Personal Favorites: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Nov 6, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney, Orlando Theme Parks
Stunts are a huge part of movies, especially all the big action flicks. At the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show Spectacular you get to see some of the best scenes from the legendary Indiana Jones movies recreated right before your eyes. Whether it’s fighting under a revolving plane with deadly propellers or escaping from a large rolling rock you’ll get to watch “Indy” perform the stunts from the edge of your seat.
If you’re a fan of the Muppets like I am, Muppetvision 3D is a Disney Hollywood Studio’s classic. You’ll get to see your favorite Muppets characters go on a comedic adventure as they search for a runaway Gonzo. Right between Muppetvision 3D and the classic Sci-Fi Diner is Star Tours. Now, as of October this ride is going to be closing for renovation. I’m sad to see it go, despite the complaints most people have about the ride being outdated. Sure, it is a bit outdated but there is also a huge element of nostalgia to it. I know Star Tours II will be incredible (opening in 2011) but I will miss the original ride.
Speaking of nostalgia, no trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is complete without a visit to The Great Movie Ride. It isn’t as thrilling as the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster or Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, but seeing a glimpse of the old animatronics re-telling the stories of classic movies like Casablanca and Alien as you head to your final destination of the movie montage set to some of the greatest soundtracks of all time. It may sound cheesy, but that ride always makes me remember why I love movies so much. They can touch Star Tours, but I really hope The Great Movie Ride stays the same. Sometimes nostalgia is a good thing.
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Disney Returns to Fairy Tales for its 50th Feature-Length Animated Film
Oct 27, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney
As with every Disney adaptation, Rapunzel is going to be a little bit different. We all know Disney makes their fairytales more kid friendly even if they have to bend the truth a bit (especially with tales like Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid) but with Rapunzel they’re going to make her a princess for modern times and modern little girls. This Rapunzel is not going to be a damsel in distress but a superheroine in her own right.
Voiced by singer/actress Mandy Moore, Rapunzel escapes from her castle to embark on an adventure with a bandit named Flynn, voiced by Zachary Levi. Like her Disney princess predecessors, Rapunzel will sing, fall in love and may have some animals friends. But unlike her princess pedescessors she isn’t waiting for anyone to rescue her, and like her more modern counterpart Mulan, Rapunzel will have a bit of fight in her.
Her legendary hair is going to be more than just a rope for potential suitors. Rapunzel will be able to use her hair like a lasso, a whip and other objects. The princess has full control of her hair in the Disney version, in a way making it a character of its own. With music from legendary Disney composer Alan Menken and Home on the Range composer Glen Slater, Rapunzel is sure to be a hit next holiday season. She will be joining the newest Disney leading lady (who is also a milestone as the first African American princess) Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog in a long line of famous characters popular with girls of all ages. Rapunzel is slated to arrive in theatres during the holiday season of 2010.
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Ride Spotlight: Test Track at Walt Disney World’s Epcot
Oct 23, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney, Epcot
Sponsored by GM, Test Track is the fourth fastest ride in the Walt Disney family, reaching speeds of up to 64.8 mph. As you wind your way through the queue you learn about vehicle safety and watch robotic demonstrations of crash dummies experiencing various accident situations from being crushed in a vehicle to slamming into a wall. You can also see the inner components of various vehicle parts, which is a must for any car fan. Once you get into the waiting area, you and your fellow guests will get to view a video that shows what your vehicle will experience on the Test Track ride. You, the guest, are the driver of GM’s latest vehicle and will ride it as it goes through tests of heat, cold and corrosive material, swerving and bump tracks before finally launching outdoors for a drive around the track.
This is where you get to experience that 64.8 mph we mentioned earlier as you speed around bank curves of 50 degrees and zoom over hills and turns. Despite not having any inversions or loops, Test Track is surprisingly fast and will give you a great view of the surrounding area once you finish the “initial testing” and your vehicle launches toward the outside track. This ride has the FastPass option available and we recommend you use it. Being near the front of the park and also one of the most popular rides in Epcot, the lines for Test Track can be extremely long. If you’re one of those that loves the Single Riders option on these popular rides, Test Track also has that choice available to you. This is a great ride for both young (as long as they meet the height requirement) and older crowds that want a bit of thrill without feeling terrified. Test Track at Walt Disney World is fun for all.
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Remembering Jim Henson
Oct 19, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney
There was a lot Jim Henson did that the general public might not realize. He’s usually immediately grouped with the Muppets and rightfully so. Who doesn’t love Oscar the Grouch or Kermit the Frog? But Jim Henson’s genius expanded throughout a number of movies and even to a galaxy far, far away. Henson designed Muppets which lead to movies like Muppets Take Manhattan, the show Fraggle Rock and the popular animated series Muppet Babies.
