Verizon Fans Finally Get Disney Mobile App

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.

Disney’s Twinned Town

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.

Tomorrowland Revamps Almost Done!

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 for Sports Fans

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.

Happy Anniversary to the Walt Disney World Resort and Epcot!

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!

An Inside Look at Walt Disney in the 40’s with Walt & El Grupo

When you think of Walt Disney films animation usually comes to mind; but what about documentaries? Come to think of it, when you’re enjoying Orlando theme parks like the Walt Disney World Resort do you ever stop and think about the inner workings of all of the magic? The latest film to come out of the Disney group is Walt & El Grupo. If you’ve ever been on the Grand Fiesta Tour attraction at the Mexican Pavillion at Epcot, you might have seen a trio of comical characters featuring Donald Duck, a rooster by the name of Panchito and a parrot by the name of Jose Carioca. This comical trio is better known as The Three Caballeros and they were a direct result from a trip to South America Walt Disney took with a company of animators in 1941.

Those were trying times for Walt Disney. There was an animators strike, the world was at war and the fate of Disney appeared dismal. The US government recruited Walt and a group of his hand-picked animators to go to South America on a mission of goodwill. Walt and his group visited Argentina, Brazil and Chile to meet with famous Latin American artists and musicians and collaborate on a project. The result of this trip was two movies: The Three Caballeros and Saludos Amigos.

Walt Disney was only 39 on this trip and Disneyland hadn’t even opened yet! But it was an imperative mission to the world of Walt Disney and one that produced some animation firsts. The Three Caballeros featured a combination of live-action cinema and animation. It also featured some prominent Latin stars from the era including Aurora, the sister of Carmen Miranda, Dora Luz and Carmen Molina. The title song of The Three Caballeros was composed by legendary Mexican composer Manuel Esperon.

Walt & El Grupo is expected to be a great inside look into the world of Walt Disney, a man surrounded by many legends. Fans of the animation genius will get a rare glimpse at what life was like during the early stages of the Disney empire and see how the trip influenced Disney’s multicultural aspects as shown by attractions like It’s A Small World and the World Showcase Pavillion. If you’re a Disney fan, Walt & El Grupo is a must see.

Let Verizon Wireless Guide You Through the Parks

Remember PAL Mickey? The cute little plush toy gave owners tips and tidbits about the Disney theme parks as you walked around certain spots in places like the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom? Well now in an Orlando theme park first, Disney is teaming up with Verizon Wireless to bring you a unique wireless experience.

This new tech trek will work like PAL Mickey but through your Verizon Wireless cellphone. Disney is already using this technology in Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, an interactive adventure both kids and adults love. At the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, fans can use their Verizon Wireless cellphones as their “Kimmunicators” to receive clues from Kim Possible herself. Help Kim find and defeat evildoers throughout the Epcot World Showcase with other Kim Possible fans.

But that’s not all Verizon customers will be able to do. At both Walt Disney World and Disneyland you will be able to receive ride information. If a ride is shut down or the wait times are long, you can get that information on your phone. Want to know where Mickey is? Or are you in search of Alice and The Mad Hatter? Disney updates will be sent to your phone to let you know where all of your favorite characters are. Dining locations and showtime info will also be available. This is great for when you’re on one side of the park and wondering if you can make it to your favorite show on the other side without being late!

To further your wireless mobile experience, Disneylink, a desktop application, will let you share any Disney info and pictures saved on your phone with other Verizon Disney fans at home. This is all part of Disney’s efforts to bring their fans together and keep things modern and moving at the parks.

“With more than 90 percent of families bringing a mobile phone into our parks, our objective was to enhance the magical Disney experience through innovative wireless technology,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “Imagine receiving up to the minute tips on special park activities with just the touch of a button or receiving a call from Buzz Lightyear welcoming you to Magic Kingdom.”

Little kids are sure to love receiving a “call” from Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear. If you’re a Verizon Wireless customer, this new innovation is sure to make your time at the Walt Disney World Resort even more fun!

Disney Secrets, Now Just an iTouch Away

With the recent phenomenon of Apps, created by Apple for the iPhone and iPod Touch, there is now something for everyone. Disney lovers and theme park gurus have jumped on the App bandwagon to create Apps to help enjoy their favorite pastime…a day in a Disney theme park!

With a 4 out of 5 Mice rating by Macworld and being rated in the Top 25 paid Travel Apps, the “Walt Disney World Secrets” iPhone App has become one of the most popular new accessories on phones and travelers alike while in the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. The App features advice on where, when, and how to experience all of the hidden gems of the Disney parks. With just a couple of touches, owners of the App can find magical surprises around every corner of Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

This innovative guidebook is the perfect application for anyone with an iPhone visiting the Disney Theme Parks! There are over 180 fun and magical secrets about the Walt Disney World Resort on the App, and there is also an additional section that gives Hidden Mickey tours! Discover over 80 Hidden Mickey’s that you may have never seen with the naked eye. Plus, get over 200 fun-filled facts about the “Happiest Place on Earth!”

