Disney World | Orlando | Blog

Shanghai the Next Disney Destination

2009-11-06T12:02:00.002-05:00

Here in the Orlando theme parks area we’re lucky to have a variety of great attractions to check out. Whether you want to spend time in the House of Mouse, check out Busch Gardens Tampa bay or go to Universal Studios Resort, the Central Florida area has plenty of options. Some places aren’t so lucky, and many visitors to the theme parks have to travel long distances to get there. Internationally, Disney has some parks in Europe and Asia. There’s Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney. These beautiful theme parks bring the Disney brand to fans across the globe and let anyone and everyone experience the Disney magic in their region.

Now, after 20 years of long talks and plenty of paperwork, Disney is finally able to announce there will be a new park in Shanghai, China! This is great news for both countries as they continue to bridge political gaps and come closer together. As the Disney Company continues to expand across the globe we get to learn great details about new attractions and park development. It’s always interesting to see how the different countries incorporate their own cultures and different styles into the designs of their parks, and now we’ll get to see what with Shanghai Disney.

The resort will consist of shops, hotels and a “Magic Kingdom” style park that will take up 1,000 acres of the Pudong district. The actual theme park will be a little bit bigger than Disneyland in Anaheim, California but will still feature all of the great aspects guests expect of the Disney theme parks every year. The announcement of this awesome project will be official right around the same time President Obama arrives for his historic visit.

Since President Obama is going to visit China to talk diplomacy and trade, officials of the Shanghai Disney project figured it couldn’t be a better time to announce the Disney partnership than with the arrival of the president of the United States, where Disney was born. While there isn’t any word on an official ceremony featuring President Obama, or even a statement from him regarding the matter, his visit is timed perfectly with the announcement of Shanghai Disney. We can’t wait to see what the Shanghai Imagineers come up with!

Are You Ready for Grad Nite?

2009-11-05T09:08:00.003-05:00

The holidays are fast approaching and that only means summer is that much closer. If you’re a high school senior at the moment, you’re probably fretting over college applications and worrying about what to do after you graduate. But don’t forgot one very important thing—Grad Nite! This special event at the Disney theme parks is a tradition for high school kids across the nation. Every year, the Walt Disney Company brings Grad Nite to both Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resort right here in Orlando, FL. Grad Nite is a special event where high school seniors can get together and have fun as a class for the last time before their graduation as they go on all of the great Disney rides, attend special events and see special groups in concert.

2010’s Grad Nite will not disappoint! The event will run April 23, 24, 30 and May 1st from 10pm until 4am. That means you and all of your friends will be able to go on the best rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean with students from Central Florida and the rest of the United States. Along with having access to the great rides, there will be a number of dance parties and a pre-party. While Disney is still mum on the pre-party details, we know there will be dance parties in Tomorrowland and Frontierland. You and your friends can dance the night away to your favorite songs surrounded by amazing video walls.

If you’re going to attend Grad Nite in 2010, or DGN10 for short, you can expect to see some amazing acts performing. If you’re a fan of America’s Best Dance Crew both Quest Crew and Beat Freaks will be showing off their moves to crowds of high school seniors. Music fans will flip over the biggest Grad Nite guest announced so far: Paramore! This rock band fronted by the orange-haired Hayley Williams has had huge success with songs like “crushcrushcrush,” “Misery Business,” and “Decode.” Singers like Keri Hilson, Mario and bands like Boys Like Girls will also be performing at DGN10. It’s an event no high school student can miss!

Verizon Fans Finally Get Disney Mobile App

2009-11-02T10:40:00.002-05:00

Verizon fans already enjoy a number of perks at the Walt Disney World Resort. They get to participate in the Kim Possible mission at EPCOT where you receive text message clues as you travel the World Showcase Pavillion helping Kim and her friends. Now Verizon users will be able to have a fully interactive guide to both Disney World and Disneyland on their mobile phones with great features that will make their theme park experience efficient and fun.

Disney Mobile Magic is fully loaded with important theme park information that is constantly updated. You will have full access to wait times, FASTPASS return times and extensive information on where and when your favorite Disney characters will be appearing next. The application is colorful, bright and easy to use. Because the Disney Mobile Magic app is GPS-enabled, that means you can follow your journey throughout the parks in real time. Your position will be marked by a white circle that shows you which attractions you are passing along with providing you information about them.

This is also great for those of you that want to experience Disney restaurants. The app not only provides pictures and information about the restaurant, but it gives you the phone number you need to call in order to make reservations through the Disney reservation system. This app is a great feature for customers of the Verizon Wireless network, who already experience great perks for being part of this cell phone service provider within both Walt Disney World and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Like all apps Disney Mobile Magic will be updated with more information as time goes on. If you aren’t a member of the Verizon network you can still receive Walt Disney World info via text message. iPhone users can check out the iTunes store for a variety of apps related to the Disney parks and company.

With everything going digital in this day and age, it’s great to have the option of a wonderful Disney app like Disney Mobile Magic and other cell phone applications. We can only imagine what’s next in the world of Disney.

New Horror Nights Scare Zone a Sneak Peek?

2009-10-29T12:23:00.002-04:00

There is only one week of Halloween Horror Nights left. The popular Halloween attraction is in its 19th year of production over at Universal Studios Orlando and it keeps drawing a massive amount of fans every year. Weekend dates sell out quickly since horror fanatics wait all year for this awesome event. This year’s “Ripped from the Silver Screen” event brought back classic horror icons like Chucky, Wolfman, Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, Jigsaw and more. With great scare zones, haunted houses and the always fun Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure show which pokes fun at the year’s craziest pop culture moments, you’re guaranteed to have an awesome time.

