New wine cellar and renovated restaurant opens in Epcot

Photo by Walt Disney Company

A 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 replacing some of the tables in the dining room. 

Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar will be unveiled as part of Tutto Italia’s grand re-opening. "The architecture of both properties reflect classical antiquity and symmetry emblematic of the Italian Renaissance period. Tutto Italia has been completely refurbished along with a new enclosed patio to offer al fresco dining. Both the restaurant and wine cellar are furnished with authentic design elements directly from Italy: chandeliers, marble and limestone floors, wall hangings and more," a Disney news release states.

Chef Renzo Barcatta grew up in Cavalese, Italy will prepare authentic dishes with choices sourced across Italy. The menus will feature sections devoted to small plates, artisanal Italian cheeses, hand-crafted mozzarella and cured, sliced meats.

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Disney Facts: Mission Space

Photo by Walt Disney Company

To 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 limit.”

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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 Liebman

Here's a look at how much water plays a role at Disney by the numbers:

2.385 billion: Gallons of water in Bay Lake and the adjoining Seven Seas Lagoon.
1,350: Gallons per minute each jet nozzle puts out to propel riders on the Crush ‘n’ Gusher "water coaster"  at Typhoon Lagoon.

850: Acres of lakes on the property

600: The number of people who can ride aboard one of the ferry boats which cross the Seven Seas Lagoon between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center. 

500+: The number of watercraft that can be rented at Disney World.

120: The number of feet one plunges down on Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach.

66: The miles of canals on the property.

57 (for now, soon to be 58): The number of pools to enjoy at the Disney resorts.

Source: Walt Disney Corporation

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Opening dates for new Fantasyland in Disney World

                                          Photo by David Roark/Walt Disney

The 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, the second Dumbo The Flying Elephant will open along with the indoor interactive area serving both "Dumbo" rides and the "Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station."

"The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train" ride will open in 2014,

In time for the holidays, which is very vague but usually means by November, the "Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid," "Enchanted Tales with Belle," Be Our Guest Restaurant, Gaston’s Tavern and "Ariel’s Grotto" should be open.

“Fantasyland is a place where a very special kind of memory is made: where children just old enough to understand the moment come in contact with princesses and heroes and meet their most beloved friends,” Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France, said in a news release.

Last month, the New Fantasyland opened the first of the two "Dumbo" rides, a new train station and "The Barnstormer" family coaster, formerly the "The Great Goofini" ride.

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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 into a 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle and put the design through its paces on the hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit. When complete, riders then move to a post-show area filled with special effects and be scored on how well the custom concept vehicle did.

But if you look at the renderings released by Walt Disney Imagineering one can only wonder if the "Tron" designers took over the facility with the light cycle type colors and lines used in the movie.

New rendering of Test Track from Disney.

A publicity still of Tron light cycle race.

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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 be even more as Kilmanjaro Safaris expands.

To help you get the best animal photos using your DSLR, here are some tips:

                                                                                                  © Steven Liebman
The male lion on top of the lion enclosure.
Sitting on the left side of the Kilimanjaro Safari ride gave me a clear view.

The better side of the safari: When riding on the Kilimanjaro Safari be aware that as of now, the left side of the truck gives you slightly better opportunities for animal pics. The left side gives you direct views of hippo island, the open areas where rhinoceros can be found, the elephant enclosure and the lion area. The right side gives you the first good look at the elephants and, with the viewing area built for the Wild Africa Trek tour, you have a better opportunity for giraffes and Thomson's gazelles because they leave food out for the animals.

Where you can find the animals: If you want to know where you can find all the different animals, you can download our Animal Kingdom checklist, which tells you what animals are in the various areas of the park.

Fast shutter speed: When you are on the Safari or you are photographing birds, bats, gorillas or tigers you are going to want to make sure you are shooting with a fast shutter speed. So turn your camera to shutter-priority mode or sports mode to freeze the action.

Continuous shooting mode: Set your camera to continuous shooting mode. This will keep firing your shutter to take multiple shots and gives you a better chance to get lucky if something especially interesting happens. Don't forget to set your camera to focus in continuous modes so you will get clear shots.

