Fort Lauderdale man wins nighttime Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon by 13 seconds

By

-

October 3, 2010

This article comes to us from the Orlando Sentinel.

Anton Van Zyl was the top finisher the men’s division of the inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Saturday night.

Van Zyl, 37, of Fort Lauderdale, finished in 1 hour, 14 minutes, 51 seconds, pulling away from second-place finisher Matthew Dobson, 41, of Jay, Fla., in the final stretch. Van Zyl edged Dobson (1:15:04) by just 13 seconds.

“It was real close down the stretch,” Van Zyl said. “We were neck and neck. I put on a hard charge about a half-mile out. The crowd was fantastic, and it was a great finish.”

Melissa Wisner, 27, of Washington D.C., bested the women’s field in 1:32:22.

Wisner crossed the finish line almost 3 minutes ahead of second-place finisher Sheila Sullivan, 44, of Daytona Beach (1:35:16).

Click here to keep reading.

Photo By Audrea Huff, OrlandoSentinel.com

Disneyworld Character Changes for October 2010

By

Chip

-

October 2, 2010

These character changes come to us every month from WDW Character Hunt.

CONFIRMED CHARACTER CHANGES

Meeko is moving from the DAK Oasis to Camp Minnie/Mickey on October 3rd.
Bert, Eric and Wendy are leaving the Magic Kingdom as REGULAR greeting characters, last day will be Oct. 2nd. They may still appear as random characters.
The Muppet Pre-parade at the Magic Kingdom will have it’s final performance on Oct. 2nd. This pre-parade is linked to the current “What Will You Celebrate” marketing campaign. The 2011 marketing campaign was announced on Sept. 23rd as “Let the Memories Begin.”
Block Party Bash is getting a make over. Updates indicate the Green Army Men and jumping acrobatic Cast Members are going to be removed. In their place, additional Pixar characters are being added; including Ratatouille Characters (Remy and Emile) and Up Characters (Carl and Russel). The current parade will end on Jan 1st. The updated parade is scheduled to begin Jan 16th. It’s assumed that the new parade will not include show stops, but only time will tell.
Agent Oso is replacing Jojo at Play ‘n Dine on October 3.
Duffy the Disney Bear is going to start making appearances at Epcot, start date is October 14.
Rapunzel and Flynn will be the first of the new Fantasyland styled character “play and greet” in the Fairytale Garden beginning October 15.

RUMORED CHARACTER CHANGE

Phineas, Ferb and Perry are rumored to be the replacement to the Power Rangers on DHS’s Streets of America. A source indicates the Power Ranger vehicle is being re-purposed for this new experience. Opening date is expected in calendar year 2011. I think it’s safe to assume we’ll get to hear some catchy P&F tunes if they keep those loud speakers!

For the most up to date Character Changes check out WDW Character Hunt.

Coming 2011 DisneyNature Presents African Cats

By

Chip

-

October 2, 2010

Against the backdrop of the African savanna, witness the heart-stopping rivalry between two clans and the epic journey of one brave family. “African Cats” captures the real-life love, humor and determination of these majestic kings of the savanna, including Mara, the daughter of an injured, but determined lioness; Sita, a brave cheetah and single mother of five newborn cubs who’s trying to make a home in the wildest place on Earth; and Kali, a lion once banished from his pride who returns with his sons to reclaim his home. Disneynature brings “The Lion King” to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill (“Earth”). An awe-inspiring adventure blending family intimacy with the power and cunning of the wild, “African Cats” leaps into theatres on Earth Day, April 22, 2011.
Notes:

“African Cats” is the third release for Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years. Launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to capture a variety of wildlife subjects and stories, Disneynature was behind both “Earth” and “Oceans.”
“Earth,” the first film to premiere domestically under the new label on Earth Day 2009, garnered a record-breaking opening weekend for a nature documentary. On its opening day, the film also broke the single-day box-office record for a nature documentary.
Hitting theaters on April 22, 2010, “Oceans” was the #1 film that day and had the third highest opening weekend box-office gross of all time for a nature film. “Oceans” is the third highest grossing feature-length nature film in history.
Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1949 and 1960, including “Seal Island” (1949), “Beaver Valley” (1950), “The Living Desert” (1953) and “Jungle Cat” (1958). The films earned eight Academy Awards®.

Leaping into theaters in celebration of Earth Day, 2011, “African Cats” features the real-life love, humor and determination of the kings of the African savanna: Mara, the daughter of an injured, but determined lioness; Sita, a brave cheetah and single mother of five newborn cubs; and Kali, a lion once banished from his pride, who returns with his five sons to reclaim his home.

Video tour of the 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival

By

Chip

-

October 2, 2010

Like a fine wine that improves with age, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival celebrates 15 years Oct. 1-Nov. 14 with an unrivaled global tasting experience.

Where on the planet can foodies sample the cuisine, culture and entertainment of more than two dozen countries during a 1.3-mile stroll around a picturesque 40-acre lagoon? Only at Walt Disney World Resort, where more than 25 international marketplaces around the World Showcase promenade at Epcot invite guests to taste tapas-sized portions and sip wines, beers and spirits from six continents.

This year, Disney and celebrity chefs are teaming with winemakers and brew masters from around the world to commemorate 15 years of Delicious Discoveries. During the six-week festival, guests will discover:

Three new tasting marketplaces – Belgium, South Korea and Singapore – plus new menu offerings at popular returning marketplaces including Argentina, Chile, Poland, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Australia, U.S.A., Spain and others.
Celebrity chef appearances starring top culinarians like Warren Brown, Cat Cora, Todd English, Gale Gand, Robert Irvine, Art Smith, Andrew Zimmern and more.
A complimentary Marketplace Discovery Passport to be stamped at each international marketplace visited for the perfect scrapbook souvenir.
Daily wine seminars, bottle signings, author events and culinary demonstrations at the Festival Welcome Center.
Eat to the Beat! concerts three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre.
Two Epcot restaurants grand opening just in time for the festival: Via Napoli authentic pizzeria at the Italy pavilion and La Hacienda de San Angel at the Mexico pavilion.

Moving on up..Walt Disney World Hilton sells for $127M

By

Chip

-

October 2, 2010

This article comes to us from the Orlando Sentinel.

One of the official partner hotels of Walt Disney World has been sold by the building’s longtime owner for $127.2 million.

Tishman Hotel & Realty LP said Tuesday it “decided to take advantage of pent-up demand” for well-performing properties and sold the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort to Hilton Worldwide, which has been managing the hotel for nearly three decades.

“During our nearly 30-year ownership of the hotel, the Hilton posted strong returns and consistently outperformed its competitors,” Tishman stated. “We maintain a strong presence in the Orlando hospitality market and continue to own the Walt Disney World Swan and the Walt Disney World Dolphin.”

The sale price for the 814-room property, which was built in the early 1980s, equates to about $156,000 a room.

It’s not a steal, but given the hotel’s prime location near Downtown Disney and its popularity with meeting planners, it was probably deemed a good buy by Hilton’s owner, the Blackstone Group, said Scott Smith, a lodging professor in the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

“That’s definitely on the high side, but the thing to remember is it’s got the best location almost in the world,” Smith said.

Most hotel-management companies have typically shied away from being property owners, preferring instead to put their resources toward developing and managing hotels, he said. But he added: “I think, with Blackstone at the helm of Hilton, they’re looking for good investments.”

Click here to keep reading.

Coming to Theaters in 2012 Star Wars Saga in 3D!

By

Chip

-

October 2, 2010

Lucasfilm Ltd. announced earlier this week that the live-action Star Wars Saga will be converted to 3D!

There are few movies that lend themselves more perfectly to 3D; from the Death Star trench run to the Tatooine Podrace, the Star Wars Saga has always delivered an entertainment experience that is completely immersive.

Presented by Twentieth Century Fox and Lucasfilm Ltd., the cutting edge conversion will take that immersion to the next thrilling level, with Industrial Light & Magic supervising the project.

