Main Street Electrical Parade – 1999
posted on March 16th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
We’re digging back through the Walt Disney World video archives today – to 1999 and a night you could’ve been driving toward Magic Kingdom Park with Pete’s Dragon in the lane next to you. In May of 1999, a few weeks before Main Street Electrical Parade started making nightly appearances in Florida, hundreds of cars lined an interstate for an overnight road test. Many of the Main Street Electrical Parade vehicles and cars driven by Walt Disney World cast members joined a ceremonial caravan toward the park. It was quite a sight. See for yourself:
This isn’t the first time this “crown jewel of summer” has traveled from California to Florida. Main Street Electrical Parade debuted in Anaheim at Disneyland back in 1972 and after a 24-year run, closed in 1996. In May 1999, after technical and electrical upgrades, Main Street Electrical Parade made the move to Magic Kingdom, just in time for the start of the Millennium Celebration.
Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade begins a limited engagement for Summer Nightastic! at Walt Disney World beginning June 6 and continuing through Aug. 14.
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Pin Trading Outside the Parks
posted on March 15th, 2010 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
As most of you know, pin trading is one of the most popular interactive activities between guests and cast members. Steven Miller, a frequent contributor on the Blog, often writes about new and soon-to-be-released pins as well as the ever popular Hidden Mickey Collection, but did you know that you don’t actually have to go into the parks to pin trade?
Janet Knox, general manager of merchandise operations for Disney’s California Adventure park, Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels, gave us some tips on pin trading outside the parks.
Can you tell us about some places to pin trade outside the parks?
Janet: We have quite a few places throughout the Resort hotels and Downtown Disney where you can find guests trading. Our cast members at the front desk and Guest Services area of the hotels often wear lanyards, and you can find others at the Resort hotel stores, like the Fantasia Shop, Mickey’s in Paradise and Acorns Gifts and Goods. If you are visiting Downtown Disney, then World of Disney and Disney’s Pin Trader are definitely stops you’ll want to make. One of the main places, though, is at our monthly Pin Trading Nights at the hotels. Dates and times vary each month so check out the entire list of upcoming Pin Trading Nights on www.DisneyPins.com.
Tip: The next Pin Trading Night will take place Friday, March 26 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s free to any guest.
Can you give some tips to our novice pin traders on how they can get started?
Janet: As you may or may not know, we are actually celebrating the 10th anniversary of Disney Pin Trading this year, I still can’t believe it’s been that long. The easiest way to get started is to find a cast member. Look at their lanyard and find that special pin that really means something to you. I found that many guests will typically choose a pin based on a favorite character, attraction or icon. Next, take a pin that you have (whether on a lanyard or off), and ask if they’d like to trade. And just like that, you’ve made your first trade.
Tip: Kids 3-12 are the only ones allowed to trade off of teal lanyards worn by cast members.
Do you have a favorite pin or pin series?
Janet: I love our Disney Villains, in particular the “Divas.” So I would have to say that the jeweled Villains pins are probably my absolute favorite. What girl, “good or bad” doesn’t love a little sparkle. Another fun collection of pins is the “Bad News” series, which were released each month last year. The pins were so comical, and the mock magazine “Bad News” pins would bring you the latest and greatest news reports from the many worlds of our infamous Disney villains.
If you’ve never tried pin trading before, it’s a great way to interact with cast members and other guests. With thousands of unique Disney pins that have been created over the years, you should be able to find favorite pins to create your very own Disney Pin Collection.
Do you have story about pin trading outside the parks that you would like to share?
Captain EO Pin Coming
posted on March 15th, 2010 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
Like many of the Disney fans who were at Disneyland Park on February 23, I am very excited to have Captain EO return to Tomorrowland. How I wish I could have been there for the re-opening (why hasn’t teleportation been invented yet?). I do, however, have something exciting to share. Julie Young, developer for open edition pins, just received artwork for a Captain EO pin that I thought you would like to see.
Julie said it would be an open edition pin that will arrive at Disneyland Park in early May. Stay tuned to DisneyPins.com for the latest updates.
Garden Town Programs at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
posted on March 15th, 2010 by Debbie Mola Mickler, Disney Horticulture
Even though the festival opened earlier this month, I was busy getting ready for the seminars after that first day. Throughout the festival lectures are featured in the pavilion every, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Garden Town opens at 10 a.m. with the first presentation starting at 11 a.m. then running every hour until 4 p.m.
One of my roles for Disney’s Horticulture is creating festival program content and my crew and I were putting the finishing touches on Garden Town even after the event began. We were so excited to start the day when we finished setting up we walked down the promenade to greet the guests gathering at the entrance to Garden Town. To our surprise the crowd of enthusiastic Guests greeted us with waves and smiles. With many familiar faces spotting the crowd, this made me feel prouder than ever to be part of such a great event.
Garden Town is the hub of activity for educational seminars featuring our own Disney Gardeners, Great American Gardeners, and University of Florida Extension Agents. The seminars feature gardening trends, techniques and even some of our own Disney’s Horticulture traditions. Topics change weekly and the Disney Gardening at Home presentations with hands on activities are very popular with gardeners of all ages.
Gardening to me is like a language everyone understands. There is so much to know about gardening, it seems gardeners are able to share knowledge by experiences they have had growing plants with success or not. Yes, it is ok to talk about a negative gardening experience that is part of a successful garden.
At Garden Town I enjoy spending time with our Guests prior to show time; when they are chatting about their favorite plants or garden techniques I attain a few good tips myself. Over the years I have seen many new friendships develop over this plant chatter.
Even rush hour contains magic as you get close to the Magic Kingdom.
Disney Parks Blog Weekly Recap
posted on March 14th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
From the minute we posted news about Disney Premier Passport, you’ve been talking about it. Passport benefits are included in the initial story but if you have any questions, we’ll be continuing to answer them in comments.
Also, we first announced on the blog that the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program officially reached its goal. One million of you have been inspired to give back to your communities through volunteer service since Disney Parks launched this first-of-its-kind program on January 1.
But we began the week with this unique time-lapse video featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Take a look.
Here are some of our other most popular posts of the week:
A Hidden Treasure — Did you know that Disneyland Resort offers more than 150 different dies that can be pressed on a penny, nickel or even a quarter?
Disney Monorail Trains to Feature ‘Tron: Legacy’ Art — We broke the news that the trains will be visible on the Epcot monorail line as early as this month.
Legendary Sherman Brothers Honored with Window on Main Street, U.S.A. — Main Street, U.S.A. was buzzing with the tune of several familiar songs as Richard and Robert Sherman were honored with their own window.
Sometimes it is the Details — Walt Disney World Photographer Garth Vaughan shares a unique image from the parks.
What Do You Do When it’s Raining at Disneyland Resort — We shared a few tips to make the best of a rainy day at Disneyland Resort.
Epcot as Art — Walt Disney World Photographer Gene Duncan shares another Epcot image.
Mickey Mouse Reminds Us to Spring Forward — We shared a 1970 photo of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and friends changing the clock on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland park for Daylight Saving Time.
‘Bachelor’ Jake Pavelka, Vienna Girardi and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Pro Chelsie Hightower at Walt Disney World
posted on March 14th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
This weekend we greeted three surprise guests you may recognize from prime-time TV. Jake Pavelka, star of ABC’s “The Bachelor” and his fiancée, Vienna Girardi were joined by professional dancer Chelsie Hightower, star of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” at Magic Kingdom Park (Jake and Chelsie are dance partners on the new season of “Dancing with the Stars”).
All three are vacationing at Walt Disney World Resort and took time to strike a dance pose with Mickey Mouse.
Update: Cantina de San Angel at Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion
posted on March 12th, 2010 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
Another construction wall at Epcot, this time it’s at the Mexico Pavilion along the World Showcase Lagoon waterfront. The popular Cantina de San Angel restaurant is expanding, and when the wall comes down there will be 400 seats – both al fresco and air-conditioned seating for lunch and a coveted spot for dinner and viewing IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, the nightly Epcot fireworks spectacular. A table-service restaurant will occupy half the space.
We hear that the tall frozen margaritas stay on the menu when the new eatery opens in the fall, just in time for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Until then, you can get your guacamole fix inside at San Angel Inn, or at La Cava de Tequila, with 95 varieties of tequila to taste (our preference is the buttery avocado margarita, the richness cut with fresh lime juice and agave nectar syrup). If you’re just passing by, the Taqueria del Lago kiosk serves Mexican favorites such as nachos and mixes a delicious margarita for sipping and strolling.
We have high hopes for a fresh menu, and expect delicious south-of-the border creations from the folks at San Angel Inn LLC, who have run both the outside eatery and the pavilion’s San Angel Inn for a quarter of a century.
Disney Parks ‘Quick Hits’ – March 12th, 2010
posted on March 12th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
I enjoy reading Debbie’s posts about what it takes to make the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival happen, especially how we create our Walt Disney World character topiaries. There are more than 70 of them to see this year — with the tallest being Goofy. How tall? We tweeted the answer this week. Here are a few other items of interest that didn’t make it to the blog.
New Disney Pin: “Then & Now” — This limited edition pin commemorates the Legend of the Lion King attraction which was replaced by the Mickey’s PhilharMagic attraction at Magic Kingdom Park.
Moms Panel: Peak Times — The Walt Disney World Moms Panel answers the question, “What is considered “peak” times?”
Flower Power Concert Series — Paul Revere & The Raiders will be performing during the Flower Power Concert Series at Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival beginning March 12. The series includes 11 artists,groups with 126 Top 40 hits, including 16 No. 1 songs.
Great American Gardeners Series — See informative and entertaining presentations from nationally recognized garden personalities.
Robert Olszewski Product Release & Signing at Disneyland — Renowned miniaturist Bob Olszewski will be at Disneyland for a special appearance and signing on March 13.
Mickey Mouse Reminds Us to Spring Forward
posted on March 12th, 2010 by Heather Hust Rivera, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
Today we’re sharing this 1970 photo of Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and friends changing the clock on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland park for Daylight Saving Time.
Don’t forget to spring forward and set your clocks ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time on Sunday, March 14.