This year’s scare zones featured WW2 zombie soldiers, circus freaks, wandering horror movie icons, contaminated people and the classic chainsaw guys. While the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit wasn’t open for rides when we checked out it, The Simpsons and Revenge of the Mummy were two of the attractions that were open for the night. But we just heard something quite strange from the Orlando theme parks world. Apparently, Halloween Horror Nights just created a brand new scare zone a week before its final days!

Back towards the New York section of Universal Studios, a dark alleyway has been converted into a scare zone. The details are scarce, but the Universal camp posted an ominous message on their Facebook page talking about spooky shadows and creatures of the night. Universal Studios is doing this as a test for fans lucky enough to get a peek at what’s to come for next year’s 20th anniversary event. At times Halloween Horror Nights has been held in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, but the recent years have seen it at Universal Studios only. As for next year’s theme we’re already hearing wedding bells…could a “’Till Death Do Us Part” theme be in the minds of the Halloween Horror Nights creators? If you went to the event this year make sure you fill out the survey Universal Studios sends you to give your feedback on the event. We’re already psyched for the 20th year of this awesome event in 2010!

Our Night at Halloween Horror Nights

2009-10-28T09:17:00.003-04:00

Halloween fans wait for this Universal Studios Orlando event every year. While plenty of Orlando theme parks have Halloween events only one can claim they have the Golden Ticket award and that’s Halloween Horror Nights. Well here at DWTickets.com, we finally got to check it out for ourselves and had a great time.

This year’s theme, Ripped from the Silver Screen, was evident as soon as you approached the Universal Studios Orlando gates. There was a giant screen playing clips from the best horror movies ever made. This year’s main character, The Usher, was also beckoning visitors to come in and experience the great scare zones and haunted houses the even had to offer. Scare zone wise, we loved the idea of the zombie soldiers. Considering all of the zombie madness going on right now with books like The Zombie Survival Guide and movies like Zombieland it’s always cool to see a “real” interpretation of the legendary creatures. It was great to see them carrying rifles in full soldier regalia as they ran after unsuspecting guests.

House wise, SAW had a crazy line for a reason. The people at Universal really took the time to incorporate scenes from the movies and even include TV monitors throughout the house. No matter where you went, Jigsaw was always talking to you and watching as the people around you were tortured. Frankenstein was frightening as well with plenty of scare actors in mechanical-like masks jumping out at every corner. Chucky’s house was completely disorienting as soon as you walked in! There was a whirling tunnel that would make those with even the strongest stomachs dizzy. But our favorite house wasn’t necessarily the scariest; it was the one that paid tribute to some of the greatest horror movie classics!

Silver Screams featured The Phantom of the Opera, The Strangers, My Bloody Valentine and our personal favorite Shaun of the Dead. To walk through a haunted house while Queen played through the speakers just like the famous final scene in Shaun of the Dead was one of the most memorable moments of Halloween Horror Nights 19. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure was also a great improvement from last year’s show, which focused too heavily on politics. There’s one more week left to check out Halloween Horror Nights, so make sure you get your tickets and head on over!

Tinkerbells Latest Adventure

2009-10-27T11:10:00.002-04:00

Tinkerbell is one of the most popular Disney characters of all time. You can find tons of adorable merchandise in the Disney theme parks from pens to t-shirts and high-quality figurines. The sassy sprite first appeared in 1953’s Peter Pan, where she joined Wendy Darling and Peter Pan on an adventure to Neverland to fight off the evil Captain Hook. It wasn’t until later that the Tinkerbell craze caught on, but it’s hard not to love the blonde pixie with her adorable outfit and her funny crush on Peter Pan. She appeared once more in the 2008 movie Return to Neverland as the Tinkerbell merchandise mania continued to grow.

Finally, Tinkerbell got her own animated movie where she was the star of the show in a 3D animated feature that told Tinkerbell’s origin. We got to learn that all of the fairies live in Pixie Hollow and they are born whenever a child in the world laughs. Once the fairy is born he or she gets to choose her profession. Will she be a fairy of the elements or a tinker fairy? Tinker fairies create the little items used in Pixie Hollow every day. We’re sure you can figure out what kind of fairy Tinkerbell is after that explanation. So, based off of the success of her first solo feature, Disney is releasing a sequel called Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure.

New fairies were introduced into the Tinkerbell world and in this sequel they will be voiced by famous celebrities. Silvermist will be voiced by Lucy Liu, Iridessa by Raven Symone, Fawn by America Ferrera, Rosetta by Kristen Chenoweth and Mae Whitman voices Tinkerbell. Along with her fairy friends Disney gave Tinkerbell a male companion in Terrence, who is voiced by Jesse McCartney. Disney is hoping Terrence will help draw some boys into Tinkerbell’s world, which is important considering the Magic Kingdom will be getting its own Pixie Hollow as part of the huge Fantasyland expansion.

Although Fantasyland’s Pixie Hollow won’t be open until 2013, you can still find Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Terrence and the rest of the Pixie Hollow crew at the Magic Kingdom. It’s a great time to be a Tinkerbell fan!

