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2010-04-28T16:14:00.001-04:00

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Official Opening Date!

2010-04-23T15:53:00.003-04:00

Get ready, muggles and magic folk alike -- Universal Resort Orlando has finally announced the official opening date for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The big day is June 18, 2010. That's right! Just in time for the big summer travel season, Universal will open the doors to their highly-anticipated new Island, based entirely on the works and world of J. K. Rowling.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter shares Island space with The Lost Continent but is an entirely new creation. Visitors will walk the streets of Hogsmeade Village, enjoy a butterbeer (already reputed to be delicious!) at The Three Broomsticks or The Hog's Head, grab some pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs at Honeydukes Sweets Shop, and more. Check out all the magical ephemera in Dumbledore's office. Take a wander through the Griffindor common room. Find your wand at Ollivander's. The attention to detail is said to be extreme and exquisite, with much of it having been designed with input from Rowling herself.

Hogwarts Castle stands tall over the Wizarding World, drawing you to the park's centerpiece -- a magical flight with Ron, Hermione and Harry himself. The ride combines state-of-the-art animatronics and robotics with 360-degree immerse filming technology so you can experience the full effect of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. And they say waiting in line for the ride is half the fun, thanks to a whole lot of that detail I mentioned earlier. The queue takes you through some of the most iconic locations from the beloved book series, including Dumbledore's office, the Griffindor Common Room, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, even the castle dungeons. There are also two outdoor coasters -- Dragon Encounter (for your chance at the TriWizard Cup) and Flight of the Hippogriff (right by Hagrid's hut). This will be THE summer experience for book lovers, theme park-goers, and ride aficionados alike. There is nothing like it anywhere else and the level of detail and layered experience all but guarantees plenty of return visits. This is a definite for any Orlando vacation but if you want to hit it on or close to opening day, book now -- Universal's special packages are already selling out fast!

The Orlando You Don't Know: Spend a day in Old Florida

2010-04-12T17:31:00.003-04:00

A mere 45 minutes from the parks awaits a lush paradise that is an unexpected surprise. Wekiva Springs State park is a different kind of Florida, the closest you can come to what things were like centuries ago, long before theme parks and interstates and Starbucks. Wekiva is part of the Florida State Park system and it prides itself on being " a glimpse of what Central Florida looked like when Timucuan Indians fished and hunted these lands."

Wekiva is a wonderful break from the ordinary, often hectic rush of an Orlando theme park vacation. Wekiva has acres and acres for you to explore at your leisure. There are trails for hiking, walking, bicycling, and horseback riding. You can take a kayak or canoe (rentals available at the park) ride on the often crystal clear water for glimpses of wildlife both on land and beneath the shimmering surface -- animals like Alligators, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Limpkins, Little Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Woodpeckers, Swallow-tailed Kites, Florida Black Bears, White-tailed Deer, River Otters, and Fox are just some of what you may see. Swimming and snorkeling is available year-round as well, since the spring maintain a natural temperature of 72 degrees no matter what the air temp is--that's refreshing in the hottest Florida summer and still comfortable during cool Orlando winters. Just remember this is a State Park, not a theme park -- all animals are wild animals and you always swim/snorkel at your own risk. I'd stick with the kayaks, myself, but the more adventurous out there might think differently.

Wekiva is one of my favorite places in the Orlando area. It's a peaceful, beautiful haven, the perfect place to relax and get away from all stresses, even the ones vacations sometimes bring. And at $5 a carload, it's a real bargain. This is a day trip well worth making time for, especially with the new Nature Center where you can learn about Florida history as well as local flora and fauna. There are even live wildlife specimens if you're not brave enough to hit the trails on your own. You can bring your own food to Wekiva too, so grab a picnic basket or a loaded backpack; there are also a few concession stands serving snacks and basics.

If you go to Wekiva, be sure to pack plenty of sunblock, bottled water and insect repellent; the Florida sun is strong and the bugs can be plentiful. A small first aid kit isn't a bad idea either, especially for inexperienced hikers. In my opinion, the best way to spend time at Wekiva is relaxing near the big spring swimming hole, stretched out on a blanket with a good book, with perhaps the occasional walk along the 18-mile boardwalk to try to spy some lurking wildlife. Bring your camera, bring a blanket, bring the family. This is the Orlando area at its most unexpected. Make time for it if you can.

Wekiwa Springs State Park\
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka, Florida 32712
(407) 884-2008

Wekiwa Springs State Park

*Photographs credit of The Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Just in time for spring and summer heat, a new water slide at Aquatica

2010-04-09T14:59:00.002-04:00

Aquatica is getting ready for the spring and summer seasons with a new, thrilling water slide -- Omaka Rocka. This brand new family slide features high-speed tubes and half-pipe funnels. That means you'll be splashing and dashing while sliding every possible way -- forward, backward and even up the walls! Once you reach the bottom, you'll literally skim and skip across the water before the drenching splashdown. I've sent my Orlando spies to go check out the new water action, so expect a first-hand report very soon.

After the splashdown, if you're up for splashing out, you can look into renting a private cabana. Aquatica offers several levels for those who want a guaranteed places to relax and aren't concerned about paying extra for it. There is a wide range of prices as well as amenities, starting from $99/day for up to four guests (extra guests for an additional $15/person) all the way to the Ultimate Cabana at a whopping $600/day. Cabanas feature upgraded furniture, lockers and more; some even include complimentary drinks and ceiling fans. But Cabana rentals do not include park admission--these rentals are all extras but during high capacity times, they're worth budgeting for, provided you make your reservations early.

But it's not all luxury extras--Aquatica has a new way to save money, as well. Check out the after 2pm pass, which allows entrance to the park after 2pm for the rest of 2010. That's NINE MONTHS of entry, with NO blackout dates, for $49.99 -- a whopping $2 more than a standard one day adult pass. That's a fantastic deal, especially if you know anything about Orlando summer weather, where daily morning and early afternoon thunderstorms are the norm. By 2pm, that weather will generally have passed and the parks will likely be less crowded, with the weather having chased away the morning crowds. Take advantage of this deal for sure.

April Fools Day

2010-04-01T16:26:00.001-04:00

Happy April Fool’s Day! No practical jokes here, just a Disney way of looking at the day. Disney animated films have a long and proud history of fools and foolish characters, the ones we love to laugh at and who antics make us smile. How many of them do you have fond memories of? Here’s a list to get you started.

Goofy

Dopey (Snow White)

Scuttle (Little Mermaid)

La Fou (Beauty and the Beast)

Gus Gus (Cinderella)

Horace & Jasper (101 Dalmatians)

Snoops (The Rescuers)

The Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee & Teedle Dum (Alice in Wonderland)

Sir Hiss (Robin Hood)

Mater (Cars)

Mike Wazowski (Monsters, Inc.)

Clopin (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Meeko (Pocahontas)

Kronk (The Emperor's New Groove)

Mr. Smee (Peter Pan)

Uncle Albert (Mary Poppins)

Iago (Aladdin)

Timon and Pumba (The Lion King)

Captain Jack (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Pain and Panic (Hercules)

Mushu (Mulan)

Who are your favorite fools and tricksters? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Orlando Travel with Kids, Part 2 of 2

2010-03-29T15:42:00.002-04:00

Meredith Bailin-Hull has always been a Disney fan. "When I was a child, we went to WDW every holiday break without fail. We’d stop for a few nights on our way to visit my grandparents in Miami. This was when there was only the Magic Kingdom, and then for a few years after EPCOT opened, however, so 2 days was more than enough to get in all of the things we wanted to do. As I got older the trips became less frequent, much to my disappointment."

When she married and had a child of her own, she was ready to share that love. "I managed to convince my husband, who is not quite the Disneyphile I am, to spend part of our honeymoon at the Parks. Every time we go back I relive pieces of my childhood. The anticipation before the trip and the pure joy of being there have not dwindled a bit. I may as well be 6 again. My daughter is 2 ½ and has only been to the parks once, when she was just a year old. We went with friends who have a little girl 2 years older than ours and the two of them had a blast. We are planning a trip back this fall, when our daughter will be 3 and have already started to prepare her. She can’t wait to visit the 'princess castle' (as she calls it) and to meet all of her favorite characters."

Traveling with a little girl has changed the way Meredith experiences the parks, but it has not diminished her love for it. And she's determined that it never will! Here are her best tips for not losing your theme park love, while trying to pass it along to the next generation.

Tip #1 -- Plan as much as you can.
We learned early on that a relaxing Disney vacation with children requires advanced prep and scheduling. You have to work for the relaxation! We make all meal reservations as far in advance as we can, and try to hit on all of the spots we think we may want to eat. We may book two different restaurants for the same meal and decide between them at the last minute. The key is to have that schedule set so that you aren’t turned away at meal time, and so you don’t waste valuable ride/show time deciding where to eat. This mean you will have to decide ahead of time which park you will be at each day, but it is well worth it! I get the kid excited by playing Disney videos and the Sing-Along Song DVDs that are filmed in the parks.
I am not an organized person by nature, so I have to force myself to be as proactive as possible. I make a list of all of the items I believe we will need while on vacation (including during travel). I break the list up between things that I have to pack and things that I can get upon arrival. GardenGrocer.com delivers grocery items to WDW hotels (and off-site, too), so I start my order with them as soon as I can (you can edit it up to a day before, I believe). Things like shampoo, baby formula, diapers, a case of water, sunblock, breakfast bars, etc. can all be delivered to your resort at a fraction of what it would cost to buy these things on-site.

Tip #2 -- Then plan to be flexible
Have a plan. Decide which parks you are going to on which days and have a basic outline of which rides/shows are the “must haves”. Do NOT be afraid of deviating from your plan. Flexibility is just as important as having an itinerary in the first place. If you have a little one, have a stroller, period. They don’t have to be in tit all of the time, but the option should be available. Use the Parent Swap (also called Baby Swap) option. Wait on line with everyone and then ask for a Baby/Parent swap ticket when you get to the front of the line. One person stays out with the kid(s), the rest ride. The ticket you have will now be good for 3 people any time during that day – just take the ticket to the Fast Pass line and go on in. This is a great way to let older kids ride more often! Another tip: these don’t work like Fast Pass. You can have more than one in your hot little hand at a time. Use the bajeezus out of this!

Tip #3 -- Have plenty of the basics
Repeat after me and make this your mantra: Water & Sunblock. Bring it with you everywhere. Refill your water at water fountains so you don’t pay the high prices for the bottled water.

Tip #4 -- Staying on-site can save time and money
We like the ease of staying on-site, plus the access to Extra Magic Hours and the Disney Meal Plan. If you are traveling on a budget, the All-Star and Pop-Century resorts are very affordable and much MUCH nicer than anything you’ll get for that price off-site. Chances are that you won’t spend that much time in the room, anyway. Ask for a fridge in your room if one isn't already supplied. Staying on-site can mean skipping the cost of a rental car, especially if you only plan to hit the major parks.
If you are staying on-site, nothing beats the mal plans. We have used the Deluxe Meal Plan in the past and it was very well worth it. You have enough meal points that you don’t have to feel guilty going placed that deduct 2 meals (like the HoopDeDoo Revue). The big bonus: if you love the annual Food & Wine Festival at Epcot (like we do) and want to try absolutely everything (like we do), you can use snack points to purchase the food items at the festival’s pavilions and save yourself quite a bit of money.

Tip#5 -- Share the joy
Don’t do it alone if you can help it. Go with another family or meet another family there. It makes it easier on everyone, including the kids.

Orlando Travel with Kids, Part 1 of 2

2010-03-26T19:02:00.003-04:00

Marcy Palino was a late bloomer, as far as Disney is concerned. "My first trip to WDW was in 2004. My husband surprised me with a week long trip there for our first anniversary. I was immediately hooked! We've made seven more tips since then." Now that she and her husband have added two beautiful daughters to their family, Disney trips are truly a magical occasion for everyone. But traveling with two girls under the age of five is never easy. Marcy shares her tips on how to manage it successfully.

Tip #1 -- Preparation!
For every visit, we've used a website www.tourguidemike.com to help us plan. There are a lot of websites devoted to Disney trip planning. Disney has a Moms Panel made up of moms who have a lot of experience and are committed to answering questions from those who have been there, done that. I plan to check them out before our next trip. http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/

Tip #2 -- Consider your hotel needs
We've stayed both on site [at WDW] and off. I prefer on site to take advantage of Disney's Magical Express, eliminating the need for a rental car and parking. Disney has buses, monorails and watercraft to take her every where you need to go. I've stayed in all three levels of Disney resorts. The different levels have different amenities. For our family, we simply need a place to shower and sleep, so we've decided that the Value resorts are right for us.

Tip #3 -- Consider the parks one at a time.
I want to enjoy myself and go where the crowds aren't. I recommend checking websites that specialize in trip planning. At the very least, find out what attractions are going to be closed for refurbishment, lest you have a disappointed fan! Call guest services for each park a day before you travel so you can plan with the most up to date information.

