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Airline Survival Kit for Toddler Travel

Planes…trains…automobiles. Whatever your mode of transportation, traveling with a two-year old can be tough. Because of the miles we need to cover, a trip to Walt Disney World means flying.. I don’t think I would survive the 18+ hour trip with my five and two-year old and still have my sanity intact.

Airline Survival Kit for Toddler Travel
Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Flying with our toddler is not a frequent experience so I’m willing to purchase travel gear I otherwise wouldn’t with the hope of being prepared for every eventuality – I won’t know if it works until I try it. The marketing firms must see me coming a mile away. 🙂

Here are my thoughts on some of the travel I brought on our recent flight.

Umbrella Stroller. Must- have. Even though we rent a double stroller from Orlando Stroller Rentals, the umbrella is indispensable in the airport to safely get my little guy from curbside check-in, through the security line, and to the gate. It’s small and lightweight enough to easily fit through the x-ray machine at security and I can gate-check it.

Child’s Carry-On. Nice to have. My son didn’t carry or even wheel his luggage through the airport and we didn’t expect him to. We brought it because it was small enough to easily slide under his seat and it was a single “go-to” place for his toys and snacks.

CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System). So-so. We weren’t renting a car this trip so the idea of lugging an unwieldy car seat through the airport, installing it on the plane, and reversing the process to disembark was not very appealing. Something was needed to keep my son safe (and in his seat 🙂 ) though. The CARES restraint wasn’t cheap but since it’s approved by the FAA, I thought it was worth a try.

  • Pros – easy to install, light-weight, small enough for a carry-on, comfortable for my son (as much as a “restraint” can be to a squirmy two-year old)
  • Cons – No strap between his legs so he could (and did) wiggle and slide down, making the restraint less effective in my opinion; our restraint loosened during the flight to the point that I felt it was less secure at the end of the flight

Would I use it again? Yes, I would. It wasn’t ideal as we had to make sure our son was sitting up straight to get the desired effect but it was effective at keeping our small son in his seat during take-off, landing, and most of the flight. He’s on the lower end of the approved weight limit so I think that it will work better next trip after he grows a bit.

Portable DVD Player. Must have. We purchased the most inexpensive one we could find and it worked great. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Sesame Street kept him entertained for most of our flight home.

EarPlanes. Not sure. The box claims “Relieves Air Pressure Discomfort.” I honestly don’t think my son would have kept them in his ears throughout the whole flight so they never saw the light of day. I did purchase them, however, as “insurance.” If my son suffered from severe ear discomfort due to air pressure on the outgoing flight, I would have nothing to lose by trying them on the return flight.

Snack Trap and Disposable Sippy Cup. Nice to have. I love the Snack Trap. Fill it with a dry snack like Goldfish or Teddy Grahams and our son is a happy camper. With no mess. Our toddler is learning to drink from a cup and a water bottle but needs more help and supervision than he would drinking from a sippy cup. Given the tight quarters in the plane and the stress of air travel, it was easier to pour water in a disposable sippy cup for him than to make sure we didn’t have an unfortunate spill.

GoGo Squeez. Nice to have. I recently reviewed GoGo Squeez and became a buyer. No fuss, no muss with these healthy fruit snacks. Each package is also small enough to be allowed in carry-ons by airport security.

There you have it – the items that made traveling with our toddler a success. Do you recommend any products we should try for our next flight?

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers and the co-creator of WDW Fan Zone. When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You can follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.

Airline Survival Kit for Toddler Travel

PhotoPass Perks and Pitfalls

PhotoPass Perks and Pitfalls

As you walk around the parks you’ve probably noticed cast members in safari type khaki vests and blue shorts; although they look like they’ve escaped from the Animal Kingdom, I assure you, they are where they belong. Who are these people and what are they doing roaming the streets of Mainstreet U.S.A.? They are PhotoPass Photographers.

For those of you not familiar with the purpose of PhotoPass, take a look at your family photos from your past vacations…you probably notice that one of the family members is always missing (someone has to take the picture!) Disney’s PhotoPass eliminates that missing family member and gives you family photos in front of your favorite Disney landmarks, with everyone included, you can even have them “magically” enhanced.

