Most men give flowers and candy to their favorite lady. Walt Disney named a train after his. Back in 1948, Walt set out to build a miniature steam power train that he could operate in his backyard. Once finished he named it the “Lilly Belle,” in honor of his wife Lilly. Eventually Walt’s gesture to Lilly made its way to Disneyland where the original Grand Canyon observation car was renamed the “Lilly Belle.” It’s not in commission all of the time, but on special occasions you can see this special car pull up the rear of the train. Take a look at this video and enjoy a ride on the “Lilly Belle.”
Princess Tiana Window at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on February 9th, 2010 by Dara Trujillo, Manager, Merchandise Synergy, Events, and Communication
Hello! My name is Dara Trujillo and I’m the manager for Merchandise Communications here at the Walt Disney World Resort. It’s my job to make sure you’re informed of the latest and greatest merchandise happenings here at our Resort.
Today, I’m excited to show you something really unique. Recently, we unveiled our official Princess Tiana window in the Magic Kingdom Park at our Emporium retail location on Main Street, U.S.A. It’s already a guest favorite. So, to get the “inside scoop,” I sat down with the designer and creator of the window, Ron James.
“I am constantly looking for new innovative ways to showcase our merchandise to our guests,” Ron said. “A few years ago, in celebration of Disneyland’s Golden 50th Anniversary, we creatively took our Belle doll, dressed in her traditional gold gown, and created a show stopping window fit for any Disney Princess. Since then we have replicated Cinderella and Aurora. The newest Princess to don the Main Street window is Princess Tiana.”
Look for this window to support our newest Princess throughout 2010.
Fun Facts: The dress took over 60 man hours to reproduce and 4 hours to install all 3 windows; more than 80 dolls were used to create the dress, and the dress itself is covered in more than 400 rhinestones.
Romantic Restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on February 9th, 2010 by Korri McFann, Worldwide Marketing & Business Development Director, Weddings & Honeymoons
The quiet company of your true love can be the perfect compliment to a savory culinary delight, or step away from the ordinary and into a themed wonderland of the most extravagantly cultural fare. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, the great part about celebrating at Walt Disney World is its endless variety. One moment you can be clutching that special someone while falling 13 stories in a runaway elevator, the next moment you can sip an aromatic Merlot during a romantic, candle lit dinner for two.
Here are my suggestions for the most romantic restaurants that Walt Disney World Resort has to offer:
- Victoria & Albert’s, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Narcoossee’s, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- California Grill, Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Jiko-The Cooking Place, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Bistro de Paris, Epcot
- Artist Point, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- The Hollywood Brown Derby, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Restaurant Marrakesh, Epcot
- Le Cellier, Epcot
- Flying Fish Cafe, Disney’s Boardwalk
There are over 100 restaurants at Walt Disney World to choose from. Reservations for most restaurants can be made in advance, so be sure to call 407-WDW-DINE to discuss different options and to make reservations. Book now to look forward to the romantic atmosphere and delectable delights that are waiting for you!!
Video: Drew Brees Celebrates At Magic Kingdom Park
posted on February 8th, 2010 by Darrell Fry, Sports Media Director, Walt Disney World
Photos from today’s exciting ticker-tape parade celebrating the MVP of the Super Bowl, Drew Brees, and the win for the New Orleans Saints aren’t all we have for you. Take a look at this video that shows Brees’ trip through the fan-lined streets of Magic Kingdom and his dream come true visit at Walt Disney World.
A Unique Anniversary Party
posted on February 8th, 2010 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seemed like a good time to share a photo I recently saw for the first time. It’s from a unique anniversary party of two sweethearts: Walt and Lillian Disney. They are photographed with their daughters, Diane and Sharon, around a huge cake inside the yet-to-be-opened Golden Horseshoe on July 13, 1955, just four days before the official opening of Disneyland park.
It was the ultimate celebration. Three hundred guests were invited to celebrate Walt and Lillian’s 30th wedding anniversary. Invitees included Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant and Gary Cooper. Can you imagine getting this invitation?
WHERE: Disneyland . . . where there’s plenty of room . . .
WHEN: . . . Wednesday, July 13, 1955, at six o’clock in the afternoon . . .
WHY: . . . because we’ve been married Thirty Years . . .
HOW: . . . by cruising down the Mississippi on the Mark Twain’s maiden voyage, followed by dinner at Slue-Foot-Sue’s Golden Horseshoe!Hope you can make it – we especially want you and, by the way, no gifts, please – we have everything, including a grandson.
Lilly and Walt
If you’ve haven’t heard the story, party guests piled into horse-drawn surreys and were taken down Main Street and into Frontierland where they boarded the Mark Twain Riverboat and sipped mint juleps. At the Golden Horseshoe Saloon (as it was called then), guests were treated to the very first, but unofficial, performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue, created by Wally Boag, the original Pecos Bill.
Next time you visit Frontierland, step inside the Golden Horseshoe and imagine what that anniversary party might have been like nearly 55 years ago.
Walt Disney World Parade Celebrates Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees
posted on February 8th, 2010 by Darrell Fry, Sports Media Director, Walt Disney World
Last night, we first told you that Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees was heading to Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate his team’s Super Bowl win. And today, we celebrated with a ticker-tape parade down Main Street, U.S.A., at the Magic Kingdom Park. Here are a few images from today’s event:
Mary J. Blige to Keynote at Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey
posted on February 8th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
In November, we announced the names of the 100 high school students who’ll be participating in this year’s Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey at Walt Disney World. Now we’re excited to share this year’s keynote speaker — singer/producer/actress Mary J. Blige.
Blige is being joined by a list of other celebrities scheduled to share their “blueprints for success” at this year’s event. The list includes:
- R&B star Cupid
- Actor Roshon Fagen (“Camp Rock”)
- Celebrity Chef Jeff Henderson
- CNN correspondent Christopher Lawrence
- Actor Daniel Curtis Lee (“Disney’s Zeke & Luther”)
- Songstress Kimberley Locke
- Actors Chris (“Zoey 101”) and Kyle (“Cory in the House”) Massey
- Actress Tamara Mowry (“Sister, Sister”)
- Producer Will Packer (“Stomp The Yard”)
- Singer Ruben Studdard
- Gospel Group Trin-i-tee 5:7
- Celebrity trainer Harvey Walden
Also, Sherri Shepherd, actress and co-host of “The View,” will return to host the celebrity conversations and Gospel Star Yolanda Adams will speak at the event’s opening ceremony.
As many of you already know, the “Dreamers” program offers amazing experiences for young adults at our parks. They participate in interactive workshops learning Walt Disney Imagineering techniques, entertainment and the business of sports. One of the main goals of the upcoming program is to inspire the students to take what they learn back to their communities and help others realize their dreams.
The event is not open to the public. Disney’s Dreamers Academy events are also made possible by the generosity of Eastman Kodak. You can learn more about the program at steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Welcomes Baby White-Cheeked Gibbon
posted on February 8th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
Not all of the celebrating today is Super Bowl related. There’s a new member of the family at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — a baby white-cheeked gibbon — and we’re sharing a first photo on the Disney Parks Blog (thanks, Gene Duncan).
The male baby gibbon was born last week and has not been named. You can see baby, mom (Melaka) and the baby’s two sisters, Suki and Tuyen, in their habitat near Kali River Rapids.
White-cheeked gibbons, an endangered species, spend their lives in the tops of trees. They produce offspring about once every 2-3 years after 7 to 8 months of gestation. Infants have the ability to cling to their mothers immediately after birth, which allows females complete range of motion while moving about the forest with their offspring.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom participates in a gibbon Species Survival Plan program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Drew Brees — ‘I’m Going to Disney World’
posted on February 7th, 2010 by Darrell Fry, Sports Media Director, Walt Disney World
Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts tonight in South Florida, so what do you think he’s going to do next? Come to Disney World, of course!
After making several memorable plays against the Colts in the 31-17 Super Bowl XLIV win, Drew looked into the TV cameras and proclaimed “I’m going to Disney World!’’
Drew joins a long list of marquee athletes from a variety of sports, such as Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Joe Montana and Magic Johnson, who have uttered that iconic phrase after winning a major championship.
Like those athletes, Drew is appearing in a nationwide commercial this week and heading to Walt Disney World Resort where he’ll celebrate his team’s magical Super Bowl win with a ticker tape parade down Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom along with several NFL Youth kids.
The commercial featuring Drew Brees will be the 42nd installment in Disney’s famous “I’m going to Disney World’’ campaign, which began in 1987 when New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms first uttered the signature phrase about going to Disney World immediately following the Giants’ Super Bowl win. The campaign was considered a groundbreaking concept at that time and has since become a fixture in American culture.
UPDATE: Drew Brees is scheduled to visit Walt Disney World Monday for a special ticker-tape parade at 11:55 a.m. at Magic Kingdom Park.
Disney Parks Blog Weekly Recap
posted on February 6th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
We learned this week that Disney Parks Blog readers have had some amazing Disney experiences. More than 100 of them can be found in the comments section of the post asking the question, “What is your favorite Disney memory?” Got any to share?
Thank you for the great “Memory” comments. Here are a few more of our most popular posts of the week.
The Hidden Secrets of Hidden Mickey Pins — We shared a few behind-the-scenes stories about unique pins you may have in your collection.
Hand-Painted ‘Disney’ Basses will be Auctioned Off to Benefit Music Education — We showed you “Genie” first on the blog…and then promised more. Well, here they are.
Magic: A 24 Hour Operation — Some of you may think that when the gates of the Disneyland Resort close, the park goes dark and silent. Not so.
Dancing with Cinderella…in Russia — Disney Cruise Line has developed a series of Port Adventures featuring Disney touches, beloved characters and rich storytelling.
Carnevale Di Venezia at Epcot’s Italy Pavilion — I can’t wait to visit the new pizzeria coming to Epcot’s Italy Pavilion. But there’s another “must do” at Italy…and it’s happening this month.
Annual Passholders Can Purchase Pre-Sale Tickets For Select Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival Signature Events — Tickets for selected Signature events went on sale February 4 for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders only, at the Special Offer Page.
