News from Disney Parks Worldwide
Now there’s something you don’t see every day at Walt Disney World Resort. That’s the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flying over Main Street U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle to commemorate the start of “Air Force Week” in Central Florida. The Air Force’s official fighter demonstration team made the special flight over Magic Kingdom Park during a celebration of “Hometown Heroes” that included honoring dignitaries at our Celebrate a Dream Come True parade. Today, we’re sharing highlights:
Gene Duncan, a photographer at Walt Disney World caputured some great snaps of a couple of colourful characters in Disneys Hollywood Studios! He also writes about his encounter!
Officer Percival Peabody stretches his arm out of his “car window” and loudly announces his intentions – “LEFT TURN!” “LEFT TURN!” He slowly does a complete left turn – by complete, I mean 360 degrees – no, make that 720 degrees. His partner, Officer First Class William Club maintains a steady vigil for any careless pedestrians along Hollywood Boulevard. What are they doing, you ask? Why, they begin camouflaging their “patrol car” with faux trees and vines, and carefully measure out white tape and lay it out on the pavement…They are not so secretly setting a “speed trap” for the well-being of those traveling the boulevard. They even produce a sign that verifies this.
I watch as they chase down a speeding mother and child, handheld siren blaring. What fun to observe this duo of comedic cops hard at work- surely, experts in the field of “laugh enforcement!”
October is one of the best times of the year to visit Disneyland Resort, as Disney's talented ghouls and goblins – otherwise known as our Visual Presentation teams and Resort Enhancement teams – go above and beyond in creating immersive experiences in some of the key store locations.
Each year, Disney partner with the Resort Enhancement teams who seamlessly take overdressing the Resort to a whole new level. They create spaces that will get people excited and into the spirit of the season. The two groups are able to continue telling the story of Halloween from our streets to our stores. I hope that the Guests visiting the Resort take a minute to look at the overdressed window displays and the stores.
Here are just a few of the locations and window displays to check out if you are visiting the Disneyland Resort this week.
This past weekend, the people who brought Rapunzel and Flynn Rider to life in the Disney film, “Tangled,” had a chance to meet the characters in Fantasyland at Disneyland park. Mandy Moore, voice of Rapunzel, and Zachary Levi, voice of Flynn Rider, were at Disneyland park doing interviews to celebrate the film’s upcoming release this Thanksgiving. During their visit, they headed over to Fantasyland to see Rapunzel and Flynn Rider for the first time in the Park. While they were here, we caught up with them to ask a few questions about their exciting new movie.
The directors of the film, Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, also talked with us about creating this film. They told us they enjoyed creating a comedy that features hilarious characters, and is also an action-packed film that includes horse chases, sword fights, prison breaks and floods. Take a peek.
“Tangled” will appear in Disney Digital 3D in theaters November 24, and Rapunzel and Flynn Rider are now greeting guests at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.
As guests of Disney Parks share Disney vacation memories through the “Let the Memories Begin” program in 2011, America’s military personnel will have opportunities to make memories through special offers on theme park tickets and accommodations.At Walt Disney World Resort – now through Sept. 28, 2011, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses (but not both) can purchase:
At Disneyland Resort – now through Sept. 28, 2011, active and retired U.S. military personnel (including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard, National Guard and Reservists) or their spouses (but not both) can purchase:
Disney Military Promotional Tickets can be purchased at participating U.S. military sales outlets only by active and retired U.S. military personnel for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends. No more than six Disney Military Promotional Tickets may be purchased and (if applicable) activated by any eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse) pursuant to this offer. In addition, all six must be purchased at the same time and one of the six must be for use by the eligible member of the U.S. military (or spouse). Valid military identification is required.
All tickets and options are non-transferable and may not be used after Oct. 1, 2011. In addition, Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets (including any options) for the Walt Disney World Resort may not be used on the following blockout dates: Dec. 27, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2010, and April 17, 2011, through April 23, 2011, at all Walt Disney World Theme Parks and other gated attractions; and July 4, 2011, at Magic Kingdom Park; and Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for the Disneyland Resort may not be used on the following blockout dates: Dec. 24, 2010, through Jan. 1, 2011, Feb. 18, 2011, through Feb. 21, 2011, April 17, 2011, through April 23, 2011, and July 1, 2011, through July 4, 2011, at the Disneyland Theme Parks.
Don’t forget to ask about special room rates at select hotels at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.
For complete information regarding Disney 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Walt Disney World Resort (including official eligibility requirements, restrictions and black-out dates), or to make room reservations at the Walt Disney World Resort, military personnel may call (407) 939-7830 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices. For information regarding Disney 3-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort (including official eligibility requirements, restrictions and black-out dates), or to make room reservations at the Disneyland Resort, military personnel may call (714) 956-6424 or participating U.S. military base ticket offices.
Guests visiting us now have the opportunity to see two species of animals that are new to Disney’s Animal Kingdom – the emperor tamarin in Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the addax on the Kilimanjaro Safaris. They join the more than 1,500 animals representing over 300 species that make their home at our theme park.
A pair of emperor tamarins (gotta love the mustache!), a male and a female, have joined the cotton-top tamarins and the golden lion tamarins on the trail to Conservation Station in Rafiki’s Planet Watch. There are only 34 emperor tamarins in U.S. zoological parks, and the pair came to Disney’s Animal Kingdom as a recommendation from the Population Management Plan program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which means that a baby emperor tamarin would be a welcome event! Emperor tamarins naturally range in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.
Five male addax, a kind of African antelope, recently made their debut on the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Addax are best known for their long, corkscrew horns. Once widespread across North Africa, the addax population has been severely reduced due to over-hunting. They also are impacted by long periods of drought. Addax are critically endangered with estimates indicating that there are fewer than 300 in the wild.
Next week, we’re celebrating “Hometown Heroes” at Magic Kingdom Park in honor of Air Force Week in Central Florida. And the day will include a quite a sight – the United States Air Force Thunderbird jets flying over Magic Kingdom Park. The flyover will be Tuesday, October 26 at about 3:15 p.m. Also, United States Air Force dignitaries will be honored during the day at the park’s “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade
