Image Courtesy of The Walt Disney Company

Just as scores of you had hoped – we’re leaving the lights on and extending Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” at Walt Disney World. By popular demand, the parade at Magic Kingdom Park will continue an open-ended run when “Summer Nightastic!” ends on August 14.

It’s probably no surprise to hear that the parade has been one of our highest rated entertainment experiences at Magic Kingdom Park since returning in early June. It’s been an “overwhelming success,” according to Park Vice President Phil Holmes. And now, you’ll be able to continue cheering and humming “Baroque Hoedown.”

Of course, new elements of Disney’s “Main Street Electrical Parade” will continue during the encore phase of the run. Those include:

• Tinker Bell leads the eye-filling procession, waving from the basket of a balloon floating gracefully above a magical garden shimmering in fairy light.
• Pinocchio and the boys from the classic film’s Pleasure Island sequence join the parade, and Snow White joins the Seven Dwarfs on a diamond mine float.
• There are new lighting effects, and the parade’s highly recognizable musical theme is brightened by new technology.

Disney Parks Blog

After Walt Disney died in 1966, his grieving staff sealed his office suite in Burbank, and even as work proceeded on “The Jungle Book” there was anxiety that the company’s past might be brighter than its future.

Four years later, those worries deepened as key executives approached retirement, including Walt’s older brother, Roy O. Disney. That’s why, in 1970, the company handed the key to Walt’s still-sealed office to a former UCLA research librarian named Dave Smith, who was sent into the chamber to learn its history.

“I didn’t expect this to become my life’s work, but it did,” Smith, 69, said on a recent afternoon as he gave a tour of the Disney Archives, a massive collection spread across several in-house libraries and high-security warehouse space filled with Disney movie props, costumes, toys, art, animation, vintage theme-park gear and company publications.

It all began with the items that Smith found in Walt’s desk all those years ago.

“It was an eerie thing to sit … in his chair and count the paper clips in the drawer,” Smith recalled with a nervous chuckle. On the bookshelves, he discovered books and letters given to Walt by Upton Sinclair, Winston Churchill and C. S. Lewis, who inscribed one of his books of poetry with the words: “From one visionary to another.”

Friday, 40 years and a day after he was hired, Smith will announce his imminent retirement from a corporation that, as he put it, “reuses and returns to its past more often than any company in the world.”

On a recent afternoon at one of the archive’s secret Glendale warehouses, Disney archive manager Becky Cline held up one recent find — a cache of storyboards and concept art for the 1964 classic ” Mary Poppins.”

“This hasn’t been seen or touched since the movie came out, and it’s never been reproduced in any way,” said Cline, who will take over Smith’s title as official archivist after his departure in October. “This is simply amazing stuff. And we’re going to get to show it to the world.”

For the rest of the article…please go to the Los Angeles Times

Disney’s ‘World of Color’ a look behind the scenes from Chris Fisher on Vimeo.

Art Linkletter, who as the gently mischievous host of TV’s “People Are Funny” and “House Party” in the 1950s and ’60s delighted viewers with his ability to get kids — and grownups — to say the darndest things on national television, died Wednesday. He was 97.

Linkletter died at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles, said his son-in-law, Art Hershey, the husband of Sharon Linkletter.

“He lived a long, full, pure life, and the Lord had need for him,” Hershey said.

Linkletter had been ill “in the last few weeks time, but bear in mind he was 97 years old. He wasn’t eating well, and the aging process took him,” Hershey said.

Linkletter hadn’t been diagnosed with any life-threatening disease, he said.

Linkletter was known on TV for his funny interviews with children and ordinary folks. He also collected their comments in a number of best-selling books.

“Because of Art Linkletter, adults found themselves enjoying children,” said Bill Cosby, whose style interviewing kids on his own show in the late ’90s was often compared to Linkletter’s.

“An amazing fellow, a terrific broadcast talent, a brilliant businessman. An all-around good guy,” CNN’s Larry King added about his longtime friend and frequent guest.

Asked what made Linkletter so appealing to audiences, King said, “He had an unusual voice, a twang to his voice that was immediately recognizable. And he looked like your favorite uncle.”

“Art Linkletter’s House Party,” one of television’s longest-running variety shows, debuted on radio in 1944 and was seen on CBS-TV from 1952 to 1969.

“On `House Party’ I would talk to you and bring out the fact that you had been letting your boss beat you at golf over a period of months as part of your campaign to get a raise,” Linkletter wrote.

“All the while, without your knowledge, your boss would be sitting a few feet away listening, and at the appropriate moment, I would bring you together,” he wrote. “Now, that’s funny, because the laugh arises out of a real situation.”

Linkletter’s programs — like many of today’s reality TV shows — often relied on ordinary people sharing too much information on national television.

But his shows were far gentler than today’s often mean-spirited productions. His guests experienced, at most, mild embarrassment instead of utter humiliation. When Linkletter elicited an all-too-revealing remark from a guest, he did it with devilish charm, not malice.

Though “House Party” had many features, the best known was the daily interviews with schoolchildren.

Linkletter collected quotes from children into “Kids Say The Darndest Things,” and it sold in the millions. The book “70 Years of Best Sellers 1895-1965″ ranked “Kids Say the Darndest Things” as the 15th top seller among nonfiction books in that period.

The prime time “People Are Funny,” which began on radio in 1942 and ran on TV from 1954 to 1961, emphasized slapstick humor and audience participation — things like throwing a pie in the face of a contestant who couldn’t tell his Social Security number in five seconds, or asking him to go out and cash a check written on the side of a watermelon.

The down-to-earth charm of Linkletter’s broadcast persona seemed to be mirrored by his private life with his wife of more than a half-century, Lois. They had five children, whom he wrote about in his books and called the “Links.”

But in 1969, his 20-year-old daughter Diane jumped to her death from her sixth-floor Hollywood apartment. He blamed her death on LSD use, but toxicology tests found no LSD in her body after she died.

Still, the tragedy prompted Linkletter to become a crusader against drugs.

A son, Robert, died in a car accident in 1980. Another son, Jack Linkletter, was 70 when he died of lymphoma in 2007.

Art Linkletter got his first taste of broadcasting with a part-time job while attending San Diego State College in the early 1930s. He graduated in 1934.

“I was studying to be an English professor,” Linkletter once said. “But as they say, life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.”

He held a series of radio and promotion jobs in California and Texas, experimenting with audience participation and remote broadcasts, before forming his own production company in the 1940s and striking it big with “People Are Funny” and “House Party.”

Linkletter was born Arthur Gordon Kelly on July 17, 1912, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. His unwed mother put him up for adoption when he was a baby; when he was about 7, he and his adoptive parents moved to the U.S., eventually settling in San Diego.

He recalled his preacher-father forced him to take odd jobs to help the family. So Linkletter left and became a hobo, hopping trains across the West, working where he could. He recalled later that he felt the religious faith instilled by his father had been a great gift.

After leaving daily broadcasting in 1969, Linkletter continued to write, lecture and appear in television commercials.

Among his other books, were “Old Age is Not for Sissies,” “How To Be a Supersalesman,” “Confessions of a Happy Man,” “Hobo on the Way to Heaven” and his autobiography, ‘`I Didn’t Do It Alone.”

A recording Linkletter made with his daughter Diane not long before she died, “We Love You, Call Collect,” was issued after her death and won a Grammy award for best spoken word recording.

“Life is not fair … not easy,” Linkletter said in a 1990 interview by The Associated Press. “Outside, peer pressure can wreak havoc with the nicest families. So that’s the part that’s a gamble.

“But I’m an optimist. Even though I’ve had tragedies in my life, and I’ve seen a lot of difficult things, I still am an optimist,” he said.

Linkletter had extensive business interests. He headed a company involved in real estate development and management and operation of cattle ranches in Montana, New Mexico and California. He held interests in oil and gas wells, owned livestock in Australia and was involved in a solar energy firm.

“In a couple of months Art Linkletter would have been 98 years old, a full life of fun and goodness, an orphan who made it to the top,” reflected Phyllis Diller. “What a guy.”

He is survived by his wife, Lois, whom he married in 1935, and daughters Dawn Griffin and Sharon Linkletter, as well as seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The family said no services were planned at this time.

Associated Press

Walt Disney World soon will begin building its first new hotel in nearly seven years, a 2,000-room resort that is planned to open in 2012.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will feature 1,120 suites with room for as many as six people each and another 864 traditional hotel rooms, with a design theme based on four of the company’s most popular animated movies.

The resort is expected to be priced as a “value” hotel.

Disney also appears to be betting that travelers will continue the frugal spending habits many adopted during the downturn.  Up until now, Disney has been relying on discounts to sustain attendance during the past year, and executives have acknowledged that consumers are still searching for deals.

The new resort will be built on a 65-acre plot across a lake from Disney’s Pop Century Resort. The new hotel will allow Disney to use a pair of long-neglected, unfinished buildings that Disney originally constructed as a second phase of Pop Century but which it abandoned amid the 2001 recession.

Plans show that the new resort will have 10 wings of rooms and a separate building housing the check-in lobby and restaurants. The hotel wings will be separated into four distinct groups, each with a theme from a different animated movie: The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and Cars.

Because the majority of its rooms will be six-person suites, the Art of Animation Resort will have roughly the same capacity as Pop Century, which has 2,800 conventional rooms.

With the project, Disney is placing an aggressive bet on what it says is a growing market for affordable suites aimed at families traveling with several children or extended families.

Disney declined to say how much it will spend to build the hotel. It expects to break ground this summer and open it in phases throughout 2012.

image Courtesy of Walt Disney World

Yes, you read right…the classic 3-D film experience “Captain EO” is coming back to Walt Disney World Resort this summer just months after it reopened to rave reviews at Disneyland park. The 17-minute musical space-fantasy adventure film is now scheduled to begin at Epcot on July 2.

I remember enjoying “Captain EO” during its original run at Epcot from 1986 -1994. But for some of you, it’ll be a new experience. The film features Michael Jackson as “Captain EO” and a crew of Disney-created space characters. During their journey, the group uses the power of dance, light and music to turn a colorless planet into a world of color and happiness.

And there’s more. “Captain EO” will be returning to other Disney Parks locations. It’s scheduled to open at Tokyo Disneyland on June 30 and Disneyland Paris on June 12. We’ll have more details on the film’s return to Walt Disney World in upcoming weeks but we wanted Disney Parks Blog readers to be among the first to know. Please check back for updates.

Disney Parks Blog

Family spokeswoman Sao Anash said Parker, who was also TV’s Daniel Boone and later a major California winemaker and developer, died at his Santa Ynez Valley home. His death comes on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.

“She’s a wreck,” Anash said, adding Parker was coherent and speaking with family just minutes before his death. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

The first installment of “Davy Crockett,” with Buddy Ebsen as Crockett’s sidekick, debuted in December 1954 as part of the “Disneyland” TV show.

The 6-foot, 6-inch Parker was quickly embraced by youngsters as the man in a coonskin cap who stood for the spirit of the American frontier. Boomers gripped by the Crockett craze scooped up Davy lunch boxes, toy Old Betsy rifles, buckskin shirts and trademark fur caps. “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (“Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee…”) was a No. 1 hit for singer Bill Hayes while Parker’s own version reached No. 5.

“It was an explosion beyond anyone’s comprehension,” Parker recalled decades later. “The power of television, which was still new, was demonstrated for the first time.”

The first three television episodes were turned into a theatrical film, “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier,” in 1955.

During a cross-country personal appearance tour in the summer of 1955, as many as 20,000 fans reportedly showed up to greet the actor when he landed at each city’s airport.

By the time Disney realized it had a hit on its hands, it was already producing its third “Davy Crockett” episode. And true to history, it killed off its hero in “Davy Crockett at the Alamo,” where the real-life Crockett died in 1836 at age 49. But spurred by popular demand, Disney brought Crockett back for some episodes in the 1955-56 season, including “Davy Crockett’s Keelboat Race.” In reporting this development, Hedda Hopper wrote: “Take off those black armbands, kids, and put on your coonskin caps, for Davy Crockett will hit the trail again.”

Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger already had captivated television’s first generation of young viewers when the first Crockett adventure aired, but nothing before had equaled the effect of the buckskinned hero.

“Those Davy Crockett episodes really brought American history — indeed, a Disney version of American history — to the playground as well as to the American living room,” Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University, told the Los Angeles Times some years ago.

“You not only could watch these programs, but you could play them, dress up like them, make the Davy Crockett aesthetic infiltrate every part of your life,” said Thompson. “And, of course, those coonskin caps: No self-respecting kid under the age of 12 could go through American life without one.”

“I left the business after 22 years,” Parker told The Associated Press in 2001. “It was time to leave Hollywood. I came along at a time when I’m starting out with Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Sterling Hayden and Gregory Peck.”

“Who needed a guy running around in a coonskin cap?” he said.

Parker had made his motion picture debut in “Springfield Rifle” in 1952. His other movies included “No Room for the Groom” (1952), “The Kid From Left Field” (1953), “Them!” (1954), “The Great Locomotive Chase” (1956), “Westward Ho, the Wagons!” (1956), “Old Yeller” (1957) and “The Light in the Forest” (1958).

Several of Parker’s films, including “The Great Locomotive Chase” and “Old Yeller,” came from the Disney studio.

It was Parker’s scene as a terrified witness in the horror classic “Them!” that caught the attention of Walt Disney when he was looking for a “Davy Crockett” star. He chose Parker over another “Them!” actor, James Arness – who became a TV superstar in the long-running “Gunsmoke.”

After departing Hollywood, Parker got into real estate with his wife, Marcella, whom he had married in 1960.

He bought and sold property, built hotels (including the elegant Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos and Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort Santa Barbara) and grew wine grapes on a 2,200-acre vineyard on California’s Central Coast, where he was dubbed King of the Wine Frontier and coonskin caps enjoyed brisk sales.

After its inaugural harvest in 1989, Parker’s vineyard won dozens of medals and awards. The Parkers’ son, Eli, became director of winemaking and their daughter, Ashley, also worked at the winery.

Parker was a longtime friend of Ronald Reagan, whose Western White House was not far from the Parker vineyards. Reagan sent Parker to Australia in 1985 to represent him during an event, and when Parker returned he was asked by White House aide Michael Deaver if he was interested in being ambassador to that country.

“In the end, I decided I’d better take myself out of it. But I was flattered,” Parker said.

Parker also once considered a U.S. Senate bid, challenging Alan Cranston. But Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt said it would be a rough campaign, and a key dissenter lived under the same roof.

“My wife was not in favor,” Parker said. “I’m so happy with what evolved.”

Fess Elisha Parker Jr. was born Aug. 16, 1924, in Fort Worth, Texas – Parker loved to point out Crockett’s birthday was Aug. 17. He played football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene but was injured in a nearly fatal road-rage knifing in 1946.

“There went my football career,” Parker had said.

He later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas.

Parker, who for many years divided his time between homes in Montecito and the Santa Ynez Valley, often greeted visitors to his winery, many of them aging baby boomers, who would reach out to shake the hand of the gray-haired man who had once portrayed Davy Crockett or have their picture taken with him.

“I think I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Parker told a reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1994. “I’ve lived long enough and observed enough to make myself very comfortable with the realization that the Disney films and particularly Davy Crockett gave me an image that is unbelievably durable. It’s been 40 years and people are still talking about it.

“Had I played Hamlet and starred in a number of Broadway shows or motion pictures as a very versatile actor, I wouldn’t have had the identity, recognition and, most importantly, the welcome I’ve been accorded by most of the homes of viewers. It’s like we’re old friends.”‘

Besides his wife of 50 years and his children, Parker is survived by 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Associated Press

Breaking news…we just announced during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting that a new premium annual pass for admission to the parks at both Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort will be offered beginning Thursday. It’s called “Disney Premier Passport” and it’ll feature the same benefits you get with the “premium” annual passes for Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts for $700, plus applicable- sales tax.

