Go Behind the Scenes at The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
posted on August 25th, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
Today is the anniversary of one of my favorite attractions – The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, which was dedicated Aug. 25, 1989, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
If you aren’t familiar, this 30-minute stunt show recreates some of the most thrilling and heart-pounding moments from the Indiana Jones films right before your eyes. (Incidentally, the film franchise celebrated its 30th anniversary this summer).
In honor of the attraction’s anniversary, I recently headed backstage to see for myself how these talented stunt performers throw punches, leap from buildings, and swing from scaffolding – several times a day – in front of a live audience.
Take a look, and afterward, tell me in the comments section – would you have jumped?
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My First Disneyland Resort Experience
posted on August 24th, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
This past weekend, I was lucky enough to attend the D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif. The trip was a great deal of fun – I heard updates on New Fantasyland, saw an amazing rendering of Shanghai Disneyland’s Enchanted Storybook Castle, and oh yeah, visited Disneyland park for the first time.
I grew up vacationing at the Walt Disney World Resort and have been lucky enough to visit Disneyland Paris twice, but I’d never been to the Disneyland Resort, so I jumped at the chance to attend this year’s D23 Expo.
I promised my team I’d share some of my first-trip highlights with all of you, so as we like to say at Disney Parks, “Let the Memories Begin!”
- Visiting Disneyland Park – Each Disney park is uniquely wonderful in its own way, but in this case, there’s just something about being at the first park, the one that Walt Disney himself introduced to the world and forever changed the way many of us vacation, imagine and dream. I had the best time just strolling through the park, enjoying the attractions Walt would’ve seen, and trying to pick out buildings that looked familiar from park’s opening-day broadcast.
- Experiencing the original Pirates of the Caribbean – I was lucky enough to try out several of the park’s classic attractions on this trip, including The Haunted Mansion, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, “it’s a small world” and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, but I just fell in love with this version of Pirates. It starts out a bit differently, with a gentle coast through the Blue Bayou, then a drop underground through caverns brimming with pirate treasure. A second plunge brings you to the scenes that Magic Kingdom Park fans would recognize – pirate ships, blasting canons, the bride auction, and of course, Captain Jack.
- Hosting a live-chat from Club 33 – Last Thursday night, my fellow authors, Thomas Smith, Jim Ames, Erin Glover and I were very fortunate to do a live tweet from Disneyland park’s Club 33. While I was amazed with every aspect of this unforgettable dining experience, I was equally pleased to see our messages get retweeted in Chinese, Japanese and Spanish. (I think the photo above was the only time my hands weren’t on a computer).
- Attending “World of Color” – On the last night of our trip, Thomas and I were able to break away from the D23 Expo for a viewing of “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure park. As you can see from the photo above, it was simply amazing! And Mickey’s Fun Wheel makes one heck of a background to the show.
- Gaining at least five pounds – I have to admit I’m a quite a foodie, so when Disney Parks Blog Food Author Pam Brandon sent me a list of must-try restaurants for my first trip, I was up for the challenge – to hit all of them! Pam sent me on a true tour through culinary destinations big and small that ranged from Corndog Castle (best crispy corndogs ever, according to Pam), to Napa Rose (best wine selection), Blue Bayou (best New Orleans-style chow), and beyond.
Add ‘the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness’ to Your Desktop
posted on August 24th, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
“Hang on to your hats and glasses” folks, because today we’re launching the second in a series of Disney Parks Blog wallpapers – this time inspired by the popular Frontierland attraction, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Click on the image above for a list of resolutions that fit your desktop, iPad or smart phone. Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it. And if you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to check out the first wallpaper in the series that starred Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Which attraction will be next? Any guesses?
Point of View: Omnibus at Disneyland Park
posted on August 24th, 2011 by Shannon Swanson, Senior Publicist, Disneyland Resort
Fifty-five years ago today the Omnibus first made its way down Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland park. To celebrate, I chose the double-decker as the first vehicle in a new series where our cameras capture a unique point of view (POV) of the Disneyland Resort. Five cameras traveled aboard the Omnibus to tape the entire trip from the Main Street Train Station to Sleeping Beauty Castle and back again.
Next up in the series, our cameras board the E.P. Ripley for a trip around Disneyland park on the Disneyland Railroad.
Palmer and Disney Pair Up For a Swing at Golf Magic
posted on August 24th, 2011 by Darrell Fry, Sports Media Director, Walt Disney World
The golf courses here at Walt Disney World Resort have long been favorites among guests and industry experts. Now the golf experience here is about to get even better.
We announced today that we are pairing up with one of the biggest names in golf – Arnold Palmer. Arnold Palmer Golf Management is going to operate, manage, maintain and help promote Disney’s five golf courses – the Magnolia, the Palm, Oak Trail, Osprey Ridge and Lake Buena Vista starting Sept. 25.
In a nutshell, this is going to be a stroke of golf genius for anyone who comes to Disney to play golf. That’s because the Palmer name is known for innovative course designs and elements created personally by Palmer, some of which are visible amid its portfolio of renowned courses that stretches from Hawaii to Connecticut. And when you blend that with Disney Park’s already family-friendly environment and its rich golf heritage, what you’ll get is a mixture that further enhances Disney Golf’s stature as a unique golf destination experience that appeals to golfers of all levels.
The creative brainstorming will begin soon, but Palmer has already said he’s “looking forward to the opportunity’’ to work with Disney. And he said he plans to designate the Palm course as one of his signature courses with elements designed by him.