Keep a wide aperture: You want to try to photograph animals so they do not look like they are in an enclosure. The best way to do this is using a wider aperture to give you a shallow depth of field and blur backgrounds. I suggest shooting at f/5.6.

Lenses: You want to get as close as possible when photographing animals. This means using a telephoto lens with your DSLR, something in the 200-300 mm range.

                                                                                                                                © Steven Liebman
Here's a good example of how to press your camera against the glass
 to get the hippo underwater. I used a wide angle lens for the shot.

Shooting through glass: So you want to get a nice photo of the hippo or gorilla on the other side of the glass, how do you do it? The camera's auto-focus should work through the glass. The key is to put the camera as close as possible to the glass. If you have a lens hood, put it on the camera and press the lens hood against the glass. This will help stabilize the camera and make it look like you are in the pool. This is also good for the dolphins at The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion in Epcot. If you want to use a flash, it helps to keep the flash as close to the glass as possible and make sure your camera is not angled, otherwise you will get a reflection.

Shooting through cages: No matter how natural Disney wants to make things appear, you are going to have to shoot through bars, wire and netting. At times you will be be able to find a wider opening to put your lens through. That's when you want to use your longer focal length lens, a wider aperture and all of your patience to wait for the animal to move back in front of you.

Look for the eyes: The eyes are indeed the windows to the soul, and getting the eyes of an animal in a photograph is very important because it helps convey the animal's personality.

                                                                                                                   © Steven Liebman
The eyes always have it. Try to frame the shot so you can get a
 clear view of them when zooming in close.

Be patient: Even at Disney World, where the habitats are built for maximum exposure, you can end up waiting around for a while before the animals do something or get in a position which makes a good photo. Remember, wild animals have their own rules. They are, indeed, "wild."


Be courteous: Be aware of the people around you. Everyone is trying to get a good photograph, so if you get a really good vantage point, let others have a chance after a while.

Look for funny moments: Animals, like kids, do the funniest things. So make sure your camera is always ready. The meerkats on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail can be found in funny poses; giraffes' tongues do the craziest things; and the tigers on the Maharaja Jungle Trek can be seen playing like house cats.

MORE PHOTO TIPS
Tips on taking better smartphone pictures

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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 of "Cinderella."

So what will these shoes look like? Will they be all glass? Six inch high heels? Ruby's sprinkled throughout, just to incorporate the signature red? Will this be a one of a kind or do you think they will be available in his boutiques?

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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 shared the plans at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week, and we gathered the details from Entertainment Weekly, Deadline Hollywood and the Los Angeles Times.

Here's what to expect from Pixar between now and Día de los Muertos:

June 2013: The previously announced "Monsters University," a prequel that will tell the story of Mike and Sully's school days as the University of Fear.

Memorial Day 2014: "The Good Dinosaur" explores a world in which dinosaurs never went extinct. It will be directed by Bob Peterson, co-director of "Up" and screenwriter for "Finding Nemo." This fits perfectly in the Pixar pantheon childish things with deep inner lives -- like toys, fish and cars.

June 2015: Pete Docter, director of "Up" and "Monsters Inc." turns his attention inward in "Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside the Mind." Here's how Disney-Pixar described the project: "The inventive new film will take you to a place that everyone knows, but no one has ever seen: the world inside the human mind.” If there's anyone we'd trust to make this movie, it's the guy who made "Up" -- another movie that was hard to imagine becoming a popular hit (not to mention a deeply moving film).

Disney also released a new trailer for "Brave" this week. Check it out below. The movie will hit theaters June 22.

What do you think of Pixar's lineup? Hit the comments.

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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.

                                                          © Starbucks

At Disney California Adventure, Starbucks will be found at the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café on Buena Vista Street. Still to be announced are locations in Disneyland Park, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

For years there have been complaints on the quality of the coffee in the parks. Nestle is a corporate sponsor, and Nescafe coffee is sold in many places. For the "real" coffee drinkers, this is nothing more than a lightly flavored water. On a recent trip to WDW I got into a 30-minute conversation with friends about the perils of finding a good cup of coffee at WDW. (Granted, they were journalists and use coffee as a stimulant more than some people.)

