While many people dream of going to Africa to live like renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, most of us just don’t have the time to pack up and fly around the world, particularly those of us with children. The Jane Goodall Institute, together with our longtime friends at Walt Disney World, would like to offer you and your family the next best thing: An Exclusive VIP Weekend at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge® featuring the chance to spend time with Jane over President’s Day Weekend.

Trip Highlights Include:

• Private VIP transportation provided to and from Orlando International Airport;
• Three nights in a savannah view room in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®;
• Exclusive breakfast with Dr. Jane Goodall and some of Disney’s famous characters;
• Intimate campfire with Jane Goodall overlooking Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge® savannah including stories, hot chocolate, s’mores and more;
• Opportunity to get up close to a variety of spectacular and majestic animals in their backstage habitats on Disney’s special Backstage Safari Tour;
• Gala dinner featuring an exclusive private performance of the Festival of the Lion King;
• Access to Disney’s theme parks with Park Hopper® passes. Transportation to any of the Disney parks is included, along with a Dining Card valid at a variety of locations; and
• More!

Package is for Presidents Day Weekend (February 18-21, 2011). Complete experience includes capacity of up to 30 people. Includes hotel, select meals, unlimited three-day admission to all Disney theme parks, transportation to and from the Orlando airport, and all scheduled events.

Cost: ,500 per adult and ,500 per child, ages 7 and up. Includes hotel, select meals,unlimited three-day admission to all Disney theme parks, transportation to and from the airport, and all scheduled events.

See janegoodall.org/travelwithjgi for more information.

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Takes your breath away, doesn’t it? And that’s just the entrance! What’s even more amazing are the live shows that will take place inside every night.

By the way, don’t mind the clutter in the adjacent retail shops. We’re still getting the ship ready but we’ll have everything tidied up by the time she reaches Port Canaveral in a couple weeks.

The 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre is located at the forward end of Deck 3 with balcony seating accessible from Deck 4. It’s one of the most technologically advanced theaters at sea or on land and it’s where our guests will be entertained every night with Broadway-style stage shows exclusive to Disney Cruise Line. During the day it’ll also present first-run movies, including some in Disney Digital 3D.

At midship on Decks 4 and 5 is the 399-seat Buena Vista Theatre, an Art Deco cinema that will screen first-run films and other popular movies, some in Disney Digital 3D too.

Upcoming films that will premiere at sea on all three Disney Cruise Line ships the same day they debut on land include “Gnomeo & Juliet” (February 11, in Disney Digital 3D), “I Am Number Four” (February 18) and “Mars Needs Moms” (March 11, in Disney Digital 3D).

But enough from me. You want to see what’s inside these terrific palaces, right?

Here’s an exclusive preview of both theaters, including a few computer renderings and a sneak peek at rehearsals for the original stage spectacular that will debut aboard the Disney Dream, “Disney’s Believe.”

Meanwhile, the ship is finally on her way to Florida! The Disney Dream departed Bremerhaven, Germany, a couple days ago and is making the transatlantic voyage to Port Canaveral with a few brief stops planned in between.

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AOL online recently revealed their Best of Orlando 2010, and The Peabody Hotel was the winner!

For anyone who knows Orlando or has a taste for luxury hotels, that distinction should be no surprise. The Peabody has been a high-end staple for many years now, one of the first true bastions of luxury on International Drive. With the Peabody’s 2010 multi-million dollar expansion, things have only gotten better. The hotel has added a new spa, two additional restaurants (including the exceptional Napa, a wine and food enthusiast’s dream), stunningly appointed hotel rooms (which get my personal prize for most comfortable beds in Orlando), a grotto pool perfect for relaxing in the warm Florida sunshine, and the kind of style and decor touches expected of a hotel of this caliber. In a town rife with budget hotel rooms and ways to cut vacation budget corners, the Peabody is one place where your money would be well spent. Don’t hesitate to treat yourself to the Peabody - it deserves a place on your Best Of list.

It was a rough start to the new year for Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The very first day of 2011 saw a fire break out on the popular log flume ride Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. While no one was hurt and the area was quickly evacuated, it was a sight to behold, with thick black plumes of smoke rising in the Orlando sky as the fire was dealt with by Universal employees and local fire fighters.

