Star Sightings Aboard the Disney Fantasy
posted on March 2nd, 2012 by Jonathan Frontado, Disney Cruise Line
By now, you’ve heard about our star-studded christening celebration in New York City. It was a night filled with celebrity appearances, including the Disney Fantasy’s godmother Mariah Carey. Take a look at some of the stars who were aboard for the big night.
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Video: Godmother Mariah Carey Christens the Disney Fantasy in New York City
posted on March 2nd, 2012 by Jason Lasecki, Public Relations Director, Disney Cruise Line
Wow, what a Thursday night in New York City for Disney Cruise Line. As Tom Staggs shared earlier, we christened the newest ship in our fleet, the Disney Fantasy, with a grand ceremony that included celebrity performances, the introduction of a world-class crew and the official announcement of the ship’s godmother, Mariah Carey. Disney CEO Bob Iger and Tom once again presided over the gala ceremony. Here’s a look at the festivities.
And the best part is that there’s more to come. The Disney Fantasy begins sailing on March 31, 2012. She will sail from Port Canaveral, Fla., on seven-night Caribbean itineraries. Be sure and check the Disney Parks Blog for more on the maiden voyage.
Disney Fantasy Christening Ceremony in New York City
posted on March 2nd, 2012 by Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
It’s hard to believe it was just over a year ago that we launched the Disney Dream. And yet here we are, marking another significant Disney Cruise Line milestone – the christening of the Disney Fantasy.
During a star-studded celebration in New York Harbor last night, Disney President and CEO Bob Iger and I were joined by the ship’s godmother, Mariah Carey, and of course, Mickey Mouse, to do the honors and officially welcome this stunning new ship into the Disney family. As if Mariah and Mickey weren’t enough star power, Jerry Seinfeld, Neil Patrick Harris and Nick Cannon were also on-hand to help us commemorate this momentous occasion.
Now that the ship has been christened, the Disney Fantasy and her phenomenal cast and crew will head south to the ship’s new home in Port Canaveral to prepare for the upcoming Maiden Voyage on March 31.
Building the Disney Fantasy truly was a labor of love. As with the Disney Dream, our Imagineers worked closely with the team at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany to construct this spectacular addition to our fleet, one that builds on the creativity, innovation and artistry that are hallmarks of the Disney Cruise Line. I’d like to again thank the thousands of Imagineers, designers, artists and craftspeople who worked so tirelessly for more than two years to bring the Disney Fantasy to life.
The Fantasy has some favorite elements from the Disney Dream, like the AquaDuck and our enchanted artwork. And since guests aboard the Fantasy will spend more time with us on longer, seven-night itineraries, our Imagineers mixed in some new magic, like our two new Broadway-style shows, “Disney’s Wishes” and “Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” and the AquaLab, a brand-new water play area for the entire family.
With the addition of the Disney Fantasy, our fleet of ships has doubled – giving us the ability to offer more destinations and flexibility to our guests around the world than ever before. But more importantly, it gives us the opportunity to do what we do best… connecting friends and families to the Disney stories, characters and music they love to help make memories that last a lifetime.
NBA All-Star Chris Paul and His Son ‘Team Up’ with The Three Caballeros at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on February 23rd, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor
While the hoops spotlight is on Orlando this weekend for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Central Florida will see a few more stars as pro basketball’s best begin arriving for the weekend festivities.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, one of the starters for the Western Conference All-Stars in Sunday’s game, didn’t waste any time during the All-Star break to bring his family to Walt Disney World Resort. After leading the Clippers last night with a season-high 36 points in the team’s 103-95 victory over the Denver Nuggets, Paul hopped on an overnight flight from L.A. and made a beeline to Walt Disney World Resort so he could enjoy some Magic Kingdom Park fun today with his young son, Chris.
Paul and his son posed for this picture with The Three Caballeros, a nod to Paul’s famous nickname, “CP3.”
Paul and the Clippers hit this year’s All-Star break with a 20-11 record and currently stand alone in first place in the NBA’s Pacific Division.
It could be a sign of foreshadowing that he posed in front of Cinderella Castle for today’s photo. If he and his team keep playing like they are, at the end of the season the Clippers just might be wearing a slipper – as in glass slipper – as the NBA’s “Cinderella story” team.
As ‘LIVE!’ Spends the Week at Aulani, Kelly Ripa and Her Family Enjoy the Resort
posted on February 21st, 2012 by John McClintock, Disney Public Relations
As you know, “LIVE! with Kelly” is at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, this week. On Monday, host Kelly Ripa took a few minutes to talk with me about the show and her family’s experience at the resort.
How’s the “LIVE! with Kelly” shoot been going at Aulani?
Incredible! Really, really incredible. The hospitality of the Hawaiian people is like no other. You just feel hugged all the time. You really do. It’s just a gorgeous culture and a beautiful, warm people.
Have you had time to enjoy Aulani just as a resort experience?
I have to tell you, Aulani has hit on every mark. It’s one of these places that caters to small children, and grade school children and teens and tweens and adults, individually and as a family. It really is extraordinary because we’re at that teen-tween-child stage ourselves. So we have three kids with three different interests and this is the place that really caters to all of them.
What sorts of things have they been doing?