So the question arises, until the Starbucks cups start to appear, where can you get a good cup of coffee in Disney World?

Here are some options, culled from personal drinking and the opinions of coffee addicts. (Please feel free to add to the list in the comments):

• Kona Cafe in the Polynesian Resort serves Kona coffee made from beans from the Big Island in Hawaii.
• Writer's Shop on New York Street in Hollywood Studios. They make it fresh.
• Starring Rolls Cafe,in Hollywood Studios.
• Contemporary Grounds on the first floor of the Contemporary Resort is a coffee bar serving specialty drinks.
• Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, French coffee press.
• Boulangerie Patisserie in the France Pavilion in Epcot.

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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 release.

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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.

                                                                                                                                 © Steven Liebman

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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 the Monorail”) for a few years, but we hadn’t taken the plunge. Naturally we’ve tried our hands at different variation on drinking around the World Showcase at Epcot -- beers around the World, wines around the World, the many tequilas of Mexico. So the Monorail Pub Crawl seemed like a natural for us.

Coincidentally, we were visiting WDW at the same time as several friends, so our Pub Crawl became a fabulous social event. But it would also be a great date night if you’re there on your own or can leave the kids with a sitter.

Take a spin around the Monorail with us:

Outer Rim, Contemporary

We gathered at the Outer Rim, a small lounge on the Contemporary’s fourth floor concourse, overlooking Bay Lake. The Outer Rim serves the standard WDW cocktail menu, but the Jetsons-style standby, the Blue Glow-tini, is perfectly appropriate. Admittedly it’s over-priced at about $10, but we wanted to set the mood for our pub crawl, so the Glow-tini was the order of the day. If you haven’t experienced one, the Glow-tini is a concoction of Skyy Infusions Citrus Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Blue Curacao and pineapple juice, lit from within by a souvenir glow cube.

The Outer Rim (open 4:30-10:30 p.m.) isn’t the most memorable stop on the Pub Crawl, so feel free to make it a quick stop. If you’re meeting friends, it’s a handy meeting place.

The Contemporary has two other options for pub crawling: the Wave bar and the California Grill lounge. The Wave bar is nice and quiet -- a rare respite from the madness of WDW. The California grill can be just the opposite. It’s a madhouse for at least an hour before the fireworks and 30 minutes or so after. If you miss that window, though, you can still enjoy the beautiful view -- and you may even get a seat to rest your weary feat. If you got an early start and you can fit in a fourth stop before 10, when both these places close, you can end your night with a fourth stop back at the Contemporary and get a taste of a second bar.

Tambu Lounge, Polynesian

The Lapu Lapu cocktail

We timed our trip so we could catch the fireworks from the Polynesian. We craned our necks from the lounge area, but if you wander down to the beach, there’s a beautiful view from there.

The lounge is bustling and crowded, but in a festive way. It may be hard to find a seat, but it will be worth the wait.

Tambu is the rare Disney lounge that actually does have a signature drink: the lapu lapu, Myers’s Original Dark rum and tropical fruit juices topped with Bacardi 151 rum and served in a flamboyant fresh pineapple, complete with cocktail umbrella. My husband blithely ordered one of these beauties assuming it wouldn’t pack much of a punch. After all, the Glow-tini hadn’t given him much of a glow. Boy, was he wrong. This is a serious drink (especially for a guy who’s not a hard drinker).

I ordered another drink that isn’t exclusive to the Tambu Lounge but seemed suitable to the environment: The Eco-tini. Made of VeeV Acai Liquor, Triple Sec, Agave Nectar, ginger and lemon juice, this sexy martini is served with a souvenir Acai seed bracelet. Very cute.

If you want to linger, the Tambu Lounge is the last of our Monorail pubs to close, with last call at midnight.

The Eco-tini cocktail

Mizner’s Lounge, the Grand Floridian

It would be easy to sink into one of the plush chairs at Mizner’s and stay all night, so it’s a good thing we made this our last stop.

Mizner’s demands old-fashioned libations, like Old-Fashioneds, bourbon or scotch on the rocks. It’s also a fabulous place for a brandy or a spiked coffee. Mizner’s also has a great wine list, if that’s your thing. So forget the canned cocktail menu and let the spirits move you.