So, what’s in it for you? At Walt Disney World:

• Unlimited admission for a period of one year to all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, including park hopping privileges
• Unlimited admission to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Parks
• Unlimited admission to DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex(valid only on event days; some events require an additional admission charge) and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course (greens fee only. Tee time reservations are required and subject to availability)
• Parking at all four Theme Parks
• Subscription to Mickey Monitor, a collectible Passholder-only publication

And at Disneyland Resort:

• Unlimited admission to both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure Parks for a period of one year, including park hopping privileges
• Parking at any pay-on-entry parking lot
• Subscription to Backstage Pass.
• Complimentary subscription to Disney’s Family Fun Magazine (one per household)

If you’re already holding a Premium Annual Pass for both Resorts, you’ll automatically be issued a “Disney Premier Passport” – with an expiration date based on the later of the two annual passes. You may also upgrade your annual or seasonal pass for one resort to a “Disney Premier Passport” for an additional fee.

The Passport will be available for sale at the Disneyland Resort box office and Walt Disney World Guest Relations windows beginning tomorrow.

Imagine a place where every step you take immerses you further into the Disney movies, magic and memories that live so deeply in your heart. A place where pavilions and exhibits from every part of The Walt Disney Company transport you on an unforgettable adventure through the past, present and future of the Disney imagination. It’s a pixie-dusted world where magical experiences — celebrity appearances, special screenings, never-before-seen exhibits and special presentations — are around every corner, just waiting to whisk you off into the very heart of Disney magic! And, of course, each day at this celebration gives you the opportunity to meet and mingle with thousands of people you have something very special in common with: A LOVE OF DISNEY!

This place is the D23 Expo, the single largest gathering of all things Disney and one of the most unique ways to connect fans to Disney’s timeless stories, characters, movies, Parks and more. At the inaugural D23 Expo, held September 10-13, 2009, thousands of excited fans discovered what happens when you put the many wonderful worlds of Disney under the same roof for four days: Magic!

The first-ever D23 Expo attracted nearly 40,000 Disney fans, bringing the entire world of Disney under one massive roof. During the D23 Expo, fans were treated to appearances by superstars like Johnny Depp, Miley Cyrus and John Travolta; explored exciting, new concepts and attractions from Disney Parks and Walt Disney Imagineering; peered into Disney’s history at special panels, presentations and displays; and discovered the newest entertainment, products and events from throughout The Walt Disney Company.

The next D23 Expo, which will light up the Anaheim Convention Center from August 19-21, 2011, promises to deliver even more excitement! We’re still hard at work finalizing plans for the D23 Expo 2011, but you can expect to see what’s new and what’s next from Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Studios, Media Networks and Disney Consumer Products and more. Of course, there will be special exhibits of rarely seen Disney props and costumes from the legendary Walt Disney Archives, headline-grabbing celebrity appearances, screenings of classic Disney movies and exclusive sneak peeks at some that no one has seen yet, musical performances, panel discussions with legendary Disney actors, performers, animators, Imagineers and more and of course, Mickey and some of our favorite characters will be on hand to make sure the fun never stops!

Tickets for the D23 Expo 2011 will go on sale August 19 (one year in advance), with specially priced tickets available exclusively to D23 Members. In addition, D23 Charter Members will have access to a special Charter Member Lounge at the D23 Expo 2011, at no additional cost.

“The first D23 Expo surpassed all of our expectations, and our 2011 Expo is already shaping up to be a jaw-dropping, not-to-be missed showcase of the best and brightest Disney has to offer,” said Steven Clark, head of D23.

Stay tuned… we’ll update this site as new details are announced.

D23

There are plenty of birthdays celebrated at Disneyland and a good number of them are for 1-year-olds enjoying their first cake-and-candles experience. On March 10, though, the youngster celebrating one year of life will be D23, the Disney fan community that shares its name withthe D23 Expo that was staged so memorably in September in Anaheim.

The inaugural convention (a sort of Comic-Con but just for Disney and its films, theme parks, television shows, collectibles etc.) started off slow last September. There were some major surprises and some wonderful memories.

But as it turns out, that won’t be happening. At least not this year. The Disney plan, as of now, is to stage the D23 Expo as a biennial event, which means we’ll have to wait until 2011 to see the second edition.

Join Ryan and Greg from the NFFC–Disneyana Fan Club event as they discuss lots of the little and bigger changes at the Disneyland Resort, Knott’s Berry Farm also gets some coverage.

Roy Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney Co. founder Walt Disney who was best known for revitalizing its animation unit and helping to oust longtime chief executive Michael Eisner, died on Wednesday at 79.

Disney, who had been ill with stomach cancer for a year, died at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, the company said.

Starting out as an assistant film editor in 1953, Disney worked for more than half a century at the entertainment giant, where he was widely regarded as a fierce protector of the family’s legacy and a champion of animation.

He was the last Disney family member to work at the company, family spokesman Cliff Miller said.

“On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year company veteran – Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said in a statement.

At the time of his death, Disney owned more than 16 million shares of common stock, which was worth $518 million at the close of trading on Wednesday, but retained no direct role in running the giant media company. He served as a consultant for Disney and a director emeritus for the board of directors.

The successful philanthropist, filmmaker and award-winning sailor helped to guide the studio with a string of animated box office hits including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.”

THE ‘SAVE DISNEY’ WARS

Disney was executive producer of “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts.

Unhappy with the leadership of chief executive Ron Miller, Disney abruptly quit the company’s board of directors in 1984, touching off a series of events that ultimately brought the departure of Miller and his replacement by Eisner.

Disney returned to the board of directors and served as head of the famed animation department but resigned again in 2003, this time citing serious differences with the direction Eisner was taking the company.

After his resignation, Disney helped establish the Web site called SaveDisney.com aimed at ousting Eisner.

At a 2004 annual shareholder meeting, an unprecedented 43 percent of Disney shareholders voted to oppose the reelection of Eisner to the board.

As criticism of Eisner intensified in the wake of the shareholder meeting, his position grew more tenuous. Eisner announced in March of 2005 that he would resign that September, one year before his contract expired.

At Iger’s behest, Disney rejoined the company in July of 2005 as a non-voting director emeritus and consultant.

“He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality,” said John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney.

He is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney.

Reuters

it's a small world holiday

With Christmas fast approaching, the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Whether you’re a fan of parades or the classic attractions, there is something for you.

……

Read more at Examiner.com

Walt Disney World officially announced late Wednesday it is retiring the “Lights of Winter”, the lighted Christmas themed arches at Epcot.

A note from the DisneyParks twitter feed stated, “Note: The Lights of Winter at Epcot has been enjoyed for years.  But tech to operate the lights is obsolete, prompting us to retire the lights.”

The 30,000 lights that covered the walkway connecting World Showcase to Future World danced to synchronized Christmas music.

]]> http://www.thetravelears.com/2009/11/11/walt-disney-world-canceling-lights-of-winter/feed/ 0 http://www.thetravelears.com/2009/10/17/new-shopping-experiences-arrive-at-the-disneyland-resort%e2%80%99s-down-town-disney/ http://www.thetravelears.com/2009/10/17/new-shopping-experiences-arrive-at-the-disneyland-resort%e2%80%99s-down-town-disney/#comments Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:54:23 +0000 Greg McNaughten http://www.thetravelears.com/?p=5986 Greg McNaughten

Little Miss Matched

Little Miss Matched is one of two recently opened shopping experiences at Down Town Disney. In their own words “I’ve got all kinds of stuff that’ll knock your boring white socks off! From books to bedding, PJ’s to pencil pouches and flip flops to furniture, I’m all about creativity and individuality. I want you to express yourself!

My innovative products are fashion forward AND evergreen. And best of all, they balance high quality, ingenuity, and FUN!

The media, celebrities and retailers alike have fallen madly in love with yours truly! Why? Cuz who else lets you: 1) be as missmatched as you wanna be, 2) go crazy with your creativity, 3) unleash your inner child to come out and play?!”

Stop by and get miss matched!

Ridermakerz at Down Town Disney

Ridemakerz, a sister company to the highly successful Build-A-Bear Workshop has opened their doors right next door to the Bear Workshop. Licensed to make the Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Ram, Dodge Viper, Ford F-250 Super Chief, Ford Mustang, Mini Cooper, and the Scion xB, Ridemakerz is creating quite a buzz.

Start your engines and start customizing. You can build a freewheeling or remote control car at Ridemakerz. You are the “customizer” while in Ridemakerz. Go NUTS!

New Taqueria Margarita Bar

A new Taqueria Margarita Bar is coming soon to Tortilla Jo’s and is scheduled to open in October 2009. A very popular restaurant at Down Town Disney, the new Taqueria Margarita Bar is a welcome addition to Down Town Disney.

For more photographs of the changes at Down Town Disney, please visit my Flickr site.

Enjoy our latest video podcast of this years EPCOT spectacular Flower and Garden. See you on the next show,

Aj, Chris, Greg, Ray, Ryan, Shannon and Will.

Welcome Foolish Mortals !

This week Greg Ryan and Chris talk about the new additions to the Disneyland Halloween Time celebrations. Hear our thoughts and review of Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, Halloween Screams fireworks extravaganza and Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Along with the new special events we also have a dinning review of the Celebration BBQ located behind Big Thunder Mountian at the BTM Ranch.

Enjoy this  Live in park audio.

** Special Bonus Greg and Ryan attended the Gallery opening that happened this morning on Mainstreet  listen to their thoughts about the new location.

Chris , AJ , Greg,  Ryan, Will, Shannon and Ray

Greg McNaughten

The Disney Gallery reopened on October 2, 2009 in the Main Street Bank on Main Street today with little to no fanfare. There we no opening day merchandise, no opening day celebration, but what there was, was a fantastic collection of Disney Art.

There are four room, one room being shared with the pre-show area of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. The First 50 Fabulous Years with Steve Martin is being shown in the pre-show. I was told to expect Mr. Lincoln to reopen by the end of the year.

Here are a few photos of the new Disney Gallery. As always, check my flckr site for more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/imagineeringmyway/

Disney Gallery - Lincoln Pre-Show

Disney Gallery at Disneyland

Disney Gallery at Disneyland

Mystic Manor Concept Model

D23 was pretty good and the most amazing part for me was the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Exhibit.

Not only did they pull out all the stops for the presentations, they had front line Imagineers manning the exhibits. Many of them the actual artists or project mangers for the exhibits they were assigned too. In the photograph to your right Imagineer Dustin explains the story and show effects for Hong Kong Disneyland’s upcoming “E” Ticket – Mystic Manor. If there was an “F” Ticket, this one attraction might lead the way to a whole new level in Disney story telling and presentation.

Disney Hawaii DVC Concept Model

I’ve wanted to become a DVC member for some time. So far it has not been in the cards for me and Disney Vacation Club has not offered much that I found exciting beyond the Walt Disney World Resort. Well this resort has changed my mind and it’s fantastic.

I was lucky enough to see the concept art at the Architects office that design the resort for Disney almost a year ago and I was impressed then. To see the model and talk to the Imagineers about this new resort was great. We talked “shop” as we were both long time architectural project managers, and the funny thing was, we both know some of the same people in the industry. It’s a small world after all. Sorry I could not resist!

Wall*E @ D23

Wall*E and Lucky the Dinosaur both made appearances at D23 in the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Exhibit. Lucky was popular in his own right, but Wall*E stole the show at this part of the exhibit. Long lines of guest waited to get their photos taken with Wall*E and Disney’s Photo Pass Castmembers were on hand to help you out (and make a buck or too! LOL).

Wall*E was what you would expect from a robot left on a planet to fend for himself, noisy when he rolls around, beat up, and as cute as can be. He will be a great addition to the parks and I hope to see him there soon.

For more photos of concept art, seminars and Disney Celebs from D23, please visit my flickr D23 set at http://www.flickr.com/photos/imagineeringmyway/sets/72157622336183372/

Radiator Springs Large Scale Model @ D23

Enjoy this video podcast of our recent adventures.

AJ, Chris, Greg, Ray, Ryan, Shannon and Will

Disney’s California Adventure – Pacific Warf

Over the weekend of September 4th, the Lucky Fortune Cookery (LFC) finally opened its doors in DCA. As many of you are aware the LFC had a sign and a walk up location in the Pacific Warf dining area for a long time. However, the only time they served food out of the location was during the Food and Wine Festival at DCA. Over the past few months Disney began to rework the kitchen in the LFC area in preparation for the move of Cocina Cucamonga into the old LFC location. Once the kitchen was completed the two restaurants switched locations.

The concept with the LFC is that you can build your own Asian rice bowl. ($9.49)

Step 1: You choose your “Favorite” Chicken, Beef or Tofu

Step 2: You choose your sauce. Choices are Mandarin Orange, Spicy Korean, Thai Coconut Curry or Teriyaki.

All bowls come with steamed rice and seared Asian vegetables (Carrots, Snow Peas, Bok Choy and Onions)

They also serve a “Munch Inc” kid’s portion of Teriyaki chicken ($6.49) this includes a small Teriyaki Chicken bowl, fruit and a drink.

Let’s first talk about the overall quality of the food.

The rice was a bit overcooked and slightly mushy. The chicken was fairly standard for this type of bowl. (Thigh meat) The chicken that we got was fairly tender and not overcooked. The vegetables where mediocre at best, more than likely some where just left in the cooker too long. The bok choy and onions where overcooked. The carrots and celery undercooked. So, you had some mush and you had some snap…go figure.

For the chicken rice and vegetables on a 1-5 scale, I’ll give it a 3.

On the sauce choices, my wife ordered the Mandarin Orange and I ordered the Spicy Korean. The kids both got Teriyaki.

The Mandarin Orange was fairly ordinary and not much different than you would get at your local Asian rice bowl type restaurant/fast food place. It had a slight spiciness to it but by no means was it too spicy.

The Spicy Korean sauce was a bit strong and salty for my taste. It was not spicy to my taste and was a bit on the heavy side. I would actually say it was somewhat overpowering. (All you tasted was sauce)

The Teriyaki sauce was your run of the mill everyday Teriyaki sauce. A safe bet for people not sure what they want.

Overall, the sauces where a bit salty and could be overpowering to some individuals. I would highly recommend asking for the sauces on the side.

At the condiments bar they did offer some Sriracha hot sauce. I opted to add some to my Spicy Korean sauce to give it the kick I was looking for.

So, for the sauces that we tried on a scale of 1 -5, it would be a 3.

The one area that I have the biggest complaint about is the portion size. More specifically, the portion size to cost ratio is what my complaint is about.

I’m very familiar with Disney and their cost of food being, at what I would call “Event” pricing.

So, it’s not a surprise for me to see a meal at $9.49. However, knowing that the rice in the bowl probably cost them about .02 cents, and that they are using some of the cheapest chicken meat you can purchase. I’m not sure why they don’t fill up the bowl all the way.

If you look at the two pictures. They fill the “Bowl” about half way up. Considering that they could fill the rest up with rice and maybe spend about .01 more, it really makes no sense to me. Trust me, I’m not a glutton and looking for the biggest meal I can find, but I am looking for some reasonable value that is somewhat proportional to the money I spend. Unfortunately, the LFC just does not deliver in this area. The same goes for the child’s portion. I think the words out of my wife where…. “That little box for 7 bucks….we should have just got the kids a Taco at Cocina”

Isabella with her mini rice bowl

That being said on a Scale of 1-5 for portion value, I give it a 2.

That would give LFC an over rating of a 2.6 on a 1-5 scale.