“To our knowledge, this is the first Walt Disney World App reviewed and rated by Macworld, so we are very pleased,” says Mike Westby of TimeStream Software, creator of the App. “It’s a notable reflection on the quality of content within the App, as well as the hard work put into its development.”

If you can’t get enough of the Disney fun with this App, there are also Apps available for purchase for your iPhone, iPod touch, iPod Classic, and iPod nano, including “Walt Disney World Guide,” “Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hidden Mickey’s,” and MORE! Apps can be purchased for as low as 99 cents on Notescasts.com! And, to keep with the low prices of Disney fun, you can get into the Disney theme parks with discount Disney tickets on DWTickets.com. With a full-out guided tour of the parks, via your iPhone or iPod, and discount Disney tickets, you can have a fun, and educated, experience at Walt Disney World!

Gay Days at Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has always been a gay and merry place, but this early June, the theme parks will receive a boost of a different kind of gay. The first week of June through Sunday, June 7, marks the annual Orlando event known as Gay Days, which unites members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and supportive community in enjoyment of a day at the Disney parks. Since 1991, GLBT visitors and supporters have worn red and gathered at Magic Kingdom. Today, the event is bigger than ever, bringing an estimated 75,000 visitors to Orlando and encompassing all four parks and several Orlando resorts with meet-ups and special events.

This year, the Gay Days calendar is packed with expos, concerts, comedy shows, and parties all over Orlando. At the parks, however, the event rotates to a different Disney park each day. On Thursday, Gay Days is at Animal Kingdom; on Friday, the event moves to Disney’s Hollywood Studios; on Saturday, the traditional (and biggest of all) Gay Days takes place at Magic Kingdom; and on Sunday, Gay Days winds down at Epcot.

What this means to those unfamiliar with Gay Days is that a large amount of GLBT visitors will be visiting the designated Disney park on that specific day, where they’ll ride the rides and have fun like everyone else. The daily parade usually serves as a gathering point, especially on Saturday when Gay Days guests will “meet at Cindy’s place” (Cinderella’s Castle) for the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade at 3 pm.

While for GLBT visitors to the park, Gay Days is a chance to don their rainbow-colored Mickey ears, the event has stirred up some controversy in the past. Some Gay Days guests have been known to engage in public displays of affection, which sometimes make other guests and families with children uncomfortable.

For those who feel like Gay Days might taint their Walt Disney World experience, we advise steering clear of the specific meet-up park on the day you want to visit. For example, you may want to visit any other Disney park besides Magic Kingdom on Saturday. Visiting the parks early is also a good idea, as the crowds will be particularly thick in the afternoon.

It’s important to note that Gay Days is not sanctioned by or affiliated with Walt Disney World. Still, as Gay Days participants and GLBT Disney lovers know, the parks do an excellent job of treating every guest the same. Mickey loves you no matter what your sexuality is.

Ultimately, for those participating in the event, Gay Days is a fun and festive opportunity for the GLBT community and its supporters to get together, show their pride, and have some good, old-fashioned Disney fun. And if the event doesn’t bother or affect you, feel free to go and enjoy the parks among its red-wearing visitors like you would on any other day.

As always, you can save on Walt Disney World tickets -- for Gay Days or a regular magic-filled visit to your favorite park – right here on DWTickets.com.

Gather 'Round the Bonfire at Disney's Grand Floridian

There’s no denying that Walt Disney World is a family friendly place. But after enjoying all the attractions and experiences of Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, many may wonder what’s left for families to enjoy after they retreat to their hotels from the parks. Thankfully, Disney resorts have got you covered with a variety of fun activities to enjoy when your day at the parks is done.

For example, at the elegant Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, families can indulge in a sweet new experience under the stars. In addition to the other activities available at the resort, families are now able to enjoy a little old fashioned fun by roasting marshmallows around a Mickey-shaped campfire. Every evening around 8 pm (the time changes seasonally), guests can gather to roast and snack, gaze at the stars, and sing favorite camp tunes on the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon.

Meanwhile, the moonlit beach will also serve as an outdoor movie theater as a different family-friendly Disney film is shown on a portable screen every night. S’more kits and marshmallows are available for purchase during the campfire and movie.

Families can also enjoy campfire fun at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, where Chip and Dale join in on the fun, and a different movie is shown than the one at the Grand Floridian.

