We have several “Limited Time Magic” surprises to share with Disney Parks Blog readers today, including details for a special celebration to officially welcome Merida into the Disney Princess Royal Court.

As a part of “Limited Time Magic,” all 10 Disney Princesses will come together on May 11 in honor of their newest member, Merida, the heroine from Disney•Pixar’s film “Brave,” as the 11th Disney Princess character. The celebration begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Park.

At the park, you’ll also be able to commemorate the occasion with a limited edition Merida-inspired T-shirt created for toddlers and youth, available at the Emporium inside Magic Kingdom Park while supplies last.

Before Merida’s royal celebration, we’re kicking off a weeklong “Limited Time Magic” Fiesta at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot.

It’s Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Niños and all the fun of a festive Mexican celebration rolled into one at Epcot next week. You can meet the Three Caballeros – Panchito, Jose Carioca and el Pato Donald and join in with a variety of performances, including marionettes and folkloric dancing and other surprises.

San Angel Inn and La Hacienda will be joining in the “Limited Time Magic” celebration by offering special Cinco de Mayo menus with authentic drinks, appetizers, entrees and dessert options to celebrate the occasion. Plus, because it’s the Year of the Ear, as part of “Limited Time Magic,” we will feature Cinco de Mayo ear hats at the park.

And at Disneyland Resort, for a limited time beginning May 5, the “Glow with the Show” ear hats will be incorporated into nightly presentations of the fireworks spectacular “Magical.”

As part of “Limited Time Magic,” you’ll also be able to find a special fireworks viewing area on Main Street, U.S.A., reserved for you when you wear your “Glow with the Show” ears. Special viewing area dates are: May 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, due to limited capacity.

Tagged: DL, DLR, Epcot, Limited Time Magic, MK, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

In a super-close competition, Chef Andrew Sutton from Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa was edged out today by Chicago Chef Carlo Lamagna for top honors in the Skuna Bay Chef Challenge at the legendary “Taste of Derby” at the Kentucky Derby.

It’s a long road from Southern California to Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky., and Sutton started competing in March in North American regionals, sponsored by Skuna Bay Salmon. Thirty chefs entered their most impressive Skuna Bay salmon recipes, and Sutton was a regional winner. In April, the winning regional chefs went head-to-head in Round 2 in competitions in Los Angeles and Chicago. Sutton again was victorious.

The finals for “National Skuna Bay Craftsman Chef” were this week in Louisville, with Sutton going up against Chef Carlo Lamagna from Perennial Virant in Chicago. At each stage of the competition, Sutton crafted the same beautiful dish: an elegant, use-all-of-the-fish trio that included tangerine-cured salmon belly sashimi; a pan-roasted fillet with crispy skin on an English pea coulis, topped with house-cured salmon roe and Eureka lemon; and an escabéche featuring fresh salmon cut in perfect miniature cubes and tossed with cucumber, mint and cilantro. Each round started by breaking down and filleting a 10- to 12-pound Skuna Bay salmon. (Skuna Bay is along Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where waters are glacier-fed and the fish used in their feed is from sustainably certified fisheries.)

Along with competing in the prestigious culinary contest, Sutton gets a primo seat for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

He offered his winning creation at Napa Rose before the contest, practicing to get it perfect. And we bet you’ll find it back on the restaurant’s menu.

Congrats, Chef Andrew!

Tagged: Dining, DLR

Filed: Disney Dining, Disneyland Resort

Sharing the magic in our communities is part of our legacy and culture, and this month Disney VoluntEARS are celebrating 30 years of serving kids and families.

The Disney VoluntEARS program dates back to the Disneyland Resort where, in 1983, a group of cast members formed a team focused on community service. Today, cast members around the world donate their time and expertise to make the world a happier place. Special activities will take place around the world and throughout the month, but here’s a look at some of this week’s festivities honoring this milestone anniversary.

• At the Disneyland Resort, thousands of cast members participated in the VoluntEARS’ anniversary kick-off celebration that showcased 10 local non-profit organizations to highlight some of the ways that VoluntEARS are benefitting the community. There were even opportunities for cast members to lend a hand – from helping the Orange County Food Bank prepare bags of fresh produce for local families to making blankets for women receiving assistance from MOMS Orange County.
• And at Walt Disney World Resort a group of cast members gathered for a pep rally to honor the VoluntEAR of the Year and VoluntEAR Team of the Year, and to gear up for a month’s worth of VoluntEAR opportunities, happening each day in May. Here, cast members and Walt Disney World leaders share the excitement of what it means to be a VoluntEAR, and how important (and fun) it is to give back.

Tagged: DLR, Video, VoluntEARS, WDW

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

We had the pleasure of working with Mariah Carey on the vision for her vow renewal for almost a year, and like most brides, she wanted to feel like a princess on her big day. We couldn’t think of a better place to commemorate five years of wedded bliss – and Roc and Roe’s second birthday – than at Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland park. It doesn’t get much more royal than that!

