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8/4/2010

D23'ers Get EPCOT Symbol Patches
With Issue Featuring EPCOT Center

If you're a D23 Member, then you should be receiving a collectible EPCOT symbol patch with the Fall 2010 issue of the Disney twenty-three magazine. Each Member receives one of nine patches of the Future World symbols and the main EPCOT Center symbol. These patches are exclusive to D23 Members. A picture of The Living Seas patch can be seen at the bottom of our Living Seas section for merchandise and collectibles.

The patches go along with an extra-cool EPCOT Center story that leads the Fall 2010 issue of Disney twenty-three. Titled "A World of Tomorrow: Inside Walt's Last Dream," the eight-page story goes in depth on the making of EPCOT Center with Disney Legend Marty Sklar and author/futurist Ray Bradbury. The magazine may be purchased by anyone, but it only comes with a patch as part of the subscription for D23 Members. D23 is "The Official Community for Disney Fans," which launched in early 2009.

7/24/2010

New Exhibit at Japan Gallery

A new exhibit has opened up at the Japan Bijutzu-kan Gallery called "Spirited Beasts: From Ancient Stories to Anime Stars." The news comes from this article at WDWMagic.com, where you can also find a picture gallery of the exhibit. The previous exhibit at the Bijutzu-kan Gallery was "Tin Toy Stories."

7/19/2010

Via Napoli Opens August 5
To be Table-Service Only

According to the Disney Parks Blog, Italy's Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria will open August 5 as a table-service only restaurant for lunch and dinner. On August 6, Via Napoli will start taking reservations for dates beginning with September 10. The restaurant will take the Disney Dining Plan, charging one table-service credit per person per meal. For more details, go to the Disney Parks Blog article here.

7/15/2010

New El Rio & World of Motion Pins

A new "El Rio Del Tiempo to Gran Fiesta Tour" flip-spinner pin is being released today throughout Walt Disney World. This pin is part of the "Then and Now" pin-of-the-month series. For a picture and more details on the pin, go to the Disney Pin site here.

To be released on August 12, is the "Then and Now - World of Motion to Test Track" pin. For a picture and more details on this pin, go to the Disney Pin site here. For pictures and details on all of the released or announced "Then and Now" pins, go to this Disney Pin site page.

7/8/2010

Via Napoli to Open in August

According to the Disney Parks Blog, Italy's new Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria will open in August of this year. Fare will include wood-fired pizzas, pastas, salads, Piatti alla Parmigiana, gelato, and more. For the full menu, go to the Disney Parks Blog article here.

Although earlier speculation suggested that Via Napoli would also include a quick-service counter, the menu seems to indicate that it may only be a table-service restaurant.

7/2/2010

Captain EO Now Open at Epcot

Captain EO, the "3-D Musical Motion Picture Space Adventure starring Michael Jackson," has returned to Imagination. There are some pictures of the current EO entrance, theater, and merchandise cart in an article over at the Orlando Attractions Magazine site.

6/26/2010

New EPCOT Center Vinylmation

Currently on sale at WDW is the Vinylmation Park #4 series, which includes an EPCOT Center '82 figure. The figure has many of the old symbols with Spaceship Earth on the bottom. Vinylmation artwork for Dreamfinder and Figment (in coat and top hat) can currently be seen at Mouse Gear. These may be possible designs for future figures. Go to the bottom of our Centorium Merchandise section for pictures of the figure and artwork.

New Retro Epcot T-Shirts & Tumbler

In addition to the blue, green, and black t-shirts released last year, there are five new retro Epcot t-shirts on sale at Mouse Gear and other Epcot shops. There is also a blue tumbler with the original Epcot logo on sale at one of the shops on Showcase Plaza. Pictures of these items can be seen at the bottom of our Centorium Merchandise section.

Also, there is a new Mr. Toad's Wild Ride shirt on sale at the PhilharMagic shop in the Magic Kingdom.

6/15/2010

Horizons Section Updates

"Attention please. Horizons 1 earth shuttle now available for boarding at Gate 22. Final boarding call for Horizons 1." Our Horizons section has been refitted with more detailed information and some more pictures.

5/6/2010

New "Kitchen Kabaret to Soarin'" Pin

To be released at Walt Disney World on May 13 is a new flip-spinner pin with Kitchen Kabaret on one side and Soarin' on the other. On the Kitchen Kabaret side are characters Mr. Dairy Goods, Miss Cheese, and Mr. Eggz. The pin is part of the "Then and Now" pin-of-the-month series. Each pin in the series is limited edition of 1,000. Go to the Disney Pin site here for a picture and more info on the new pin.