We've traveled with an infant more than once. Find out where the Baby Care centers are on the map. They are quiet, cool and a great place to take a break and beat the heat while taking care of your wee one. They have changing areas, large family bathrooms, high chairs, baby food and supplies, bottle warmers, etc. There is also a quiet nursing area (although Florida state law does allow moms to breastfeed anywhere they are otherwise authorized to be).

You can take a baby on any ride that does not have a height requirement. A good start is a ride like It's a Small World. It's not very quiet, and you'll be able to see what your child can handle. Our one year old went on every ride she was allowed and loved the lights and colors. She's a big Haunted Mansion fan now!

Tip #4 - Be early birds
I recommend starting early. Get up, get to breakfast and get to the park as close to opening as possible. Kids are usually chomping at the bit to get there, and you'll get a jump on the late sleepers. If you are staying on site, check for Extra Magic Hours--this can save you loads of time and get you ahead of the crowds, especially during high capacity seasons.

Tip #5 -- Known when to throw away your plan
More than anything, and I can't stress this enough, is to be flexible. Let your vacation happen. Let your kids enjoy themselves. If you've got other plans, like an advanced dining reservation, but aren't going to make it, don't stress out, (but do use your cell to call 40-WDW-DINE or stop by Guest Services to let them know so that another party can take your seat!) Remember, it's supposed to be fun!

If it's the hot and steamy season (which is most of the year in Florida,) consider taking a break midday. Go back to the hotel and enjoy the pool. Encourage a nap unless you know that your children are old enough for a marathon day.

Tip #6 -- Take advantage of food and drink options
Disney allows you to bring water into the parks. We usually contact a local grocery that does delivery to bring us a case of bottled water. This is also a great chance to get snacks and breakfast items delivered, as well as heavy/bulky items like formula, nursery water and diapers that take up a lot of room in your luggage. Now that airlines are charging per bag, this is an especially good idea.

Eat early. Eat before the crowds! An ADR only gets you the next available table, so we try to get there early during the mealtime hours. We eat lunch at 11am and dinner at 5pm. The great thing about WDW is that everyone expects that there will be children dining there, so it's a lot less stress than eating in finer establishments in your home town. Disney Dining does not pay lip service to being child friendly. They have a wide selection of child pleasing favorites, as well as some more adventurous items. They have also ensured that there are healthy options available. We do not have any food allergy issues in our family, but I have heard that the chefs are very accommodating to these issues. If you don't see what you are looking for, just ask!

The only exception to the child rule is Victoria and Albert's, which now has an age requirement.

Tip #7 -- Be prepared for an emergency
If you experience an illness, there are services that will provide house calls, as well as a pharmacy that delivers. There are also minor emergency clinics nearby that provide transportation to and from their clinic from area resorts.

Tip #8--Don't forget, it's your vacation too!
We usually go for a week, typically around our anniversary. We use Kids Night Out to provide in room babysitting for our baby. They are the preferred WDW childcare provider (they can be there any time, day or night.) We have used them several times since 2006 and have always been pleased. We go out for a romantic dinner, and a friendly, qualified care provider cares for our child. When our kids get older, we'll check out the kids clubs that Disney has at several of the resorts. If you aren't comfortable with that idea, you can try to go with another family and swap kids for an evening so that everyone can have some quiet time.

I can personally recommend the spa at the Grand Floridian. Go get a massage!

Part 2 of this article to follow in a couple of days...

The kids keep coming to WDW's Animal Kingdom

2010-03-22T14:56:00.005-04:00

And not just the human ones either! Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom celebrated the birth of a gorilla on February 19, 2010. The western lowland gorilla was born to first-time momma Kashata and daddy Gino, and share the family group with two other females, "Aunties" Benga and Hope.The gender of the baby is still unknown but visitors to Animal Kingdom's Paganini Forest Exploration Trail can get a glimpse of the now month-old baby, though Kashata keeps the wee one close, as you can see from the picture. That's the reason Disney's primate team members haven't been able to determine the baby's gender, but it's actually best that way, since it means Kashata is picking up on motherhood very easily! Gorilla moms can have a hard time with first babies, but that hasn't been the case here. Kashata's maternal instincts seem to have been spot-on from the very first. “Kashata has been a model mother from the moment the baby was born," said Matt Hohne, animal operations director for Disney’s Animal Programs. “She immediately knew how to properly hold the baby and her nursing skills have been exemplary.”

Lowland gorilla mothers hold their babies close for the first few months of life, so it might be a while before the primate team can get a close look at the baby. Plan your visit to Animal Kingdom and check out the gorillas at Paganini. If you get a glimpse of the baby, let us know! We'd love to see your pics too.

Springtime Travel Advice from an Industry Expert

2010-03-17T15:26:00.002-04:00

Maureen Russell has been a travel industry expert for almost two decades, sending her clients and their families all over the world by plane, train and automobile. With Spring Break and Summer travel seasons getting ready to take off, airports can be the most crowded and confusing places to be. Many travelers get frustrated and feel like they are wasting valuable time. With a little planning and some inside advice, however, you can make your air travel experience easier, so you can spend more time concentrating on the fun!

What are the three traveling mistakes and how can they be avoided?

a) Not being on time. This is the worst thing a traveler can do. No the airline will not hold the plane for you, this is not your mother's travel industry anymore. The airline will start giving away your seat 1/2hr before the flight departs if you are not checked in.

b) Don't assume. Ask questions. Do you need a passport, visa, shots. A recent story came out that a couple booked their honeymoon to Russia on Orbitz, they were never advised that they needed a visa to visit Russia and were de-boarded in Germany.

c) Take the time to reconfirm your flights and check in online. It saves on headaches and avoids many issues.

What, if anything, can or should someone do in the event of a long flight delay or a cancellation?

It depends on if it is a weather or airline issue such as 'mechanical difficulties'. Each airline varies, you can ask for a meal voucher and or hotel voucher. If you know that there will be issues such as a major storm heading your way and you are flexible call your airline, they often love it when you are proactive and will change your flights with no fee and possibly an upgrade.

Don't ever be afraid to ask for a voucher or an upgrade. Also, utilize the Internet, go to the airline website, see what their policies are and then ask the gate agent or the agent on the phone 'What can you do for me?'.

While you are on that long line at the airport, check via your iPhone what the next flight is on any carrier. Often an airline can get you on another carrier if their next flight is oversold they just don't want to do the voucher.

What about tips on packing and planning?

Do you really need 4 pairs of shoes? No. Then don't pack them. Remember you're paying for this now, the weight limit per bag checked is 50lbs. Check your bag online and pay less. I always use the sky caps rather than traipse through an airport alone dragging a bag behind me, and you don't have to wait on those long lines. (on my last trip my bag was too heavy, instead of charging me the sky cap said 'oh honey, just reach in there and pull out something to make it light') Oh and yes, you should always tip the sky cap -- it's worth the service!

