New Dollar Coins at Disney World

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

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 Stores Get Major Reboot

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.

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!

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

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.

Personal Favorites: Disney's Hollywood Studios

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

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.

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.

Fun for “Non-Riders” The Disney Edition

Orlando theme parks don’t have to be a drag if you’re the “non-rider” in your group. If you don’t like roller coasters, you might feel jipped when people in your group ask you to hold their bags or get them a drink while they wait in line for rides like the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Orlando or the Aerosmith Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Well, non-rider, there are plenty of attractions you can partake in at Walt Disney World that have nothing to do loops, crazy turns or being shot off into the darkness at 60 mph.

Over at the Magic Kingdom, get a dose of American history at the Hall of Presidents. Recently remodeled to feature President Barack Obama, this attraction got a facelift many people have been praising. Let animatronic forefathers of the US narrate the story of the country’s progress with classical music and a beautiful video presentation. Or head over to Fantasyland for a leisurely boat ride through the classic “It’s a Small World” ride. Enjoy the adorable animatronic characters from around the world as the memorable song is sung in a variety of languages. If you’re in the mood to be spooked, check out the Haunted Mansion and its incredibly detailed décor as you ride in your “coffin.” The most it will do is tilt backwards and it’s actually quite relaxing!

If you’re at Disney’s Hollywood Studios you can view the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! This show is a must for fans of the Indiana Jones films. Watch talented Disney cast members re-enact some of your favorite scenes. If you’re a movie fan in general, you have to go on The Great Movie Ride. This slow-moving tram will take you through the scenes of Hollywood classics like Singing in the Rain, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, and, even, Alien. If you’re in the mood for comedy head over to Muppet Vision 3-D for a hilarious 3D adventure classic Muppets characters from the world of Jim Henson.

Over at Epcot, take a journey through space on Spaceship Earth. This ride got an update as well with a new narration by Dame Judi Dench and an interactive computer screen at every seat that lets you put yourself into a future world of your own. This 16 minute ride takes you through over 40,000 years of human history from the past, present and future. You can also check out The Living Seas for an educational experience full of beautiful sea life or travel the globe over at the World Showcase Pavilion.

So the next time your friends try to con you into holding their souvenir bags, backpacks or purses you can show them the way to the lockers! There are plenty of things for you to do in the Walt Disney World parks even if roller coasters aren’t your thing.

Disney Buys Marvel for $4 Billion

Could we be seeing Iron Man in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom or Spiderman on top of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT? Considering Disney just bought Marvel for $4 billion dollars, fans of both companies are already reeling with ideas and theories as to what will happen next. With this important purchase, Disney will acquire the rights to over 5,000 Marvel characters with the main focus being on: Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, The Fantastic Four, Captain America and the X-Men.

Disney has stated they believe this merger will work successfully much like the Disney/Pixar merger has been working for the last few years noting the box-office hits the 3D animation company has been producing. While Marvel has a number of films currently in production, including the sequel to Iron Man, Disney has stated it has no intentions of interfering with the current projects but will eventually move towards becoming the sole distributor of Marvel films in the future.

As for the parks themselves, expect to see plenty of new merchandising on its way. Disney hopes this new partnership will help cater to the younger male audiences which may have felt left behind with the princess boom Disney has experienced over the last few years. Despite having characters like Buzz Lightyear and Jack Sparrow as favorites with boys, Spider-Man and Iron Man are just as, if not more popular with the audience Disney is trying to target.

While many fans of the respective companies are concerned as to what this merger could mean, both Marvel and Disney leaders are trying to reassure the public this will be a mutual partnership and not some sort of takeover. Many details have yet to be revealed as the merger will be finalized later today if not sometime this week, but Marvel is excited to welcome Disney aboard.

"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel`s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses," said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel`s Chief Executive Officer. "This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney`s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world."

Family Fun with Disney Board Games

Board games have always been a part of growing up. Whichever game happens to be your favorite, soon enough you will be finding Walt Disney versions popping up in toy stores everywhere! One of the first games to jump on the Disney bandwagon was Monopoly. You can purchase these games at the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland and other locations where Disney items are sold. Castles and cottages replace hotels and houses as classic Disney movies replace the property locations. Alice, Snow White, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella and Dumbo replace the regular shoe, iron and car pieces of the original games. Disney continued to expand its Monopoly game fun with a Disney Villains version and even a Monopoly Junior version with the Disney Princesses.

The latest board game to join the Disney board game family is the Haunted Mansion version of the game of LIFE. With the clever subtitle of “Welcome to the After-Life” your family travels in little coffin-like vehicles down the road that leads to the Haunted Mansion. This game features Haunted Mansions from all of the Disney parks around the world and even some non-Disney famous haunted locations. One of the coolest features of the game is the famous spinning wheel. The creators of the game were inspired by Madame Leota (the floating head on the mansion ride) and her séance, so the wheel features a globe and Madame Leota’s famous raven. The stories surrounding this version of the game revolve around the famous paintings in the lobby of the Haunted Mansion attraction…you know, the ones that stretch up to reveal the dismal fates of the painting’s subjects? There are also Hidden Mickeys inside the game and various characters from the ballroom ghosts to the opera singer in the graveyard are featured in the playing cards. It’s the perfect board game for some not-so-scary spooky fun—great for Halloween or any time year round.

If you’re more of a video game person there are plenty of Disney options for you. There are a number of DVD games for children involving the Disney Princesses or your Pixar favorites. If you’re a fan of the Scene It? games there are three Disney versions to choose from, each of them fun for all ages and groups. Try out the Disney version if you love Pixar Disney and more recent films like Lilo & Stitch. The Disney 2nd Edition features more classic characters for the classic Disney fans and if you’re a Jonas-lover or Hannah Montana fan you will love the Disney Channel Scene It? version. Whichever option you choose there are plenty of ways to have some Disney fun at home!

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!

Walt Disney World Cares and Conserves

Florida is environmentally unique thanks to the beautiful Everglades and our Atlantic and Gulf beaches. But because of our position in the United States, we are also affected by tropical storms and hurricanes that can cause damage to homes, locations and our environment. Back in 2004, Hurricane Charley ripped through Central Florida causing $15 billion dollar’s worth of damage to the state and the Orlando theme parks. The Holiday Inn near Downtown Disney had to close completely and many parks closed for safety purposes. But while residents prepared and parks closed, Disney was lending a helping hand to the local wildlife facilities. Manatees, dolphins and turtles were all evacuated from Mote Marine in Sarasota to the Living Seas at EPCOT and to certain areas of SeaWorld. This move was just one of many Disney takes every year to make sure it participates in saving animals and the environment.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the prime example of Disney’s motivation to save the environment. Not only is Animal Kingdom a theme park, but it also serves as a research and conservation center. The park even has a few breeding programs that have been highly successful in breeding animals that are endangered. This July, Nande, a 10-year-old white rhino that used to live at Animal Kingdom, gave birth to her own little baby rhino in Uganda. Disney has been working closely with Ugandan animal groups to help save the endangered species. Over in Australia, Disney provided emergency funding to wildlife conservation groups struggling to save animals hurt this year in the wildfires in Australia back in March and donated $8,000 in emergency funding to two organizations, the Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (PASA) and Save the Elephants (STE).

Back on the home front, Disney also does conservation efforts over at EPCOT. Just recently they released “Bock," a manatee Disney rescued back in 2001 as part of a manatee rehabilitation program managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. When Disney rescued Bock, he was only 500 pounds. Now at 8 years old, Bock weighs 1,000 pounds and has been successfully released back into the wild.

There are big and little things the Disney family does to help the environment. From recycling at the parks to bigger conservation efforts like the ones in Africa, Disney lets the world know it cares about the Earth. So make sure you do your part next time you’re at the parks and dispose of your garbage properly. Don’t forget the three R’s too: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Theme Weddings in Orlando

If you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate your wedding, you might want to set down the bridal magazines and check out some of the wedding options Orlando theme parks have to offer. Walt Disney World is the perfect place for your wedding if you have always wanted to have a fairytale affair.

Disney offers a variety of wedding packages for different budgets. Prices depend on how many guests will be coming and what accessories you will need (flowers, music, etc) for your wedding event. Couples with an intimate ceremony in mind should check out the Escape package. This package is for wedding parties of 18 or less and features the bare essentials needed for a simple yet elegant wedding. As with all of the Disney wedding packages, you can choose from five different locations to be married in, including: Disney's Wedding Pavilion Sunset Point located at Disney's Polynesian Resort, the Sea Breeze Point located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort, Disney's Wedding Gazebo located at Disney's Yacht Club Resort or Sunrise Terrace located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

You will be provided with an elegant limousine for transportation to your wedding destination and Walt Disney World florists will arrange beautiful bouquets and table arrangements. Cake and champagne will be included along with a professional Disney photographer and commemorative Disney album. The bride and groom will also receive Disney Annual Passes!

Up next is the Couture Collection. This collection is a step up from the Escape package and features a ceremony site designed by renowned wedding planner David Tutera. From harp duos to confetti canons and Major Domo ring bearers, the Tutera Couture Collection is for couples with deep pockets and creative imaginations for the plethora of choices that are available. Even transportation is chic. Choose from the traditional Rolls Royce or make a grand entrance in Cinderella’s horse-drawn carriage. If you would rather have complete control over what will happen at your wedding and what it will look like, the Wishes package lets you choose from options like those mentioned above and many more.

Nickelodeon Family Suites just joined in on the wedding fun as well. If fairytales aren’t your thing and you’d rather have a bit of messy fun, then check out the Nickelodeon themed weddings the Family Suites are offering. Get married near a pineapple under the sea with Spongebob Squarepants himself as the best man at your wedding. This is a great option for couples with young kids, as they get slimed, Nickelodeon style, at the end of the ceremony! Both the Nickelodeon Family Suites and the Walt Disney World Resort have great wedding options for couples with all sorts of personalities—the choice is up to you!

“Star”board Sailing with Disney Cruise Lines!

