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New Sign Language Intrepretation Service at Disneyland Resort

By
Chip
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New Sign Language Intrepretation Service at Disneyland Resort

I missed this informative article last week from the Disney Parks Blog:

At Disneyland Resort we’re always looking at ways to make every guest’s experience as magical as possible. This week we began offering regularly scheduled sign language interpretation at many shows and attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. Guests have access to a schedule of offerings that are interpreted without having to make prior arrangements.

The new service is available every Monday and Saturday at Disneyland park and every Sunday and Friday at Disney California Adventure park. No advance arrangements are necessary, however, it is recommended that guests request a schedule confirmation at least one week in advance. Guests who request confirmation are contacted prior to their visit and provided a current schedule complete with a list of attractions, dates and times of interpreted offerings. Interpretation service for special events and shows can be requested with two weeks notice by calling Disneyland Resort Guest Relations at (714) 781-6176 [voice] or (714) 781-7292 [TTY].

The new sign language interpretation service is offered at the following locations: Guest Relations at both theme parks, Jungle Cruise, Jedi Training Academy, Storybook Land Canal Boats, “Celebrate! A Street Party,” “Billy Hill & The Hillbillies,” “Turtle Talk with Crush” and “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” It will soon be offered at “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” as well.

In addition to complimentary sign language interpretation, the Resort also has available assistive listening and handheld captioning devices for guests with hearing disabilities.

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Disney Institute Expands Program Offerings at Disneyland Resort

By
Chip
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Disney Institute Expands Program Offerings at Disneyland Resort

Disney Institute announced today that it is adding a new slate of programs at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. The new programs, which will premiere in July, will focus on a specific topic each day, and are available for individual registration or groups of up to 10 people.

“These new offerings will help us meet the growing demand from Southern California business professionals who wish to learn Disney best practices and apply them to their own organizations,” said Jeff James, vice president of Disney Institute.

The new sessions include the following courses:

  • Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence
  • Disney’s Approach to Quality Service
  • Disney’s Approach to People Management
  • Disney’s Approach to Brand Loyalty
  • Disney’s Approach to Inspiring Creativity

Each program offers case studies, guest speakers and field experiences within and behind the scenes of Disneyland Park. Pricing of a one-day session is $499 with discounts available. Additional program options, including three-and-a-half day and five-day programs, are offered at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Visit the public programs page at www.disneyinstitute.com for additional information.

About Disney Institute

Disney Institute was created to showcase Disney best practices that easily adapt to other organizations. One of the most recognized names in professional development, Disney Institute travels the world offering engaging seminars, workshops and presentations, as well as fully customized programming. Immersive learning experiences are also offered at Disney destinations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, enabling participants to go behind the scenes and see firsthand how business theory drives operational excellence.

The Disney Institute client roster includes Fortune 500 companies as well as a wide range of small businesses, non-profits and government agencies. To learn more about Disney Institute, please visit www.disneyinstitute.com, follow at www.twitter.com/disneyinstitute, or call 321-939-4600.

Your Favorite Place to Watch Fireworks at Magic Kingdom Park is…

By
Chip
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Your Favorite Place to Watch Fireworks at Magic Kingdom Park is…

Great article and video from the Disney Park Blog:

To see a story in the sky, you need a great view for Magic Kingdom Park fireworks. But where to go? Are you like me, continually searching for a new favorite viewing area or do you have your own “special” go-to spot? We’re curious. So today, we’re in the parks asking, “Where is your favorite place to watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom?”

Here is my list of  Best Fireworks Viewing Locations at Walt Disney World.

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Epcot 2010 Food & Wine Festival Special Event News & Info

By
Chip
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Epcot 2010 Food & Wine Festival Special Event News & Info

Don’t want to miss the celebrated Party for the Senses grand-food-and-wine-tasting event? Can’t wait to attend the debut of the First Bites Opening Reception? Ladies and gentlemen, set your alarms for 7 a.m. July 20!

That’s when the phone lines open to call Disney reservation specialists and book these and other events scheduled for the 15th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which presents Delicious Discoveries Oct. 1-Nov. 14 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Fans of the festival’s special programs and events can choose from among one dozen categories of special wine and culinary events scheduled during the festival’s six weeks.

New programming this year includes the Sept. 30 First Bites Opening Reception festival preview, 3-D Disney’s Dessert Discovery and the Taste, Shake and Indulge Like the French Grand Marnier tasting experience.

Returning events include favorites like Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen, Epcot Wine Schools, Mexico Tequila Tastings and Food and Wine Pairings.

Throughout the festival, the park will present more than 25 international marketplaces where food, wine, beer and spirits lovers can sample cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents. The new Belgium marketplace will serve Steamed Mussels with Roasted Garlic Cream, and the new South Korea marketplace packs plenty of taste into its BBQ Short Ribs with Steamed Rice and Cucumber Kimchi.