What about advice for carry-on bags?

For women carry on luggage is the hardest decisions to make. The airlines allow one carry on and one 'purse or laptop bag' If you can leave your coat behind do so! It just takes up space and that is a valuable commodity. Medicines should be clearly labeled and in a separate clear baggie. Don't over stuff your carry on, you will want to get that book that fell to the bottom of the bag!

My mother told me that once I was dressed and ready to go out to look at myself in a mirror and take one thing off. That is how you should pack.

Check with your individual airlines for their carry-on policy too and make sure you adhere to those restrictions. Also, remember to always check TSA guidelines for what can and can't be carried on; www.tsa.gov is your best course of information.

What about when you arrive at your destination? Any hotel advice?

At the hotel, ASK, always. Is there an upgrade available? The worst thing they can say is no. Always be firm and friendly. Remember the person behind that hotel counter may be at the end of a 12hr shift.

In this electronic age utilize the web. Sign up for all the hotel and airline frequent flyer programs. Find out who their partners are. Did you know that you can link some [grocery store rewards] cards with your Continental miles? Check out your credit cards [and reward memberships] to see where you can accumulate miles and perks.

In this economy everyone is looking for and giving out a bargain. It's just a matter of doing your homework!

What are your best travel tips and tricks? Be sure to leave a comment and share them!

Up, Up and Oscar! Disney and Pixar Strike Again!

2010-03-10T12:18:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Disney and Pixar for their big Oscar win on Sunday, March 7, 2010 -- Up took home the golden statuette for Best Animated Film. But this was hardly the Mouse's first Academy Award. In fact, Walt himself holds the record for most Oscar nominations and the most awards. In his lifetime, he receved 59 nominations and took home 26, including four special awards -- 1932 Honorary Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse, 1939 honorary award for "significant screen innovation' of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1941 Honorary Award for "outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia," and the Irving J. Thalberg Memorial Award.

Needless to say, the Disney Corporation has been the Academy Awards king when it comes to animated films. For a fun way to celebrate those achievements during your visit to Orlando and the Walt Disney World Resort, try a family scavengar hunt using the list of nominations and wins below--the first person to find something from all the movies on the list wins! It can be a picture, a character, a toy, a ride, whatever you decide counts as a find. Here's the complete list--be sure to comment in the blog when you have your hunt and tell us how everyone did!

Scavenger Hunt Movie List

1940: Pinocchio -- Winner, Best Original Score and Best Song "When You Wish Upon a Star"
1941: Dumbo -- Winner, Best Original Score; Nominated, Best Song "Baby Mine"
1942: Bambi -- Nominated, Best Song "Love Is A Song"
1943: Saludos Amigos -- Nominated, Best Original Score, Best Song, and Best Sound
1947: Song of the South -- Winner, Best Song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah"
1950: Cinderella -- Nominated for Best Sound, Original Music Score and Best Song "Bibbi Bobbidi Boo".
1964: Mary Poppins -- the most nomiated film in Disney's history! 13 nominations and 5 wins. Winner for Best Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Music Score, Best Visual Effects, and Best Song "Chim Chim Cher-ee"
1967: The Jungle Book -- Nominated, Best Song "The Bare Necessities"
1971: Bedknobs and Broomsticks -- Nominated, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Original Music Score and Best Song (The Age of Not Believing0; Winner, Best Visual Effects
1973: Robin Hood -- Nominated, Best Song "Love"
1977: The Rescuers -- Nominated, Best Song "Someone's Waiting for You"
Pete's Dragon -- Nominated, Original Song Score and Best Song "Candle on the Water"
1989: The Little Mermaid -- Nominated, Original Music Score and Best Song "Kiss the Girl"; Winner, Best Song "Under the Sea" (that's right -- the songs competed against each other!
1991: Beauty and the Beast -- Nominated, Best Sound, Best Picture (the first animated film ever to compete in this category), Best Song "Belle"; Best Song "Be Our Guest"; Winner, Best Music and Best Song "Beauty and the Beast" (again, Disney competed against itself for best song, this time with three songs)
1992: Aladdin -- Nominated, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound, Best Song "Friend Like Me"; Winner, Best Song "A Whole New World"
1994: The Lion King -- Nominated, Best Song "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata"; Winner, Best Original Score and Best Song, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"
1995: Pocahontas -- Winner, Best Original Score and Best Song "Colors of the Wind"
Toy Story -- Nominated, Best Original Score, Best Screenplay, Best Song "You'ev Got A Friend"; Winner, Special Achievement (for being the first full-length computer-animated film)
1997: Hercules -- Nominated, Best Song "Go the Distance"
1999: Tarzan -- Winner, Best Song "You'll Be In My Heart"
2000: Toy Story 2 -- Nominated, Best Song "When She Loved Me"
The Emperor's New Groove -- Nominated, Best Song "My Funny Friend and Me"
2001: Monsters, Inc. -- Nominated, Best Animated Feature, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Score; Winner, Best Song "If I Didn't Have You"
2002: Lilo and Stitch -- Nominated, Best Animated Feature
Treasure Planet -- Nominated, Best Animated Feature
2003: Brother Bear -- Nominated, Best Animated Film
Finding Nemo -- Nominated, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Screenplay; Winner, Best Animated Feature
2004: The Incredibles -- Nominated, Best Sound Mixing and Best Original Screenplay; Winner, Best Sound Editing and Best Animated Feature
2006: Cars -- Nominated Best Animated Feature and Best Song "Our Town"
2007: Ratatouille -- Nominated, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing; Winner, Best Animated Feature
Enchanted -- Nominated, Best Song "Happy Workign Song," "So Close," and "That's How You Know"
2008: Bolt -- Nominated, Best Animated Feature
Wall-E: Nominated, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Song "Down To Earth", Winner, Best Animated Feature
2009: The Princess and the Frog -- Nominated, Best Animated Feature, Best Song "Almost There" and "Down in New Orleans"
Up -- Nominated, Best Picture, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Screenplay; Winner, Best Original Score and Best Animated Feature

Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

2010-03-04T23:40:00.001-05:00

Hello all! I'm Dawn and I will be your new DW Tickets blogger. I'm a long-time visitor and former resident of Orlando, so I have a whole lot of love for the place, and all its many forms and functions and fantasy. I'll be blogging about all things Orlando, from the theme parks and big news events to smaller travel secrets and places and things you might not know about without my help. I hope you'll use my tips and enjoy my suggestions on your next visit to Orlando, whether you're hardcore for the Mouse or not.

