For a performer, there’s nothing like getting to practice your craft at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort. That experience was even more special this week for the Decatur Central High School Choir from Indianapolis. Cast members from the national touring production of “The Lion King” made a surprise appearance for the school group, which was participating in a Disney Performing Arts workshop. This magic moment gave the students a chance to learn real-life career insights from veterans of Broadway and national tours.

The Indianapolis choir participated in the two-hour Disney’s Show Choir Magic workshop, which lets students experience what it’s like to rehearse for a Disney production. The program explores vocal and movement techniques for stage performance and teaches students choreography to accompany a vocal score that they prepared in advance.

Our Youth Programs team created a magic moment for the Indianapolis choir where they were able to perform their number in front of a Disney creative team. And, you guessed it, that team was made up of the four Lion King cast members – Nick Cordileone, who plays Timon, and ensemble dancers Electra Weston, Paul Sadler and Amyia Burrell. Amyia, by the way, began her professional journey as a Walt Disney World Entertainment cast member!

Check out the video of this exciting magical moment:

For more information about Disney Performing Arts, please visit www.disneyperformingarts.com or www.facebook.com/DisneyPerformingArts.

For show dates and ticket information for “Disney’s The Lion King” please visit, www.lionking.com.

Tagged: DLR, Video, WDW

Filed: Community Outreach, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

As Jonathan showed you in his April 30th post, Captain Mickey Mouse took the field at Yankee Stadium during last Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. But did you know that 70 children from the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx received surprise tickets to see the game and got to meet the famous character in person? For many of the children, it was not only their first time at a professional sporting event but also their first time meeting Mickey Mouse.

The children could barely contain their excitement on game day, as they watched some of their heroes play in one of the best-known ballparks in the country, and perhaps dreamed just a little bit bigger than they had the day before.

Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club was one of five local clubs that received a portion of the $100,000 donation Disney Cruise Line made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of New York in March to celebrate the christening of the Disney Fantasy.

For more Disney Cruise Line news, check out the posts below:

• Captain Mickey Mouse Takes the Field at Yankee Stadium
• Disney Cruise Line Guests to Discover the Beauty of San Diego This Fall
• Disney Channel Stars Explore the Disney Fantasy

Tagged: DCL, Disney Fantasy

Filed: Community Outreach, Disney Cruise Line

Happy Earth Month!

Last weekend, more than 150 children from 15 Boys & Girls Clubs in Orange County, Calif., came together for Earth Day to plant the first of five Magic of Healthy Living gardens that the Disneyland Resort is sponsoring in the local community.

Participants planted 19 types of native plants in the garden, which Disney VoluntEARS prepped earlier this month by clearing a 100 x 30-ft. area of non-native plants and weeds at Rancho Sonado, a local environmental education facility that received the first garden. The remaining gardens will benefit local schools.

Disney Kids and Nature Celebration alumni Briana Perlson, Katherine Gwaltney and Jennifer Janneck from Brea Olinda High School in Brea, Calif., rounded out the event with a mentoring activity that inspired participants to plan their own, similar project for the planet!

Tagged: Conservation, DLR, VoluntEARS

Filed: Community Outreach, Disneyland Resort

Disney Parks has always celebrated the importance of conservation and helping the environment, but this month we’ve taken things to the next level in honor of Earth Day. Numerous organizations have been getting involved and teaming up with Disney to show kids how they can help make a difference. Check out these posts from the Disney Parks Blog to see what we’ve been up to and how you can get involved.

Take 5: Conservation at Disney Parks

1. Earth Day Inspirations: From Young People and a Young Chimpanzee, Named Oscar, During Disney Kids and Nature Celebration – Last week, we kicked off Earth Day festivities with Disney Kids and Nature Celebration – check out this post to see who stopped by!




2. Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort Honors Commitment to Connecting Kids and Nature – Five influential organizations were honored at a special Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) awards ceremony for their work to connect kids to nature. See who was recognized for their great work!




3. Get Outside for Earth Day at the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort – Spend some time celebrating Earth Day outdoors at the Downtown Disney District tomorrow!




4. Disneyland Resort Cast Members Educate Local Students About Water Conservation – See how the Disneyland Resort and the Orange County Water District taught children about the environment and protecting water supplies.




5. Wildlife Wednesdays: Central Florida Kids Connect with Nature During a Special Day Camp at the Walt Disney World Resort – See how these kids from Florida connected with nature and got inspired to help wildlife with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment cast members.

Tagged: Conservation, DLR, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Community Outreach, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Recently, I went on a road trip powered by pixie dust. Mickey Mouse and the prize patrol were at the wheel and I was along for the ride as we made our way across Central Florida to reward some students who truly shine and make a difference in their communities.

Our adventure took us to elementary, middle and high schools for some spontaneous celebrations with those selected as Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Stars.

What makes these 18 kids so special? Whether it’s overcoming adversity or inspiring others to be more civic-minded, they consistently demonstrate outstanding character, lead by example and have a caring spirit.

For example, Shining Star Elizabeth Tran founded her own nonprofit, “Teens Go Green,” to make a positive impact on the environment.

When faced with bullying, Shining Star Kyle Sullivan courageously stood up for himself and other friends.

It was such a treat to join teachers, school officials and families as we set up some magical moments to surprise and recognize these students in a memorable way.

Shining Stars are considered to be the best of the best from the Disney Dreamers & Doers program, which recognized approximately 400 local students this year for serving as role models at school, at home and in their community.

In addition to a visit from Mickey, the Shining Stars received Disney’s own version of an Oscar award known as the “Mousecar,” Walt Disney World Resort annual theme park passes for themselves and their immediate family, a gold medallion and a special invitation to attend the upcoming Kids and Nature Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort.

Now entering its 29th year, more than 12,000 students have been recognized as Disney Dreamers & Doers.

Tagged: Video, WDW

Filed: Community Outreach, Walt Disney World Resort

Did anyone catch “Good Morning America” today?

In case you missed it, GMA’s Lara Spencer and George Stephanopoulos (as well as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse) surprised the winners of GMA’s Disney Memory Makers contest live in Times Square.

The contest asked viewers to nominate someone special in their lives who created an amazing memory for them. Three winners were chosen: Two girls who helped save their mother’s life; a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who returned from Afghanistan to quickly become a stepfather to three teenagers; and a boy who made senior year memorable for a student with Downs Syndrome by taking her to the prom.

Hear their stories in this video.

The memory makers will each receive a complimentary trip to a Disney Park.

Tagged: DLR, WDW

Filed: Community Outreach, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

It’s not every day that more than 5,000 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students from 21 cities in Orange County, Calif., gather to learn about the environment and protecting water supplies. But then again, the Children’s Water Education Festival only comes around once a year!

In celebration of Earth Month, the Disneyland Resort and the Orange County Water District, along with other sponsors, presented the 16th annual Children’s Water Education Festival at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, Calif., March 28-29, along with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and more than 180 Disney VoluntEARS.

Disney Ambassadors Jolie Hales and Rene Torrico led an educational presentation that included environmental tips and fun facts, like how the Disneyland Resort recycles enough aluminum each year to make a soda can five times taller than Mount Everest!

Tagged: Conservation, DLR, VoluntEARS

Filed: Community Outreach, Disneyland Resort