Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Now Testing

The new interactive game I told you about in this post is now up and running--at least in the testing phase--at the Magic Kingdom. Orlando Attractions magazine has a blog post here  explaining the game and featuring several photos highlighting the different portals. Guests can begin their adventure in the old Fire Station on Main Street, near City Hall.

Weekend Top Stories

So, I was out of town this weekend, so I missed out on a few stories. (Why is is that when I'm home with plenty of time, it seems as if nothing happens. Then when I'm swamped or out of town, there are dozens of exciting things going on at WDW?) Here are a few Disney news items that you might have missed over the weekend:

• Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, a new interactive game similar to the Kim Possible Adventure, is now testing in Adventureland. The game appears to use electronic "spell cards" rather than the cell phone technology that KP utilizes.


• The gospel choir D'Vine will be performing special holiday shows at the Fountain of Nations Stage in Epcot daily at various times in the afternoon, beginning November 25 and continuing through December 29.


• The new Talking Mickey is making limited appearances in Town Square (Magic Kingdom), but there is no set schedule at this time. You are more likely to catch him at a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, but he has also made some daytime appearances. Unfortunately, no official schedule has been published at this point, so it's really just a matter of being at the right place at the right time.


• The Enchanted Grove (quick snacks & beverages in the Magic Kingdom) is now the Cheshire Cafe. Not much else has changed, it seems--other than signage and a few prices going up a bit.


• Epcot is already testing an RFID entry system. They are doing this by adding stickers with embedded RFID chips to guest tickets. Tickets are scanned, then the ticket info is tranferred to the chip. Upon re-entry, simply scan your chip and your fingerprint, and be on your merry way. Expect this to become a permanent entry system once Disney works any kinks out of the system.


• Sleepy Hollow Refreshments (Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom) is now offering waffle sandwiches--both sweet and savory! All I can say is, this will be a "must try" on our next visit! You can read more about them on the Disney Food Blog.


• Jake, of "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" fame, has replaced the "Little Einsteins" characters at the Animation Courtyard meet-n-greet. He has also joined the Hollywood and Vine character "Play-n-Dine" experience.

Those are the main highlights you might have missed over the weekend.

Interactive Park Game HQ to Take Over Main Street Firehouse

When Disney recentlyannounced that the gift shop in the Main Street Firehouse would be closing--without acknowledging what would take its place--tongues started wagging on fan sites. It seems that we now have our answer: Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom, a new interactive game--not unlike the Kim Possible Adventure in Epcot--will have its headquarters there.

Much like KP, this new interactive adventure will send guests on a quest to find clues that will trigger some sort of action in the various Lands of the Magic Kingdom, and ultimately allowing guests to solve some sort of mystery or dilemma. Unlike KP, however, guests will not be given handheld cell phone devices, but rather cards with bar codes that will somehow drive this experience. (Hey, I'm no technology guru...maybe I'll understand it when I see it.)

Disney has plans for similar games in its Alauni Resort in Hawaii and already has implemented a game using this technology on the Disney Dream cruise ship.