Are you a Disney Channel fanatic? Have you watched High School Musical one too many times? Would you’re dream be to meet the stars of the Disney Channel? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we have the experience of a lifetime for you! This summer, Disney Cruise Lines will be launching their first-ever Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises, where you can cruise and party along with your favorite Disney Channel superstars!

That’s right! The Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises will give fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and mingle with their favorite celebrities, while basking in the beautiful Caribbean sun. Cruising on select dates from July 9th to August 2nd, the Disney Channel Summer at Seas Cruises will feature 3-night and 4-night Bahamas Cruises. Each cruise will be different, with new celebrities among the traveling passengers on the ship. Celebrities from numerous Disney Channel shows and films including Sonny With a Chance, Hannah Montana, JONAS, High School Musical, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life on Deck, Hatching Pete, and Camp Rock will all be in attendance on-board!

While on-board these special cruises, guests can take part in numerous types of meet-and-greets and activities with the celebrities. Attend star autograph and photo sessions, where you will have the opportunity to get your picture taken with top Disney Channel shows and movies. Take part in star question and answer sessions and special Disney Channel sneak peeks, for what is in-store for your favorite and up-and-coming shows. Rock late into the night with an onboard party with the stars, where your favorite cruise stars will come out for a rockin’ party of high-energy shows and special music performances.

Aside from the celebrity appearances, meet-and-greets, and more, you will get to take advantage of the beautiful Disney Wonder cruise ship. Enjoy a full-sail adventure to stunning Nassau and the fun-loving Disney secluded island of Castaway Cay. Along the way, onboard the ship you can enjoy uniquely themed restaurants, top-of-the-line entertainment, and the utmost in Disney service. Along with these ports, you will stop and sail out of Port Canaveral, where you can venture to nearby Walt Disney World for a day at the Disney theme parks!

Some of the stars who have their bags packed and are ready to cruise with you include Corbin Bleu, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (Camp Rock), Jason Earles (Hannah Montana), Chelsea Staub (JONAS), and much, much more! So, pack your bags and get ready to set-sail on the ride of a life time, where sailing will always be on the “star”board side!

RISE to the ESPN Occasion

If you are a high school athlete looking to "RISE" to a challege, this it it! ESPN RISE Games are asking talented high school athletes from around the country and world to "RISE" to the challenge at the Inaugural ESPN RISE Games at the Walt Disney World Resort. Held July 19-25, the ESPN RISE Games celebrate the best-of-the-best in student-athletes from around the globe!

"I should state clearly that this is the most inspiring development opportunity I have seen for any field hockey nation in my 35 year experience in the international scene," says Terry Walsch, Technical Director for High Performance. "The ESPN RISE Games can and will be the forerunner to USA's developmment program, rivaling that of the best countries in field hockey."

Same goes for all of the other sports of Baseball, Basketball, and Track and Field offered! This is the tournament for the creme de la creme in high school sports. Treated like Olympic royalty, teams will be treated to an Olympic'esque opening ceremony at the Walt Disney World Wide World of Sports Complex, where all of the games will be held. The opening ceremony will be an elaborate production, showcasing all of the teams in the overall event. ESPN's very own Michael Smoth will head as the Master of Ceremonies and welcome all of the athletes to an exciting week of competition and Disney magic. And, in true Disney fashion, the opening ceremony will end with a vivid firework display for all to enjoy! While at the tournament, teams will even get the opportunity to attend an exclusive ESPN RISE Games special event within one of the Walt Disney World Theme parks!

Other events will be going on around the tournaments, as well. There will be an AAU 17-under Boys Basketball Super Showcase, showcasing the best-of-the-best in AAU club basketball, and a Soccer Training camp. The Champion Gridiron Kings will provide performance training, position specific training, a skills challenge, and 7 v. 7 competitions for the best in high school football. The event will also feature the Under Armour High School All-American Softball Game, which will spotlight the top 30 high school All-Star softball players ihn the nation, as selected by the high school softball experts of ESPN RISE Magazine.

There is a minimum guarantee of six games for those in the team sports and a three event guarantee for those in the Track and Field tournament, so it is definitely worth your trip. Registration has already started for this all-star event. So, if you or your club-team think you have what it takes to compete against the best in the nation, RISE to the occasion and head to Walt Disney World's Wide World of Sports Complex for the tournament of a lifetime.

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!

Disney World Lovers Will Love the New Disney Netpal Laptop

Perfectly in time for the upcoming holiday season, Disney has teamed up with computer company Asus to create a compact laptop just for kids – the Disney Netpal. Perfect for Walt Disney World lovers and those looking for a unique spin on the traditional children’s laptop, the Disney Netpal will provide an all-Disney interface which children and parents will both love!

Disney characters and parental control galore, these laptops will be a hit for young children to tweens. The all-Disney interface will feature the Windows XP Home addition with added Disney features. For example, Tinkerbell will swoop down to let you know you have e-mail, Mickey and Minnie will speak any error or computer system reminders, and a 2D “gadget tray” that will display all of the applications for the computer as the young Little Mermaid Ariel displays her gismos and gadgets in the classic movie (think, a Little Mermaid-esque Windows Start menu). On top of that, the computer will have plenty of Disney-developed applications, including a Disney Mix where you can listen to music and Disney Pix where you can store and upload photos. Disney Pix will not only allow you to do simple photo tasks, such as re-coloring and resizing, but there will be a cool feature where users can insert their faces onto bobbleheads that can dance, move, and more! Plus, not to mention, the streaming real-time music of Disney Radio that will be available for kids to listen to, play games with, and even request songs to be played!

Parents will love these laptops that have been created for mainly the age 6-12 demographic. The laptops come in two colors, Princess Pink and Magic Blue. The desktops of the laptops can be customized to feature your children’s favorite Disney stars, characters, singers, and more. But, parents will go crazy for the control and safety features available on the laptops. Parents have full control with over 40 content regulation options, including safe web-browsing and email correspondence features. The laptops have also been designed with liquid-proof keyboards and a ShockShield, for any falling and dropping accidents that are likely to occur with children.

The Disney Netpal MK90 will be sold exclusively at Toys “R” US and the Disney Netpal MK90H will be released through other computer selling portals. With 1GB of memory, an Intel ATOM N270 processor, built in Wi-Fi, and three USB terminals…I think we know what some lucky 6-12 year olds will be getting for the holidays this winter! Maybe if parents are lucky, their children will let them use these cool laptops to search the web for their annual trip to Walt Disney World with discount Disney tickets from DWTickets.com.

Cinderella Castle Lights Up in Magic Blue & White

There are only a handful of occasions worthy enough to cause Cinderella Castle to be lit up in colors different from its usual color scheme. But when the Orlando Magic are playing in the NBA Finals, we’d say that’s certainly one of those worthy occasions. In support of its local team, Walt Disney World has lit up the iconic symbol of Magic Kingdom, Cinderella’s Castle, in Magic blue and white.

The lights were first switched on Thursday, June 4, the date of the Magic’s first game in the 2009 NBA Finals. In California, Disneyland also illuminated its Sleeping Beauty Castle in Los Angeles Lakers colors, purple and gold.

Incidentally, the two parks even made a wager over who would win what’s become known as the Disney World vs. Disneyland Finals. Just as the mayors of their respective city’s teams traditionally make a bet on the outcome of a championship, Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton and Disneyland President Ed Grier are betting on their local teams with some very interesting terms.

If the Magic win, Grier will have to walk down Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland wearing a pair of special Mickey Mouse ears in Magic blue and white. If the Lakers win, Crofton will don a pair of Laker’s purple and gold mouse ears and walk down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom.

“The Lakers are going to make your team very Grumpy this week,” bantered Grier to Crofton.

“But we have ‘Magic’ on our side,” countered Crofton. “And isn’t that what Disney is all about?”

The two presidents went through their respective parks last week looking for supporters and posing with fans. In front of Cinderella Castle, Crofton was accompanied by Minnie, Goofy, Chip, and Dale as she passed out Orlando Magic hats, t-shirts, balloons, and basketballs to park guests.

If the Magic win, not only would it be their first Championship win in history, but fans would be able to expect a wild celebration at Disney World. Magic Kingdom, as it usually does with the Super Bowl and other game championships, would likely hold a spectacular parade featuring players from the team. After all, when all major sports players and American Idols celebrate a major victory, they go to Walt Disney World – just ask Kris Allen.

While everyone awaits for a winner to emerge from the Finals, fans at Walt Disney World can support their team with newly released Disney/Magic t-shirts. Available at Walt Disney World and Amway Arena, the shirts are available in three blue and white designs, with Mickey dressed in Magic gear on the front of two designs and a Magic basketball with Mickey ears on the third.

And of course, you can always bide the time with fun at Walt Disney World! Check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com to enjoy the parks or preemptively get your passes for the Orlando Magic victory celebrations. Not that we’re biased, of course…

Pixar Mascot is Coming to Walt Disney World

If you’ve seen beloved Disney-Pixar films like Toy Story, Cars, and Monsters, Inc., then you probably know about a little lamp named Luxo Jr. Known as the mascot of Pixar Animation Studios and the main character in Pixar’s very first short firm in 1986, Luxo Jr. is a rambunctious little desk lamp who loves to play with colorful bouncing balls – no matter what size they are. And now, Luxo Jr. will be coming to Walt Disney World, where’ll he’ll interact with park guests, move around, and maybe even hop just like he does in the famous Pixar short.

Disney recently confirmed that a 6-foot-tall animatronic version of little Luxo will soon make its home in the Pixar Place area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He’ll appear on an elevated platform at the “Lighting” building located across from Toy Story Mania!

Rumors circulated for months about the possibility of Luxo Jr.’s arrival at the park and sprung into overdrive when construction walls were built around the Lighting building, yielding the view of what is probably the little aluminum lamp’s outline. As Disney’s newest animatronic creation to be featured at Walt Disney World, Luxo Jr. will be part of Disney’s Living Character Initiative, which has also produced the live Remy currently at Epcot’s France pavilion and past characters like Animal Kingdom’s Lucky the Dinosaur and Epcot’s Mobile Muppet Lab.

“He’s going to come out and do some little shows,” said Roger Gould, creative director for theme parks at Pixar, to the Orlando Sentinel. “He’ll be out there throughout the day and through the evening.”

Though Luxo Jr. will certainly become a famous figure when he awakens at the park, the spirited desk lamp has actually been featured in every Pixar film and short film since Toy Story during the film’s introduction and at the end of the credits. In the company’s production logo, Luxo hops in from the right, stops next to the ‘I’ in Pixar, and bounces on it until he’s completely squashed it. And if you keep your eyes peeled, Luxo’s colorful ball can also be seen in several Pixar films, including the latest, Up.

Luxo Jr. will make his debut at Hollywood Studios in late June/early July, and you can expect that he’ll be the hit of the Disney theme park. If you’ve never had the opportunity to interact with one of Disney’s incredibly lifelike and entertaining animatronic figures, then you’ll definitely want to plan a special visit to Hollywood Studios; it’s one of Disney’s most special and unique experiences. Start planning your meeting with Luxo by scoping out the Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com.

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.

American Idol Comes to Disney World This Week

Kris Allen just won season 8 of American Idol, and what is he going to do next? Why, visit Walt Disney World, of course!

Just jmoments after he won, the adorable and sweet-voiced Allen promised he'd be visiting the Mouse House in celebration as part of the iconic Disney commerical that aired just a few hours later. And he's wasting no time in keeping that promise; Allen will be making a visit to Disney's Hollywood Studios this Friday, May 29. Sources say he'll be starring in the 10 am motorcade, and he'll most likely follow that with a visit to the American Idol Experience. While he's there, he'll probably shoot some film spots for the attraction, which features cameos by several past American Idols and finalists, in addition to the current American Idol.

Allen is just the second singer in history to participate in the "I'm Going to Disney World" campaign, joining David Cook and a league of football heroes, Olympic superstars, and other athletes and celebrities. The very first star to utter the famous phrase, "I'm going to Disney World!" was New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms in 1987, right after Super Bowl XXI.

In the latest Disney commercial, Allen sings the classic song "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the background while scenes from his childhood and his first American Idol audition flash across the screen. The commercial concludes with Allen saying that famous line and enthusiastically following it with a "WOO!"

Disney camera crews captured the celebratory declaration on the Nokia Theatre stage a short while after American Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced Allen's win to the millions of viewers watching worldwide. Within hours, the iconic commercial was already on air.

Allen's role in the commercial is inteded to draw attention to Hollywood Studios' American Idol Experience, which opened this past February. The best way to experience American Idol short of actually witnessing a show in Los Angeles, the Experience gives park guests the chance to show their singing chops on stage in front of a live audience of fellow park guests. Complete with a trio of quirky judges and some surprise guests, the Experience awards on talented guest each day with a Dream Ticket - a pass to a front-of-the-line audition at an actual American Idol regional audition.

"The American Idol Experience really will blow your mind. If you've never been to the show, you pretty much have been to the show after you've been there," said Jason Castro, season 7 finalist, on the red carpet of the American Idol finale.

"Go in there, give it your all," added season 2 winner Ruben Studdard, "because you may be where I am right now."

If you want to see Kris Allen in person and try your hand at the American Idol Experience, check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com and visit the park this Friday! You just might be able to get some singing tips from Allen and take your first step to becoming the next American Idol.

A First Look at Animatronic Obama

On July 4, the historic Hall of Presidents exhibit at Magic Kingdom will reopen after the biggest makeover in its 38-year history. But in meantime, the New York Times got to have the first look at the exhibit's latest addition: an animatronic President Barack Obama, or as the folks at Disney like to call it, Robobama.

The 44th President of the United States has been recreated in animatronic form for his induction into The Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World, which pays tribute to each of the presidents in an entertaining and educational show. Lincoln, Carter, Bush - they're all present in robotic form in the attraction, and former presidents Bush and Clinton even provided their voices for the presidential 'roll call.' But as the Times learned, Obama not only provided his voice, but even his measurements for his figure, which DIsney says is the most lifelike president they've created yet.

Supposedly, when President Obama saw renderings of the figure, he said Disney Imaginaeers made the figure "better-looking than he was."

Similar to presidents before him, Robobama will have a speaking role in the attractions. He'll recite his oath of office in addition to a newly drafted speech written by Disney writers and tweaked by Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau. President Obama recorded the speed in March inside the White House Map Room, which was apparently the best room for recording in Disney high-definition sound.

Joining Robobama in speaking to the crowd will be Abraham Lincoln, who has always had a speaking role in the Hall of Presidents. However, after the July 4 unveiling of the attraction, Lincoln will be delivering the Gettysburg Address in its entirety. Also, George Washington will have a speaking role for the first time ever.

These are just a few of the new additions to the attraction, which will also feature a new film narrated by Morgan Freeman. The hall itself will also get an upgrade, including new digital-video projection systems and new, longer spotlights for each president with modernized controls.

And of course, former president George W. Bush will be added to the attraction in the form of a less sophisticated animatronic figure. Robobama is actually the same figure as the old Robobush, simply recycled, reprogrammed, and given some significant plastic surgery.

However, one would never guess that Robobama was once another president, as the Times reports that Disney has gone to great lengths to accurately convey not only the President's expression, but his mannerisms as well.

"Thus the audio-animatronic Obama purses its lips to pronounce its b's and p's in a way frighteningly evocative of the real one, and raises its hands, open-palmed, while shruggiong its shoulders, in a way that can only be described as Obamaesque. Even the president's wedding ring, with its braided design, has been recreated," wrote Jacques Steinberg.

One of Disney's oldest attractions, the Hall of Presidents was first conceived by Walt Disney himself when he produced a "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" attraction for the 1964 World's Fair in New York. The Hall has been featured in Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971 and features all 43 presidents of the United States in a celebration of American history.

The Hall of Presidents officially reopens on July 4, a very appropriate day for the reintroduction of the most patriotic attraction at Disney. In addition to all the other Independence Day festivities at Disney, you won't want to miss seeing the latest Presidential figures in action. Check out Walt Disney World tickets on DWTickets.com now to come face to face with President Obama - Robobama, that is.

All Ears is the Fashion at Walt Disney World

If you love Walt Disney World, chances are you have a pair of Mickey Mouse ears stashed away in a closet in your home somewhere. The ultimate souvenir of any Disney vacation, Mouse ears have been a way to show camaraderie with Mickey since their creation in the 1950s. Originally, the ears were rather simple, made of black felt covering large plastic ears. But today, Disney lovers can show their personality through Mickey ears in a wide range of styles. There’s a pair for everyone, and it’s even easier to find them now at a new boutique at Downtown Disney.

Guests can find the perfect set of ears at a new Create Your Own Ears Hat boutique, located inside Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories at Downtown Disney Marketplace. There, Mickey fans can design their own ear keepsakes to reflect their particular style and personality using a wide variety of hat bases and ear adornments.

“For the first time, guests can take our traditional, iconic Mickey Mouse Ears – made famous in the 1950s with the Mickey Mouse Club - and customize them,” said Dara Trujillo, merchandise manager at Walt Disney World Resort. “Not only is this a unique product offering, but every set will be different, just like our guests.”

Hat bases come in 19 colors, including purple satin, blue velvet, and glow-in-the-dark green (perfect for standing out during dark Disney attractions). Guests can also choose from 19 additional varieties of snap-on ears, adorned with everything from metallic accents to rhinestones to fur. Hats can even have two completely different-looking kinds of ears for a really unique look. Finally, ear designers can add the finishing touch with character patches, letters, stickers, and embroidery, perhaps representing a favorite Disney character, Disney princess, or Disney Channel show.

Interestingly, Mouse ears were first created by Roy Williams, an adult Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club. He was inspired by the 1929 short The Karnival Kid, which features a scene where Mickey tips his ears to Minnie. Today, Mouse ears come in all shapes and sizes and can even be tailored for special occasions - such as bride and groom Mouse ears! With so many base, ear, and decoration combinations possible, everyone can find a pair perfectly suited to their own personal style.

The new Create Your Own Ears boutique joins its sister shop that opened last summer at Magic Kingdom. Prices vary based on the add-ons, but a basic hat (consisting of a base, two ears, and a chin strip) starts at $7.50. Hats are one-size-fits-all but can be adjusted to fit smaller guests using the chin strap.

To get your own special set of Mouse ears, be sure to visit the new boutique at Downtown Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories. And don’t forget to rock them the next time you visit Walt Disney World for a stylish day at the parks. Get your Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com to begin your Mickey ear-adorned adventure.

Sneak Peek at Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

At the beginning of February, the Groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. Since then, the country has endured its fair share of snowfalls, icy roads, and chilly temperatures, with which even Orlando has had to contend. But March 20, the first day of spring, is finally right around the corner, and Walt Disney World plans to ring in the season with a floral celebration that will make even Mother Nature jealous. Taking place from March 18 to May 31, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will light up the city with colorful tableaus and topiaries, fun exhibits and activities, and groovy concerts all intended to celebrate spring.

Presented by Disneynature, the festival is now in its 16th year, and it looks like this one will be better than ever, starting with the topiary. Every year, one of the staples of the festival is the intricate topiary created by Disney’s imaginative gardeners, and we’ve heard they’ve outdone themselves this time around with an extraordinary display set against the backdrop of Spaceship Earth. The topiary will feature beloved Disney characters like Cinderella and Prince Charming, Show White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle and the Beast, all made out of a variety of plants, flowers, grasses, and mosses. The display will welcome guests as they head into Epcot, though 70 other topiaries will also be spread throughout the park.

Aside from fresh sights and flowery scenes, there’ll also be lots of spring-themed fun during the festival, from colorful butterfly gardens to gardening presentations. There are so many activities and events that we can’t cover them all, but a few highlights include the Green Garden, which teaches anyone how to make an environmentally friendly garden, the Flower Power concert series featuring popular bands from the 60s, and the Great American Gardeners series, which will include appearances by gardening celebrities and authors from around the country.

Kids will find plenty to keep them entertained with the Pirates Adventure Zone, “Kids Paint Out” celebrations, and the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, featuring colorful topiaries of Tinker Bell and her friends along with hands on activities for kids.

And be sure to check out all the festival fun around the World Showcase. At the France pavilion, a Fragrance Garden tells the “love story” of plants and perfume; at the United Kingdom’s English Tea Garden, complimentary guided tours explore the art and history of blending tea plants; and at the Japan pavilion, guests can learn about the art of bonsai.

During the festival, those who need to shake off the gloomy winter can lift their spirits with beautiful flora and fauna displays. And with plenty of educational exhibits and presentations, wannabe green thumbs will learn tips from the experts that they can take home and try out on their own gardens. The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is all about spreading springtime fun, so gear up for the season by attending this fun and natural celebration. Admission to the festival is included with regular admission to Epcot, so all you need are Walt Disney World tickets from 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.

Be an American Idol or See One at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Fans of the hit reality show American Idol will have a new reason to make a special trip over to Walt Disney World this week. Not only is the American Idol Experience opening to Disney guests on February 14 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but more than twenty American Idol stars will be attending a special premiere of the new attraction, which holds its own search for the best singers in the country right inside the park’s ABC Theater.

The invitation-only premiere on Thursday, February 12, will feature American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, current winner David Cook, and former winners Jordin Sparks, Taylor Hicks, and Carrie Underwood. Past contestants David Archuleta, Bo Bice, and Justin Guarini, and other American Idol favorites will also be on hand for the festivities. The lineup may change and expand to include more guests as the premiere draws closer.

Earlier that day, before the park even opens, Cook will be doing a live segment for ABC’s Good Morning America in front of the Experience theater near Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat. It’s a closed set, so fans will unfortunately have to catch it on the small screen. However, theme park guests should still make plans to visit the park that day, as they’ll get to see the Idol family during a special motorcade at 4:30 pm. It will be the largest-ever gathering of prior Idol winners and finalists before they all head off to a press event that evening.

And while you’re waiting to see your favorite American Idol crooners and contestants, be sure to check a sneak peek of the American Idol Experience, which is in a soft opening phase until its debut on Saturday. The attraction features Disney guests competing on stage for the coveted Dream Ticket, which takes them straight to the front of the line at an actual American Idol regional audition.

Guests can either audition for the American Idol Experience or be in the audience during one of seven preliminary shows throughout the day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each show features three contestants displaying their singing chops, along with three judges and a host. There’s also plenty of fun American Idol footage featuring David Cook, Jordin Sparks, and others. The winner of each preliminary show goes on to compete in a talent-filled final show every day at 7 pm.

If you plan to try your hand at the American Idol Experience, head to Studio 2B, as it’s called, at the American Idol Experience theater early in the morning. There, you’ll sing a 30-90 second snippet a capella for a Disney casting director, who’ll decide whether you have the star potential to get a second audition. If you do, you’ll be sent to the “red room,” where guests can practice for their second audition with a Disney iPod featuring 100 different songs and lyrics.

After some prep time, guests go through a second audition, this time with music, in front of the American Idol Experience producer. This room has a TV screen with lyrics, so performers never have to worry about memorizing the words. If the producer likes your tune, you’ll then receive star treatment with a hair and makeup session and a training session with a voice coach before heading off to the Experience stage for a preliminary show.

So whether you want to walk in the footsteps of an American Idol or catch a glimpse of one, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the place to be this week. Don’t wait to get your Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com so you can cash in on all the American Idol excitement.

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.

What is Celebration, Anyway?

Visitors on their way to Florida via I-4 might have seen a sign or two leading to “Celebration.” This festively named city is located near Walt Disney World, and you might have even heard one or two interesting things about it. You might have heard, for example, that it’s an ultra-private city masterminded by Walt Disney as the perfect community. You might have also heard that it’s inhabited exclusively by Walt Disney World executives and employees. You may have even been told that Celebration features audioanimatronic wildlife (robotic birds and bees). Rumors about this city run the gamut, but while people are quick to gush all the juicy secrets about Celebration, no one is telling the real story.

Believe it or not, it’s really just a regular town.

What makes Celebration special, and what has sparked its illustrious reputation as a Disney-fied city, is that it was developed by the Walt Disney Company. In the early 1990s, the Disney Development Company established the Celebration Company to spearhead its development within 4,900 acres of land in the southern portion of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. This land eventually became Celebration in 1994, a $2.5 billion master-planned community designed in an early 20th century-architectural style.

Many say that Celebration was designed to be a realization of one of Walt Disney’s plans. Before his death, Disney had created an ambitious concept for a city – the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. In this city of the future, there would be no home ownership and no unemployment. People would zip to home and work on underground roads, and weather would never be an issue, because the city would be underneath a climate-controlled dome. This is obviously a far cry from what Celebration is today, an idealized small town where in fact, there are only homeowners. Disney’s prototype of a dream city actually morphed into Epcot, which you’ll notice is the abbreviation of Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Since Celebration was run by The Celebration Company early on, there were some unusual decisions made that were geared more toward Disney profits rather than town prosperity. For example, the downtown area was developed with several collectible stores, but no gas stations. Today, however, Celebration is now a part of Kissimmee and Osceola County as a non-incorporated city. The Celebration Company only owns a few commercial parcels on Celebration Boulevard. And though some employees of Walt Disney World do live in Celebration, there are certainly plenty of non-Disney employees living in the town.

Celebration has also caught a rep for its housing rules; homeowners are required to maintain the upkeep of their homes, and window treatments must be neutral colors (not all white, contrary to popular belief). What maybe causes people to talk about Celebration so much, however, is the fact that the town truly is beautiful. The bank, post office, movie theater, town hall, and other downtown buildings were all designed by renowned architects. The streets are clean, and the crime rate is low. And though residents don’t zip around on underground roads, they do frequently use Segway scooters and small electric cars called “NEVs” (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle).

To anyone coming from a less wholesome place in the country, Celebration might not seem real. It might seem like some kind of animatronic Disney production. But in actuality, Celebration is really just a nice place to live. A place that maybe at one point or another, got a little Disney fairy dust sprinkled on it.

Get Ready for an Explosive New Year’s at Walt Disney World

As the holidays and the end of the year draws nearer, we’ve reached that time in December when everyone starts talking about what their plans are for New Year’s Eve. And we here at DWTickets.com would be remiss if we didn’t keep you informed about all your options for ringing in 2009 at Walt Disney World. This year’s celebrations are bound to be spectacular, with dazzling fireworks shows, live entertainment, and extended park hours throughout Walt Disney World on December 31st.

The parks are especially getting ready to launch an incredible show in the sky, with almost every one hosting its own special nighttime fireworks display. At Disney's Epcot, a special version of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will be presented just in time for the New Year. This laser-light spectacular features dancing flames, cascading fountains, and incredible fireworks set to an original musical score. New Year’s revelers will be able to see the show at 11:40 pm, and those who want to turn in early can see the show at 7:40 pm. Epcot will be open late for the night’s festivities, from 8 am to 1 am.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the party is going on all day, starting with the Block Party Bash at 3 pm, an interactive parade featuring all your favorite Disney Pixar characters. Then, don’t miss the Fantasmic! Show, a lavish spectacular of water animation, lasers, and fireworks, taking place at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. In the evening, the in-park band “Mulch, Sweat, and Shears” will be giving live performances, and a DJ will be keeping the park grooving at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. Then at 11:50 pm, the celebrations will be capped with a special Lights, Camera, Happy New Year fireworks show. Hollywood Studios will be open from 9 am until midnight.

And finally, at Disney's Magic Kingdom, partiers can enjoy parades and fireworks all day in celebration of the New Year. At noon and 3 pm, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will light up the park streets with holiday cheer, followed by the SpectroMagic parade at 7 pm and 10:30 pm. Then the Holiday Wishes show will light up the sky at 8:30 with the biggest and brightest pyrotechnics display at Disney. And just when you thought Disney had outdone itself, the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show will provide the grand finale to the evening at 11:50 pm. Magic Kingdom will be open on New Year’s Eve from 8 am to 2 am.

With so much going on at the Disney theme parks on New Year’s Eve, deciding which one to ring in the New Year at will be a tough decision. Hollywood Studios will certainly have a lot of music and fun going on throughout the whole day, but the New Year’s edition of IlluminNations: Reflections of Earth is sure to be breathtaking. Then again, there’s nothing like seeing fireworks light up the sky next to Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom. No matter where you choose to celebrate, New Year’s Eve is sure to be incredible at Walt Disney World. Be sure to arrive at your chosen park early that day, as the parks are a popular place to ring in the New Year and often reach capacity. So get with your friends, start making those plans now, and remember to get your discount Disney tickets at DWTickets.com.

See the Future of NFL at Disney’s Pop Warner Super Bowl

There is only one event where you can see future stars of the NFL, along with the future cheerleaders and dancers who will be rooting them on – the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championship. From December 6th through December 13th, the nation’s top youth football players will compete at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex for the 52nd annual Pop Warner Super Bowl. The Bowl will be taking place alongside the cheer and dance competition, which brings thousands of cheerleaders from all over the country to Orlando.

This year, more than 60 youth football teams nationwide battled through local and regional tournaments in order to come to Walt Disney World for the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Teams will compete in four divisions based on weight and age: Jr. Pee Wee (ages 8-10), Pee Wee (ages 9-11), Jr. Midget (ages 10-12), and Midget (ages 11-14). In addition, there are two divisions, Division I and II, each fielding 32 teams. During the 7-day event, 72 games in total will take place.

Since 70% of current NFL players got their start in the Pop Warner Super Bowl, there’s a strong likelihood that many of this year’s players will go on to become NFL stars. Heisman Trophy winners Tim Tebow, Troy Smith, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, and Reggie Bush are all Pop Warner Super Bowl alumni.

All the Bowl games will take place on the Hess Sports Fields, the same fields used by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during training camp. This is the Pop Warner’s 14th consecutive year at Walt Disney World.

While the games are going on out on the fields, the National Cheer and Dance Championship will featuring competing cheerleading and dance teams from communities and schools throughout the nation. From December 8th through December 12th, the championship will pit over 350 squads against each other for the title of National Champion.

Squads will compete in four age classifications and vary in size and skill level. On the stage of the Wide World of Sport’s Milk House, each team will perform their best two minute and thirty second routine complete with music and cheering. It’s a heated competition that teams often prepare all year for.

The Wide World of Sports is host to several national youth and high school football events throughout the year, such as the NFL Flag Football National Championships. The sprawling complex features eight different venues for amateur and professional sports and entertainment events, including 11 tennis courts, and stadium court, and a track & field complex.

Anyone is welcome to come watch the Pop Warner Super Bowl or the National Cheer and Dance Championship. For anyone who’s not participating in event, admission to the Wide World of Sports Complex is $12.75 for those ages 10 and up and $10 for children ages 9 and under. You can also catch the Midget Championship Game on TV when it airs on ESPN and ESPN2 during the week of the NFL Super Bowl. Don’t miss all the fun when young football players and cheerleaders compete for glory and a national title!

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.

New Downtown Disney T-Rex Café is Dino-Mite

Downtown Disney, known to visitors from all over for its amazing restaurants and shops, now has a new reason to attract visitors, especially families. The T-Rex Cafe, which opened on October 14th, is more than just a restaurant; it is a complete attraction, with retail, dining, and fun activities for adults and kids alike.

T-Rex, which is owned by Rainforest Cafe owners Landry Restaurants, creates an interactive prehistoric environment, with décor centered on water, fire, and ice. The restaurant has been designed to make visitors say, “Wow,” with an exact life-size replica of a 140-foot long Argentinosaurus outside and a 5,000 gallon shark tank and robotic octopus on the inside. Kids will love the large animatronic dinosaurs ensconced in the walls along with real fossils, and the cascading waterfalls and bubbling geysers make it a nice setting for adults, too. The Geo-Tech and Ice Cave rooms are also particularly neat, with their flaming walls and glowing, color-changing ceilings.

Kids will be able to have fun before or after dinner with the restaurant’s many activities. In the fun and educational Paleo Zone, little ones can learn on interactive screens and play in multiple exploration areas. They can excavate in the "dirt" in the Discovery Dig area, or explore the mine and pan for precious stones, minerals, or fossils in Discovery Creek. T-Rex is a great place for children to act out their curious natures and have fun exploring and learning. And if nothing else, it’s also a great way to get them to burn off the sugar from dessert.

And though it might be easy to forget, T-Rex is, after all, a restaurant. So how is the food, you ask? T-Rex offers a surprisingly wide selection of American fare, including appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, meat entrees, and dessert. Think T.G.I. Fridays, but with catchy dinosaur-themed names. The restaurant actually has a wood-burning pizza oven in its “Kitchen of Fire,” and guests have the option of designing their own custom pizza. The Mammoth Mushroom Raviolis are also quite nice, cooked in a lobster cream sauce with Roma tomatoes and fresh spinach. The most creative options on the menu, though, are the seafood and sandwiches, with unique offerings like the Tarragon Chicken Salad sandwich, which includes a Rotisserie chicken pulled and tossed with tarragon, celery, onions, toasted almonds, and mayo on a toasted hoagie roll. And herbivores need not worry – there are some vegetarian options available. There is also a separate menu for children.

T-Rex also features a wide array of souvenirs, apparel, toys, and other dinosaur-related merchandise. Children will especially enjoy building their own stuffed dinosaur friend with the first-ever Build-A-Dino, by the makers of the Build-A-Bear Workshop. It’s not all fun and games just for children, however. T-Rex features a full-service “Shark Bar.”

The 600-seat restaurant has been widely anticipated since its construction began in October 2007. With Walt Disney World’s recent closure of six Pleasure Island nightclubs and their family-oriented replacements nearly two years away, T-Rex is fulfilling a need for dining space in Pleasure Island.

So be sure to stop by T-Rex and have your own prehistoric adventure. And while you’re there, don’t forget to actually eat!

China Dining

The China Pavilion is one of the most interesting pavilions around the World Showcase at Epcot. With its distinct architecture, CircleVision 360 presentation Reflections of China, one of the largest merchandise shops in the entire park and even acrobatic performers showcasing their skills throughout the day, it is safe to assume that there will always be a crowd gathering around this popular pavilion. But despite all of these reasons to make the trek here, there is another reason that attracts even more foot traffic to the area, and that is the Nine Dragons Restaurant and the Lotus Blossom Café.

From the get-go, the Nine Dragons Restaurant makes guests feel as if they are entering a Chinese palace with its ornate décor. The menu features Cantonese, Mongolian, Szechuan, Hunan and Kiangche-style cuisine, while also offering unique desserts such as caramel ginger ice cream. And of course, what Chinese meal would be complete without a fortune cookie to crack open at the end of your meal? You can find all of that, and much more, by reading all about the Nine Dragons Restaurant right here!

If you would rather spend your day at Epcot spending equal time at each of the 11 pavilions of the World Showcase, there is also a quick service option in the China Pavilion that will get you in and out in a hurry – the Lotus Blossom Café. Open for lunch and dinner, this restaurant offers six entrees under $8, such a shrimp with fried rice, orange chicken, a beef noodle soup bowl and sesame chicken salad. Children also have the option of the kids’ Beijing BBQ drumstick, while ice cream puts the finishing touch on any meal here!

While your choice of whether to dine at the Nine Dragons Restaurant, the Lotus Blossom Café or any of the other restaurants around Epcot’s World Showcase may be a difficult decision to make, there is one choice we would like to make easy for you – where to buy your theme park tickets! In fact, we can make that the easiest decision you will make during your entire vacation; simply click here to find out why! With one simple click of your mouse, you can find hundreds of ticket packages to all of the top entertainment options in Central Florida, from the four theme parks of the Walt Disney World Resort to the Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World Orlando, Discovery Cove or Aquatica (Sea World’s new water park). We even offer discounted deals to local dinner shows and even the popular Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando or Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba. Make this your best (and most economical) vacation your family has ever taken – purchase your discounted theme park tickets with DWTickets.com today!

Toy Story Mania! Breaks Out at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Buzz Lightyear recently blasted “to infinity and beyond” from the Kennedy Space Center on the Space Shuttle Discovery. Back here on earth, the long-awaited opening of Toy Story Mania! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is what everybody is buzzing about.

Just as Buzz launched into his outer space vacation, Woody and the rest of his “Toy Story” friends were welcoming the first official guests onto the newest addition to the attraction landscape at the Walt Disney World Resort, Toy Story Mania! Disney held the grand premiere of the latest interactive amusement to hit Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 31.

Toy Story Mania! transports Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests to the world of Andy’s latest birthday present, the “Midway Games Play Set.”

A life-sized, carnival barking Mr. Potato Head welcomes riders into Toy Story Mania! and beckons one and all to don their 3-D glasses and “step right up” to the immersive 4-D attraction. Through high-tech Audio-Animatronics, Mr. Potato Head can have two-way chats with adventurers preparing to board their carnival tram vehicles and rocket down the midway firing away with their innovative spring-action shooters.

Riders sitting side-by-side are faced with 3-D animated targets just waiting to be pummeled upon in midway style game booths:

• “Pie Throw Practice” gives you a chance to get used to your spring-action shooter by tossing a virtual pie at your targets.
• Next it’s virtual egg tossing with Hamm in the “Hamm & Eggs” game booth, where the 3-D targets are barnyard characters.
• In “Bo Peep’s Baaa-loon Pop” you aim your virtual dart shooter at a scenic setting of balloon sheep, trees and more. Warning: Beware the popped water balloon!
• In true midway style, the “Green Army Men Shoot Camp” game has you shooting virtual baseballs at animated plates.
• Enjoy a game of classic ring-toss at “Buzz Lightyear’s Flying Tossers,” where you fire on those Little Green Aliens.
• “Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery” is the grand finale, and you will be fired up by the Wild West theme. But be prepared for “Woody’s Bonus Roundup.” The super finale calls for some super-fast spring-action shooting at one super target. And the shots will be totaled when its all over so you can see how you rate compared to other top scorers.

A Disney ticket is required for admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a chance to be one of the first Disney guests to ride Toy Story Mania!, so get your Disney ticket today and join Woody on his friends for some carnival fun!

Valentines Day at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel

The Walt Disney World Resort is growing in popularity with adults by the day and no not ones who are looking to take their little ones to the Happiest Place on Earth. This entertainment mecca in Central Florida is actually transforming into just as much a refuge for adults looking for a romantic getaway as it is a place for families and kids of all ages to spend their vacations. But how can it be both? It’s simple – Disney’s classic combination of fairytales and imagination makes it easy for anyone who enters the Walt Disney World Resort property to forget about the outside world and just enjoy themselves and the simplicity of life – just as Walt Disney himself had wanted it.

With all of that said, it is no wonder that Disney is one of the most popular destinations in America for weddings and honeymoons. And with Valentine’s Day approaching, DWTickets.com would like to offer you suggestions on how to spend this day with your special someone, whether this is your first Valentine’s Day with your significant other or your 30th! And while all of the tips and suggestions below are centered around things to do at Disney’s resort hotels, there are plenty of romantic things to experience inside the four Disney theme parks as well. If you are planning a vacation or a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway, DWTickets.com is the place to purchase your discounted Disney tickets to make this happen! We are your No. 1 online source for discounted tickets to Walt Disney World, the Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World Orlando and tons of other top attractions in Central Florida. Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a trip to see Mickey and Minnie, so click here now to purchase your very own discounted tickets and get started on your vacation plans today!

