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Country Music Artists Visit Walt Disney World Resort to Rev Up at Radiator Springs and Fight Crime with Agent P

posted on June 21st, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

On Wednesday, we welcomed two chart-topping country music artists, singer Darius Rucker and guitarist/vocalist Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts, as they joined their families at Walt Disney World Resort for some Disney Parks fun on the first day of summer. (Disney Parks Blog author Gene Duncan took these two pictures).
Country Music Singer Darius Rucker at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Agent P and His Family

Rucker, the former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, has been a frequent resident at the top of the charts since his country music solo debut in 2008. Yesterday, he teamed up with his son Jack and two daughters Dani and Cary at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to fight some crime with secret agent Agent P from the hit Disney Channel series “Phineas and Ferb.”
Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort with His Family

Rooney and his family had the chance to get their kicks on Route 66 as they visited the newly opened second phase of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Rooney, a member of the longtime country hit-making trio Rascal Flatts, joined his wife Tiffany and their children, son Jagger and daughter Rocky, on a trip through Radiator Springs at the newly opened “Cars”-themed wing of the resort. Rascal Flatts recorded “Life is a Highway,” the smash-hit theme song to the super-charged hit Disney•Pixar animated film. In fact, while we were shooting this photo, Jagger and Rocky started singing the song as they posed with Radiator Springs’ original Piston Cup champion, Doc Hudson. The parents then joined in for an impromptu quartet performance which turned quite a few heads of guests strolling by Lightning McQueen’s racing mentor.

Agent P and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort both take center stage this summer at Walt Disney World Resort. The alter ego of Perry the Platypus stars in “Disney Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure” at Epcot, and the colorful new Disney’s Art of Animation Resort continues to open in phases throughout the season. Next up: wings inspired by “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid”!

Let us know in the comments if you’ve spotted the elusive Agent P at our parks or what you’re looking forward to most if a stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is in your future vacation plans.

Read about other celebrity visits to Walt Disney World Resort in the posts below:

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Get Wild for Less on the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

posted on June 8th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

I recently took a trek deep into the Pangani Forest with Josh Sussman, an actor known for his roles on “Wizards of Waverly Place” and as the lovestruck gossip columnist Jacob on “Glee.” He’s also provided the voice of Randy, a sinister crab on Disney Channel’s hit show “Fish Hooks,” so Josh knows a little about interesting animals.

Our VIP excursion took us hiking through the jungle, walking across battered footbridges, traversing riverbeds teeming with giant crocodiles, learning about hippo herds and staring skyward to spot giraffes. A Florida shower hit as we boarded our private safari vehicle, which even added to the fun as we had a chance to study the animals through our binoculars as they enjoyed the cool rain on the savanna. By the time we reached our safari camp that overlooked the expansive savanna, the rain had stopped and the sun returned, providing a nice setting as we enjoyed a tasty selection of African-inspired foods.

In addition to leading our tour and entertaining us with their knowledge of the animals, our Safari Guides also tag-teamed as our personal trek photographers. Included in the price of each trek is a photo CD with professional photos of the tour and the exotic animals you’ll spot along the way.

For a limited time, you can save $50 on treks at or after 11:45 a.m. For more details on the limited-time Wild Africa Trek offer, call 407-WDW-TOUR or visit disneyworld.com/trek.

See what’s going on at Disney’s Animal Kingdom by reading the posts below:

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An Artful Surprise: Meeting Disney Legend Al Konetzni at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

posted on June 5th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

At Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, “it’s a small world” is not just an attraction, saying or a song. It’s like a thread woven through our theme park tapestry. The most magical moments of my career occur when those four words leave the fantasy of the parks and turn into real-life experiences.

“Al

Last Friday, one of those surprise moments happened at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. As you read here, our friends at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort helped premiere a series of stamps featuring Disney•Pixar characters. I noticed a gentleman in the audience wearing a golden Mickey Mouse lapel pin. When the ceremony ended, I introduced myself. I learned he was Al Konetzni, a Disney Legend. Born May 19, 1915, Al made his mark in Disney character merchandise.

As his official Disney Legend biography outlines here, one of Al’s most famous creations was a bright, lemon-yellow lunch box that featured Disney characters on a school bus. It’s been called one of the most popular lunch boxes ever sold.

“Al’s

Now for the “small world” moment. In 2003, Al designed one of the Mickey Mouse “InspEARations” — larger-than-life statues created to celebrate Mickey’s 75th birthday. This week, I found a picture taken Nov. 18, 2003 at the Magic Kingdom. Al’s statue featured Mickey holding the famed lunch box. (You can spot Al standing behind the statue in the picture.) I remember asking Al what he loved about Disney. He answered, “Mickey always makes me smile.”

So last week, when I asked Al if he would pose with the Disney•Pixar characters at the stamp ceremony, I recalled that conversation from 2003. Then, Al asked if I wanted to see something. He pulled from his jacket pocket a black-and-white photo. It showed a smiling Al, posing with Walt Disney.

As you can see, Al’s still smiling — all thanks to Walt, Mickey, a bright yellow lunch box and now some new friends from the Disney•Pixar films.

This new photo is a snapshot of the past, present and future of Disney. Thankfully, Al represents all three. He made magic for many years, and he still inspires cast members like me and others who meet him. To this day, he still has that Disney smile and the love of our company that makes me so very proud of where Disney has been, where we are, and where we are going.

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The Cold Facts: ‘Carbon-Freeze Me’ Brings a Special Chill to the Air at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a Limited Time

posted on June 1st, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

Ever since the limited-time “Carbon-Freeze Me” Experience debuted on May 18, guests have been entering the freezing chamber at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to have their faces digitally captured from multiple angles and then magically transformed into carbonite figurines.

Fellow Disney Parks Blog author Steven Miller previewed this homage to Han Solo in this post and gave an idea of what you could expect when the eight inch, three-dimensional piece arrives at your home.

Wanting to show the process to you, I asked special guest Ashley Eckstein to join me for some freezing fun before she began her day at Star Wars Weekends as the Celebrity Host of the “Behind the Force” presentation. After all, Ashley’s character on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano, has a little experience around carbonite. So I was definitely in good company.

Ashley and I met up with Disney Parks Merchandise Product Developer Brad Schoeneberg for a tour of the Carbon-Freezing Chamber. In fact, I think Brad is the only person I have ever thanked for helping me catch a little cold. The level of detail in the figurine’s face is simply amazing. (Now I just have to decide where in my house it will go.)

This limited-time Carbon-Freeze Me Experience is currently open every day — not just on Star Wars Weekends event days — and will continue to operate through June 16, 2012. Star Wars Weekends ends this year on June 10, so you even have some additional days after the event to get frozen.
“Disney

If you head out to Star Wars Weekends before the 2012 event ends, be sure to ask Ashley to recreate the “Han Solo Face” she made during her own Carbon-Freeze Me experience. She had a wonderful time and was a really great sport to get frozen with me.

To make advance reservations for Carbon-Freeze Me, call 407-WDW-TECH (407-939-8324). Walk-ins can be accommodated based on availability.

You can read more of the latest news from Star Wars Weekends in the posts below:

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Earning My Wings, Earning My Ears with Southwest Airlines and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

posted on May 30th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

As we get ready to officially lift the curtain and unveil our newest hotel at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, I had the chance to take a tour of the wonderfully imaginative and themed resort. But not just any tour… The great cast at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort asked me to try out a few occupations in celebration of this amazing destination. I jumped at the chance.

To help show you the new resort, we’ve joined with the fine folks at Southwest Airlines for this video preview. The airline has more than 100 flights daily to Orlando, which means there are plenty of opportunities to climb aboard one of their famous Canyon Blue-hued airplanes and visit Walt Disney World Resort.

When completely open, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will bring four new worlds to the wonderful world of Disney — 1,120 suites designed after the animated hit films Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King, and 864 rooms inspired by The Little Mermaid. Each section of the resort will open in phases, with dates listed below (*subject to change):

  • Finding Nemo Family Suites: May 31, 2012
  • Cars Family Suites: Opening June 18, 2012
  • The Lion King Family Suites: Opening August 10, 2012
  • The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms: Opening September 15, 2012

“Nemo

Walt Disney Imagineers designed Disney’s Art of Animation Resort with custom furniture and amenities, playful (and immersive, as you’ll see) courtyards and innovations including a family table that transforms into a bed. The spacious suites offer guests plenty of room to stretch out with all of the theming, whimsy, attention to detail and quality service you’ve come to expect at a Disney Resort.