At least 250 Disney and celebrity chefs will conduct culinary demonstrations and host tasting events. In addition, the Festival Welcome Center will feature Authentic Taste Seminars and Authors without Borders weekend conversations that are included with Epcot admission.

Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information and to make reservations for special events and programs. Festival details will be available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine before reservations open July 20.

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Makes July Evenings Nightastic!

By
Chip
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Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Makes July Evenings Nightastic!

The musical sounds of decades of summers gone by will fill July evenings at Epcot during Sounds Like Summer concert series performances featuring tribute bands that celebrate the music of Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, U2 and Chicago.

“The key thing about tribute bands is that their intention is to reproduce, as closely as possible, the music of the artist whose work they are celebrating,” explains Senior Show Director Alan Bruun of Walt Disney World Entertainment. “It’s not an impersonation, which mimics the personality and visual aspect of a star, or a cover band that puts their own spin on a song. A tribute band goes for authenticity. Each band that performs as part of the Sounds Like Summer concert series has received written authorization from the band whose music they play.”

Performances at America Gardens Theatre are scheduled for 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. – except on July 4, when shows are scheduled for 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. They are included with Epcot admission. Here’s the schedule (entertainment is subject to change without notice):

  • June 27-July 3: Karin Lawson – A Tribute to Janet Jackson
  • July 4-10: Satisfaction – A Tribute to The Rolling Stones
  • July 11-17: Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
  • July 18-24: 2U – A Tribute to U2
  • July 25-31: Beginnings – A Tribute to Chicago

Sounds Like Summer is part of Walt Disney World “Summer Nightastic!,” which also features extra fun after the sun goes down at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

  • Through Aug. 14 at Magic Kingdom, thousands of tiny lights illuminate the return of the beloved “Main Street Electrical Parade,” and the elaborate new “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular”paints the night sky more brightly than ever.
  • At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror adds new effects – and a summer-only drop sequence – to the mix for guests daring to step into the attraction’s infamous service elevator for a ride into the “fifth dimension.” And on Hollywood Boulevard, in the shadow of the 122-foot-tall Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat icon, guests are invited to the Rock n’ Glow Dance Party, where a DJ and live rock band keep popular tunes coming five nights a week.

Fairy Tales Come True at Newly Designed Franck’s Studio at Walt Disney World Resort

By
Chip
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Fairy Tales Come True at Newly Designed Franck's Studio at Walt Disney World Resort

Franck’s Bridal Studio at Walt Disney World Resort is undergoing a major enhancement, bringing high-tech tools to couples tying the knot at the popular wedding destination.

Franck’s, named after the wedding planner character Martin Short played in the film “Father of The Bride,” was built 15 years ago alongside Disney’s magical Wedding Pavilion. The Victorian summerhouse was created as a one-stop shop for couples to meet with a Disney wedding planner to review all the details for the big event. The immersive studio showcases cakes, linens, floral, table settings and other details for a dream-come-true affair.

A highlight of the Franck’s makeover involves online tools to assist with remote planning, including a Facebook application so couples can easily share details of their wedding with friends and family. The tools also allow guests to accept RSVPs and purchase tickets and room nights. Using Google Earth images and video, the Virtual Venue Tool brings storybook wedding and reception venues at Disney to life with the click of a mouse.

Two new planning rooms, additional computers and televisions, andnewly designed furnishings round out the elegant setting. The new Franck’s studio will open mid-July.

Toy Story 3 Box Office Projected: $120 million Playtime

By
Chip
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toy story 3 poster 2
toy story 3 poster 2

Toy Story 3 Box Office Projected: $120 million Playtime

Toy Story 3 box office projections were through the roof. Yet, the Toy Story 3 box office predictions had to be taken with a little grain of salt. Box office projections this summer have been less than accurate, with some movies underperforming, and others overachieving.

Just last weekend, The Karate Kid and The A-Team were expected to draw even, but the Karate Kid didn’t break a sweat in its triumph. So, with Pixar’s latest epic expected to take around $100 million, the Toy Story 3 box office results naturally had to be at around $120 million instead.

Most projections had the animated film at around $100 million. But, according to Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood, even those high hopes will be exceeded. Since the film is opening at around 4,000 theaters, and has inflated 3-D prices, its weekend victory will be especially overwhelming.

Finke’s early Toy Story 3 box office estimates have the film grossing $40 million on Friday alone. With that kind of start, she projects the opening weekend will be at around $120 million overall. That would be the second biggest weekend of 2010, though it would trail Iron Man 2‘s $128 million opening take.

However, Iron Man 2 did not play in 3-D, and had decidedly mixed reviews. Toy Story 3 box office is aided by the 3-D format – although many critics said that 3-D was unnecessary – and by rave reviews across the board. As such, its staying power should get it past Iron Man 2‘s $300+ million total, making it the film to beat this summer and this year.