The first piece of news I'd like to share is about a truly once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been considered a culinary treasure since its opening. The restaurant has been awarded the the prestigious AAA Five-Diamond Award for 10 consecutive years, the most of any restaurant in the state. For a long time now, V&A's has served two menus, both prix fixe, both changing daily, and both at over $100 per person: the 6-course menu in the main dining room and the 7-course Chef's Tasting Menu in the kitchen itself. These experiences last 2 to 3 hours, on average, and are worth every penny if you love food and exquisite preparation. It's not for everyone, certainly; the price point and the dress code--jackets for gentlemen and pants ensembles or dresses for ladies--do scare some away. But if you can do it, it's worth doing. I've been lucky enough to try it a few times and I can't wait for more.

Well, now there is more--more food, more experience and, yes, more money. V&A's recently announced a third dining experience. It is their most amazing and their most exclusive yet -Queen Victoria's Room. The room has only 4 tables with one seating time each night. It features French gueridon service, where a rolling cart travels from table to table, offering the most superb cuisine with incredible touches (like a sprinkle of Himalayan sea salt, mined from the mountains themselves, or perhaps a plate of exceptional cheese from all over the world). The experience lasts four hours and features TEN courses of Chef Scott Hunnel's most creative offering, such as "perfectly seared Kurobuta pork tenderloin and belly, or butter-poached lobster with bisque and lobster roe foam." And if that's not enough, why not have the sommelier pair wine to each course? Or choose your own bottle from V&A's well-respected and very impressive wine list. The experience will set you back $200/person for the food, plus $95 for the optional wine pairings--the bottle of your choosing could most a lot less or a lot more than that, depending on your personal taste. And if you have children, you'll also need to pay for a sitter--V&A's does not serve children under 10 years of age. It's an intimate, adult dining experience, an evening worth savoring and enjoying, worth lingering over as long as possible. You'll head home from any of the three dining options with a personalized menu and a rose for the ladies. You'll also remember the meal for a long time, like a perfect mental souvenir you'll ttreasure for years to come. Especially if you opt for the Kona chocolate souffle at desert time, which you definitely should. Save a bite for me, too.

National Cheerleading Competition at ESPN Wide World of Sports

2010-02-15T15:17:00.002-05:00

Cheerleaders are a part of nearly every major sport in the US. Even baseball and hockey teams have cheerleaders now. In the Midwest high school scene (as well as in the South) high school sports are a huge deal—especially in smaller towns that don’t have access to national league sports. Every year, the best cheerleading squads from across the nation gather to compete in the National High School Cheerleading Championship, put on by the Universal Cheerleaders Association. Over 400 teams from 32 states will be competing in this 30 year old tournament. One of those squads, the team from Kentucky’s Greenup High School, has participated in the competition since its inception.

“Our 30th Anniversary Championship is a testament to the popularity and growth of cheerleading across the U.S.” said Jeff Webb, founder and CEO of Varsity, parent organization of UCA. “We are proud to celebrate this milestone with the more than 8,000 talented cheerleaders representing teams from all over the country. We feel privileged to give these amazing athletes a proper showcase for their talents.”

The cheerleading competition, or NHSCC for short, will take place at various spots within the Disney theme parks and the ESPN Wide World of Sports. You can expect to see cheerleading performances over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular Show Stage as well as at the Josten’s theatre and the ESPN Wide World of Sports. You will be able to view the 30th Annual National High School Cheerleading Championship on both ESPN and ESPN2 and then later on in the Varsity Channels.

If you’re a fan of competitive cheerleading then you definitely need to plan your trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and check out this traditional competition. Ever since the opening of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Disney has pulled out all the stops to bring amazing sports events to their brand new state-of-the-art complex. Considering we just passed the Super Bowl and this cheerleading competition is coming up, the ESPN Wide World of Sports is getting plenty of good use and we’re sure there will be more events to come.

Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic

2010-01-27T11:53:00.002-05:00

The game of soccer and all of its supporters has been trying to become a dominant force in the world of United States sports for many years now. The LA Galaxy even signed Brit soccer (or football, as they say across the pond) superstar David Beckham to help draw more attention to the sport here in the States. While some may argue it has helped bring soccer a bit closer to the limelight, it can’t compare to football, baseball, or even UFC—not yet. But if the Walt Disney World has anything to do with it soccer will be bigger and better very soon.

The Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic is coming up soon. The ESPN Wide World of Sports, formerly the Walt Disney World Wide World of Sports, will be hosting four Major League Soccer (MLS) teams in a tournament to bring awareness to the sport and to award a championship to one of the teams.

“Bringing four Major League Soccer teams to Central Florida to play in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic is very exciting and a big win for all of our local soccer players, fans, parents and spectators,” said Disney Sports Area Manager Patrick Dicks. “ESPN The Weekend is serving as a major platform for these teams to prepare for the upcoming season and we are proud to have them be a part of this re-branding weekend.”

The tournament will officially launch the re-branding of Disney’s sports complex into the ESPN Wide World of Sports, which hosts pro and amateur sports of all kinds featuring players of all ages. There will be a new ESPN café for visitors of the complex to grab a bite to eat and all kinds of HD technology including brand new TV’s, cameras and Jumbotrons. ESPN The Weekend will bring the hottest sports stars to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the brand new ESPN Wide World of Sports so fans can take pictures with their favorite athletes and get autographs. Checking out the brand new ESPN Wide World of Sports could be a great way to get interested in sports, fitness, and getting active. This high-tech complex is great for the sports lover in everyone.

Legoland Coming to Florida

2010-01-27T11:20:00.002-05:00

The word is officially out regarding the newest addition to the Orlando theme parks coming in 2011. Merllin Entertainment recently announced Central Florida will get the biggest Legoland theme park in the world. Legoland Florida will be built where Cypress Gardens used to be while keeping most of the gardens intact to stay environmentally friendly. This will be the second Legoland location in the USA, the first being in California. Legoland also has parks in Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It’s great that this creative park is coming to the Central Florida area, since we already have the Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort.

Legoland is aimed at kids and kids at heart a bit more than Walt Disney World is. All of the attractions feature creatures, animals, and structures built out of Legos. It’s really an architectural wonder considering how much of what you see was constructed by millions of little Lego blocks, the same ones you probably played with as a kid! Legoland in California has over 50 rides and attractions, many of them without a height restriction. This has to make Legoland one of the friendlier parks for the really little ones in the family. When you want to shop you can go to The Big Shop which is 8,000 square feet large and features every Lego toy and set you can imagine! When you’re hungry you can check out The Market for some delicious baked goods, coffees, and sodas.