Walking away from the meal the best question you can ask yourself is would you go back? Both my wife and my self said “No” or not until they change a few things on the way they serve the food.

I may have had a fluke of a visit. However, judging from the other meals I saw going out, they all looked the same. (On the positive, at least they where consistent…)

I’m sure others may disagree with me on this one, but I really feel like they missed the mark on this one and we won’t return until there is a noticeable change.

Unfortunately, I don’t know how quickly it will be before they change anything.

Join us this week as we celebrate our 50th episode as we go back to where it all started, DISNEYLAND.

On this video podcast we REMEMBER the great times that we all had at Westfest ’09 and the inaugural Travelears meet in Disneyland.

We also have breaking news, the Travelears will be at Disney’s D23 expo at Disneyland with our fantastic podcast partners.

Please make sure that you visit us at the Magic For Less Travel’s  stand at the Expo and say G’day to the great MFLT staff and the wonderful team from the Magically Speaking newsletter.

Now, on with the show.

Aj, Chris, Greg, Ray, Ryan, Shannon and Will

Well, it has been a long time between drinks.

First off, a huge apology to all of our loyal fans out there for our unexpected hiatus. Unfortunately a new expanded role at work has had me working around the clock and the rest of the crew have also been really busy with “real life’. Thankyou to everyone for all the kind wishes and encouragement to get the show back on the air.

As all of our schedules are now starting to clear, we are working to bring the show back at the end of September ‘09 with a very special live podcast from the inaugural D23 expo in Anaheim.

We are all looking forward to releasing new shows and over the coming weeks we will be releasing a number of video podcasts to help everybody to get their “Disney Fix”.

Enjoy this weeks 2 part video, as we quickly look at the crew’s visit to WDW and we take a very special look at Remy sharing a song with the Travelears crew whilst we are enjoying dinner in Chefs De France.

Enjoy the podcast and don’t forget to support our wonderful partners, The Magic For Less Travel and the Magically Speaking Newsletter.

Aj on behalf of the entire Travelears Crew.

Aj, Chris, Greg, Ray, Ryan, Will, Shannon and Will

Home Movies At DisneyLand – 1956 from Jeff Altman on Vimeo.

The following is what Jeff had to say about his video treasure.

Shot by my grandfather on his Bell & Howell Filmo using 16mm Kodachrome film stock. This footage was taken a year after the California theme park opened.

It was quite a surprise going through this and seeing my grandmother meeting Walt Disney himself! I’ve been doing my best to find out what they were shooting at the front of the park. So far I’ve been unsuccessful.

Transferred to HD (1080PsF 23.98) myself off a Spirit and Color Corrected using a da Vinci 2k Plus. Slowed to 18fps to match the original film speed.

This is some fantastic footage of the Park in the early days and to have Walt in the video is a gem!

Join Greg, Ryan and Lauren as they discuss the changes and happenings at the Disneyland Resort this Summer.

Day 1 is our arrival day.  Due to some traffic issues that we experienced yesterday, we arrived at Old Key West at around 2 PM…later than we had hoped.  The good news was though…we could get into our Villa.  This trip, since we have the flexibility of a car…we were not going to prefer our usual Peninsular Road location…we ended up with a villa at the end of Miller’s Road.  It’s a quiet location…past the bus turn-around…so no bus traffic.  Our villa also has the desirable aspect of being near a quiet pool but not next to it.

As is usually our tradition…our arrival date is used to visit Epcot.  The plan had been to not to bother seeing any attractions that were ride-based and just watch some of the World Showcase movies/shows.  After a long day and a half of travel…getting our Annual Passes and our Tables in Wonderland Card…the kids wanted to go on rides…no shows.  We like to travel to WDW with a Touring Plan…but as with the Pirate Code….it’s often more like guidelines than actual rules.  We didn’t have lot of time before our dinner ADR, but we did manage to ride Mission: Space, Ellen’s Energy Adventure and Grand Fiesta Tour.

Our dinner ADR was at the Coral Reef.  I know this restaurant gets panned quite often, but I’ll be honest..we’ve never had a bad meal there and this restaurant is our usual arrival date dinner restaurant.  Tonight I had the grilled Mahi Mahi and butterscotch creme brule for desert.

After dinner, we returned to Old Key West…finished unpacking and got to bed for our first full day at Walt Disney World.

Day 2

Today is our first full day at WDW and we’ll be going to the Magic Kingdom and starting the day with breakfast with Cinderella. Since our daughter Caitlin is a full-blown Disney Princess Fan…visiting with Cinderella is a high priority for us.  As we usually experience…the character interaction was top notch and the food was the typical fare and relatively good, but honestly…who goes to this breakfast for the food?  It’s all about Cinderella and her friends…this time being Snow White, Princess Aurora and Jasmine.

Since our breakfast was prior to park opening, we had the advantage of being at the entrance to Fantasyland prior to rope drop.  After a number of failed attempts in prior visits, Caitlin was able to wake up Tinker Bell.  While this was cute and nice, with all the hype I’ve heard about this special moment, it was in reality quite under-whelming.  It wasn’t bad…just not what I was expecting.

Surprisingly..the crowds at Magic Kingdom were not bad.  Wait times were shorter than we were expecting.  Because of this and the good weather today and the promise of rain later in the week, we stayed in the park all day rather than return to Old Key West for the afternoon.  Because we stayed, we were able to take care of most of Fantasyland, see the Monsters Inc. Comedy Club and ride Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, watch the Country Bears and most importantly….visit the Disney Fairies.

As expected…the wait was long…it was listed as having a wait of 60 minutes, but in reality it took us about 80 minutes to get through it.  While the experience was enjoyable I’m not sure why the wait was so long, since we didn’t end up spending a lot of time with the fairies.

We finished the day with dinner at Tony’s, then watched Spectromagic and Wishes.

Day 3

We started today off with an early breakfast at Olivia’s (Old Key West), then drove to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for some movie related fun.  After the security check and entering the park, we walked (swiftly) to Toy Story Mania.  This was my wife Cindy’s and my daughter Caitlin’s first visit to Toy Story Mania (me and the boys experienced the AP Preview last year).  It was great to see the details in the queue again. Upon completion of the ride, we immediately got Fast Passes for it for later in the moring.

We then rode Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, The Great Movie Ride, Muppet Vision 3-D and then rerode Toy Story Mania.

After lunch at the Backlot Express…we decided to head back to Old Key West for a well deserved rest and naps.

After freshening ourselves up, we drove back to the Studios for dinner at 50′s Prime Time Cafe.

We had a lot of fun with our “cousin” Courtney, including her asking our soon to be 23 year old son, Joe for his ID (including quizzing) and using ketchup to keep David’s elbows off of the table.

After dinner we squeezed in a ride on the Tower of Terror prior to experiencing Fantasmic.  Waiting for the show had the typical crowd entertainment, including The Wave.  The most interesting form of entertainment was the use of my Blackberry Storm and many of the people around us with their smartphones to follow the various weather radar applications because as we waited the sky was looking more ominous.  We all were wondering whether we’d get rain before the show or not.  As it turned out, we escaped the rain storms and we were able to experience another great Fantasmic show.

Day 4

Today was our day to experience the Animal Kingdom…and today also being an Extra Magic Hour morning.  We took advantage of this to experience Expedition Everest and the Kilamanjaro Safaris.  This morning was our daughter, Caitlin’s first time riding Expedition Everest.  Not surprisingly, Catilin thoroughly enjoyed the attraction…once again, the Imagineers and their magic was successful.

After Kilamanjaro Safaris, we stopped at the Tusker House Bakery for some pastry and juice.

We then wandered over to Dinoland, where we ran into our DPN friends Barb and Steven (aka Meerkat) where we rode Primeval Whirl together.  We almost ran into Lou (BMSLOU) and his family but when the showed up we were in line for Primeval Whirl and missed them other than a wave and a cell phone chat.  While I chatted with Barb and David chatted with Steven, Cindy and Caitlin rode Triceratop Spin.

We then went off to Yak & Yeti for lunch which was good as usual for us.  We have always found the food here to be pretty good and even reasonably priced though the service here has varied in quality…today the service was pretty good.

After lunch, we went back to Old Key West for a rest and a dip in our quiet pool near our villa.  The use of the pool is always something the kids look forward to. Normally, we’ve used the main pool at Old Key West and we were pleased with our first experience using one of the quiet pools.  It was nice to have the pool to ourselves and 1 0r 2 other families.

After the pool we got cleaned up and drove over to Epcot for dinner at the Garden Grill with Mickey, Pluto and Chip & Dale along with watching Illuminations.  Illuminations…which we never miss during our trips to WDW…was impressive as usual, though it did get interesting when it started to rain during the last few minutes of the show.

Day 5

Today was an Extra Magic Hour morning at Magic Kingdom, but we got a late start to it arriving at close to 8:30 AM…yeah..we missed a rope drop.  We were able to get on Peter Pan and It’s a Small World prior to our ADR at Crystal Palace.

After breakfast we returned to Fantasyland and experienced Mickey’s Philharmagic, rode Pirates of the Caribbean, got our FastPass for the Jungle Cruise, and watched the Tiki Room.

While at lunch at Cosmic Ray’s, we met up with Barb and Steven again.  After lunch we used our FastPass to the Jungle Cruise, watched the Country Bears

then rode the Haunted Mansion.  When we got out of the Haunted Mansion it wasn’t raining…it was pouring.  Because it was raining they were allowing people to go through the “servants entrance” and ride it again…which David and Steven did.  Since we had a dinner ADR at Ohana in a few hours and we were going to need to dry off and possibly change out of some wet clothes, we said good bye to Barb and Steven for the day and headed back to Old Key West.

After drying off and changing some clothes, we headed over to the Polynesian Resort for dinner at Ohana.

We first experienced Ohana for dinner a few years ago and loved it but hadn’t had the chance to eat there again until now.  The food there is wonderful and it’s in such a great atmosphere.  Since they give you all of the food in waves you can get stuffed full there very easily without realizing it since you never really have a lot of food in front of you at any one time.

After dinner, during a break in the rain..we returned to Old Key West for the night.

Day 6

We woke up today to have breakfast with the princesses at the Princess Storybook Breakfast.  For the first time among all of the times we’ve attended this breakfast, we had Ariel in attendance..along with Snow White, Princess Aurora and of course Belle hosting the breakfast.  This breakfast is one of Disney’s better character breakfasts in my opinion when you consider the general food options/quality and the characters.

After breakfast we rode Soarin and Test Track prior to heading over to World Showcase and the United Kingdom Pavilion for the World Showcae Players and “King Arthur and the Holy Grail”.  This little show has become a family favorite.  We all find it to be funny and well done.

After the show we wandered around World Showcase stopping in Japan for a little shopping trip for the kids.  David loves shopping here for Pokeman items…may of which we don’t seem to find locally in our local stores and Caitlin enjoys shopping for Hello Kitty items

Next we went over to The American Adventure where the kids had lunch and Cindy and I shared a funnel cake.  We then watched the show of The American Adventure show.  We have always found this show to be impressive.

After the show we continued to wander around World Showcase checking out the various countries until we got close to our dinner ADR at Le Cellier.  As always has been the case for us…we had a wonderful meal here.  Our server Jason had a wonderful sarcastic sense of humor that made our experience even more enjoyable.  I had the steak and it was prepared wonderfully.  All of the adults finished with the Maple Creme Brule which has to be one of the most scrumptious deserts on property.

After dinner we watched O’ Canada, then I listened to Off Kilter for a bit while the rest of the family returned to Future World for Spaceship Earth and some shopping.

In the mean time I had heard that it was Lou from Beyond Main Street was finishing up his WDW trip tonight and I wandered over to the Rose and Crown to finally meet up with him.  When I got there I found out that Barb, Steve and Steven along with Earl, Mel, Matt (Matt Frompa), Matt (theEsquire) and Jenn were also there.  I stuck around for a bit to visit then returned back to OKW for the evening with the family.

Ahh….but this was not the end of our day.  When we started getting everyone ready for bed we noticed that David had developed a bad ingrown toenail.  He’s had these in the past and unless treated quickly, they can get very bad, so we decided to visit the urgent care center at Centra Care, near the Crossroads Shopping Center.  When we got there, it was very busy.  Luckily were were out of there with some antibiotics in a couple of hours.  At this point we headed back to OKW for good for the night.

Day 7

We started today bright and early by getting up and heading over to Downtown Disney and the World of Disney at 6:15 AM for the Passholder Sale that would begin at 6:30 AM.  When we arrived the line was already around the store and along the parking lot access road.  We had heard that people started lining up at midnight and had to get removed by security and then again at 2 AM.  When we finally got in we saw people that just went for the free or doorbuster items, some went only for the items on sale and then there were people like us who bought what we were normally going to buy later in the trip and if it was on sale, all the better…and still pick up any free items.  It was interesting experience…not as chaotic as I expected it to be and not as much on sale as I had expected either.  My only criticism of the event was other than the crude map they gave us…it really wasn’t clear what was on sale and what wasn’t.

After the sale we returned to Old Key West, woke up the kids and headed to Animal Kingdom for Extra Magic Hour, but because of the sale we got a bit of a late start so we only got to do Expedition Everest and get FastPasses for it to ride later.

After Expedition Everest, we went for breakfast at Donald’s Safari Breakfast with Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Mickey.

After the character breakfast, we went on Kilamanjaro Safaris and then went to watch Finding Nemo the Musical.  This show is now one of our favorites.

Since we got out of the character breakfast late and we had an early dinner scheduled, we decided to munch for lunch.

After munching we went over to Camp Minnie-Mickey for the Legend of the Lion King show.  We have not not seen this show in a few trips for one reason or another.  This show is still very good.

We then got pictures and autographs from a few of the characters located in the Character Trails, then did some people watching before heading over to theAnimal Kingdom Lodge for dinner at Boma.

This was our first time eating at Boma.  We found the food selection and the atmosphere to be very good and really liked it…though I have to admit I don’t see what all the fuss is about on the Zebra Domes…they were okay, but nothing great…just okay.

After dinner we explored the resort a bit and found the great savanna overlook.  The area is very nice though we didn’t see a lot of animals out there.

Day 8

We started today off with breakfast at Ohana and their character breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto.  As character meals go…the food is pretty good and the character interaction is great.  I would recommend this breakfast to anyone looking for a good character breakfast.

We then hopped the monorail on to the Magic Kingdom, and since this was Joe’s Birthday, we let him decide the plan of the day.

Some of the highlights were going on Splash Mountain where Caitlin got wet, going on The Magic Carpets of Aladdin where Cindy got wet from a spitting camel and going on the Jungle Cruise where we saw a duck attack one of the fierce crocodiles of the attraction.

We had dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern where we celebrated Joe’s Birthday complete with a birthday cupcake and singing Happy Birthday to Joe with the help of the CM’s.

After dinner we rode It’s a Small World, Winnie the Pooh and the Mad Tea Cups where we found out that we can’t squeeze two adults and a teenager into one cup anymore.

Maybe our best present to Joe was to leave and return to Old Key West and let him wander around the Magic Kingdom alone by himself for a few hours.

Day 9

Today was an Extra Magic Hour morning at the Studios, so we took advantage of it to ride Toy Story Mania and get a FastPass to re-ride it again later.  After Toy Story, Caitlin and I planned on riding Rock ‘n Roller Coaster but when we got there the wait for Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was only 10 min., so we rode that instead.  When we got off we met with everyone else for some breakfast at Starring Rolls Bakery.

After breakfast, we took a trip to Endor with Captain Rex on Star Tours, and rerode Toy Story Mania.  As you can probably guess, this ride has become a family favorite for us.

