Mystery Photo: Minotaurs Added to New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on April 19th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
So many of you enjoyed last week’s New Fantasyland time-lapse video that Walt Disney Imagineering just sent this photo over to share with all of you.
This minotaur, a mythological figure that is a combination man and bull, was recently installed at one of the areas under construction in New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park. The larger-than-life sculpture is one of two that will appear in this area.
Any guesses which area or attraction it will highlight? Leave your guesses below – the answer will be posted later today!
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Citrus Swirl is Back at Walt Disney World Resort!
posted on April 17th, 2012 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
With this week’s happy announcement of the return of the Orange Bird to the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Magic Kingdom Park, the original Citrus Swirl makes its official comeback too. Gone for more than a quarter of a century, it’s nice to have them back where they belong for the 40th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort.
Who remembers that icy swirl of frozen orange and soft-serve vanilla ice cream, a duo of delish in the heat of summertime? There was a knock-off for a while at Aloha Isle, but this swirl is the original recipe, a sweet-tart tower in a cone or cup ($3.19 and on the Disney Dining Plan).
And check out the adorable orange bird sipper cup – for kids of all ages. Oh, Orange Bird and Citrus Swirl, welcome home!
See the posts below for more news about dining at Walt Disney World Resort:
- Tandoor Ovens, Mongolian Grill, and Real Gelato at Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- First Look at New Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Italy at Epcot
- Yummy New Tastes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
Happy Little Orange Bird Lands on New Merchandise at Walt Disney World Resort
posted on April 17th, 2012 by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager
I recall the day Disney artist Casey Jones asked if he could show me something cool. Knowing Casey’s involvement with other cool things (I’m looking at you, Dole Whip shirt), I immediately made time for him. When Casey arrived with concept art for new Orange Bird merchandise, I almost burst into song! He said these new items were being developed because the Orange Bird was returning to the Sunshine Tree Terrace at Magic Kingdom Park. We discussed how “The Florida Project” event last September served as inspiration for new merchandise.
“The Orange Bird played a key part of ‘The Florida Project,’ since the event was a salute to the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort,” explained Casey. “We created Orange Bird pins and Vinylmation, and featured him in the event décor. At that time, we were unaware that Walt Disney Imagineering had plans of bringing the Orange Bird back to Walt Disney World Resort the following spring! We eventually worked with Imagineering to brainstorm new merchandise to commemorate his return!”
Casey explained that partnerships with Walt Disney Imagineer Jason Grandt and Steven Vagnini from the Walt Disney Archives were instrumental in creating these new items.
“Jason and Steven were outstanding partners,” continued Casey. “Jason actually provided the artwork for the two tee-shirts and a deluxe print, and Steven provided a tremendous amount of reference material about the Orange Bird when we visited him in California.”
The deluxe print Casey mentions is one of my favorite items. Jason combined the original concept artwork for the Sunshine Pavilion that was created by Richard Hebner in 1969 with original Orange Bird art he created for Walt Disney World Resort’s newest attraction poster!
Casey also developed his very first ear hat, which is arriving this summer. It reminds me of the Figment ear hat we released last fall.
Jason shared his thoughts around the new Orange Bird merchandise.
“We wanted to add an extra layer of magic for guests visiting the Sunshine Tree Terrace,” said Jason. “With the new merchandise, guests can now see the Orange Bird and take home a little memory of their visit.”
With all this talk of the Orange Bird, I’m craving a citrus swirl! Who wants to join me?
Read these posts for more Walt Disney World Resort merchandise news:
Historic Orange Bird Returns to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on April 17th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
UPDATE: New Orange Bird images have emerged from this morning’s announcement. Check out the new images below!
Well, isn’t this a surprise?
Early this morning, D23 representatives announced the return of the historic Orange Bird character live in Adventureland before a small group of D23 members.
In case you aren’t familiar, Orange Bird was a character who was developed specifically for Magic Kingdom Park in the 1970s. This cheerful bird originally greeted families at Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland, where guests could also enjoy citrus drinks and buy Orange Bird gifts. At one time, the character even had his own record, which was released in 1971 to feature “The Orange Bird Song” – a tune penned by the Sherman Brothers (composers of the songs in “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book”).
Beginning today, Orange Bird will return to Sunshine Tree Terrace signage and quirky drink cups, and a new line of Orange Bird merchandise has already appeared on the shelves! Also, an Orange Bird statue that was on display at Sunshine Tree Terrace in the 1970s was retrieved from the WDI Sculpture Studio in California, and is now on display.
We’ll have photos to share from the announcement shortly, but in the meantime, here’s a brand-new desktop wallpaper by Jason “Tiki” Tackett for you to enjoy!