New Dollar Coins at Disney World

2009-10-21T10:38:00.002-04:00

Do you remember when there were $1 coins in the US? Canada has its loonies ($1 CAD) and twonies ($2 CAD) but here in the US we’ve been relying on paper dollars for quite some time now. However, the growing trend of “going green” and changing our habits to be more environmentally friendly has even trickled down to the way we use and make our money. You might be thinking what this has to do with the Orlando theme parks or Walt Disney World Resort we’re always writing about? Well, everything! It’s no secret that the Walt Disney World Resort is keen on conservation efforts. Both Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot are legitimate animal organizations that participate in breeding and rescue efforts. Now the Walt Disney World Resort’s Epcot and Magic Kingdom will be teaming up with the US Mint to distribute dollar coins throughout the parks in certain locations.

Dollar bills aren’t as environmentally friendly as coins. These dollar coins are gold in color and feature the image of Sacagwea both on the front and back of the gold-toned (not real gold) coin. On one side she is carrying a child in a papoose with the regular United States logos and on the other side she is harvesting corn, beans and squash in a field. The agricultural theme matches perfectly with the environmental goals that this collaboration with the US Mint is striving toward.

Many people are talking about these coins becoming a collectible, and we all know Disney fans love to collect! From pin trading to special figurines, we love taking advantage of special opportunities. Over at Epcot you can find the special coins in certain locations at the American Adventure in the United States pavilion at the World Showcase. Over in the Magic Kingdom you can find the coins in certain areas of Liberty Square and near the Haunted Mansion. The special coin usage will only be going on until December, so make sure you check out our discount Disney tickets and get to the parks soon!

Disney’s Twinned Town

2009-10-20T11:50:00.002-04:00

You might be wondering what a Twinned Town is. No, it’s not a new Orlando theme park; it’s a great new initiative by the Walt Disney Company to bring different cultures, countries and people closer together. The Walt Disney World Resort is looking for a twin town, a sister city, in the United Kingdom. Much like US states have sister relations with foreign cities (Orlando has nine international sister cities, by the way) the Walt Disney World Resort is looking for one of their own.

If you’re a reader living in the United Kingdom you definitely want to listen up. The Twinned Town won’t be selected by Disney suits or any of the cities, but by the citizens of the UK themselves. This contest is openly accepting photographic, written and video submissions from people in the UK looking for a dose of Disney magic in their own town. Anyone from any town or city can submit their vote via the Twinned Town website. There are a few things that the folks at Disney are looking for in these submissions. Along with telling them why your town is great, Disney wants to know about your hopes and dreams. Who is the most inspirational person in your town? How is your town looking toward the future? What does your town do to celebrate its traditions? If you recognize these values, it’s because Disney considers many of them while expanding their own brand name. "We believe it is time to recognize the great values that make UK towns and villages special,” said Disney Destination International's Hugh Wood, “and with so many guests visiting Walt Disney World every year from the UK, we felt there was no better way to find that special town or village than by allowing the British public to nominate the places they are proud of."

The winners of the Twinned Town contest will have a special Disney party in January where the magic of the Walt Disney World resort will be brought to the winning town. The person that submits the winning entry will receive a special trip for four to the Walt Disney World Resort where they will attend the “twinning” ceremony at Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom. The contest runs until November 22nd, 2009, so if you’re reading this in the UK—get started! You might be coming to see us very soon.

Tiana Madness!

2009-10-20T11:34:00.002-04:00

You’re either sick of hearing about it or totally loving it, but the news about The Princess and the Frog just keeps on coming out of the Disney camp. Promotions are happening left and right. Whether it be special featurettes included on Disney’s latest Blu-ray releases or special events at the Disney theme parks, there is no stopping the excitement people have over Disney’s first Black princess and the first Disney princess in a very long time! It’s been quite awhile since we’ve seen a great princess story in the beautiful hand-drawn animation style that made Walt Disney famous. The wait will finally be over this December when the movie is released nationwide just in time for the holiday season.

If you find yourself in one of the Disney stores you might run into a great deal of Tiana merchandise. Just in time for Halloween, Disney has released a gorgeous Tiana costume for your own beautiful little princess. The dress is a shining, delicate green with beautiful flowers on a petal-shaped skirt. Add in the adorable pale green shoes and the tiara and your little girl will be princess perfect. Since Christmas is right around the corner, you will also find The Princess and the Frog Christmas ornaments to hang on your tree. For the kids the Tiana dolls have been out for awhile but we’re just starting to see her prince, Prince Naveen, appear in toy form as well.

You might have read our article about Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee! This jazz-infused, Mardi Gras style parade will wind its way down to the riverboats at both Disney parks where fans will be able to meet up with Tiana and Prince Naveen as the parade cast performs songs from the upcoming movie. Well that parade is almost ready to debut. Speaking of debuts, Walt Disney World surprised guests by having Princess Tiana debut and come out to meet guests early. Anyone visiting the Magic Kingdom will now have a chance to meet Princess Tiana and get a picture (and her autograph) with the brand new princess. Disney is really pushing for this movie to be great, and based on what we’ve seen from it—we know it will be another classic!

Tomorrowland Revamps Almost Done!

2009-10-14T16:47:00.002-04:00

In order for your favorite Disney theme park rides to keep operating safely and looking fantastic, they sometimes have to close. It’s always a sad part of the Orlando theme parks experience, waiting to catch your favorite ride only to find it has been closed for refurbishment. But hey, it’s a necessary evil and a good thing, because when the ride re-opens it will probably be even better than the last time you went on it.

As all Disney fans probably know, Space Mountain has been closed for refurbishment for awhile now. It’s supposed to get a brand new look with amazing sound and graphics while keeping most of the elements that made the ride a classic part of the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s futuristic Tomorrowland. Space Mountain is expected to re-open in November just in time for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. It will be great to check out the refurbished roller coaster during this awesome holiday event.

Another attraction that had closed down in Tomorrowland was the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA). This relaxing ride takes you on an elevated tour of Tomorrowland as a narration explains all of the ins and outs of the futuristic side of the Magic Kingdom. The tram you sit in, commonly referred to as the Peoplemover, got a brand new paint job and oiled up tracks. It’s great to sit on the TTA and rest your feet as you enjoy the breeze you get from riding through Tomorrowland in the open air. Along with a new narration, you will also be getting some special soundbytes from some of your favorite Disney characters and Tomorrowland mascots. Buzz Lightyear, Stitch, Mickey Mouse, and Roz from Monsters Inc. all interrupt your relaxing TTA ride to give a bit of their own narration as you ride past their respective Tomorrowland areas.

Once Space Mountain opens up again Tomorrowland will be buzzing with guests and plenty of lines for the new ride. Try to grab a FastPass and check out Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the TTA or the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway before heading back to Space Mountain for some futuristic fun.

Disney Stores Get Major Reboot

2009-10-13T17:27:00.002-04:00

When you can’t make it to the Disney theme parks to buy your favorite character merchandise, we’re sure you’ve relied on The Disney Store for your Disney shopping. It’s always great to be able to head to your local mall and experience a bit of the Disney magic even if you aren’t in the Orlando theme parks area or staying at the Walt Disney World Resort. Well, just like Fantasyland is getting an update and Star Tours is getting a “sequel,” The Disney Store is getting a complete makeover partly thanks to Apple’s head honcho Steve Jobs.

The Walt Disney Company has about 340 stores around the world and plans to overhaul each of them for $1 million. A new flagship store will also be built in New York. The retail spots will no longer be called The Disney Store. These brand new stores, which will be completely remodeled into an interactive shopping experience, will be called Imagination Park.

A recent article in the New York Times mentioned, in detail, what Disney fans could expect from these great new stores. This was one of the snippets: “Theaters will allow children to watch film clips of their own selection, participate in karaoke contests or chat live with Disney Channel stars via satellite. Computer chips embedded in packaging will activate hidden features. Walk by a “magic mirror” while holding a Princess tiara, for instance, and Cinderella might appear and say something to you,” stated the article. Along with the interactive princess section, there is a WWTD: “What Would Tinkerbell Do?” section in Imagination Park. Scent will also play a part of the new stores. Let’s say you walk by a Christmas tree and A Christmas Carol is playing—the entire store will suddenly be filled with the scent of pine. Just like in the Apple store, store staff will walk around with a mini-receipt printer to keep an interactive feel through the entire building.

The Imagination Park process will take five years to complete, but rumor has it there is already a prototype store in Glendale, California that is supposed to be completely mind-blowing. We can’t wait to see what the new Disney stores will look like.

Check Out Universal Studios—Through Google!

2009-10-12T17:24:00.002-04:00

Up until recently, Legoland in California was the only U.S. theme park to be featured on Google Maps Street View. Now we can add Universal Studios Orlando Resort to the Google Street View crew! This is a great feature for any theme park fanatic, especially those of you that are die hard Universal Studios fans. We’re not sure if other Orlando theme parks will be added to the satellite map feature, but we can only hope other parks follow suit with Universal, because this is a great way to check out the theme parks and pre-plan before booking your trip.

Once you access the general map of Universal Studios, you will see certain areas highlighted in blue. Those are the areas which were photographed for the Google Street View feature. You can then zoom in on to street view level and “walk” through the entire park. You can see the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit over at Universal Studios and most of the features of Islands of Adventure and CityWalk as well. You don’t have to worry about identity issues, since the faces of the people have been blurred. The Google crew rode through Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk on a bicycle mounted with a high-tech camera and filmed the theme parks in order to create this feature. While there are some glitches, such as disappearing restaurants or an inability to “go” in certain directions, overall it’s a great option for the technologically savvy.

One attraction you won’t find is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Apparently the parks seemed to have been captured before construction started on Islands of Adventure’s newest (and most anticipated) attraction. The Harry Potter island has yet to be completed but the park officials have already announced a spring 2010 opening. We know that “muggles” around the world are waiting on pins and needles for this island to open, and we’re pretty sure Google will return to the park to add the new island to their Street View feature. The first park to ever be featured on Google Street View was Disneyland Paris—could the Walt Disney World Resort be next?

Get Your Wrestling Fix in Orlando

2009-10-08T10:12:00.004-04:00

Love it or hate it, wrestling has one of the biggest and most loyal fanbase in the history of sports - or more appropriately, sports entertainment. Whether you grew up watching WCW or WWF (now called WWE) there are plenty of kids that grew up liking wrestling who continued to like it through adulthood. If you’ve ever been to the Orlando theme parks you’re sure to have seen people wearing Stone Cold Steve Austin or John Cena t-shirts. Well did you know that you can actually see wrestling live in Orlando?

TNA, or Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, films its shows and Pay-Per-Views (PPV) live at Universal Studios Orlando. TNA features a six-sided ring, the high-flying X Division (where you can see crazy stunts and flips) and the TNA Knockouts, their women’s division. Plenty of wrestling stars that have come from WCW and WWE are now part of TNA and you can see them all live at Soundstage 21 August through December. Kurt Angle, Sting, Mick Foley, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christie Hemme and Awesome Kong are all part of the superstar lineup TNA brings to you throughout the year.