We had a early ADR for lunch at Sci-Fi Dine In.  As is usually the case, the wait to get seated took a while.  Once we got seated we found the food we ordered fairly well prepared, though the service was a bit slow.

After lunch we got a call from my Sister-in-law.  They were going to join us for part of our trip and they had just arrived at the Studios.  While they were moving through the Studios to meet us…we went to see Muppet Vision 3-D again.  When they finally met with us, we rode the Great Movie Ride and finally got the Bank Robber skit instead of the Gangster.  I think  this has to be the first time for the bank robbery for us in maybe 3 years.

Even though they had only been in the park less than an hour, they needed to take a smoke break.  After their break ended we were able to coax my Sister-in-law to ride Rock ‘ n Roller Coaster with Caitlin, Joe and myself.

After we regrouped, they wanted to to see Playhouse Disney, while we took our kids to the Animation Building to see the characters from UP.  When we got there we only saw Russell and Carl out and we were a bit disappointed because Dug wasn’t there.  By the time we worked our way up the queue, they had gone on break.  When the characters came back..Russell and Carl came out with Dug.  The kids were pretty happy about this.

After the character meet, we regrouped and sat and talked and people watched.  Soon it was time to head to Mama Melrose’s for dinner.  Each of our meals was prepared well and was very good.  The service we got there was very good.

After dinner, we returned to Old Key West and spent some time at the pool prior to calling it a night.

Day 10

Today was our morning to head over to Downtown Disney for the kids after eating breakfast at Olivia’s.

Even though we had gone to the Passholder Sale, today for was for the kids to get somethings at Once Upon a Toy and the Lego Store and a quick stop at the World of Disney.  As we left the World of Disney, Caitlin got dusted with Pixie Dust.

After we finished shopping, we went for lunch at the new T-Rex restaurant.  Going into this meal, we were expecting it to be a lot like eating at the Rainforest Cafe…and frankly that wouldn’t be good in our opinion.  Honestly, our experience at T-Rex was a lot better than what we were expecting.  While there was some noise…the noise made by the dinosaurs and mammoths was vastly less annoying than the noise generated by the jungle animals at Rainforest.  The service and food was also significantly better than what we’re used to experiencing at Rainforest.

After lunch, we went back to Old Key West and rested.

After resting up, we drove off to Fort Wilderness and dinner at the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue.

Hoop Dee Doo has become another family WDW tradition for us.  Hoop Dee Doo is something we need to do on every trip.  Even though the show has not changed and we know the show…we still enjoy it…it’s still a lot of fun for us.

After dinner, we drove back to Old Key West and spent some more time at the pool prior to going to bed.

Day 11

Today was going to be our last day at Epcot and as it turns out our last park day before heading home.

We spent the morning hitting all of our Future World favorites, which included  Soarin’, Spaceship Earth, Mission: Space and Test Track.

We ate lunch at Sunshine Seasons and even though it was very crowded and difficult to find a table to eat at…but we were impressed with the food selection.  I mean…really…where can you find a good, think pork chop for lunch at a quick service eatery?

We spent the afternoon at Character Spot to meet Donald Duck, Pluto, Mickey:

and Minnie:

David also wanted to see the World Showcase Players do King Arthur again.  When everyone else went to Mexico for the Gran Fiesta, I went to watch Off Kilter for the last time on this trip.

We finished the night off with dinner at Restaurant Marrakesh, where I had the Lemon Chicken and everyone else had the Beef Shish Kabab.  Yummy!!!  Is there anything more to say?

Day 12

The plan today was to head to the Magic Kingdom, but the weather forecast was for very hot weather (Heat Index of 103 degrees), so we change our minds and stayed at Old Key West to pack and visit the pool, which we really enjoyed.

Later in the afternoon we cleaned ourselves up and headed over to the Wilderness Lodge for dinner at Whispering Canyon with my Sister-in-Law and her family, where they surprised me and my wife by announcing that we were celebrating my birthday and our 25th Wedding Anniversary on this trip.  This was very much a surprise and done very well by the cast members…it was a lot of fun.

Day 13

We finished packing this morning, loaded the car up in what seemed like 80% humidity…then headed up to the Polynesian Resort for a late breakfast at the Kona Cafe.  I just had to have some Tonga Toast before we left for home.

The only annoying thing today was the housekeeping staff bugging us off an on as to when we were going to be leaving and finally when we shut the door asking us whether we were finished.  As annoying as this was it was even more irritating was that this started at 9 AM….HELLO….we have until 11 AM to check out.  Needless to say, we made stop at the front desk and spoke with the manager of the resort about this.

Overall we had a very enjoyable vacation…even though it was very hot, we were able to deal with it and made accommodations for it.  The kids were great even with the heat.  Believe it or not…even as long as we were at WDW there were things we wanted to do but never got to do.  Caitlin wanted to try to do the Kim Possible thing at Epcot but never got around to doing it.  We’ll have to make sure we put this on the top of the list for the next trip.

Disneyland Resort Celebrates Los Angeles Lakers And MVP Kobe Bryant With A Victory Parade

For The 2009 World Champions

ANAHEIM, Calif., June 18, 2009 – Celebrating the best in basketball, the Disneyland Resort saluted the 2009 World Champion Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday with a victory parade down Main Street U.S.A, in Disneyland park.  Kobe Bryant, MVP of the recent NBA Finals, smiled and waved to fans as he rode on a float to represent the Lakers in the special, celebration parade.

Some favorite Disney characters joined the magical parade as Disneyland guests cheered for the Lakers and their 15th NBA championship. The Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic to win the title in a “Fairytale Series” that matched up teams located near Disneyland Resort, in Anaheim, and Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

“It’s like a dream come true to be here and celebrate at Disneyland, coming down Main Street U.S.A. with all the fans cheering,” Bryant said after the parade. “It’s a tremendous honor to represent my team.”

The presidents of the two Resorts, Ed Grier at Disneyland and Meg Crofton at Walt Disney World, made a friendly wager on the NBA Finals.  On Thursday, Meg Crofton fulfilled her pledge by donning a pair of Lakers’ purple and gold Mickey Mouse ears and walking down Main Street, U.S.A., in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Each of the Resorts also turned the lights of their respective castles to the team colors of the Lakers and the Magic, in celebration of the historic pairing. Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland park was glowing with Lakers purple and gold during the NBA Finals and will stay that way through Thursday night.

“I heard there was a little competition with Disneyland and Disney World and we won,” Kobe Bryant said, “so our colors are staying up a little bit longer.”

Two of the many Lakers fans at Disneyland on Thursday were selected to ride the Matterhorn Bobsleds with Bryant after the parade. David Guerrero and his son Jonathan, 4, of Pomona, are Annual Passport holders and they came to Disneyland in their team jerseys to celebrate the Lakers’ World Championship.
“They just picked us out of the crowd and said, ‘Do you want to ride the Matterhorn with Kobe?’ I’m shaking, this is so exciting,” David Guerrero said as Jonathan jumped up and down. “In Southern California, being a Disney fan and a Lakers fan, it just goes together and that’s why we wanted to be here today.”

The Disneyland Resort victory parade provided yet another reason for dancing in the streets as Disney Parks asks guests, “What Will You Celebrate?” in 2009. Guests are celebrating birthdays, graduations, engagements and more at Disney Parks and they are utilizing an unprecedented offer good throughout 2009 – the opportunity to visit a theme park at Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort free on their birthdays.*

The summer of celebration continues at Disneyland Resort with special vacation offers and Summer Nightastic! The exciting, after-dark entertainment includes a new fireworks spectacular, “Magical,” starring Dumbo the flying elephant; Tinker Bell’s “pixie magic” in “Disney’s Electrical Parade”; and sensational new characters and special effects in “Fantasmic!” Residents of Southern California can purchase the Summer Fun Pass and visit the parks on three days for $99.** Guests who pay for a three-night vacation package get an extra two nights free for arrivals through September 26, 2009.+ For details, visit www.disneyland.com and www.disneyland.com/summer

*No cash refunds or credits will be given. Valid ID including proof of birth date required at ticket booth. Visit disneybirthdaytreat.com for details and to register your birthday.

**Must provide proof of residency within Zip codes 90000-93599 and 21000-22999. Tickets valid 45 days from first use and first use must occur on or before 8/23/09. Tickets blocked out on 7/4/09.

+Must book by 8/11/09. Number of packages allocated for this offer is limited. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.  Walt Disney Travel Company CST: 1022229-50, NVST No. 2006-0198.

The lobby is shockingly small compared to most or the other resorts and from the perceived amount of the accommodations. But the cozy size of the lobby really creates the sense of the “Welcome Home” mentality. Great decor and a focus on savannah opposite the main entrance to the lobby. just a note there isn’t a quick/counter service dinning on premises the store just off the lobby is where you can use your refillable mug.

Before we go out the the Savannah we will go downstairs to the lower level where Sanaa is located.

Sanaa’s cuisine is a melting pot of tastes from the islands of the Indian Ocean that all are part of Africa – Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Comoro Islands, Mauritius and Madagascar. “These islands were on important trade routes with influences from French, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Arab and Chinese traders,” said Chef Bob Getchell. “The diverse spices and flavors give us an endless array of options for Sanaa.”

Overview of the Sanaa Restaurant

Sanaa Opening Menu

the warm and inviting atmosphere of the restaurant along with it’s off the beaten track feel will probably be one of those hidden gems at Walt Disney World for the next few years.

With great daytime views of the Savannah daylight dining will provide some great possibilities for viewing the animals out there.

Personally this is where this resort shines! the enclosed Savannah is already providing lots of opportunity to have great viewing of the animals. Along with the large windows and a few balconies to get a good view of the the Savannah ( even if you don’t have a Savannah view room there is as a viewing area that is protruding a good 60 yards from the Lobby area with a fire pit and some seating. This is a great spot to view the animals and also get to interact with the keepers of the animals. while we were there they were training the Giraffes and Ostrich to search for food in specific locations. ( near the guests of course ) .

[View with PicLens]

12►

The Water park area looks like it might be a economic option for the Full Water Theme Parks at WDW. All the Kids were enjoying all the amenities of the park.

All in all I look forward to getting back to the Kidani Village and giving Sanaa a try next time I am at WDW.

 

The first day of the Westfest ’09 kicked into high gear on Thursday as we all started to arrive in Anaheim. After spending the morning enjoying the attractions in Disneyland, Will, Shannon and Aj headed  over to DCA to see High School Musical 3. Unfortunately all of Will’s dancing and singing brought unwanted attention to poor Aj when he was picked out from the crowd to perform with the cast in the next song. All we can say is to make sure that you keep an eye out for the photos and video that will be posted over the coming days as you will see a side of HSM3 that you have never seen before.

 

Thursday evening was at Podfest West, where 60+ people joined their favorite podcasters to share a few drinks and party until the early hours of the morning at The Lost Bar the Disneyland Hotel. This was an outstanding meet and a great way for everybody to get to know each other and have a great time within the resort.

 

Day 2

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we all headed to Disneyland to get a few attractions under our belts before heading to a special lunch as guests at Club 33. Although a full review will be posted on our return home, the experience was fantastic and the food superb. 

 

Disneyland appears to be following Walt Disney World’s lead and bucking the falling attendance trends. The parks were busy today and crowds are expected to be high again over the coming days. Wait time were creeping up to over an hour on many of the major attractions and fastpass strategies were used during the day to reduce wait times.

 

At 6.00pm a large crowd gathered over at DCA for the annual Westfest Rabble Rousers meet. After enjoying samplings from the Food and Wine Festival, the crowd headed over to Soarin to ride the attraction as a group.

 

The night was finished off back in Disneyland to watch the Remember fireworks and one last ride on Space Mountain before heading off to bed.

 

Stay tuned for daily updates from the 7 Parks in 7 Days “Two Kingdoms” Tour and our coverage from Westfest ’09.

 

Chris, Aj, Will and Shannon

This year the menus locations and portion sizes have been modified. Most notable is the the Wharf doesn not seem to be the hub of all the Food action for the regular guest. In previous years the “Seasonal” Asian Kitchen was used to serve up small sample sized dishes. It appears that this location is not being used at all.

Instead the portions have increased in size to full meal sizes at various locations around the park (see below) and the Cove Bar located above Ariel’s Grotto has been given a full appetizer menu. These Changes are very interesting. I wonder if it is due to the amount of construction going on at DCA and they are trying to spread the extra crowds around the park or if this is an experiment due to feed back from the guests of the previous years?

I for one am looking forward to to the changes except I would have liked to keep the sample sized offerings. It was great to have them all in one locations but I would be quite satisfied to have them spead through out the park. All in all I think this is a great event for DCA and look forward to taking part in the event s during Westfest next weekend!

Cove Bar F&W Menu

Fried Calamari

served with Tangy Chipotle Sauce
$10.99

Buffalo Wings

a full pound of fiery Chicken Wings served with blue cheese Dipping sauce
$10.49

Artichoke Dip

a creamy blend of Artichoke hearts Spinach and Romano served with Tortilla chips
$8.99

Lobster Nachos

Tender Lobster pieces atop fresh Corn Tortilla Chips smothered in black beans, Tomatoes Roasted Poblano Peppers , Cilantro and Jack and Cheddar Cheeses
$10.99

Crab Cakes

Served with citrus-mayonnaise Dressing and Lime Wedges
$10.79

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Thin Crust and Topped with Jack Cheese, Tender Chunks of Grilled Chicken and hearty Barbecue sauce
$9.99

Chilled Seafood Martini

Scallops Shrimp Dungeness Crab tossed with Fresh mangoes Red and Green Onions Serrano Chillies, Fresh Cilantro, Avocado, yuzu Juice and house made Tortilla chips
$10.99

Trio of Sliders

Featuring Lobster, Pulled Pork and Pepper Crusted Tenderloin
$14.00

Pacific Wharf Area

Cafe Bakery F&W Menu

White Cheddar Cheese Soup

Featuring Karl Strauss Pale Ale in a Sourdough Bread Bowl

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill F&W Menu

Chicken Tamales

Two Chicken tamales topped with Green Chilli-tomatillo Sauce, Shredded cheese accompanied by Mexican rice and refried beans, Pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream

Deluce de Leche Empananada

with tropical Fruit

Farmers Market F&W Menu

Garlic and Red Bell Pepper Hummus with Tabbouleh Salad

with fresh vegetables and mini Boundin breadsticks

$7.49

Widmer Hefenweizen $6.75

Stella Artois $6.75

Award Wieners F&W Menu

Riviera Lobster Salad in Brioche Baguette with Chips

Prized as the King of Crustaceans! Divine mixture of lobster, Celery , onions, garlic, mayonnaise, lemon juice, herbs and seasonings served chilled in a Brioche Baguette

$8.99

Chalone Chardonnay $8.50

Canyon Road Merlot $7.75

Widmer Hefeweizen $6.75

Stella Artois $6.75

Taste Pilots Grill:

Tataki Salad ( Seared Ahi Tuna)

Ahi Tuna marinated and seared medium rare atop a blend of Napa Cabbage, Romaine, Thai Basil, Sugar Snap Peas and Red Peppers, garnished with Orange Segments, Cucumbers, Carrots, Green Onions, Toasted Almonds and wasabi Aioli Served with a our Citus Ponzu Vinaigrette.

$9.99

New Harbor Savignon Blanc $8.75

Morello Sagiovese $7.50

Widmer Hefeweizen $6.75

Stella Artois $6.75

Pizza Oom Mow Mow F&W Menu

Chicken Panzaratti

Ravioli filled with fresh chicken, lightly tossed in taleggio-parmigiano sauce and topped with sun dried tomatoes and basil

$8.99

Lasorda Pinot Grigio $7.75

Lasorda Chianti $7.50

Widmer Hefeweizen $6.50

Stella Artois $6.50

Big thanks to our buddy JohnDUB for the on the ground info this morning.

