Sea World Orlando is known for more than just shows, when it comes to animal welfare and conservation efforts. Recently, they had two fantastic landmark events occur. Julyl 2010 saw the hatching of Tawny Frogmouth chicks — six in total have hatched this year and all the babies are thriving. Tawny frogmouths had been nearing extinction, even in carefully-monitored zoo environments. Breeding programs were not as successful as had originally been hoped. Sea World decided to work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in order to create a program to sustain populations and encourage breeding. The program has been a success - in the past decade, Sea World has welcomed 24 chicks. The babies were initially hand-fed by trained aviculturists in order to make sure nothing went wrong but thanks to the program and the efforts of researchers, the newest chick was able to be raised by its parents — check out the pic!

Sea World conservation efforts happen in the water, too. This past May, they rescued their 303rd sea turtle, a massive 270-lb male loggerhead. The turtle had been seen floating on his side for several days before Sea World aquarists got him to the rehabilitation center. He was emaciated and covered in barnacles; it has been assumed that his condition was caused by ingesting a foreign object. The big male was cleaned, treated with antibiotics, and checked with x-rays in case of internal injury. The Rehab Center is happy to report he eventually started eating on his own. They hope to release him back into the waters of the San Carlos Bay near Ft. Myers, FL, soon.

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Some of my favorite Orlando experiences revolve around food and the Walt Disney World Resort has more than a few entries on my list. From the posh perfection of Victoria and Albert’s to the fixin’s bar at the old Pecos Bill’s. If you’re anything like me, you love Disney for their many dining experiences as much as you do for their rides and shows. So good news! Four cool new dining treats are coming to the Mouse House.

First is Raglan Road, the awesome Irish Pub at Downtown Disney. During the World Cup, Raglan Road will be opening at 10am every day so you can watch the game. While you’re watching, you can enjoy a real, full Irish Breakfast - known most often as simply a “full Irish. This is a delicious, carb- and fat-laden heart attack on a plate, and it is worth every calorie (as long as you’re not indulging every day!). Two fresh eggs, bangers (Irish sausages), black pudding, grilled tomato, sauteed mushrooms, and rashers of thick, meaty bacon. It’s and more than enough to share, so watch the football and dig in.

If the Irish pub is not your thing, but you’re still looking to nosh while you watch the soccer action, the ESPN Club serve food from 10:30 a.m. for early games June 11-29 and July 2-3, while the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill will start serving limited breakfast menu at 7am for the REALLY early games. From June 26-July 10, they’ll offer a buffet with guaranteed seats to see the games, ending with a special viewing area and full menu on July 11. Call 407-WDW-DINE for more info and reservations. World Cup is a HUGE event, so reservations are always a good idea.

Sweet tooth? Get ready for September, when EPCOT’s Germany pavilion will open up its newest shoppe, Karamelle -Kuche. That means Caramel Kitchen and it will be the one-stop sticky shop of your candy-coated dreams. You can indulge in fresh caramel popcorn, caramel apples, caramel-covered strawberries and marshmallows, real Werther’s Original Caramels (created by German candy-maker Storck), plus the kind of gourmet caramels, cookies, brownies, fudge and cupcakes you expect from the amazing EPCOT kitchens. Rumor is there will also be special Storck goodies you can’t find anywhere else, so if you’re a caramel fan, this will be the place for you.

Artist Point at the Disney Wilderness Lodge is one of the best restaurants on property and now it’s gotten just a little better. Artist Point has premiered a new, beautiful wooden cordial cart for after-dinner drinks — they are the only Disney restaurant to offer this rolling luxury. Indulge in a selection of fine brandies, cognacs and cordials, including the top-top-TOP end treat, Louis XIII de Remy Martin. This limited edition cognac routinely fetches thousands of dollar per bottle (only 789 ever made), so if you’re willing and able, this is as splashy an after-dinner drink as you can get. If you try it, come back to the blog and tell us what you think!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., August 1st, 2010 – The elephant herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom just expanded – by about 288 pounds. That amount represents the weight of the newborn female calf born late last night.

