
Two Decades of Hollywood
5/15/09 Earlier this month, amist a few special one-time events, Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened a “20th Anniversary” display inside its One Man’s Dream exhibit. Although it is expected to be a temporary display, it has yet to be reported how long the elements will remain part of the attraction.
MegaClosing
5/15/09 The Virgin MegaStore closed at Downtown Disney WestSide two weeks ahead of its originally announced date. The large retail location originally announced to close May 31st pushed its last day of operation forward to May 12, 2009. Lucky Guests who visited during the final days of operation were able to partake in liquidation-style discounts of the locations merchandise; however, most Guest reports held that the discounts were under 50% and applied only to original prices.
Spring into Changes
5/15/09 The Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade has debuted its new version sans the Face the Darkest Fears float. The new version of the parade is down one float, but up several new Character Troupes. Pluto, Chip and Dale have been moved from the final float to a Troupe prior to the It All Started with a Mouse float. The Wish Upon A Star float now features a preceding troupe of Geppetto, Foulfellow, and Gideon. The A Thousand Dreams To See float now features a preceding troupe of Abu, Genie and Jafar. The As Long As There Is Imagination Left In The World float now features a preceding troupe of Tweedledum & Tweedledee, Captain Hook, and Mr.Smee. The A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes float now features a preceding troupe of Lady Tremaine, Drizella, Anastasia, Suzy and Perla. The Cinderella Castle float has added King Louie and Baloo on the float and now features a preceding troupe of Woody, Jessie, Lilo and Stitch.
