More Details on Downtown Disney’s Latest Offerings

WDWNT on April 8, 2009

Two very small press releases were just made available by Walt Disney World regarding the “Characters in Flight” balloon and the “Paradiso 37” restaurant at Downtown Disney:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The fun soars to new heights at Downtown Disney West Side with an iconic new tethered balloon that takes guests on ascents of up to 400 feet above the waterfront.

Guests board a gondola beneath the 105-foot-high balloon from a landing platform on Village Lake at the end of the main promenade at Downtown Disney West Side. Riders can catch flights seven days a week. Hours Sunday-Thursday are 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. while ascents Friday-Saturday are 10:30 a.m.-midnight. Tickets ($16 for ages 10-up and $10 for ages 3-9) can be purchased on site. Availability is on first-come, first-serve basis.

Characters In Flight operated by Aerophile is a 72-foot-diameter balloon with a whimsical design featuring silhouettes of a dozen of Disney’s “flying characters” – such as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Dumbo. The vibrantly colored balloon can lift up to 30 guests at a time on a six-minute trip – thanks to its enclosed volume of 210,000 cubic feet of lighter-than-air gas. The ascents, by day or night, provide guests with an unparalleled, 360-degree view of up to 10 miles.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Paradiso 37, a high-energy restaurant and bar featuring cuisine from North, South and Central America, welcomes guests to its table in May at Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World Resort.

The lakeside eatery will offer a delectable variety of menu offerings representing the 37 countries of the Americas, plus an international wine bar, 37 varieties of tequila and 10 signature frozen margaritas.

The new concept was developed by Orlando-based E-Brands Restaurant Group, a multi-concept restaurant group which currently owns and operates Timpano Chophouse, Samba Room, Taqueria Canonita, Aquaknox, David Burke, Salsa Orlando and Canonita Express in a number of locations across the United States.

The lively Downtown Disney restaurant will feature nightly entertainment and will be open daily from 11 a.m. until late night.

Jose Eber’s 4/6/09 Mini-WDW Update

WDWNT on April 6, 2009

WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber took a short trip to the Walt Disney World Resort this morning and has a few photos to share:

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The Characters in Flight balloon at Downtown Disney looks ready to take off any minute now

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The Virgin Megastore is almost gone, rumors suggest that this may become an AMC-Imax location

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Work continues on “Paradiso 37”, not much progress on the exterior in the last few days

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The finishing touches are being applied to the entrance of the Bay Lake Tower wing of Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Jose Eber’s 3/21/09 Downtown Disney Report

WDWNT on March 22, 2009

WDWNT Reporter Jose Eber has us a few photos from the West Side of Downtown Disney  featuring construction of the latest attraction coming to the Walt Disney World Resort, a tethered balloon ride:

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The attraction is operated by Aerophile, but is still called “Characters in Flight

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The short flight aboard the balloon will cost $16.00 for an adult, and $10.00 for children

Read More about Jose Eber’s 3/21/09 Downtown Disney Report

Disney Parks Merchandise Comes to the Disney Store Online

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

As of today, Disneystore.com (formerly Disneyshopping.com before a quick name change took place just a few days ago) is now offering a large assortment of merchandise from the U.S. Disney Parks:

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Mickey and the gang welcome you to “Bring the Magic Home with You” through the Disney Store website

Among the Walt Disney World and Disneyland merchandise available are Mickey Mouse ear hats, character autograph books, photo albums, toys (including the monorail playset and some of its accessories), apparel, snowglobes, big figures, small statues, home decor, and much more. You can start shopping right now at this link.