The best part is that getting into the show, even Pay-Per-View, is completely free! All you have to do is purchase a ticket to Universal Studios Orlando and you are game to get a seat for all of the TNA action, so why not get a discount Universal ticket and save some cash while you’re at it? Tapings go on through the year but October is the busiest month with fve shows. November features TNA’s PPV “Turning Point” on the 15th. While you don’t need a ticket, seating is first come first serve so make sure you get there on time. Because of the subject matter you might see at a TNA show, you have to be 14 years of age and older to get in. We recommend showing up about an hour early just so you can grab a prime seat. Doors open at 6 for the regular 6:30 tapings and at 6:45 for their PPV shows. PPV’s also have pre-show tapings at 7:30 until the show goes live from 8:00-11:00 pm. If you love wrestling, Universal Studios Orlando is the place for you!

Last Call for Water Parks!

2009-10-06T16:45:00.003-04:00

Even though we live in Florida and don’t get any snow, Orlando does become quite chilly during the winter months. This time of the year is your last chance to get to the Orlando water parks before it becomes chilly outside. If you’re a fan of Blizzard Beach, you'd better get your discount tickets quick. As of January 10, 2010, Blizzard Beach will be closing for refurbishment until March of 2010. Blizzard Beach is one of the world’s most popular water parks. With its ski resort theme and scary slides Disney guests love to cool off and have fun at this great Disney theme park. If you’re in the mood for a classic, you can always check out Typhoon Lagoon, where you can learn to surf and swim with the sharks.

There’s also Wet ‘n Wild. This Orlando water park was voted the best water park in America by Amusement Business magazine, and when you go you will see why! The water slides at Wet ‘n Wild go from kid-friendly to downright terrifying. On the Bomb Bay, you rocket down a water slide at a near vertical angle from 76 feet up in the air. If you would rather take it easy you can check out the lazy river or try your hand at wake skating or knee skiing over at the Wake Zone.

If you want to check out one of the newest water parks to open up in the Orlando area, look no further than SeaWorld’s Aquatica. This brand new water park opened up last year in March and is decorated with bright colors and tribal imagery modeled after the indigenous cultures of New Zealand and Australia. The park’s most famous slide is the Dolphin Plunge. Here you can slide down a clear tube that dips through a pool of beautiful Commerson’s dolphins. For a little bit of friendly competition you can head to the Taumata Racer. This is a partially-enclosed waterslide that features eight lanes set side by side so you can race other guests of this great water park.

Whichever park you decide to get to make sure you make it there soon, because the chilly weather is right around the corner!

Buzz Lightyear Returns from Space

2009-10-05T17:23:00.002-04:00

You all know Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear. But did you know the space ranger actually took a trip into outer space? Last year, NASA took a 12-inch action figure of Buzz Lightyear on an STS-124 rocket to live on the International Space Station (ISS) with astronauts from around the world. For 15 months, from May 31, 2008 to September 11, 2009, Buzz was aboard the ISS as astronauts performed various experiments from biological to chemical. Nations like Japan, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Canada and others all have representatives aboard this massive station that serves as a symbol of international unity and harmony.

You might have heard that Cirque du Soleil creator Guy Laliberté just blasted off into space for his Poetic Social Mission—it seems everyone is getting in on the space craze! Once the Buzz Lightyear figure returned he was brought back to the Magic Kingdom where both toy Buzz and the REAL Buzz were honored with a ticker tape parade. Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, lead the parade in a 1969 Camaro convertible along with Mike Fincke, former commander of the space station. Kids and adults lined the streets cheering the men on as the parade made its way through Tomorrowland.

In this great quote from the Orlando Sentinel we got a look into Aldrin’s humor regarding his space ranger competitor. “Aldrin said he briefed Buzz Lightyear before the doll was launched into space in May 2008 aboard space shuttle Discovery. ‘I said, now look, don't you forget, I'm the real Buzz,’ Aldrin said, looking serious.”

Disney plans to continue bringing awareness to its company through space education and promotion of Buzz Lightyear. They are working with NASA in a competition that will have children design a new patch for astronauts. The winner of this competition gets a trip to the Kennedy Space Center and Walt Disney World. Disney is also working with NASA on an educational space-themed video game. Disney is apparently working with the Smithsonian Institute to get a permanent exhibit over at the National Air and Space Museum. Buzz Lightyear is here to stay.

Disney for Sports Fans

2009-10-05T12:09:00.002-04:00

Sports fans, there is a place for you at the Walt Disney World Resort. We know you often feel overwhelmed by pirates and princesses despite heading to the parks with your football jerseys and baseball caps to proclaim your sports team allegiance. But there are plenty of sports-themed sights to see within the resort world—there’s even a sports resort to stay in.

On your visit to the Orlando theme parks area, sports fans can stay at the Walt Disney World All-Star Sports Resort. This is one of Disney’s value hotels and a great destination for sports fans. Its 1,920 rooms, their cafes and stores all carry baseball, basketball, football, surfing, tennis and even hockey themes. The merchandise at their gift shops features adorable Disney figurines in their own sports getup. You can find a baseball-playing Mickey Mouse or a hockey-playing Goofy, among other cute figures.

Disney also has a 220 acre sports complex known as the Wide World of Sports Complex. This massive facility hosts 200 amateur and professional events every year. It is also the home to the spring training camp of the Major League Baseball Team the Atlanta Braves. The facility just recently added the Jostens Center which is a 75,000 square foot complex that will host a number of indoor sports events. The Jostens Center has 12 volleyball courts, 6 basketball courts and 2 hockey rinks. You can also quench your thirst and grab a bite to eat at the Wide World of Sports Café where you are surrounded by great sports memorabilia.

