Cars Land Opening Day Commercial
A new commercial advertising the opening of Cars Land with all the Cars Characters. Its a fun watch…
Field Trip! Nerds go to Epcot
It’s Summer vacation for most kids out there, but the Disney Nerds can’t get enough of school. So they have been sent off to summer camp to keep on learning. Last week, they took advantage of the beautiful Florida sunshine with a field trip to Epcot. Math, Science, Art and History are all at your finger tips at this Walt Disney World park.
The class is on their way to the park entrance.
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Chip ‘n Dale don’t need too much help in this area, but they picked up some tips on how they can better live with the land.
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They took in the sights and sounds of nature.
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Donald was amazed at the physics of an up side down waterfall.
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Daisy was also drawn to water, but she wanted to learn about The Living Seas.
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No goofing around here… lets learn about speed!
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Double bonus! Not only is Pluto a Bill Nye fan, but he also loves energy!
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This is one thing they do not teach you in class… but Figment is an expert in Imagination.
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Stitch isn’t looking to escape… he’s just on a mission to learn more about the galaxy.
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Is an Imagineering degree in the works? Mickey discovers that this shape is everywhere in nature. (at least here at Walt Disney World.)
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Always excited about culture, Minnie explores the World Showcase.
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Only the nerdiest of Nerds would be interested in the survey marker found in the parking lot.
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A “What if” experiment went wrong and Nerd Mickey was super sized!
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Speaking of experiments… Stitch is in awe of the Mickey Spaceman statue…
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…so he poses for one of his own.
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Nerd Figment went home with a bunch of cool souvenirs.
Guests Can “Glow With Show” With New Interactive Ear Hats
From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:
tarting June 15, Disney California Adventurepark guests will have the chance to light up the night when Glow with the Show Ears become available for purchase at select locations throughout the park.
For more than 55 years, the classic, black Mickey Mouse ear hat has been a Disney Parks guest favorite. In 2005, those ears got a golden touch to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland park, and there have been more than 200 different ear hats including limited-edition and novelty ear hats. Now, using the latest interactive technology, our newest ear hats will quite literally let you “Glow with the Show.” Watch as the iridescent ears change to complement and harmonize with what’s happening around you, allowing you to become a part of the magic of our nighttime spectaculars, such as “World of Color” and Mad T Party. But that’s not all – there are lots of surprises in store when you visit Disney California Adventure park with Glow with the Show Ears, so I’ll let you discover them for yourself!
Here’s a peek at what the new Glow with the Show Ears will look like:
“Glow with the Show now lets our guests become part of the color of our magical ‘World of Color’ at the Paradise Bay lagoon,” describes Steve Davison, Creative Entertainment Vice President of Parades & Spectaculars. “Throughout the show, the Glow with the Show Ears become a set of pixels that dance and play along with each sequence in ‘World of Color’ in a bright and dynamic way. For example, during the show, guests become part of the ocean with the Little Mermaid, a shining galaxy of stars for WALL-E and Eve, an extension of the Genie’s magic in ‘Friend Like Me,’ among other interactive explosions of color throughout the entire show. It truly brings the show’s environment out of the lagoon and into the audience in an amazing and dazzling new way!” Are you planning to “Glow with the Show” on your next visit to Disney California Adventure park?
This is an interesting concept that has actually been tried before with The Magical Moments promotion in Florida. Guests could buy pins that would light up when you walked past certain buildings in the parks, watched parades, or even went in to certain attractions.For example, on Tower of Terror in the hallway scene, when the walls turned into a star field, your pin would light up as well.
Opportunity to Experience Animal Kingdom with Jane Goodall
There is a pretty interesting experience being made available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom around the park’s 14th anniversary for those with a little expendable income:
The 2012 Walt Disney World Safari VIP Weekend
A VIP Family Weekend at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
April 20, 2012 – April 22, 2012
While many people dream of going to Africa to live like renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, most of us just don’t have the time to pack up and fly around the world, particularly those of us with children. The Jane Goodall Institute, together with our longtime friends at Walt Disney World, would like to offer you and your family the next best thing: An Exclusive VIP Weekend at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge® featuring the chance to spend time with Jane.