If these Toy Story 3 box office hopes pay off, it would likely be the highest-grossing Pixar movie ever, topping Finding Nemo‘s $339 million. Toy Story 2 is the biggest film of the franchise with $245 million, so it wouldn’t take long for the third movie to top it.

The summer movie season was universally panned for the first month and a half. Therefore, even though the Toy Story 3 box office isn’t as big as Iron Man 2 in its first week, it will be hailed as having saved summer 2010. With the raves and 3-D prices, the numbers can only get bigger from here.

Bonus for those who saw Toy Story 3 this weekend and loved Lots-O’-Hugging Bear I created a fan page just for you. Check it out here.

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Disney Week in Review – June 13th – June 20th

By
Chip
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Disney Week in Review – June 13th - June 20th

Happy Father’s Day everyone! My family woke me this morning to a breakfast fit for a king! It was so good, I was smelling the bacon in my dreams..

I hope everyone had a great week. We have been extremely busy updating everyone with all the Disney World Events going on. I also have been very busy watching and feeling sorry for all those people who made it out to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 8 Hour + lines is a bit much for me. I think Stitch Kingdom made a comment on opening day about how Disney learned not to do park opening in the summer.

Here are a few Wizarding World of Harry Potter links to get us started this Sunday:

  • The Leaky Cauldron has the best coverage of all kinds of Harry Potter news including Universal Studios Park Coverage.
  • Attractions Magazine is one of my favorite websites as then take pictures, videos and have some excellent articles. If it is happening in Orlando they are there.

Ok now on to Disney News:

Those are just a few articles from around the interwebs from this past week. I hope you have a most excellent Fathers Day and a great Disney Week.

Thanks for checking us out!

>>Chip

Tangled: Disney’s Anti-Princess Princess Movie?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Tangled: Disney's Anti-Princess Princess Movie?

Is Disney trying to get boys to forget about the princess angle in Tangled, its take on the classic fairytale Rapunzel due out in the fall? Entertainment Weekly thinks so.  If you watch the newest trailer, which looks great and features the fun musical choice of Pink, you’ll notice that the emphasis is placed on comedy and adventure.  It certainly seems that Rapunzel is not your average princess.  In fact, she’s Flynn’s match and then some.

Dissuaded by the title, many boys didn’t see The Princess and the Frog in theaters last year, which is a shame given that it’s a beautiful and, perhaps more importantly, clever film.  By changing Tangled’s name from Rapunzel, Disney is attempting to appeal to a wider audience, which is smart, however much I don’t like the name personally.  Tangled looks like it will be a different “princess” film, one that both boys and girls will enjoy (although I imagine that most boys will also love The Princess and the Frog if they give it a chance).  I’m looking forward to it. While we love the classics around our house, I also want my sons and daughter to see that girls–princesses, even–can do anything they want.   And if it takes making a “princess” movie a little manly to make my sons want to watch it, well then I”m all for it.

Tangled trailer.

Happy Father’s Day: Ten Ways to Celebrate with Dad at Walt Disney World

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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best vacation
best vacation

Happy Father’s Day: Ten Ways to Celebrate with Dad at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is a great place to celebrate Dad. In honor of Father’s Day next week, here are ten relatively low cost ways for the whole family to say, “Thanks, Dad!” at Disney World.

