"Destination: Disney" Innovation & Technology Aboard the Disney Dream

"Destination: Disney" is an original, short-form video series, which entertains guests by providing an inside look at the 'Disney Difference' found in our Parks & Resorts worldwide. The first three episodes feature, Samantha Brown, as she explores the splendor of the Disney Dream, focusing specifically on innovative technologies, unique dining experiences, and special adult exclusive activities. 
To see all three episodes, visit: http://www.disney.com/disneyfans

Sounds Like Summer 2011

 This summer see's the return of the "Sounds Like Summer Concert Series". It all happens at the open-air America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase beginning in June featuring a lineup of bands playing tribute to tunes from U2, The Bee Gees, Janet Jackson, Bon Jovi and others. Here’s the schedule:

• Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles, 6/12-18/11
• Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees, 6/19-25/11
• Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute, 6/26-7/2/11
• Little Queen – The Music of Heart, 7/3-9/11
• Frontiers – A Tribute to Journey, 7/10-16/11
• Karin Lawson – A Tribute to Janet Jackson, 7/17-23/11
• 2U – A Tribute to U2, 7/24-30/11

Epcot concert times are 5:45 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. However, on July 4, the times will be 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. And of course, entertainment is subject to change without notice

This day 44 years ago Pirates of the Caribbean opened at Disneyland park! This classic attraction has been a guest favorite since it opened on March 18 1967. Here is some footage taken all those years ago!

Lotso Huggin in Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival.

"Lotso"has joined Buzz Lightyear and Woody at this year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Isnt he the cutest bad guy in Disney History?

Disney Celebrated St Patrick's Day in style!

Here are some videos of the many special events and experiences guests had during St Patricks Day! :) What did you do to celebrate?

And for those of you with a sore head after all the celebrating a perfect cure could be some traditional Irish Soda Bread! 

Breakfast After Dark for Third Shift Cast Members at Disneyland!

Last night Disneyland Resort rewarded the hard work of their 1,400 "Third Shift" cast members who maintain the Resort while most of us are asleep. Last night, at an annual celebration breakfast – or lunch or dinner, depending on how you look at it – Disney leaders thanked and acknowledged the cast during a TRON-themed event at the Disneyland Hotel.

To truly get a feel for the varied work they do, here’s a sample of the roles played by “third shift” cast members: engineer, mechanic, custodian, painter, designer, arborist – and the list goes on. Their talents allow you to fully enjoy your visit to Disneyland! 

Hungry Bear ReOpens with a new menu!

Hungry Bear is back at Disneyland! .

The new menu features an Angus 1/3-pound chili cheeseburger (or skip the chili and just go for the cheeseburger) topped with a fried onion ring, a yummy fried green tomato sandwich with jicama-mango slaw (an insider fave), crispy chicken sandwich with honey-mustard sauce and turkey and provolone on a multi-grain roll with basil mayo and a crisp slaw on the side.

We’re already partial to Big Al’s chicken salad with smoked chicken, lettuce, watermelon, candied pecans, dried cherries, pickled red onion and honey-lime vinaigrette (make it vegetarian and skip the chicken). Make any meal a combo with sweet potato fries or fruit.

Pastry chefs really had fun with the tart-sweet “Hunny Lemon Cupcakes” (“something to bee-hold,” we’re told, topped with an edible chocolate bee). Or go for the mini-blueberry pie.

For kids, burgers with sweet potato fries or fruit; chicken breast nuggets with fruit; a “power pack” with string cheese, nonfat yogurt, sliced apples and whole-grain “fish” crackers; and mac and cheese.

Source Disney Parks

Disney VoluntEARS Make Magic!

With an eagerness to make a difference and some elbow grease, more than 200 volunteers from Walt Disney World Resort and the community lent some magic to a KaBOOM! playground build yesterday at the Orlando Day Nursery.

It took less than six hours for the group to construct a safe new play space and vegetable garden to serve more than 300 local children. The children themselves had a hand in the playground’s design, which was based on their drawings.

Building a dream playground in less than a day is quick by any standard…and even quicker when captured on time-lapse video.

VoluntEARS moved more than 42,120 square feet of safety surfacing – enough to cover nearly 10 NBA-sized basketball courts – and mixed nearly 10,000 pounds of concrete by hand. It was a treat to watch it all come together. Very impressive and sure to be impactful for years to come.

The playground build is a prelude to the first-ever Disney Magic of Healthy Living – The Weekend, which takes place at Walt Disney World Resort. This weekend, Disney will celebrate fifty kids from around the nation for their winning essays on living a healthier life. As part of the event, they will be invited to explore a new world full of flavor and fun. Activities include a one-of-a-kind “TRYathlon,” a course ‘around the world’ where kids try new foods and new moves that lead to a healthy lifestyle.

Source Disney Parks

Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party at Disneyland Paris

Here is some exciting news for your little Pirates and Princesses.....and for Big ones too!

"Fancy staying up late in Disneyland Park? Normally you’d have to visit in October for a special after-hours party at either of the Halloween theme events, but that’s set to change this June. For 2011, a brand new party will mix two themes in one night: Mickey’s Princesses & Pirates Party. Both Adventureland and Fantasyland will reopen to ticket holders at 8pm with eight attractions, a huge selection of characters and a variety of special entertainments to keep you entertained right up to 11pm. Four parties are scheduled, for Monday 1st and Fridays 10th, 17th and 24th June. Tickets cost €25 or £22 and are available to buy now online, from your local booking hotline or at the parks. You can find the full programme of events and all the information over on DLRP Magic.com, here.
Although certainly the inspiration, this event shouldn’t be confused with Mickey’s Pirate and Princess Party at Walt Disney World, which kept the whole of Magic Kingdom open and concluded with an exclusive fireworks show. Disneyland Paris previously looked at bringing this event over in 2009, when it was tentatively scheduled for February. Launching in the balmier evenings of June seems like a much more enticing proposition for budding rogues or royalty."

Source dlrpmagic

A Day with Mickey on the Disney Cruise Line.

Have you ever wondered how Mickey Mouse spends his day on a Disney cruise? It's all ears on deck when we set sail, and everyone's favorite mouse has quite the busy schedule.

Could The ORIGINAL Enchanted Tiki Room Return?

'Enchanted Tiki Room -- Under New Management' has been closed for a while now (since the fire) But the re-opening has been pushed back for a third time.  It is expected to re-open on the 1st of July 2011 (previous reopening dates being as soon as March 26 , and then June 1). Interesting eh? Many die hard Disney fans were less than impressed with the new show that was changed in 1998 and the continual extending of the re-opening date leading some to speculate that the original Tiki Room show may well return following the damage to the 'Under New Management' show from the January fire. Disney have not yet made any official comment on the status of the attraction, or plans for a return to the original show. But who knows? Stranger things have happened.

Tatooine Traders Closing!

Tatooine Traders, the gift shop at the exit of Star Tours, will be closing from April 4 to April 17 2011. This of course is likely related to the major refurbishment of Star Tours, but no news yet of a theme or name change for the store.

The new Star Tours II attraction is set to open on May 20 2011.

Source WDWMagic

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Spring is in bloom, now through May 15th at Epcot.
Come see millions of blooming flowers and Disney character topiaries, plus some of your favorite HGTV stars.

For the full guide please click HERE! :) Looks fantastic!!

A magical day at Disneyland Paris.

After the much loved WDW tilt shift videos of the Parks, Disneyland Paris have captured the beauty of the European Resort in this wonderful short film. Disneyland Paris is in my opinion the most enchanting and pretty Disney Park. The film is uses "Tilt Shift"The tilt-shift technique takes photographs, usually from high vantage points, using selective focus and perspective control to give the impression of a miniature model. All the photographs are then stitched together and edited to create the illusion of a short movie. Post production will then do the rest, over saturating colours to reinforce the model impression, working on contrasts and even further blurring images. More than 125.000 still photographs were taken during the shoot in the parks, although only 4.000 were used in the final edit, over a period of seven months.


Here it is...let us know what you think? Have you been to Disneyland Paris yet?

New Haunted Mansion Queue at WDW's Magic Kingdom

Attention Foolish Mortals: Walt Disney Imagineering has an exclusive first look at the new interactive queue being added to the Haunted Mansion attraction at Magic Kingdom Park – and it’s something you’ll want to check out. Your experience will now begin with a new story line inspired by some of your favorite characters previously seen only inside the Haunted Mansion. There are new crypts and other “spooky” sights to see as well as my favorite tombstones with witty epitaphs to the dearly departed like, “Drink A Toast To Our Friend Ken, Fill Your Glass And Don’t Say ‘When.’”

Today, Walt Disney Imagineering show producer Eric Goodman and show designer and art director Pete Carsillo are giving a video tour of the queue and a look at the amazing Decomposing Composer’s Crypt. The new Tomb has two sides of interactive instruments that sound as weird as they look. See for yourself.

Flashback at Disneyland Resort!

At the Disneyland Resort, any cast member can take to the stage through Flashback, an annual Broadway-style musical put on by more than 250 Disneyland Resort cast members who divide into teams to compete in four mini musicals.

This feel-good production takes place in front of an audience of friends, family and co-workers after the park closes to guests.

Collectively, more than 30,000 VoluntEAR hours go into preparation for the show while ticket sales help to raise funds for charity. This year, $10,000 was donated to Anaheim Ballet. Through that organization’s Step Up program, scholarships are granted to children in need who have a passion for the arts.

From beginning to end, participating in the event is a lot of fun. The video below gives a glimpse into the hard work and talent that goes into making Flashback.

Congratulations "World of Color"!

“World of Color” was just named the Best New Theme Park Show of 2010, in the About.com 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Disney have sent out a big "Thank you" to all the fans who voted for “World of Color” – the nighttime water spectacular at Disney California Adventure park. About.com describes it: “Dazzling lights, soaring fountains, and stirring animated scenes from Disney and Pixar animated films combine to form a stunning tapestry of color and spectacle…”

We thought you would enjoy a look back at the reaction from guests – and special VIPs – after they saw “World of Color” on opening night last June.