Trip Highlights
- Relax around a campfire and swap stories with Jane while enjoying hot chocolate and s’mores;
- View the wildlife right outside the window of your savannah view room in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®;
- Get an up-close and behind-the-scenes view of majestic animals on Disney’s special Backstage Safari Tour;
- Enjoy breakfast with Jane and some of Disney’s famous characters at Backstage Prop Shop in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®;
- Explore all of Disney’s Orlando theme parks with your Park Hopper® passes and much more!
The tickets for this three day, two night adventure include all scheduled events, two nights in a savannah view room in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®, select meals, unlimited three-day admission to all Disney theme parks, a Disney Dining Card, and transportation to and from the Orlando airport as well as all of the Disney parks.
The trip costs $5,000 per person for members of Jane’s Peak Society (JGI’s $1,000+ giving circle) and $6,000 per person for new members. A significant portion of this payment is a tax-deductible donation to support JGI’s programs. For more information please contact John Davison, Major Gifts Coordinator, at jDavison@janegoodall.org or (703) 682-9281.
Robert Ashburn’s 1/24/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
WDWNT Reporter Robert Ashburn visited the Magic Kingdom on Tuesday and has a number of newsworthy photos to share with us, including Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom play-testing and Grand Floridian DVC wing construction, so let’s take a look:
Work continues on the Main Street Bakery facade
Is this crane for Fantasyland construction? No…
They are fixing a few small things on the Castle
Nice to see maintenance being done after such a short period of time
That is one tall crane
Work continues on the Main Street bridge
Renovations continue inside Plaza Ice Cream
Main Street characters out and about
The Chapeau and some of the Confectionary behind tarps
It is a strange look down Main Street these days
Package Pick-Up/Chamber of Commerce also behind tarps
Time to take a look at the progress on the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment
Almost every roof is being replaced
Painting the mountain
They sure are friendly!
Some scrims are up to block some of the view
Still plenty to see though
Tumbleweed is practically being rebuilt, as are the lift hills
Another roof being replaced
Workers still up on the Castle
No, it can’t be…
EVERYONE RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!
The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom windows on Main Street have all been installed
Sorcerers play-tests every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday currently
A window under the Train Station
I warned you that more and more Disney Store merchandise is invading the parks…
Many windows now have a permanant floor marking
A look at Robert’s cards
Now let’s take a quick look at the construiction progress on the Grand Floridian Disney Vacation Club wing
Nothing to see here yet…
Disney Reveals Dining Options for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:
“Better-for-you” options at five mini shops serving breakfast, lunch and dinner is the overarching theme of the new Landscape of Flavors food court still being tweaked for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, opening in May. The new restaurant will be adjacent to the lobby.
“The idea is that you customize your choice,” says Chef Ed Wronski, Director, Food & Beverage Concept Development, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “From burgers to pasta, salads, ethnic flavors, omelets, even parfaits and gelatos, everything is made fresh as you order.”
There’s a big focus on beverages, too. Fresh fruit smoothies are made to order, ditto for lemonade and pomegranate limeade. They’re stocking organic teas, beer (including gluten free), wine, coffee and juices. You can get a plain cup of coffee or a French vanilla or mocha iced. And half bottles of wine are paired with cuisine from the food shops.
We got a sneak peek at the menu, and here are some of the highlights:
- The Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop lets you create your own salad (with beef or chicken) and offers a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on focaccia, or a Buffalo-style turkey sandwich with arugula and a blue cheese-Buffalo sauce-mayo spread. Both are served with delish house-made potato chips.
- The World Flavors Shop adds Indian-African flair to breakfast, too, with scrambled eggs, tandoor potatoes, Portuguese sausage, slab bacon and a mini-naan; or a veggie flatbread sandwich on naan with cauliflower, spinach and paneer. Lunch and dinner is a choice of tandoori chicken or shrimp, Mongolian beef with vegetables, mahi mahi, Portuguese sausage or roasted acorn squash served with sides and naan bread.