If you get there by 10, you also can enjoy the Grand Floridian’s jazz band or take in the fireworks from the beach.

This was by far my favorite stop on our pub crawl. It wasn’t the first time we’ve been to Mizner’s; we often stop in before dinner at Citrico’s or Narcoose’s (or -- just once -- at Victoria and Albert’s). So we knew we would sink in and be comfortable.


We lingered at Mizner’s late into the evening -- as late as possible, given the 11 p.m. closing time -- and finally shared a cab back to our resort with our friends.

More Monorail Pub Crawl tips:

• Watch the timing for fireworks. (Here’s the Magic Kingdom calendar. Click on the day to see the full entertainment schedule.) There are great views from the beach at the Polynesian, as well as obstructed view from inside near the Tambu Lounge. You can also see them from the beach at the Grand Floridian. Both are romantic spots, if this is date night. 
• Make sure the Magic Kingdom is open late so the Monorail is running. The resort Monorail typically runs until an hour after park closing. If you’re not staying at a Monorail resort, if the Magic Kingdom is open late you’ll be able to take a bus from there back to your resort. 
• Cabs are easy to get, so if you don’t want to take a bus back from your last stop, it’s easy to get a ride. Whatever you do, don’t drive. 
• Do the pub crawl at Christmas and you get the added bonus of visiting the beautiful Grand Floridian when it’s all decked out for the holidays, and you can stop by the gingerbread house.

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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. 

                                                                                                          © Steven Liebman

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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.

                                                                                                                                    © Steven Liebman

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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 Liebman

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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.

                                                                                                                                      © Steven Liebman

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Vision House opening on Earth Day in Epcot

                                                                                         © Disney

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

The purpose of the Vision House is to present green living ideas in a fun and informative manner that will empower guests with the knowledge that a sustainable future is possible. The exhibit will showcase a wide spectrum of environmentally appropriate products and options and provide homeowners with real solutions for contemporary green living, the news release said.

The interactive exhibit will involve whole-home automation, energy generation and efficiency, water conservation, indoor environment quality, security, integrated multi-generational design, and durability.

Products to be shown will include: doors from Pella, hardwood flooring and cabinets from Armstrong World Industries, electronic vehicle charging station by Siemens; Chevy Volt electric vehicle by GM; high efficiency heating and cooling systems and controls by Ingersoll Rand; durable and environmentally friendly exterior systems by Boral; ventilation solutions to improve indoor air quality by Panasonic; water-conserving fixtures, by Kohler; Energy Star appliances by Bosch and LED lighting by Sylvania.

You can get more information about Vision House from http://www.visionhousegreen.com (which will go live on April 21.

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

© Steven Liebman

Disney 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 upcoming Jungle Cruise.

The ride opened in 1955 on Disneyland's opening day. The ride is based on Disney's adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, one of the two segments of the film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. It was once a ride at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World but closed in 1998 and was replaced with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

The ride recreates the frenzied journey of J. Thaddeus Toad. According to the Disneyland site:

"Driven mad with excitement at the sight of his first motorcar, Mr. Toad embarks on a uproarious journey toward 'nowhere in particular' ... and you're along for the ride.

"Starting inside Toad Hall, you'll zoom under the vaulted ceiling of the main parlor, skid past teetering stacks of books in the library, plow through a lit fireplace, accelerate down a weasel-infested hallway, demolish the dining room and hurtle out a window into the countryside.

"That's when the motor mayhem really begins — while avoiding a platoon of bumbling policemen you crash through scaffoldings, splatter stacks of pies, smash crates and ignite a fiery explosion. You're caught and sentenced for your crimes. Crashing through the jail wall, you speed down a dark tunnel. A light appears. Is that a train?!?"

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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' contract with Disney expired in the early 1980s, so did the bird.

But this morning, according to the Disney Parks Blog, D23 representatives announced the return of the bird. The Orange Bird will appear in signage and on drinks cups, as well, as a new line of Orange Bird merchandise.

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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 destination for Disneyland theme park because of the tax-free privileges given to locators,” First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin wrote in an April 11 letter to Iger, according to the website.

