Disney Wonder Receives Magical Makeover
posted on October 15th, 2009 by Jonathan Frontado, Disney Cruise Line
Today I have a quick update with a behind-the-scenes look at the magical makeover the Disney Wonder is currently undergoing during dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas. Among the highlights is a brand new venue called Outlook Café. Below you can see a photo taken this past week.
Located on deck 10, the new venue will be a retreat for guests to relax and enjoy a beverage or cocktail as they peer out through floor-to-ceiling, curved glass windows.
Outlook Café will become the perfect place to take in the breathtaking vistas and natural wonders of Alaska when the Disney Wonder makes its way to America’s last frontier in the summer of 2011. Departing out of Vancouver, the Disney Wonder will offer seven-night cruises to Alaska from May 3 to September 6, calling on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.
Cinderella’s Coach for Disney Weddings
posted on October 14th, 2009 by Korri McFann, Worldwide Marketing & Business Development Director, Weddings & Honeymoons
Many of you know that Disney’s most treasured pumpkin is Cinderella’s Coach, her transportation to and from the royal ball. Over the years it’s become an icon that brides dream about – a symbol of dreams coming true.
The pumpkin coach debuted more than 25 years ago at Magic Kingdom Park and is used for parades and photo opportunities at Disney parties. Built in Burbank, Calif., in the early 1980s it was inspired by the 1950 animated classic Cinderella, and has special touches like a glass slipper embossed in the glass and is ideally seated for two.
This coach was used in the 1981 Tencennial parade, Easter and Christmas parades and Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings until it became clear one coach wasn’t enough.
With such a high demand, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings turned to a coach maker for royalty, to produce a second coach. In 1995, it produced a coach fit for a princess, fitting since Bennington Carriages’ normal clients are British royalty. It illuminates at night, has rich cerulean blue cushions and Cinderella detailing that includes a sculpture of two birds perched atop the carriage and Susie the mouse, hitching a ride along the back. Vines interweave along the top and sides of the coach with leaves embossed with gold for an upscale feel. This coach is led by six white Dapper Dan ponies, accompanied by three coachmen and can seat up to four.
See the wedding coach for yourself in this video:
Be sure to stay tuned for upcoming posts on tips, trends, and the latest happenings in the Weddings Industry.
New Interactive, Simulated Thrill Ride Opens in Epcot at Walt Disney World
posted on October 14th, 2009 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
We have news to share about a unique experience at Disney Parks. And if you’re the type of person who craves interactive, personalized adventures, well then it’s great news.
The first-ever Innoventions ride at Epcot Theme Park, The Sum of all Thrills, presented by Raytheon, has officially opened to the public. It’s a simulated thrill ride that counts on your creativity and brain power. You innovate and then experience the creation in a state-of-the-art robotic simulator. How it works is simple.
Three vehicle choices appear at each design station: a roller coaster, bobsled or jet. Using a multi-touch, object recognition table, you use tools such as rulers and speed dials to design a ride. Corkscrews, inversions and steep hills are recommended.
After designing, the information is saved on a special card. The card is then swiped at a “launch station” and your creative work is instantly uploaded to the simulator. Next, you enter the simulator’s seating chamber where a 3-D video hood is placed over your head and upper torso. Now, the fun begins — twists and turns come alive in first-person point of view.
Walt Disney Imagineering worked with Raytheon to create and design The Sum of all Thrills. It’s really about math and science presented in a way that can inspire a new generation of mathematicians, scientists and engineers. Give it a try and let us know what you think.
More information about the Sum of all Thrills can be found at www.innoventions.disney.com.
‘Chef Remy’ Audio-Animatronics Figure Remains in Epcot
posted on October 14th, 2009 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
Judging by online conversations, there’s some question about whether Chef Remy, one of our newest Audio-Animatronics characters, can still be seen in Epcot. The answer is, yes, you can still enjoy Chef Remy’s culinary talents.
“Bon Appetit from Chef Remy” at Les Chefs de France at Epcot was initially scheduled to end in September but his appearances have been extended.
If you haven’t experienced Remy’s hijinks, you should. The rat-turned-chef made famous in the Academy Award-winning film Ratatouille flirts, dances and entertains several times a week at the France pavilion in Epcot.
Excitement around Chef Remy begins with his presentation — how he’s revealed. He travels table-to-table on a rolling gourmet food cart. Then a Maitre d’ lifts the lid off a silver-domed cheese platter to begin the show and the smallest Audio-Animatronics character ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering doesn’t disappoint. When Remy recently visited our table at Les Chefs de France restaurant, he didn’t leave until the entire group was laughing.
Check out Chef Remy for yourself in a video we recently created at Disney Parks.
Exclusive Video Interview with George Kalogridis, New President of the Disneyland Resort
posted on October 13th, 2009 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
Longtime Disney executive George Kalogridis was just announced as the new Disneyland Resort President. I sat down with the new president in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel because he wanted to talk to the Disney Parks Blog. George had some interesting stories to share.
George’s extensive career with Disney Parks and Resorts spans 38 years, and he started working with the company in 1971 as a busboy at the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. Most recently, George served as chief operating officer for Disneyland Resort Paris. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of Resort Operations at Disneyland for the first expansion of the resort in 2001 that includes the opening of Disney’s California Adventure park and Downtown Disney.
George has held several other executive roles, including vice president of Walt Disney World’s Travel Operations, vice president of EPCOT park, vice president of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and vice president of Human Resources at Walt Disney World.
Downtown Disney Hosts Splash! Animals This Fall
posted on October 13th, 2009 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
That high-energy, interactive show is what artist Stephen Fishwick calls “speed painting – a collection of music, art, choreography and lots and lots of flying paint.” In August, Splash! Animals performed for the first time at the Downtown Disney District, outside Rainforest Cafe. Visitors loved the performance so much that Splash! Animals will be coming back for more performances. You can catch the free shows at the Downtown Disney District on October 17-18, November 6-7 and November 13-14.
It’s not just entertaining. It’s art with a purpose. The artists primarily paint endangered animals and focus their efforts on generating awareness of endangered species. After seeing the show, Corrie Mann from Ivins, Utah, said: “It was a real eye-opener for me. I didn’t know elephants were endangered and I didn’t know cheetahs were either. The show was educational as well as entertaining.”
Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think.
Grim Grinning Ghosts are coming out to socialize aboard Disney Cruise Line this fall with special Halloween happenings on the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. We’ve stocked up the ships with fun events, special decorations, spooky menu items and themed dance parties on deck. The Halloween fun happens on a special day during every voyage setting sail in October.
Here are some of the happenings:
Trick-or-Treat Trail: Young guests can participate in a trick-or-treat hunt exploring multiple decks of the ship and collecting candy from various stations.
Haunted Parties: Guests will gather at the Goofy Pool for a fun-filled Halloween costume party – Disney Cruise Line style. The world-famous Disney Characters will join in the fun, wearing special Halloween costumes just for the occasion. For adults, the nighttime entertainment district on the Disney ships becomes the ghoulish setting for a costume contest and party sure to bring chills to everyone.
Spooky Movies: The Buena Vista Theatre will feature Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3D. Also, guests can enjoy special ‘al fresco’ showing of Walt Disney Pictures’ The Haunted Mansion on Ariel View TV.
Ghoulish Delights: Disney Cruise Line chefs have conjured some very special treats for Halloween, including: devil chocolate cake with pumpkin filling, spider cakes and a special cocktail, Witch’s Brew.
Finding Hidden Mickeys at Disney Parks
posted on October 12th, 2009 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
If you walk the parks long enough, you’ll likely see it — outstretched index fingers pointing at silhouettes and abstract images of Mickey Mouse. “Hidden Mickeys” are hidden in plain sight in our parks and resorts and there always seems to be a new one to find.
So, from time to time, we’ll be featuring a “Hidden Mickey” and information where they can be found. Our first image is a great example of a subtle tribute created by Disney Imagineers. But where’s it located?
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Mickey’s Cousin Gets a Helping Hand: Saving the Key Largo Woodrat
posted on October 12th, 2009 by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks
Walt Disney once said, “It all started with a mouse.” That mouse, Mickey, of course, is famous all over the world and is a focus of attention at Disney theme parks. Another kind of rodent, however, also is getting a lot of well-deserved attention at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. That rodent is the highly endangered Key Largo woodrat.
Since 2005, the Animal Programs team has been assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a recovery plan for the Key Largo woodrat, including the development of a woodrat breeding program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Breeding rats—you might think that would be easy! Not with the Key Largo woodrat. These animals have only about two litters each year of one to three pups. To make matters even more complicated, when our breeding program started very little was known about the conditions that encourage the woodrats to reproduce. I am very proud to say that diligent research and care by Disney’s Animal Programs scientists and animal husbandry team members has resulted in the birth of nearly 30 woodrat pups. The goal is to eventually reintroduce woodrats born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in Key Largo to help increase the wild population.
Just last month, Disney’s Animal Programs won the very prestigious Edward H. Bean Significant Achievement Award–which recognizes programs that contribute to the reproductive success of a species–from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for our successful Key Largo woodrat breeding program.
One of the threats to Key Largo woodrats in the wild, in addition to habitat loss, is non-native species, such as the Burmese python, which eat the woodrats. That’s why it is so important for people to choose pets wisely and never release unwanted pets, like these pythons, into the wild.
Guests visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park can learn more about Key Largo woodrats by visiting the Wildlife Tracking Center in Conservation Station. For more information on Disney conservation efforts, visit www.disney.com/conservation.
Gary Vaynerchuk Offers Wine Tips at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
posted on October 9th, 2009 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
With so many wines to choose from at this year’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, chances are you’ll find a favorite. But the star of Wine Library TV, Gary Vaynerchuk, says skip it — live a little and try something new.
Gary stopped by and shared tips on making the most of a Festival visit and your next sip of wine with Walt Disney World Moms Panelists Karen and Jackie. Explore new flavors and expand your palate, he says. Don’t find a Merlot you like and then order it every day for the rest of your life.
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