  1. Show Him the World. What better way to let Dad know he means the world to you than to show him the World, Walt Disney World that is? Board the tethered Characters in Flight balloon (adult: $18, child: $12) at Downtown Disney and float up to 400 feet above ground to enjoy spectacular views of Walt Disney World. For an extra-special experience, take the ride at night.
  2. Padre Felice’s Day. That’s Happy Father’s Day in French. Visit the Kidcot stations in the eleven countries of Epcot’s World Showcase to have Cast Members write “Happy Father’s Day” in their native languages on your dad’s Father’s Day card. For even more international fun, stop in the bakeries to pick up a sweet treat to go with your card. The School Bread from Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in the Norway Pavilion, baklava from Morocco, and the elephant ears from the French bakery, Boulangerie Patisserie, would fill my husband’s box of sweet treats.
  3. Walk on the Wild Side. Animal Kingdom has been the home to some pretty amazing animal births this past year. Moms and dads have welcomed an elephant, gorilla, white cheek gibbon, and white rhino, this past year. Take your dad on the Maharajah Jungle Trek or the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail to try to catch some animal dads and their kids playing.
  4. Hot Rod. Be forewarned, a visit to Ridemakerz, a new Downtown Disney location doesn’t come cheap but it is a cool experience if your dad is a car enthusiast. Similar in concept to Build-a-Bear Workshops, guests can build and customize their own free-wheel or remote-control vehicles – you’ll even see how quickly your dad can assemble the car in the pit. With over 649 million ways to customize the cars including body type, sounds, wheels, and more, you’re nearly guaranteed a one-of-a-kind car!
  5. Fore! To make golfing a family affair, play a round of miniature golf at one of the two miniature golf courses (adult: $12, child: $10) at the Walt Disney World Resort. Let your dad choose from Winter Summerland or Fantasia Gardens.  For a little friendly competition, suggest Fantasia Fairways, which is a miniaturized version of a true 18-hole golf course. For a more relaxed experience, head over to Winter Summerland where Santa’s elves built two golf courses at their vacation spot, one for the sun lovers and one to remind them of home.
  6. Dad Caught a Fish this BIG. Both Port Orleans Riverside and Fort Wilderness offer dockside fishing. Dad will surely cherish spending some relaxed quality time with his loved ones. And you’ll bring home some fish stories about the one that got away.
  7. Design-A-Tee. Design a t-shirt for Dad that shows how much you love and admire him. The options are endless at the Disney Design-A-Tee store in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Choose your father’s favorite style, color, and Disney characters to personalize the shirt. Finish it off with a few special words to make the shirt uniquely his.
  8. Fireworks. There’s no better way to end an evening at Walt Disney World than with one of the spectacular nighttime shows. For a prime viewing location and enough desserts to give you a sugar-high, reserve the Wishes Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom. (adult: $26, child $14) For Epcot’s Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, get there early to grab a table on the water near the Mexico Pavilion. Enjoy people watching with a margarita (for the adults, of course) until the show starts.
  9. Specialty Cake/ Cupcake Tower. Order Dad a special cake or create your own cupcake tower using some of the unique and decadent options throughout Walt Disney World. Call “The Cake Hotline” (407.827.2253) at least 48 hours in advance to order your custom cake. The hardest part of a cupcake tower will be deciding which ones to choose. Don’t despair. The “You Won’t Believe This!” Snack Series at The Disney Food Blog won’t steer you wrong.
  10. Start Your Engines. This last experience isn’t exactly low-cost and it’s not something the family can do together but I couldn’t overlook the coolness factor. Dads will love the ride-along experience at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. A high-speed, three lap ride-along will run you about $110.

Happy Father’s Day!

Photo Credit by http://family.go.com

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers 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 call follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DisneyExplorer.

Take a Swing at Disney’s ‘Summer Price Slice’

By
Chip
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Take a Swing at Disney’s ‘Summer Price Slice’

Golfers are always looking for a sweet deal on a round of golf, right? Well, look no farther than Walt Disney World.

Throughout the summer, you can play any of our four 18-hole championships courses – including the ones used by the biggest names in PGA Tour history – for under 60 bucks as part of our “Summer Price Slice.’’

You can play Disney’s Magnolia and Palm courses, which play host to a PGA Tour event each year, as well as Disney’s Osprey Ridge and Lake Buena Vista courses for only $59 including the cart ($49 for resort guests) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on any day. After 3 p.m., it’s only $39.

Ever wanted to try to play a hole the same way Tiger Woods has played it? Or compare your score to Jack Nicklaus’ score on the same course? You can do that on the Magnolia and Palm courses where both those golf icons have played.

To get the special rate, which is good through August 31, just call (407) WDW-GOLF or (407) 939-4653 to book your tee time and ask for the Summer Slice Price. Now that’s the kind of “slice’’ you won’t mind being part of your game!

Fore!!!

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Disney Parks Blog Weekly Recap June 19th

By
Chip
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Disney Parks Blog Weekly Recap June 19th

Don “Ducky” Williams invited us into his office once again for a behind-the-scenes look at how he draws his favorite Disney character — Donald Duck. This time, he shared more stories as well as details about the images he’s most proud of during his 30 years with the company. Check it out:

And I wanted to say thank you for the suggestions on other characters you’d like to see featured in this Disney Parks Blog series. Do you have a favorite you’d like to see? Please let us know in the comments.

And now, here’s the list of stories you may have missed this week:

Couple Knows it Really is A Small (Disney) World After All — Alex and Donna Voutsinas recreate a 1980 family snapshot where young Donna was with her family at the Magic Kingdom park, posing for a photo along Main Street, U.S.A. with Mr. Smee and her brothers. Her future husband, Alex, would be in the background of the same photo.

Your Favorite Place to Watch Fireworks at Magic Kingdom Park is… — You told us about your “special” go-to spot to watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

Top 10 Quick Bites in the Walt Disney World Theme Parks — It wasn’t easy, but we picked our top 10 favorite quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World.

Disney Magic begins First Northern European Voyages — The Disney Magic will take Guests to some of the most beautiful ports in the Baltic, including Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm and St. Petersburg.

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