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is expected to be released theatrically in 2012. A release date has not yet been determined.

“Getting good results on a stereo conversion is a matter of taking the time and getting it right,” said John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor for Industrial Light & Magic. “It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to detail to be successful. It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results.

For Star Wars we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new Star Wars experience.”

Click here to hear more of this awesome news!

Photos: HalloweenTime at Disneyland

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

October 2, 2010

I posted yesterday that I would be sharing some photos of Disneyland while it’s decorated for Halloween. This is part one! There will definitely be a few posts, so be on the lookout. (I can only take so many photos in one day due to some crowds. The park is definitely drawing in lots of visitors!)

Unfortunately I am unable to attend Mickey’s Trick-Or-Treat Party at Disneyland, or the Halloween party at WDW. I would LOVE to see photos from our readers if you’re going! You can send them to me at [email protected]. I’d like to make a photo collage of all your photos!

As promised, here’s a taste of Disneyland at HalloweenTime.

Photos: HalloweenTime at Disneyland

Photo Update: California Adventure

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

October 2, 2010

California Adventure may not be decorated for Halloween, but there’s still lots of stuff happening over there.

ElecTRONica, a new dance party coming in October to promote the upcoming TRON film, is starting to get set up!

Photo Update: California Adventure

Grapes are growing at the winery!

Photo Update: California Adventure

Cars themed construction walls

Photo Update: California Adventure

The Maliboomer has been covered up. It’s being removed to make way for a new attraction.

Photo Update: California Adventure

What are some of your Disneyworld Traditions?

By

Chip

-

October 2, 2010

While writing an article yesterday I started thinking about our last Disney World Vacation. I thought about the places we have to visit, things we like to eat, then I wondered about traditions we like to do before we leave. After pondering my own weird and unusual traditions I opened this question to our Facebook Family.

I will start off with some of my strange Disney Park Traditions and then move on to yours..

I have an obsession with the soaps & shampoo from Walt Disney World. I have quite the extensive collection and I make sure on my trip to snatch up the soaps and shampoo and hide them so I get new ones everyday. Then when I leave I use those soaps and shampoos at other hotels to feel like I am back at Disney..
Also when we visit we HAVE to ride all the different forms of transportation at the parks. I plan for us to come to the Magic Kingdom almost a different way. By bus, monorail, and ferry, and motor launch I am obsessed with the the transportation.
I have a bunch more but I will spare myself the laughter and mocking..

Ok now our Facebook Fans answers.

