Rehearsals are underway for the Encore! Cast Choir and Orchestra’s summer production, Dream Our Dreams, A Musical Tribute to the Legacy of Disney. I had a chance to peek in on the volunteer ensemble last week as they practiced and was amazed by the sheer talent of the troupe; which is comprised of roughly 330 singers, 100 instrumentalists, 50 dancers and a production team of 40.

Encore! offers Cast Members an outlet for their creativity and a chance to showcase their talents while performing great music for worthy causes. Encore! producer Bruce Light says at least half of the group have day jobs outside of entertainment and aren’t performers by trade. For all involved, it’s a labor of love.

Since its inception in 2002, Encore! has donated the funds from its ticket sales to local charities, raising more than $115,000 to date. They’ve chosen Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & Northern Florida as their 2010 beneficiary.

Already known for staging spectacular performances, Clay Price, Encore! co-founder, artistic director and conductor, claims this year’s shows are their most ambitious yet.

Come and see for yourself. Performances are open to the public and scheduled for Aug. 6 – 8 at Epcot World ShowPlace. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and available through www.encorecentral.org.

Tagged: WDW

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Community Outreach, Walt Disney World Resort

I met the strongest, toughest, most fearless athlete I’ve ever seen at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex the other day. The kid’s name is Chris Siders and he was huge. If you look at him, though, out there playing right field for his Pensacola AAU baseball team, he seems tiny because he’s only 13 and weighs barely 100 pounds. But his heart is the size of Epcot.

Problem was, for the last couple of years that huge heart of his had a mass growing near it. A cancerous one. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Staring at the proverbial last at-bat of his life, this kid didn’t try to bunt; he swung for the fences. Against all medical odds, he survived a third round of chemo and radiation treatments and has returned to the baseball diamond. The cancer, doctors told him, is apparently gone.

These days, Chris is back out there in right field doing everything his little body can do to help his team compete in the AAU National Baseball Championships here at Walt Disney World this week.

There are undoubtedly a lot of great teams and extraordinary players in the tournament who would be deserving of a prestigious AAU National title. But my money is on that Pensacola team with the giant kid out there in right field.

Tagged: Video, WDW, Wide World of Sports Complex

Filed: Walt Disney World Resort

Last week, Allstar Weekend, a band whose hit single “A Different Side of Me” recently hit number one on the Radio Disney Countdown, celebrated the release of their debut album at the Disneyland Resort. Fans had the opportunity not only to hear the band perform outside Studio Disney 365 at the Downtown Disney District, but also to meet the guys in the band and get their CDs autographed!

They stayed for hours and made sure they met every fan who came out to see them. Zach, Cameron, Nathan and Michael are four of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and I really couldn’t tell who was more excited to be there – the fans or the the band!

Allstar Weekend’s appearance at Studio Disney 365 can be seen here.

Tagged: DLR, Downtown Disney

Filed: Celebrity Visits, Disneyland Resort

Our wedding planners always keep an eye out for the latest trends. While plenty of brides still opt for classic and traditional choices, many couples choose to go mod by putting a trendy spin on their wedding details – everything from flower to favors, and everything in between.

Here are just a few of the wedding trends we’ve noticed this year at Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings.

Dancing the night away
The first dance between a husband and his new wife is always a beautiful sight. And now, many couples are spicing up their routine a bit. Whether it’s a choreographed number they worked weeks to perfect, a zany upbeat tempo destined to be the next YouTube frenzy, or an elaborate pantomime complete with props, brides and grooms are finding new and interesting ways to two-step through their first dance.

A picture is worth a thousand words
The traditional posed wedding shots are quickly becoming a thing of the past. More and more I see couples selecting photography options that better highlight their individual style. This couple chose a sunset theme for their engagement portraits at the Walt Disney World Resort, allowing the photographer to snap natural shots of them as they cuddled on the beach.

Wedding photos can be fun too! The great thing about getting married at one of our parks or resorts is that you have a wealth of unique backgrounds for your bridal shots. This adorable photo was taken in World Showcase at Epcot.

A fond farewell
On your wedding day you are a star, why not feel like one? Grand exits are all the rage for our brides, who are choosing to end the night with a bang by surprising their guests with a private fireworks show. This is the perfect example of an element that really makes a Disney’s Fairytale Wedding unique … and it certainly adds to the happy couple’s celebrity status!

A sweet gift
Wedding favors also come in and out of popularity. Right now edible is “in” – in a big way! Tasty treats can match the theme of a wedding while looking good arranged in attractive bowls and glasses of all shapes and sizes. Leave each guest a goodie bag for collecting their favorite treats from the bar and it makes for a delicious take-away they’re sure to favor.

One size does not fit all
Bridesmaids throughout the years have relished the honor of standing beside a friend on her big day while simultaneously fretting about the way they look in a dress that doesn’t flatter. Whether a bride allows her maids to all pick their favorite frock in any shade of fuchsia or, like a recent Disney Cruise Line wedding on Castaway Cay, simply tells them to pick something “beachy,” many of today’s bridesmaids are free to express their style in a way that suits them perfectly.

Did you see my tweet?
Couples are getting the word out about their special day in lots of new ways. Modern brides and grooms get their loved ones involved in their big day using technology and social media.

Being the hipsters that we are, we here at Disney’s Fairytale Weddings use many of these same technologies to talk to you. Follow us on Twitter @DisneyWeddings and check out our Facebook page – you’ll even see a pretty cool wedding planning app there in the months to come. How trendy is that?

Tagged: DCL, Epcot, WDW, Weddings

Filed: Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World Resort, Weddings & Honeymoons

To me, the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs are a peaceful retreat from the excitement of the theme parks. This DVC Resort takes me to my happy place – in the wilderness, surrounded by nature. If you take a stroll at the resort you might stumble upon a recent find of mine. Colorful wildflowers and flowering plants have created the perfect butterfly habitat. Gorgeous butterflies flutter around a sunny enclave they call home. It’s just a beautiful site.

Tagged: DVC, WDW

Filed: Disney Vacation Club, Hotels & Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort

Have you had a chance to see “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure park?

While there’s no substitute for that nighttime spectacular, special colorful and animated changes will come to California icons in cities across the state in the “World of Color” Road Show this July. You’ll have the chance to see these cool transformations online at www.WorldofColorRoadShow.com.

Don’t forget – get the scoop and follow us online at www.WorldofColorRoadShow.com.

Tagged: DCA, DLR, World of Color

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort

One the best parts of my role at the Disneyland Resort is being able to review images in our extensive publicity photo archive whenever I need to. Naturally, over time, many photos become familiar, and certain pictures begin to take hold as “special.” As one of my colleagues recently pointed out, I call many of them my “favorite,” so, here’s one of those favorite photos I like so much that it hangs on the wall in my office, directly above where I usually enjoy my morning coffee.

This picture was taken at the Plaza Inn, in 1966, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather share a cup of coffee with.

Tagged: DL, DLR

Filed: Disney History, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort