WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee spent Thursday at the fabulous Walt Disney World Resort, starting his day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then spending the evening at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:
A new audition video plays on the big screen outside the American Idol Experience periodically. The sign underneath points to the new audition entrance
Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort can be daunting for even for the most seasoned Disney travelers, but visiting during the holidays can be truly overwhelming. There are four theme parks, two water parks, the Downtown Disney district, twenty-one resort hotels, and not to mention the numerous water and sports activities available. All of that alone is enough to keep someone busy on a vacation, but there are numerous special offerings that go under the radar of most visitors… and they shouldn’t.
Special events, backstage tours, and special dining events happen throughout various areas of the resort, but with one major difference: special events are offered for a limited time during the year and backstage tours and special dining events are typically offered year around.
First, we’ll take a look at special events. These events typically happen around the same time of the year, every year. They are highly anticipated by those who know about them, but casual WDW visitor may not be aware. Whether they are sporting events or holiday celebrations, many people build their Walt Disney World vacations around these happenings.
Both Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parade are popular events that take place at The Magic Kingdom. Because of the limited amount of tickets sold on select dates— 24 party days for Halloween and 19 party days for Christmas in 2009—these events tend to sell out quickly. The general estimate is 20,000 tickets, but Disney does not release exactly how many they sell for each evening’s party. It is best to purchase tickets in advance of course, but tickets can be purchased on the day-of the party if available.
Advance ticket purchase is the same for both parties. After calling Disney (or purchasing online) and giving a credit card, tickets can be mailed or picked up upon your arrival. If you’re already in the park on the day of the party, proceed to the Rose Garden near Cinderella’s Castle after 4:00 PM and Cast Members will swipe your party ticket and put a wristband on you. Those holding party passes, but not planning on being in the park earlier, can typically head to the main gate at 4pm and look for specially designated Cast Members who will assist in getting you set up. Although the Halloween and Christmas parties officially start at 7pm, guests will be admitted as early as 4pm. When the park closes at 7pm to regular guests, only those guests with wristbands may stay. Cast Members do check and will kindly escort out anyone not wearing a wristband.
Both events have similar set-ups: holiday-specific themed fireworks and parades, character meet-and-greets, access to some regular Magic Kingdom attractions, themed food and beverages, dance parties, and other specialty events and shows.
Read More about “Holidays Around The World” by Chuck Mirarchi
Brandon Struve took a short trip to the Magic Kingdom on Monday to check out the new audio playing on the TTA and has some photos to share of his day in the park:
A new merchandise location shaped like the tip board has replaced the merchandise cart near the Plaza Ice Cream parlor
Read More about Brandon Struve’s 10/5/09 Magic Kingdom Photo Report
WDWNT Podcaster Anthony Yacullo recorded a video of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority at the Magic Kingdom featuring the new spiel that was added to the attraction just a few days ago. The video is embedded via the WDWNTube:
WDWNT Podcaster Anthony Yacullo has just returned from his trip to the Walt Disney World Resort and has a number of great photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
Magic Kingdom from a distance
Read More about Anthony Yacullo’s 9/27-10/3/09 WDW Photo Report
To our surprise, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) at the Magic Kingdom opened today with completely new audio playing on the speakers above the ride track and guests heads. Highlights include:
-A new male voice welcomes you aboard the “highway in the sky” (I thought that was the monorail), points out various sights, and helps describe attractions in Tomorrowland. He also refers to the ride as the “Peoplemover” at one point.
-Stitch, Mickey, Buzz Lightyear, and Roz from Monsters Inc. also interrupt as guests pass their corresponding establishments.
-A female voice comes over the speakers when the TTA vehicles enter Space Mountain. She actually mentions that the ride is currently not in service, she may be replaced with the normal narrator when Space Mountain returns in November.
-Gone are famous lines such as “Mickey’s Star Traders will be glad to rocket-ship your package”, “Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow”, and ALL of the previous audio.
If you would like to hear all of the new audio from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, you can find a full “live recorded” track from our own Anthony Yacullo HERE. We will have a video of the updated attraction up soon with better audio quality, so stay tuned!
Disney has released a video showcasing their community involvement from the September 29th launch day events of the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” promotion. Please note that the speakers not labeled in the video (in chronological order) are “Disney Parks” own Jay Rasulo, Meg Crofton, and Rilous Carter:
Last week, World Showcase at Epcot® went from representing 11 countries to over 26 countries in the blink of an eye courtesy of the International Food & Wine Festival. Celebrating its 14th year, the International Food & Wine Festival, which runs through November 8th, celebrates foods from some of the world’s greatest cities.
Although delicious in their own right, the Walt Disney World Resort is more than just burgers, fries, turkey legs and Mickey premium ice cream bars. Charles Passy recently reported in the Palm Beach Post, “If there’s any proof of how much a culinary mecca Disney has become, it’s the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival… the festival, now in its 14th year, plays host to scores of prominent chefs, winemakers and celebrities: This year’s participants include famed chocolatier Jacques Torres, master sommelier and television personality Andrea Immer Robinson, and singer-turned-cookbook author Patti LaBelle.”
Navigating the food and wine festival, which happens throughout Epcot®, can be a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The festival is broken down into four basic categories: demonstrations, seminars, special experiences, and the International Marketplace. In addition there is nightly entertainment with the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Theme park admission is required, and although some of the events will require an additional fee, others are included with admission.
Read More about “Around the World in 80 Bites” by Chuck Mirarchi
We have been so swamped with news at WDWNT this week that it has taken us 4 days to get to it, but without any further delay, here are some photos that WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve took on his latest trip to Epcot:
In case you haven’t heard, The International Food & Wine Festival has begun
We told you earlier today that The Muppets would be featured in the national marketing campaign for the 2010 “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” promotion, so here are two of the commercials featuring Kermit and the gang you’ll be seeing on your television real soon:
