This is my blog dedicated to all the latest theme park news, a blog covering every park across the world from Six Flags Magic Mountain (California) all the way to Disneyland Tokyo. Scroll down a bit to start reading, or a bit more to read more about me. Check out my new YouTube page at www.youtube.com/parkparadise2011. Make sure you subscribe!
Disney World’s Epcot - Behind the Scenes at Test Track 2.0
The new test track at WDW’s Epcot has opened with major guest popularity, and Chevrolet has just released this brand new video showing off behind the scenes magic for the re-construction. Check it out!
Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track 2.0
It has been a week now since Test Track 2.0 was re-opened to staff members and soft openings to the public, and it was only a matter of time before we saw clips popping up on YouTube. The video above shows off a brief segment of the ride in action. The clip shows off what has been done to recreate the old Barrier Test room, that leads right into the start of the high speed outdoor track test. The video gives fans a good idea of the effects and the theme we can expect to see throughout the new ride when it opens in December.
D23 2013 - Events Announced
D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has just announced a slate of fantastic events for 2013, which will cross the country sprinkling pixie dust on D23 Members and Disney enthusiasts of all ages.
The fan club will bring its popular Sip & Stroll event, celebrating the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, back to Walt Disney World Resort in fall 2013, as well as an all-new festive family event, D23’s Holiday Splendor, which will deck the halls in December of 2013.
Walt Disney World Resort will also play host to one of the ten stops of D23’s Fanniversary Celebration, the exciting multimedia road show event, which commemorates dozens of magical milestones celebrating an anniversary in 2013. This all-new show will highlight anniversaries for such park favorites such as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room (50th), Tokyo Disneyland Resort (30th), Horizons (30th) and Disney’s Animal Kingdom(15th). Along with its Orlando stop, Fanniversary will bring Disney delight to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The Walt Disney Imagineering campus in Glendale will host two special events at its Mickey’s of Glendale employee store, flinging open its doors exclusively to D23 Members on Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, June 8, 2013.
Returning in 2013 are D23’s popular tours of the Walt Disney Studio Lot and Archives, where guest have the opportunity to truly walk in Walt’s footsteps, as well as their 50 and Fabulous and From the Vaults film series held in the original Studio Theater on the Burbank Lot.
Finally, D23’s most spectacular event of 2013 will be its third D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, which will take place August 9 – 11, 2013, at the Anaheim Convention Center, directly across from the Disneyland Resort. This can’t-miss, unforgettable three-day experience for Disney fans will once again be brimming with live appearances, musical performances and autograph opportunities by Disney’s top stars from films, TV and music; exclusive sneak peaks of what’s on the horizon at Disney Parks around the world, plus entertaining presentations on a variety of Disney topics. Attendees will also thrill to the always compelling Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit and the exciting Disney Legends Ceremony.
WDW’s Epcot - Test Track 2.0
Jump over to WDWmagic.com to read one of the first reviews of the updated Test Track at Epcot. It seems that the update is more a re-branding of the ride which some fans may not be quite satisfied with. The new test track officially opens on 6 December 2012.
Click here for the review.
Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track Update
Check out the brand new Test Track 2.0 uniforms for Disney World employees.
Disney Parks - Starbucks Locations
As announced earlier this year, six Starbucks locations were planned to open at Disney Parks in Florida and California. In June, the first Starbucks location opened at Disney California Adventure park in the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café and is already a guest favourite.
Last week Disney announced the first two Walt Disney World Resort locations to open next year, one at Magic Kingdom Park and one at Epcot.
At Magic Kingdom Park, Main Street Bakery will close for refurbishment in January 2013 and reopen as a Starbucks location in early summer. At Epcot, Fountain View will close in March 2013 and reopen as a Starbucks location in midsummer.
Both locations will be designed to fit the theme of their surroundings.
More locations are set to be announced early next year!
Walt Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track 2.0 Part Two
Continuing from the first part next guests will be able to board their vehicles and test drive them. Throughout the ride, riders will experience changing terrain and extreme conditions as their designs are scored for capability, efficiency, responsiveness and power. Their design skills are put to the test, at speeds of up to 65 mph.
The excitement then continues into the post-show area where guests will be able to race their vehicles on a virtual driving table, create their own commercial and get to see new and concept Chevrolet vehicles in a showroom.
Test Track 2.0 officially opens on Dec. 6, 2012 but previews should begin shortly.
Walt Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track 2.0 Part 1
With the official opening of Disney World’s second version of the popular Test Track just under a month away, more concept art of Test Track 2.0 has been released giving a closer look at the queue, ride and post-show of the attraction. Test Track 2.0 is presented by Chevrolet and will offer guests a three-part experience.
The experience will start in the ride’s queue where guests will be able to design their own vehicle; a car, truck or even a crossover. In the Design Center, guests will use design kiosks to try their hand at design magic. Here, they can virtually create their vehicle design by shape, length, width and engine size. Once they create the design of their dreams, guests complete their creation with even more choices.
Check out part two for more concept art….
Disney World’s Epcot - 30th Anniversary MAP
The second theme park built at the Walt Disney World Resort officially marked its 30th anniversary yesterday. Guests began celebrating at the park over the weekend, with D23 members attending a special Epcot 30th Anniversary Celebration at World Showplace that featured special presentations by Disney Legends and Imagineers.
Guests that visited the park yesterday received a commemorative button and a 30th anniversary theme park map, the latter of which our partners at the park were kind enough to give to us to share with all of you! The document looks back at how the Epcot guide map has changed as the park evolved over the years.
Disney World’s Epcot - HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Today is Epcot’s official 30th birthday, originally opening on October 1st 1982. The park is now over 300 acres, which is nearly twice the size of the Magic Kingdom, and boasts a mixture of culture, thrilling rides and discovery of the future.
A blog of all the latest theme park knowledge shared with the world. Soon to be expanding into the travel world too.
I used to run a theme park dedicated website through High School, but now I've moved on to the blog scene with the latest videos, pictures and breaking stories.
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