If you are fortunate enough to be staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel on Valentine’s Day, you will have many options to produce the most unforgettable day ever with your significant other. Just the resorts themselves are romantic, as most of the moderate and deluxe resorts offer amenities such as beaches, elaborate and exclusive restaurants and many nooks and crannies that are secluded and perfect for couples. But, one way to start out your Valentine’s Day at a Disney hotel that you may not think of is with a visit to one of the Disney spas, located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. While any of the vast massage and body therapy treatments are sure to put anyone in a romantic (not to mention relaxed) state of mind, the couples treatments at the Grand Floridian Spa will top off any Valentine’s Day plans. With a special “couples room” at the spa, you can experience either a Grand Romantic Evening package or a Couples Instructional Massage. Call 407-824-2332 to book any of these wonderful packages at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the flagship hotel at the Walt Disney World Resort.

While a day at the spa would surely appeal to just about anyone, a good meal might sound even more appealing! Luckily, the hotels at Disney offer a plethora of fine dining options, once again located mostly at the deluxe category resorts. For the top-of-the-line cuisine, you can opt for the California Grill, located on the top floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. With a perfect outside balcony that overlooks the Magic Kingdom Park, a perfect dinner can be topped off with a perfect view of Wishes, the nighttime fireworks spectacular that illuminates the sky over Cinderella Castle. Or, you could cross just over the Seven Seas Lagoon to Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (inquire about the chefs table located exclusively for one couple per night inside the kitchen – complete with your own maid and butler) or try out Narcoossee’s, which is located directly on the waterfront. If either of those restaurants don’t offer you the privacy that you are looking for, this hotel also offers private dining out on the beach each evening. Simply call 407-824-2578 to set up a private meal, or 407-WDW-DINE up to 180 days in advance for reservations at any Disney full-service restaurant.

Finally, if you are looking for a more unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, the Disney resort hotels also offer many different ways for couples to enjoy themselves in less traditional ways. For example, you could take a 45-minute horseback tour or carriage ride through the wilderness at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds (407-939-7529), or trek to “Martha’s Vineyard” at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, where you will find a wine bar and plenty of seating for two! And, a perfect way to end any day at Disney is aboard a fireworks cruise, where you can sail away to watch either Wishes or Illuminations from your own private boat. And lastly, if a day spent in is what you had in mind, Disney can hand-deliver flowers to your room via their very own private florist (407-827-3505). In other words, as Walt Disney once said – “if you can dream it, (Disney) can do it.”

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Orlandos Top Ten To Start 2008

2008 is already proving to be a great year to finally take that Orlando vacation. Your friends at DWTickets.com – the best source for cheap theme park tickets in town - have put together the top ten reasons to plan your trip in the next couple of months.

1. DWTickets.com! We are the number one reason to get on down to Orlando because we offer the best discounts on all the theme park tickets you need to make your Orlando vacation spectacular.


2. Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Because you know you want to be one of the first people to celebrate “all things Hollywood” in Orlando now that this park has a new name.


3. Mardi Gras at the Universal Orlando Resort. “America’s biggest street party this side of New Orleans” takes place every Saturday night from February 2 – April 19.


4. The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Celebrating its 15th year, the theme is “Fun in the Sun,” and the event will run from March 19 – June 1.


5. Bud & BBQ at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa. This exciting concert series takes place on Fridays at SeaWorld and Saturdays at Busch Gardens from February 16 – March 9.


6. The Pirate and Princess Party at the Magic Kingdom. This special ticket, after-hours party runs on select dates only from 7 p.m. til midnight and features the “Enchanted Adventures Parade” and the “Magic, Music, and Mayhem” fireworks show.


7. Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride…Starring You! at Universal Studios Orlando. Be one of the first guests to help film “Motha Nature” at the newly opened Disaster Studios.


8. Spaceship Earth relaunch. The most recognizable icon at Epcot is reopening its doors this February after a nine-month renovation project. The changes and updates include narration by Dame Judi Dench, brand new scenes and a refurbished time travel machine to transport guests through the giant sphere.


9. Spring Training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. The Atlanta Braves return on February 14 to start their 11th year of practicing and playing spring games at Disney’s 220-acre sports complex.


10. The extension of the “Year of a Million Dreams” at the Walt Disney World Resort.
    
    And that’s just the beginning! There are many, many more reasons to visit Orlando this year. But remember, the best reason of all is the cheap tickets right here at DWTickets.com!

Account Receivable Management of Florida

Its an annual rite of passage at the Walt Disney World Resort – just as the holiday celebrations at the parks come and go with each passing year, so do Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Beginning January 5, 2008, tickets will go on sale for all of the Braves’ spring training games, which are held at Champion Stadium at the Wide World of Sports starting February 27, 2008 with a game against the University of Georgia Bulldogs. In all, the Braves will host 16 home games at Disney, eight of which take place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Whether you will be traveling to Central Florida just to watch one of these games or will already be down here on vacation while the Braves are in town, you should take advantage of the Wide World of Sports Complex’s supreme location to enjoy some of Disney’s parks and other attractions while you are visiting. The complex is just minutes from all four Disney theme parks, and here at DWTickets.com, we can help you see everything at the Walt Disney World Resort for less. DWTickets.com is your No. 1 online source for discounted tickets to all of the top attractions in Central Florida, including the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and Sea World Orlando. Tickets for the Braves games are affordable and range from $14.50 to $23.50, and we can make a trip to the parks affordable too with our unbelievable deals! Click here to check them out now!

The Atlanta Braves are entering their 11th season of spring training at the Walt Disney World Resort, and this year’s schedule features some of the best opponents in Major League Baseball, including the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals, whom the Braves play twice each. Champion Stadium, which seats 7,500 for every contest, has four areas of seating, as mentioned above. The general admission seats, which are $14.50, run down the third base line just past the opposing team’s dugout and is an open lawn where you can bring your own towels or blankets to view all of the action. The bleacher reserved seats are located at the same location as the general admission seats on the opposite side of the field (first base line), but are assigned bleacher seating. These seats, along with the upper level reserved seats, are $20.50 per ticket, while the lower level reserved seats are $23.50.

The Atlanta Braves spring training schedule is as follows:

Wed. Feb. 27 University of Georgia 1:05 pm
Fri. Feb. 29 LA Dodgers 1:05 pm
Sun Mar. 2 Houston Astros 1:05 pm
Tues. Mar. 4 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 pm
Fri. Mar. 7 Detroit Tigers 1:05 pm
Sat. Mar. 8 Houston Astros 1:05 pm
Sun. Mar. 9 St. Louis Cardinals 1:05 pm
Mon. Mar. 10 St. Louis Cardinals 1:05 pm
Tues. Mar. 11 Washington Nationals 7:05 pm
Wed. Mar. 12 Cleveland Indians 7:05 pm
Sat. Mar. 15 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1:05 pm
Thurs. Mar. 20 Detroit Tigers 7:05 pm
Fri. Mar. 21 Cleveland Indians 1:05 pm
Sun. Mar. 23 Houston Astros 1:05 pm
Wed. Mar. 26 Washington Nationals 1:05 pm
Thurs. Mar. 27 New York Mets 1:05 pm

Disney Follows Our Lead

Disney Parks recently announced that they have launched the “first-ever Walt Disney World Moms Panel” to help Orlando-bound folks like you plan your Walt Disney World vacation. Here at DWTickets.com, we have been doing just that for years!

And we don’t just do Disney.

We are your one-stop shop for ALL of your Orlando vacation needs. So, by all means, put a visit to the Walt Disney World Resort on your vacation list and be sure to get your discount Disney tickets right here at DWTickets.com.

Then spread your traveler’s wings a little further: add SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Cypress Gardens, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure to your itinerary too. DWTickets.com is the best source for cheap theme park tickets to ALL of Orlando’s attractions. We have the discount tickets and vacation guides you need no matter what you want to do when you get into town.

Disney’s new panel consists of 11 moms and one dad featured in an online forum where they answer questions from and give guidance to curious future vacationers. There’s nothing wrong with good trip advice – the best vacations come from using it wisely. The downside with Disney’s group is that they only speak Disney. At DWTickets.com, we speak whatever language your Orlando vacation requires.

Our vacation specialists are always ready, willing and able to answer your questions and provide your with the best prices on whatever tickets you need for your trip to Orlando. We also keep you up-to-date on all of the latest theme park news with our DWTickets.com blog. The best part, though, is that when you get your tickets with us, you can get the discount tickets you need for all of the Orlando theme parks – not just Walt Disney World - and you can get them all in one place and at the best prices in town!

We can keep you vacationing after you leave the parks too, with amazingly cheap tickets for all of Orlando’s dinner shows like Arabian Nights, Medieval Times, the Pirates Dinner Theater and Tony N Tina’s Wedding. If space is your thing, DWTickets.com will hook you up with discount tickets to Kennedy Space Center. If it’s fast-moving fun you want, we’ll get you into the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Whatever you want to experience during your Orlando vacation, let DWTickets.com be your guide!

2008 at Walt Disney World

Its a brand new year, and there is a lot going on at the Walt Disney World Resort. The entire property seems to be bustling with change, and the folks at DWTickets.com want to make sure you are in on every update and new opening around The World. Always check our blog to find out the latest news, and always let us be your one-stop ticket shop for all of your Orlando vacation needs. We are the best discount ticket store you will find anywhere, and we offer cheap theme park tickets for Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal and all of the best Orlando area attractions.

In 2008, the Walt Disney World Resort will do some growing with the Jostens Center at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. This latest expansion – scheduled to open this summer - will add 220 acres to the Sports Complex, which is touted as the “leading multi-sports venue for amateur and professional sports in the nation.” The brand new facility adds 45,000 square feet of competition space and will enable Disney to double the number of indoor sporting events they can host.

Landry’s Restaurants recently opened the Yak & Yeti Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney will see their newest addition later on this year with the opening of “T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, A Place to Eat, Shop, Explore and Discover.” This new dining, shopping and learning extravaganza is scheduled to open this fall.

At Epcot, the Tutto Italia Ristorante (Everything Italy) opened their temporary location a couple months ago in the Italy Pavilion. In the coming year, this dining establishment – which replaces L'Originale Alfred di Roma Ristorante will go through an expansion and plans a grand opening in the fall.

China’s Nine Dragons restaurant will be closing in the near future and reopening this fall with a new and innovative dining experience. The new sit-down dining room will include five cooking stations where guests can interact and communicate with the chefs from China.

All over the Walt Disney World Resort, updates and innovations are under way – both in the theme parks and at the other attractions across the property. To enjoy the latest and greatest entertainment opportunities at the Walt Disney World theme parks, you can always find your cheap Disney tickets right here at DWTickets.com! Once you get your tickets, let the DWTickets.com blog guide you to an amazing vacation.

Christmas in Orlando

Halloween is over and the winter season will fall upon Orlando in no time at all. Before things get too crazy, plan ahead to enjoy some holiday fun and get your Orlando theme park tickets right here at DWTickets.com now. We are Orlando's finest discount theme park ticket center, and we give you access to all of your favorite attractions at the best prices. We are also the top location on the Web to grab great info about the hottest holiday happenings all over O-Town, and that includes holiday celebrations that don't feature Mickey Mouse, Shamu or the Grinch.

One of the most talked about out-of-park events is ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort. ICE! is the ultimate anti-Orlando holiday attraction. It's not a theme park, has no costumed characters and is as far away from hot as you can get this close to the equator. From November 19 through January 3, ICE! will thrill and chill guests with traveling igloos, trains to the North Pole, a ride through Candy Land, ice slides and temperatures that hover around 9 degrees. Paying tribute to the "reason for the season," ICE! also presents a pristine, crystal clear ice carving of The Nativity that has been called "one of the most stirring depictions of the birth of Christ."

Want to spend a day shopping for souvenirs, gifts or just something for yourself? The Mall at Millennia is the place to do it, and at Christmastime you will enjoy lush and lovely decorations, special holiday activities and a storybook village that features giant screens displaying an original, animated holiday short that is sure to delight the entire family.

Another family favorite is Christmas at Dixie, a heart-warming and spirit-stirring celebration at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. This is an incomparable live dinner show that will "warm your heart and touch your soul" with its presentation of the delights of Christmas and the story of the nativity. If pirate action is your thing, then spend a holiday evening at Pirate's Christmas Dinner Adventure as they transform their dinner show into a swashbuckling heroic holiday escapade to save Christmas.

And because we realize that many people want to enjoy other attractions on their Orlando holiday vacation, DWTickets.com is not just your best source when it comes to Orlando theme park tickets. DWTickets.com offers great discount tickets for all of Orlando's great attractions, including special Christmas dinner shows at both Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede and Pirate's Dinner Adventure!

STAR TOURS 2 ?? MGM Studios Ride Gets Makeover

If you've ever been to Disney's MGM Studios, one of their signature rides is Star Tours, located in the MGM Studios backlot. Star Tours is a Star Wars adventure simulated thrill ride (much like Islands of Adventure's Spiderman) and takes you on an intergalactic ride through outer space. Created almost 20 years ago, there have been rumors about an update with 3-D and digitized picture quality. The update of Star Tours has come up in discussion through the past year, and during Star Wars Weekends at MGM. The new ride should be completed sometime next year, around Thanksgiving 2008. Disney MGM Studios tickets can be purchased at a heavy discount by CLICKING HERE!

Star Wars Weekends continues throughout June, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at MGM Studios Theme Park. MGM Studios is one of the hottest places to visit at the Walt Disney World Resort, and the Tower of Terror and Rock N Rollercoaster are the most popular rides along with Star Tours. Summer if officially two weeks away, and now is the perfect time to bring your family down to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Have a great weekend, and come to the DW Blog for more updates about new rides and attractions in Orlando.

Animal Kingdom Adding New Character Breakfast!

Hello everyone, this is the DW Blog Man hoping everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day Weekend! Orlando is extremely beautiful this time of year, and the weather could not have been any more perfect. The Disney Water Parks : Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon were rockin' and the Magic Kingdom had an amazing fireworks display every night. Now that it's Tuesday and we're starting to get back to reality, I too did some research and wanted to let you in on a little secret. Disney's Animal Kingdom is creating a brand new Character Breakfast buffet inside the theme park and it should be nothing short of spectacular!

Right now there is a place at Animal Kingdom called Tusker House, and it will soon be converted into a buffet style restaurant where a daily Disney Character breakfast will take place in the mornings. If there is one thing Walt Disney World schools the competition in, it is the Character Breakfast Buffets! From omelet stations to Mickey Mouse waffles to fresh fruit, there is no better way to start your day at the theme park than chowing down with your family while Disney characters pose for pictures at your table and sign autographs for the kids. This new restaurant is slated to open in November of 2007, right around Thanksgiving time. Only 4 1/2 months away, there will be a new reason to Start your Day at Disney's Animal Kingdom for a delicious and fun-filled Disney Character Breakfast. Hope everyone had a healthy, happy, and safe Memorial Day, and stay tuned for more news later this week. This is the DW Tickets Blog Man telling you to enjoy the Summer and come down to Orlando for the most magical experience on Earth!

EPCOT turns 25 Years Old

On October 1, 2007; EPCOT at the Walt Disney World resort will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary. Twenty-five years ago EPCOT was born. "EPCOT" stands for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, and was a vision of Walt Disney before he passed away. This "community of the future" opened in 1982 and featured a "future world" with innovative approaches to theme park ride technology. It took Disney World Co. three years to build EPCOT, starting in 1979, and the total cost was $1.4 billion.

EPCOT is now called Epcot park and hosts many events such as the Annual Food and Wine Festival as well as the Flower and Garden Festival. The World Showcase at Epcot features countries from all over the world with rides, attractions, shops, and restaurants. Future World is home of Spaceship Earth, the gigantic silver geosphere that is the trademark icon of the park. Epcot is also home to SOARIN', Mission Space, and Test Track. Come to the Walt Disney World resort and help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Epcot Park, and have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

Mission Space at EPCOT

I recently went to EPCOT for something other than eating and drinking - rides! Usually EPCOT has so much going on with the Food and Wine Festival, Flower and Garden Month, and everything else under the sun. So last weekend I actually went there to go on some rides (although the Flower and Garden Festival is still going on through June). Besides the usual SpaceShip Earth, Test Track, and Soarin', I went on a ride that has been much talked about over recent months : Mission Space.

Mission Space launches you into outer space in a simulated shuttle vehicle as you feel the thrust of blasting off into orbit as well as actual weightlessness once into space. The intensity of this ride cannot be descibed in words, other than "WOW!" You will feel like an astronaut and know what it is like to be in a rocket. The video screens feel like you're actually looking out a window into outer space as you see Planet Earth become smaller and the sky changes from blue to black. Mission Space is one of the coolest rides I've been on anywhere, and I just wanted to give kudos to EPCOT for creating such an awesome ride and experience. To buy discount tickets to Disney World, CLICK HERE! See you at Epcot and don't forget to buckle up and blast off at Mission Space!

"Haunted" High School Musical

The Disney Channel hit a major chord in a very big way with their "High School Musical". Already having major success with a best selling soundtrack and astounding viewership numbers, "Haunted High School Musical" is slated to open on the big-screen in 2008. The new motion picture is in pre-production at the current time, and should be out just in time for Halloween of 2008 to go along with its scary theme. The entire cast will be back including Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Corbin Bleu and Lucas Grabeel for the motion picture, and High School Musical 2 will be going straight to DVD later this summer.

The Walt Disney Co. is extremely excited about the enormous success of this project, and it looks like the High School Musical franchise is off and running. Other Disney movies set to be released onto the big screen this summer include : Ratatouille, and The Game Plan featuring "The Rock". It should be a very exciting summer for the Disney movie production studio as many projects are in the works. I will keep you posted for any other news regarding release dates of these movies and future Disney projects. Have a great week and enjoy the Year of a Million Dreams at the Walt Disney World resort.

Dining at Disney World

Coming down to Disney World for the rides and attractions is one thing, but you have to know where to eat. Dining at Disney World is a top priority, not only for the guests, but for the Walt Disney World resort as well. If you are looking for someplace cheap to eat like fast-food, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe inside the Magic Kingdom park is a pretty cool place. There is always lots of seating available, tasty sandwiches and salads as well as hamburgers and chicken are available, and it won't be that expensive. Tusker House at Disney's Animal Kingdom has healthy and nutritious meals for the foodie, and is right in the middle of it all. At Epcot, Sunshine Seasons is a restaurant with different cuisines at every counter, so you have a grand variety of meals to choose from.

If you are looking for something a little more quiet for you and your spouse at night, try California Grill on the top floor of Disney's Contemporary Resort. Not only is the food amazing, with a sushi bar and panoramic views, but you can even see the Magic Kingdom fireworks show at night. Victoria and Albert's is as elegant as it gets over at Disney World, stationed at the posh Grand Floridian Hotel. Jiko is a fancy South African restaurant with an extensive wine list and a very intriguing atmosphere.

OK - so you have the cheap fast-food options, and the elegant romantic restaurants to take your significant others to. Disney World is a lot more than rides and lines - there are also world-class dining options available, and now you know exactly where to go. Enjoy your trip to Disney World and check out these amazing restaurants, all within the beautiful Walt Disney World resort.

Dancing With the Stars Comes to Orlando

ABC's hit show : "Dancing With the Stars" will be making it's long anticipated arrival in Orlando, at the Amway Arena, home of the Orlando Magic. The show will be coming to town on June 25, and will be featuring most of the popular show's most famous dance stars, including Joey Lawernce, Cheryl Burke, Drew Lachey, Joey Fatone, formerly of N'SYNC, and Edyta Sliwinska. This is a very exciting time for the city of Orlando and there will be many more events coming into town this summer. With NFL Hall of Famers such as Jerry Rice, Emmit Smith, and NBA Hall of Famer Clyde "The Glide" Drexler participating in past contests, Dancing With The Stars has become a must-see event, and the City of Orlando is very proud to be hosting one of their tour stops on June 25th, 2007.

The Blue Man Group will be arriving next month at Universal starting on June 7th, and Tony N Tina's Wedding is already in full force over in Kissimmee. School will be out in a few weeks, so this is the time to get your kids, load up the mini-van, and come on down to Orlando, Florida - where you can take the happiest vacation on the planet. Buy discount Disney World tickets by CLICKING HERE and take advantage of big savings for the entire family. See you in Orlando, and don't forget to bring your bathing suit.

Magic Kingdom Attractions - Fantasyland

Well - as we're roaring into May, Disney World is heating up and getting ready for Summer break. Since all the kids will be out of school sooner than later, I thought I'd talk about some of the most popular attractions for children - which all can be found at The Magic Kingdom in Fantasyland. Dumbo The Flying Elephant is one of the most popular rides among kids. Centered in the heart of Fantasyland at Disney's Magic Kingdom, Dumbo will take your kids soaring through the sky and spin around the carousel. The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is also a popular ride with everyone's favorite honey-obsessed bear - Pooh. Riders sit down in a giant honeypot and go on an adventure from cartoon-land. Peter Pan's Flight takes you into the clouds and on a journey to Neverland. Beware of Captain Hook's pirate ship or you might be held captive!

Snow White's Scary Adventures takes you through the world of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, where the wicked witch is waiting to cast her evil spell. Each of the different cars are named after the Seven Dwarfs, so make sure you don't climb in with Dopey. "Its a Small World" puts you on a boat where you travel to lands of different cultures and continents, all while singing "It's A Small World, After all." Fact is, it really isn't such as small world as there are so many more rides and attractions, you'll just have to take your kids to Disney World and see for yourself.

Makahiki Luau at SeaWorld

SeaWorld Orlando has a great dinner show that is fun for the whole family. The Makahiki Luau Dinner Show at SeaWorld features delicious food, dancing, audience participation, and many other spectacular events that make this outing one to remember. From fire dancing by the "Big Kahuna" to sensational grilled mahi mahi and BBQ ribs, this dinner attraction is definitely worth checking out while in Orlando. Makahiki Luau has some very talented hula dancers and entertainment and this attraction is something you can take anyone to. It is a great place to take a date, excellent entertainment for a large group or family, and most importantly the atmosphere is extremely festive and has a lot to offer.

Orlando has many different dinner shows all with something special and unique to offer, but Makahiki Luau at SeaWorld is one event which will leave a memorable and lasting impression for everyone to remember. The food is top-notch, the show is exciting, and the tropical atmosphere is truly delightful. This is one of the most entertaining, electrifying and fulfilling shows in Orlando, and I urge you to check it out. Have a great weekend, and see you in Orlando.

The World Showcase at EPCOT CENTER

The World Showcase at EPCOT has over 20 pavilions with countries from all over the world. Some of the country pavilions have rides, like Norway or Mexico. Other country pavilions have amazing restaurants like at Italy, Japan, and Mexico. The World Showcase at Epcot is a beautiful circle of attractions with inspirational buildings and colorful scenery. People describe the World Showcase at EPCOT as breathtaking and fascinating.

EPCOT's World Showcase is a melting pot of different countries, cultures, and cuisines - and will teach you a little bit about the origins of these far away lands. There is also great shopping at the different country pavilions where you can buy some really interesting and unique apparel. EPCOT is a theme park that usually takes a day or two to complete, so a Park Hopper ticket is usually a good idea. To buy discount Park Hopper passes, CLICK HERE!

Richard Petty Driving Experience

If you have ever dreamed of getting behind the wheel in a NASCAR racing car, now is your chance. The Richard Petty Driving Experience has come to the Walt Disney World Resort, stationed at the Walt Disney Speedway. You can get in an official stock car or race with a pro in the passanger seat. This is an experience of a lifetime as not many people get to feel the adrenaline rush of going 200+ MPH around a NASCAR track. The Richard Petty Driving Experience is for the speed demon in everyone, and has permanently found a home in the heart of Walt Disney World. Now you can come down to Orlando and feel like you're in Talladega Nights with Ricky Bobby. This is definitely an experience like no other, almost like an extreme sport without the risks. You can look into the program more, and buy discount tickets to The Richard Petty Driving Experience when you CLICK HERE ! See you on the track, and remember to keep hydrated, it's hot in that racecar!

Events Going on In and Around Orlando

TGIF - this is your official DW Blog Man wishing everyone a very happy Friday and a great weekend. Just wanted to share some new and exciting events that are happening around Orlando. First of all, Congratulations are in order for the Orlando Magic, who have made the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2003. The Orlando Magic will be playing the Detroit Pistons in the 1st Round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, and will be hosting two games in Orlando on Thursday, April 26, and Saturday April 28 at Amway Arena. GO MAGIC !

New in town is the Tommy Bahama Cafe on International Drive. The Tommy Bahama store has been around a while in Pointe Orlando, right in the heart of the tourist district, but now a delicious cafe has opened. The drink specials are great, the food is hearty, and the atmosphere is relaxed. The Flower and Garden Festival is still going strong at EPCOT in Disney World, and will be running until the beginning of June. There is a rumor that SOARIN' at EPCOT will be turned into "SOARIN' over America" by 2008. Currently, the ride is all about the state of California, but the new edition is in the works. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and see you down here in Orlando, Florida !

Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

The Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort is continuing it's stride in excellence as special amazing additions are taking place. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Magic Kingdom has been completely revamped, keeping up with the popularity of the motion picture "Pirates of the Caribbean" and installing Jack Sparrow into the ride. Dreamflight was turned into " Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin" and it very popular among children. Also at Magic Kingdom park, the Alien Encounter was done over, and is now Stitch's Great Escape, which is playing off the popularity of the Lilo & Stitch hit.
The Hall of Presidents in the Liberty Square District of Magic Kingdom Park was recently updated to include George W. Bush. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are the only actual U.S. Presidents who give a speech to the audience inside the attraction other than Abraham Lincoln. In Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, Carousel of Progress was updated to include the 21st century in the scenes and stage design for the last act.
There are so many great things going on at Walt Disney World, you must come down and check it out today! To see some of the best discounts for Walt Disney World Tickets, CLICK HERE! Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort is a place where dreams actually do come true, fantasies are more like reality and you can take part in the happiest celebration on Earth.

Orlando Events

Every couple of weeks, Orlando has something special come to town. Since Orlando is the vacation capital of the world, there are always exciting comings and goings that I like to write about from time to time. The Hard Rock Live at Universal Orlando Citywalk has concerts and bands coming from time to time. Kenny Loggins is here tomorrow night, and Diana Ross will be in town toward the end of the month. The Walt Disney World Resort is currently running their Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot through June. There were a bunch of Easter-related events going on in the theme parks over the past weekend, with celebrity guest speakers and great food. There will be a new themed weekend for Cinco de Mayo (May 4-6, 2007) where you can salute in the holiday with some cool bands and great Latin-inspired food. Disney World will have a Mother's Day celebration May 11-13 of this year, which has been a time-honored tradition. Shaquille O'Neal and the World Champion Miami Heat will come into town to take on the Orlando Magic next week, and anytime "SHAQ" comes to town, you know that is going to be a blast. Sea World has a new family member as baby Shamu was born last month. That is the 9th Killer Whale born at Sea World -Orlando over the past 15 years. As your official DW Blog Man, I just wanted to give everyone the run-down on upcoming events, so get down to Orlando, Florida and experience the magic with your friends and family today!

International Drive - Orlando

When coming down to Orlando, Florida on your vacation, there is one place that literally has something for everyone - International Drive. International Drive, or "I-Drive" is the home to over 100 restaurants, attractions, discount shops, and the location of Sea World and Wet N Wild water park. A stroll down International Drive can land you at Ripley's Believe It or Not, Wonder Works, Pirates Dinner Adventure, an Indoor Skydiving pavilion, a multitude of mini-golf courses, helicopter tours, and much more. I-Drive is the place to go if you are visiting this beautiful city and want to see a lot of attractions on foot. All you have to do is get out of the hotel room and start walking on International Drive, and you are sure to stumble upon something worthwhile. From bowling alleys to skate parks to hundreds of designer outlet stores, International Drive is a must-see tourist destination in Orlando. A handful of dinner shows are there such as Pirates Dinner Adventure, the Makahiki Luau show, Sleuth's Mystery Theater and much more. If you are a fan of miniature golf, there is Pirate's Cove Mini-Golf, Congo River Golf, and Hawaiian Rumble Mini Golf. You should see the waterfalls and great putting surfaces at these places - all very exotic and fun for your entire family! Next time you come to Orlando, make sure to take a trip along I-Drive and see everything that is Orlando, Florida. Have a great weekend, and Happy Easter!

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

The Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort has forever been known as "The Happiest Place on Earth". Another big weekend is among us in America's # 1 attraction destination - Orlando, FL. We are heading into April, and the mercury is climbing on the thermomater as Spring has finally arrived. Walt Disney World is as popular as ever, with 4 amazing parks headed by Magic Kingdom and Epcot, as well as 2 refreshing water parks in Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Everything down here is peaking, and thousands of people are coming to Florida everyday to experience the magic of Walt Disney World. Today I wanted to write about my favorite park - Disney's Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is the original theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort, and after 30 years - still going strong. There is nothing like getting off the monorail, walking through Magic Kingdom's main gates, and seeing Cinderella's Castle from afar.

As you walk down Mainstreet USA at Magic Kingdom, you can smell the popcorn and freshly-baked cookies from the MainStreet Bakery, and cotton candy and soda from the charming sidewalk shoppes. Once you pass through the main corridor, you walk under Cinderella's Castle and on to Fantasyland. My favorite rides are Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. The Haunted Mansion has always remained a timeless classic, as has the Hall of Presidents, which just added Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton to the mix. From the daily mid-afternoon parades to the firework shows at night, Disney's Magic Kingdom is simply amazing from your first step off the train. Seeing the look on kids faces when Mickey Mouse, Winnie The Pooh, and Snow White pose with them for pictures is priceless. No wonder Disney World is the happiest place on earth - you never want to leave. Have a good weekend everyone, and I hope to see you out there at the parks.