Go Green! Celebrate Earth Day in Style!

WDWNT on April 21, 2009

This Earth Day, celebrate in style, Disney style that is. The Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Resort are pleased to offer an array of environmentally friendly merchandise offerings including tee’s, accessories, bags, plush, stationary and more.

One of our most popular items includes the Every Tree Has Character – Reusable Bag. Choose to Re-Use! Be sure to stop in and pick up one of our Every Tree Has Character Reusable Bags for only $2.95, plus tax. The bags will be available at select locations throughout the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resorts as well as World of Disney® Store New York. Regardless of your purchase of the “Every Tree Has Character” bag, Disney has made a contribution to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund helping wildlife and wild places around the globe.

About the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund:
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund* (DWCF) helps to protect and study some of the world’s most endangered plants, animals and habitats. To date the DWCF has contributed more than $12 million to non-profit conservation and animal welfare organizations supporting projects in 110 countries. To learn more about this effort for wildlife, wild places and the people link to their survival, please visit www.disneyconservation.com. *The DWCF is a Disney initiative to support conservation and animal welfare and is not a US 501(C)(3) public charity.

Find all of these items and more at locations throughout Disney Parks & Resorts:

Disneyland® Resort locations include Emporium, Greetings from California, Disney Vault 28 and World of Disney® Store, among others.

Walt Disney World® Resort locations include Emporium, Mickey’s of Hollywood, Island Mercantile, Tren-D, and World of Disney® Store in Downtown Disney® as well as New York

In honor of Earth Day our teams have worked hard to use recycled and re-usable items to enhance the displays in our locations. Below are a few images of some of the newest displays and fun facts regarding the recycled items.

Downtown Disney® District – World of Disney® Store:

  • The trunk and branches of the tree are made mostly using copper tubing, reclaimed from various places around the Resort. The leaves are created by using 51 Disneylandˊ maps and 51 Annual Passport brochures with 40′ of detonation wire from the nightly presentation of “Remember… Dreams Come True” Fireworks Spectacular. Hidden in the limbs of the tree include a piece of electrical channel from one of the attractions in Fantasyland, one brass heat lamp from a New Orleans Square restaurant, one .25″ slice of the track from the Disneylandˊ steam trains track, one horseshoe from Circle D, 6″ of twisted brass tubing from one of the carousel horses at King Arthur Carrousel, one gas pump nozzle from Transportation Services, three water valves, 18″ of brass chain from various queue lines, two circular saw blades from the Mill Shop, two decorative finial caps from fencing found in New Orleans Square, six iron rosettes from fencing found at “it’s a small world”, two roller coaster gears from California Screamin’, a brass coffee machine filter from a New Orleans Square restaurant and fifteen various pipes and elbow joints from Resort plumbing and irrigation.
  • The globe is a re-purposed clear acrylic dome, that was once used as a small scale sample of the large castle snow globes which are currently displayed in the World of Disney® Store & Emporium. Acrylic paint was sponged on the inside, 1.5 lbs of sawdust was utilized from our Disneyland® Resort Mill Shop and 3.5 lbs of shredded Disney Photopass cards were used to create the continents.
  • The back pads were made of the following: 54 square feet of recycled packaging paper, six square feet of giami paper, 2 Mickey head-shaped logos painted in watercolor on 4′ of recycled cardboard and “Love the Land” letters which were cut out of recycled cardboard and painted with acrylic paint.
  • The Disneynature Earth posters were printed with uv cured ink.

Disney Vault 28

  • The Men’s shirt is made of 132 Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse main entrance passports and is held together by 798 aluminum chain links. The sandals are of 14 main entrance passports, 8 layers of corrugated cardboard and 14″ of computer ribbon.
  • Our ladies dress has been created from 122 main entrance passports and is held together with 3′ of detonation wire from the Disneyland® Resort fireworks show. The purse was created from 24 main entrance passports and the unique flower attached on the purse was created from 10 picnic Disney Photopass cards. The sandals were made from 12 main entrance passports, 8 layers of corrugated cardboard and 14″ of computer ribbon.
  • The Disney Nature Earth posters were printed with soy based ink.
  • Display Glass Risers were created from pounds of recycled crushed glass from the bottom of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction.