Chris W – On our last day, we go to the MK. When we leave, we always turn around in front of Town Square, look at the castle and wave good-bye to Mickey. This has to happen.
Jaime G – when we go to MK we always stop at the Main street barber shop and get the boys hair cuts (they both had their first haircuts here….6 years apart) and we have to get some color and pixie dust added in too!
Kristy M – Because we drive we don’t do a park on our last day, but we always go to a late breakfast at Chef Mickey’s to say our goodbyes. It makes leaving a little more enjoyable. We also always have Thanksgiving lunch at Beaches and Cream and all we order is a Kitchen Sink. We also always have to start the trip at MK. The other parks are great but we have to start with MK.
Lisa P – The first thing we do after we check in the hotel is walk over to EPCOT and have lunch at Les Chefs De France then go over and ride Journey To Imagination. Once we have done that we know our vacation has begun!
Kelly L – We honk the horn while passing under the Welcome to Disney World sign that goes over the road as we drive in!
Carrie A – Upon arrival to the resort we place bets on what color monorail we see first. When it’s sad time it’s the same routine – breakfast at Kona Cafe, one final ride on the monorail, BBB for the girls, a few hours at MK, sitting backward in the rental car so we can watch the “Welcome to DW” sign become part of the horizon, a quick argument over something stupid because our nerves are shot after 10+ days with each other 24/7 and neither of us want to go back to reality, and then off to the airport we go.
Cynthia S – Have to walk the magic kingdom and the World Showcase Clockwise. I don’t know why….
DeAnna W – we round the corner in town square, stand there at the entrance of main street looking at the castle and I throw my hands up in victory & say “we made it – we’re here!” then we all laugh & walk on -but I do it every time with a tear in my ey…e because thats what my dear sweet dad always did when we were young. Then its off to Pirates of the Caribbean & everyone has to join in singing “Yo Ho” at least once. That’s when its really real- i AM there! we also yell like mad when we go under the Disney World sign for the 1st time. I must have a pastry every time from Boulangerie in France. I must visit the Christmas store in Downtown Disney. I can smell the cinnamon before I even reach the door & i always take home a new ornament for the tree. Whew! thats just a few!
Jessica S – Every time Eric and I go to Disneyland and have a few extra bucks, we buy taffy from the candy shop in Main Street. It’s $2 for a small bag (one scoop). The taffy is SOOOOO good! We love it. We get a small bag and pour it in to pick out the pieces we really like. (Banana is our favorite.)
Pamela W – We always ride Its a Small world first. One year is was closed for refurb & had to do Peter Pan instead & it just wasn’t the same. This was the first ride that my children ever rode at WDW. We also always eat at Flame Tree Barbeque at AK.
Jameson K – We always go to Downtown Disney on our last day to try to milk the last of the Disney magic we can. So, what if we don’t get home until 4 a.m.? Totally worth it!!
Marion D – When we arrive at Disney, we sing “When You Wish Upon A Star” as we drive under the Welcome To Disney Sign. If you start the moment you see it in the distance, you finish “where dreams come true” as you cross under. Love it!
Tammy K – Oh, that Welcome to Walt Disney World sign, get’s me every time – I just got goose bumps thinking about it. Every time we go, I call my niece and fellow Disney Addict, Carrie, and “ride” under the sign with her….stupid, but very exciting.
Sharon C – Last day – The Magic Kingdom, turn around at the train station and look at the castle and say “I love you, I will miss you, and I will see you soon!” Then breathe a long sigh…………….

What are some of your Disney Traditions or Rituals you like to do when you visit the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comment section below.

A Peek into Two Disney World Holiday Traditions for the First-Time Visitor

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

October 2, 2010

I am now in official countdown mode. My family will be heading back to Disney World in less than seven weeks. In between jotting down reminders and checking my to-dos, I am daydreaming of all the things to which I am looking forward. Since two of the favorite things I am longing for have to do with the holidays, I started thinking about all the first-timers who will be lucky enough to experience Disney for the first time during the best time of year – the glorious holiday season.

Although I am extremely excited about this trip for many reasons, from the resort to choosing this year’s Christmas ornament, the Castle Dream Lights and the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights are paramount among them. So, I decided to share some inspiration with all of you who are also on your countdown.

How can I describe the Castle Dream Lights? I have taken many, many pictures of it (like the one shown here), but no matter how hard I try something is always lost in translation –you can’t feel the magic by looking at a picture! I am telling you that when you see Cinderella’s Castle adorned in 200,000 tiny twinkling lights you can’t help but feel overwhelmed by its color-changing magnificence. You will be overcome with thankfulness for being able to be at this magical place. And I will give you another tip. Once you are finished staring at this breathtaking sight and manage to walk away, head on over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and ride it at night. When the train rises up over the ridge, turn to your right and enjoy this spectacular sight from another angle.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios began running the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights several years ago. Having nothing whatsoever to do with Ozzy’s family (since there are no bats at Christmastime, only at Halloween), this event is one I truly enjoy. To say that the first time I saw it I was in awe is a gross understatement. My family and I were walking around the studios talking and laughing and enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, when we rounded the corner at the Streets of America and I was paralyzed – except of course for my mouth that fell open and stayed that way for what seemed like ten minutes. I just stood there – dumbfounded! Overwhelmed by the lights dancing, the music blaring, the snow falling; all part of a grand celebration. Awesome!

I am really excited about seeing these beautiful holiday traditions again. They really get me into the Christmas spirit and they are two of the many things I love about Disney. I wish I could be with each person experiencing these wonders for the first time. If you are one of those lucky people, please do me a favor and send me an email to let me know what you thought. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you!