Not only are these activities perfectly timed for enjoying after a day at the parks, but they’re free! The Grand Floridian also hosts a daily Wonderland Tea Party from 1:30 to 2:30 pm every weekday, with Alice and her curious friends gathering to enjoy a spot of tea - with guests, of course. And great for a bit of fun before heading off to the parks, the resort’s 1900 Park Fare hosts a character breakfast in the morning with Mary Poppins, Alice, the Mad Hatter, Pinocchio, and Geppetto.

In addition, the hotel offers various forms of outdoor recreation like tennis, golf, a jogging trail, and watercraft rentals. Hanging at Gasparailla’s Grill & Games is another fun post-park activity, as the quick-service restaurant offers a game room filled with classic arcade favorites and the latest video games.

And if parents want to enjoy a night on their own, they can leave kids in the care of the Mouseketeer Club, a supervised activity center that entertains the little ones with arts and crafts, computer games, Disney movies, and dinner and snacks.

But ultimately, you’ll want to gather the whole family together for bonfire nights at the Grand Floridian; it’s a fun way to end the day and will definitely serve as a great memory of your Walt Disney World vacation. In order to plan said vacation, check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com. And don’t forget to pack some marshmallows.

Escape to Africa at Disney's Kidani Village

One of the great things about Walt Disney World is the way it can transport you to exotic and international destinations. And soon, guests will be able to experience a whole new world of international fun at Animal Kingdom. Select rooms at Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge have been converted into vacation villas, and by the end of spring, those villas will make their debut as Kidani Village – a fresh and unique new option for lodging that will make guests feel as though they’ve been whisked away to Africa.

Kidani Village is the first of four new Disney Vacation Club properties opening in 2009, and these villas are sure to stand out with their intricate African-inspired details. Kidani means necklace, and this Animal Kingdom villa-village is appropriately shaped like a piece of native African jewelry with villas forming the beads, garden-like walkways creating the knots in between, and the lobby representing the jewel at its center.

With Disney’s penchant for storytelling, Kidani Village will make guests feel like intrepid 19th century explorers on an African expedition. The Disney Imagineers designed the new Kidani Village to feel at home in its wild savannah surroundings; each villa features a thatched-roof, hewn-timber structure that seems to emerge organically from the land beneath it, and most villas offer sweeping views of the savannah, inhabited by a variety of African animals.

In fact, the Village will offer views of two savannahs – the Sunset Savannah and the new Pember Savannah – with up-close glimpses of exotic creatures. Guests can see them from special viewing areas throughout the resort, but select room balconies will also yield views of zebras, giraffes, elands, impalas, gazelles, wildebeests, storks, flamingos, waterbucks, and much more.

And though the exterior of the villas are authentically wild and African, guests will find no shortage of comfort in the interior with plenty of home-like amenities like a kitchenette/kitchen. Scheduled for opening on May 1, Kidani Village will offer 340 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas.

Kidani Village is set to open in phases through the spring and fall, but first to open will be a brand new table-service eatery called Sanaa. Perfect for families, Sanaa will serve up savannah views and tasty foods from tandoor ovens, along with slow-cooked African specialties. The Village will also eventually include Samawati Springs, a themed pool area; Uwanja Camp, a themed water-play area; Survival of the Fittest, a fitness center; Johari Treasures, a merchandise shop, and more.

So if you’ve been toying with the idea of an exotic vacation adventure but wasn’t sure where to go, head to Walt Disney World this spring and check out the new Kidani Village. These timeshare villas are definitely a step above and beyond your average hotel room, and they’re more affordable than you think when you consider the savings you’ll get with Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com. And they’re definitely much more affordable than a trip to Africa!

Down by the BoardWalk at Disney

Tourists visiting Orlando, Florida, who are looking for great dining, entertainment, and shopping generally don’t have to think very hard about where to go. Universal CityWalk offers all that in spades, of course, as does Downtown Disney. However, one place that doesn’t get as much attention for all it offers is Walt Disney World’s BoardWalk area. Offering more than 9,000 square feet of retail, food, and fun, Disney’s Boardwalk is a great place to stroll and hang out when your day at the theme parks is over. And while Downtown Disney’s Pleasure Island is getting a makeover, it’s definitely worth paying a visit to this scenic lakeside area full of sights, sounds, and even tantalizing smells.

One of the prettiest and most photogenic spots in Walt Disney World, the BoardWalk surrounds Disney’s Crescent Lake and resembles a little village on the water. You’ll love walking along it and taking in the sherbet-colored building facades, striped awnings, pristine waters, and strung lights of the BoardWalk, which is modeled after the Boardwalks of New England coastal cities like Coney Island and Atlantic City.

Craving some shopping or looking to browse? You’ll find a collection of unusual and unique shops at the BoardWalk, from the ESPN Club Store to the Screen Door General Store. Wyland Galleries features a selection of marine life art from internationally renowned artist Wyland and others. And Disney’s Character Carnival and Thimbles and Threads offer apparel and Disney merchandise and accessories for all ages.

Hungry? BoardWalk has no shortage of tasty treats, including fresh seafood at the Flying Fish Café and sugary delights at Seashore Sweets. Big River Grille & Brewing Works is definitely a must-stop, the only working microbrewery in Disney and a purveyor of sandwiches, salads, and of course, award-winning beer. Spoodles is also a great family place, with delicious flatbreads and Mediterranean dinners that are perfect for sharing with loved ones. And for dessert, be sure to stop by the BoardWalk Bakery for one of their fantastic cupcakes.

The nightlife department, however, is where the BoardWalk really shines, especially now with the closure of Pleasure Island’s nightclubs. Guests can have fun shaking it at Atlantic Dance Hall, where hot DJs and cool bands make it a great place to while away the evening hours. And Jellyrolls is a sheer blast, a quirky piano bar with dueling pianos and audience sing-alongs. We dare you to find a song the pianists don’t know!

Around sunset is definitely our favorite time to go to the BoardWalk; in the evening, the area comes to life with street performers, food vendors, midway games, and lots of live entertainment. And since the BoardWalk is within walking distance of Epcot, going there after a rousing day at the parks is easy and convenient.

If you haven’t paid a visit to the BoardWalk, check it out – you’ll have fun exploring this miniature shopping, dining, and nightlife district at Walt Disney World. Make it a stop on your Disney vacation, which you can start planning after you get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com.

ESPN The Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios

March Madness. Football Fever. Hockey Hullabaloo. Whatever you want to call it, sports tend to get people riled up and excited. And only one event captures the excitement of all those sports in one fan-infested weekend. Only at Walt Disney World can sports fanatics unite in one weekend that brings the hottest lineup of athletes, ESPN personalities, and sports fun and activities. That’s right – ESPN the Weekend is upon us, and Disney is ready to create a one-of-a-kind experience for sports fans of all ages at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from February 27 to March 1.

Every year, ESPN the Weekend gets bigger and better, and this year will be one of the best with a veritable “who’s who” of athletic elite. The sixth edition of ESPN the Weekend will feature some of the biggest names in sports, including Super Bowl heroes like Kurt Warner, Hines Ward, Adam Vinatieri, and Brandon Jacobs. There’ll be Major League Baseball stars too, like Rickey Henderson, Jim Palmer, Curt Schilling, and Job Chamberland. Even US Olympic gold medalists will be on hand, such as Shawn Johnson, Misty May-Treanor, and many others. Fans will be able to see them all in daily motorcades through Hollywood Boulevard and at the base of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat for special dialogues and Q&A sessions.

Fans will also get to meet their favorite ESPN personalities, including John Anderson, Colin Cowherd, Jay Crawford, Dana Jacobson, Chris McKendry, Peter Gammons, Stuart Scott, Karl Ravech, and Trey Wingo. This year’s event will also feature live daily telecasts, including First Take, Baseball Tonight, and NFL Live, filmed from a set in front of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. There’ll also be live broadcasts of the “Mike and Mike” radio show, starring Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, and The Herd with Colin Cowherd, broadcast live from the ESPN Club at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.

And it’s not all about the athletes and celebrities – Disney guests will be able to become a sports star themselves with the ESPN Sports Zone. In this interactive area, people of all ages will be able to test their skill in a wide variety of sports, including baseball, basketball, football, and even biking on an X games dirt course. The ESPN Sports Zone will also include an ESPN Play Your Way playground, a fitness initiative designed to let kids use their imagination and create their own physically active games.

Moreover, Disney guests will even be able to try their hand at being a sports personality through a special audition experience. Select contestants will go through a series of “on-air” tasks and the audience will select the best “sportscaster” during each show. ESPN pros and athletes will help mentor contestants as part of the experience.

And a new addition to ESPN The Weekend will be a 5K race through Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday, February 28. The 5K Road Race and Fun Run will challenge runners along the course with ESPN and sports trivia, and more ESPN personalities and athletes will be present for the fun. The race will benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research and will include a Fun Run for kids as well.

Best yet, all the fun and activities of ESPN The Weekend come free with admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so all you need to do to attend is get your Walt Disney World Tickets from DWTickets.com. So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now, so you can be part of the ESPN madness and hullabaloo.

Disney Dollars Are Worth Celebrating

Walt Disney World has no shortage of incredible souvenirs. From Mickey ears that you can customize with your own signature color and decorations to an extensive variety of pins that you could spend your whole life collecting, the parks have been known for developing some of the coolest collectibles that make park-going even more fun. And in continuation of a tradition that’s endured at the parks for more than twenty years, Disney is debuting its 2009 series of Disney Dollars, the “official currency” of Walt Disney World Resort.

