Walt Disney Imagineering just shared a new video with us that offers up a look inside the two attractions in New Fantasyland that are still yet to debut: Princess Fairytale Hall and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Princess Fairytale Hall, which will open later this year, will be the ultimate destination in which to greet Disney royalty. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a family coaster that is set to open in 2014, will take Magic Kingdom Park guests on a musical journey through the mine “where a million diamonds shine.” The attraction will offer an innovative ride system with a train of vehicles that respond to every twist and turn, plus appearances by animated figures from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” and music from this classic Disney film.
In this video, Imagineers Jason Grandt, Pam Rawlins, and Dave Minichiello take you behind the scenes for an update.
Which of these attractions are you most excited to see for yourself? Let us know in the “Comments” section below.
To join the discussion online, use the hashtag #NewFantasyland on Twitter.
Today, I am thrilled to announce that, in celebration of Earth Month and National Park Week, the DWCF is granting $500,000 to the National Park Foundation to help connect kids to nature through America’s national parks. This grant will go to the National Park Foundation’s “Ticket to Ride” program, which helps students explore the outdoors by providing transportation to national parks around the country.
Now in its second year and with continued support from the DWCF and Disney Friends for Change, “Ticket to Ride” provides financial resources for transportation, in-park educational programming, and meals that make national park field trips possible for schools across the country. The grant from Disney will help more than 60,000 students experience location-based learning in their local national parks this year. For many students, the Ticket to Ride field trip will be their first visit to a national park.
In addition to the grant, Disney Friends for Change – a program that inspires kids and families to make a positive impact by helping people and the planet – developed a public service announcement (PSA) that will air on Disney Channel and Disney Online and this great Earth Month video.
Disney Friends for Change also is sharing an online action kit that helps families plan a park visit in four easy steps and provides ideas on park activities ranging from hikes to wildlife exploration.
Caring about nature begins with spending time in nature, and we’re proud to give kids a chance to spend time outdoors in our beautiful national parks.
Did you know?
The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund is funded by Disney and contributions by Disney guests. Guests help support the fund in a variety of ways, from adding a dollar or more to their purchases of food and gifts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and select resorts, to participating in special animal experiences on Disney Cruise Line and at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge; The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot; and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i, to purchasing reusable shopping bags and other items at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.
There’s a new monorail in town here at Walt Disney World Resort that you’ve just gotta see! One of the monorails on the Magic Kingdom Park/Resorts loop now features the cast of Disney•Pixar’s new movie “Monsters University,” including Mike, Sulley and a host of new characters you’ll meet when it comes to theaters June 21.
Last time we saw them on-screen, Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan seemed to be an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other – and that’s the story told in “Monsters University,” which lets us take a fun look back at how Mike and Sulley met and eventually became the best of friends.
In case you haven’t seen it, I think the previews look hilarious. Check out the clip below and be sure to look for it in theaters in 3D June 21.
Have you been wondering what I was up to last week at Castaway Cay? Take a look…
Pretty impressive, huh? Okay, well I can’t actually take credit for building these sand sculptures, but I was there when they were created! These works of art were done by two professional sand sculpture artists, and we captured a cool time lapse video of them at work. Check it out!
What’s your favorite sand sculpture to make when your family is hanging out at Castaway Cay?
For more posts highlighting Castaway Cay, see below:
Temps are heating up, and no one will want to turn on the oven once summer arrives. Here’s an easy dish that uses the grill – but while your kitchen keeps cool, this simple sauce has a little kick from dried red peppers (up to you how many!).
Chimichurri is a green sauce that originated in Argentina, and it’s best made fresh – say an hour or two before you’re going to serve. This version comes from Chef Jeremiah Balogh at Disney California Adventure park, where it’s on the menu at Paradise Garden Grill.
With a little rice and a simple cucumber salad, dinner is served!
