A Disney Vinylmation Toy Story

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July 6, 2010

This exciting news comes to us from Disney Parks Blog.

I loved playing with toys when I was little. I still enjoy playing with toys only now they include more technology and are more expensive. Like many parents, I took my kids to see Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” on opening day in 3-D. Besides being a wonderful film, it brought back many memories of toys I played with when little. Now a whole new generation of “kids” (yes, the little ones and those that refuse to grow up – you know who you are) will be happy to see the latest Vinylmation “toys” – the Toy Story series. I spoke with Thomas Scott, lead designer for Vinylmation, about this new series.

“Work began on the series in summer 2009,” explained Thomas. “I suggested an entire series saluting the trilogy of Toy Story films. This gave me a range of characters to select from including some characters not featured in the newest film.”

The series will be sold as a Limited Release mystery set. In other words, there are 11 known designs and one Mystery Chaser. Lin Shih from Disney Design Group worked with Thomas on the packaging. He digitally illustrated the Buzz Lightyear and Woody characters on the packaging using the same techniques used by the animators of the Toy Story films.

Thomas explained the key component to what makes the Toy Story series different than other Vinylmation series.

“New in this series are accessories,” continued Thomas. “I thought to make this series work, we needed some key accessories like Buzz’s helmet. And if Buzz Lightyear had a helmet, then Woody and Jessie would need hats. These accessories were essential to making the characters more recognizable.”

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Disney may start Shanghai Disneyland park work in November

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Chip

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July 6, 2010

Disney could start building its planned theme park in Shanghai as early as November, a year after Chinese authorities gave the green light for the project, a report said Tuesday.

“Talks on the Disney project are in the final stages and the construction is expected to start as early as November,” the China Business News reported, citing an unnamed source.

The park would be Disney’s fourth outside the United States and its third in Asia, after Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong — the last to open in 2005.

All major construction in Shanghai has been suspended until after the World Expo ends on October 31 as part of efforts to improve the city’s air quality during the six-month event.

The Shanghai government announced its long-awaited approval for the project in November last year after authorities in Beijing approved Disney’s application.

Neither side disclosed any figures or gave a timeframe for the project, but previous reports have said the US entertainment giant will invest 3.6 billion dollars in the 10-square-kilometre (four-square-mile) park.

When asked about the report, Disney said it looked forward to being able to announce a final deal and a timeline for opening in the future.

“Final discussions between Disney and the Shanghai government are not yet complete, and detailed negotiations to produce a final deal will continue for a number of months,” a Hong Kong-based Disney spokeswoman told AFP in an email.

Source

Disney’s Tangled New Concept Art And Images

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Chip

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July 6, 2010

New concept art images from Walt Disney Pictures upcoming movie “Tangled” have been revealed on the “Tangled” Facebook Page. The upcoming movie is set to premiere in theaters on November 2010. It is the story of Rapunzel and her long blonde hair, trapped in a tower until a dashing young man comes to rescue her!

Check out more images concept art images below.

Reservations Open July 20 For Epcot Food & Wine Festival Special Events

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Chip

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July 6, 2010

Great news from Disney Parks Blog for those planning on attending the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival!

If there’s a special event at this year’s fest that you don’t want to miss, start dialing 407-WDW-FEST at 7 a.m. July 20 – that’s when the Disney reservations team will start bookings for events for the 15th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

With a “Delicious Discoveries” theme, there are plenty of events that are free with park admission, but fans will want to try to snag a spot at the first-ever First Bites Opening Reception ($195 plus tax and theme park admission). Or the new “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery ($45 plus park admission) with a front-row seat and sweets for viewing IllumiNations.

We love to wander, sip and nosh our way around World Showcase – the lobster and scallop fisherman’s pie is back in the Ireland Marketplace, ditto the braised beef short ribs in France. And we can’t wait to try the mussels in garlic cream at the new Belgium Marketplace. With more than 250 Disney and celeb chefs showing off their skills throughout the festival, any day is a good day.

Festival details will be available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine before reservations open July 20.

Disney Food Confession – Flourless Chocolate Cake with Recipe

By

Chip

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July 6, 2010

Where is it? Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World

What is it? Flourless Chocolate Cake Served with Port Wine sauce, fresh berries, and sweetened creme fraiche.

Why you want it? To say you have tried this delicious chocolate cake that was made without flour!

Photo Credit: by Disney

If you have a Disney Food Confession email [email protected] or let us know on the Disney Food Confessions Facebook page.. He is accepting Food ideas or Photos if you have them!

Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe

Yield: 12 servings.

1 cup butter, unsalted

1 cup dark chocolate chips (special dark or bittersweet)

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 tablespoons fresh brewed espresso (instant can be substituted)

2 tablespoons hot water

1 cup sugar

6 eggs

2 tablespoons rum

Icing:

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup dark chocolate chips (special dark or bittersweet)

1. Heat oven to 250 F.

2. In microwavable bowl, mix butter and 1 cup of the chocolate chips. Place in microwave on low power, 1 minute at a time until completely melted, stir until smooth. Set aside.

3. In another bowl, dissolve cocoa powder with espresso and hot water, stirring until you have a smooth consistency, set aside.

4. In another bowl, large enough to hold all ingredients, combine eggs, sugar and rum, stirring until combined.

5. Add coffee/cocoa mixture to egg mixture and then the chocolate mixture to the egg/cocoa, stirring until you have a smooth and creamy consistency.

6. Pour into 12 buttered cupcake tins, or 6 1/2-cup buttered ramekins. If using ramekins, place on baking sheet. Bake at 250 F 30 minutes. Cakes should souffle only very little. Be careful not to over-bake. Remove from oven and let cool.

7. Place in the freezer 3 hours or overnight. Remove from pans and place on a wire rack over a sheet pan.

8. Prepare the icing by placing the heavy cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the remaining cup of chocolate chips, stir until smooth. Pour chocolate over cakes, making sure to cover sides. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Without reservations, you might miss out on great dining at Disney World

By

Chip

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July 6, 2010

This article comes to us from Kristin Ford at the Daily Disney.

To dine at a table-service restaurant at Disney World on any holiday means planning ahead with a reservation. Sure, a few lucky folks may squeeze in when they walk up, but for the most part, you need to book it in advance.

This was apparent Sunday at the Polynesian Resort when we waited for our table. The lines just to check in at Ohana’s and Kona Cafe stretched down the lobby hallways.

Sometimes, even securing that Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) can be difficult if you want to dine at the most popular places on Disney property. I learned that a few years ago when we wanted to schedule lunch at Cinderella’s Royal Table in her castle at the Magic Kingdom. I called months in advance only to learn the my kids’ birthdays were already booked.

So, what’s a parent to do? Call exactly 180 days prior to the date you want to request an ADR. Guests staying at a Disney resort can call 190 days ahead of time. Make sure you call when Disney Dining opens at 7 a.m. EST and be prepared to be on hold. When I called to make castle dining reservations the second year, I phoned when the call center opened. Though I was on the line for 45 minutes, I did get an ADR for the meal and date I wanted. If you still are unable to book your preferred ADR, call back often to check for cancellations.

According to one Disney dining agent, the most difficult ADRs to secure are, in this order:

** Le Cellier steakhouse in Canada at Epcot

**Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort

** Cinderella’s Royal Table at Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom

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The Disney Blog Carnival for July is now LIVE!

By

Chip

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July 6, 2010

It’s back! The new improved Blog Carnival is now live on the Dismarks site. This months edition has some great articles from all the best Disney blogs, including some brand new ones!

Check it out here!

There is even a link to the previous editions in case you missed it.

Free Dining Extended through December 21st.

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 6, 2010

A bit of a surprise given that Disney recently announced that they were going to cut back on our beloved discounts, but a welcome one nonetheless. Here are the details:

Disney values will get the quick service dining plan. Deluxes and moderates will get the regular dining plan. It is very economical and easy to upgrade these packages.
The promotion covers packages, which means you’ll need to purchase at least a 2-day theme park ticket.
The dates are as follows: August 15 – Ocober 7, October 22 – October 28, November 12-18, November 27 – December 2, and December 10 – 21. Note the blackout dates during ThanksgiviPop Warner and the D23 event taking place in December.
You must stay at least 3 consecutive nights.
Book by August 14.
Suites are excluded from this offer.

Remember, if you already have a reservation, you can call your travel agent or Disney and have this added. This is a very limited promotion, so call as soon as possible.

Good luck!

Best Place to Grab a Steak at Walt Disney World

By

Chip

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July 6, 2010

I am a sucker for Steak! Give me one hot off the grill, forget the potatoes or veggies. A plate full of steak and I am a happy man. Personally when I make steak I let it marinade for 24hrs in a flavorful marinade called Allegro. To enhance the flavor you can cut orange or lime slices to give the flavor even more of a kick.

While at Disneyworld we always make it a point to eat at Le Cellier Steakhouse. I love the steaks and atmosphere there. It is one of my Favorite Disneyworld Restaurants.