Find more info on the the rest of the events and happenings here

From today to June 7, 2009, a World Celebration comes to Disneyland Resort. This six-week festival showcases California’s rich fusion of flavors. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, seminars and recipes that reflect the Golden State’s regional and culinary diversity at the Fourth Annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival.

The line up this year in California looks to be better than ever, with larger food portions of all of our favourites including the delicious sliders, cheddar cheese soup and Lobster pops.

More than 600 complimentary experiences will be available at the fourth annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, including culinary demonstrations, children’s programs and wine and spirits seminars. In addition, food and wine aficionados will get tips from Disneyland Resort chefs, mingle with noted winemakers and celebrate at the spectacular ticketed events, including the gala Festival finale “Taste Food-Wine-Life.”

Featured celebrity chefs, including Guy Fieri of the Food Network, along with nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations that showcase their talents and an international mix of delectable dishes. Guests will collect cooking tips while they watch the pros in action, discovering new twists on timeless classics and sampling the festival cuisine. Guests will also taste delicious festival-inspired dishes at the Wine Country Trattoria, Pacific Wharf Café, Farmer’s Market and other eateries inside Disney’s California Adventure park.

Guests will enjoy several new signature events this year.
• Behind the Scenes With… – Unique opportunities to share food, wine and conversation with cooking personalities from popular television programs and celebrity winemakers. The stars include Guy Fieri (“Guy’s Big Bite”), Keegan Geerhard (“Food Network Challenge), Tommy Lasorda (Lasorda Wines), and John and Nancy Lasseter (Lasseter Family Winery). The evenings begin with tasty appetizers and exquisite wines, followed by question-and-answer sessions hosted a special chef.

• Sweet Sundays – The sweetest of all events features a light buffet breakfast and sparkling wine at the Golden Vine Winery at Disney’s California Adventure. Guests will see demonstrations and taste three signature desserts created by acclaimed pastry chefs, including chefs from Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. in San Diego and Cake Monkey Bakery in Los Angeles.

• Festival Wine Walks ¬ Guests will explore wines of the world, or a single region, when they purchase a tasting passport and select up to four tastes of spectacular wines. A tasting tour that features craft brews will also be available. Delicious wine country tapas that complement the beer and wine will be available at The Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery.

• World Celebration Dinners – Disneyland Resort chefs will create an elegant menu that blends the food, wine and celebrations of regions around the world. France, Japan, Korea, Italy and Spain will be featured.

• Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, of the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, will add a new class to his “Introduction to Wine Tasting.” The “Advanced Wine Class” includes three two-hour sessions that take guests to the next level in their knowledge of wine regions, varietals, growing and harvesting techniques. Both entertaining classes will offer training as well as a blind tasting to test the participants’ skills.

Events returning for 2009 feature Disneyland Resort chefs and premier winemakers.
• Winemaker Dinners – Disneyland Resort chefs will partner with premier California winemakers to prepare outstanding culinary delights at six exclusive “Winemaker Dinners,” on selected Friday nights. Each Festival meal will be paired with award-winning vintages and served at Steakhouse 55, inside the Disneyland Hotel.

• Napa Rose Cooking School – Disney Executive Chef Andrew Sutton will once again lead this hands-on course that sells out quickly. Each class will create and enjoy a themed meal paired with wines and each class member will go home with an official chef’s coat to commemorate the experience. This amazing opportunity takes place in the show kitchen of the renowned Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Guests must be at least 18 years of age.

• Festival Wine Receptions – Guests will have an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunset and weekend evening under the stars, on the patio of the Golden Vine Winery inside Disney’s California Adventure park. While sampling from a variety of selected wines and enjoying hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, guests will meet fellow wine enthusiasts, make new friends and discover new favorite wines.

If your intending to join us at Westfest, make sure that you check out the following locations:

Festival Welcome Center Presented by AARP

The Sunshine Plaza serves as the hub for all festival information including daily event schedules and same-day reservations – if available.

Festival-Inspired Dining

Enjoy festival inspirations at Wine Country Trattoria, Pizza Oom Mow Mow, Pacific Wharf Café, Farmer’s Market, Award Wieners and Taste Pilots’ Grill. Expertly paired wines and beer are also available.

Festival Wine Shop & Bistro

Shop for spectacular bottles of wines or enjoy a glass on the outdoor Lower Patio of the Golden Vine Winery. Open daily. For your convenience, bottles will be delivered to Package Pickup.

Festival Gift Shop

Shop for specially designed Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival merchandise to commemorate your visit.

The Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery

Relax on the Upper Terrace of the Golden Vine Winery and enjoy outstanding wines from California and international vineyards. Wine flights are offered by varietal, location or theme. Wine-country tapas are available for purchase.

NEW! Festival Wine Walks

Take a tasting tour of the finest wine regions and travel the globe without ever leaving the Festival. Each walk’s tasting-passport offers up to four tastings from around the world or a single region.

The following image is this years California Food and Wine Festival Map:

Festival events held in Disney’s California Adventure may require park admission, which is not included in the event price. Some events require an additional fee and pre-registration. For details and pricing information, visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

Don’t forget that the travelears will be visiting this great event during its opening week, so stay tuned for our exclusive reviews.

We look forward to sharing a slider and a glass of Napa red with all of you during the festivities at Westfest ’09.

Enjoy,

Aj

Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World

OPENINGS
In January, All-Star Movies Resort opened with 768 rooms.

In January, Cirque du Soleil® opened La Nouba at Downtown Disney West Side.

In March, Winter Summerland miniature golf opened near Blizzard Beach.

In March, “Disney’s Doug Live!” stage show opened at Disney-MGM Studios.

Also in March, Test Track had its official grand opening at Epcot.

In April, “Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey” opened at Disney-MGM Studios.

In May, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” from Disneyland began in Magic Kingdom.

In June, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened in Fantasyland.

In June at Disney-MGM Studios, “Bear in the Big Blue House” live stage show opened in Soundstage 5.

In July, Fairy Tale Garden opened in Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom. Characters such as Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” tell short stories throughout the day.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom in July, “Tarzan Rocks!” debuted, a new stage show described as a rock concert with extreme sports, stunts and dancing.

Also in July, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith opened at Disney-MGM Studios.

In August, Disney Cruise Line launched its second ship, the Disney Wonder.

In September, Tangierine Café opened in Morocco in Epcot World Showcase.

On Oct. 1, Millennium Village, with exhibits from more than 35 countries, opened in Epcot World Showcase. Also that day, “IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth” debuted at Epcot, along with “Tapestry of Nations” street festival. Also opening in World Showcase: a Roots boutique in Canada, a Helly Hansen shop in Norway and Armani in Italy. In Future World, Mouse Gear, a 25,000-square-foot retail shop opened. Also in Future World, Journey Into YourImagination and the Kodak “What If?” Labs opened. And the new and enhanced Innoventions also opened in Future World.

ANNUAL EVENTS
In February, Black History Month was celebrated across Walt Disney World Resort.

In April, the sixth annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival began.

“Disney’s Easter Parade” was April 3 and 4, with a television broadcast on April 4.

In September, the 17th annual Night of Joy was held in Magic Kingdom, and the annual Latin Rhythm Nights was at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island.

The annual Disneyana Convention was Sept. 5-11 at the Contemporary Resort.

In October, the fourth annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival opened.

The Pleasure Island Jazz Festival was in October.

At Downtown Disney, the 20th annual Festival of the Masters art show was held in November.
In November, the Spectacle of Lights debuted for the holiday season at Disney-MGM Studios. Also at the studios in November, the fourth annual ABC Super Soap Weekend hosted stars of hit ABC daytime dramas.

The Teddy Bear and Doll Convention convened in November at the Contemporary Resort and Epcot.

In December: “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” was celebrated in Magic Kingdom; the annual Candlelight Processional retold the Christmas story to capacity crowds in Epcot.

SPECIAL EVENTS
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests could observe the painstaking re-assembly of the excavated bones of “Sue,” the famous Tyrannosaurus rex on loan from Chicago’s Field Museum.

In May, Disney-MGM Studios celebrated its 10th anniversary.

In June, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance began a 16-week run at America Gardens Theatre at Epcot.

In October, Walt Disney World Resort kicked off the 15-month-long Millennium Celebration.

In November, FASTPASS was introduced in the theme parks, a computerized system designed to cut guests wait in attraction lines.

NOTABLE
On Jan. 10, Horizons in Future World at Epcot officially closed.

On Feb. 15, Magic Kingdom celebrated its 10,000th day of operation, after opening its gates to guests on Oct. 1, 1971.

In March, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terrorâ„¢ added more drops, changed its drop patterns and enhanced the other special effects.

In April, Discovery Island was officially closed.

On Sept. 14, for the first time in the history of Walt Disney World Resort, all theme parks were closed early to prepare for Hurricane Floyd. On Sept. 15, all theme parks, water parks and recreation areas were closed due to anticipation of Hurricane Floyd’s arrival, but Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened by noon. (Central Florida was spared the brunt of the hurricane.)

In November, the Skyway attraction in Magic Kingdom closed.

In November, the Tomorrowland Speedway was renamed Tomorrowland Indy Speedway.

FILM & TV PRODUCTION AT DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS AND RESORT LOCATIONS
“Mortal Kombat”; “Petsburgh USA”; “Dooley & Pals”; “Donna’s Day”; Disney Channel concert with Britney Spears at Disney-MGM Studios; “Live! With Regis & Kathie Lee” at Disney-MGM Studios; Lifetime Television’s “Weddings of a Lifetime” aboard the Disney Magic; Home & Garden Television prime-time special for Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival; The Food Network prime-time special for Epcot International Food and Wine Festival; VH-1 Top 10 Countdown at Disney-MGM Studios; fitness superstar Denise Austin’s Lifetime Television Series aboard the Disney Magic; Miss America Pageant segments; “The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade” on ABC-TV; E! Entertainment “FYE” at the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration; ABC 2000 millennium broadcast from across Walt Disney World Resort.

SPORTS
In January, runners followed a 26.2-mile course across Walt Disney World Resort in the fifth annual Walt Disney World Marathon. Santiago Francisco de Araujo of Brazil won the men’s division for the second year in a row; top female finisher was Marina Jones of Rancho Margarita, Calif.

January was the fourth running of the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway.

In February and March, the Atlanta Braves conducted spring training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

In April, top NFL quarterbacks participated in the FootAction USA NFL Quarterback Challenge at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

In April the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships were at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Magnus Norman claimed victory.
In October, Disney’s Wide World of Sports hosted more than 12,400 athletes at the 1999 National Senior Games. The competition was the largest senior multisports event in the U.S.

In October, the 29th annual National Car Rental Golf Classic was played on the Palm and Magnolia courses. Tiger Woods won with a 17-under-par 271, by one stroke over Ernie Els. Woods collected a Classic record winner’s check of $450,000 from a record $2.5-million purse. It was Woods’ second Classic win. He also won in 1996.

In December, Disney hosted the Pop Warner Super Bowl for young football teams from across the country.

In December, Disney was the site of the College Football Awards.

Also in December, the Harlem Globetrotters Holiday Series was staged at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

CELEBRATED GUESTS
Marlee Matlin, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Joey Lawrence, Drew Carey, Kathy Kinney, Buzz Aldrin, Richard Petty, Christie Brinkley, Angie Everhart, model Frederique, Earth Wind & Fire, The Spinners, Star Jones, Lisa Ling, Jodi Benson, Peabo Bryson, Chris Evert, Lebo M, Joe Namath, Pele, Peter MacNicol, Philip Glass, Gordie Howe, Julius Erving, Barry Bostwick, astronaut Dan Barry, Gladys Knight, “What’s Next” guest John Elway.
Visiting Celebrities, Disney-MGM Studios: Olivia Newton-John, Kathy Ireland, Chazz Palminteri, Nicholas Brendan, Walt Willey, 98 Degrees, Tony Bennett, Britney Spears, Susan Sarandon, Marc Davis, Charles Shaughnessy, Ellen Barkin, John Stamos, Rebecca Romijn, Barry Bostwick, Five, Ben Savage,
‘N Sync, LeVar Burton, Michael J. Fox, Cuba Gooding Jr., SheDaisy, Aerosmith, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Youngstown, Nobody’s Angel, Donna Erikson, R.L. Stine, Sela Ward, Susan Lucci.
Candlelight Narrators: Alfre Woodward, Charles Kimbrough, Angela Bassett, Brian Dennehy, Robby Benson, James Avery, Edward James Olmos, James McDaniel, Andy Garcia, Sandi Patty, David Ogden Stiers, LeVar Burton.

The following specials were released today by the Travelears official Disney travel agency, The Magic For Less Travel.

 

Spring Magic Your Way and Room Only Special

Travel Dates April 12 – June 6, 2009: April 12 – June 6, 2009

Book by: Offer extended!  Book now through May 6, 2009

Restriction: May not be available all dates, and weekends may not be available on certain dates.

 

Save this Spring!

Special discounted Magic Your Way Packages and room only reservations are available for April 12 – June 6, 2009 travel dates this spring.    These discounted rates are also available with Magic Your Way Packages that include one of Disney’s Dining planes.  Availability is very limited, and may not be available on all dates.  Many weekend dates have very limited or no availability.  Must be booked by 4/18/09.

 

FREE Minnie Pack- available only through The Magic for Less Travel

 

Dates:  All MYW package dates

Book by: 4/30/09

 

 FREE Minnie Pack- EXCLUSIVE Magic for Less Travel Offer

Our exclusive promotion CAN be combined with Disney released specials!

The Magic for Less Travel will offer a FREE Minnie Pack to all guests who book a new Magic Your Way package priced at $1500* or more. The Minnie Pack includes 2 neck wallets for you to use in the parks and resorts. Packages priced at $2500* or more will also receive your choice of a subscription to TourGuideMiKE’s Automated Vacation Planner, a copy of Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World guide, a copy of Kim Button’s Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook or 2 autograph books. *The price of the vacation is based on the final price you pay for your vacation package after any discount and before any non-commissionable options like airfare are included. Pack contents are subject to change.  Book by 4/30/09

 

 

FREE Deluxe Pixie Dust Pack- available only through The Magic for Less

Dates:  All MYW package dates

Book by: 4/30/09

 

 Deluxe Pixie Dust Pack & Gift Card EXCLUSIVE Magic for Less Offer

Our exclusive promotion CAN be combined with Disney released specials!

 

The Magic for Less Travel will offer a FREE Deluxe Pixie Dust Pack to all guests who book a new Magic Your Way package priced at $3500* or more. The Deluxe Pixie Dust Pack includes two neck wallets for your party, a $25 Disney gift card and your choice of a subscription to TourGuideMiKE’s Automated Vacation Planner, a copy of Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World guide a copy of Kim Button’s Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook or 2 autograph books.

  *The price of the vacation is based on the final price you pay for your vacation package after any discounts and before any non-commissionable options like airfare are included. Pack contents are subject to change. Book by 4/30/09

 

 

 

Have a Magical Day!

************************

Pam Forrester, CTC

The Magic for Less, LLC

I wasn’t sure what I wanted for lunch yesterday so I thought I would run over to the Disneyland Resort ( I will never get used to that – it has always just been Disneyland to me) and see how the construction was coming along at Disney’s California Adventure.  So after about 3 minutes on the road I was parked in the 15 minute zone.

On the way in I had my first glimpse of the new Monorail Orange gliding along the beam in front of Disneyland. It looks great. Kinda like an orange 50/50 bar.