Well, they’ve fed stingrays. They’ve gone to Aunty’s Beach House. They’ve gone to teen video game and stargazing nights. They literally read that newsletter, the “Daily Iwa” I think it’s called, that’s put in the rooms at night and they choose what they want to do and it’s been spectacular for them. They’ve been on the Waikolohe Stream 17 hours a day. They tumble down those slides I’m terrified to go down. And this is the first trip we’ve taken where they haven’t kind of said, “I’m bored.” I mean, they’re having so much fun, it’s just really great!
Has everyone been looking forward to the upcoming Aulani wedding on “LIVE!”?
They really have. I think the wedding couple (Eileen Bellew and Kevin Houston) has been just blown away by the level of hospitality. They keep saying, “Wow, they just can’t do enough for you here,” and it’s really true. Just today – it was pretty funny, it happened on the air – it was very hot and the sun had come out and I said, “If only these people at Aulani could make the clouds move over,” and as I said it, literally that very moment a cloud moved over. And I said, “They’re very good here.”
That kind of Disney magic does tend to happen at Aulani. Did you know we actually had a rainbow on the Opening Day?
Well, I don’t know if you heard about our wedding couple when they got here. They both lost their previous spouses very tragically. They believe rainbows are sent to them by their former husband and former wife. And when they got here, there was a double rainbow over the property. They really felt like it was a message. This whole thing has been very beautiful, very emotional even for people who don’t know them personally, people who are viewers of the show. We’re all very invested in this couple.
The beautiful beachside wedding of Eileen Bellew and Kevin Houston will take place on “LIVE! with Kelly” this Friday, Feb. 24.
‘LIVE!’ from Aulani – Greetings from Kelly Ripa
posted on February 20th, 2012 by John McClintock, Disney Public Relations
“LIVE! with Kelly” is at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, this week leading up to the wedding of the winning couple of “LIVE’s Hawaiian Dream Wedding Giveaway” on Friday. Daniel Dae Kim from “Hawaii Five-O” co-hosts with Kelly today, and other co-hosts this week will include “Glee” star Matthew Morrison on Tuesday, Honolulu native and “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba on Wednesday, and Mark Consuelos on Thursday and Friday.
Each “LIVE! With Kelly” broadcast will be set against the backdrop of Aulani’s beautiful beachfront lagoon, and throughout the week “LIVE!” will showcase the best of the island of O‘ahu and highlight all that Aulani has to offer.
Belle, Beast Receive Visit from Pop Royalty at Magic Kingdom
posted on February 20th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor
It’s been quite a February to remember for multi-platinum music star Kelly Clarkson. On Feb. 5, the Grammy Award-winning singer performed “The Star Spangled Banner” at the NFL championship game in Indianapolis. Just a few days later, her newest single – “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – soared to the coveted number one spot on the “Billboard Hot 100” songs chart. Then, on Feb. 12 she joined country music artist Jason Aldean to perform their hit song, “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” during the 54th annual GRAMMY Awards telecast.
What did she do next? She went to Disney World!
Kelly joined family and friends in our theme parks yesterday, pausing for a moment to pose in the famed Magic Kingdom “Rose Garden” with a couple that knows a thing or two about roses – Belle and Beast. And from the looks of this snapshot, it seems that Belle, Beast and Kelly all enjoyed “A Moment Like This.”
Paula Abdul Celebrates Valentine’s Day at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on February 14th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor
Valentine’s Day brought a special guest to Walt Disney World Resort, as entertainer Paula Abdul spent the picture postcard-perfect day enjoying the theme parks. Minnie Mouse donned her special Valentine’s Day dress (notice her famed white polka dots on her red dress have been replaced with hearts) and smiles reigned all around.
First Lady Michelle Obama Celebrates Second Anniversary of ‘Let’s Move!,’ Disney Magic of Healthy Living at ESPN Wide World of Sports
posted on February 11th, 2012 by Kathleen Prihoda, Manager of Media Relations, Walt Disney World Resort
Taking a cue from Perry the Platypus from the Disney Channel series “Phineas and Ferb,” First Lady Michelle Obama, Disney Channel and Disney XD stars and nearly 1,500 local children and families got their groove on this afternoon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
With the goal of showing how fitness can be fun, the First Lady joined pro athletes and Disney Channel stars Debby Ryan (“Jessie”), Roshon Fegan (“Shake It Up”), and Disney XD stars Doc Shaw and Kelsey Chow (“Pair of Kings”) and Olivia Holt (“Kickin’ It”) to inspire attendees to live healthier lifestyles by taking simple steps every day.
From “The Platypus Walk” (a new dance inspired by Perry the Platypus) to soccer drills to cooking demos with healthy foods, the event was jam packed with activities that can easily be done at home. Kicking, sprinting and jumping were par for the course and the kids seemed to enjoy the challenge.
These efforts mark the second anniversary of Let’s Move!, the First Lady’s initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation, and Disney Magic of Healthy Living, an initiative designed to partner with parents in their quest to raise healthy, happy kids.
‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ Visits Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa
posted on February 10th, 2012 by John McClintock, Disney Public Relations
The fun of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” met the fun of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, recently when AFV went on location at the Hawai`i resort.
AFV host Tom Bergeron took time during the shoot to slide down Tubestone Curl into Waikolohe Stream …
…and to join the dancers of the “Starlit Hui.”
Looks like he had a great time! Aulani will be featured in two upcoming episodes of AFV, airing May 6 and May 13 at 7 p.m./6 p.m. Central.
