2010 is the year of volunteering in the world of Disney and The Muppets are here to usher in Disney’s Give a Day Get a Day program in a very special way. The Muppets are the creation of genius Jim Henson who is also behind television and movie greats like Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal, and Return of the Jedi. Loved by many, the cute characters of Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Sweetums (the friendly monster) are all coming together to get the world to volunteer and they’re using both the Magic Kingdom and viral videos to get everyone involved!

If you do a quick internet search you will find a video of Fozzie and Kermit encouraging people to volunteer. The great thing about this is that you can insert your name, website or even blog and they will show up on the white cards Fozzie and Kermit use in the video. If you go to the Disney theme parks you will be able to enjoy a special “pre-parade” that will feature special floats and vehicles dedicated to volunteerism and people that have dedicated themselves to the craft. It was reported that in the New Year, around 59% of Americans considered volunteering as one of their New Year’s Resolutions. So if you’re one of those in the 59% category, what are you waiting for?

“Volunteering is incredibly easy, and it’s never been as easy as it is now with this new partnership between Disney Parks and HandsOn Network,” said Maggic Jones Patton, with the Youth HandsOn Network. “It’s really about finding a match that you can be passionate about,” Patton said. “There’s opportunities ranging from education, the environment, the economy — it can be as simple as packing care packages to send to our troops that are serving abroad.”

The Muppets promotion might just be for a limited time only, but don’t forget you can get your puppet laughs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Muppetvision 3-D Experience! This 3-D adventure is fun for the whole family and involves classic Muppets comedy along with music and an adorable story—definitely a Hollywood Studios classic! Lend a hand this year for the Give a Day Get a Day program and enjoy both your free theme park ticket and the Muppets!

(source)

(source)

Spent the night of July the 3rd at the Magic Kingdom to see their 4th of July Fireworks one night early. For anyone going tonight, you might want to get on the road now to see it yourself. I got some great photos, but there is no way to appreciate this show via photos or video.

The show producer uses fireworks like paint and punctuation and they surround you front, back, and sides with all the pyrotechnics you could possibly fit into 17 minutes. Plus, since its Disney, there’s a great story and fabulous music to go along with it.

The crowds last night were pretty crazy, but Disney had a pretty decent Guest Control plan in place. Where we were, on the Tomorrowland side of the hub, cast members made announcements about how guest control would work between the end of fireworks and the parade, so everyone was aware of where to go.

Basically, everyone in the Magic Kingdom was routed through Fantasyland or Tomorrowland down to where the old Galaxy Theater was located. From there the crowds went backstage into a parking lot and then out into Town Square. Alas, there were still a few bottlenecks, but for the most part, moving bodies around kept traffic flowing between the fireworks and the aprade.

We took our time and wandered around a few stores to let the crowds thin down before before heading out ourselves. A good strategy if you’re going tonight.

(source)

Calling all scoundrels, rogues and ne’er-do-wells - Captain Jack and the crew of the Black Pearl want YOU.

Starting in late June, the Pearl drops anchor in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom for The Pirate League, recruiting and training Walt Disney World guests of all ages in the scurrilous ways of buccaneers.

Each guest checking in at the plunder-filled pirate’s lair gets an official pirate name. Then it’s off to Muster Station for applications of beards and eye patches, scarves and scars, earrings and gold teeth – all done with the savvy skill of a veteran pirate who shares his own tales of sea-sailing adventures.

After the new buccaneers recite a sacred pirate oath, they are officially part of Captain Jack’s motley crew, leaving their old identities behind. Past a hidden portal and into the treasure room, the shipmates have their “pirate portrait” taken before being turned loose on an unsuspecting Adventureland – and no doubt feeling right at home at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

Guests can chose from three daily pirate packages:

First Mate Package: Includes bandana; choice of facial effects – scars, tattoos, fake teeth, earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; one 5×7 inch photo and personalized pirate oath - .95 plus tax

Empress Package: Includes bandana; shimmering makeup – face gem, tattoos, nail polish, earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; one 5×7 inch photo and personalized pirate oath - .95 plus tax

Captains Package: Includes choice of costume/outfit from selection: choice of facial effects - scars, tattoos, fake teeth, earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; three 5×7 inch photos and personalized pirate oath - 4.95 plus tax.

Newly donned swashbucklers can test their pirate prowess on the streets of Adventureland where they search for clues and discover treasures. And for mateys who need a little more training, learn the secrets for survival by the Captain himself during “Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial.”

Boys, girls, and grownups ready for the pirate life can start the process by calling 407-WDW-CREW beginning May 11.

(source)

If you’re secretly convinced that you’re a princess – and it’s simply that no one knows it yet – then Walt Disney World is the place for you. In addition to being known for making dreams come true, Disney is an unofficial meeting hub for princesses, and one such princess meeting is taking place this weekend at the Orlando theme parks. From Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8, the Inaugural 2009 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend will bring all women/princesses together to participate in a magical event designed to prove just how much princesses kick butt.

Disney princesses are the inspiration for the weekend’s events, which will focus on the attributes every princess possesses: commitment, courage, determination, fantasy, perseverance, and strength. And we can’t imagine a better or more fun way to test those attributes (especially determination and strength) than the 13.1-mile Disney’s Princess Half Marathon.

A challenge not for the weak-hearted damsel in distress, the marathon begins at Spaceship Earth at Epcot, heads west to World Drive and Floridian Way toward Magic Kingdom, through Cinderella’s Castle, and past Disney’s Contemporary Resort, then back down past Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge to Epcot again. The course will include plenty of water stops, on-course Disney entertainment, and post-race refreshments, as well as a family reunion area with live entertainment and characters. All finishers will receive a Princess Tiara medal.

The weekend also includes the Royal Family 5K, which takes runners on a course around the World Showcase and ending at Spaceship Earth at Epcot, and the Princess Kids’ Races, which gives kids ages 1 to 11 the opportunity to race at Epcot’s Imagine Lot. Even crawling little ones under the age of 1 will be able to participate in a unique ‘Diaper Dash.’

And in an effort to encourage princess health, the weekend will also feature the Fit for a Princess Expo, a two-day celebration of women, health, and fitness. The Expo will be located at the brand new Jostens Center at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. There’ll be appearances by characters and celebrity runners, as well as seminars on training, racing, and nutrition with the opportunity to experience the latest in running and fitness equipment.

More than 10,000 runners are expected to participate in the Princess Half Marathon, making it one of the country’s largest road races geared toward women. Spectators will be able to catch the action from special areas along the route detailed in the Princess Handbook, which can be picked up at the Expo.

So if you’re a princess, meet up with some other royals like yourself at this unique Disney event. Or, if you’re a non-active princess, drop by the parks to watch the fun or visit your castle (you wish). You’re always a princess at Disney, and with Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com, feeling like one is just a mouse click (or magic wand?) away.