Early word about the Star Tours upgrade is good. (Although some have reported emerging quite shaken, literally, from the motion of the simulator.) Add to that the slow thaw in the cold war between Disney and George Lucas and you have the potential for a new themed land dedicated to the world of Star Wars.

Backlot Express would be converted to a Cantina style diner, although I’ve also heard that it could be a ’space junk yard’ (as from Episode 1). Then the backstage road and main entrance road would be moved back about 200 yards to make room for a new e-Ticket set in the Star Wars universe. Think Carsland but with speeders racing around. There would also be a lot of Next-Gen touches bringing some hi-tech wizardry to the land as only WDI can do.

Last I heard, this was still just blue sky stuff. But who knows… maybe it’s moved forward now that Disney is feeling a little bit of heat from the boy with a wand.

Construction in the former Toon Town Fair area is moving ahead at a rapid pace. The expanded Dumbo and re-themed Goofy coaster are expected to be the first two attractions to open in the new Fantasyland. As soon as the new foundation is ready for the twin-spinners, the existing Dumbo will go down for refurbishment and a move to its new location. Meanwhile the new spinner will be installed. The Great Goofini will re-open with its new theme and the loading and unloading sizes of the queue switched to make more room for Dumbo’s second ring.

Construction permits and bids were sent out this week to refurbish the two remaining tents from Toon Town Fair. It’s a bit ironic that the lands ‘temporary buildings’ are the only ones that will make it into the new land. The old tents will be replaced with new sturdier materials. I’m still hearing rumors that the larger tent will be converted into stage show, but that seems unlikely if all they’re doing is re-skinning the existing frames. We’ll probably just get a new store there.

I’m not all that thrilled with the idea of StoryBook Circus as a theme. But I guess we’ll wait and see how Disney pulls it off. I’d love for them to bring a version of the StoryBook Canal Boats to Florida (with a long indoor air-conditioned section) or a version of the Little Mermaid section from Tokyo DisneySea but with more of a ’storybook’ feel.

Rock work has begun on the outside of the Be Our Guest restaurant and exterior walls are going up in the village area that will house Gaston’s Pub. The Little Mermaid attraction is rumored to be ahead of schedule, plus they get the benefits of the California Adventure version of the attraction opening first. Hopefully any pitfalls and wrinkles related to installation will be ironed out before Orlando’s version is ready.

Finally, the Prince and Princess bathrooms located next door to Peter Pan will be moved across the walkway to where the old Fantasyland Skyway station now sits. These new larger bathrooms will allow Peter Pan’s queue to expand into the old bathroom’s space and gain some interactive elements to help pass the inevitable long waits for the stand-by queue. Additionally, the a new pathway will help with the crowds in that area. However, I have no idea what they plan to do with all the strollers that are usually parked in that location.

Zz.

There are also a couple rumors about Comedy Club and Adventurers Club, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up there. Disney is just not interested in operating that sort of theater environment and the talent management that would be involved.

Save Pleasure Island blog has more on the rumors and address information for where you send your letters if you want to see some nightlife return to Downtown Disney.

Another function of the Art of Animation coming online, is that the extra capacity will allow Disney to close down parts of the Polynesian hotel for a long needed upgrade. Apparently construction in the 70s still used Asbestos and Disney needs to address this. Due the way the Poly was constructed, they won’t be able to refurbish in place and instead will be erecting all new buildings.

The plan was to do this over time, but the whole resort might close down while they work on the main building with Ohana’s and check-in. Look for Disney to shift as many existing reservations as they can to DVC properties like OKW and Saratoga Springs which are always under booked. Work continues on a new pool for Saratoga which should help it attract a few more guests. A new night-show at Downtown Disney could also help Saratoga, as long as you don’t mind fireworks going off at 11pm nightly.

As you may have heard the Grand Floridian will be getting a DVC building, spoiling the official ‘front’ of the hotel, but you can’t see it anyway due to the trees. This is going to tax the GFs already limited parking situation. Things get quite crazy when there is a convention and wedding scheduled during the busy season. Don’t even think of parking there during Golf tournaments.