I am a regular troll over at Passporter and they have a thread running for favorite steak at Walt Disney World. Having watching the posts form I am amazed on all the great places people love to get steaks.

So I thought why not put together a poll and see which one receives top honors. So now is your chance to vote for your favorite place to grab a steak at Walt Disney World.

If I missed one let me know in the comment section below and I will add it..I am sure I did as there probably is a hundred places to get one at WDW. Also let us know why its your favorite in the comment section too.

All this talk of steak is making me hungry..

Photo Credit kobolila via flickr.com

[poll id=”21″]

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Top 5 Butterbeer Recipes

By

Chip

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July 5, 2010

I know this it not quite Disney News but with Harry Potter fever hitting the Orlando Area and the Deathly Hallows set to release in a few months I thought of no better time to share with you the Top 5 Butterbeer Recipes from around the interwebs. When I did a search there are probably about 100 different recipes out there, these seem to be the most popular.

Universal is keeping a tight lid on the recipe but there are some very talented people out there who have come up with both alcoholic and nonalcoholic varieties of this wonderful concoction.

1. This comes to us from Mugglenet.com

Ingredients:

1 cup (8 oz) club soda or cream soda
½ cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
½ tablespoon butter

Directions:

Step 1: Measure butterscotch and butter into a 2 cup (16 oz) glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.

Step 2: Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in club soda. Mixture will fizz quite a bit.

Step 3: Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses; a perfectly warm Hogwarts treat for two!

2. This is the same as #1 minus the butter

Ingredients:

8oz ginger ale or cream soda
2-3 tablespoons of butterscotch syrup

Directions:

1. Mix in a tall glass and serve over ice

3. Here is a nice Alcoholic version for the Adults

Ingredients:

1 cup butterscotch schnapps
7 cups cream soda (2 liter bottle)

Directions:

1. Carefully mix just before serving, adding the schnapps to the soda then stirring gently to mix well, or the fizz will dissipate too soon

4. Here is one from the Food Network show Semi-Home Made with Sandra Lee

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup butterscotch topping
2 tablespoons whipped butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups vanilla cream soda

Directions:

Combine condensed milk, butterscotch topping, and butter in a glass heatproof measuring cup. Heat in microwave for 1 minute. Remove and stir until butter has melted and incorporated into mixture. Meanwhile heat cream soda in another heatproof measuring cup for 1 minute 30 seconds.

Divide butterscotch mixture between 2 (10 to 12-ounce) mugs. Fill mugs with heated cream soda and stir thoroughly. Serve garnished with an old-fashioned butterscotch candy stick.

5. Here is a very different one from CD Kitchen.com

Ingredients:

1 pint vanilla ice cream (softened)
1/2 stick butter (softened)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 quart apple cider

Directions:

Cream butter, sugar and spices together. Beat in the vanilla ice cream. Re-freeze the mixture. Scoop out the frozen mixture into a glass. Pour hot Apple cider over the ice cream mixture.

Optional: add an ounce of rum for an adult treat.

Ilene Woods dies at 81 voice of Disney’s Cinderella

By

Chip

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July 5, 2010

Woods was an 18-year-old radio singer when Walt Disney asked her to give voice to the sweet stepdaughter who finds her Prince Charming. Woods gave the character warmth and made her likeable.

Ilene Woods, who provided the speaking and singing voice for the title character in Walt Disney’s classic 1950 animated feature ” Cinderella,” has died. She was 81.

Woods, a Calabasas resident, died of causes related to Alzheimer’s disease Thursday at a nursing and rehabilitation center in Canoga Park, said her husband, Ed Shaughnessy, the former longtime drummer on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.”

Woods was a busy 18-year-old singer on radio in 1948 when, as a favor to two songwriter friends, Jerry Livingston and Mack David, she recorded a “demo” of a few songs they had written for Walt Disney’s upcoming animated feature.

Source

Disney testing new entertainment options in Pleasure Island

By

Chip

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July 5, 2010

This article comes to us from Attractions Magazine:

Disney has been testing some new entertainment options at Downtown Disney for the past few weeks. It seems the Celebrate Tonight show in Pleasure Island which featured DJs and stilt walkers is no longer running. There are some new entertainment options in the area.

During a trip to Pleasure Island last night, many different acts were taking turns entertaining the crowds as Disney managers looked on. Acts were set up in the spot where Celebrate Tonight performed, in front of the old BET Soundstage Club and in the steps in front of the old Adventurers Club. A Disney manager we talked to said they’re trying out some new options and that guests may see these acts in the future, or they may see different ones.

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