The evening started with a birthday party at Fantasy Faire fit for a mini prince and princess where guests were served everything from ‘mocktails’ to cotton candy. And of course no birthday is complete without cupcakes and a happy birthday serenade.

After the celebration, guests moved over to Sleeping Beauty Castle where the forecourt was dripping in 10,000 crystals and over 15,000 blooms imported from Holland, South America and France. Mariah arrived in regal style accompanied by her daughter Monroe in the Crystal Coach where they were met by Nick and Roc clad in matching Prince Charming outfits.

The reception was filled with toasts, a few rides on attractions and Nick spinning as the DJ. It’s safe to say this after-hours private event was straight out of a fairy tale and filled with love.

From all of us here at Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons, congratulations Mariah, Nick, Roc and Roe!

Tagged: DL, DLR, Fantasy Faire, Weddings

Filed: Celebrity Visits, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort, Weddings & Honeymoons

It’s May, and that means “Mickey and the Magical Map” opens later this month at Disneyland park! Our Entertainment cast and crew are working hard behind the scenes to create a dazzling musical spectacular for the newly refurbished Fantasyland Theatre. Here’s a sneak peek from a recent rehearsal, when King Louie joined the ensemble for a run-through of the “I Wanna be Like You” number from “The Jungle Book.”

I really like this new arrangement of the classic song and can’t wait to see it onstage when “Mickey and the Magical Map” debuts May 25!

Learn more about “Mickey and the Magical Map” in the posts below:

• First Look: Setting the Stage for ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ at Disneyland Park
• Making Music for ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ at Disneyland Park
• Explore the Musical Worlds of Disney When ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ Opens at Disneyland Park May 25

Tagged: BtS, DL, DLR, Video

Filed: Behind the Scenes, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

My fellow Disney Parks Blog author Erin Catalano and I spent Friday morning in the Convention Center at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Representing Disney Theme Park Merchandise, we joined a special product showcase event that highlighted exciting things at Disney Parks.

We filled our 16-foot by 16-foot square booth with new merchandise debuting this summer to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. We gave an expanded look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 merchandise, along with a first look at new Disney Parks logo merchandise arriving this June. Rounding out our assortment, we displayed new Disney-inspired sunglasses by Ray-Ban, handbags by Dooney & Bourke, beautifully ornate shoe ornaments inspired by Disney characters, D-Tech electronic accessories and much more.

As you can imagine, I had a difficult time selecting only 10 images for this article. I’d love to hear which item is your favorite, so please share in the comments below.

I hope to see you at Disney Parks for our first-ever, three-park, all-night party on May 24. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional details about merchandise created for this event.

Tagged: DLR, Gallery, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Big things were happening three years ago this month … counting down to the 55th anniversary of Disneyland park, getting our first look at the Radiator Springs Racers cars, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort announced, and even our very first Disney Parks Blog meet-up! Let’s take a look back at May 2010 in this “Disney Parks Blog Time Capsule.”

Counting Down the Days to the 55th Anniversary
In the weeks leading up to the 55th anniversary of Disneyland park, Heather shared a comprehensive look back at the first 55 years, beginning with this post.

First Look: Cars Land Welcomes the First Test Vehicle for Radiator Springs Racers
Two years before it would open for Disney California Adventure park guests, Radiator Springs Racers welcomed its first test vehicle at Cars Land.

Interactive Image: Sun Sets over Spaceship Earth
One of my favorite Disney Parks Blog stories was posted in May 2010, featuring this amazing day-to-night image of Spaceship Earth.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Unveiled
On May 12, 2010, we announced a new resort coming to Walt Disney World Resort: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Now, three years later, it is already a fan favorite.

Behind the Scenes: 120-Ton Winnie the Pooh Tree Relocated at Walt Disney World
New Fantasyland was already taking shape way back in May 2010. Watch as the 120-ton Winnie the Pooh tree is relocated in the middle of the night at Magic Kingdom Park.

Signs of the Times
George gave a wonderful photo retrospective of the marquee signs that have welcomed guests to the Disneyland Resort since 1955.

Donald Being Donald
Another favorite image of mine was posted by Paul in May 2010. What do you think Donald is saying here?

A Moment With Art
In remembrance of the late Art Linkletter, George shared one of his favorite photos of the Disney Legend here at Disneyland park.

First Look: New ‘World of Color’ TV Spot
We were getting pretty excited for the soon-to-debut “World of Color” back in May 2010! Here we gave Disney Parks Blog readers a first look at the TV spot showcasing this coming attraction.

Recap of Our First Meet-Up at the Disneyland Resort
We made Disney Parks Blog history on May 27, 2010, with our very first Disney Parks Blog meet-up! Were you there?

Tagged: DLR, Video, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort