WDW Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Update

Disney Parks released new pictures of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the first train is now on tracks at WDW Magic Kingdom New Fantasyland! The first picture below shows a WDI rendering...

...and the picture below show you - on a quite similar curve than on the rendering - the first train which today "ran under its own gravity and completed its first drop out of the station".

Earlier today "Imagineers and design and engineering" marked a milestone in the construction of the awaited ride.

I remind you that the queue decor will be highly themed with guests going through tunnels of the mine full of diamonds as you can see on the two renderings below, done by artist Chris Turner.

One lat thing: the artwork at the top looks a lot like the one officially released but it's not the same one, this one was done by Chris Smith, also for WDI, and it looks great.

Pictures: copyright Disney

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Construction Footage Video

Here is an interesting construction footage video showing what was going on inside the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train construction site not too long ago.

It appeared four months ago - i missed it and i just discovered it on Screamscape - and first i was surprised as Disney generally never release videos showing the construction of a ride - to "preserve the magic" , as they say - ...until i realized that the video was not released "officially". So, watch it, because you might never see this kind of video again, specially an official one.

Picture and video: copyright Disney

Imagineering Sneak Peek Inside WDW Princess Fairytale Hall and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

WDI released through Disney Parks a new video offering a sneak peek inside WDW New Fantasyland Princess Fairytale Hall and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Imagineers Jason Grandt, Pam Rawlins, and Dave Minichiello take you behind the scenes for an update on these awaited attractions. Have a look, and don't miss too the concept-art above in a high-res version and the new one of Princess Fairytale Hall below!

Picture and video: copyright Disney

WDW New Fantasyland Pete’s Silly Sideshow Artwork

Disney Parks has released a set of renderings for the new Pete’s Silly Sideshow at WDW New Fantasyland Storybook Circus. As they say on their blog "This new character greeting area has two entrances: One line leads to Minnie Magnifique (Minnie Mouse as a circus star) and Daisy Fortuna (Daisy Duck as a fortuneteller), while the other line leads to The Great Goofini (Goofy as a daredevil stunt pilot) and The Amazing Donaldo (Donald Duck as a snake charmer)".

So, basically, this Pete’s Silly Sideshow is a character location but the background decors look more fun than what they do for the Princesses meet and greet, so may be it will be fun. Note that not so long ago the renderings released by Disney Parks were in big size and good definition. Strangely, since a few days, all pictures and artworks are now released in small size and with a definition so low that they're not even sharp! As usual i tried to make them sharper and a little bit bigger too. Have a look at all this below!

















Artwork: copyright Disney

WDW Announces New Fantasyland Opening Dates, Updated Test Track Details, and more

Walt Disney World Imagineers unveiled in a presentation the opening dates of Magic Kingdom New Fantasyland as well as new artwork and details about the updated Test Track attraction. Let's start with New Fantasyland. The second part of Storybook Circus which will include the second half of the Dumbo attraction and Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station is scheduled to open in July 2012. And Journey of The Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Gaston’s Tavern, and Ariel’s Grotto apparently will be open "to celebrate this holiday season", i.e around Christmas 2012. And what about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you ask? Well, for this one you'll have to wait until 2014.



Also part of the same presentation, new digital concept-arts for the updated Test Track at Epcot which will have Chevrolet as sponsor of the ride. And if the new futuristic theming that you can see on the artwork below reminds you TRON, it's may be because the updated ride will place guests inside the computer world of digital design.





Also new, an interactive queue with touch screens and displays which, according to insidethemagic who was at the presentation "will allow guests to design their own vehicles based on 4 properties: capability, efficiency, responsiveness, and power. These selections will be saved onto a card that guests will be handed, carrying with them onto the ride itself. Ultimately guests will be scored on how well their design holds up to the test track inside".



The ride itself will be the same "but all of the show scenes are being completely overhauled to represent the digital computer space in which guests will ride through. The ride will still feature a “warehouse” feel rather than individually-confined show scenes."

I have to tell you that i never liked a lot Test Track. May be i am from the old school who like animatronics and theatrical rides but when i ride it the first time i was instantly nostalgic of World of Motion. I admired the technology used in Test Track but all these vehicles tests never thrilled me a lot... BUT, if they plan to change the theming and if this one have a non-official TRON inspiration then you can count me in! Now i'm really curious to see how will look this new Test Track! Are you?

Pictures: copyright Disney

New WDI Artwork for WDW New Fantasyland

Is there a better way to end the week than with new artwork from Walt Disney Imagineering? Probably not, and thanks to Disney Parks here are some new renderings for WDW New Fantasyland. Well, half of them were unseen before but i also re-post others which are now released in better definition.

The first one above is of course showing a scene of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and it's an interesting one as it reminds me what i've seen and told you in a previous article called "A closer look at New Fantasyland artwork". On the big rendering showing the whole New Fantasyland, once enlarged, i noticed that scene showing the seven dwarfs "coming back home", standing on a big tree trunk - see picture below. On the artwork above you still have the tree trunk but the seven dwarfs are not there anymore. Does this mean that there won't stand on it when the ride will open in 2013? Not necessarily, as WDI might want to keep some scene details secret...



Close to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, there will be Story Book circus and this new artwork shows the entrance of the new Dumbo ride with its interactive queue.



This next one shows the Princess Fairytale Hall - previously the Snow White dark ride location - where young girls will be able to meet and greet with their favorite princess.



Another artwork, this one showing the Ursula's Lair scene in the Little Mermaid attraction.



But most of the new renderings are showing scenes of Belle's village. This first one below was known...



Once inside Maurice's cottage guests will be able to engage in a playful story time with Belle and Lumière...



This next artwork shows the inside of the Bonjour Village Gift shop.



In Gaston's Pub, another highlight of Belle's Village area...



...WDW guests - and according to the artwork even young girls - will be able to enjoy a good ol' beer. Wait, you say, even young girls and boys? My guess is that it won't be real beer - i mean, not beer with alcohol and probably it will be Disney's version of Harry Potter highly successful "Butterbeer"...



And as it will be Gaston's Pub, in pure logic this portrait of Gaston will find its natural place in the pub.



All artwork: copyright Disney