Monorail Orange

Monorail Orange Passing the Disneyland Main Entrance

DCA's Wonderful World of Color Construction

I noticed the new Midway Games were open so I thought I would snap a few shots for you.

Midway Game Facades

There were four new games; Goofy About Fishing, Dumbo’s Bucket Brigade, Casey at the Bat and Bulleye’s Stallion Stampede.

Goofy About Fishing Midway Game

The Castmember was Goofy About Fishing

Dumbo Bucket Brigade Midway Game

Casey at the Bat Midway Game

Bulleye's Stallion Stampede

Cash is not honored at the Midway Games. You must purchase a Midway Card at kiosks conveniently located by the Midway Games. I observed castmembers helping guests who seemed to be challenged by inserting cash or credit into the kiosk. Yes that’s correct, credit! Credit cards are honored. If you use up your Midway Card you can re-fill it at the kiosk.

Midway Card Machine

Midway Game Price Board

Just for kicks here is one last view of the Wonderful World of Color construction taken right next to the Golden Zephyr.

Wonderful World of Color Construction

Watch for more updates and remember that you can click on any of the photos for a larger view at my Flickr site.

If the attraction is going to be the same or similar to the one being built in DCA some details can be seen in this video:

What do you think about a Little Mermaid dark ride attraction like the the one proposed in DCA ?

 

 

Photo courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa

If you are a regular listener to the podcast, you will know that I like to occasionally venture out of the “Disney Bubble” to experience the other fine attractions that Florida has to offer. During a WDW trip in 2008, I had the opportunity to visit Busch Gardens at Tampa with my family and had a fantastic day.

 

The following guide has been prepared by the PR people at Busch, and it will give you a great insight into this amazing park. Give Busch Gardens a try during your next visit, you may be pleasantly surprised. 

 

Enjoy Aj

 

PS/ When you drive to Tampa make sure that you call into Mels Hot Dogs.

Dont be fooled by it less than auspicious exterior, this small hot dog joint offers some of the best fast food that you will experience in Florida. So call into Mels on the way back to WDW, order a famous Chicago Style Mighty Mel and tell them that Aj sent ya…..

 

 

BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY GUIDE 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Overview: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure park offering an array

of fascinating attractions based on exotic encounters with the African continent.

A unique blend of thrilling rides, one of the country’s premier zoos featuring more

than 2,000 animals, live shows, restaurants, shops and games, Busch Gardens

Tampa Bay provides unrivaled excitement for guests of every age.

 

WHAT’S NEW

Jungala: Discover a colorful village, nestled among towering trees, flowing

waterways and elaborate stone structures. Explore a 3-story play land of climbing

nets, mazes and exploration tunnels, soar above the treetops on a zip line

adventure or launch into the sky from inside a 35-foot waterfall. Then, connect

up close with exotic jungle animals. Come face-to-face with orangutans and test

your strength in a tug of war with a Bengal tiger. It’s an unforgettable adventure

and an extraordinary mix of discovery and fun in the only jungle in the world that

plays with you.

 

Serengeti Night Safari: Start your nighttime safari in the Edge of Africa

witnessing feedings and the active nocturnal behaviors of hippos, lions and hyenas

lit only by moonlight and lanterns. Then, on the Serengeti Plain, use night-vision

monoculars and special filtered lighting to view free-roaming herds of giraffes,

zebra, rhinos and other intriguing African animals. The tour begins and ends in

the exclusive Safari Club, with savory appetizers and beverages and a night cap

complete with coffee and desserts. The Serengeti Night Safari begins after sunset

on select Friday and Saturday nights and costs $59.99 per person, plus tax. Guests

must be 21 years of age or older to participate.

 

LOGISTICS

Location: - Corner of Busch Boulevard and 40th Street

- Two miles east of Interstate 275 at the Busch Boulevard exit

- Two miles west of Interstate 75 at exit 54

- One hour from Orlando via Interstate 4 West

- Thirty minutes east of area beaches and Tampa International Airport

 

Park Hours: Normal park hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. within a 365-day operating schedule.

Hours are extended during select weekend, summer and holiday periods.

 

Admission: Adult admission is $69.95 plus tax. Children ages 3 to 9 are $59.95 plus tax.

Children 2 and younger are admitted for free. A variety of combination tickets

and Passport Memberships are available. Prices are subject to change without

notice. Discounts available for guests with disabilities, senior citizens, military

personnel and AAA members.

 

Parking: Spaces are available to cars for $11, motorcycles for $11 and trucks and campers

for $13. Tour buses are free. Preferred parking convenient to the front gate is

also available to day guests for $16 and annual passport members for $8. Valet

parking at the front gate is $20, or $18 for passport members. Annual passport

members park free in standard lots.

 

Information: For general park information, call 1-888-800-5447, or visit the interactive Web site

at www.buschgardens.com

For our Animal Information Database, visit www.buschgardens.org

 

Services: Strollers, wheelchairs, lockers and pet kennels are available for rental. Wheelchair

seating is available at all facilities, and assisted listening devices are offered at

several attractions. Diaper-changing and baby-nursing areas, first aid, automated

teller machine, and taxi and bus parking may be found on-site.

 

Tickets:

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers print-at-home tickets that allow guests to

directly enter the park without waiting in line. Go to www.buschgardens.com to

purchase tickets.

 

Terrific Tuesdays: On Tuesdays, AARP members receive an $8 discount off admission to Busch

Gardens Tampa Bay. Every other day of the week, AARP members receive $3 off

park admission with membership card.

 

Private Events: As one of the world’s largest and most popular adventure parks, Busch Gardens

offers the best in hospitality, as well as a unique environment for any event. We

have a wide variety of venues, entertainment options and appetizing catering

selections. Our professional staff will accommodate all your needs, whether it’s a

breakfast for 100 or a private night function for 10,000. We can also create

memorable wedding receptions, corporate retreats and upscale banquets.

 

DINING HIGHLIGHTS

Crown Colony House Restaurant: Relax in air-conditioned comfort and take in a panoramic view of the

Serengeti Plain while you enjoy courteous full table service, authentic African roadhouse ambiance and a

diverse menu that includes delicious upscale entrees, refreshing salads and hearty sandwiches all house-made

with the freshest ingredients by our culinary team.

 

Bengal Bistro: Sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious lunch as your young adventurers explore Jungala. Bengal

Bistro—the newly remodeled Vivi Restaurant—is the perfect place to view Jungala’s village. At this cafeteriastyle

bistro, the Busch Gardens’ culinary staff prepares your lunch fresh, offering Catch of the Jungle fish, wraps

and sandwiches, salads and vegetarian options.

 

Orang Café: Watch endangered Bornean orangutans swing across their habitat from the patio of Orang Café.

Whether it is snack items or entrees, Orang Café’s menu is designed to be “kid-siderate.” Children will

appreciate the family-friendly menu items like “dirt sundaes,” chicken “stripes” and bug candy. The menu also

includes assorted fresh fruit, wraps and other entrees.

 

Zambia Smokehouse: Witness the power of SheiKra —America’s first dive coaster—as you dine on delicious

barbeque. The new 500-seat indoor/outdoor Zambia Smokehouse makes guests part of the action, as diners sit

directly beneath the wings of the new roller coaster. Entrees include chicken, beef brisket and the park’s

famous ribs, all slow-smoked for hours over real hickory and oak.

 

Desert Grill: Palatial architecture, exotic entertainment and air-conditioned comfort come together to make

your meal at the Desert Grill truly unforgettable. Watch a live performance while you dine on outstanding

entrees like Baby Back Ribs or Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo — all served fast and fresh. You’ll also find specialty

salads, hot and hearty sandwiches, delectable desserts and a complete kid’s menu.

 

Sultan’s Sweets: Start your day at Busch Gardens with a steaming cup of gourmet coffee and muffins,

cinnamon buns and pastries made fresh daily in the park. Stroll through the shop and feast your eyes on an

incredible array of sweet treats including hand-made candies, cakes and the deliciously decadent Wild

Indulgence Fudge.

 

RIDES

SheiKra: North America’s first dive coaster sends riders through a breathtaking three-minute journey 200

feet up, then 90 degrees straight down — and that’s just the beginning. “Floorless” cars give riders an

unobstructed view of the 70 mph rush, and SheiKra was the first dive coaster to incorporate an Immelmann

loop (a simultaneous loop and roll), a second, 138-foot vertical drop into an underground tunnel and a water

feature finale, all packed into a half-mile of steel track.

 

Kumba: After the blood-curdling thrill of an initial 135 foot drop, you will plunge from 110 feet into a diving

loop, feel a full 3 seconds of absolute weightlessness while spiraling 360 degrees, and tear through one of the

world’s largest vertical loops.

 

Montu: Feel the ultimate rush on one of the tallest and longest inverted roller coasters in the world! Experience

the thrill of an inverse diving loop and a 60-foot vertical loop while you endure speeds of more than 60 miles per

hour and a G-force of 3.85.

 

Gwazi: Challenge the dueling forces of Gwazi: two wooden tracks intertwined into the Southeast’s largest and

fastest double wooden roller coaster. Boasting more than 1.25 million board feet of lumber, Gwazi’s Lion and

Tiger tracks offer two distinct ride experiences.

 

Cheetah Chase: Families will love the curves, drops and corkscrews of Cheetah Chase, a five-story “wild mouse”

style coaster in Timbuktu. With its top speed of 22 mph and 46” height requirement, Cheetah Chase is the

perfect ride for a child’s first coaster experience.

 

Scorpion: Feel the “sting” of Scorpion’s terrifying 60-foot drop and 360-degree loop at incredible speeds.

The Wild Surge: Launch out of a 35-foot mountain crater up above a towering waterfall for a thrilling view of

Jungala’s village below.

 

Jungle Flyers: Young adventurers choose from three different flight patterns to soar 50 feet above Jungala’s

village.

 

Rhino Rally: This wild jeep tour transports guests aboard an off-road adventure through the wilds of Africa,

blending up-close animal encounters with an unpredictable safari competition.

 

Congo River Rapids: Encounter the swift-flowing white water of the Congo River Rapids. Spin through a geyser

and face an ominous waterfall and other thrilling obstacles in a 12-person raft.

 

Stanley Falls: Our Log Flume whisks your whole family through a splashing trip ending in a 40-foot drop that’s

sure to get you soaked!

 

Tanganyika Tidal Wave: Watch out when your seemingly tranquil jungle journey aboard a 20-passenger boat ends

with a sudden plunge down a 55-foot drop, creating a tidal wave that gets everyone sopping wet.

 

SHOWS

“KaTonga: Musical Tales From the Jungle” takes you on a journey to the heart of Africa in a 35-minute

musical celebration of animal folklore. The show follows a day in the lives of aspiring storytellers, called

Griots, as they strive to become masters of their craft. To accomplish this rite of passage, the performers

evoke traditional African stories that mesmerize and entertain! Masterful puppet design, magical folklore,

energetic original music and spectacular African-inspired dance combine to create the first theme park show

of Broadway-production caliber.

 

Rock A Doo Wop: This all-new show at the Marrakesh Theater features the greatest hits of the ’50s and ’60s,

performed by eight talented singers and dancers. Guests will enjoy favorite songs like “This Magic Moment”

and “Sherry” as they travel back in time to the doo-wop era.

 

Pirates 4-D: A swashbuckling 4-D comedy for the entire family, the Caribbean caper combines the latest 4-D

special-effects technology with multi-sensory theater effects to thrill guests of all ages. The 750-seat Timbuktu

Theater features four digital projectors that run simultaneously, and guests wear 3-D glasses to view the visual

effects that allow the film action to vault off the screen. Surround-sound speakers built into the seats and special

effects, including wind and sprays of water, further immerse the audience in this treasure-hunt adventure.

 

Mystic Sheiks of Morocco: Snap your fingers and move your feet to the music of this high-energy brass and

percussion marching band.

 

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS

Serengeti Plain: This habitat features hundreds of exotic African animals that can be seen from the Serengeti

Express Railway, Skyride, Serengeti Safari and various walkways. The 65-acre environment includes expansive

berms, the largest of which is four acres; tiered and open landscapes covered with native and African

grasses, scrub trees and shrubs; rock outcroppings and bluffs replicating natural formations; and naturalistic

creek beds and mud banks.

 

Myombe Reserve: Enter the lush forest where gorillas and chimpanzees can be viewed in this naturalistic

rainforest habitat. Tour the Great Ape Domain amid waterfalls and through shrouds of mist and fog to get an

up-close look at these majestic primates.

 

Edge of Africa: This habitat offers an intense walking safari where guests can experience hippopotamus,

lions, lemurs, meerkats, crocodiles and lappet-faced vultures in natural habitats themed around an

abandoned African fishing village.

 

Jambo Junction: The former Busch Gardens’ Nairobi Field Station now allows greater interaction between

guests and the park’s animal ambassadors. The new area is called Jambo Junction, a name inspired by a

Swahili greeting. At Jambo Junction, you can participate in animal feedings, lessons in husbandry and

behavior training. Featured animals include Caribbean flamingos, lemurs, cuscuses, sloths and opossums.

 

Bird Gardens: Soar over to our Bird Gardens area to check out almost 500 tropical birds from around the

globe. You can enjoy the Wild Wings of Africa show, see our feather-filled aviary, and experience the

powerful presence of bald and golden eagles in Eagle Canyon. After the show you can talk to conservation

educators about how to attract birds to your own backyard.

 

Lory Landing: The domed habitat showcases a variety of brilliantly colored birds including several species of

parrots, including lorikeets, as well as hornbills and pheasants in both free flight and observational

environments.

 

Clydesdale Hamlet: Guests can pose for a picture with one of the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales during

daily photo and petting sessions.

 

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Tree Top Trails: With climbing nets, bridges, crawl tubes and a multi-level maze for bigger kids, plus a waterplay

area for younger children, this 3-story family play area allows visitors to explore the different levels of

jungle life.

 

Land of the Dragons: Includes our three-story-tall tree house, an enchanted forest, one-of-a-kind slides, a

gentle waterfall, wonderful rides and, of course, friendly dragons! The Land of the Dragons’ stage features a

family-friendly show staring Dumphrey the dragon and friends.

 

Serengeti Express Train: See the beauty of the Serengeti Plains as you make a round-trip journey from our

Nairobi train station on the Serengeti Express Train.

 

King Tut’s Tomb: Travel back in time to the mysteries of King Tut’s Tomb. You’ll get to visit a realistic

replication of King Tut’s burial site as it was being excavated in the 1920s. The park’s Egypt area also includes

an area for kids to do their own digging.

 

Skyride: View the spectacular scenery as you fly through the air in a cable car that runs between the Crown

Colony area and the Congo on the opposite side of the park.

 

EDUCATIONAL TOURS AND PROGRAMS

Serengeti Safari: For animal enthusiasts, we offer half hour Serengeti Safari tours daily. This open truck tour

offers guests a unique look at our Serengeti Plain habitat and the opportunity to feed giraffes, antelopes and

birds by hand! Encounter African wildlife up close with a Busch Gardens education specialist as your guide.

Cost of the tour is $33.99 per person plus tax in addition to park admission.

 

Heart of Jungala Tour: Go deep into the heart of Jungala with this 30-minute behind-the-scenes tour. With a

knowledgeable zoo educator as your tour guide, you will quickly become an animal expert as you go face-to

face with endangered Bengal tigers and Bornean orangutans. On this walking tour, you will also witness

behavior training and interactions led by the keepers. Cost of the tour is $33.99 per person, and a portion of

the proceeds will benefit the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

 

Family-Friendly Safari: This half hour open truck tour is geared for families with small children. It offers

guests an opportunity to meet an animal ambassador, as well as a unique look at our Serengeti Plain habitat

hosted by a Busch Gardens’ tour guide. Encounter African wildlife up close and hand-feed giraffes! Cost of

the tour is $33.99 per person plus tax in addition to park admission.

 

Sundowner Safari: As the sun sets over the Serengeti Plain and the day’s adventure draws to a close, experience an

animal encounter unlike any Busch Gardens has ever offered. It begins in the Crown Colony’s Brew Master’s Club,

where guests can sample premium lagers. Then, the journey continues on the park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain, where

participants will hand-feed giraffes and encounter other African wildlife while indulging in Anheuser-Busch’s worldclass

beers. This 45-minute tour is offered daily for $39.99 per person, plus tax, for ages 21 and older with proper

identification.

 

Animal Adventure Tours: Experience the ultimate adventure during our two-hour behind-the-scenes Animal

Adventure Tour, featuring some of the park’s most famous animals. The tour combines a walking safari with

an off-road truck tour, hosted by a Busch Gardens education specialist and animal care staff. Cost of the tour

is $119.99 per person plus tax in addition to park admission.

 

Saving a Species: During this 45-minute safari, guests can meet giraffes up close, observe some truly wild

behavior from our white rhinos, and then meet our famous black rhinos. Talk to zookeepers who are working

to save these endangered species, and learn about the different conservation efforts that Busch Gardens and

the World Wildlife Fund are making to protect wild places. Cost of the tour is $44.99 per person plus tax in

addition to park admission, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit World Wildlife Fund conservation

projects.

 

Keeper For A Day: Go behind-the-scenes and get a crash course in Zoo Keeping 101! This program gives you

the opportunity to experience one of the coolest careers in the world — be a zookeeper at Busch Gardens

Tampa Bay. Your adventure begins early in the morning by assisting zookeepers feed, train and care for the

animals that inhabit the Serengeti Plain; including birds, antelope and giraffes. Cost of the tour is $350.00

each, tax included in addition to park admission.

 

Busch Gardens Adventure Camps: Busch Gardens’ education department also offers many summer classes,

sleepover opportunities, residential programs and adventure camps for kids of all ages, as well as the whole

family. For information, call (877)-BGT-CAMP or e-mail education@buschgardens.org.

 

GUIDED TOURS

Animal Adventure: Are you up to the next challenge? Can you handle the extreme? This tour combines a walking

safari with an off-road truck tour right to the heart of Busch Gardens. Cost for both adults and children are

$119.99 each plus tax.

 

Guided Adventure: Love animals? Can’t get enough coasters? Trek through Busch Gardens with an expert guide.

The cost for adults is $149.95 each plus tax, and for children the cost is $119.95 plus tax.

 

Thrill-Seekers: Thrill-Seekers Tours are semi-private 3-hour guided tours that include front of the line access to

all major rides and attractions, including Gwazi, Montu, Kumba, SheiKra, Congo River Rapids and Tanganyika

Tidal Wave. The cost for adults is $99.95 plus tax, and for children the cost is $79.95 each plus tax.

 

Elite Adventure Tour: This unique, 8-hour private tour begins with you and your private tour guide creating your

day’s adventure. Then, you are off to experience it VIP style with front-of-the-line access to most major rides,

reserved seating to the world-class Katonga show, lunch at the upper-level Crown Colony Restaurant and a oneof-

a-kind experience hand-feeding a giraffe on our Serengeti Safari tour.

 

Tour components and prices are subject to change without notice. Tours must be canceled a minimum of 48

hours in advance or total payment is forfeited and a tour voucher will be issued. Park admission is required, but

not included. For reservations, call (813) 984-4043 or (813) 984-4073, or e-mail Bgt.viptours@buschgardens.com

 

Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC) operates 10 Worlds of Discovery, including SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island in Tampa Bay and Busch Gardens Europe and Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Va.; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; and Sesame Place near Philadelphia. BEC, the  family entertainment division of Anheuser-Busch InBev, plays host to 25 million guests each year and employs 26,000 people nationwide. To learn more about the Worlds of Discovery, visit www.4adventure.com or call toll-free (800)4ADVENTURE. Additionally, the BEC created the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a non-profit, private charitable foundation committed to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation, research, education and animal rescue programs worldwide.

 

Some great rates for DCL sailings from our official travel agent, The Magic For Less Travel.

 

~ Exclusive Magic For Less Travel Shipboard Credit Offer ~

Our exclusive promotion CAN be combined with Disney released specials!

Receive an exclusive shipboard credit on your next Disney cruise when you book with The Magic for Less Travel.  This is not a rebate or check you will receive after you cruise; this is a shipboard credit you can use on your cruise! Use your credits for shopping, shore excursions, spa treatments and more.  More shipboard credit means more fun for you!

 

Cruises Priced at $1000 or above receive a $50 shipboard credit*

Cruises Priced at $2000 or above receive an $85 shipboard credit *

Cruises Priced at $3000 or above receive a $100 shipboard credit *

Cruises Priced at $4000 or above receive a $150 shipboard credit *

Cruises Priced at $5000 or above receive a $200 shipboard credit *

Cruises Priced at $6000 or above receive a $250 shipboard credit *

Cruises Priced at $7000 or above receive a $300 shipboard credit*

 

**For new reservations made through The Magic for Less Travel only. If you have an existing reservation made directly with Disney Cruise Line, contact us to see if we can help you save money. Shipboard credits can be used to pay for spa treatments, drinks, shore excursions and other shipboard activities.  When determining your shipboard credit, the credit is calculated on the base price of your cruise and is the price BEFORE taxes, transfers, port charges, air tickets, the land portion of a land/sea package and any non-commissionable options and fees. Ask your counselor for more details.

 

 

Receive Up to 5% in Shipboard Credit When You Book Your European or Repositioning Cruise with The Magic for Less Travel

Receive an shipboard credit on your 2010 European or repositioning Disney cruise when you book with The Magic for Less Travel.  This is not a rebate or check you will receive after you cruise; this is an shipboard credit you can use on your cruise! Use your credits for shopping, shore excursions, spa treatments and more.  Cruises must be booked by 4/30/09to qualify for this promotion.

Some examples:

 

Cruises Priced at $1000 or above receive a $50 Shipboard credit*

Cruises Priced at $3000 or above receive a $150 Shipboard credit * 

Cruises Priced at $4000 or above receive a $200 Shipboard credit *

Cruises Priced at $8000 or above receive a $400 Shipboard credit*

Cruises Priced at $9000 or above receive a $450 Shipboard credit*

Cruises Priced at $10000 or above receive a $500 Shipboard credit*

Cruises Priced at $12000 or above receive a $600 Shipboard credit*

Cruises Priced at $14000 or above receive a $700 Shipboard credit

 Cruises Priced at $20,000 or above receive a $1,000 Shipboard credit*

 

*Shipboard credit above is provided as examples and guests will receive OBC of 5% for each thousand dollars of the base price of the cruise.  For new reservations only, not available on reservations transferred to The Magic for Less.  This bonus is only available on 2010 European and repositioning Disney Cruise Line cruises.  When determining your shipboard credit, the credit is calculated on the base price of your cruise and is the price BEFORE taxes, transfers, port charges, air tickets, gratuities, and any non-commissionable options and fees.

 

Half Off Disney Cruise Line Deposits

Disney Cruise Line is requiring half of the usual deposit for a limited time.  This offer is only available on new cruises and for category 4-12 staterooms. Some restrictions apply.

 

Extra $25 in Shipboard Credit!

Receive a $25 shipboard credit when your Magic for Less Travel agent reserves your cruise on-line before Shipboard credits can be used to pay for spa treatments, drinks, shore excursions and other shipboard activities.

 

**This offer CAN be combined with the Magic For Less Travel’s exclusive OB credit offers and some other special offers.  This offer is not available on special Magic for Less Group Cruise Sailings and is only valid on cabin categories 4-12. 

 

$50 Shipboard Credits for Disney Visa Cardholders

Book by: 12/31/09

 

Disney Visa cardholders receive a $50 shipboard credit for any 2009 cruise sailing through 12/30/09. You must use your Disney Visa card when reserving and paying for the cruise. This offer IS combinable with our MFLT DCL shipboard credit offer, but is not available with any other on-board credit offer and black-out dates may apply.  This offer is not available on certain group cruise sailings dates.

 

Special Magic For Less Travel Group Cruise Rates

Book before these special rates sell out!

We want to help you book the best rates for your Disney Cruise Line vacation, and have blocked staterooms on some very special sailing dates.  This means that you have access to some incredible rates that are even lower than the rates currently offered by the Disney Cruise Line website and reservation center.  These savings are reflected in the prices above and the staterooms available at this rate are extremely limited.  Check out the link below to see the applicable dates.

 

Great news everyone, we have finally opened the Travelears merchandise store. You guys have told us that you want to know where you can get your official travelears merchandise, and starting today  you can now directly order your Travelears merchandise online through printfection.

 

We have initially launched two selections of merchandise to celebrate our upcoming meets:

 

Our Westfest ’09 Selection:

 

Our Two kingdom Tour Selection:

 

Let us know what you think, and what else you would like added to the selection. You can place your orders with printfection here: Travelears Merchandise Store

Thanks

Aj, Chris, Greg, Ray, Ryan, Shannon and Will

 

 

Specials from The Magic for Less Travel

Check out some of the great deals from our official Travelears travel agency.

 

Disney Cruise Line

The Magic for Less Travel’s onboard credit offer

>>> Exclusive Magic for Less Travel Disney Cruise Line Offer <<<

Receive an onboard credit on your next Disney cruise when you book with The Magic for Less Travel. This is not a rebate or check you will receive after you cruise; this is an onboard credit you can use on your cruise! Use your credits for shopping, shore excursions, spa treatments, and more. More onboard credit means more fun for you!

Cruises Priced at $1,000 or above: we offer a $50 onboard credit *
Cruises Priced at $2,000 or above: we offer an $85 onboard credit *
Cruises Priced at $3,000 or above: we offer a $100 onboard credit *
Cruises Priced at $4,000 or above: we offer a $150 onboard credit *
Cruises Priced at $5,000 or above: we offer a $200 onboard credit *
Cruises Priced at $6,000 or above: we offer a $250 onboard credit *
Cruises Priced at $7,000 or above: we offer a $300 onboard credit *

Terms and Conditions:

*For new reservations made through The Magic for Less Travel only. If you have an existing reservation made directly with Disney Cruise Line, contact us to see if we can help you save money. Onboard credits can be used to pay for spa treatments, drinks, shore excursions, and other onboard activities. When determining your onboard credit, the credit is calculated on the base price of your cruise and is the price BEFORE taxes, transfers, port charges, air tickets, the land portion of a land/sea package, and any non-commissionable options and fees. This offer may not be available on some sailing dates. Ask your counselor for details.

 

Special Magic for Less Travel Group Cruise Rates
Book before these special rates sell out! We want to help you book the best possible rates for your Disney Cruise Line vacation, and have blocked staterooms on some very special sailing dates. This means that you have access to some incredible rates that are even lower than the rates currently offered by the Disney Cruise Line website and reservation center. These savings are reflected in the prices above and the staterooms available at this rate are extremely limited. Check out the link below to see the applicable dates.

 

Free Dining Is Back!

Dates: August 16, 2009 – October 3, 2009
Book by: June 21, 2009

Experience a delicious way to enjoy your Walt Disney World Resort vacation! Buy this Walt Disney World Magic Your Way vacation package with hotel and Theme Park tickets and get the Disney Dining Plan FREE!

At this affordable price, guests can celebrate any magical milestone — with meals and a snack included for every night of your visit!

Special Magic Your Way packages with FREE Disney Dining Plan are available for 8/16/09 – 10/03/09 travel dates. The Disney Dining plan includes one (1) Table Service Meal, one (1) Quick Service meal, and one (1) Snack per Guest per night at participating Disney Resort hotel and Theme Park locations. It is typically priced at 39.99 per adult (10 and over) and 10.99 per child, per night. This is a substantial savings, and the numbers of rooms available with this special are limited. This special must be booked by 6/21/09.

Availability is limited. Package rates CAN be combined with The Magic for Less Travel’s Minnie Pack and Deluxe Pixie Dust promotions.

FREE Minnie Pack — EXCLUSIVE Magic for Less Travel Offer
Our exclusive promotion CAN be combined with Disney released specials!

The Magic for Less Travel will offer a FREE Minnie Pack to all guests who book a new Magic Your Way package priced at $1,500 or more. The Minnie Pack includes 2 neck wallets for you to use in the parks and resorts. Packages priced at $2,500* or more will also receive your choice of a subscription to TourGuideMiKE’s Automated Vacation Planner, a copy of Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World guide, a copy of Kim Button’s Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook or 2 autograph books.

*The price of the vacation is based on the final price you pay for your vacation package after any discount and before any non-commissionable options like airfare are included. Pack contents are subject to change. Book by 4/30/09.

Deluxe Pixie Dust Pack & Gift Card EXCLUSIVE Magic for Less Offer

Our exclusive promotion CAN be combined with Disney released specials!

The Magic for Less Travel will offer a FREE Deluxe Pixie Dust Pack to all guests who book a new Magic Your Way package priced at $3,500* or more. The Deluxe Pixie Dust Pack includes two neck wallets for your party, a $25 Disney gift card and your choice of a subscription to TourGuideMiKE’s Automated Vacation Planner, a copy of Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World guide a copy of Kim Button’s Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook or 2 autograph books.

*The price of the vacation is based on the final price you pay for your vacation package after any discounts and before any non-commissionable options like airfare are included. Pack contents are subject to change. Book by 4/30/09.

 

Disneyland Special

 

FREE Disneyland Resort Gift Card from The Magic for Less!

Book a Disneyland package of $1,500* or more with The Magic for Less Travel and receive a $25 Disneyland Resort Gift Card. Book a Disneyland package of $3,000 or more with The Magic for Less Travel and receive a $50 gift card! The gift Cards are accepted at many Disneyland Resort shopping and dining locations and can be used to pay for shopping, dining and even theme park admission. We are sure you will find a way to put them to good use!

*This promotion is valid for new Disneyland package reservations booked with The Magic for Less Travel and must be booked by 4/30/09. This is valid for the onsite Disneyland resort packages as well as the Good Neighbor hotel packages priced at $1,500 or more before taxes, airfare and other package components. This offer CAN be combined with other offers and specials.

 

Receive a gift card up to $200

Book your Adventure with The Magic for Less Travel and receive our expert help and a gift card too! With a choice of 22 incredible vacations you can travel around the world in Disney style!

• Book an Adventures by Disney vacation of $2,000 or more and receive a $100 gift card.
• Book an Adventures by Disney vacation of $4,000 or more receive a $150 gift card.
• Book an Adventures by Disney vacation of $6,000 or more receive a $200 gift card.

*Valid for new reservations only. Gift card is a preloaded Disney gift card, Visa or Mastercard Book by 04/30/09. Gift card amount based on the final price of your vacation after any discounts or non-commissionable options.

