News from Disney Parks Worldwide
.jpg)
Listen up Space Mountain fans, there’s a new addition to the Walt Disney World Resort attraction that just may be music to your ears. It’s an enhanced audio experience with sounds you’ve never heard before. Walt Disney Imagineering has added a new composition that’s exclusive to the attraction at Magic Kingdom Park that will play with varying sound effects throughout all “flights” on 60 newly installed speakers. “Starry-O-Phonic Sound” compliments a slew of enhancements that debuted on Space Mountain last year, including new lighting, storyline elements and updated decor. Here’s a special message from The Space Mountain Project Team.
If you do indeed know what a “Hidden Mickey” is, then you’re smiling right now and probably proud of yourself that you’ve found a few or more. A “Hidden Mickey” is a Mickey Mouse shape that Walt Disney Imagineers have strategically placed throughout the Disneyland Resort. (They’re actually in all the resorts.) It comes in many forms, from a complete Mickey Mouse profile to the outline of his head and ears. They come in all sizes and they’re fun to “hunt.”
This video shows some of the Hidden Mickeys found in Disneyland.
Hang on to your hats and glasses because there’s a new signature suite at the Disneyland Hotel – the Big Thunder Suite. Today we’re giving you a sneak peek at the Big Thunder Suite, and in the coming weeks, we’ll also share details of some of the other signature suites, including the new Fairy Tale Suite, Mickey Mouse Penthouse and Pirates of the Caribbean Suite. All are located on the 11th floor of the hotel’s Dreams Tower and boast a distinct design, luxurious amenities and amazing views.
The Big Thunder Suite is the wildest suite in the wilderness and immerses up to six pioneers in 1,400-square-feet of luxurious rustic accommodations inspired by the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction at Disneyland park.
Howling wolves sound to the push of the suite’s doorbell as guests step into a mine shaft foyer inlaid with Fool’s Gold and hear the rumble of a passing runaway mine train. A button on the wall can be pushed to trigger sound effects from the attraction. The mine shaft leads into a living and dining area that separates the suite’s two bedrooms. In many rooms, repurposed wood from a Midwestern barn is used as flooring and paneling, which is complimented by textured earthen walls.
A stone-hearth fireplace in the living area serves as the suite’s centerpiece and houses a mounted flat-panel television. When not in use, the TV is cleverly concealed by one of the many pieces of attraction concept art found throughout the suite. The living area also includes a surround sound-stereo system and displays antique tools once used for mining gold, including an 1850s gold scale and pan.
The centerpiece of the dining area is a knotted table with seating for eight, with a wagon-wheel chandelier. Nearby is a wet bar made of petrified wood and above the bar hangs a “living portrait” of a gold miner who magically changes activities over the course of the day.
Rustic décor belies the luxurious amenities found in the suite’s two bedrooms. The master bedroom is appointed with a desk, sitting area, TV and king-sized bed with a commanding headboard made of rich wood, brown leather and exposed brackets.
The master bath is revealed through a sliding barn door, where a free-standing copper tub is surrounded by a dramatic stone wall. The tub’s copper finish matches the copper piping in the adjacent steam shower, which is tiled with an earth-tone mosaic. A television is concealed behind the mirror above the bathroom’s bucket sinks.
For just 14 days in August and 14 days in September-October, Chef Mickey’s restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is adding a lunch buffet, complete with Disney Characters to meet and greet diners.
High demand for the free dining package necessitates the expanded dining time, but anyone (not just guests on the package) can make a reservation at 407-WDW-DINE or here. Cost is $28.75 including tax, $15.97 ages 3 to 9, under 3 free.
Dates are now through Aug. 28, and Sept. 19-Oct. 2. Lunch hours are 12:30-2:30 p.m. Breakfast and dinner are still offered as usual.
.jpg)
The video below gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the Disneyland Resort Topiary Engineer maintains the zebra at “it’s a small world.” Watch the video through the end to catch a few tips on how to grow your own topiary, and make sure you keep an eye out for the surprise ending.
Here are some additional fun facts about topiaries:
As kids enjoy their last days of summer break, Walt Disney World Cast Members have been gearing up to help Central Florida students succeed in the upcoming school year.
Stocking up on boxes of crayons, rulers, pencils and notebooks over the last few weeks, Cast Members have collected a record 2 million school supplies through Walt Disney World Resort’s annual back-to-school supply drive. See a video here.
This week, hundreds of Disney VoluntEARS are sorting through school supplies and distributing them to local students through partnerships with A Gift For Teaching and Supplies to Assist Our Students, also known asS.T.A.R.S. Both organizations say they are seeing a record level of need in our local community with more families struggling to make ends meet.
Chesta Hembrooke, president and founder of S.T.A.R.S., believes that new school supplies give children confidence on the first day of school so they can be on equal footing with everyone in their class. According to Hembrooke, the donated backpacks and supplies from Disney are the only new items that thousands of local students will receive to start the school year.
Originally posted by Kathleen Prihoda at DisneyParksBlog
Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons is thrilled to announce the launch of Disney's Facebook application!
My Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings Site is fully customizable and allows you to invite your friends and family, whether they’re on Facebook or not, to stay up-to-date on your wedding details. You can upload photos, send out virtual save-the-date cards and even inform your guests about Theme Park tickets and Resort Accommodations.
Announce your wedding from day one and allow your guests to be part of the celebration! You can easily manage your planning by compiling your guest list and then tracking your RSVP’s. Be sure to create a few polls so your guests can vote on anything from where you should honeymoon to the color of your dress! Stay connected after you say “I do” by uploading your wedding photos and sharing unforgettable wedding stories.
Disney’s Night of Joy is less than a month away and the excitement is building. Throughout the summer, artists have been stopping by the Vacation Kingdom and we’ll be showing some exclusive video of their visits here on the Disney Parks Blog in advance of the event.
Today’s video is from Fervent Records’ Christian hip hop sensations Group 1 Crew.
Blanca, Manwell and Pablo, who hail from Central Florida, burst onto the Christian music scene in 1996 and haven’t slowed down a bit. They stopped by the Magic Kingdom recently; and, after a little fun on Space Mountainand a special meeting with their pal Goofy, the band chatted about their new EP Spacebound.
In addition to Group 1 Crew, 2010 Christian music Artist of the Year Casting Crowns and past Christian music “Artists of the Year” Third Day, mercyme and Chris Tomlin head a star-powered 16-act lineup set for Disney’s Night of Joy 2010 Sept. 10-11 when the long-running Christian music event makes its return to Magic Kingdom.
Also part of the two-night event (when specific acts play one evening each): David Crowder*Band, Family Force 5, Red, BarlowGirl, Day of Fire, Smokie Norful, Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, Sidewalk Prophets, Thousand Foot Krutch and Britt Nicole.
This Just In: We have a first look at the 2010 Night of Joy Concert Schedule (artist/times subject to change without notice)
Friday, Sept. 10
| Artist | Stage | Showtimes |
| Group 1 Crew | Galaxy Stage | 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m. |
| David Crowder* Band | Cinderella Castle Stage | 7:45 p.m. |
| Sidewalk Prophets | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 8:15 p.m. |
| Casting Crowns | Cinderella Castle Stage | 9:45 p.m. |
| 10th Avenue North | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 9:45 p.m. |
| BarlowGirl | Galaxy Stage | 10:45 p.m. & 12:15 a.m. |
| Thousand Foot Krutch | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 11:30 p.m. |
| Chris Tomlin | Cinderella Castle Stage | 11:45 p.m. |
Saturday, Sept. 11
| Artist | Stage | Showtimes |
| Smokie Norful | Galaxy Stage | 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m. |
| Family Force 5 | Cinderella Castle Stage | 7:45 p.m. |
| Britt Nicole | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 8:20 p.m. |
| Third Day | Cinderella Castle Stage | 9:45 p.m. |
| Day of Fire | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 9:45 p.m. & 11:20 p.m. |
| LeCrae | Galaxy Stage | 10:30 p.m. |
| MercyMe | Cinderella Castle Stage | 11:45 p.m. |
| Red | Galaxy Stage | Midnight |
Night of Joy tickets and additional information about the event are available at www.nightofjoy.com.