In this video, I had a chance to try out a few roles at the resort and experience some Southwest Airlines “LUV” at one of the airports they serve.

Where I grew up I might say I had to “sing for my supper,” but I had to earn my ears and my wings while testing out various roles. Needless to say, I had a lot of fun and learned even more while test-driving some of the services Disney Parks and Southwest Airlines provides guests and passengers.

To find out more about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Southwest Airlines and ways to plan your Disney vacation, fly on over to this special website: http://www.southwest.com/disney/

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Happy 35th Anniversary, Star Wars, from Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

posted on May 25th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

Thirty-five years ago today, film history was made when Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope was released in theaters. Little did we know when we were introduced to a cast of galactic stars with names like Skywalker, Vader, Kenobi, R2-D2 and Chewbacca that they would become some of the most famous characters ever created for the silver screen.

Three and a half decades later, Star Wars is woven into culture like few other film sagas. At Disney Parks, we’re fortunate to be able to celebrate the Star Wars legacy with our Star Tours – The Adventures Continue 3-D attraction and events like Star Wars Weekends.

Just like Disney and Disney●Pixar animated films, Star Wars is built on a great story. To me, that’s one reason the saga stands the test of time. Thousands of films have come and gone since 1977, but just as Walt Disney introduced us to a kingdom-full of magical stories and fairy tales, George Lucas has provided a space station-full of Force-filled fun in a galaxy far, far away.

So if you’re heading out to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekends 2012, be sure to wish our galactic pals a Happy Anniversary. And maybe even enjoy a special Darth Vader “dark side” cupcake to mark the occasion.

Today, our favorite Star Wars Weekends correspondent, John, gives us a video peek at the pageantry of Weekend I and a glimpse of things to come in Weekend II. We’ve also posted a few photo highlights from Weekend I.

May the Force be with you!

Boba Fett Signs an Autograph for a Young (and Familiar-looking) Bounty Hunter The 501st Legion and Rebel Legion are Special Guests Each Day During the Pre-Parade Festivities Disney Parks Vinylmation Artist Maria Clapsis Signs One of Her ‘Star Wars’ Creations (As Seen in the Inset) in Darth's Mall Ray Park, Known to the Film Galaxy as Darth Maul, Rides in the ‘Legends of the Force’ Motorcade
Goofy's Darth Vader Outfit Can't Fool this Youngling. She Knows He's Lovable at Heart A Favorite Costume From the 501st Legion & Rebel Legion Pre-Parade: ‘Ree-Yees,’ As Seen in the Famed ‘Star Tours Boarding Party’ Action Figure Set ’Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Voice Artists Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor and Ashley Eckstein in ‘Behind the Force’ A Stormtrooper Patrols the Turnstile Rooftops at the Park Entrance

Read more about Star Wars Weekends in the posts below:

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Recent ‘American Idol’ TV Show Singers Performed at The American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World Resort

posted on May 24th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

Since opening in February 2009, “The American Idol Experience” attraction at Walt Disney World Resort has provided thousands of performers the opportunity to audition before Disney producers and directors and perform on-stage inside a 1000+-seat theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. This experience has no doubt been valuable to many performers who audition for the “American Idol” television show during one of its regional auditions.

In fact, in just this season (season 11) alone of the TV show, five of the show’s final 13 contestants had previously performed on-stage at “The American Idol Experience” attraction. One of those performers, Hollie Cavanagh, was one of the final four contestants remaining on the show before she was eliminated May 10.

“Recent

Cavanagh, the 18-year-old songstress from McKinney, Texas, came in second place in the theme park audience voting when she performed Miley Cyrus’ hit tune “The Climb” at “The American Idol Experience” on July 15, 2010. In fact, “The Climb” is the same song she performed on the “American Idol” TV show this season that drew rave reviews from both judges and fans alike.

*AMERICAN IDOL® is a registered trademark of 19 TV Ltd. and FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

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You Asked, the Galactic Senate Listened: Larger Star Wars Weekends Images Now Available

posted on May 23rd, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

As featured in earlier Star Wars Weekends posts here on the Disney Parks Blog, the Yellow Shoes Creative Group works with Lucasfilm Ltd. each year to bring the very best in creative promotional images for the annual galactic celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (And, as you’ve seen, the team branched out this year and produced some wonderful behind-the-scenes promotional video peeks at the 2012 event.)

This promotional campaign blends the worlds of Disney Parks with the galaxies of Star Wars for a “mash-up” that features famous icons and characters in single images.

When the four still images for 2012 debuted, we had requests for larger versions that could be used as desktop wallpapers. Today, we’re happy to offer those to to you.

Star Wars Weekends Wallpapers Star Wars Weekends Wallpapers Star Wars Weekends Wallpapers Star Wars Weekends Wallpapers

Note: These images, in their entirety, might not fit your screen(s) perfectly, but we want to provide them in their full frame to show every part of the artwork that the artists wanted to feature when they created them.

Be sure to check out the terms of service about using the wallpaper before you download it.



*Lucasfilm, STAR WARS™, and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

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A Mouseketeer Homecoming Lets ‘New Mickey Mouse Club’ Member Share New Memories with Her Family at Walt Disney World Resort

posted on May 16th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

Many generations have grown up with “The Mickey Mouse Club.” From its debut on black-and-white television in the 1950s through the pop-driven cast of the late-80s and early-90s (when the cast also called Disney’s Hollywood Studios “home”), the show has long been a part of our world’s rich culture.

In the late-1970s, “The New Mickey Mouse Club” hit the TV airwaves and featured segments shot at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Recently, Julie Piekarski, one of the Mouseketeers from the show’s 1970s revival, vacationed at Walt Disney World Resort — a visit that was loaded with fond memories of her days in the club that’s made for you and me.

And while the series was short-lived (Julie would go on to star on the premiere season of “The Facts of Life”), her memories are ones she re-lives each and every time she visits a Disney theme park. And she still even remembers the lyrics to a song she and her fellow Mouseketeers sang about “River Country.”

We caught up with Julie and asked her about her memories of the show. Be sure to keep a lookout for some classic Mickey Mouse Club memorabilia, as well as a few special guests who pop in to be a part of the homecoming.

One special guest even misses a cue and I give him some good-natured ribbing about it. But don’t worry, while he’s been known at times to lose his cool, he knew I meant it all in good fun.

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The Most Unlikely Race You May Ever See: A Disney Parks Turkey Leg Races Olympic Hurdler David Payne at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

posted on May 15th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor

The famous Disney Parks Turkey Leg is known for being a popular snack. In fact, guests love the treat so much it has inspired hats and t-shirts (as Disney Parks Blog author Steven Miller detailed in this recent post) toy merchandise, and even sweet snacks that resemble the tasty turkey goodness.

Which brings me to a question: what does a Disney Parks Turkey Leg have in common with the 110m hurdles? Not much, unless that hurdler is David Payne.

A Silver Medalist at the 2008 Olympics and a former U.S. Champion, David chose ESPN Wide World of Sports as a training ground for his run at Gold in the 2012 Summer Games in London. He’s training under the tutelage of an all-time legend in U.S.A. Track & Field, Coach Brooks Johnson. Brooks has coached a track and field participant at every Olympic Games since 1968 and is utilizing the pristine facilities at ESPN Wide World of Sports to train athletes this year.

While David is all business when it comes to training, he’s a fun-loving guy. So when I challenged him to race “a legendary Disney figure,” he didn’t know what to expect but was up for it anyway. Perhaps he thought he was racing Mickey, Goofy or Donald, because I think he was a bit surprised when a six-foot-tall Turkey Leg emerged to meet him at the start line. This is only the second time my homemade Turkey Leg costume has been worn. It made a cameo at last year’s “Trick or Meet-Up.” And now with this race under its belt, I think it’s time to retire the drumstick.

I don’t think David has ever raced a giant Turkey Leg and I doubt he ever will again. But he and Coach Johnson were great sports in letting me share the track, at least for a few minutes, with one of the best athletes in the world and one of the sport’s all-time great coaches.

(I also found out how hard it is to run with aluminum foil-wrapped shoes.)

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