There are many opinions on the value of PhotoPass and of course there are perks and pitfalls to the PhotoPass service. The perks:

Everyone wants that perfect family photo in front of your favorite Disney landmark, a PhotoPass photographer may be your best bet at getting that to happen.

PhotoPass services are free, you don’t have to pay a photographer to take your photo, they will even take one with your personal camera as well.

You can get more than a basic print when you choose the PhotoPass option. You can choose to have your photo “magically” enhanced with some fun Disney characters and special effects. In addition to enhanced photos you can turn your pictures into luggage tags, magnets, coffee mugs and more!

You can view and share your photos with family and friends online through the Disney PhotoPass website. You will have access to your photos for 30 days.

When you purchase the PhotoPass CD you get access to “the gallery” which has professional prints of each park, fireworks, characters and attractions from which you can purchase prints.

There are also PhotoPass portrait sessions available, visit a PhotoPass kiosk at your Disney resort for pricing and availability.

Those are just a few of the perks that PhotoPass has to offer; now let’s take a look at their corresponding pitfalls.

The Pitfalls:
Your dream photo could take a healthy chunk of change out of your budget. A single 5×7 print is $12.95, an 8×10 is $16.95.

You might end up loving the PhotoPass photo (and its options) and then you’ll incur the cost associated with purchasing the prints or package that you desire.

Yet again the cost of these memorable items might be outside of your budget.

You have to keep track of all of your PhotoPass cards, which each have a unique alpha numeric code. Each code must be entered online to access your photo (you will receive a PhotoPass card when your first picture is taken, try to use the same card for all of your photos, if you end up with multiple cards, go to a PhotoPass kiosk and ask them to consolidate your cards into one).

There are many things to love about PhotoPass, it’s convenient and creative and you can capture those magical moments with your entire family. For some folks the costs associated with bringing their dream photos home isn’t worth it, and some purchase multiple prints before even leaving the parks.

Tips for PhotoPass: If you know you are going to utilize the PhotoPass system, pre-purchase the CD online before your trip. The pre-purchase cost is $99.95 (regular cost $149.95), if you are unsure if the CD is a good value for you consider this: if you purchased (7) 5×7 prints, the CD would have paid for itself.

If you decide to use PhotoPass then USE it, A LOT. Look for all the locations of the PhotoPass photographers and take advantage of it, there is no limit to the number of photos you can have on your CD. If you have more than 300 photos, you’ll receive multiple CD’s but you won’t incur additional costs.

Remember that quality photography is not an absolute, so don’t trust that just because a PhotoPass photographer took your family photo it’s going to be perfect. Ask to view the photo on their camera and if you aren’t happy with it, take another. It might also be a good idea to have them take a photo with your camera as well, it doesn’t cost a penny and on occasion we’ve had our personal photos turn out better than the one’s taken on the PhotoPass camera.

The last tip, if you are attending a special event (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) look for the special event PhotoPass opportunities, you can even be photographed with the hitch-hinking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion! Guests at these special ticket events will also receive a special event PhotoPass card and a 40% off savings from any photo product ordered from that card, on that night. If you are interested in your prints, get to exposition hall plenty early before closing, it gets very crowded later in the night!

Whatever you decide about Disney’s PhotoPass service, we hope your trip is picture perfect! Now smile…and say MICKEY!

PhotoPass Perks and Pitfalls

Ask a Disney Question – Talking Mickey

Ask a Disney Question - Talking Mickey

This question comes from one of our readers, Jen S.:

“Last year while at Disney World we were told they were going to start trying out a “talking Mickey” we saw video of it and it seemed neat to be able to meet and greet Mickey and have him actually say something to you. Do yo know what happened to this? Did they scrap it?”

Jen, I’m happy to report that Mickey, as stated by Mickey’s voice, Brett Iwan, doesn’t have to save his voice as much anymore.   Though currently only at the Disneyland Resort, Mickey can often be found in his Toontown Home, and wherever else he may be found around the park, talking to his fans.

There is no word on when he’ll be making his speaking appearances regular at the Walt Disney World Resort as of yet, but seeing that this is pretty regular at DLR, we can be hopeful that he’ll no longer need to save his voice as much in Florida!

If you haven’t seen the Magic that is talking Mickey, check out this as provided by Disney Parks!  Talking Mickey

Ask a Disney Question - Talking Mickey

Favorite Walt Disney World Dinner Shows

Favorite Walt Disney World Dinner Shows

Two of the most popular activities at Walt Disney World are the entertainment and the food. And when you can have both entertainment and food at the same time, you’ve got yourself a winning combination. So it’s not hard to see why Disney World provides some wonderful and very popular Dinner Shows. If you have the chance to attend one (or all), you are sure to have a wonderful time…and a darn good meal as well.  Here are 3 favorites, and what you need to know about them:

Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue

Does your family love corny jokes, singing, dancing, plus a grand assortment of all kinds of “down home” cooking? If so, then the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is for you. This is one of Disney’s longest running, and most popular shows, held at the Pioneer Hall in the Wilderness Campgrounds. Two hours of food and a country western show provide a great evening that is perfect for the entire family.

If you are interested in attending this dinner show, you must book it in advance, preferably when reservations open at the 180 day mark, as it frequently sells out during peak seasons. Payment in full is required at the time of booking however it can be refunded if you cancel within 48 hours of the show.

Pricing is in 3 Categories, ranging from $52.99/$26.99 for adults/children ages 3-9 with seating on the sides in the balcony (Category 3) up to $61.99/$31.99 for first floor center seating (Category 1). Please note that wheelchair accessible seating is only available in Category 1.

You may use Dining Plan credits for Categories 2 and 3, and for Category 1 seating at the 9:30 p.m. show. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue is 2 Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

Mickey’s Backyard BBQ Dinner Show

Not as well-known, but just as much fun is this show, also held at Fort Wilderness, in the open air, covered pavilion, next to Pioneer Hall. This is an all you can eat dance party with Mickey, Minnie, and Friends at a country-western style picnic. While this show is held seasonally, if you love line-dancing and BBQ, you will love this show. As with the Hoop-Dee-Doo, full payment is required at the time of booking, and again, you will receive a full refund with cancellation within 48 hours. Cost is $50.99 ages 10 and up, $20.99 ages 3-9.

You may use Dining Plan credits: Mickey’s Backyard BBQ uses 2 Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show

This dinner show, held at Disney’s Polynesian resort, provides a luau-type, all you can eat feast, featuring barbecue pork ribs, roasted chicken, and a host of other delicious food and drink items. With a high energy show that will make you think you are in the Polynesian islands, this is also one of Disney’s most popular shows, and often sells out during peak season.

If you are interested in attending this dinner show, you must book it in advance, preferably when reservations open at the 180 day mark. Payment in full is required at the time of booking; however it can be refunded if you cancel within 48 hours of the show. Also be aware that if you book this during the winter, it may be cancelled if the weather becomes too cold.

Pricing is in 3 Categories, ranging from $52.99/$26.99 for adults/children ages 3-9 with seating on the far sides on the main floor or most of the upper level (Category 3) up to $61.99/$31.99 for lower level, front/center seating (Category 1).

You may use Dining Plan credits if you wish: this show, as with the others, uses 2 Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan.

If you want to plan a memorable, out-of-the-ordinary evening on your next Disney World vacation, then consider making reservations for one of these great dinner shows! And happy planning!

Favorite Walt Disney World Dinner Shows

Ask A Disney Question-What age do kids require tickets?

Ask A Disney Question-What age do kids require tickets?

Roxane H. Asks:
We will be in Orlando in June. Myself, my husband and our four kids…ages 5, 3 and twins who will be two on July 2nd. So, still age 1 when we go. We are planning to go to Magic Kingdom for one day because we don’t know when we’ll get there again. I know it will be a little challenging for us. Anyway, my questions is who do we pay admission for? Any deals on single day tickets by chance?

Hi Roxane,
Disney considers everyone age 2 and under free. Children ages 3-9 require a child’s ticket and anyone age 10 and over requires an adult ticket. If you were only going to be in 1-Park (for example, the Magic Kingdom) for 1-Day you would want to purchase a 1-Day Base Ticket for each person over age 3. This will allow you to exit and enter the Magic Kingdom as many times as you like (if you are so inclined) but it won’t allow you to go to any of the other theme parks. The price for an “adult” ticket (ages 10 and over) is $82.00 and children ages 3-9 are $74.00 (not including tax). I hope this helps!

