If Netcot could be defined in one word, I think the word would have to be: reincarnations. Prepare for another one. Soon.

Netcot is about to reboot. Join now to stay up-to-date with all the goings-onzes. … Whatever. Just join, you’ll be glad you did.

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Let’s face it: coffee at Disney parks isn’t the best … at all. Even Kona at the Polynesian is “just ok.” Today, Starbucks and Disney announced a deal which will result in a coffee shop being open in one of their 6 U.S. based theme parks. The first one will open this summer in Disney’s California Adventure park. The companies said that the stores will blend into the theme of the parks. For example, the first store will be called “Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe” (based on the Three Pigs story) and will not feature the Starbucks logo (but will have the company’s name shown in text on the building).

Hi. I’m Van.

Just wanted to drop everyone a quick note to say hi and let you know that I haven’t forgotten about the podcast, but also don’t have an ETA on when it’ll be back. Between family, work and … eh… more work, things are a bit chaotic right now. But keep watching – something will happen someday. (How’s that for being specific!?)

For almost a decade, guests have traveled to Downtown Disney on Oct 30 and 31 for a chance at free trick-or-treating and fun Halloween experiences. Walt Disney World has announced that the Happy Hauntings event has been canceled due to detracting from the overall guest experience. Disney still plans to have Halloween and Fall-themed events, including some surprises.

In a surprising announcement, Walt Disney Imagineering announced today that a new land is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom at WDW. You might be asking, “What is that new land?” and I would be tempted to trick you with Beastly Kingdom, but the truth is that Disney has teamed up with Lightstorm Entertainment to bring the world of Pandora (the mythical moon in James Cameron’s “Avatar”) to both parks. From the announcement:

We believe Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great fit for this project because it was created to give guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in new ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR.

Construction is slated to begin in 2013, with opening by 2016.

UPDATE:

RE: Whether or not the world of Avatar belongs in Animal Kingdom, I present you this:

Welcome to a kingdom of animals… real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn. — Michael Eisner, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Dedication, April 1998

“In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room, all the birds sing words and the flowers croon, in the tiki, tiki, tiki room”

Disney has finally confirmed that Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room will (tentatively) reopen on August 15th in Walt Disney World’s Adventure Land. This follows a nearly year-long refurbishment after a fire broke out in the attic of the show building, damaging many of the “Under New Management” animatronics. The new show will be a re-imagination of Walt Disney’s original Enchanted Tiki Room show with Jose, Fritz, Michael, and Pierre returning to their rightful posts, er, perches.

Straight from Disney: ESPN The Weekend has been cancelled. What had been a 3-day weekend event featuring ESPN personalities, professional athletes, and a load of interactive exhibits has now been deemed as excessive and unnecessary in light of the new re-branding of Disney’s Wide World of Sports into the ESPN Wide World of Sports.

To justify the cancellation of the event that’s been running for 7 years, Disney points out the increased presence of ESPN at Walt Disney World and the increased number of events, innovation, and athletes that have been brought to the Wide World of Sports. Turning from ESPN The Weekend, Disney looks to improve the ESPN RISE Games along with other experiences.

In an interesting move, Walt Disney World has decided to shorten the time the monorails run from the parks to one hour after the normal park closing time (this begins July 11 for the Epcot Monorail and August 1 for the Magic Kingdom Monorail). This change will affect those using the evening Extra Magic Hours for now as well as those attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, should the early bedtime continue into the Fall. For alternative means of transportation, seek out bus travel and the ferry (for return to the TTC and all resorts they reach to).

From Disney:

“From time to time, we make adjustments to our operations to accommodate for planned transportation maintenance. With that in mind, operating hours for the Epcot Monorail system will be modified to operate one hour after regular park close beginning July 11, 2011 and the Magic Kingdom Monorail system will also operate one hour after regular park close beginning August 1, 2011. At that time, watercraft (where applicable) and additional buses will be available to transport guests to their destination.

Return service from evening Extra Magic Hours in the parks will be supported by watercraft (where applicable) and bus transportation.

(Hat tip to The Examiner)