No trip is complete without a little souvenir shopping. The ultimate mix of Disney and sports souvenirs can be found at Downtown Disney at the Team Mickey Athletic Club. This shop, found within the great entertainment, dining and shopping complex that is Downtown Disney, features a great selection of sports merchandise. Not only will you find Disney related items, but the Team Mickey Athletic Club also features jerseys from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and other national sports leagues. While we may no longer have the ESPN Sports Zone at the Disney Boardwalk, there is still plenty to do for sports fans in Disney.

Disney Jumps on the Ebooks Bandwagon

2009-09-30T17:26:00.002-04:00

Ebooks have become the next big thing. With devices like Amazon.com’s Kindle, Apple’s iPhones and iPods as well as an upcoming book reading device by Sony, some people are readily making the transition from paperback to paperless. While there are plenty of arguments both for and against Ebooks, you can’t deny their popularity and Disney is taking full advantage of it. The company recently announced Disney Digital Books. Don’t worry, you won’t have to purchase a Kindle or reading device, Disney is making it easy for everyone. All you need is a computer with Internet access.

Disney Digital Publishing will make 500 new and classic Disney books available for kids to read. Every character from Winnie the Pooh to Hannah Montana is included in that list of 500 reads. While you don’t have to purchase a device to read these books, you will have to pay either a monthly or annual fee. To test out the new project Disney is offering free trials at the moment where you can access 7 regular books, 1 Look and Listen book and 1 Story Builder Activity.

Not only will this program help out the clutter factor of buying tons of children’s books, but the Look and Listen book will help kids learn to read. Readers of the Disney Digital books will be able to click on the words as they read them and hear how they are pronounced. The interactive Ebook not only provides convenience but helps children recognize words they don’t understand instead of glazing over them. With the Story Builder Activity books children can mix and match different scenes to create their own story adventure.

This is a great way to encourage the kids to read and in a way, save money. One fee a year will provide access to 500 books—if you bought 500 books you would be paying way more than whatever fees Disney will be charging. Kids of all ages and adults will enjoy the interactive story options while they learn to improve their reading skills. Check out the new service today, it’s a great thing for Disney fans of all ages!

Happy Anniversary to the Walt Disney World Resort and Epcot!

2009-09-30T10:52:00.002-04:00

This is a big week for the Walt Disney World Resort! The Magic Kingdom is celebrating its 38th year and Epcot is celebrating its 27th year in operation. Both of the parks opened October 1st in 1971 and 1982, respectively. The Walt Disney World resort, which included the Magic Kingdom, only featured two hotels when it opened back in 1971. The Polynesian and the Contemporary were the first two resorts built back when the WDWR only consisted of the Magic Kingdom and the two hotels. Incredible how much it has grown since then! While Walt Disney was heavily involved in the planning of the resort, he died of lung cancer in 1966, a year before construction began.

While Walt didn’t get to see his dream realized, those he left in charge of the Disney company did it for him. Not only did they build the Magic Kingdom by using Disneyland as a guide, they made it bigger (and some would say better) than the original Anaheim destination. In 2008 17 billion people visited the Magic Kingdom, making it the most visited theme park in the world.

Epcot originally had a different purpose. We all know Walt Disney was an innovator in every sense of the word, but did you know he wanted to build an entire futuristic city? When it first opened, Epcot was written EPCOT, as it was an acronym for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” While we now know the park for attractions like Test Track, Soarin’ and the World Showcase, Walt Disney originally had other plans.

He was quoted as saying, "It will be a planned, controlled community, a showcase for American industry and research, schools, cultural and educational opportunities. In EPCOT, there will be no slum areas because we won't let them develop. There will be no landowners and therefore no voting control. People will rent houses instead of buying them, and at modest rentals. There will be no retirees; everyone must be employed."

But now Epcot is considered a vacation destination instead of a living environment. It’s always interesting to learn about the inner-workings and initial ideas of what Imagineers go through in building and conceptualizing these great Orlando theme parks. We can’t wait to see what Walt Disney World comes up with next!

Bonsu the Giraffe Highlights Disney's Conservation Efforts

2009-09-30T10:30:00.002-04:00

Bonsu the giraffe is a year old this week. As the 11th giraffe ever to be born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the cute “toddler” marks another success in Disney’s animal conversation efforts. Bonsu was the fourth male giraffe to be born at the Animal Kingdom. He weighed in at 155 pounds and was 6 feet tall at birth. 2008, the year he was born, saw the arrival of three other giraffes to the Animal Kingdom family. Bonsu isn’t the only big name in the Animal Kingdom playground.

Back in 2006, Nande and Hasani, two African white rhinos, were born at the Animal Kingdom and sent to Africa to help reestablish the population of African white rhinos. Disney helped raise over $800,000 toward helping the rhinos in Africa. They’ve also had three African elephants born in captivity. All of these cute additions to the family highlight Disney’s efforts to help save animals and the environment.

Animal Kingdom’s 500 acres holds 1,700 animals of 250 different species, 33 of them endangered and threatened. But that’s not the only park in the Disney family taking part in the conservation effort. Epcot is also a big player when it comes to helping save the animals. If you’ve ever been to “The Seas,” Epcot’s ocean-themed area, you will get to see beautiful sea creatures including plenty of sea turtles. Epcot has rescued and nursed 200 sick sea turtles and often takes place in animal rescue efforts after hurricanes that affect the Florida area.

Both Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Not only do cast members guide guests around these exhibits, Disney also employs veterinary teams, scientists and animal care teams that help take care of these animals. These teams are also the people you see telling you about the very creatures you’re taking pictures of when you visit Animal Kingdom and Epcot. If it weren’t for this great team, Bonsu, Nande and Hasani wouldn’t be where they are today and there would be plenty more animals still in danger. But thanks to the conservation efforts of the Walt Disney Company, we can worry a little less about baby Bonsu and other members of the animal world.

Ride Spotlight: Test Track at Walt Disney World’s Epcot

2009-09-28T17:24:00.002-04:00

Did you know that Epcot is an acronym for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow?” Aside from the World Showcase Pavilion, Epcot focuses on science and technology, as Walt Disney originally intended the park to be an actual prototype community for futuristic cities back in the earliest days of Epcot’s design. While some Disney fans aren’t keen on Epcot’s educationally focused attractions, they might not even notice how much they’re learning while waiting in line for the popular Test Track attraction.

Sponsored by GM, Test Track is the fourth fastest ride in the Walt Disney family, reaching speeds of up to 64.8 mph. As you wind your way through the queue you learn about vehicle safety and watch robotic demonstrations of crash dummies experiencing various accident situations from being crushed in a vehicle to slamming into a wall. You can also see the inner components of various vehicle parts, which is a must for any car fan. Once you get into the waiting area, you and your fellow guests will get to view a video that shows what your vehicle will experience on the Test Track ride. You, the guest, are the driver of GM’s latest vehicle and will ride it as it goes through tests of heat, cold and corrosive material, swerving and bump tracks before finally launching outdoors for a drive around the track.

This is where you get to experience that 64.8 mph we mentioned earlier as you speed around bank curves of 50 degrees and zoom over hills and turns. Despite not having any inversions or loops, Test Track is surprisingly fast and will give you a great view of the surrounding area once you finish the “initial testing” and your vehicle launches toward the outside track. This ride has the FastPass option available and we recommend you use it. Being near the front of the park and also one of the most popular rides in Epcot, the lines for Test Track can be extremely long. If you’re one of those that loves the Single Riders option on these popular rides, Test Track also has that choice available to you. This is a great ride for both young (as long as they meet the height requirement) and older crowds that want a bit of thrill without feeling terrified. Test Track at Walt Disney World is fun for all.

Remembering Jim Henson

2009-09-23T17:18:00.003-04:00

September 24th, 2009 would have been Jim Henson’s 73rd birthday. His name is almost as recognizable as Walt Disney and his contribution to the world of film and even, in an indirect manner, to our Orlando theme parks has continued on since his tragic death on May 16th, 1990. He was only 53 years old when a strange case of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome, a bacterial infection, took over his body and caused his organs to fail. On that day the entire creative world and the millions of fans Jim Henson gained through his work with the Muppets and Sesame Street mourned the tragic loss of this creative genius.

There was a lot Jim Henson did that the general public might not realize. He’s usually immediately grouped with the Muppets and rightfully so. Who doesn’t love Oscar the Grouch or Kermit the Frog? But Jim Henson’s genius expanded throughout a number of movies and even to a galaxy far, far away. Henson designed Muppets which lead to movies like Muppets Take Manhattan, the show Fraggle Rock and the popular animated series Muppet Babies.

Henson was also responsible for creating one of the most beloved sci-fi puppets of all time: Yoda from the Star Wars series. Henson helped George Lucas’ team create Yoda and help with the puppeteering of the little green Jedi Master before he went CGI in the additional three prequels to the films. It was Jim Henson who suggested Frank Oz be Yoda’s puppeteer and voice. Thanks to Henson. Lucas selected Oz to voice one of the most memorable film characters of all time.

Singing was yet another thing Henson dabbled in. Though he wasn’t out playing rock concerts, the song “The Rainbow Connection,” which he performed using his Kermit the Frog voice, was #25 on the Billboard Top 100 and still considered a favorite children’s song today. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop continues on and his company is now run by his children, who loved going on set with their dad and learning the ropes of puppeteering when they were young and Henson still lead the way. His legacy lives on through the Muppets, Sesame Street, Star Wars and movies like The Dark Crystal and The Labyrinth. If you want your dose of Muppet madness, head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to checkout Muppetvision 3D.

Personal Favorites: Disney's Hollywood Studios

2009-09-23T10:24:00.002-04:00

Who doesn’t love going to the movies? Better yet, who doesn’t love feeling like they are a part of the movies? This is what I love about Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There is a different kind of magic here at this Orlando theme park. While the Magic Kingdom gives you the fairytale feeling and Epcot takes you to foreign lands and the future, Disney’s Hollywood Studios gives you a variety of attractions that aren’t only a ton of fun, but they’re interactive as well.

Stunts are a huge part of movies, especially all the big action flicks. At the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show Spectacular you get to see some of the best scenes from the legendary Indiana Jones movies recreated right before your eyes. Whether it’s fighting under a revolving plane with deadly propellers or escaping from a large rolling rock you’ll get to watch “Indy” perform the stunts from the edge of your seat.

If you’re a fan of the Muppets like I am, Muppetvision 3D is a Disney Hollywood Studio’s classic. You’ll get to see your favorite Muppets characters go on a comedic adventure as they search for a runaway Gonzo. Right between Muppetvision 3D and the classic Sci-Fi Diner is Star Tours. Now, as of October this ride is going to be closing for renovation. I’m sad to see it go, despite the complaints most people have about the ride being outdated. Sure, it is a bit outdated but there is also a huge element of nostalgia to it. I know Star Tours II will be incredible (opening in 2011) but I will miss the original ride.

Speaking of nostalgia, no trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is complete without a visit to The Great Movie Ride. It isn’t as thrilling as the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster or Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, but seeing a glimpse of the old animatronics re-telling the stories of classic movies like Casablanca and Alien as you head to your final destination of the movie montage set to some of the greatest soundtracks of all time. It may sound cheesy, but that ride always makes me remember why I love movies so much. They can touch Star Tours, but I really hope The Great Movie Ride stays the same. Sometimes nostalgia is a good thing.

Disney Returns to Fairy Tales for its 50th Feature-Length Animated Film

2009-09-21T17:41:00.002-04:00

It has been quite some time since Disney has made a movie starring a princess as the lead role. This year we get a return to princesses and 2D animation with The Princess and the Frog, but next year we will get a special treat. Disney is already working on their first 3D animated fairytale with their version of the story of Rapunzel. This feature is going to be special for the Walt Disney Company. Not only will it be their first 3D animated fairytale but it will also be the 50th feature-length animated film for the House of Mouse.

As with every Disney adaptation, Rapunzel is going to be a little bit different. We all know Disney makes their fairytales more kid friendly even if they have to bend the truth a bit (especially with tales like Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid) but with Rapunzel they’re going to make her a princess for modern times and modern little girls. This Rapunzel is not going to be a damsel in distress but a superheroine in her own right.

Voiced by singer/actress Mandy Moore, Rapunzel escapes from her castle to embark on an adventure with a bandit named Flynn, voiced by Zachary Levi. Like her Disney princess predecessors, Rapunzel will sing, fall in love and may have some animals friends. But unlike her princess pedescessors she isn’t waiting for anyone to rescue her, and like her more modern counterpart Mulan, Rapunzel will have a bit of fight in her.

Her legendary hair is going to be more than just a rope for potential suitors. Rapunzel will be able to use her hair like a lasso, a whip and other objects. The princess has full control of her hair in the Disney version, in a way making it a character of its own. With music from legendary Disney composer Alan Menken and Home on the Range composer Glen Slater, Rapunzel is sure to be a hit next holiday season. She will be joining the newest Disney leading lady (who is also a milestone as the first African American princess) Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog in a long line of famous characters popular with girls of all ages. Rapunzel is slated to arrive in theatres during the holiday season of 2010.

More from D23: Pirates of the Caribbean Returns!

2009-09-18T16:25:00.002-04:00

Fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise will be excited to hear what Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook revealed about 2011. Cook stood before a crowd of about 5,000 Disney fanatics and announced he had a special treat for them. In 2011 Disney will release the next installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, the popular franchise that stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in a series of swashbuckling adventures with Depp’s character Captain Jack Sparrow.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will be the title of the new movie. At D23, however, it wasn’t only Cook that announced the awesome news, but Captain Jack Sparrow himself! As smoke filled the stage and the familiar theme song from the Pirates movie played, a pirate ship glided onto the stage commandeered by none other than Johnny Depp dressed in full Captain Jack regalia. The crowd went crazy for Depp who remained in character the entire time while he was on stage. We’re sure for many of the kids in the audience it was just like seeing their hero right before their eyes.

Up until now the Pirates films have been directed by Gore Verbinski, but he recently left the franchise to pursue other projects. While the newest film now has a title and Johnny Depp will be back as Captain Jack, the rumor mill is still buzzing about who will be the next director. Jerry Bruckheimer supposedly has his eye on Rob Marshal, director of movies like Chicago, Nine and Memoirs of a Geisha, to direct the new pirate flick, but we’ll just have to wait and see until further details come out. If you can’t wait for the new movie why not have a watch party marathon and check out Pirates of the Caribbean, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

The best way to get in the pirates mood is head down to Walt Disney World Resort and check out the attraction that inspired the movies over at the Magic Kingdom: Pirates of the Caribbean. While you’re there check out the Pirate’s League where you get to dress up like your favorite Pirates of the Caribbean character as well!

Guillermo Del Toro Double Dares You

2009-09-16T17:39:00.002-04:00

If you’ve seen Hellboy chances are director Guillermo Del Toro is the last guy you’d ever expect to be working on Disney animated films. The comic book film is only one of Del Toro’s dark ventures into the storytelling world. Pan’s Labyrinth which received six Academy Award nominations and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in English was a dark fantasy tale set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War in 1944. Violence and tragedy were naturally a part of this film and its tragic ending is difficult to watch for many.

But a big bit of news concerning this incredible director emerged from the D23 Expo that has everyone in the Disney community talking. Del Toro, who admitted to being a huge Disney fan, has signed on to produce a series of animated horror films as part of a franchise called “Disney Double Dares You.” The Disney Double Dares You (DDDY) world plans to include an entire series of books, merchandise and films that are scary yet appropriate for all ages. The first film is reportedly called Trollhunters but further details have yet to be revealed. Del Toro did say the series of DDDY films would all be tied together by one major film of which Disney fans will be familiar with the subject matter.

Could that one major film be Del Toro’s version of The Haunted Mansion? The popular Disney attraction is apparently the Mexican director’s favorite. He loves how the story of the mansion’s ghouls and grinning ghost inhabitants comes together throughout the ride. While the final movie remains a mystery he plans to do the same with all of these animated projects, books and movies.

With Disney’s recent acquisition of Marvel Comics, fans are also buzzing about the possibility of Del Toro getting his hands on the world of legendary Marvel creator Stan Lee. Could Del Toro be bringing some of these Marvel characters to life with his usual dark twist? As more details regarding the Disney Double Dares You project emerge we will get to find out. Make sure you check back with DWTickets.com for more news regarding this exciting project.