Chicken Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce with Rice Pilaf and Cucumber Salad Paradise Garden Grill
Disney California Adventure Park
Serves 4
Chicken Skewers
1 pound boneless chicken breast
1 pound boneless chicken thighs
Olive oil, for brushing
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Chimichurri Sauce
3 cups packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
3 garlic cloves
1/4 cup roughly chopped red onion
1/4 cup roughly chopped yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup roughly chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Rice Pilaf
4 cups vegetable stock
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cups white rice
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
Coarse salt, to taste
For chicken skewers:
Soak 10 wooden skewers in cool water for at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut chicken into 1 1/2-inch cubes. Skewer chicken; brush with oil and season with salt and pepper.
Cook on a grill over medium-high heat, turning often, until cooked through.
For chimichurri sauce:
Place parsley leaves, garlic, onion, yellow pepper, and red pepper in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until everything is finely chopped.
Transfer mixture to a medium bowl; stir in vinegar, oregano, salt, lemon zest, pepper and red pepper flakes. Add oil, stirring to combine.
For rice pilaf:
Combine vegetable stock, cumin, and pepper in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden. Add onions and celery; cook until vegetables are softened.
Carefully add hot vegetable stock mixture to rice mixture. Bring to a simmer, then place lid on pan. Cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving. Season to taste with salt.
For cucumber salad:
Combine cucumbers, red pepper, and green pepper in a large bowl. Set aside.
Whisk together lemon juice, salt, pepper, oregano, and sugar in a small bowl. Whisk in oil until completely combined.
Pour dressing over vegetables; toss to combine. Refrigerate salad until ready to serve.
To serve:
Serve skewers over rice pilaf with cucumber salad on the side and with chimichurri sauce for dipping.
This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version.
All recipes are the property of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., and may not be reproduced without express permission.
Today’s celebration featured a special opening ceremony led by Josh D’Amaro, Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Dr. Jackie Ogden, Vice President of Animals, Science and Environment, and was highlighted with a fun performance of “Circle of Life” from the park’s “Festival of The Lion King.” Other fun planned for the day includes special Earth Day “Party for the Planet” festivities, and unique merchandise and food & beverage offerings.
The park originally opened in 1998 to feature several lands dedicated to exploring wildlife and wild places – Africa, Discovery Island, Oasis, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, and DinoLand, U.S.A. An additional land, Asia, was added in 1999. The park has seen many exciting additions since its debut, including TriceraTop Spin in 2001, Primeval Whirl in 2002, Expedition Everest (one of my favorites!) in 2006, “Finding Nemo – The Musical,” which grand-opened in 2007, and Wild Africa Trek in 2011.
Which Disney’s Animal Kingdom offering has been your favorite over the years? Tell us in the “Comments” section below.
To join the celebration online, use the hashtag #DAK15 on Twitter.
Adventures in Croatia with Disney Cruise Line – This summer, Disney Cruise Line will visit Croatia for the first time! Learn about the amazing options for Port Adventures in this post.
Sara Peterson, editor-in-chief of HGTV Magazine, will take the HGTV Designers’ Stage at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this weekend to talk tips on boosting your home’s curb appeal.
While she was here on Friday, she took time to sample a few of the Garden Marketplaces located around World Showcase. Check out her review below!
You can catch Sara at the HGTV Designer’s Stage at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Eduardo Marques, Jr., has entertained countless fans at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as a driver for the high octane “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.” Now, the Brazilian-born stunt car driver will be returning home to compete on a bigger stage, ESPN’s X Games Foz do Iguaçu.
Later this week, Marques will be competing at RallyCross, which pits 16 of the world’s best drivers side-by-side, drifting and jumping through an exciting dirt track. Of course, that should be nothing new for Marques, as his precision driving skills are routinely on display with edge-of-your-seat jumps, slides and spins as a part of the daily Lights, Motors, Action! show.
We slowed down Marques before his trip to Brazil, just long enough to ask him about his journey to Disney and the X Games.
If you want to catch Marques, and the other high-flying athletes of X Games Foz do Iguaçu, tune in April 18-21 to ESPN/ESPN2.
And, of course, you can regularly see all our talented stunt performers in the thrill-a-minute “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show,” featuring gravity-defying automobile, motorcycle and watercraft stunts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
For more from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, check out these posts:
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