Just think…Arnie and Disney? That has to be a pairing that finishes at the top of the leaderboard.
Vultures, Mowgli’s Pals in The Jungle Book, Are Friends of the Environment Too
posted on August 24th, 2011 by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks
In “The Jungle Book” (in a rare opportunity to play the good guys), a quartet of vultures reaches out in friendship to Mowgli. You can say that vultures are friends of the environment—and all of us!–too. Natural recyclers, vultures eat the carcasses of dead animals, and, as a result, reduce the spread of diseases that can make people sick.
On September 1, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will join other conservation organizations around the world in celebrating International Vulture Awareness Day.
Guests can learn about vultures and conservation efforts to help these birds:
- At an activity area at the Tree of Life
- By participating in a variety of activities at Rafiki’s Planet Watch
- At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Guests can try on a replica of vulture wings, create an arts-and-crafts vulture or vulture mask, learn about vulture digestion and take part in a vulture meet-and-greet, among other activities. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, activities include viewing vulture feedings, vulture mask coloring and the opportunity to examine vulture biofacts.
Guests can see lappet-faced vultures at the Tree of Life, black vultures at Rafiki’s Planet Watch and Ruppell’s griffon vultures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
International Vulture Awareness Day originated in South Africa in 2006 to raise awareness of the plight of vultures in that region. The event has expanded around the world, focusing on issues and conservation programs that are affecting these birds. Challenges facing vultures range from loss of habitat and food sources to poisoning of food carcasses and electrocution on power lines. Most vulture populations have been reduced by more than 50% over the last 15 years and these downward trends continue.
Programs like the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) are helping to support the conservation of vultures and other birds. DWCF has given more than $3.7 million to bird conservation programs, including more than $400,000 to conserve vultures around the world through annual grants and the Rapid Respond Fund.
Wildlife Wednesdays Vulture Fun Facts:
- Vultures mate for life and are social animals.
- Vultures that soar high on warm air currents, called thermals, can glide for hours in search of food.
- The tips of vultures’ wings act as rudders to help them change direction and as brakes to enable them to reduce speed.
- Vultures nest in a variety of ways—nesting places include cliff faces, tall trees, tree stumps, caves—some vultures even build their nests on the ground.
Watch the Disney Parks Blog for information on other upcoming conservation events at Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
- October 26 – Year of the Bat Celebration
For more on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, see the posts below:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Earns Four-Diamond Status
- Exploring the Wanyama Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney Ornaments Created from Ostrich Eggs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Seatbelt Bags That Are Sure to ‘Drive’ You Crazy at Downtown Disney District
posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Michelle Harker, Merchandise Marketing & Communications Project Manager, Disneyland Resort
A few months ago, the team from Harveys debuted the Disney Classic Comic Strip Signature Collection of Seatbeltbags at Disney Vault 28. I’m excited to share the news that Dana and Melanie Harvey will be returning to the Vault, this time with something that is sure to give you “nightmares” and “drive” you crazy. Have I teased you enough? Here’s a sneak peek at some of the new art that will appear on their line of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” inspired Seatbeltbags. Want more? How about a collection of Seatbeltbags themed to bats or skulls? These additional Harveys for Disney Couture styles are set to debut alongside the “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” totes.
What will they come up with next?
So for fans of Disney, “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Harveys, it looks like the holidays have collided once again this year, but this time with a fashionable twist. Check this new collection out at Disney Vault 28 on September 10. Word on the street is Dana and Melanie will be on hand to sign bags from 5-8 pm.
Disney Parks Mobile Magic App is Now Free
posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
If you haven’t checked out our official Disney Parks app yet, now’s the time. You can’t beat this: Verizon Wireless customers can now download Mobile Magic for free. And you’ll want to have some of Mobile Magic’s nifty features at your fingertips for your next visit to the parks.
Our app offers accurate wait times as well as official Disney FASTPASS return times and availability for the park you’re in. The same system that powers wait times and Disney FASTPASS in the park, powers this app. Also, there are GPS-enabled park maps to get you to your favorite characters, mobile games and more to explore, including an easy way to make dining reservations directly from your phone.
Just visit the Android Market to download the application for free on your Verizon Wireless phone. And yes, we’re working on a version of Mobile Magic for Verizon iPhone users. That version is currently scheduled to launch this fall.
There are some official details you should know about: message and data rates may apply. Coverage not available everywhere. Availability subject to handset limitations. If you’re under 18, get your parent’s permission first.
Bake Me a Cake – Pastry Chef Jean-Marc Viallet at the Disneyland Resort
posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
Next in the series of amazing Disney cakes – taking you behind the scenes in the kitchen with some of our favorite chefs who show us their “cake beauty” secrets – this delectable Sweet Memories Cake is the most popular cake at the Disneyland Resort, says Chef Jean-Marc Viallet.
Chef Jean-Marc makes it looks so easy – nine layers that start with a chocolate conge cake and end with warm chocolate ganache glaze.
No recipe – you’ll have to visit for a slice of deliciousness!
Do you have a favorite Disney cake that you’d like to see the chef create?
Caption This: A Party That’s Just Ducky at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on August 23rd, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
This week’s “Caption This!” photo depicts the Fab Five in a moment of celebration in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort – with some unusual party guests.
I want to see some creative suggestions here. (How did they get those party hats to stay on?)
Now, go ahead and “Caption This!”