Henson was also responsible for creating one of the most beloved sci-fi puppets of all time: Yoda from the Star Wars series. Henson helped George Lucas’ team create Yoda and help with the puppeteering of the little green Jedi Master before he went CGI in the additional three prequels to the films. It was Jim Henson who suggested Frank Oz be Yoda’s puppeteer and voice. Thanks to Henson. Lucas selected Oz to voice one of the most memorable film characters of all time.
Singing was yet another thing Henson dabbled in. Though he wasn’t out playing rock concerts, the song “The Rainbow Connection,” which he performed using his Kermit the Frog voice, was #25 on the Billboard Top 100 and still considered a favorite children’s song today. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop continues on and his company is now run by his children, who loved going on set with their dad and learning the ropes of puppeteering when they were young and Henson still lead the way. His legacy lives on through the Muppets, Sesame Street, Star Wars and movies like The Dark Crystal and The Labyrinth. If you want your dose of Muppet madness, head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to checkout Muppetvision 3D.
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Bonsu the Giraffe Highlights Disney’s Conservation Efforts
Oct 14, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Animal Kingdom, Disney
Bonsu the giraffe is a year old this week. As the 11th giraffe ever to be born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the cute “toddler” marks another success in Disney’s animal conversation efforts. Bonsu was the fourth male giraffe to be born at the Animal Kingdom. He weighed in at 155 pounds and was 6 feet tall at birth. 2008, the year he was born, saw the arrival of three other giraffes to the Animal Kingdom family. Bonsu isn’t the only big name in the Animal Kingdom playground.
Back in 2006, Nande and Hasani, two African white rhinos, were born at the Animal Kingdom and sent to Africa to help reestablish the population of African white rhinos. Disney helped raise over 0,000 toward helping the rhinos in Africa. They’ve also had three African elephants born in captivity. All of these cute additions to the family highlight Disney’s efforts to help save animals and the environment.
Animal Kingdom’s 500 acres holds 1,700 animals of 250 different species, 33 of them endangered and threatened. But that’s not the only park in the Disney family taking part in the conservation effort. Epcot is also a big player when it comes to helping save the animals. If you’ve ever been to “The Seas,” Epcot’s ocean-themed area, you will get to see beautiful sea creatures including plenty of sea turtles. Epcot has rescued and nursed 200 sick sea turtles and often takes place in animal rescue efforts after hurricanes that affect the Florida area.
Both Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Not only do cast members guide guests around these exhibits, Disney also employs veterinary teams, scientists and animal care teams that help take care of these animals. These teams are also the people you see telling you about the very creatures you’re taking pictures of when you visit Animal Kingdom and Epcot. If it weren’t for this great team, Bonsu, Nande and Hasani wouldn’t be where they are today and there would be plenty more animals still in danger. But thanks to the conservation efforts of the Walt Disney Company, we can worry a little less about baby Bonsu and other members of the animal world.
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Last Call for Water Parks!
Oct 9, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney, Orlando Theme Parks, Sea World, SeaWorld Orlando
There’s also Wet ‘n Wild. This Orlando water park was voted the best water park in America by Amusement Business magazine, and when you go you will see why! The water slides at Wet ‘n Wild go from kid-friendly to downright terrifying. On the Bomb Bay, you rocket down a water slide at a near vertical angle from 76 feet up in the air. If you would rather take it easy you can check out the lazy river or try your hand at wake skating or knee skiing over at the Wake Zone.
If you want to check out one of the newest water parks to open up in the Orlando area, look no further than SeaWorld’s Aquatica. This brand new water park opened up last year in March and is decorated with bright colors and tribal imagery modeled after the indigenous cultures of New Zealand and Australia. The park’s most famous slide is the Dolphin Plunge. Here you can slide down a clear tube that dips through a pool of beautiful Commerson’s dolphins. For a little bit of friendly competition you can head to the Taumata Racer. This is a partially-enclosed waterslide that features eight lanes set side by side so you can race other guests of this great water park.
Whichever park you decide to get to make sure you make it there soon, because the chilly weather is right around the corner!
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Happy Anniversary to the Walt Disney World Resort and Epcot!
Oct 1, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney
While Walt didn’t get to see his dream realized, those he left in charge of the Disney company did it for him. Not only did they build the Magic Kingdom by using Disneyland as a guide, they made it bigger (and some would say better) than the original Anaheim destination. In 2008 17 billion people visited the Magic Kingdom, making it the most visited theme park in the world.
Epcot originally had a different purpose. We all know Walt Disney was an innovator in every sense of the word, but did you know he wanted to build an entire futuristic city? When it first opened, Epcot was written EPCOT, as it was an acronym for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” While we now know the park for attractions like Test Track, Soarin’ and the World Showcase, Walt Disney originally had other plans.
He was quoted as saying, “It will be a planned, controlled community, a showcase for American industry and research, schools, cultural and educational opportunities. In EPCOT, there will be no slum areas because we won’t let them develop. There will be no landowners and therefore no voting control. People will rent houses instead of buying them, and at modest rentals. There will be no retirees; everyone must be employed.”
But now Epcot is considered a vacation destination instead of a living environment. It’s always interesting to learn about the inner-workings and initial ideas of what Imagineers go through in building and conceptualizing these great Orlando theme parks. We can’t wait to see what Walt Disney World comes up with next!
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Guillermo Del Toro Double Dares You
Sep 30, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney
But a big bit of news concerning this incredible director emerged from the D23 Expo that has everyone in the Disney community talking. Del Toro, who admitted to being a huge Disney fan, has signed on to produce a series of animated horror films as part of a franchise called “Disney Double Dares You.” The Disney Double Dares You (DDDY) world plans to include an entire series of books, merchandise and films that are scary yet appropriate for all ages. The first film is reportedly called Trollhunters but further details have yet to be revealed. Del Toro did say the series of DDDY films would all be tied together by one major film of which Disney fans will be familiar with the subject matter.
Could that one major film be Del Toro’s version of The Haunted Mansion? The popular Disney attraction is apparently the Mexican director’s favorite. He loves how the story of the mansion’s ghouls and grinning ghost inhabitants comes together throughout the ride. While the final movie remains a mystery he plans to do the same with all of these animated projects, books and movies.
With Disney’s recent acquisition of Marvel Comics, fans are also buzzing about the possibility of Del Toro getting his hands on the world of legendary Marvel creator Stan Lee. Could Del Toro be bringing some of these Marvel characters to life with his usual dark twist? As more details regarding the Disney Double Dares You project emerge we will get to find out. Make sure you check back with DWTickets.com for more news regarding this exciting project.
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DISNEY DREAM BEGINS: Newest Disney ship centerpiece of ceremony in Papenburg, Germany
Sep 21, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney
DISNEY DREAM BEGINS: In a ceremony held in Papenburg, Germany on Aug. 26, 2009, Captain Tom Forberg and Donald Duck did the honors of placing a special Disney Cruise Line coin under the keel of the Disney Dream, Disney’s newest cruise ship, currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg. In maritime tradition, the ceremony marked a momentous occasion when the first block of the ship is lowered into the building dock and a coin is placed under the keel for good fortune. Both of Disney’s new ships, the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy, scheduled to debut in 2011 and 2012, respectively, are destined to expand family cruise options to more people in more places around the world. Each ship will have 1,250 staterooms and be 128,000 tons. Captain Tom has been named as Master of the Disney Dream. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)
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Disney Cruise Line Creating More Magic at Castaway Cay
Sep 20, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Disney
CELEBRATION, Fla. (Aug. 31, 2009) – Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise in the tropical waters of the Bahamas, is getting an extra dose of pixie dust. Enhancements will provide guests with more water-based family-fun, additional conveniences and a slice of beachside luxury all designed to complement the idyllic island setting. The additional island amenities are scheduled to be complete by summer 2010, in time for special five-night cruises aboard the Disney Wonder with two stops at Castaway Cay, and the Disney Dream cruise ship which starts sailing in early 2011.
Castaway Cay is consistently rated by Disney Cruise Line guests as their favorite port of call – the ultimate private island escape for adventure, relaxation and quality time with the family.
“The numerous enhancements and additions planned for Castaway Cay will take the already extraordinary guest experiences on our private island to the next level,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “Whether our guests are seeking recreation or leisure – or a combination of both – they will find it at Castaway Cay, all complemented by unparalleled Disney service.”
Walt Disney Imagineers designed Castaway Cay with one-of-a-kind areas and activities for every member of the family, while celebrating the natural beauty of the 1,000-acre island. Among the crystal-clear turquoise waters, powdery white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and lush landscapes, guests soon will find the following transformations.
Expanded Family Beach
The Castaway Family Beach will be extended by more than 700 feet for families to enjoy the pristine white sand, build sand castles, relax in the shade under an umbrella and take a dip in the warm azure waters of the lagoon. As an added convenience for guests, enhancements to this area of the island will include:
New Cookies Too family lunch buffet location serving mouth-watering, all-you-care-to-eat barbeque, island spiced rotisserie chicken, burgers, grilled fish, fresh salads, flatbreads, ice cream, complimentary soda and more, in a covered pavilion just steps away from the expanded family beach.
New Sand Bar beach bar mixing up drinks like Castaway Cay’s signature Konk Kooler, other tropical concoctions, cold beer and non-alcoholic beverages.
New Flippers & Floats beach rentals providing inner tubes, snorkels, masks and fins.
New Buy the Sea Shore merchandise location selling a variety of Castaway Cay-exclusive items along with towels, sunscreen and other beach essentials – a complement to the island’s other merchandise location, She Sells Sea Shells & everything else.
New Water Feature and Water Play Areas
Guests can slide and splash at a new water feature called Pelican Plunge. The 2,400-square-foot floating platform, located within swimming distance from shore, celebrates the island’s native pelicans. Various flotsam and jetsam – such as nautical rope, cargo nets, buoys, signaling flags and starfish-like ornamentation – adorn the platform. Two exciting water slides – an enclosed corkscrew slide and a 140-foot-long open slide – take guests on a twisting ride, ending with a splash into the lagoon. A giant “bucket dump” delivers hundreds of gallons of water, soaking eagerly awaiting guests. Four water cannons provide sharp-shooting fun with floating nautical targets approximately 20 feet away.
On the island, a brand-new, 2,400-square-foot water play area called Spring-a-Leak helps guests cool off while immersing them in what appears to be the remnants of a washed-away beach dwelling leaning in the direction of the prevailing winds. The watery fun begins as guests enter the storm-ravaged structure, greeted by dripping pipes, broken plumbing and hissing misters, exposed and twisted by the tropical tempest that wiped out the original structure.
A “splash pad” is the focal point and gives the impression of water pooled on the ground. Water jets squirt, spray and saturate guests. Shade is provided by leftover pieces of the corrugated steel roof, aged and distressed fabric and the occasional palm tree growing up through the floor foundation. Parents can relax and have a seat – or, better yet, join in the fun – as kids frolic in the wet and whimsical setting.
The “hub” of youth activities on the island, Scuttle’s Cove, will feature a new water play area for the youngest Disney Cruise Line guests to splash and enjoy as part of supervised youth activities on Castaway Cay. A 1,200-square-foot soft wet deck area provides fresh-water fun with an array of pop jets, geysers and bubblers. Overhead, shade sails circle the area like a compass and marine props – a captain’s wheel, boat oars, life preservers and nautical rope – complete the castaway theme.
New Beach Cabanas
Guests can have a little piece of paradise all to themselves at one of 20 new private cabanas. The premium rental cabanas provide the privacy and luxury of a deluxe beach retreat with an option to add the personalized service of a cabana host.
The majority of the exclusive 325-square-foot beach cabanas will dot the far side of Castaway Family Beach, giving guests more privacy along with a spectacular view of their Disney cruise ship from the cabana’s large front patio deck. A handful of private cabanas will be located on Serenity Bay Beach, exclusively for adults, providing the ultimate in upscale seclusion.
Each well-appointed cabana is furnished with comfortable cushioned chairs, luxurious chaise lounge chairs, stylish side tables and a dining table. Other convenient features include a refrigerator, lockable storage unit, outside fresh water shower and sail cloth for shade on the deck.
Amenities included with a beach cabana rental include non-alcoholic beverages, suntan lotion and fluffy towels. A variety of a la carte services and packages will be offered, including special food and beverage options.
Other Enhancements and Additions
The popular Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure will be moved to a different location in the lagoon, adjacent to the existing Gil’s Fins & Boats beach rental. Once complete, guests will be able to swim and interact with stingrays in an even larger area within the private lagoon.
Teens will enjoy Hide Out, an all-new secluded area on the island just for them. Off the beaten path, but near everything, this teen retreat is a great place to hang out and soak up the sun, just steps away from the beach, activities, food, ice cream and refreshments. Multi-colored deck chairs and sail cloth shades create the ideal getaway to gather, kick back, listen to music and watch the action at the nearby beach volleyball and soccer areas.
In Da Shade Game Pavilion provides guests wanting to take a break out of the sun a place to play games such as table tennis, foosball, billiards and basketball. The new shaded structure is centrally located, near Castaway Family Beach.
To provide additional adult pampering, three new massage cabanas will be added to the adults-only Serenity Bay Beach. For unparalleled relaxation, adults will be able to enjoy a therapeutic massage, or couples massage, at one of eight private cabanas overlooking the ocean.
Guest transportation is provided to and from various points on the island via tram. For greater convenience, additional tram paths will be created and a new Pelican Point Tram Stop will be located farther down Castaway Family Beach, near most of the new additions to the island.
Marge’s Barges & Sea Charters Dock will be expanded to accommodate additional excursion boats for parasailing, fishing tours and more.
The cruise ship dock at Castaway Cay eliminates the need to tender, making the ship easily accessible throughout the day. To accommodate Disney Cruise Line’s new ships, additional mooring dolphins will be installed to lengthen the dock.
Disney Cruise Line sails to Castaway Cay on all itineraries originating from Port Canaveral, Fla. Disney Cruise Line offers three-, four- and seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean with special voyages to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe in 2010. Land/sea vacation packages that include a stay at Walt Disney World Resort provide the ultimate Disney vacation experience.
A leader in the family cruise segment, Disney Cruise Line delivers a vacation experience that every member of the family feels was created especially for them.
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