Build Your Own Disney Attractions

From the Disney Parks Blog: Disney Park aficionados can agree that Space Mountain and Dumbo the Flying Elephant attractions are two of the most beloved and iconic attractions in the Parks. Whether you’re soaring at the speed of sound through space or flying high with the help of a gentle elephant with magical ears, riding these attractions … Read more

Chris Lastrapes’ 5/27/10 Disneyland Resort Official Meet-Up Report

Our own Chris Lastrapes was lucky enough to attend the first-ever Disneyland Resort Meet-Up and has some photos from the event to share with us: [smugmug url=”http://wdwnt.smugmug.com/hack/feed.mg?Type=gallery&Data=12338896_LXnPM&format=rss200″ imagecount=”34″ start=”1″ num=”34″ thumbsize=”Th” link=”lightbox” captions=”true” sort=”true” window=”false” smugmug=”false” size=”L”]

Disneyland Hotel Makeover Update

From the Disney Parks Blog: Big news…Today we’re sharing details and concept art that will give the Disneyland Hotel a fun, fresh makeover. The pool area is getting a whole new look, including a brand-new pool, all-new immersive water play area and a complete redesign of the Never Land Pool. Plans also call for a … Read more

Hoop Dee History by Chuck Mirarchi

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When thinking about a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, there are almost as many planning strategies as there are attractions.  But in addition to planning your schedule around attractions, shows, and parades, many guests also plan their days with an eye to meals and dinner shows.

Having presented over 35,000 performances to more than 10 million guests, the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue is one of the most popular dinner shows at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Located in Pioneer Hall at the Fort Wilderness Campground, the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue is performed three times a night, seven days a week, at 5:00, 7:15, and 9:00 pm.  Guests call months in advance for reservations to try to get one of the coveted seats, and there is almost always a line of people hoping for cancellations at each show.

Whether you are a loyal follower of the show or one of those who haven’t yet seen it (but will), we are going to explore the history and creation of this loveable wilderness goofball of a vaudeville dinner show.

One the creators and writers of the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue was Ron Miziker, who also created many classic pieces of entertainment for the Walt Disney World Resort (see our previous Main Street Electrical Parade article).

The show is considered the longest continuously running musicals in American theatre history.  It holds a special place for everyone who has seen the show.  Often when you first try to describe the show to someone, they will typically be skeptical, but interested.  It’s not until someone experiences the show for the first time do they understand the undying love and affinity for the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue.6

Despite its longevity, the evolution of the Hoop Dee Doo Revue has just as many do si dos as a square dance.

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Video of Main Street Electrical Parade Pack-Up

Disney has released a video of the Main Street Electrical Parade being packed up at the Disneyland Resort to be sent to Walt Disney World for Summer Nightastic. This great behind-the-scenes video has been embedded via the WDWNTube:

Josh Siegel’s 5/25/10 WDW Photo Report

We are proud to welcome the newest addition to the WDWNT staff, Josh Siegel, with his first photo report from the Walt Disney World Resort:

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Work continues on Pollo Campero at Downtown Disney

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Matt Paul’s 5/23-24/10 WDW Photo Report

Matt Paul spent two days at the Walt Disney World Resort and actually has some pictures that aren’t of things featured in the ridiculous amount of photo reports we’ve had this month. Let’s take a look:

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Those great Star Wars Weekends posters are outside Disney’s Hollywood Studios

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Passholder Not-So-Exclusive Summer Nightastic! Preview

Disney has confirmed that the Main Street Electrical Parade and Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular will debut on June 5th at the Magic Kingdom for what is being called a Passholder preview: Clear your calendar for Saturday, June 5, 2010, and get over to theMagic Kingdom® Park for an advance viewing of the return of perhaps the … Read more

Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel To Be Renamed

From the Disney Parks Blog: A quick update to share tonight…our antique carrousel ride in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom Park –Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel – is officially changing its name to Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. The name change takes effect June 1. The name change helps tell the rest of the Cinderella story that inspired the … Read more

Video of Toy Story Mania with Toy Story 3 Characters

WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul presents a video featuring all the changes and additions to Toy Story Midway Mania from Toy Story 3. This video is embedded via the WDWNTube: The changes to the attraction include: Villain icons in the background of the practice game (Lotso, Stretch, etc.) Buttercup the Unicorn (voiced by Jeff Garlin believe … Read more

Robert Ashburn’s 5/23/10 Hollywood Studios Photo Report

Our friend Robert Ashburn of FloridaThrills.Net visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us:

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Remember this guy? Neither do we…. ;)

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Nick Corjay’s 5/23/10 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Nick Corjay visited the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and has a few newsworthy photos to share with us:

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Work continues on the Exposition Hall

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Robert Ashburn’s 5/21/10 Hollywood Studios Photo Report

Our good friend Robert Ashburn of FloridaThrills.Net visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first day of Star Wars Weekends 2010 and has plenty of photos to share with us:

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Star Wars Weekends 2010 Preview Video

Here’s a video preview of this year’s Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including another look at R2-MK (video courtesy of the WDWNTube):

Matt Paul’s 5/19/10 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul visited the Walt Disney World Resort yesterday and has a plethora of newsworthy photos to share with us:

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Getting ready for Star Wars Weekends at the Studios

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Brandon Struve’s 5/17/10 Epcot Photo Report

WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve stopped by Epcot yesterday afternoon and has some newsworthy photos from his trip to share with us:

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Follow the Tron-O-Rail to Epcot

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