Image Courtesy of Walt Disney World

The lunch and dinner menus have become available for Sanaa, the new Animal Kingdom restaurant -

Lunch Menu

Indian Style Bread Service
(Choice of 3 breads and 3 accompaniments)
Serves Two $8.99

Breads: Naan, Roti, Paratha, Paneer Paratha

Accompaniments: Mint and Onion Raita, Cucumber Raita, Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney, Garlic-Ginger Pickle, Mango-Lime Pickle, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, Tamarind Chutney

Appetizers

Sampler for Two – Potato and Pea Samosa, Lamb Kefta, Roasted Cauliflower $14.99

Paneer Cheese – with pickled eggplant and coriander chutney $6.99

Lamb Kefta – with tamarind and dried papaya sauce $8.99

Roasted Cauliflower – with tomato sauce $5.49

Potato and Pea Samosas – with choice of tamarind or mango chutney $7.99

Salad Sampler
Choice of Three Salads $6.99

Roasted Beets
Okra, Radish, and Tomato
Chickpeas with cucumber and tomato
Carrot, orange, and mint
Roasted potato, corn and spinach

Soups

Tomato and Paneer Cheese $5.49
Seasonal Soup $6.99

From the Tandoor Ovens

Tandoori Chicken – wrapped in Naan bread with minted greens, tomato, and cucumber yogurt raita $14.99

Tandoori Sustainable Fish – wrapped in Naan bread with minted greens, tomato, and cucumber yogurt raita $18.99

African Cooking with Indian Flavors

Dum Biryani – fresh vegetables and basmati rice wrapped in bread dough with pineapple raita $13.99

Grilled Port Chop – glazed with ginger and pickled lime sauce served with sauteed spinach $17.99

Today’s Sustainable Fish – served with seasonal vegetables in a light curry broth $18.99

Grilled Angus Chuck Burger – wrapped in Naan bread with minted greens, tomato, and cucumber yogurt raita $10.99

Club Sandwich – Fresh-sliced roast turkey breast, turkey bacon, vine-ripened tomato served on multi-grain bread with choice of salad or fresh fruit $11.49

Sides

Lentil Puree $3.29
Stir-fried Green Beans $3.99
Paneer Cheese and Spinach $3.99
Basmati Rice $2.99
Five-Grain Pilaf $3.99
Crushed Potatoes $3.49

Specialty Cocktails

Magical Star Cocktail – Light up your celebration with X-Fusion Organic Mango and Passion Fruit Liqueur, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, and a souvenier multicolored glow cube $9.75

African Starr Mojito – Starr African Rum, Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur from South African, fresh mint, lime $9.25

Malawi Mango Margarita – frozen blend of Tequila, Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur, Mago Puree and freshly squeexed Lime Juice $8.25

Kande Coconut Cooler – refreshing combination of Starr African Run, coconut, vanilla ice cream and orange juice $8.25

Painted Lemur – Amarula Fruit Cream Liqueur and Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur combined in a Chocolate-striped glass inspired by the distinctive striped tail of the Madagascar lemur $8.25

Non-Alcoholic Specialties

Tinker Bell and Friends or Lightning McQueen Raceway Punch – Minute Maid Light Raspberry Lemonade served in a souvenier Faires or Cars Cup with a glowing Tinker Bell or Lightning McQueen clip-on light $6.49

Mega-Berry Smootie – Raspberry puree and nonfat yogurt blended with Odwalla Berries GoMega $4.29

Mango Lassi Smoothie – frozen blend of mango puree with nonfat yogurt $4.29

 

Sanaa Wine Story

Each food item on the menu is paired with a specific food friendly wine. In some cases there is more than one wine listed. The wine which is listed at the top is regarded as the most favored match. However, everyone’s palate is unique and therefore there are additional wines suggested which work equally well in the pairing. We have created some special wine flights for you to enjoy from an assortment around the world. These flights highlight unique components and style which best compliment the flavors contained within each dish.

Beer

Draft: Safari Amber $6.00; Bud Light $5.25; Blue Moon $6.00; Samuel Adams Seasonal $6.00

Bottled: Tusker Premium Lager (Kenya); Windhoek Lager (Namibia) $6.75; Kingfisher Premium Lager (India) $6.75

Other Beverages

Evian or Perrier 750ml (serves two) $6.50

Press Pot Coffee Kenya AA or Tea $5.95

Coca-cola, Coca Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Minute Maid Light Lemonade $2.29

 

Dinner Menu

Indian Style Bread Service
(Choice of 3 breads and 3 accompaniments)
Serves Two $8.99

Breads: Naan, Roti, Paratha, Paneer Paratha

Accompaniments: Mint and Onion Raita, Cucumber Raita, Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney, Garlic-Ginger Pickle, Mango-Lime Pickle, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, Tamarind Chutney

Appetizers

Sampler for Two – Potato and Pea Samosa, Lamb Kefta, Roasted Cauliflower $14.99

Mustard Seed Crusted Scallops – with a coconut cream sauce $8.99

Pulled Duck with Red Curry Sauce – served on pan-seared five grain rice cake $8.99

Roasted Cauliflower – with tomato sauce $5.49

Potato and Pea Samosas – with choice of tamarind or mango chutney $7.99

Salad Sampler
Choice of Three Salads $6.99

Roasted Beets
Okra, Radish, and Tomato
Chickpeas with cucumber and tomato
Carrot, orange, and mint
Roasted potato, corn and spinach

Soups

Tomato and Paneer Cheese $5.49
Seasonal Soup $6.99

From the Tandoor Ovens
Choice of Basmati Rice or Five-grain pilaf

Tandoori Chicken 17.99

Tandoori Shrimp $18.99

Tandoori Lamb Chops – $20.99

Slow Cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well Seasoned
Choice of Basmati Rice or Five-grain pilaf
$18.99

Chickeen with Red Curry Sauce
Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce
Paneer Cheese and Spinach
Beef Short Ribs

African Cooking with Indian Flavors

Spice-crusted Cornish Game Hen – with turnips and cherries $17.99

Banana Leaf wrapped Sustainable Fish – with ginger and pickled lime sauce served with basmati rice five-grain pilaf $21.99

New York Strip – with spinach and mushroom pancake served with Oven-dried tomato chutney $27.99

Dum Biryani - fresh vegetables and basmati rice wrapped in bread dough with pineapple raita $13.99

 

Sides

Lentil Puree $3.29
Stir-fried Green Beans $3.99
Paneer Cheese and Spinach $3.99
Basmati Rice $2.99
Five-Grain Pilaf $3.99
Crushed Potatoes $3.49

Sanaa Wine Story

Each food item on the menu is paired with a specific food friendly wine. In some cases there is more than one wine listed. The wine which is listed at the top is regarded as the most favored match. However, everyone’s palate is unique and therefore there are additional wines suggested which work equally well in the pairing. We have created some special wine flights for you to enjoy from an assortment around the world. These flights highlight unique components and style which best compliment the flavors contained within each dish.

Specialty Cocktails

Magical Star Cocktail – Light up your celebration with X-Fusion Organic Mango and Passion Fruit Liqueur, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, and a souvenier multicolored glow cube $9.75

African Starr Mojito – Starr African Rum, Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur from South African, fresh mint, lime $9.25

Malawi Mango Margarita – frozen blend of Tequila, Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur, Mago Puree and freshly squeexed Lime Juice $8.25

Kande Coconut Cooler – refreshing combination of Starr African Run, coconut, vanilla ice cream and orange juice $8.25

Painted Lemur – Amarula Fruit Cream Liqueur and Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur combined in a Chocolate-striped glass inspired by the distinctive striped tail of the Madagascar lemur $8.25

Non-Alcoholic Specialties

Tinker Bell and Friends or Lightning McQueen Raceway Punch - Minute Maid Light Raspberry Lemonade served in a souvenier Faires or Cars Cup with a glowing Tinker Bell or Lightning McQueen clip-on light $6.49

Mega-Berry Smoothie – Raspberry puree and nonfat yogurt blended with Odwalla Berries GoMega $4.29

Mango Lassi Smoothie – frozen blend of mango puree with nonfat yogurt $4.29

Beer

Draft: Safari Amber $6.00; Bud Light $5.25; Blue Moon $6.00; Samuel Adams Seasonal $6.00

Bottled: Tusker Premium Lager (Kenya); Windhoek Lager (Namibia) $6.75; Kingfisher Premium Lager (India) $6.75

Other Beverages

Evian or Perrier 750ml (serves two) $6.50

Press Pot Coffee Kenya AA or Tea $5.95

Coca-cola, Coca Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Minute Maid Light Lemonade $2.29

Hi guys, Stephen here from Sydney, Australia.

 

Here is my review of Cruzin DCA on Segways. It is a early start for this tour and you need to meet a cast member at 7:30 am at guest relations. They told us to stand near the letter “C” and they would find us. You are then taken to a room at the back of guest relations to watch a video about the segways and how to ride. They also offer a light breakfast of coffee, tea and pastries.

 

Once the tour begins, youare taken by the cast member to in front of Monsters Inc where you get to have a go at driving the segways. These segways are so much fun to ride and easy to learn. Then you head off to tour the park and stop at many points where the cast member tells you about things in that area that you would not normally know. The tour allows you to see the park from a very different perspective including the large drop at Grizzly River with no water in it and it even allows you to go through redwood creek challenge on the segways. The tour takes in the whole park and some of the back stage areas.

 

At the end of the tour you get you picture taken near the Hyperion theater.You are given a nice souvenir photo and Pin. I think this tour is realy cool and would definitley recommendit to others.

 

This tour takes about 3 hours and costs $99 and is worth every cent. I have attached a photo of my wife and I enjoying the segway tour.

 

Stephen  

One Man’s Dream has long been a fan favorite at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now, the beloved attraction, which pays homage to the life and vision of Walt Disney, now celebrates the fans who are equally important to the Disney legacy. Starting tomorrow, One Man’s Dream will be presented by D23 with new “D23 Welcomes You” signage on the marquee.

“D23 is the ultimate Disney fan community and One Man’s Dream is the ultimate attraction tribute to Walt Disney in our parks so they fit together perfectly,” explains Eric Jacobson, senior vice president, Walt Disney Imagineering, whose team thought of partnering with D23 on the endeavor. “One Man’s Dream showcases the history of Walt Disney and The Walt Disney Company and gives our Guests a look at what is new around the world and a sneak peak at what’s coming. D23 has a similar mission for its members.”

The partnership includes new D23 theming and a new display case featuring the room of a Disney fan (we won’t say whose!), adding to the robust collection of Disney history currently on display. “One Man’s Dream is a collection of artifacts, models, memorabilia and special effects,” adds Eric. “It appeals to the Disney fans because it can’t be seen anywhere else.”

Many of those pieces came from the Walt Disney Archives, which is a big part of the D23 community. “So it’s only natural and fitting that the One Man’s Dream exhibit should be presented by D23,” notes Becky Cline, manager of the Walt Disney Archives and a D23 team member.

Artifacts from the Archives, which have long been a part of the attraction, include Jimmie Dodd’s Mouseguitar from the 1955 Mickey Mouse Club, original props from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Walt Disney’s working office.

The new D23 display case features items the Archives team pulled together — all pieces a real Disney fan might own. “There’s some fun stuff,” Becky says, including the Ultimate WALL·E, a “Treasures of the Archives” lithograph and the five-Mickey pin set which was the very first Walt Disney Archives Collection item. “Plus, a lot of the books are favorites for us in the Archives like Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, The Disney Poster Book and of course from the Disney Archives, Disney A to Z by our very own Dave Smith!” Becky adds.

D23 Press Release

First off, we would like to say thank you to everyone for visiting the Travelears Website so often, that it has caused us to completely redesign the site. We really appreciate the massive amount of feedback that we have received, and we are really pleased that the Travelears has become the central portal of Disney and Theme Park news, events, travel information and advice for so many people.

At 8.30pm (Pacific) we will launch the new website and you will quickly discover many new features for our visitors. 

Over the coming weeks, the site will be enhanced even further with product reviews, interactive content and detailed park information. 

Please let us know what you think, and keep the feedback rolling in.

 

Aj, Chris, Greg, Ray, Ryan, Shannon and Will ]]> http://www.thetravelears.com/2009/04/03/the-travelears-expand-again-into-new-territory/feed/ 0 http://www.thetravelears.com/2009/04/03/the-official-disney-video-of-the-haunted-mansion-attraction/ http://www.thetravelears.com/2009/04/03/the-official-disney-video-of-the-haunted-mansion-attraction/#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:26:39 +0000 Aj http://www.thetravelears.com/?p=1589

Great news everyone, Disney has released a official short video of  the ghostly retreat of The Haunted Mansion attraction, the place where grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize, at Magic Kingdom Theme Park in Walt Disney World Resort Florida. It is a short one, but very good quality.

Enjoy…. Aj

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTTWX-XvHg0&feature=channel_page

D23 Update

I finally received all my D23 packages after what seemed like an eternity. I signed up on March 10, 2009, the first day the D23 memberships were available, on a whim to see what all the hub bub was about.

After about 9 days I received my membership card which I wrote about here on the Travelears Blog on March 20, 2009.  Shortly after that post I started to hear and read how others were receiving the remainder of their D23 packages and the much anticipated “special gift” and I was disappointed I had not received mine. I did sign up on the first day didn’t I?  What was the special gift, would it simply be a pin? GOD I hope not. Well the reports coming in indicated the gift was not a pin, it was a lithograph of Mickey’s 80th Birthday. For me this is a welcomed gift as I have many previous lithographs from other Mickey Mouse anniversaries from when I work for Disneyland.

I did question whether or not the gift was a lithograph or a really nice poster on heavy paper. My lithograph arrived on March 25, 2009 and I left it in the tube, I didn’t even look. On the March 27, 2009, tube in hand, I traveled to a friends reprographics shop were I had the lithograph scanned for archival purposes.  I was impressed with the lithograph but was disappointed they were not numbered like most collectible lithographs are. It did have a nice embossing in the lower right corner that indicates the lithograph is part of D23 Walt Disney Archives Collection.

D23 Mickey Mouse Litho

D23 Litho Embossing

I have also scanned the Certificate of Authenticity for you as well as the Charter Member gift letter that was enclosed with the lithograph.

D23 Litho Certificate of Authenticity

D23 Special Gift Letter

On March 27, 2009 I received the final portion of my D23 packages. It was packed in a nice white package and as I opened it, the D23 magazine, my membership certificate and another Charter Member welcome letter were all inside.

D23 Unopened Package

D23 Unopened Package with seal still intact

All three packages, the membership card, the lithograph and the final magazine package with membership certificate all came from the same address in Florence, Kentucky. Walt Disney Company – 7455 Empire Drive – Florence, Kentucky – 41042. I can understand the lithograph coming separate, but I am not sure why they would ship the membership card and the final package separately. I am sure they have their reasons, it just seems odd.

D23 is off the ground now and lets hope it get goes well because I would love to see the D23 Community work and for Disney to bring us things we as fans want to see from them in the form of collectibles, video content, etc.

Below is our son’s Charter Membership Certificate:

In the same delivery came his copy of the Disney twenty-three magazine.  Now I can’t wait until our Membership Packet arrives…hopefully within the next few days.

With rumours of everybody’s favourite rat showing up at EPCOT over the past few weeks, we are pleased to bring you the evidence.

The following youtube videos of Ratatouille’s ”Remy  Living Character Initiative” were taken by Jeff Lange last week in the park and you can access his outstanding youtube channel here: LINK

Enjoy these great video’s.  Aj

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTBzvJeNwQQ&feature=related#

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA5ihedBiIg&feature=related

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_cZi0UEu0&feature=related

Some photos of the interiors of the new Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas have surfaced on the Internet.  Included are some work-in-progress pictures of the interiors and some balcony images showing off the location of some of the villas to the nearby Sassagoula River.  Since the villas are still under construction, the finished product is subject to change.  The Treehouse Villas will be available for stays beginning June 1, 2009.  The photos were originally posted on About.com by Charlyn Keating Chisholm.

Treehouse Villas Kitchen

 

 

Living Room

 

 

View of the Sassagoula River

 

 

View of the vaulted ceilings

 

 

Balcony View of Sassagoula River

 

 

Master Bathroom

 

 

Outdoor Terrace

 

 

As part of our ongoing coverage of Disney’s D23 announcement, we are pleased to present your the official Disney D23 video. Enjoy, Aj

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGjqbJNjecE