Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Belle to Receive Another Refurb — Are 999 Happy Haunts to Blame?
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Fresh off a recent small refurbishment, the Liberty Bell Riverboat in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square is scheduled to undergo yet another (and longer) refurbishment beginning May 5.
Although there could be very good reasons for the temporary closure pertaining to the attraction itself, it’s no secret that the Haunted Mansion queue has been walled off to curious eyes waiting to enter the retirement home for ghosts with room for a thousand. For those who see the construction walls as merely an obstacle, the Liberty Belle has become a vehicle of choice for peering in from the other side to check in on how things are moving along.
Since it won’t be nearly as practical to sparsely throw up trees and scrims as the park has done to lightly discourage peeping toms from checking in on the New Fantasyland expansion, it just may be possible that the closure is in anticipation of putting on the final touches on the new supposed next-gen queue of the theme park classic, preparing for its public debut which coincidentally may be when the Liberty Belle is scheduled to re-open on May 20 — which perhaps not so coincidentally is the same day when Star Tours II re-opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Haunted Mansion, Liberty Belle, Liberty Square, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs
WDW Refurb Update: Liberty Belle Short Refurb; Studio Backlot Tour and More All of January
It’s shaping up to be one of those days. Although not confirmed as of yet through our official sources, WDWMagic.com and Walt Disney World Cast Member Paul Chadkin are reporting additional refurbishments added to the operations schedule for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in January.
The Liberty Belle / Liberty Square Riverboat located in the Liberty Square area of Magic Kingdom is scheduled to close on January 29, 2011 and re-open on February 5.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, both the Studio Backlot Tour and the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure playground are set to close on January 3 and re-open on January 30.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
WDW Refurb Update: Liberty Belle Riverboat Closure in February
The Liberty Belle riverboat in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square is currently scheduled to be closed for refurbishment from February 1 through February 5. This appears to be an annual refurbishment as it was closed for a like-period of time in late February in 2009.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch!
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Liberty Belle, Liberty Square, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs
Say Au Revoir to Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee… For Now
Even before the show set sail back in November, Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee was causing waves of excitement at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. With the show advertised to end on January 3, many were disappointed but then turned optimistic when the official site began listing the show as continuing beyond the expected final date.
While we are sad to report that the show is in fact ending today (and is explicitly listed as being performed only today on the Magic Kingdom’s Times Guide for this week), we thought we’d offer some hope of our own for those who missed the opportunity to see the moving spectacle.
Although au revoir is French for goodbye, its [roughly] literal translation is ‘until we see each other again’ and we have been privy to some information indicating that the show may in fact be returning, at least temporarily, most likely for the summer season. We can confirm that the Resort is actively auditioning for the roles for the show including Dr. Facilier who traditionally has only appeared for the show itself as opposed to meet and greets.
Some have asked us about how the existing meet & greets with Tiana and Naveen will be affected by the show ending and we are pleased to say that for the most part, they will not be affected at all. Tiana and Naveen will continue to meet with guests in Liberty Square (behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe) for the time being.
WDW Refurb Update: Liberty Belle Closed for Duration of Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee
NOTE: This change has been reversed, the Liberty Belle will be operating for guests during this time.
It’s being reported that the Liberty Belle will not be making its regular excursions throughout the day while Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee! is being performed at the Magic Kingdom.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch!
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Liberty Belle, Liberty Square, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs
Tiana Arrives at Magic Kingdom; Bestows New Style at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Starting Oct. 26, Walt Disney World guests will be treated to first-ever appearances by Princess Tiana, star of the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film “The Princess and the Frog.”
Besides meet-and-greets with guests, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the motion picture will star in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” a rousing, colorful procession with a jazz-filled Mardi Gras theme. The good times will roll as festively dressed, bead-tossing revelers lead Magic Kingdom guests to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock.
The party moves onboard and the Liberty Belle paddlewheels her way along the river with singing and dancing to the sounds of a six-member jazz band. Nearly two dozen Disney dancers join 30 randomly chosen park guests to be part of each show. Original songs composed by Randy Newman for the film liven the production, which will be performed three times daily. Daytime pyrotechnics and whimsical puppetry round out the spirited, 15-minute production.
The 10-week experience at Walt Disney World Resort will run through Jan. 3, 2010. “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!” also will dazzle guests at Disneyland Park in California, beginning Nov. 6.
A hilarious movie adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana, “The Princess and the Frog” will open in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 25, 2009, before expanding nationwide on Dec. 11, 2009.