The fire and subsequent evaucation occurred at around 5:30pm January 1, 2011. Hundreds of park visitors witnessed the fire and smoke; the park was exceptionally busy that day. Several visitors were taken to first aid but no one was taken to local hospitals. And as the evacuees were being removed from one section of the park, the front gate still have visitors coming in through the front gate.

At this time, no definite cause for the fire is known, though an electrical problem is suspected. An investigation is underway and the ride is expected to remain closed for several weeks. Universal Orlando Resort will also reportedly be using the downtime for routine safety maintenance and upgrade, which had been scheduled for late January 2011.

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A couple hundred Disney cast members, a bevy of specially invited press, hundreds of members of the public, and a few rather large rodents, greeted the arrival to Florida of the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet this morning – The Disney Dream. Port Canaveral will be the home port for the ship that has been under construction for nearly two-years in Papenburg, Germany. For the most part The Dream will sail three, four, and five night cruises to the Bahamas. The initial cruise departs January 26th and there are still even a few cabins left on the second cruise as of this morning.

With the arrival of the Disney Dream to its homeport in Florida, preparations are underway for its inaugural cruises and events, including the traditional christening of the vessel. Other Disney Dream inaugural events include a Benefit Preview Cruise in support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, sailing Jan. 21-23. I am currently planning to be aboard one of those preview cruises and attend the christening. So look for more on that in the coming weeks.

The launch of the Disney Dream will bring sizable economic benefits to Port Canaveral and the region, given the increased capacity of the new ship over the current Disney ships. According to an economic impact study by Martin Associates, the new ship is expected to generate nearly 450 direct, indirect and induced jobs in the area, and attract thousands of additional cruise guests to the port.

“We are delighted to welcome the Disney Dream to its new homeport,” said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line. “As we grow the Disney Cruise Line business, not only does this mean a positive economic impact for the region, but this allows us the flexibility to provide even more options to our guests. With new innovations onboard and new destinations to explore, ultimately we’re providing even more ways for guests to enjoy a family cruise vacation.”

The recent construction project for Disney’s cruise terminal and dock area in Port Canaveral has also delivered economic benefits. Enhancements include an expanded dock area and terminal facility, along with the construction of a new parking garage connected to the terminal by a sky-bridge walkway.

“This is a special time for us,” says Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer J. Stanley “Stan” Payne. “We’re thrilled to welcome the Disney Dream home to her expanded terminal facility. We continue to have a great relationship with Disney Cruise Line and we look forward to continuing that for many years to come.”

In addition to the expansion at Port Canaveral, Disney Cruise Line has also made enhancements to its private island Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, to further accommodate the new ship and more guests. From extended beaches and more dining locations, to the addition of private beach cabanas and Pelican Plunge, a new floating water play structure with water slides, the island boasts even more offerings and activities for families to enjoy.

Accommodating up to 4,000 guests, the 130,000-ton Disney Dream takes Disney’s special brand of family cruising to a whole new level with industry firsts such as the AquaDuck water coaster and Magical Portholes that transform inside staterooms into rooms with magnificent views. All of the ship’s new features – combined with Disney quality entertainment, unique dining experiences and age-specific areas for children, teens and adults – create an unforgettable cruise experience for the entire family. A sister ship, the Disney Fantasy, is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and will arrive in early 2012. It will sail seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, also from Port Canaveral.

With the addition of two new ships, Disney Cruise Line is offering a wider variety of itineraries and will sail to more destinations around the world, including a repositioning of the Disney Wonder to the West Coast of the United States, sailing Mexican Riviera and first-ever Alaskan itineraries in 2011. Meanwhile, the Disney Magic will spend another summer sailing European itineraries in 2011.

Disney Cruise Line established the blueprint for family cruising when the business launched in 1998. The first two ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, which set sail in 1998 and 1999, respectively, were purpose built for families to reconnect, adults to recharge and kids to immerse themselves in worlds of fantasy only Disney can create.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent. Travel agents can call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or visit disneytravelagents.com.

Disney Dream Reaches Home Port near Orlando
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information — by fans, for fans

                          

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