We can expect restaurants and gift shops at Legoland, Florida, but also much more. It’s going to be the largest park in the world and we’re sure it can fit way more than 50 rides and attractions. It’s going to be great to see what the engineers and architects come up with as they build the park here in Central Florida. While Legoland is known for being kid friendly, it will definitely need some coasters to compete with Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, so maybe Florida’s Legoland gets an extra bit of attention! We’ll have to wait until 2011 to see. Story developing…

Tables in Wonderland

2010-01-20T09:47:00.002-05:00

Part of what’s fun about going to the Disney theme parks is getting to enjoy all of the great restaurants located within. It’s not just about park food—there is much more to the Walt Disney World Resort than turkey legs and pop corn! Plenty of the parks have amazing restaurants like Teppan Edo in Epcot or The Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As always, Disney finds a way to make the park experiences extra special for the most loyal Disney fans. One example is with Tables in Wonderland, formerly the Disney Dining Experience.

Tables in Wonderland is a members-only program that allows Disney fanatics to experience amazing dining adventures within the parks. Whether it involves having special dinners with top chefs, attending private functions, or getting other great Disney privileges, this program will not disappoint. Just recently, Tables in Wonderland held an event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where Tables in Wonderland members got to dine in The Great Movie Ride! This classic ride takes you through a tour of Hollywood’s most famous movies, from Casablanca to Alien, and Tables in Wonderland members recently got a chance to have an amazing themed dinner there!

The dinner was set up in the Mobster and Wizard of Oz sections of the ride, with table décor following the appropriate themes. The Wizard of Oz tables had lollipops and ruby slipper party favors while the gangster movie section included actors dressed like 1920’s mobsters. They got to dine on great food like miniature calzones, house cured salmon with caviar and arancini with spicy Italian sausage. Also on the menu were great creations featuring gorgonzola and hazelnut along with white bean and eggplant dishes.

If you’re a Florida Resident it costs $155 to join the Tables in Wonderland program and annual pass holders usually get a bit of a discount. You also have access to complimentary resort parking, reimbursement for eating in the theme parks along with 20% discounts on food and beverages within the parks kiosks. Overall if you’re a Disney fanatic Tables in Wonderland would be an amazing club to join!

Up Wins Golden Globes

2010-01-19T10:06:00.002-05:00

The awards season is here and already Disney movies are getting some amazing recognition! While the buzz about Avatar and movies like The Blindside continue to fill up the papers, here in Orlando we’re all rooting for our favorite Disney films to be recognized for how great they really are. It was great to see both The Princess and the Frog and Up nominated alongside other animated movies as great as Coraline. The Disney theme parks all have plenty of merchandise available from both The Princess and the Frog and Up. Last year, the Magic Kingdom had a special parade for Princess Tiana called Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee, which made use of the beautiful steamboat near Tom Sawyer’s island. Over at Downtown Disney, you can take a hot air balloon ride and experience your own balloon adventure much like in Up!

The heartfelt story of a journey to fulfill a promise captivated audiences and brought in plenty of money at the box office for Up, making it yet another huge success to add to Pixar’s list of huge movies. Let’s not forget, Toy Story 3 is coming up soon along with Rapunzel; which will continue to make the Pixar/Disney team up almost unstoppable. They were certainly unstoppable at the Golden Globes and already people are looking towards the Oscars!

At the Golden Globes, where the decisions are made by the Hollywood Foreign Press, Up won in two categories. The most important award of all was the Best Animated Feature, where it defeated Coraline and its own company with The Princess and the Frog! The other category Up! won in was for Best Original Score. In a way, this win was also tied to Disney! Michael Giacchino, the hottest new composer in Hollywood, created the score for Up along with the blockbuster Star Trek and ABC’s LOST—and Disney owns ABC! So far the House of Mouse is scoring big with all of these awards shows. Will some Oscars be next for Up? What about The Princess and the Frog? Sure it got some nominations, but Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation definitely deserves an award of its own! We’ll just have to wait and see.

Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics

2010-01-12T16:01:00.002-05:00

All of Central Florida is in a giving mood, including the Orlando theme parks. A variety of them have been coming up with different ways to get guests to sign up for volunteering programs or donate whatever they could to various charities in the New Year. One theme park joining in on the fun is SeaWorld’s Aquatica. The beautiful water park, which draws its character themes and color schemes from Australian and New Zealand cultures, has quickly become one of the top water parks in the theme park area.

Now Aquatica will be teaming up with the Special Olympics to host their own version of a “Polar Plunge” to raise money for the charity that deals with disabled athletes. The Polar Plunge is a popular event held throughout the country where people raise money on the promise they will jump into a pool of freezing (or at least, really cold) water. It seems like perfect timing for a Polar Plunge, considering Florida has been going through one of the longest, and coldest, cold weather spells in history!

“We’re turning the heaters off in one of wave pools,” says Rick Beddow, Aquatica vice president. “We’re expecting it’s probably going to get somewhere between 65 and 68 degrees. It really depends on the ambient air temperature as to how cold it will get.”

Considering Orlando has seen temperatures in the low 20’s, they might not want to turn the pool down too much! Participants of the Polar Plunge at Aquatica receive a day at the park, a commemorative t-shirt and of course a dip (or swim) in the pool if they raise $50 or more. There are other great goodies for those that raise even more money for the Special Olympics. You can win all day food passes, passes to Aquatica for a later date, Publix gift cards and even hotel stays.
Of course, not everyone would want to jump into the cold water, so you can register online and fundraise as a “Virtual Plunger.” The minimum age to register is 15. If you’re heading to the park, no diving is allowed, but you can certainly go for a swim if you’re ready to brave the cold for a good cause.

Muppets at the Magic Kingdom

2010-01-08T10:44:00.002-05:00

2010 is the year of volunteering in the world of Disney and The Muppets are here to usher in Disney’s Give a Day Get a Day program in a very special way. The Muppets are the creation of genius Jim Henson who is also behind television and movie greats like Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, and Return of the Jedi. Loved by many, the cute characters of Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Sweetums (the friendly monster) are all coming together to get the world to volunteer and they’re using both the Magic Kingdom and viral videos to get everyone involved!

If you do a quick internet search you will find a video of Fozzie and Kermit encouraging people to volunteer. The great thing about this is that you can insert your name, website or even blog and they will show up on the white cards Fozzie and Kermit use in the video. If you go to the Disney theme parks you will be able to enjoy a special “pre-parade” that will feature special floats and vehicles dedicated to volunteerism and people that have dedicated themselves to the craft. It was reported that in the New Year, around 59% of Americans considered volunteering as one of their New Year’s Resolutions. So if you’re one of those in the 59% category, what are you waiting for?

