by Don Myers

The Springtime thaw is on the horizon, and with it comes news and happenings from the Vacation Kingdom of the World. So let’s get to it, time for the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…..

We begin this edition of the Newswire inside Magic Kingdom, as there’s some exciting news to report on one of the park’s most iconic attractions: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Back in the October 3rd edition of the Newswire, I detailed plans for a series of new interactive elements coming soon to Big Thunder Mountain’s queue. Well, it looks like the residents of the tiny town of Tumbleweed are nearly ready to delve into the interactive era, as several new props have begun to spring up around the mountain. The tarps have all been removed to reveal a series of new elements, including wooden crates, mining equipment, and other large pieces of machinery. In addition, several new signs are now in place throughout the queue to tie these new interactive elements in with the attraction’s existing storyline. The interactive additions are not functional as of the writing of this article, but all indications seem to hint that things may be getting quite “explosive” at the mountain in the very near future! There’s no official word on when the interactive elements will be operational, but with the vast majority of the props now in place it shouldn’t be too long before the preview stages begin.

For more news out of Magic Kingdom, it’s time to shift our focus over to exterior refurbs, as a pair of buildings have recently been covered in decorative tarps. Let’s start things on Main Street USA, where the exterior of the Hall of Champions is now undergoing a cosmetic facelift. Following the hub over to Liberty Square, we also find the exterior of Sleepy Hollow Refreshments under construction. In both cases it’s still business as usual inside, as the two locations will remain open to Guests throughout the duration of the refurbs.

Time to park-hop over to Hollywood Studios now, as there’s a pair of newsbits to address. Let’s begin with The Great Movie Ride, which has just received some new film props inside the queue. Guests waiting in line can now catch a glimpse of the chess table used by R2-D2 and Chewbacca in Star Wars Episode IV, as well as the infamous striped sweater worn by Freddy Kruger in the second installment of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

For our second Studios newsbit, we make our way over to Animation Courtyard for an update on Disney Junior- Live on Stage. The show has been on hiatus for about a month now, but the attraction is scheduled to resume operations later this week. Cast member previews have already taken place, and the attraction is currently in a state of “Soft Open.” The official re-opening date is set for Friday February 15th, at which time Guests will be able to get a look at the revamped cast of characters which now includes Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins. Unfortunately these additions lead to a few subtractions, as the duo will serve as replacements for the characters Handy Manny and the Little Einsteins.

For our final stop on today’s Newswire, we head out of the parks and venture over to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Major League Baseball is nearly ready to begin its 2013 Spring Training schedule, which means its time once again to welcome in the Atlanta Braves! Champion Stadium has been the Spring Training home field for the Braves since 1998, with the 16th season set to get underway on Friday February 22nd at 1:05 pm against the defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers. Atlanta’s home schedule features 18 games at Wide World of Sports in total, with the Braves taking on rivals such as the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies. Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

Fri Feb 22nd    Detroit Tigers     1:05pm

Sat Feb 23rd    N.Y. Yankees    1:05pm

Mon Feb 25th  Miami Marlins    1:05pm

Tue Feb 26th   Washington       1:05pm

Fri Mar 1st       Washington       6:05pm

Sun Mar 3rd    Detroit Tigers     1:05pm

Thu Mar 7th    Detroit Tigers     6:05pm

Fri Mar 8th  Toronto Blue Jays  1:05pm

Sun Mar 10th  Miami Marlins    1:05pm

Tue Mar 12th     St. Louis         1:05pm

Fri Mar 15th      N.Y. Mets        1:05pm

Sat Mar 16th  N.Y. Yankees     5:05pm

Mon Mar 18th  Philadelphia     1:05pm

Wed Mar 20th   Pittsburgh       1:05pm

Thu Mar 21st   Washington      6:05pm

Sat Mar 23rd  Houston Astros  1:05pm

Mon Mar 25th    N.Y. Mets       1:05pm

Thu Mar 28th  Houston Astros 1:05pm

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But before we call it a wrap, let’s take a look at the results of our last poll. The question was:

What is your favorite decade at WDW?

. 1970′s

. 1980′s

. 1990′s

. 2000′s

. 2010′s

And the winner is……

The 1990′s with 43% of the total vote! Second place was a tie, as the 2000′s and 2010′s, finished deadlocked at 22%. The 1980′s followed with 11%, and the 1970′s brought up the rear with just 2%. Once again, a big thank you to everyone that took the time to vote! Okay, now it’s time for this week’s question:

The post WDW Radio Newswire: Big Thunder Mountain Nearly Ready To Get “Interactive” And Great Movie Ride POLL appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

If you are hearing those words, then you are about to embark on a fabulous adventure through the movies on The Great Movie Ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Showcasing a wide array of movies ranging from Alien to Singin’ in the Rain, this attraction takes you up close and personal through classic scenes from some of the most beloved films of all time. I consider this to be a “must see” attraction in Hollywood Studios, so let’s take a closer look into what you will find on your journey through the movies!

Situated at the end of Hollywood Boulevard, The Great Movie Ride was once the “weenie” of Hollywood Studios. What is a “weenie?” Simply put, it was the word used by Walt Disney himself to describe an object or building that catches guests’ eyes and draws them into the parks. For example, Cinderella Castle is the weenie of the Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth for Epcot, and the Tree of Life for the Animal Kingdom. So why did The Great Movie Ride used to be the weenie of Hollywood Studios? In 2001 the Sorcerer’s Hat was placed directly in front of the attraction, making it the new focal point of Hollywood Boulevard. Many people panned the addition of the hat and still argue for its removal today in favor of bringing back the full view of the Great Movie Ride.

Why such clamor to bring back the original view of The Great Movie Ride? The gorgeous show building itself. The show building which houses the attraction is a beautiful replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, and stands a symbol of the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood as many famous films had their premiers in that very theater. As you approach the building, be sure to take in all the wonderful details that make it such a great symbol of the Hollywood theme of Hollywood Studios. Also opt to wander in the front courtyard before entering the attraction. There you will find the hand prints and footprints of many famous actors as well as a few familiar Disney characters. Also take time to linger in the art deco-inspired lobby of the attraction to view props from films such as Mary Poppins and Shakespeare in Love.

After you move through the first room of the queue, you enter my personal favorite part of the attraction- what I refer to as the “preview room.” It’s a room full of switchbacks leading to the loading area featuring a full size movie screen portraying classic previews of many of the films you are about to experience firsthand once on the actual attraction. Just like a preview is supposed to do, this room gives you a sense of what is to come and creates a feeling of excitement. The constant playing of previews to distract you also helps the wait time feel much shorter than it actually is on those crowded days in the park!

After the preview room, you finally board your attraction vehicle and are off on your journey through the movies! As I mentioned in a previous post all about my favorite Hidden Mickeys, keep an eye out for the hidden Minnie located in the mural along the left hand side of the attraction vehicle. Once you are off, your adventure starts in the genre of classic musicals and progresses through almost every genre of film including horror, action, westerns, sci-fi, and many more. Soon you will realize that everything is possible in the movies when your vehicle and guide become part of the story–in either a gangster or cowboy scenario. In both versions, you experience a shootout, some explosions, and a new, somewhat unsavory guide. Eventually the new guide gets what’s coming to them using a little movie magic. Be sure to keep riding until you have experienced both options!

While moving through the attraction, be sure to look for the little details which add a great level of depth to your experience. These details are what make the attractions in Walt Disney World so special to me, and I love sharing as much as possible about them! One great detail to notice requires you sitting on the left hand side of the attraction vehicle and looking down near the floor in the Alien scene. Notice a list of crew with white writing? Those names are actually Imagineers who contributed to the attraction. A great example of how Disney is able to sometimes make use of props in multiple ways lies in the Casablanca scene. The plane located there has another half residing in The Jungle Cruise over in the Magic Kingdom! See if you can find it.

The Great Movie Ride has always been one of my favorite attractions in Disney’s Hollywood Studios because it is such a classic example of the spirit and glamour of old Hollywood. You truly feel as though you are a part of the movies as you travel through the different scenes and experience your favorite films up close. I would however, enjoy the addition of a few more recent Disney films. There have been some additions of more contemporary films, mostly showcased in the final movie montage at the end of the attraction, but I would love to see how the Imagineers would work in some new movie magic! Either way, I always make sure to take the time to stop and enjoy the attraction at least once every time I am in Hollywood Studios.

What is your favorite scene in The Great Movie Ride? Any films you would love to see added one day? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.

The post Disney From The Twenty Something: The Great Movie Ride appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Submit your caption for this month’s Walt Disney World photo contest using you first name and list initial (one per person, please) in the comments section below. Please limit captions to 200 characters or they can’t be considered for voting.

Caption entries will be accepted until September 15th at midnight EST. We will then pick up to 20 entries and then put them to a vote. The winner will receive a prize from the WDW Radio prize closet.

Also, I am looking for fun and interesting photos that have been taking on Walt Disney World property for future contest. They can be of characters, attractions, shows, anything that you think would be good for the contest. If you have something good, please email it to me at lori@wdwradio.com

The post Walt Disney World Photo Caption Contest – September 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.