What's the likelihood of this? Not much, considering Disney is now in the middle of building Shanghai Disneyland, which opens up China. And with Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland, you really have to question whether there is enough demand and money to open a park in the Philippines.

 

There has also been recent speculation of a Disneyland in Dubai. On a recent trip to Dubai to promote the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris, Julian Munoz, the director of marketing and sales at Disneyland Paris, talked with officials in the United Arab Emirates, but no plans evolved.

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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 below.

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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 CEO, The Walt Disney Company said in the release.

Reagan was one of the co-hosts of ABC TV's live coverage of the opening of Disneyland on July 17, 1955.

The exhibit is being presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library. Among the items to be featured are:

• The original script, written by Walt Disney, for Mickey Mouse's film debut in 1928's "Steamboat Willie."
• A recreation of Walt Disney's formal office from the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., including original furnishings and many of his personal items.
• Hand-drawn artwork and hand-sculpted models used in the production of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Pinocchio," "Fantasia," "Bambi" and "Sleeping Beauty."
• Props from "Mary Poppins," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," "The Absent-Minded Professor," "The Shaggy Dog," "Babes in Toyland," and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks."
• Props, costumes, and set pieces from the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," "TRON: Legacy," "National Treasure" and "Captain America."
• Sculptured busts of all 44 U.S. Presidents that were created for Audio-Animatronics figures seen in the The Hall of Presidents attraction at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.
• A salute to Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Disney World showcasing theme park artwork, Audio-Animatronics® characters, memorabilia, and authentic attraction vehicles

For information visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum online at www.reaganlibrary.com, or www.Disney.com/D23. Admission to the exhibition is included with the purchase of admission to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. 

The Ronald Reagan Library and Museum is located in Simi Valley, Calif., about 60 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles and approximately two hours north of Disneyland.

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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 closed until Sept. 28.

JUNE: Disney will change the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot in Walt Disney World into the Phineas & Ferb-themed Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure.

TRHOUGH JUNE 3: The ESPNHS Girls Showcase, a weekend sports festival event formerly known as the ESPN RISE Girls Showcase, takes place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World. The showcase features the best female athletic talent in basketball, softball, martial arts, gymnastics and volleyball. Designed to provide the female athlete with training to help improve her game and mentoring that inspires her, this four-day event will feature select high school athletes on the national and international levels.

JUNE 1: The debut of Dinner & A Show Package at Downtown Disney. This limited-time offer includes dinner at House of Blues (1 appetizer, 1 entrée, 1 non-alcoholic/non-specialty drink and 1 dessert – gratuity not included), and a Category 2 ticket to “La Nouba” at Cirque du Soleil. The package costs $99 plus tax, per guest age 10 and older, and $85 plus tax for guests age 3-9. This is actually a savings of about 25 percent for adults.


JUNE 1-3: Star Wars weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World continues with special guests Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) and Silas Carson (Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace).

JUNE 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 21 and 22: Special Grad Night events at Disneyland in California.

JUNE 1 - JULY 8 : Epcot will be home to Brave – The Highland Games Tournament, a kid-focused offering that will include game.

JUNE 2-3: Downtown Disney Cars Master Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort.

JUNE 6: Pollinator Day. National Wildlife Conservation Day celebrated at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

JUNE 7: The Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop in the Pacific Wharf area at Disney California Adventure in Disneyland opens.

JUNE 7: Live chat with imagineer Jonathan Ackley on the Disney Parks Blog.

JUNE 8-10: Star Wars weekend at Hollywood Studios ends with special guests: Michonne Bourriague (Aurra Sing – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace); Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett – Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VIReturn of the Jedi); Daniel Logan (Boba Fett – Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones); and Nika Futterman (voice of Asajj Ventress – Star Wars: The Clone Wars).

JUNE 10-JUNE 17: The annual Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot with Hotel California - A Salute to the Eagles.

JUNE 14: California Adventure closes in preparation of unveiling new lands and entrance.

JUNE 14-15: American Idol experience in Disney's Hollywood Studios is closed for refurbishment.