“Volunteering is incredibly easy, and it’s never been as easy as it is now with this new partnership between Disney Parks and HandsOn Network,” said Maggic Jones Patton, with the Youth HandsOn Network. “It’s really about finding a match that you can be passionate about,” Patton said. “There’s opportunities ranging from education, the environment, the economy -- it can be as simple as packing care packages to send to our troops that are serving abroad.”

The Muppets promotion might just be for a limited time only, but don’t forget you can get your puppet laughs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Muppetvision 3-D Experience! This 3-D adventure is fun for the whole family and involves classic Muppets comedy along with music and an adorable story—definitely a Hollywood Studios classic! Lend a hand this year for the Give a Day Get a Day program and enjoy both your free theme park ticket and the Muppets!

Disney Marathon Weekend

2010-01-07T10:24:00.005-05:00

Do you have a New Year’s resolution? It seems like everybody gets motivated to get healthy at the beginning of the year. After all, it’s a fresh start and a second chance—right? The gyms are packed and the Internet comes alive with diet and exercise articles geared toward everyone looking for a health fix. If you’re a beginner, running a marathon isn’t something you should consider. But for those of you health nuts out there looking for a way to shake up your New Year’s fitness goals, you should think of attending the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

The Disney theme parks are known for being massive and requiring plenty of walking, but during marathon weekends everyone from competitive runners to families with children have a chance to run through the beautiful Epcot park and the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. Last year’s Marathon Weekend featured 45,000 runners, and that’s not the end of Disney’s marathon events! There’s also the Princess Half Marathon Weekend and the Wine & Dine Marathon Weekend. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World have marathon events that give participants goody bags, medals, treats, t-shirts and personalized bibs for contestants that sign up on time.

Disney is considering 2010 the year of giving, and there’s no better gift than the gift of health. Training for the great fun of a Disney marathon will keep you motivated to stay healthy, and what’s cooler than getting a medal from the House of Mouse? For those of you that are marathon die-hards, there is a special medal for those runners that complete both the Disney World and Disneyland full marathons in one year. Are you up for it? As for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, there are a number of great races to sign up for. If you’re interested, we recommend signing up quickly because they fill up fast! The categories are: Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Goofy’s Race and a Half, Disney/Pixar UP & Away Family Run 5k, and Mickey’s Marathon Fest. So if you and your family are ready to start the New Year with a healthy twist, head to Walt Disney World for their Marathon Weekend!

Be Couture with Disney Merchandise

2010-01-04T10:27:00.002-05:00

As an adult it’s hard to fully indulge in all of the merchandise available at the Disney theme parks sometimes. The products, whether they are sweaters, t-shirts or even jewelry, can sometimes be too childish. Or, sometimes they are brightly colored and don’t fit the style of some of the park guests. Then there are those that might be too shy to admit their love of Disney (or teenagers don’t want to lose their cool factor) and don’t want mouse ears and princesses plastered all over their clothing and accessories.

For those of you that go to the Orlando theme parks ready to shop for merchandise you can only find in the parks while visiting the House of Mouse, you might want to head down to Downtown Disney and check out one of the newest stores in the shopping and dining complex. Vault 28 is a new accessory and apparel store that is carrying Disney’s line of “couture” products. Scarves, bags, jewelry, apparel and more are all designed with subtle Disney themes in mind. Both celebrities and noted fashion designers have come together to work on Disney Couture.

Kidada Jones, an actress and model, designed accessories for Disney Couture based off of the newest princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. For those of you that can’t wait to see Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, designer Tom Binnes created an entire line of scarves, bags and other apparel that focuses on the upcoming Burton adaptation of the Disney classic.

The jewelry line at Vault 28 will be especially popular. According to Sr. Designer Jina Kim, "The looks are right on-trend with what's happening in jewelry -- especially patina finishes and bib necklaces. Our Tinker Bell line is a modern take on vintage with a touch of found trinkets … a very important part of Tink's world." The couture line plans to expand into hosiery, watches and eyewear. You can find the line at Vault 28 in Downtown Disney, online and upscale boutiques across the nation. If you have any holiday money or gift cards left over, browse through the Disney Couture line!

Want to Omaka Rocka?

2009-12-30T08:55:00.003-05:00

You might be wondering what in the world an Omaka Rocka is. Well next year you’ll be able to find out when you head to SeaWorld’s water-themed sister park Aquatica. All of the Orlando theme parks are planning massive expansions to keep things new and exciting for returning and new guests, so we’ll have a lot to talk about next year!

While Universal Orlando Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort’s plans have overshadowed some of the other parks’ new attractions, that doesn’t mean DWTickets.com will leave it out of the picture. If you love water slides and enjoy a day in the sun at the beautiful Aquatica water park, you’ll be happy to know they will be expanding the park with a brand new slide called Omaka Rocka, meaning “rocky river.”

This new water slide will allow people of all ages to ride as long as they follow the rules—no height restrictions here! What you will find with Omaka Rocka is 2 slides with 3 funnels each. These funnels will feature 2-seater tubes that will send riders zooming through colorful fiberglass tubes. Some will be translucent and others will keep riders in the dark for an exciting experience! Even those who are waiting in line will be able to see Omaka Rocka riders zooming overhead in the colorful tubes.

"They're going to slide up one side and get a sensation of near weightlessness. They'll come down that side and back up the other. They'll probably be going backwards, but most definitely going to be screaming," Aquatice VP Rick Beddow told the Orlando Sentinel. "It's going to be a taste of a half-pipe — near vertical thrills experienced only by skateboarders or snowboarders."

The Omaka Rocka will share a tower with Whanau Way and be similar in ride style to both Whanau Way and the Tassie’s Twisters. This will be Aquatica’s first new attraction since it first opened two years ago. While the Omaka Rocka is scheduled to open in 2010 we don’t have a specific date yet. Considering it’s a bit chilly in Orlando right now, springtime seems perfect, and March is the rumored month of completion.

Go See The Princess and the Frog!

2009-12-28T17:27:00.003-05:00

If you are looking for something to do indoors this holiday season but don’t want to go to the mall and can’t make it to the Disney theme parks, we highly recommend you head to the movies. We know there’s a lot of buzz about James Cameron’s Avatar, but you can’t call yourself a true Disney fan unless you head out and see The Princess and the Frog. We finally got a chance to go see the movie and we have to agree it was a fantastic feeling to see the work of Disney animators back on the screen again. After years of Pixar flicks like Up! and Toy Story we finally get to see the magic of hand-drawn animation back on the big screen with this lovely tale set in New Orleans.