These colorful bills are released every year with a new design, and the 2009 series, which has just been issued, is perfectly matched to go with one of Walt Disney World’s newest promotions, "What Will You Celebrate?" "What Will You Celebrate?" encourages people to head to the parks to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, graduations, and other life triumphs.

The bills, which come in $1, $5, and $10 denominations, all call attention to celebrating with their new designs. On the $1, Mickey Mouse and Pluto are seen celebrating with a cake, while Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse grace the $5 in party hats. And on the $10, Goofy is joined by Donald Duck and Mickey as he blows out the candles on a cake, causing all its frosting to land on Mickey’s face. The reverse of each bill features Cinderella Castle in the clouds with the phrase, “There’s so Much in Life Worth Celebrating.”

Disney Dollars debuted in 1987 as a fun souvenir especially created for Disney-loving collectors. A man named Harry Brice, a silhouette cutter on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland, had the idea for the bills after going to a Disneyana show and seeing how much people loved Disney collectibles. Two series were created at first, one for Disneyland, and one for Walt Disney World, but additional series were added over the years for special celebrations, Disney stores, and other themes like Pirates of the Caribbean. Since their creation, new dollars have been produced every year except in 1992 and 2004.

Money can be exchanged for Disney Dollars at Guest Relations in any of the four parks, as well as at resort front desks. They can also be found at the Guest Relations at Downtown Disney Marketplace and at the information desk at the World of Disney shop. A fun way to teach kids the value of money while at the parks, Disney Dollars never expire and can be used for purchases throughout Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot, as well as on Disney’s Cruise Line, at the Disney stores, and more. However, whatever bills you don’t use can be kept as a unique collectible; like a real dollar, each bill is individually numbered.

Next time you hit the parks and are searching for a unique memento to remember your visit by, check out Disney Dollars. Better than a gift card, you’ll have fun spending or holding on to these little Disney treasures. And be sure to get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com, so you’ll have more money left over to convert into Disney Dollars.

Pinching Pennies at Walt Disney World

We have all felt our wallets getting a little skimpier over the past year or so; it is not a pleasant thought to admit, but many of us have found ourselves cutting back on the things we normally take pleasure in. And often, a vacation would be the first on that list of cutbacks, but at Walt Disney World, you can still have a dream vacation that won’t make your wallet go into extinction. Just follow a few handy tips, and you’ll be able to preserve the most magical part of your year.

First, there’s no question that one of the highest costs of a vacation can be food and beverages. Keeping your group fueled and quenched is no cheap feat. However, you can get the most bang for your buck at any one of Disney’s expansive buffets. For example, you can get a satisfying breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom. Not only does the Crystal Palace serve a wide variety of American favorites, but you can also dine with your favorite characters too. Watching the chefs prepare your meal in the live on-stage kitchen also provides easy and free entertainment.

At many of the Walt Disney World resort restaurants, it’s also possible to have an inexpensive meal for $10 or less. Mara at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Spoodles Pizza Window at the Boardwalk Inn, Food and Fun Center at the Contemporary, and Hurricane Hanna’s at the Beach and Yacht Club are just a few of the places offering fun themes and low cost eats.

And instead of purchasing a drink everywhere you go, consider purchasing a bottomless mug instead. Available at the food courts of nearly all the resorts, these refillable mugs can be bought for $12.49 and used repeatedly for the length of your vacation. This is especially money-saving for coffee lovers, soda junkies, or anyone enjoying a lengthy vacation.

Another area where it helps to save money is souvenirs. Let’s face it – every year we go to Walt Disney World, we come back with more and more stuff. And shopping for a unique memento is definitely one of the most enjoyable parts of a Disney vacation. So how can you enjoy adding a souvenir to your stash without losing too much cash? Simply look for creative souvenirs. For example, at the Walt Disney World website, you can order a customized park map and have it mailed to your house – for free! The maps come with stickers so you can mark your favorite spots, and when you’re finished with them, they serve as a special reminder of your visit.

You can also score a great souvenir by pinching pennies – literally! For a fee of fifty cents (plus one penny), you can get a special Disney-imprinted penny for a fun and affordable keepsake. Kids love watching the pennies being squashed, and these souvenirs are available all over the four parks and at many of the resorts. You can also usually find a unique design in each area featuring a Disney character or icon, so they make a great collectible, too.

Finally, make sure to take advantage of all the extras Disney has to offer. Squeeze the most fun and value out of your Disney vacation by using FASTPASS and Extra Magic Hours. Avoid the high costs of a rental car by using Disney’s Transportation System. And last but not least, save big by ordering your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com. You’ll score the same Disney experiences for less, and you won’t even have to cut back on a single attraction. Now that’s a value vacation.

Walt Disney World Hotels Roll Out the Red Carpet

Walt Disney World, in addition to having four of the best theme parks in Orlando, also has some of the most luxurious, creative, and comfortable resorts. However, in these penny-pinching times, many might wonder what the advantages are of staying in a Disney resort, especially if you’re looking to cut costs. After all, there are probably more inexpensive hotels that you could stay at in Orlando. However, only Walt Disney World resorts offer special amenities and features that make enjoying the parks easier and more fun.

One such benefit of staying at a Disney resort is Disney’s Magical Express, which provides free transportation for Disney hotel guests to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO). With this handy service, guests can even arrange for special luggage tags that allow them to check their bags at their hometown airport, bypassing the baggage claim at MCO. When they arrive at their hotel room, their bags will be magically waiting for them. And when it’s time to go back home, guests can check their baggage with the return flight at their Disney resort, saving time and the pain of dragging luggage at the airport.

Another transportation-related benefit is the Walt Disney World Transportation, which allows Disney guests to get around without a car. Your resort ID also doubles as a ticket for buses, monorails, and boat launches, providing you access to virtually all areas of Walt Disney World. Moreover, many of the resorts, including Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s BoardWalk, are so close to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios that you can walk to the parks.

And for hotel guests who don’t want to deal with the hassle of figuring out where to eat while on vacation, there’s the Disney Dining Plan. Guests who combine their hotel accommodations and park tickets with a Magic Your Way package can also add dining plans for an all-inclusive vacation package. Three plan choices are available to satisfy different budgets and appetite, and all include at least two meals and a snack every day.

Finally, one of the best aspects of staying at a Disney resort is the Extra Magic Hours. Each day, Disney guests are offered exclusive time in a Walt Disney World theme park for one to three hours per day, either prior to the park opening or after it closes. In other words, Disney hotel guests get to enjoy parks like Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom all to themselves! The Extra Magic Hours and chosen park vary from day to day, but you can look them up on the Walt Disney World website. In order to take advantage of the extra time, guests must have their hotel ID and a Magic Your Way ticket.

In Orlando, 23 resorts ranging in theme and price allow guests to indulge in a worry-free vacation, and about one-third of them fall in the value category. At Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, for example, you can bring your own RV or even pitch a tent for a low cost and fun accommodation. So this year, don’t be afraid to enjoy the comfort and luxury of Disney resort. And remember that you can always save money by acquiring your discount Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com.

Join the Pin Craze at Walt Disney World

There have been quite a few toy crazes in the last decade. Remember those talking Elmos? Or those you-had-to-have-them electronic pets? Now, crazes are usually more restricted to the latest cell phone or iPhone, but at Walt Disney World, people still go crazy to collect a very simple, low-tech item – pins. However, this isn’t your average toy craze that kids jump on like a bandwagon. A well-respected hobby at Walt Disney World since 1999, everyone from young children to senior citizens loves to acquire and trade new Disney pins in the hopes of developing a good collection.

A tradition at Disney World that’s going on ten years old, pin trading provides guests and Disney lovers a whole new way to enjoy the parks and have fun. Disney has launched thousands of pins over the years, each with their own unique design and story, and pin traders go crazy when there’s any opportunity to collect a special new pin. However, pin trading can merely be a fun addition to your usual theme park experience, and you can always simply trade for pins that you like or that are aesthetically pleasing, as opposed to trying to track down rare or valuable pins like more serious collectors.

Pins generally start at $7 and are available at several shops throughout Walt Disney World, especially at Disney’s Pin Traders in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. This expansive pin-trading spot hosts the biggest assortment of pins in Walt Disney World. Starter sets are also available to get you going, featuring a uniquely theme pin trading lanyard and four Disney pins.

Once you’ve amassed a collection, however, you can also acquire new pins by trading with any Disney cast members that are wearing a pin trading lanyard. Each member has their own collection of pins along with new or special edition pins that are distributed to them randomly each night. A guest can trade with each cast member for up to two pins each day.

And in addition to trading with cast members and other guests, pin trading events are another great way to add new pins to your collection. Disney’s Contemporary Resort hosts Pin Trading nights every so often, with one coming up on January 23rd from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Resort’s Convention Center in the Ballroom of the Americas. The next Pin Trading Night after that will be on February 20th.

Here are a few guidelines to make pin trading more fun. First, it’s a big etiquette no-no to touch another person’s pins; simply ask to have a closer look. Also, a Disney pin must be made out of metal and have a Disney copyright on its back. You can’t trade pins for money, though you can, of course, purchase them at a Disney store. And finally, kids ages 3 through 12 can enjoy some special pin trading by seeking out a cast member with a green lanyard. These cast members are only allowed to trade with kids and have unique pins to offer.

So if you think you’ve tried everything Walt Disney World has to offer, dive into the world of the pin collectors for a new level of Disney fun. A great way to connect with cast members and other guests, pin collecting and trading is definitely one craze that enhances your Disney World experience. If you want to begin your own collection and start trading, there’s nothing like hitting the parks; check out discount Disney tickets at DWTickets.com in order to take the first step into pin mania. But beware – you might get hooked.

Disney Resorts Offer Pirate Ship and Treehouse Getaways

Only at Walt Disney World Resort can you meet faeries, laugh along with Monsters, train like an astronaut, safari into the wild, and plunge from a hotel elevator. Disney theme parks offer an incredible variety of unbelievable experiences, and in keeping with that specialty, Disney resorts will soon offer more of the same. From rooms that are ripe for pirate escapades to villas that take you back to your childhood tree house, Disney’s latest resort creations will foster adventures that you’ll remember just as much as the ones you had at the parks.

First, families with young swashbucklers can ensure an unforgettable holiday when they book one of the new Pirate rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Designed in the spirit of the film Pirates of the Caribbean, these rooms in the Trinidad South Village area are decked out with pirate ship beds and buccaneer’s accessories for a complete pirate experience. Approximately 380 pirate rooms will be available for guests beginning in January 2009.

You’ll feel ready to hit the high seas on one of two double-sized beds, adorned with a wooden headboard complete with a mast. The swashbuckler décor also includes dressers that look like old crates, and curtains that look like tattered sails complete with a skull emblazoned on them. Rooms also include a table and chairs, a vanity area and bathroom with two sinks, and amenities like an in-room safe, mini-fridge, and coffee maker. The Pirate rooms are also available with a view of the courtyard and woodlands, or a view of the lake or pool.

If pirates aren’t your thing, never fear – you can still have some wild fun at the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. A cherished Disney tradition since 1975, these treehouse villas are currently being revived into brand-new vacation homes specially designed by Disney Imagineers. Taking special care to honor the treehouses’ original octagonal design, Imagineers worked to reconstruct the villas in a way that would lessen their environmental footprint while upgrading them in comfort and style.

Elevated ten feet off the ground and supported by concrete columns, the Treehouse Villas offer breathtaking views of the surrounding woods. And they’re definitely a step up from the rope ladder-accessible treehouse of your childhood; villas feature three bedrooms and two baths and will comfortably accommodate up to nine guests. Cathedral ceilings, granite countertops, and an open kitchen with an island sink and counter area add to the glamorous cabin environment, while flat screen TVs and a whirlpool tub offer opportunities for fun after a day at the parks.

The Treehouse Villas will be available in summer 2009 and will set a new standard for environmentally friendly resorts. Imagineers were able to reduce encroachment on the surrounding wetlands by 70% for each villa, and 65% of materials from demolition were recycled, including concrete and metals.

Next time you have to choose a resort for your Walt Disney World vacation, consider a room that continues the fun even after you return from the parks. With pirate rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort and treehouse escapes at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, you can guarantee a vacation that your whole family will love. You might even find that these rooms have you plotting pirate adventures and sword fighting with your kids – that’s the magic of Disney.

Children’s Miracle Network Classic Comes to Walt Disney World

Guys, get those funky plaid polo shirts ready; ladies, don’t forget your sunscreen. The most popular event of the PGA tour and its longest-running event, the 2008 Children’s Miracle Network Classic, is returning to Orlando from November 6th to November 9th. The Classic, presented by Wal-Mart, brings 128 world-class golfers to Walt Disney World for four days of fun, golf, and charity.

Come watch the excitement as some of the best golf players in the world battle it out on the championship Palm and Magnolia courses, located near Disney’s Shades of Green Resort in Magic Kingdom. The tournament will begin on the beautiful Palm course, considered the toughest of the original Disney golf courses. It features nine water holes, heavily wooded fairways, and one of the most challenging 18th holes on the PGA Tour. The final round of the tournament will take place on the 4-star Magnolia Course, named so for the abundance of Magnolias throughout its 175-acres of thick Florida wetlands. The Magnolia course features 97 bunkers, including the world-famous Mickey-shaped “Mouse Trap.”

This will be the event’s 38th year since the first one in 1971, the same year Walt Disney World opened its doors. Past events have crowned golf champions such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, and Mark O’Meara. This year, the 2007 champion Stephen Ames will return to defend his title.

Though the actual tournament begins on Thursday, November 6th, the week actually begins on Sunday with check-in and the Miracle Makers Club Hospitality Open, which continues through the whole week. You can also catch the Pro-Am Practice Rounds on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Though Orlando has been home to the tournament for 38 years, it was formerly known as the FUNAI Golf Classic. It wasn’t until the fall of 2007 that the Children’s Miracle Network teamed up with the PGA to create today’s event, which will continue to be named the Children’s Miracle Network Classic until 2012. The Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization committed to saving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across the nation. Though the organization is international, the funds they raise in one area always benefit that area’s local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Proceeds from the sale of general admission tickets to the Classic will go straight to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida, which are both Central Florida Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

Though the Golf Channel will broadcast all four rounds of the competition, you should definitely grab a ticket and head down to Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses for four incredible days of golf. Tickets range from $20 to $30, and parking for general admission is free. Be sure to get there early to score the perfect spot on the green, and don’t forget to grab a map and guide at the entrance. The Children’s Miracle Network Classic is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to watch amazing golfers in action, and it’s for a fantastic cause.

Plenty of Outdoor Fun at Awaits at Walt Disney World Resorts

Whether they want to stay in shape or just have some fun away from the parks, guests of the Walt Disney World Resorts will find there is more than enough to keep them occupied outdoors. From tennis to horseback riding and waterskiing, the range of options is unbelievable.

If you are into sports, you will be more than happy with the tennis and volleyball facilities available at multiple Disney resorts. Better yet, you won’t have to bring a thing – equipment is available for checkout. And if you want to brush up on your tennis game, you can even get instruction from a pro at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Perhaps you’re more of an exerciser than an athlete – several of the Walt Disney World Resorts offer jogging trails with varied scenery and terrain. You can jog through wilderness, around lagoons, or past scenic shores, all at your own pace. Bikes are also available for rental, with multiple winding paths, waterfront walkways, and scenic trails for bikers to enjoy. You can even make the outing a family event with four-passenger surreys. Don’t bother bringing a helmet – Disney has got you covered.

Need the kids to burn off some extra energy from that gigantic mountain of cotton candy they ate at the park? Plenty of Disney resorts offer playgrounds, some open specific hours and some open 24 hours a day. Children can run, climb, slide, and swing to their hearts’ content, all in a fun, safe environment filled with imaginative sculptures and creative play areas.

There’s also plenty of opportunity for family bonding with outdoor activities such as miniature golf and horseback riding. Experience Disney’s two miniature golf courses, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course and Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course, for some fun through these musical and interactive courses that will have the whole family smiling. Or, ride a horse or pony, or horse-drawn carriage through Central Florida’s wilderness.

Finally, guests of the resort should be sure to take advantage of all the water activities available. Guests can reel in some fish, sun, and fun with two-hour excursions in the lakes of the Walt Disney World Resort. Up to five guests can trek out with Disney’s experienced guides, who also provide rods and reels, tackle, artificial and live bait, beverages, and a one-year BASS membership. Specialized cruises are also available for parties, as are a fleet of motorized and non-motorized watercraft for rental. Or try your hand at wakeboarding, waterskiing, parasailing, or tubing – there’s no end to all the fun in the water.

So no matter what you choose, there’s plenty of fun and adventure to be had in the outdoors of the Walt Disney Resorts. And getting started is easy when you book your discount Disney tickets at DWTickets.com – it’s deciding which activity to do after a day at the park that’s hard!

How to Have a Safe Disney Vacation During Hurricane Season

There are definitely advantages to taking your Disney vacation during hurricane season, which runs from June through November. This time of year is not prime time at the Walt Disney World Resort, so you can find great room rates and some smaller crowds in the Disney theme parks. The important thing to remember if your Disney vacation falls during hurricane season is to follow warnings and be on alert.

Sometimes, hurricane season blows through the Walt Disney World Resort without any major storms. In fact, big hurricanes are really quite rare. When a tropical storm or hurricane does hit the Disney area, though, rest assured that everyone at the Walt Disney Resort is prepared to handle whatever may come.

If you have never been through a hurricane, perhaps you don’t even know what it is. A hurricane is a type of tropical storm that is extremely large in size, sometimes covering the entire state as with Hurricane Ike that just hit the State of Texas. Hurricanes mean a lot of rain – we’re talking 5, 10, even up to 15 or 20 inches or more, depending on the size and strength of the storm.

And then there’s the wind. A mid-strength category 3 hurricane can have winds of up to 130 miles per hour. These are constant winds too, not just gusts. And they could last for several hours, which is what can make the prospect of hunkering down and weathering the storm during your Disney vacation a little daunting.

While the whipping winds and driving rains of a major hurricane can be dangerous, the structures at the Walt Disney World Resort are soundly built according to building codes set forth by the State of Florida. There is very little chance that any permanent structure on Disney property would be seriously dangerous during a storm, and this is especially true for the Disney resort hotels.

When a hurricane is in the forecast, attention is paid to the storm’s path, strength and timeline. If there is any chance that dangerous weather will be hitting the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney theme parks are closed to protect Disney park guests. This has happened more than once in the past when severe hurricanes headed to Orlando.

Disney officials have strictly laid out emergency plans that will guide all Disney guests to safety during a hurricane, so taking a Disney vacation during hurricane season is really no problem at all.