Best Things I Love About Disney…Characters In Flight

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

October 2, 2010

Best Things I Love About Disney…Characters In Flight

Located at Downtown Disney, Characters In Flight is a fun experience that you should try out if you are comfortable with it. I have an issue with heights but after looking at the gondola under the balloon and watching more than a few trips up and down from my secure location with both feet on solid ground, I decided to give it a try. The balloon is gas filled rather than hot air so your trip is smooth and quiet (no roar of the burner) and above all perfectly safe. As a matter of fact, it is the world’s largest tethered gas balloon (for those of you who are somewhat timid like me, that means it’s tied to the ground). There are strict limitations about wind speeds and the balloon will not fly when it exceeds a certain speed or will only carry a limited number of passengers at other designated wind speed levels. You can get some more specific information on the Disney website here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney/attractions/characters-in-flight/ . This site has pricing, policies, etc. I mentioned that before I would ride, I needed to look at the gondola. Here is a picture while we are at maximum altitude.

Best Things I Love About Disney…Characters In Flight

As you can see, you can’t fall out and the mesh surrounding you has large enough openings for virtually any camera lens. There is also room for you to move around (depending on the number of passengers) to take photos from a number of places. From 400+ feet you can see all of Walt Disney World if it’s a clear day.

The crew operating the balloon is both experienced and professional and they will answer any questions you may have. If you are lucky enough to have a relatively uncrowded flight they will even take a picture of you with your camera. Characters In Flight is a fun, exhilarating, and most importantly from my point of view SAFE experience and I encourage you to give it a try!! Enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World.

Ken

Disney Blogging, Commenting, or Just Taking a Peek?

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

October 2, 2010

Not everyone has caught the Blogging bug. But just a quick review of the Net will show that millions have. In fact, it seems that Blogging has become an epidemic! Plug any Keyword into your favorite Search Engine, and you will be buried under thousands of possible places to surf.

If you’re reading this essay, then you are probably a Disney fan. Rejoice my friend; the Net abounds with Disney-themed blogs, websites, and video channels. I wonder what the average number of sites stored in the average Disney Fans ‘Favorites’ are? Ten? Twenty? Way more? And how many hours a day do we spend on these sites, either at home or at work?

Let’s just admit that it’s A LOT.

So are you Blogging? If not, are you commenting? Or are you just taking a peek? Let’s look at these three participation options: Blogging.

Blogging, or maintaining a website, is a huge commitment. To call it a labor of love is an understatement to be sure! Hours each day are put into researching, writing, formatting, and eventually publishing the content for these sites. At least some of the Blogger’s vacation time is spent in collecting interesting material for eventual inclusion on his or her site. And for the most part, these sites are free to the general public. Read: Us!

Commenting. Why bother?

There are many ways that a Blogger (or Website Host) can determine if his or her site is being visited. Most have some version of a Web Counter that keeps track of how many hits the site in question is getting by the day, week, month, and year. Most Web Counters can also tell the Host where his Guests are coming from, but without compromising the Guest’s privacy.

I think we all realize this, and so maybe we feel that a comment from us is not necessary. Perhaps we feel that our feedback won’t make a difference. Well, as a Blogger myself, I can say that this is certainly NOT the case!

Although Web Counters can give a Host the basic stats about his or her efforts, they can’t let him or her know if the content of the site is appreciated. Or what parts of the Site are more beneficial to the Guests that are visiting on a regular basis. Or, perish the thought, what the Guests don’t like.

Does commenting take too much time? On occasion, it can take a few minutes to set up a Profile. But after that is done, commenting is as fast as you can type! Or you can skip the Profile stage and simply comment as ‘Anonymous’. Whatever you choose, the outcome is always the same: A Host will appreciate your efforts!

Just taking a peek. Is that all you have time for? No problem.

The Point: In the end, it’s all about the fun! So Blog. Comment. Or peek. It’s up to you.