Walt Disney World Works with U.S. Mint to Change Its Currency
Via its new blog, Walt Disney World has announced that it is participating in a pilot program to enter US $1 coins into circulation from retail and dining locations in Epcot’s American Adventure and Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square.
Quoting it as a move towards the Disney-coined environmentality iniative, the coins will be distributed in lieu of ‘paper’ dollar bills as change.
The coin is a first in a series of Native American dollars initiated by The Native American $1 Coin Act (Public Law 110-82). Released in January of 2009, the coin features Sacagawea on the front with a annually-rotating design on the reverse. The 2009 coin features a woman planting seeds using the ‘Three Sisters’ method, which grows corn, beans and squash together to enhance productivity of each of the plants. The 2010 coin, for which the final design has not yet been decided/announced, will pay tribute to the Iroquois Confederation.
US $1 coins are certainly not new, but they have repeatedly failed to make a dent in replacing the dollar bill in circulation. In 2007, the US Mint introduced a series of coins based on U.S. Presidents which will continue through 2016.
In 1987, Canada completely replaced its paper $1 bill with a $1 coin which has earned the nickname ‘loonie’ based on the appearance of the common loon in its design. The country subsequently also replaced its $2 bill with a coin, which is nicknamed the ‘toonie.’ Interestingly enough, the U.S. still maintains the $2 bill in circulation, although it’s not printed nearly as much and is probably even more rare than the $1 coin.
For more information on the Native American coins, check out this site. You can also visit the U.S. Mint site to learn more about the Presidential and Native American $1 coin programs.
Categories: Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: American Adventure, Coins, Liberty Square
Inside the New Hall of Presidents (Photo Gallery)
Unfortunately, because the attraction is not yet officially open, I cannot offer any photos inside the actual theater, but I can share images of some of the artifacts you can find inside the pre-show area, including the first ladies’ exhibit featuring dresses and other items from Elizabeth Monroe, Edith Roosevelt and Nancy Reagan.
Please enjoy.
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Attractions, Hall of Presidents, Liberty Square
Hall of Presidents Re-Opens July 4 with New President, New Exhibits, New Movie, New Music, New Storyline, Even a New Name!
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A remarkably lifelike Audio-Animatronics figure of President Barack Obama enters the spotlight in a revised and refreshed Hall of Presidents show that reopens July 4 in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.
The recently installed figure of the country’s 44th chief executive – which comes to life with recognizable mannerisms and makes comments that were recorded recently at the White House – is only part of an eight-month makeover so significant that the iconic attraction in the park’s Liberty Square has been retitled Hall of Presidents: A Celebration of Liberty’s Leaders. Other updates to the “re-Imagineered” attraction which has been entertaining Magic Kingdom guests since 1971:
* A re-programmed Abraham Lincoln delivers arguably the greatest speech in the history of the presidency – the Gettysburg Address.
* For the first time in the attraction’s history, George Washington stands and delivers a stirring speech.
* Developed with the assistance of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, the show now tells a moving story of the bond between the presidents and “We, the People,” focusing on the chief executives who have guided America through trying, turbulent times.
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Attractions, Hall of Presidents, Liberty Square
Over 1000 Immigrants to be Sworn In as U.S. Citizens in Magic Kingdom July 3 (Updated)
Update: The ceremony is titled ‘Celebrating the American Dream’ and will take place at 8:20 AM, prior to park opening. We are told the ceremony is by invitation only and that guests will not able to view the ceremony.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In a stirring celebration of citizenship, more than 1,000 immigrants will gather on Main Street, U.S.A. July 3 to be “sworn in” as American citizens.
And as the country kicks off Independence Day weekend, these brand-new Americans will attend a premiere performance of the newest Walt Disney World attraction, a re-imagined Hall of Presidents, now featuring a lifelike Audio-Animatronics figure of President Barack Obama.
From more than 100 countries and ranging in age from 18 to 82, the immigrants will take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States during a Friday morning ceremony jointly hosted by Disney Parks and Resorts and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
USCIS’s highest-ranking official will preside over the ceremony on the forecourt of Cinderella Castle. The event will feature a welcoming address by Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton, the presentation of the colors, the national anthem, the Oath of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Actor Andy Garcia – a naturalized citizen himself – will deliver a keynote address during the ceremony. Garcia, originally from Cuba, is an acclaimed actor known for roles in films as diverse as “The Untouchables,” “The Godfather: Part III” and “Oceans Eleven.”
Categories: Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Andy Garcia, Attractions, Event, Hall of Presidents, Immigrants, Immigration, Liberty Square
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