JUNE 15: It's a big day at Disneyland in California. At the California Adventure, Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and the Carthay Circle Theatre all will open to the public. This ends the 5-year expansion at Disneyland Resort. In addition, Ariel's Grotto changes to character dining for dinner. Also, the Pixar Play Parade starts rolling again. But wait, there's more: The Mad T Party, a new nighttime dance show, replaces ElecTRONica at the California Adventure.

JUNE 15: The Matterhorn Bobsleds in Disneyland reopen after refurbishment.

JUNE 15:  A new scene from the movie "Brave" is added to "World of Color" at Disney's California Adventure.

JUNE 18: The Cars wing opens at the Disney Art of Animation Resort in Walt Disney World in Florida.

JUNE 18: Starting on this day Disneyland Resort hotel guests in Disneyland will be able to advantage of Extra Magic Hour* – early admission to either Disneyland park or Disney California Adventure park – every day of their stay (with valid theme park admission and active hotel room key card).

JUNE 18-23: The annual Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot with Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot - The Ultimate Billy Joel Show.

JUNE 22: Disney/Pixar's latest movie "Brave" is released. The movie is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin, the surly Lord Macintosh, and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall.

JUNE 24-30 The annual Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot with Stayin’ Alive - A Tribute to the Bee Gees

JUNE27-29: Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger spin in Magic Kingdom closed.

JUNE 29: Disney releases the movie "People Like Us"

JUNE 30: The Disney Gallery in Disneyland opens a new exhibit on castles.

JULY: The next phase of Storybook Circus, which includes the second half of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction and the Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station opens.

JULY 1-7: The annual Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot with Slippery When Wet -The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute

JULY 1: The Tanabata Star Festival Program returns to Tokyo Disneyland. The festival involves Disney characters traveling down the parade route in rickshaws to offer a Tanabata greeting to park guests.

JULY 1-SEPT. 30 - Bistro de Paris in the France Pavilion in Epcot is closed for refurbishment.


JULY 1: Chef Meyer, House of Blues, California Avocado and Blue Cheese Crusted Rib Eye

JULY  2: Chef Thomas Keaveny, ESPN Zone, Mini California Avocado Shrimp Clubs and Grilled Chicken California Avocado Wrap

JULY 3: Chef Dore Sommer, Rainforest Cafe, Awesome Appetizer Adventure and Guacamole Burger



JULY 3 - AUGUST 4: The AAU Boys and Girls National Basketball Championships is held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex with competitors ranging from grades through 12. Over 17,000 kids from around the country descend on Disney World for the event.

JULY 3: The Epcot Segway Tour is discontinued.

JULY  4: Chef Alejandro Reyna, La Brea Bakery, Shrimp and Salsa Stuffed California Avocado and Turkey California Avocado Sandwich

JULY 5: Chef Darrin Finkel, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, Fried Green Tomato BLT with California Avocado and Jazz Kitchen French Quarter Salad with California Avocado

JULY 6: Chef Jose Estrada, Tortilla Jo's, Ceviche de Huauchinango Shots and Shrimp and California Avocado Enchiladas

JULY 6: Over 500 items from the Walt Disney Archives go on exhibit at the Ronald Reagan.

JULY 7: Chef Nick Weber, Catal Restaurant, Tartare of Hamachi with Shisho, Micro Cilantro and California Avocado and Jalapeno Sorbet

JULY 8-14: The annual Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot with The Police Experience - A Tribute to the Police

JULY 9: Tokyo Disneyland celebrates Disney’s Natsu Matsuri, a Japanese summer festival. The park will hold daily Soryo Kobu dance competitions, in which Disney characters lead eight different dance teams in showing off their moves to different styles of music. Each night, four winning teams will compete in the finals, in a competition event that features more music, spraying water and blazes of fire!

JULY 9: The Toy Story Mania attraction opens in Tokyo Disneyland.

JULY 9 - AUGUST 3: The Cape May Cafe at Disney's Beach Club Resort will be closed.

JULY 11-15: The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition will appear at Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego.

JULY 13: The Blue Ribbon Bakery in Disneyland re-opens.

JULY 14: Grizzly Gulch officially opens at Hong Kong Disneyland.