- The Pizza Shop features make-your-own pasta, cheese and pepperoni pizzas and meatballs on ciabatta bread. Room delivery is an option, too.
- The Burger Shop includes a breakfast burger with chicken breakfast sausage, cheese and scrambled eggs on a multi-grain bun, and a steak-and-eggs breakfast burger with a burger topped with fried eggs, cheese and bacon. Besides the traditional burgers, lunch and dinner includes a surf and turf burger with crab cake and fried popcorn shrimp, and a pastrami cheeseburger topped with pepper jack cheese and a slice of fried green tomato.
- The “grab ‘n go” Market Shop offers drinks, yogurt, bagels, pastries, gourmet cupcakes, cookies and gelato.
The food court will be part of the Disney Dining Plan, details to follow.
Disney Gives First Look at Innoventions’ Habit Heroes
From Jennifer Fickley-Baker on the Disney Parks Blog:
A new interactive exhibit, Habit Heroes presented by Florida Blue and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, debuted at Innoventions at Epcot today.
This new experience encourages children of all ages to learn healthy lifestyle habits and become more active. Guests can join forces with Habit Heroes Will Power and Callie Stenics to fight off villains like Sweet Tooth and The Snacker.
Two Habit Heroes even made a special in-person appearance today for the kick-off of the exhibit.
Can’t make it to Epcot? Kids can visit www.HabitHeroes.com to create their own avatar and learn how to fight bad habits.
Crowds in “Awwww” of New “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” Romance Segment
Get your Kleenex ready, because we have two videos with two very different angles of the new romance segment in “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” at the Magic Kingdom. The new portion will run until April 15th when the new Summer segment is expected to debut. Enjoy:
New Pictures and Press Release Offer a Look Inside Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — To kick off the summer vacation season, Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors to its newest resort hotel with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a value property consisting primarily of family suites that immerse guests into the magical worlds of classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.
Opening in phases, each of the four wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by each beloved film depicted. Three family suite wings will showcase Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King, with elaborate storytelling both inside and out. Standard guest rooms make up The Little Mermaid wing, the final phase to open.
The three-story resort will immediately put guests into the worlds of favorite Disney characters and animated films beginning at check-in as pixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of color decorate the resort’s exterior. Pencil drawings of Ariel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba adorn the entryway, and a cleverly created chandelier composed of animation storyboards enhance the lively and modern lobby.
“Our goal is to make guests feel like they have been immersed in the artistry and enchantment of Walt Disney and Disney•Pixar animated classics,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Paris.
Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed. Scenic settings, icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation. At the Cars wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas. It’s a journey through an African landscape in The Lion King complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matatatime. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under the sea kingdom in Little Mermaid courtyard.
From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all details of the guestroom tie to the storyline. In Finding Nemo, there’s coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights; Zazu takes center stage on the headboards in The Lion King, while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain.
Kids of all ages can make a splash at the “Big Blue” pool, the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney World Resort measuring 11,859 square feet. Guests enter scenes from the animated world and can explore the colorful reef with a giant-sized Mr. Ray whose wings span 27 feet, pose for a picture with Crush or frolic with Squirt in the Righteous Reef, a children’s play area. An arcade and two additional pools round out the fun.
Dining options include a poolside snack bar and pizza delivery. The Landscape of Flavors food court will feature items such as fresh smoothies, hand-scooped gelato and Mongolian barbecue. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The whimsical property, situated adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, will open in phases beginning in late May 2012 with rates from $248 per night. The 1,120 family suites include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six. Some 864 standard rooms sleep up to four. Rates as low as $94 include complimentary transportation, Extra Magic Hours and other benefits available to a Disney Resort guest.
One Last Pre-Packaged Look at Buena Vista Street & Radiator Springs Racers
Before the all-out media blitz begins, including right here at Disneyland News Today, we have two new press videos to share with you. The first is a short look around Buena Vista Street:
Next, here is an up-close look at the incredible audio-animatronic cast of Radiator Springs Racers:
With those out of the way, we hope to see you at DisneylandNewsToday.com/DCAlive all week for continuing coverage of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street, and the re-dedication of Disney California Adventure!