Ask A Disney Question-What age do kids require tickets?

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

Have you ever been fishing? If not, then here are the basics: You toss a string out into open water, and sit. And wait. Sit and wait some more, until you finally get a little nibble, or a big bite. In a sense, that’s what I did with my Twitter account. When Disney released news that they were allowing fans to purchase tickets into the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides“, I couldn’t help but ‘toss a line out’, and see if I ‘got a nibble’. Well, I got a bite, and once that line started to move, I reeled in my fish. A follower of mine contacted me and told me she had an extra ticket to the premiere, and wanted to know if I was up for going (as if I was going to turn this down).

As the days progressed up toward the event, I day dreamed about walking the carpet, seeing celebrities and fans, screaming to get an autograph or photo of Johnny Depp or Penelope Cruz. I really had no idea what I was getting into, but I was excited.

The day had finally arrived. I arrive at the resort, shirt freshly pressed, phone fully charged, and enough caffeine in my system to easily last the entire night. I meet my benefactors at the check in booth, thank them again for the amazing gift they gave me, and we all walked into the park.

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

The energy is something that is unlike anything else. Walking through the tunnel on the west side of the park, with bleachers full of guests, security details everywhere, people talking, cameras flashing, it’s a whole different style of excitement and energy. As we made our way onto the carpet, we were quickly rushed on, and out of the way of the celebs, but I did happen to glance over and see Jack the Monkey, and I think some Disney Channel Stars. No one ‘too’ big on the celebrity list. Not yet, anyway.

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

Making our way down the carpet, about halfway down, there was some people from another fan site, and twitter that knew I was going to be there. They did what I thought was the unthinkable. As I walked past, they started screaming my name, and asking for an autograph! Me! I’m nothing more than just another blogger, tweeter, and Disney fan. But they played it up as if I was an extra on some TV show. I played along, signed their papers for them, but once that started, everyone else in this bleacher section wanted my John Hancock, JUST in case I was someone big someday. It was absolutely insane!

Finally making our way through Frontierland, and into the actual premiere area, we got some food from the buffet, which was incredibly amazing. Bangers (English sausage), salmon, chicken; baked beans, potato salads, and macaroni and cheese were just the entrees. Dessert had varieties of cookies, and cheesecake parfaits, all of which I happily consumed at least one of each.

On top of this, they had free churros, cotton candy, and all sorts of ODV snacks FOR FREE. So we all grabbed a couple strands of cotton candy, and made our way over to the attraction that started it all! With no line, we walked right on in, and hopped on. Tonight also had a little bit of a surprise with the preview of the new Black Beard effect! I must say, this small enhancement is very well done. It sticks to the same script as Davy Jones, but that’s for good reason. Both effects will be alternating at some point.

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

After about another hour of riding Pirates and Haunted Mansion, we made our way into the ‘theater’. With cell phones silenced, cameras checked in, and popcorn at the ready, we were settled into our seats to watch the show. As the rest of the guests filed in, we started to notice people. We were sitting in the same section as ABC Shows. Chelsie Hightower sat 2 or 3 rows in front of me, and Cheryl Burke was behind me. Oh, and ladies, Louis van Amstel and Tony Dovolani were there too, don’t worry.

Now for the short film review: I thought it was fantastic! Very much like the first film, in the sense that it doesn’t completely go fantasy pirates. Sure there’s zombies, mermaids, and other fictional fantasies, but it also deals with the Spanish and British fighting for land, the King of England, and much more that I don’t want to spoil. The action scenes are really well shot, and aren’t very in your face (save for the occasional sword flying 3D trick). With Rob Marshall directing, the action scenes actually came off as very smooth, and almost as if the action scenes were a big dance. Given that he’s usually a musical film director, this is understandable, and actually, very helpful towards the scenes. The budding romance of a missionary and a mermaid are almost like the new Will and Elizabeth, but with its own flair. Of course the “I’m a bad man” Black Beard should definitely be taken seriously, and is a great villain. Finally, Jack and Angelica. My, my, my, what a steamy romance that is. Jack finally meets his match, and has no offense to it at all. All in all, I loved the film, and consider this to be the second best film in the franchise, given that “Curse of the Black Pearl” is the first.

As the night came to a close, we rode the rest of the rides that were open to us, ate another handful of churros and Mickey ice cream bars (had to take in as many as we could. I know I didn’t want to pay $3.50 for one the next day at the parks). As we walked out of the park, we were handed our gift for attending the event: a pair of XPand universal 3D glasses, with the pirates logo and ‘world premiere’ printed on the sides.

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

This is something that I wish I could relive if it was possible. It was such a high energy, exciting event, and I really can’t wait until Pirates 5 comes out, just because I know the premiere is going to be amazing alone. I cannot thank my new-found friends enough for allowing me to tag along with them, and I hope many people go and see this film. This really was a pirate’s life for me, at least for that one night.

This article comes to us from Jacob. He is a fan of Chip and Company, and has his own blog, Main Street Hangout. You can also follow him on Twitter, @mainstreetjake. Jake enjoys visiting Disneyland with friends and family, as well as heading to the theater to see the latest films.

An Unforgettable Night: Pirates 4 Premiere

Mousechat: Disney World’s Destination D Event Reviewed

Disney Destination D D23 40th review
Last week was Disney’s Destination D event at Walt Disney World. This was a special Disney Conference for D23 members and their family and friends. Tickets for this event were not cheap and our friend George attended and reported back on the events highlights.

Disney also used this event to celebrate Disney Worlds 40th anniversary.  It’s a tad early seeing that the 40th is on October 1 later this year.  It is interesting also that currently we are hearing that there is nothing really planned for the 40th anniversary on Oct. 1.  There will be an opening ceremony at the Magic Kingdom, but that is all.

You can listen to review on the Mouse Chat Disney Podcast.  If you have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad you can subscribe for free and we will deliver the show to you every Friday to enjoy.  You can also download the show to your computer or listen on your computer at MouseChat.net

Please join us by listening to the show at MouseChat.net or by downloading and subscribing to Mouse Chat on
iTunes.

Mousechat: Disney World's Destination D Event Reviewed

First Look at the all new Disney Fantasy

First Look at the all new Disney Fantasy

Disney has provided it’s travel agents with these exciting details about the newest ship, the Disney Fantasy! Enjoy!

You will discover a fantastical line-up of new design elements and experiences on the Disney Fantasy when the ship sets sail on March 31, 2012. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the unique features onboard:

“Animation Magic” at Animator’s Palate
The magic of Disney animation comes into the dining room with a new show called “Animation Magic.” The dinner show celebrates the magic of Disney animation and allows families to create and participate in a whole new way.
As Guests are seated, they are invited to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. During dinner, animated black-and-white drawings of Mickey Mouse appear on large monitors. When Mickey places the Sorcerer’s hat upon his head, magical transformations happen around the room!
For a finale, Mickey conjures the Guest’s drawings – now fully animated and brought to life – into the onscreen action for a parade around the room. At the conclusion, Guests will have their character drawing returned to them with an added touch – a golden seal proclaiming them an Official Disney Animator.

Europa Nighttime Entertainment District
Adults step into a world all their own at Europa – a nighttime entertainment district, exclusively for Guests 18 and older, that features sophisticated bars and trendy lounges inspired by the very best in European travel.

La Piazza draws inspiration from Italian cities and their decorative outdoor plazas. The bar is modeled after a colorful vintage carousel. Venetian masks and a classic Vespa with sidecar add to the Italian flair.

Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing, birds-eye views of stunning European city skylines that transform from day to night.

O’Gill’s Pub is a rollicking Irish bar with modern-day twists. Dark woods, brass accents and a selection of Irish beers create the perfect pub atmosphere for sipping a pint and watching live sporting events.

Ooh La La is inspired by an elegant French boudoir adorned with velvet tufted walls, Victorian furniture and Louis XIV-style chaise lounges. A jewel-box feature bar is backed with sparkling diamond-like facets.

The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club via the London Underground. Guests “mind the gap” as they walk across a Tube route map, pose by a red English phone booth and dance atop an illuminated Union Jack dance floor.

“Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular”
A new ship means new main stage entertainment at the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre. Magic lamps, wise-cracking genies, princesses and evil wizards are all a part of this fast-paced musical comedy.
Of course, the production would not be complete without a magic flying carpet scene, which combines mechanical wizardry with state-of-the-art projections, allowing Jasmine and Aladdin to soar as they perform a heartfelt duet.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Aspiring young princesses and pirates receive the full fairy-tale treatment with pixie-dusted and piratical makeovers at this very special salon.

  • Exclusive to Disney Cruise Line® – Captain Mickey Mouse, Princess Minnie Mouse and First Mate Minnie Mouse makeovers as well as special “Under the Sea” packages will be offered.
  • On pirate party nights, the salon transforms into the Pirate’s League, where swashbuckling boys, girls and grownups can get ready for the pirate life.

Atrium Lobby – Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse
The magnificent three-deck atrium lobby is reminiscent of grand ocean liners of the Golden Age. A focal point is a cascading chandelier of stained glass and crystal beads.The pièce de résistance of the magnificent space is the atrium lobby statue – Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse. Inspired by travel of the 1920s and 1930s, Minnie, cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side, serves to welcome all Guests who board the ship.

Royal Court
Guests are immersed in the lavish surroundings of an elegant dining room fit for a grand palace. Royal Court takes design inspiration from classic Disney films like “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
Hand-crafted mosaic-tile murals of the princesses and their princes grace the walls. Inspired by the mosaic tile murals in Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom® Park, the mosaics are being meticulously created by skilled Italian craftspeople using more than 200,000 individual tiles.

Bookings Are Open! For your free quote or for more information contact Pixie Vacations!

The 4,000-passenger ship will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., beginning with its maiden voyage set for March 31, 2012.

  • In the Disney Kitchen: Mickey Cutout Cookies (chipandco.com)
First Look at the all new Disney Fantasy

Delight in the Details: The Magic Kingdom

Delight in the Details: The Magic Kingdom
Before you hit the ground running to your favorite attraction, take a deep breath, and slow down, you’re missing some of the Magic!

There’s nothing like a slow stroll down Mainstreet U.S.A. in the morning, we like to pay our respects to Walt when we enter the park. Here are 5 things you may have missed:

1. Before you enter the park look at the window on the front of the train station, it reads: “Walt Disney World Railroad Office, Keeping Dreams on Track, Walter E. Disney, Chief Engineer”.

2. Read the beautiful placard above the arch under the train station: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy”.

3. If you are on Mainstreet in the early morning hours you may see there are various celebrations happening, you may even get a visit from the Mayor himself! Do you know what holiday is being celebrated? The 4th of July! Look for patriotic clues on your way down Mainstreet.

4. As you make your way down Mainstreet U.S.A. stop by the Plaza Restaurant and Ice Cream Shop, look at the window above the Plaza, that’s Walt’s window, because he loved Ice Cream and it’s the only window in the park that faces the castle.

5. Look at the “Partners statue” (in front of the castle) it’s the statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse holding hands, look at Walt’s tie clip, what’s that logo? It’s actually a logo for the Smoke Tree Ranch, a fancy community in Palm Springs that was very exclusive. Walt had to convince the board of directors at Smoke Tree to allow him to purchase a home there, which he did in 1948. He was proud of his accomplishment and often wore a tie clip with the letters STR, representing Smoke Tree Ranch.

These little things set Disney World apart from any other “amusement park” in the world. Next time you’re standing in a line, take a good look around, you might be surprised at all the magical details you’ll find!

George Lucas and Disney’s Bob Iger Launch Star Tours Attraction at Walt Disney World Resort

George Lucas and Disney’s Bob Iger Launch Star Tours Attraction at Walt Disney World Resort

Star WarsTM creator George Lucas and Disney President and CEO Bob Iger wielded lightsabers amid a legion of stormtroopers Friday to open “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” a new 3-D adventure at Walt Disney World Resort.

A cast of hundreds of Star Wars characters and performers – including Anthony Daniels, who has played the golden droid C-3PO since the first film debuted in 1977 – converged on Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the launch of the attraction destined to send millions of guests on virtual journeys throughout the Star Wars galaxy.

Fittingly, the launch of Star Tours anchored the opening day of Star Wars Weekends, a popular event in the park celebrating the Star Wars legacy with special shows, presentations, motorcades and memorabilia. Star Wars Weekends continue each Friday-Sunday now through June 12, 2011.

And on June 3, 2011, “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” will open at Disneyland Resort in California.

“Star Tours immerses guests into the Star Wars universe like never before,” Iger said. “The innovative technology and storytelling take guests on thrilling new adventures, bringing George Lucas’ iconic characters and locations to life in a completely new way.”

With eye-popping digital video leveraging Dolby 3-D to deliver a vivid and realistic visual experience, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests are immersed in a Star Wars adventure like never before on a theme park attraction. Walt Disney Imagineering worked with Lucasfilm, Ltd. and Industrial Light & Magic – the groundbreaking visual effects division of Lucasfilm – to bring the out-of-this-world attraction to life.

Star Tours, which had thrilled Disney guests since the 1980s, was “powered down” in 2010 so Disney’s Imagineers could begin work on the new attraction.

In “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” there are more than 50 story combinations, so guests can find new adventures each time they experience the attraction.

Utilizing the random story combinations, the Starspeeder spacecraft embarks on a wild adventure, visiting several planets made famous in the Star Wars films. Among the locations that might provide haven from the Empire’s pursuit are the icy planet of Hoth, the lush jungles of Kashyyyk and the underwater Gungan world on Naboo.

And along the way guests may encounter Star Wars characters that offer to help (or hinder) their journey, including Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Darth Vader and Boba Fett. “Skytroopers,” a legion of stormtroopers created just for the Star Tours attraction story, might even join in the chase.

In fact, guests will never know where the Force will take them. Flights are now departing during regular operating hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

George Lucas and Disney’s Bob Iger Launch Star Tours Attraction at Walt Disney World Resort

I love this Disney Site – Studios Central

I love this Disney Site - Studios Central

Studios Central (www.studioscentral.com) is a fantastic site that I love visiting. Next to the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is my favorite park. It must be the singer/actor want-to-be in me (at least when I was younger) that draws me to that park. Or, maybe it is the fact that two of my all-time favorite rides, Tower of Terror (my #1) and Rock N Roller Coaster (my #2) call that park home.

No matter the reason, I love “the Studios” and this site covers that park like no one else. The site has everything you ever needed to know about DHS. The About Us page says it was created to be the place for information on Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park and they definitely live up to their goal.

You can find out information from the park hours for the upcoming week to trip planning information, trip reports, character meet n greet schedules, live entertainment that is planned and much more. There are sections for news, information, attractions, dining, entertainment schedules, guide info which covers everything in the park, history, pictures and a community section. I love it because I feel like I am “plugged in” to what is going on even when I’m not there. I also love looking at the pictures as it takes me right back!

Matt Hochberg operates Studios Central along with its sister-sites RocknRollerCoaster.com and TowerOfTerror.org. Matt also hosts the WDW Today podcast, which is an internet radio show covering topics about Walt Disney World. I especially enjoy Matt’s Studios Weekly and Remember When. I also love seeing all the photos in Studios Update and The Darkroom. Matt is a talented, and really nice guy!

There are also regular columns by some very gifted writers. I really enjoy The Mickey Minute by Ashley Reeve and Chris Reid’s Inside the Studios. Jennifer von Hoffman writes Jentasmic! about a variety of topics. And for the family that is planning their Walt Disney World trip, A “World” of Opportunities by Aaron DelPrince gives you a look at the various activities families can experience. These are only a few of the columns I enjoy reading. There is always so much going on, it is worth checking out every day for the latest news and happenings.

I asked Matt for a rundown on the big news right now and it was no surprise to me when he said these days the big news is Star Tours 2 and Star Wars Weekends. They even have a special SWW section at http://sww.studioscentral.com.

There is just a smorgasbord of great information on this website. Check it out yourself. If you are a Hollywood Studios lover, or a Disney lover in general, I think you will really enjoy it!

I love this Disney Site - Studios Central

Muppets Movie is Closer than you think

Muppets Movie is Closer than you think

When Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, and friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater, they help Kermit reunite the Muppets to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater.

Muppets Movie is Closer than you think
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