New wine cellar and renovated restaurant opens in Epcot

Photo by Walt Disney CompanyA popular restaurant reopens May 1 at Epcot in Walt Disney World.The Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar located in a reproduction of the Medici Palace in the Italy pavilion re-opens featuring 200 Italian wines to be paired with a selection of authentic Italian small plates, according to the Walt Disney Company.The renovation expands the restaurant with covered outdoor seating for 45, a new carpet, dark-wood booths and larger banquettes...

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Disney Facts: Mission Space

Photo by Walt Disney CompanyTo develop Mission:SPACE it took more than 650 Walt Disney Imagineers more than 350,000 hours (the equivalent of 40 years of time) to develop this attraction in Epcot at Walt Disney World.There are 13 quotes on the attraction’s wall of honor. The most recent was added in September 2007 by teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, reading “Reach for your dreams . . . the sky is no limi...

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Disney Facts: How much water is used at Disney World

Everywhere you look around Walt Disney World in Florida, you see water. Whether it is the lakes, canals, pools, water parks, fountains or rides, water plays a major role at the park.                                                                       © Steven LiebmanHere's...

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Opening dates for new Fantasyland in Disney World

                                          Photo by David Roark/Walt DisneyThe first phase of "Dumbo the Flying Elephant" opened on March 12, 2002.Opening dates for the next phases of the new Fantasyland have been announced and it looks like if youare heading down for the holidays you will find most of the new attractions operating. In July,...

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Is the new Test Track really Tron in disguise?

Disney released new renderings of the re-imagined Test Track at Epcot in Disney World, but do the bright lights and futuristic designs make it seem more like "Tron"?The Test Track closed on April 15 for a new look. Under a new long-term commitment from GM, the Test Track will be highlighting Chevrolet cars .As part of the makeover, there will be a “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” immersing visitors into automotive design. Guests that will buckle...

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New Splitsville in Disney World will be largest in nation

The new Splitsville luxury bowling and dinner lounge at Downtown Disney in Disney World is going to span two levels and be the largest in the country, according to the Disney Parks blog.The 50,000-square-foot facility will feature 30 bowling lanes and have outdoor seating and billiards tables. It's expected to open in the Fall of 2012.The restaurant/bowling facility, located on the west side of Downtown Disney near the AMC theaters, will serve upscale food and beverages as well....

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Tips on photographing wildlife at Disney World

Going to Disney World is a photographer's dream, especially for taking great family pictures. But it also gives you great opportunities for wildlife photography. Disney's Animal Kingdom is home to more than 1,700 animals from 250 species. Many of the habitats in the park, whether on the Kilimanjaro Safari or along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, give photographers the chance to capture animals in what looks like wild settings. And there will...

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Christian Louboutin creating Disney Cinderella glass slipper

On the left, the classic Disney Cinderella glass slipper, on the right, the classic Louboutin shoe.Christian Louboutin, the French footwear designer who helped bring stilettos back into fashion in the 1990s and 2000s and is best known for his shiny, red-lacquered soles, will be creating his own version of Cinderella's glass slipper, according to Women's Wear Daily.The shoe will be unveiled this summer in honor of Disney's DVD and Blu-ray release...

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Pixar announces Día de los Muertos movie, and more

With the release of "Brave" still two months away, Disney Pixar this week offered up a few choice details about its longer-term plans. The freshest -- and freakiest -- news is the addition of an untitled movie based on Día de los Muertos, Mexico's colorful holiday honoring the dead. The movie will be directed by Lee Unkrich and produced by Darla K. Anderson, who also brought us the brilliant "Toy Story 3." There's no release date yet, but you could pencil it in for 2016, the next open summer on the schedule. Pixar's creative guru John Lasseter...

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Starbucks is coming to Disney, but where else can you get a decent cup of coffee

By now everyone has probably heard the thankful sigh across the land that Starbucks will be opening six stores between Disney World and Disneyland starting this summer.                                                          © StarbucksAt Disney California Adventure, Starbucks will be found at the Fiddler,...

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The Avengers USB drives coming soon

The Avengers USB publicity photo from Dane-Elec.For the comic-computer geek in us all, the ultimate USB drives: The Avengers.Dane-Elec announced today The Avengers USB drive product line with 8 GB flash drives and a 4-Port USB Hub. There are four characters for the USB drives: Captain America, The Hulk, Thor and Iron Man. The drives should go on sale in May for $19.99, the company said in a news relea...

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Smile of The Day: Baloo waiving

It is Baloo. Yes, the bear who tells you everything you need to know when singing about the "Bare Necessities" from the movie "The Jungle Book," based on the book by Rudyard Kipling. The Hindi word for bear is bhalu, which was the inspiration for character name Baloo.                                                   ...