Twenty-two-year-old Donna gave birth to the herd’s fifth offspring after gaining more than 400 pounds during a 22-month gestation. This latest addition, which has yet to be named, is the second calf for Donna, which gave birth to a female calf, Nadirah, in 2005. This birth raises the number of elephants in the Disney’s Animal Kingdom herd to thirteen, including five males and eight females.

“Elephant births are among the most amazing and complicated processes in the animal kingdom,” according to Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., vice president of Disney’s Animal Programs. “A team of dedicated animal professionals have worked with the expecting mother attentively throughout the course of her pregnancy. At this point, we’re optimistic for the calf’s likelihood of survival and are thrilled that both Donna and her calf are doing well.”

With assistance from the animal care team, the newborn, whose first tentative steps are becoming stronger and more confident, is now successfully nursing from her mother. Donna has been getting to know her calf, gently touching the young animal with her trunk. The next critical milestone is for the calf to continue the bonding process with her mother who will teach her important lessons and protect her as she is introduced to the rest of the savannah herd in several weeks.

Donna became pregnant through artificial insemination in July 2008 and received extensive pre-natal care throughout her pregnancy. Zookeepers added more exercises to her daily routine, hoping to strengthen the muscles needed during the birthing process. In addition to regular ultrasounds, veterinarians and elephant managers monitored her hormone levels on a daily basis to help them determine when she would give birth. Labor appeared imminent last night and the animal care team remained with her to provide round-the-clock care until the female calf was born May 20 around 11:30 p.m.

This is the fifth elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition to Donna’s first female calf, Nadirah, Tufani, a male, was born in 2003; Kianga, a female, was born in 2004; and Tsavo, the youngest male, joined the herd in 2008. All remain on the savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney has been at the forefront of efforts to better understand and care for endangered elephants. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that is focused on sustaining the elephant population in North America. AZA’s Elephant Species Survival Plan has called for a five-fold increase in African elephant reproduction efforts - using both natural and artificial breeding methods - in order to create a self-sustaining elephant population among North American zoos and wildlife centers

Baby Elephant Facts

· Depending on the calf, it could take several days for the calf to coordinate trunk movements. Initially, it may only be able to wave it in the air, suck on it or trip over it. Typically within a week the calf has gained enough control to begin picking up small objects and food.

· Suckling up to 12 liters a day, baby elephants may depend on mother’s milk for up to three years, although they can be weaned at two years of age.

· By the time a calf is nine months old, 40 per cent of its diet is vegetation. The calf learns how and what to eat by watching the older elephants.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (May 12, 2010) – Work begins soon on an exciting new resort hotel built around the themes of Disney animation, Walt Disney World Resort announced today. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will be one-of-a-kind, featuring family suites designed around four themes: The Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid.

Crowned by a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, the family-friendly resort will have themed room interiors in its nearly 2,000 new units — 1,120 family suites in The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo wings and 864 themed rooms in The Little Mermaid wings. Suites will have both a living room and a bedroom.

“These themes have both compelling storylines and vivid visuals which will come together to create a truly memorable, immersive resort experience,” said Eric Jacobson, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering. “With more multi-generational families vacationing together, guests are looking for places where they can play together and stay together. This resort was designed with the needs of families in mind, as we continue the Disney tradition of providing a great guest experience for every taste and budget.”

Added Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts: “We are always looking for opportunities to expand and enhance our Walt Disney World offerings, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a great example of those efforts. This new resort will feature some of our most beloved characters and stories in a unique and special way that we think our guests will really enjoy. This project also underscores our optimism about the future, as we continue to invest in new experiences for our guests around the globe.”

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, the 26th resort at Walt Disney World, will be one-of-a-kind, with themed building exteriors and room interiors, and larger-than-life icons from the animated films in the courtyard areas. To be located next to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, all of the themed suites and rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are expected to open by the end of 2012.

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Every summer, Sea World keeps its gates open, its rides running and its show performing late into the night. And it’s all included in your regular Sea World admission. There’s music, a special nighttime Shamu Rocks! Show, the late-night antics of sea lions and otters, incredible fireworks, and the awesome spectacle of Manta at night.

Spin, glide and skim at top speeds by moonlight on Manta, Sea World’s newest coaster and animal encounter combination – an experience only Sea World could create. You’ll ride the coaster, head-first and face-down, as if you were a Manta Ray yourself – it’s a park favorite that is rapidly becoming a coaster-enthusiast fave as well.

Shamu Rocks is a high-energy rock and roll killer whale show, featuring music from some of the best in the business, an amazing light show and of course Sea World’s iconic orcas – incredible by day, even more amazing by night. There are also laughs to be had over at Sea Lion Theater. The popular (and hysterical) duo of Clyde and Seymour keep the comedy going after dark with Sea Lions Tonite, a parody of all the park’s daytime activities performed by sea lions, otters and walrus, with the occasional help from human actors and trainers. End the night with one of Orlando’s most amazing fireworks displays, plus an incredible display of specially-lit fountains and soaring sprays of water.

If you’re really looking to splash out (ha-ha), look into Sea World’s special VIP After Dark tour. It’s 7 hours long, guided by your own private tour host and includes dinner, a dolphin feeding opportunity, front of line access to Manta (as many times as you want) and special seating for all shows. This tour is not included in the price of admission but if you’ve got the cash to flash, it’s worth it.

For more information on Sea World Orlando and Sea World After Dark, visit http://www.seaworldorlando.com or call 1-888-800-5447.

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FILM OF THE MONTH

Silly Symphonies (1929-1939)
1:00pm and 4:00pm, Theater
(except Tuesdays and June 19 and June 26.)

Tickets available online at www.waltdisney.org

Starting with The Skeleton Dance in 1929 and ending with The Ugly Ducking remake in 1939, the Silly Symphonies is a series of 75 cartoons based on musical themes. The film of the month comprises selections from the series, which feature a different cast of characters in each installment. Highlights include The Old Mill (1937), Flowers and Tress (1932), Music Land (1935) and The Three Little Pigs (1933).

JUNE LECTURES

June 19 – Innovations in Animation: Sound, Color, and Depth
3:00 pm, Theater
Tickets available online at www.waltdisney.org

Walt Disney tested new technologies in the Silly Symphonies and produced animated shorts with sound, color, and depth. Russell Merritt, professor of Film Studies at Berkeley and co-author of Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies, will discuss Music Land, Flowers and Trees, and The Old Mill among other groundbreaking shorts.

June 26 – Firsts in Animation: A Look Back and Forward with Don Hahn
3:00 pm, Theater
Tickets available online at www.waltdisney.org

Learn how Walt took risks that pushed the boundaries in the industry and changed animation forever. Film producer (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast) and director Don Hahn discusses “firsts in animation” and highlights the new technological and artistic developments in the industry.

JUNE DISNEY DISCOVERIES! + LOOK CLOSER SERIES

DISNEY DISCOVERIES: Second Saturday of each month

June 12 – Disney Discoveries! Silly Cartoon Cranked Moviola
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Learning Center Art Studio

Imaginations and creativity will soar with our new Disney Discoveries! The second Saturday of each month, join us for family fun and activities in the Learning Center. The activities planned by our education staff will inspire the hidden artist in young visitors while learning about the life and work of Walt Disney.

The Disney Discoveries! Activities are free with paid admission to the Museum. No ticket is needed for members—just show your membership card.

LOOK CLOSER:

June 25, 26 + 27 – Look Closer: Multiplane Camera
11:00 am and 2:00 pm, Theater Lobby

Would you like to know more about one of the artifacts in the galleries? Our Look Closer series will give you that opportunity. In the 15 – 30-minute gallery talk, staff will reveal little known facts and information not on the gallery label.

The Look Closer series is free with paid admission to the Museum. Members are always free and no ticket is needed. Just show your membership card.

The Walt Disney Family Museum
104 Montgomery Street, The Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94129

Admissions: Various: check Website for details.

WEBSITE: waltdisney.org

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/TheWaltDisneyFamilyMuseum