The next DVC to be announced will be at the old River Country site. No name or design announced yet. The announcement date depends on the Grand Floridian sales numbers. Disney has no idea how long they’ll be able to ride the DVC wave, but they plan to ride it to the shore (and probably a bit into town).

Much like Downtown Disney, Flamingo Crossing continues its holding pattern. They can’t get 3rd parties to build there either. That should be a lesson to Disney, don’t count your chicks before they hatch.

A few weeks ago one of the two barker birds was missing, and now both birds are gone from the queue area. Then we learned that the attraction won’t be re-opening on April 1st, but rather June 1st. Guess they have more work to do.

Today my source discovered that Walt Disney Imagineers are inside happily reprogramming the show and removing the scar tissue left from the Under New Management show. I was unable to drag out of my contact if they would be returning to the original tropical serenade show, or the newer edited version playing at Disneyland. Either way will make me happy.

All this because of a little attic fire that toasted Iago’s feathers and caused some water damage. Hmmm that gives me an idea. Has anyone seen Stitch around here recently?

There must be a very good reason for the ride to be down then. Turns out the ride went down so they could install some additional safety features that will prevent the repeat of an injury that happened earlier this year on the attraction.

Disney really swept this one under the rug, but apparently a cast member was injured when they fell in an area they were supposed to go. This refurb is chiefly to install safety gates in that area. With Star Tours and other attractions going down for refurbishment once summer is over, Disney probably felt this was their best time to make those changes.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Mickey Mouse now reigns at a new location in Magic Kingdom to meet and greet his friends at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests can now go backstage at Town Square Theater for photos and autographs with Mickey — without waiting in a standby queue!

Mickey’s new location in the park also heralds the first-ever use of Disney’s FASTPASS Service for a character meet-and-greet experience. FASTPASS allows guests to reduce waiting by designating a window of time when they can return for a theme park experience.

The fun takes place at the Town Square Theater presented by Kodak, located just inside the Magic Kingdom entrance. Previously known as Town Square Exposition Hall, the venue has been re-imagined as a turn-of-the-Twentieth-Century theater where posters proclaim Mickey Mouse as the star of a magic show.

A glistening marquee with gold-leaf trim and sparkling lights beckons guests to enter a lobby that serves as a hub for character meet-and-greet queues, the Box Office Gifts merchandise shop and Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. Lush curtains with gold rope tie-backs, polished-brass chandeliers and a huge tile floor mosaic of the Town Square Theater logo adorn the space.

Just beyond the lobby, guests pass through an ornate arch and enter a queue to meet Magician Mickey Mouse — or a queue to meet the Disney princesses, for whom Town Square Theater will be a meet-and-greet location during New Fantasyland construction.

The meet-and-greet experience begins when magical posters featuring Mickey’s various magic acts come to life, enhancing guests’ journey through queues into the backstage corridors of the theater. Mickey greets guests in a rehearsal-room environment amid posters, steamer trunks and stage props. It’s a classic backstage area with a wood floor and ceiling. One wall is brick, the others are papered in red and black — Mickey colors.

During the Princesses’ limited engagement at Town Square Theater, they will greet guests in an area fit for royalty — replete with plush carpeting, lush velvety-blue drapes with gold tiebacks, and a large mural backdrop of a chateau amid green, tree-covered hills and fields.

Exiting the meet-and-greet areas, guests pass through Curtain Call Collectibles, a shop with design elements suggesting a backstage area used for theater shipping and receiving — with large, barn-like doors through which props and set pieces could pass.

Guests wanting to meet Mickey or the Princesses can either obtain a Disney’s FASTPASS ticket or get in standby queues. FASTPASS tickets, which are available near Town Square Theater, designate an hour window of time during which the guest can return to the theater and have their “magic moment” with Mickey or the Princesses without joining the standby queues.

(source)

One strong point against this rumor is that Spain would have to pay for this pavilions operation and the country is currently struggling to keep its head above water and eek its way out of debt.

Another western European country seems like the wrong choice for me. But I would not put it past Disney to build what would essentially be an easy pavilion (some guadi architecture, a restaurant, gallery, and a shop) then say “Look we’re not abandoning Epcot”.