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Tips on drinking around the Monorail at Disney World

Every time I go to Disney World I’m on the lookout for two kinds of experiences: the new and the adult-oriented. I’ve been visiting WDW with my husband at least once a year for the past 20 years, so finding new things to do can be a challenge. The same is true for finding grown-up things to do; it seems like even the most adult-oriented experiences are skewing younger every year. I’d been hearing about the Monorail Pub Crawl (or “drinking around...

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Smile of The Day: Snow White in Legos

A fun interpretation of Snow White and Dopey with some animals at the Lego Store in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World.                                                                                              ...

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Smile of The Day: Woody Celebrating It

Woody riding on a Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Parade party float at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World.                                                                                               ...

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Smile of The Day: Chip and Dale

Chip and Dale are part of the ring of statues around the hub in the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. Did you know Disney created the two chipmunks in 1943. Chip is supposed by the schemer and Dale the dim-witted one. Can you tell them apart? © Steven Lieb...

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Smile of The Day: Mickey Celebrating It

Mickey Mouse on the Celebrate It parade float in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.  The Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party is an interactive show filled with music, dancing and surprises held in front of Cinderella Castle.                                                         ...

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Vision House opening on Earth Day in Epcot

                                                                                         © DisneyGreen Builder Media's Vision House exhibit at Innoventions in Epcot at Disney World will on on Earth Day, April 22, the company...

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Mr. Toad's Wild Ride being made into a movie

© Steven LiebmanDisney is looking to turn another theme ride into a movie. This time it's "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride."According to Deadline, Disney has hired commercial and video director Pete Candeland to develop a live-action feature. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride would be the latest in a line of thrill rides turned movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion and a possible...

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Orange Bird coming back to the Magic Kingdom

It was a big Orange Bird that could be seen walking around the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland greeting guests in the 1970s. Now the image of Orange Bird is returning.The Orange Bird was created in 1970 as a mascot for the Florida Citrus Commission after they sponsored the Tropical Serenade, the Magic Kingdom's version of The Enchanted Tiki Room. The bird also appeared in ads for oranges with Anita Bryant. The character even had his own record written by the Sherman Brothers called, “The Orange Bird Song.”Eventually when the commissions'...

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Philippines wants to be home to the next Disneyland

The Philippines is angling to be the home to the next Disneyland.A politician from the Philippines has sent a letter to Disney CEO Robert Iger suggesting that the Clark Freeport Zone in the Philippines become the next home to a Disneyland, according to the Business Mirror. The Clark Freeport zone is a redevelopment area for Clark Air Base, a former U.S. Air Force base.“Aside from the huge space it provides, the Clark Freeport Zone can be an attractive...

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Voices of Liberty coming to Disneyland

The Voices of Liberty is coming to Disneyland. The 8-part a cappella group who perform in the rotunda of the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot at Disney World will now have a counterpart at Disneyland, the Disney Parks blog announced. The group, which performs such Americana songs such as "Ol' Man River," "Yankee Doodle" and "Amazing Grace," will be seen at the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland. During the holidays, the group performs many Christmas classics, such as the one bel...

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Walt Disney archives to go on exhibit at Reagan Library

More than 500 items from the Walt Disney Archives will go on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum from July 6 to April of 2013.This is one of the largest exhibitions to be curated by the archives at 12,000 square feet, according to a news release."Ronald Reagan and Walt Disney were longtime friends, two optimists who shared an unwavering belief in the essential goodness of the American way of life," Bob Iger, chairman and...

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Your 2012 Summer Guide to (Almost) Everything Disney

(UPDATED: As of Aug. 15)Here's a quick look at what you can expect at Disneyland and Disney World from June through August, as well as other major upcoming events from Disney. This list will be continually updated as new dates are set and announcements are made, so keep checking back. And in May, watch for the Fall/Holiday Guide.ALL SUMMER: Test Track at Epcot in Walt Disney World remains closed for refurbishment. Disney Oak Trail Golf Course remains...

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Ariel's Grotto changing dinner option to character dining

The dinner dining option is changing at Ariel's Grotto in Disney California Adventure.Starting at June 15 the "World of Color" dining packages will no longer be offered and instead there will be a princess character dinner to join the character breakfast and lunch.Reservations for dinner at Ariel’s Disney Princess Celebration are now open available by calling Disney Dine Line (714-781-DINE), according to the Disney Parks Blog.&nb...

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Carnation Plaza closing at Disneyland for new princess area

Concept sketch from Disney. Carnation Plaza Gardens in Disneyland Park will close April 30 and transform into a princess greeting area.Carnation Plaza Gardens Stage will become the Fantasy Faire Stage, where the tales of Disney’s fairy tale heroes and heroines will be brought to life each day, according to the Disney Parks Blog.Among the princesses out there are Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Mulan, Belle, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Tiana and Ariel. To...

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New time-lapse video of the Fantasyland Construction

Disney released this new video of how the Fantasyland construction is going at Walt Disney Wor...

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Disney unveils new Facebook game, Animal Kingdom Explorers

A new Facebook game based on Disney's Animal Kingdom is now on Facebook, Disney Interactive announced today.In Disney Animal Kingdom Explorers, players search for hidden objects as part of a Global Wildlife Research team. Players can create and nurture their own wildlife preserve and search for hidden objects in natural settings from the Rocky Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest to the Australian Outback. Two of the game's locations include Harambe...

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Disney Facts: At Disney nothing is wasted

At Disney World nothing is wasted.Recycling and water reclamation are a big part of the World with more than 92,000 tons of materials recycled in 2010, Disney reported in a new release.About 80 percent of the water used for irrigation and about 30 percent of the water used for the overall operation of the resort is from reclaimed water. That's more than 2 billion gallons of reclaimed water, enough to fill up Spaceship Earth about 129 times.All the...

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Smile of The Day: Buzz Lightyear instructions

It's always fun walking into Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Disney World or Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Disneyland and listening to Buzz give his instructions. Here's the Disneyland versi...

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A movie trailer of Winnie the Pooh and his honey addiction

Here are Alt Disney World, we try at times to give a different perspective to the main stream Disney. Here is a different take on the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride. A tale of one bear's honey addicti...

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Goofy visits your home straight from Disneyland Paris

This is very cool. You can have Goofy come to your house or office.As part of Disneyland Paris 20th anniversary, Disney has created a website, www.giantsteps20.com in which you put type in your address and Goofy shows up for a visit.Using Google Maps and street view pictures from Google Maps a video is created showing a giant Goofy first looking down at your location and then walking around your neighborhood before finding your address.  I...

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Disney World unveils new PhotoPass system

Disney today unveiled its new Disney PhotoPass+ system in which you can get all the photos from your visit as well well photos taken on select rides and character dining experiencesFor $199.95 you get "all your PhotoPass photos, Attraction photos, and Dining photos taken within a 14 day visit to Walt Disney as well as Print Packages at select Dining locations," according to the Disney PhotoPass Facebook page.The package will be sold at various locations...

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Disney and Sony offering new Share Magical Memories contest for trip to Disney World

Start thinking about that special someone in your life who helped create a lasting memory. That story may get you to Disney World.Sony and Disney parks are teaming up with a new "Share Magical Memories" online contest to promote the Sony Handycam camcorder line and offer up free trips to Disney World, the companies said.The new campaign kicks off with an online contest and dedicated website hosted by Disney Interactive at www.disney.com/memories, "where guests can submit a written entry about a special someone in their life, a family member, friend...

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5 Disney resorts top TripAdvisor's best family friendly hotels in U.S.

                                                            © DisneyDisney's Wilderness LodgeFive Disney resorts made TripAdvisor's 2012 Traveler's Choice List of top 25 Large Hotels and Resorts for Families in the U.S."Award winners were determined based on the hotels most highly rated by those who...

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Smile of The Day: Donald Duck topiary

This is the last photo in our month-long topiary tour. I hope you enjoyed them all. If you missed any you can take a look here.One last Donald Duck fact. Do you know Donald's middle name? The answer is below.                                                                     ...

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Smile of The Day: Bambi topiary

A closeup of the Bambi topiary inside Bambi's Butterfly House at Epcot. © Steven Lieb...

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Disney Facts: Art of Animation Resort by the numbers

Disney has announced the Art of Animation resort will open My 31 with the Finding Nemo wing. That will be followed by the Cars wing opening June 18, The Lion King wing Aug. 10 and the Little Mermaid wing Sept. 15.Here's a look at the resort by the numbers:529,000: The number of square feet of ceramic tiles on the project, enough to cover a standard two-lane road four miles long.310,000: The number of gallons in the Nemo pool, making it the largest...

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Your Spring Guide to (Almost) Everything Disney

UPDATED: Events for May have been updated.Flowers and Fantasy are Disney's major themes this spring.Here's a quick look at what you can find at Disneyland and Disney World, as well as other major events from Disney, from March through May. This list will be continually updated as new dates and announcements are made, so keep checking back. Take a look at what's happening this summer.March: The first phase of the New Fantasyland is scheduled to open...

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