Disney’s California Adventure® park – Greetings From California

  • The back pads were made of the following: 44 square feet of recycled packaging paper, 4 square feet of giami paper, 1 Mickey Mouse head-shaped logo painted in watercolor on 2′ of recycled cardboard and “Love the Land” letters which were cut out of recycled cardboard and painted with acrylic paint.
  • Several recycled items were also used to make the geometric shaped risers including 12 linear feet of cardboard tubing, 18 square feet of scrap plywood and masonite, 8 Disneyland® Resort Annual Passport brochures, 42 Disneyland® Resort Main Entrance tickets, 27 square feet of linoleum tiles from backstage areas, 6 reclaimed drywall screws.
  • In addition, the Disneynature Earth posters were printed with uv cured ink.

Disneyland® park – Adventureland Bazaar

  • Adventureland Bazaar also has received a tree made up of materials similar in nature to that of World of Disney, with the following exceptions, 50′ of copper tubing from Disneyland Resort kitchen facilities, 3 impellers from water pumps around the Disneyland Resort, Prop horn from Disneyland New Orleans Christmas decor, Fire system heads from Disneyland Resort backstage areas, 1 iron flower from the Tinker Bell arbor at the World of Disney, two iron leaves, from area railing, found in New Orleans Square, bullet casings from the Jungle Cruise, a propeller from the Jungle Cruise attraction and a pressure gauge from the weld shop. The leaves on the tree are made from 750 Pirates of the Caribbean bookmarks held together by 40′ of detonation wire from the Disneyland Resort fireworks show.

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival Fun Facts

WDWNT on April 20, 2009

Tantalizing taste buds with authentic, international flavors, Disneyland Resort celebrates its fourth annual Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, with a six-week “World Celebration” featuring celebrity chefs, signature and complimentary experiences and winemaker dinners with themes from around the globe.

Southern California Restaurant Writers recently awarded Disneyland Resort 15 new awards for its restaurants and chefs – just in time as it prepares to launch the 2009 Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival.

NEW in 2009

Where can you find “Bad Boy” of the Food Network, Guy Fieri, along with celebrity chefs and nearly 100 Disneyland Resort chefs?

  • Whipping up cooking demonstrations for guests to discover new twists on timeless classics, daily at Disney’s California Adventure.

Passport handy?

  • Embark on a Festival Wine Walk and get the flavor of France, Italy, Spain and Germany, or experience the California wine country featuring 89 American Viticulture Areas – without ever leaving the Food & Wine Festival!

Celebrities on your mind?

  • Go Behind the Scenes with…stars of the Food Network!  Trade kitchen secrets, ask culinary questions and capture a photo. Curious about becoming a winemaker? Meet baseball legend, Tommy Lasorda (Lasorda Wines) and get “direction” from the guru of Pixar films John Lasseter, along with his wife Nancy (Lasseter Family Winery).

Who’s the SWEETEST of them all?

  • Learn the magic of creating a pastry masterpiece from the highly-skilled chefs of Sweet Cheeks Baking Co., San Diego, and Cake Monkey Bakery, Los Angeles, during Sweet Sundays.

Dream of becoming a MASTER Wine Connoisseur?

  • Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, of the award winning Napa Rose restaurant hosts a six-hour Advanced Wine Course featuring an in-depth look at international wine regions, various growing and harvesting techniques, wine laws and governance – a perfect recipe for wine expertise. Or, try his introductory course for another immersive experience.

It’s a Whole New World…

  • Experience an exciting menu every week during World Celebrations Dinners – featuring the aromas and flavors of Italy, Spain, France, Korea and Japan as well as the wines of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite).

For additional information, please visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

WDWCelebrations Releases Details on Studio’s 20th Anniversary

WDWNT on April 20, 2009

Our good friends over at WDWCelebrations have put out a press release that includes details on the official activities Disney will be doing to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 1, 2009:

WDWCelebrations Studio 20 Commemorative Event Final Schedule Released; Official Disney Events Include Special Sessions with Walt Disney Imagineering

Orlando, FL , April 19th, 2009 —

WDWCelebrations is pleased to announce the release of the final schedule for our Studio 20 Commemorative Event, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.  Two major additions to the event schedule feature official Disney activities marking the anniversary.

On Friday May 1, 2009, the date of the anniversary, the park will open at 8:00 am with a special rope drop ceremony welcoming guests into the park to kick off the celebration.  In addition, two special sessions to commemorate the anniversary will take place in the Premiere Theater, one at 9:00 am and another at 10:45 am.  These sessions will feature Imagineers from Walt Disney Imagineering who were fundamental in the development of the park and will share their insights on the creation of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™.  Currently scheduled to appear are Bob Weis (Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering), Tom Fitzgerald (Executive Vice President, Senior Creative Executive; WDI), and Eric Jacobson (Senior Vice President, Creative Development; WDI).  Each session will last approximately one hour.  This exclusive information was communicated to the WDWCelebrations Core Team by the management of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ in a recent meeting regarding the park’s 20th anniversary celebration.  This information was approved for release by Disney.

Adam Roth, Co-Founder of WDWCelebrations, explains, “We are very excited about these new developments surrounding the celebration of the anniversary, and are very appreciative of the management of Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ for sharing it with us.  As such, we decided to extend our registration period in order to accommodate any additional guests who wish to join WDWCelebrations at our Studio 20 event.”  The registration deadline for Studio 20 has been extended to Saturday, April 25, 2009.

About WDWCelebrations, L. L. C.
WDWCelebrations, L. L. C. is a Florida-based organization created by Disney fans, dedicated to “celebrating the magic of the past, present, and future, together.”  WDWCelebrations was founded by the organizers of Celebration 25, which commemorated the 25th anniversary of Epcot in 2007.  WDWCelebrations Commemorative Events are designed to celebrate milestones in Disney park history.  For more information about WDWCelebrations and its events can be found at http://www.wdwcelebrations.com.

In addition:

Anniversary merchandise will be available, and Starring Rolls will be selling special anniversary cupcakes.  Many of the restaurants will feature menu items from opening day.

If you are planning at being at the Studios on May 1 or 2, 2009, be sure to register to be a part of history and WDWCelebrations’ Studio 20 commemorative event by visiting WDWCelebrations.com.

Food and Wine In The Sun For Everyone!

WDWNT on April 18, 2009

Disney has released the daily schedule for the whole of this year’s California Food and Wine Weekends. The schedules are available to view in separate pdf files at this link. There is also a new Festival map this year which shows off a few changes to the event, including the moving of the Festival Welcome Center and Festival Gift Shop, a new seminar stage in Sunshine Plaza, and the brief return of the popular Vineyard Room restaurant:

For a bigger version of this map, just click on the image.

Mickey Gets a Facelift

WDWNT on April 18, 2009

According to D23:

Opening early May, Mickey’s Fun Wheel (previously known as the Sun Wheel) is the 150-foot-diameter Ferris wheel inspired by Coney Island’s famous “Wonder Wheel.” Located on the Paradise Pier boardwalk, Mickey’s Fun Wheel sits high above the water’s edge and is dominated by the smiling face of its namesake, Mickey Mouse. Though the attraction itself has not changed (Guests can still choose between boarding a standard or swinging gondola), the gondolas present colorful images of the Fab Five: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald and Pluto. At the entrance to the queue, Guests are now greeted by a smaller version of the image on the wheel.

Video Inside The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

WDWNT on April 17, 2009

Disneyland has released a short video looking at the boutique portion of the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique which opened today (the video is available in high definition by clicking the HD button on the bottom of the video window):

Big Thrills Coming To… Innoventions?

WDWNT on April 17, 2009

The good people at Orlando Attractions Magazine have reported that a KUKA robotic arm ride will be an aspect of the upcoming Raytheon exhibit coming to Innoventions at Epcot this Fall:

As revealed to Disney cast members via their online web portal called the Hub, Walt Disney Imagineering is working with Raytheon to develop a new motion simulator attraction for Innoventions at Epcot.

The attraction is called “The Sum of All Thrills” and will allow guests to design a roller coaster, jet plane, or bobsled ride using real-life physics and engineering and then ride it within a robot arm-based simulator.

The exhibit is being described as feeling “like a high-tech laboratory” and is said to try to emphasize to guests “that math can be cool.”

In customizing the ride as part of the experience, guests will use a multi-touch surface table which can sense human interactions and objects placed upon it. Similar technology is currently being used inside the House of Innoventions at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.

