The Tomorrowland Transit Authority is a “Walk-On”

WDWNT on November 27, 2009

Have you ever wondered what happens when the TTA in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom breaks down and has to be evacuated? We have often wondered the same thing. WDWNT’s own Matt Paul and Tom Corless were lucky enough to get evacuated from the ride on Monday afternoon and have a video of the experience to share:

Note: We do not condone jumping over ride tracks during an evacuation, it is best to actually listen to the ride operators.

Chuck Canzoneri and the Frog Part 2 – Report From D23 “Princess and the Frog” Event

WDWNT on November 26, 2009

Our own Chuck Canzoneri was lucky enough to attend the D23 Night at “The Princess and the Frog” last night at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, and he reports back to us with this photo report:

They event set up special themed signage for the event. With that, you know it’s going to be good…

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The Happiest Turkeys on Earth

WDWNT on November 25, 2009

According to D23:

“Courage,” the National Thanksgiving Turkey, received his presidential pardon from President Barack Obama today at the White House’s Rose Garden. “Now, today I’m pleased to announce that, thanks to the interventions of Malia and Sasha — because I was planning to eat this sucker! — Courage will be spared this terrible and delicious fate,” the president laughed during the ceremony. “Later today, he’ll head to Disneyland, where he’ll be grand marshal of tomorrow’s parade. And just in case Courage can’t fulfil his responsibilities, Walter [National Turkey Federation Chairman Walter Pelletier] brought along another turkey, Carolina, as an alternate, the stand-in.”

After receiving his presidential pardon from President Barack Obama today, Courage — and Carolina — will be transferred to Dulles International Airport. Then they will “fly” on United Airlines Flight “Turkey-1” to their new home at Disneyland Resort in Southern California.

The trip from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles will mark the fifth consecutive year that the National Thanksgiving Turkey has celebrated his pardon at a Disney resort. Accompanied by Pelletier, of Butterball LLC, Courage, a 20-week-old, 45-pound tom turkey, will be the honorary grand marshal in the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” Thanksgiving parade down Main Street, U.S.A. Following Thursday’s parade, Courage and Carolina will find a home at Santa’s Reindeer Round-Up at Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland, where they’ll remain throughout the holidays and the rest of their lives.

Joining Courage and Carolina in the Disneyland Park parade on Thanksgiving Day will be 200 volunteers who, as part of National Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, Nov. 21, packed 20,000 boxes of food for Thanksgiving for those in need. Marching behind a Thanksgiving banner, the volunteers are being celebrated for their spirit of community service, the focus of Disney Parks’ “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program in 2010. Disney Parks hopes to inspire 1 million people to perform a day of volunteer service for a participating organization by giving them a free one-day admission ticket to a Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort theme park.

“It is a tremendous honor to represent the turkey industry at the White House and to continue this 62-year-old tradition,” said Pelletier. “Like all Americans, the men and women of our industry faced a very challenging year economically, so it will be gratifying to be at the National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation and then participate in Disney’s Thanksgiving event to reflect on the true meaning of Thanksgiving and the holiday season.” Added Captain Bob Hart of United Turkey-1: “Flying from coast to coast is a 2,288-mile journey and would be exhausting for a turkey. United is going to make sure that this flight is the most enjoyable and smooth cross-country journey these birds will ever take and a memorable experience for all customers onboard.”

U.S. President Harry S Truman was the first commander-in-chief to be presented with a Thanksgiving turkey (in 1947) by the National Turkey Federation. This year’s presentation marks the 62nd anniversary of a tradition that has continued through 11 successive White House administrations. The 2009 National Thanksgiving Turkey was raised under Chairman Pelletier’s supervision on a farm in Goldsboro, N.C.

UPDATE: Here’s a video from the Disney Parks Blog showing President Obama pardoning Courage and Carolina at the White House, as well the two turkeys boarding Turkey-1:

They’re Not Shoes, They’re Sandals

WDWNT on November 20, 2009

According to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

The sign says “They’re Not Shoes, They’re Sandals.” No matter what you call them, footwear will be for sale at a new store coming to Downtown Disney.

Sanuk, an Irvine-based footwear company, is scheduled to open a temporary location on Friday, said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman. The casual store is scheduled to close in mid January.

Sanuk makes mostly flip-flops, canvas slip-on shoes and boots. It also makes something called “Tube Flops” — a combination of a flip-flop and an open-toed, knee-high socks.

The store will sit between LittleMissMatched and Ridemakerz. After it closes, Ridemakerz plans to close temporarily, expand and take over the space.

According to the company’s Web site, there are no Orange County dealers listed on the company’s Web site.

The company was founded in 1997 by Southern California native Jeff Kelley and was honored with the SIMA 2007 Footwear Product of the Year. The products are sold in more than 50 countries and are worn by singer Donovan Frankenreiter and rock-climber Chris Sharma, according to the Web site.

Sanuk is the Thai word for fun.