Released earlier this year was the "Then and Now" pin for Horizons and Mission: SPACE. Other pins already released in this series include Mr. Toad's Wild Ride/Winnie the Pooh, Legend of the Lion King/PhilharMagic, and Timekeeper/Monster's, Inc. Laugh Floor. To find pictures and info on these pins, go to this Disney Pin site page.

Pins for World of Motion/Test Track and If You Had Wings/Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin are also planned to be released sometime this year, according to the Disney Pin site last August.

4/28/2010

Captain EO Returns to Epcot

According to the Disney Parks Blog, Captain EO will return to Epcot on July 2. Starring Michael Jackson, the 3-D show originally ran from 1986 to 1994 at the Magic Eye Theater at Journey into Imagination. For its return, it will replace Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, the 3-D show that began running in 1994.

Captain EO is currently running again at Disneyland in California and it will return to Disneyland Paris on June 12 and Tokyo Disneyland on June 30. For the Disney Parks Blog article, go to their site here. There's more on Captain EO in our Imagination section.

4/29 Update: According to the press release for Captain EO's return, it will play at the theater for an undetermined length of time. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience is planned to eventually come back. You can find the detailed press release for EO's return to Epcot at the Walt Disney World News site.

4/22/2010

Epcot Tattoo with Retro Design

Jason of Naples, FL, now has a tattoo on his arm with two of the Epcot pavilions, three of the symbols, and the sunrise-colored stripes that would often accompany the EPCOT Center symbol. The tattoo's bright colors were chosen to make it look as retro as possible. Click here to see a picture.

At the top of the tattoo are the two glass pyramids of Imagination. At the bottom is Spaceship Earth looking like it did on the first guide maps. The ground beneath Spaceship Earth extends left and right towards the symbols for Imagination and Horizons - his two favorite pavilions. The symbols connect to the stripes, which converge above Spaceship Earth at the EPCOT Center symbol. Jason plans to add more to the tattoo, saying that it is a work in progress.

The tattoo was done by Chris from Cherry Hill Tattoo Company of Naples. Thanks for sending it in, Jason!

4/13/2010

New Pizzeria to be "Via Napoli"

According to a recent Disney press release, the new Pizzeria at Italy will be named "Via Napoli." Napoli is the Italian name for Naples, a seaport in southwest Italy known for its pizza. For the press release, go to the Walt Disney World News site here.

France to Receive New Givenchy Shop

The France pavilion will be receiving a new Givenchy brand shop this fall, with fragrance, make-up, and skin-care products. This was reported on a press release at the Walt Disney World News site here.

3/29/2010

New Cantina & Pizzeria Concept Art

The Disney Parks Blog has put up some concept art of the two new eateries currently under construction at World Showcase. The new Cantina at Mexico looks to have a similar appearance to the previous Cantina. It will have 400 seats with both indoor and outdoor dining. The new pizzeria at Italy will have 300 seats, also with indoor and outdoor dining.

For the concept art and the full stories, go to the Disney Parks Blog here for the Cantina and here for the Pizzeria. For more details on the two restaurants, read the press release at the Walt Disney World News site here.

Country Survey at World Showcase

According to Screamscape.com, one of their readers was recently asked to take a survey at World Showcase, which asked which country they would most like to see added. The choices included Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, and Other. The next question asked which current country's removal would make them the least upset. For Screamscape's full article, go over to their Epcot news section here.

This was just a survey like many done at Walt Disney World, and there was no indication that anything was actually going to be removed or built in the near future.

3/11/2010

Tron to be on Monorails

According to the official Disney Parks Blog, monorails on the Epcot line will soon be wrapped in Tron artwork, complete with light cycles. The art will anticipate the release of Tron: Legacy coming to theaters in December of this year. To see some concept renderings of the art, and to read the full article, go to the Disney Parks Blog here.

Tron: Legacy is a sequel to Tron, which was released the same year Epcot opened in 1982. Tron is about a programmer who gets zapped into a computer where programs appear as human and video games mean life and death.

3/19 Update: The Tron-themed monorails can now be seen on the Epcot line. The official Disney Parks Blog has put up a picture of one zooming past Spaceship Earth. Go here for their full article and the picture.

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