Once the ride is customized it can be ridden by guests in a simulator on the end of a KUKA robotic arm, created by German-based KUKA Roboter GmbH. The robot arm is similar to the one currently being used to control the menacing angler fish in Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction, though it is the first time a robotic ar is being used as the ride system in a Disney theme park.

np_robocoaster_01jpg

The arm pictured here dates back to 2002, as created by the KUKA Robot Group. It is expected that the Disney version of this ride will be a fully enclosed simulator, similar to Cyber Space Mountain in DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney, but with many more possible degrees of movement as a result of being attached to the KUKA arm.

In addition to the experience at Epcot, Raytheon will be supporting another 2009 initiative at the Walt Disney World Resort – the 2009 Raytheon MathCounts National Competition. Taking place May 7 to 10, 2009, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, the competition is the culmination of an enrichment and coaching program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement in every U.S. state and territory. Raytheon is the title sponsor of the MathCounts National Competition for the next three years, through 2011.

The new Innoventions exhibit is scheduled to open in late 2009.

Myrna Litt’s 4/15/09 Photo Report

WDWNT on April 17, 2009

It is once again time for a photo report from our very own Myrna Litt, as she takes a look at the latest progress over at Disney’s California Adventure (with a brief stop at Disneyland):

Monorail Orange making the rounds.

The Mickey Mouse face is now up on Mickey’s Fun Wheel, and it looks just swell!

Look at that, Walt and Mickey.

The sunburst awaits its new lighting effects.

A close-up of the Mickey face.

Read More about Myrna Litt’s 4/15/09 Photo Report

Magical Makeovers Reign As Young Princesses (and Knights) Get The Royal Treatment

WDWNT on April 17, 2009

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Beginning April 17, aspiring young princesses (and knights) will be treated to the full fairy-tale treatment at the Disneyland Resort as they celebrate a pixie-dusted makeover at the all-new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, located in the Sleeping Beauty Castle Courtyard.

WHAT: When young girls make their royal entrance at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, they will be greeted by their very own Fairy Godmother-in-training, who magically transforms them into the princesses of their dreams. All cares are left at the door as the Fairy Godmother-in-training takes care of everything — from hair and makeup to accessories fit for royalty. There’s a special experience for knights-in-training, too. After their transformation, princesses and knights will enjoy an enchanted day at the Disneyland Resort.

PACKAGES FOR PRINCESSES: Girls can choose from three different hair styles – Fairytale Princess, Disney Diva or Pop Princess – in three magical makeover packages:

  • Coach Package: includes hairstyle, shimmering make-up, princess sash, princess bag and body jewels ($44.95, plus tax).
  • Crown Package: includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess bag, body jewels and nail polish ($49.95, plus tax).
  • Castle Package: includes hairstyle, shimmering makeup, princess sash, princess bag, body jewels, nail polish, choice of princess costume complete with wand and shoes, as well as portrait package courtesy of Disney’s PhotoPass Service. Girls receiving the Castle Package can choose to be dressed as Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Tinkerbell or Ariel as a bride (starting at $195.85 plus tax).

FOR YOUNG KNIGHTS: Also available at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a magical experience for boys that transforms them into gallant young knights. The “Knight” look includes a hairstyle fit for daring adventure, a Prince Philip shield and a sword for fun and heroism ($12.95 plus tax).

AGE REQUIREMENT: Three years and older; must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older.

LOCATION AND HOURS: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is located next to Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park. Operating hours vary with Park hours and theme park admission is required.

RESERVE A ROYAL TIME: Advance reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 714-781-STYLE. For details, go to www.ArtofDisneyParks.com or www.Disneyland.com/style.

FOR TWEENS: Coming this summer, Studio Disney 365 in Downtown Disney will bring out the inner rock star in tweens and transform them into glamourous celebrities — just like some of their favorite Disnsey Channel stars. The star treatment may also include a photo session with the “paparazzi” or a freestyle dance moment with the other new “stars.”

Walt Disney World Resort in New York? It Almost Happened

WDWNT on April 16, 2009

The Staten Island Notebook has put out a fantastic article by Chuck Schmidt explaining how the upcoming opening of the Doorway to Dreams Disney Vacation Club sales shop in the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island is not the first connection between the Empire State and the Disney Parks:

Want to get a first-hand peak at what the accommodations look like at a typical Disney Vacation Club resort without traveling more than a thousand miles south?

Later this year, the Disney Vacation Club will open Disney’s Doorway to Dreams in the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City, L.I. The idea is to help prospective DVC members learn about membership in a relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere.

A full-scale, two-bedroom model of vacation home accommodations will be featured. Also included in the experience will be an interactive family vacation discovery zone, a comfortable discussion area where you can chat with DVC reps and a supervised children’s play area.

This isn’t the first time Disney has had a presence on Long Island. In fact, you might be stunned to learn that when the Disney folks were searching for potential sites for an “East Coast Disneyland” in the 1960s, Flushing Meadows in Queens — the same site where the two New York World’s Fairs were held — was being seriously considered.

First, a little history lesson. In the mid-1950s, Walt Disney gambled everything — including his own house — that Disneyland, the world’s first theme park, would be a success. He was right. The Anaheim, Calif.-based park captured America’s imagination and, naturally, led Disney to think about creating a sequel — a second Disneyland somewhere on the East Coast. But there were fears among many of the Disney hierarchy that Disneyland’s West Coast brand of entertainment might not fly east of the Mississippi.

The failure of Freedomland, a Disney-style theme park in the Bronx which opened to much acclaim 1960 before closing in financial ruin in 1964, only fueled that uncertainty. An astute Walt Disney saw the New York World’s Fair, which ran from 1964 through 1965, as an opportunity to gauge the area’s acceptance of his product, as well as to introduce new technology his Imagineers had been working on in California.

The Flushing Meadows site “was seriously considered as a possible setting for Walt Disney World,” Charles Ridgway, former WDW press and publicity director, told us in 1994. There were many things in the site’s favor, including a large population base and two nearby airports (LaGuardia and Idlewild, now JFK).

Think about it: Had those plans to place WDW on Long Island come to fruition, Staten Islanders would have had about a one-hour drive to get to the Vacation Kingdom of the World.

Ultimately, the specter of cold and snowy winter weather and the high price of acquiring enough land for the project (remember, WDW is twice the size of Manhattan and any open land on Long Island is prime real estate) shelved the idea, according to Ridgway. A sleepy, swamp-filled, mosquito-infested tract of land 15 miles south of Orlando, Fla., proved to be the perfect setting.

Disney also used the World’s Fair to test out his ground-breaking form of entertainment — life-like robots, controlled by pre-programmed computers, soon to be dubbed Audio-Animatronics. There were four Disney-created shows at the fair featuring the new technology — It’s a Small World at the Pepsi-Cola Pavilion, the General Electric Carousel of Progress, Ford Motor Company’s Magic Skyway and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln in the Illinois State Pavilion.

Not surprisingly, they were among the fair’s most popular shows. When the fair closed, all four attractions were packed up and shipped west, where they took up residence at Disneyland; they were subsequently replicated, in one form or another, in Walt Disney World when it opened in 1971.

It’s a Small World remains a mainstay at both parks, while the Carousel of Progress is closed at Disneyland and has been relegated to a seasonal attraction at WDW. The Grand Canyon/Primeval World segments of the Magic Skyway can be seen during the train ride at Disneyland, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln evolved into the more elaborate Hall of Presidents in Florida.

For more information about the DVC and the new Doorway to Dreams, visit www.disneyvacationclub.com.

The article hits home for me personally, as the land once inhabited by Freedomland park in the Bronx is a mere 5 minutes away from my house. The old World’s Fair grounds in Flushing Meadows are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from where I live as well. This has always given me a rare treat, as I can always get a good look at the Unisphere and what remains of the fair every time I’m traveling to the Laguardia or JFK airports for a flight down to Orlando.

This article is also very timely as we are just a few days away from the 45th anniversary of the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. To celebrate this anniversary and the anniversary of the legendary Disney attractions of the fair, (including Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, the Ford Magic Skyway, and It’s a Small World) episode #90 of the WDW News Today Podcast and episode #60 of the Disneyland News Today Podcast will be presented as a single program dedicated as a tribute to these major milestones. For the first time ever, we will be bringing together the podcast teams from both shows for a formal episode containing some of our most popular segments such as “What Were They Thinking?!?” and “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” (as well as a few special surprises). We hope you will join us this Sunday for what will be a very meaningful edition of the program.