Like other Disney films that borrow from classic stories (The Little Mermaid, Snow White) The Princess and the Frog is an interpretation of the old story where, instead of the frog becoming a prince after a princess’s kiss, a hard-working New Orleans girl becomes a frog after kissing a frog (formerly a prince!) The movie’s twist is sure to be a hit with the kids as Tiana and Naveen head off on an adventure through the Bayou in their frog forms. They meet Louis, an alligator that wants to play in a jazz band with humans, and Ray, a Cajun firefly in love with a star he calls Evangeline.

When the crew meets Mama Odie, the good Voodoo priestess, we get to hear one of the best, if not the best song of the movie “Dig a Little Deeper” which is catchy and full of gospel influence. The song, along with the rest of the movie’s plot, teaches you that what is most important is who you are inside! Unlike the classic Disney films, Tiana isn’t waiting on her prince to achieve her dreams. She saves up money to open up her own restaurant by working hard. While in the end love conquers all, the viewer will be delighted with the beautiful animation and wonderful story that is a trademark of the Disney name. We only hope The Princess and the Frog is only the beginning of Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation!

Walt Disney Month

2009-12-23T09:50:00.003-05:00

Did you know December is officially Walt Disney month? Here at DWTickets.com we thought it would be neat to do a recap of the major Disney-related events that happened this month. Aside from commemorating Walt Disney’s birthday December 5th, December is usually the month where plenty of Disney events occur. This year marked the return to classic animation with The Princess and the Frog and Disney’s first black princess, Princess Tiana. This year also marked the 72nd anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with its release on Disney BluRay and DVD.

The Disney theme parks had their fair share of new events as well. Space Mountain finally re-opened, now being darker and scarier than ever. Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee has a limited run over at the Magic Kingdom to get everyone into the spirit of New Orleans jazz and The Princess and the Frog. Holiday decorations were everywhere to get people into the holiday spirit and the special event Disney fans wait for every year, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, recently wrapped up another successful party!

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios the Osborn Family Spectacle of Lights delighted millions of guests with its music and Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah-themed displays. Epcot featured their wonderful Candlelight Processional, where celebrities came to the parks to read The Christmas Story to guests from around the world all while a gospel choir sings in the background. It has been a great December for the Walt Disney Company and we know next year will only be better. More rides are getting refurbished to bring you great, updated experiences, and we know the Disney animation studios are hard at work on new features coming soon to a theatre near you. There’s Rapunzel, Winnie the Pooh, and Toy Story 3, not to mention plenty of rumors about Disney working on their own version of The Snow Queen! While 2009 has been tough for every one of us, Disney has pulled through and is preparing for a full recovery in 2010. We know there are great events and even better deals waiting in 2010, so keep up with our blog for all the latest news.

Teen Pop Sensation Visits WDW!!

2009-12-21T16:37:00.002-05:00

The Orlando theme parks are popular with kids and teens, but the Disney theme parks have one major draw that other parks don’t when it comes to teens and tweens: the Disney pop machine! Just think, there’s Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and much more. You can find the faces of these stars right next to merchandise of High School Musical which launched the careers of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. The Jonas Brothers were recently in town to tape their performance for the Disney Christmas Parade and just this weekend another teen sensation was in Disney world to take part in the fun at the Magic Kingdom along with some recent radio contest winners.

Justin Bieber, who was first discovered on YouTube after his mother would upload Justin’s performances for his scattered family to see, came to Orlando to hang out at the Magic Kingdom with a young girl that won a local radio contest to meet Bieber. If you aren’t familiar with the now 15 year old Bieber’s music, you soon will be. He began his career covering popular hip hop, pop, and r&b songs. He was able to generate enough buzz to catch the attention of Justin Timberlake, Usher and more. The Ontario, Canada native has quickly climbed the Billboard charts, becoming the first artist in Billboard history to have four singles from a debut album in the Top 40 before the album came out! His singles like “One Time”, “One Less Lonely Girl”, and “Favorite Girl” quickly captured the hearts of teenage girls across the US and Canada. When it came time to sign to a record label, Justin Bieber chose to sign with Usher’s label over Timberlake’s, which has been a great success for him.

Bieber was photographed riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and with the Genie from Aladdin. Though he was the biggest teen star in Orlando over the weekend, he wasn’t the only star. Over at Epcot, the very popular Candlelight Processional continues to delight guests from around the world. Whoopi Goldberg was photographed with Minnie Mouse after her reading at the Candlelight Processional. Teen actress Abigail Breslin was also one of the readers at the processional and coming up next we have veteran actor and star of Battlestar Galactica Edward James Olmos. Whether you like the teen scene or talent of all kinds, you can find it all at the Walt Disney World!

In Memoriam: Roy E. Disney

2009-12-18T13:42:00.002-05:00

This week the Disney world lost Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney and the only son of Roy O. Disney. He was a shy man who mostly kept away from the public eye while he kept an iron grasp on the inner workings of the Walt Disney Company. Born into one of the most legendary families in the world, Roy grew up visiting the Disney studios and screening featurettes and cartoons before other people did. The animators would use him as a “test subject” to see if, as a young boy, he found the animations funny. At night, many newspapers that wrote about Disney’s passing mentioned how Walt would always tell him amazing bed time stories, never shying away from the creativity all of the Disneys seemed to have in their blood.

As an adult he oversaw many of the executive aspects of the Walt Disney Company and willingly put his shyness aside when he saw company ideals and beliefs at risk of being compromised. During the mid-to late 80’s, Roy didn’t hesitate to fire the head honchos of the time, namely Ron Miller, who was then replaced by Michael Eisner. Eisner would fall out of Roy’s good graces later on in his career after Roy felt Eisner was thinking only of money and sacrificing the quality of the Disney parks and product. See, despite being involved in the financial aspects of Disney, Roy was all about the creativity. He was much more like his Uncle Walt, who dealt with the creative aspects, than his father Roy, who was all about the business side.

"I really credit Roy Disney completely with the renaissance of Disney animation, beginning with 'Little Mermaid' and all the way through that great amazing series of classic Disney films," said John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

One could argue that without Roy, Disney animation would have never survived the 80’s. The so-called “Disney Renaissance,” which began with The Little Mermaid and ended with The Lion King, can be credited to Roy’s drive to keep with the ideals of his uncle. We’re sure the Disney theme parks will be honoring Roy, who bore a striking resemblance to his uncle, in some way. There is a statue of Walt at the Magic Kingdom and you can see other tributes to the man that started it all in Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Like his uncle, Roy Disney died due to cancer. He was 79 years old, and died the day after the anniversary of Walt Disney’s death, on December 16th, 2009. Roy E. Disney will be missed, but his contribution to the salvation of the animated feature will never be forgotten.