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Be sure to check out the terms of use for using the wallpapers before you download.
Check out these posts for more of the latest happenings at Magic Kingdom Park:
- Video: Actress Ginnifer Goodwin Talks About Her Love of Disney Parks, Disney Princesses
- Time-Lapse Video: New Fantasyland Springs To Life at Magic Kingdom Park
- Magic Kingdom Park Cast Member Moves, Shakes and Celebrates; Main Street, U.S.A., Hostess Makes Guests Smile and Loses 60 Pounds in the Process
Video: Actress Ginnifer Goodwin Talks About Her Love of Disney Parks, Disney Princesses
posted on April 13th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
When actress Ginnifer Goodwin recently stopped by Magic Kingdom Park to tape a special feature for the upcoming “Cinderella Blu-Ray Diamond Edition” DVD release, she took time out of her schedule to talk to the Disney Parks Blog.
In the clip below, Ginnifer, who plays Snow White on ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” talks about how Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” inspired her love of Disney Parks and Disney Princesses!
Time-Lapse Video: New Fantasyland Springs To Life at Magic Kingdom Park
posted on April 11th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
Who’s up for a fun look at the New Fantasyland expansion?
Walt Disney Imagineering just shared an updated time-lapse video with us that offers a bird’s-eye view of how this area is shaping up. See for yourself!
For reference, the area on the left will be Enchanted Tales With Belle, Beast Castle (which will contain the Be Our Guest Restaurant), and Gaston’s Tavern. The buildings and rockwork on the right side will house the Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction.
To learn more about any of these attractions, check out the following posts:
Magic Kingdom Park Cast Member Moves, Shakes and Celebrates; Main Street, U.S.A., Hostess Makes Guests Smile and Loses 60 Pounds in the Process
posted on April 5th, 2012 by Gary Buchanan, Social Media Managing Editor
Walt Disney’s spirit of showbiz and entertainment extends far beyond a specific job classification at Disney Parks. When he created Disneyland Resort, Walt wanted everyone working there to entertain guests no matter what their day-to-day duties were. And to this day, we are called “cast members” instead of “employees”; we each have a “role in the show” rather than a “job.”
In fact, when he famously said, “You can dream, create, plan and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality,” Walt was describing that foundation. It was part of his vision behind “The Four Keys” for a great guest experience: 1) Safety, 2) Courtesy, 3) Show and 4) Efficiency.
One of the shining examples of these “Basics” for a great guest experience is found in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. Her name is Barbara, and she is a Main Street, U.S.A., Hostess. But she has taken her Hostess role and added quite a few twists (and turns…and spins…and several other moves!) to it. She has gained quite a few fans through the years with her dance moves during the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party that is performed several times on most days in Magic Kingdom Park.
In fact, her dancing has not only led to smiles on guests’ faces, it had another positive result. A few years ago, Barbara made the commitment to lose weight. And by creating her high-energy dance steps and celebrating with guests in the interactive street party, she has lost a total of 60 pounds since Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! debuted.
Recently, I decided to shadow Barbara as her “dance apprentice.” And despite my earlier dance attempts while eating The World’s Hottest Pepper and learning from Irish dancing pro Sarah at Raglan Road, there was no way I could keep pace with Barbara as she joined the festivities with Mickey, Minnie, stiltwalkers, dancers, the emcee and the guests who took part in the fun. She was a bundle of energy and kept a smile on her face at every turn.
It’s easy for her, she told me. “I am having so much fun out there. I love to share it with our guests. That’s why guests visit and that’s what makes the magic for me.”
Barbara is an inspiration to me. In my opinion, she embodies the spirit of a cast member that Walt Disney envisioned all those years ago.
Have you seen Barbara in action? Or do you have another cast member that sticks out in your mind as going above and beyond with some of the same “Basics”? Please share with us in the comments.
Vintage Walt Disney World: Mr. & Mrs. Easter Bunny Visit Magic Kingdom Park
posted on April 5th, 2012 by Nate Rasmussen, Archivist, Marketing Resource Center
Chocolate Bunnies. Jelly Beans. Eggs. Who doesn’t love a visit from the Easter Bunny? Back in March 1986, Mickey and Minnie (look at her Easter bonnet!) took some time out from their busy schedules to join Mr. & Mrs. Easter Bunny in Magic Kingdom Park.
The only question is, what was inside the giant Easter egg behind Mickey and Minnie? I’m hoping it was pure milk chocolate. Yum!
Exclusive: Cast Your Eyes On The Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Card Spoiler List
posted on April 4th, 2012 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
In a previous post here on the Disney Parks Blog, I gave you a look inside the new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom role-playing game, as well as a peek at five of the spell cards guests can use in their battle against Disney villains.
To refresh your memory, here’s how the cards work: Each day a guest plays the game, they receive five complimentary cards that help them foil the plans of Disney villains who are running amok throughout Magic Kingdom Park. The cards each feature a Disney character that offers a spell unique to him or her. And, multiple cards can be used at once to cast several spells on a villain, simultaneously.
There will be 70 different spell cards available, and here’s an exclusive look at 60 cards from the game, so you can see exactly which ones you need to complete your collection.
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RARE
- Apprentice Mickey’s Broomsticks
- Belle’s Mountain Blizzard
- Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blaster
- Doris’s Bowler Hat Attack
- EVE’s Laser Blast
- Fa Mulan’s Dragon Cannon
- Flynn Rider’s Flying Frying Pan
- King Triton’s Trident
- Lythos’s Rock Titan Boulder Throw
- Maurice’s Wood Chopper
- Maximus’ Horseshoes
- Merlin’s Fireball
- Monstro’s Water Spout
- Nibs’s Neverland Assault
- Rapunzel’s Hair Whip
- Robin Hood’s Magic Arrow
- Simba’s Roar
- The Fairy Godmother’s Pumpkin Bash
- The Giant’s Giant Stomp
- Tinker Bell’s Pixie Dust
- Violet’s Force Fields
- Woody’s Cowboy Lasso
- Aladdin’s Lamp
- Bolt’s Super Bark
- Cinderella’s Magic Ribbon
- Colonel Hathi’s Righteous Stomp
- Eeyore’s Gloomy Cloud
- Frozone’s Ice Blast
- Lightning McQueen’s Ka-Chow
- Mickey’s Magic Beans
- Mike’s Grand Entrance
- Pinocchio’s Sawdust Blast
- Prince Phillip’s Enchanted Sword
- Snow White’s Housecleaning
- The Headless Horseman’s Exploding Jack-O-Lantern
- The Mad Hatter’s Tea Time
- The Queen of Hearts’s Card Army
- The Sugar Plum Fairies’ Dewdrop Spiderweb
- WALL-E’s Trash Crunch
- Yen Sid’s Sorcerers Hat
- Aurora’s Rose Petals
- Baloo’s Coconut Cascade
- Caballero Donald’s Pinata
- Dash’s Whirlwind
- Flower’s Flowers
- Gopher’s Demolition Dynamite
- Grumpy’s Pummeling Pickaxe
- Lumiere’s Candle Blast
- Mowgli’s Swinging Vine
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Pocahontas’s Colors of the Wind
- Pongo’s Soot Bucket
- Prince Naveen’s Army of Frogs
- Pumbaa’s Odorous Gas
- Quasimodo’s Bell
- Rafiki’s Wisdom Stick
- The Blue Fairy’s Wand Wish
- The Woozles’ Woozle Nightmare
- Thumper’s Mighty Thump
- Tiana’s Hot Sauce
UNCOMMON
COMMON
The last 10 cards in the set – the Super Rare 10 – will be revealed in a few more weeks! Keep watching the Disney Parks Blog.
Disney•Pixar’s Adventurous New Heroine from “Brave” Is Coming to Disney Parks
posted on March 29th, 2012 by Shawn Slater, Communications Manager, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Creative Entertainment
In the upcoming Disney•Pixar movie “Brave,” Merida is a headstrong teenager with a vibrant spirit and a softness of heart, struggling to take control of her own destiny. You’ll be able to discover Merida’s story when “Brave” opens in theaters June 22 and, beginning in mid-May, Merida will be coming to Disney Parks in an all-new character greeting experience.
At Magic Kingdom Park, Merida will appear in Fairytale Garden in a setting inspired by her Scottish Highlands home, where young guests will be invited to engage in archery lessons and other activities until it’s their turn to meet her. Joining Merida are three mischievous bear cubs, whom you’ll learn more about when you see “Brave” in theaters.
To prepare for Merida’s arrival, Rapunzel will be moving from Fairytale Garden April 15, to the Town Square Courtyard (adjacent to City Hall) where she will continue to greet her loyal fans and subjects.
When visiting Disneyland park in California this summer, Merida and the wee, playful bears will find a home away from home near “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland, where guests will also be able to participate in activities inspired by Merida’s story.
According to Creative Director Reed Jones, “These new play and greet experiences at both parks will immerse our guests in ‘Brave,’ giving them the opportunity to be a part of Merida’s Scottish clan. And we’re all excited to have the bear cubs join Merida with their silly antics, creating a whole new way to bring our beloved Disney Characters to life.”
“Regardless of where they find Merida,” said Reed, “Guests are really going to fall in love with her and the bears.”
