Disney Jumps on the Ebooks Bandwagon

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!

New Character Meet and Greets at EPCOT

A fun memory for any visitor to the Disney theme parks is getting to meet your favorite characters. While some may be harder to find than others (the White Rabbit is notoriously difficult to find at the parks), permanent greeting locations make getting your autograph book filled up a lot easier. The Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom is really great on character greetings. Alice and the Mad Hatter are usually by the Tea Cups with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and you can always find Cinderella and Snow White by the Cinderella Castle. But in a park where attractions are a bit more spread out, like at EPCOT, finding your favorite characters could be a bit harder. So let DWTickets.com give you the best info on where to find your favorite Disney characters throughout the EPCOT theme park.

If you’re a fan of the British-influenced Disney movies, then look no further than the UK Pavillion at EPCOT’s World Showcase for meetings with Alice, Marry Poppins and Winnie the Pooh and friends. If you want to see Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie, head over to Morocco where they often hang out by the fountain. For a princess extravaganza, head over to the Norway Pavilion. Their Akershus restaurant features the Princess Storybook Meals where every princess from Sleeping Beauty to Belle shows up to dine with guests and take autographs and pictures.

Three beloved characters will soon be getting their own meet and greet areas in EPCOT, two of them classic and one of them a bit of an “underground” favorite. First off we have Disney’s first princess, Snow White. Disney construction recently finished on an adorable replica of Snow White’s cottage in the Germany Pavilion of the World Showcase. It will be much easier for you to find the fair princess and have your picture taken. If you’re a fan of Donald Duck, you are in luck! Over at the Mexico Pavilion, Disney is building the cranky duck his very own meet and greet area. The boat ride inside the pavilion already features Donald as part of The Three Caballeros, so this is a great spot to hang out with Disney’s classic character.

Finally, a beloved kitten is getting her time to shine over at the France Pavillion. Marie from The Aristocats, who already has plenty of merchandise featuring her adorable face all over the parks, will now be greeting her fans daily starting this October. Don’t forget, EPCOT also has a character greeting section in the Future World area. This is a great spot to meet everyone at once so get there early to avoid a long line and enjoy meeting your favorite Disney characters.