JULY 15-21: The annual Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot with SouthBound and Company - A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd

JULY 22-28: The annual Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Epcot with 2U - A Tribute to U2

AUGUST: Cotton-Top Tamarin Month. A wildlife conservation event celebrated at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

AUGUST 1:  Disney’s Animal Kingdom celebrates the world’s primates — like gorillas, white-cheeked gibbons, siamangs, ring-tailed lemurs, and cotton-top and emperor tamarins — that make their home at the park. Guests will be able to participate in a variety of activities at Rafiki’s Planet Watch and near primate habitats throughout the rest of the park.

AUGUST 4- 10: Liberty Square Riverboat closed for refurbishment.

AUGUST 10: The Lion King wing opens at the Disney Art of Animation Resort in Walt Disney World in Florida.

AUGUST 11-12: D23's special meeting at Grand Ballroom at the Disneyland Hotel looks at 75 years of Disney animated features.

AUGUST 12: The Beastly Bazaar store in the Animal Kingdom closed to be turned into a meet and greet location.

AUGUST 15: Theatrical movie release of "The Odd Life of Timothy Green."

AUGUST 20: Reservations open for Be Our Guest Restaurant.

AUGUST 22-OCT. 16: Country Bear Jamboree is closed for refurbishment.

AUGUST 27:  The Disney Parks Blog holds a live chat about the Test Track.

AUGUST 31 - SEPT. 2: The Disneyland Half Marathon weekend. This 13.1-mile course winds through Anaheim, Calif., and the Disneyland Resort.

AUGUST 31-SEPT. 3: The Great Irish Hooley Labor Day Weekend at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney in Disney World.

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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. 

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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 see what else is going on in April and May at Disneyland and Disney World, check out the Spring Guide.

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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 World.

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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 and Anandapur -- yes, directly from from Disney's Animal Kingdom -- according to a company news release.

Players are also encouraged to be conscious of the needs of animals and their habitats: placing animals that cohabitate well next to each other will earn the player extra points.

"Animal lovers will flock to Disney Animal Kingdom Explorers to build their personal nature preserves around the iconic Tree of Life," John Spinale, Senior Vice President of Social Games, Disney Interactive, said in the release.

Disney said it will expand the game in the future with with new locations, goals and animals.

The page is located at www.facebook.com/disneyanimalkingdom

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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 leftover food from the resort kitchens does not go to waste either -- it goes to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Nearly 369,000 pounds of food went to central Florida residents in 2010.

And even the "waste" from the animals at the Animal Kingdom does not go to waste. More than 4,680 tons of manure was sent to the compost facility in 2010, producing more than 9,000 tons of compost throughout the year.

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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 version.

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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 addiction.

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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 won't give away the rest, but it's about a 15 second video and a lot of fun. After that you'll find a small video commercial for Disneyland Paris 20th anniversary.

Be aware this is a Flash movie, so no checking it out on your iPads.

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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 experiences

For $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 in the park at Disney World and is good for up to a 14-day visit. So if you want it,  get it done early so when you go on rides like Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and get those photos.

Also if you head to character dining at a few locations, you can get all the photos take their as well.

So, this is what you get for your $200:

• PhotoPass+ Card and Lanyard
• A gallery CD with over 400 stock photos
• The ability to order a PhotoCD with all your photos online at DisneyPhotoPass.com
• Print Packages at select Dining locations
• Digital Downloads of select Attractions

You can get the specific attractions and character dining locations on the Facebook page.

You can still get photos ala carte, but could be quite expensive.

Now, is it worth the price? That's going to depend upon a lot of factors. It's a lot of money, but if you plan to stand in line and take a lot of photos with the Disney photographers and want some fairly good quality photos, it might be, especially if you have a large family. The great thing about this is that you can get the attraction photos instead of having to shell out the extra bucks.

I'm curious how this is going to work and what everyone thinks about this new deal.

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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 or educator, who has helped create a lasting memory. A panel of judges will review the stories about the special memory makers and select five grand prize winners. Each grand prize winner will receive a vacation for themselves and three guests, plus a vacation for their memory makers and three guests to Walt Disney World Resort. The winning families will also receive a Sony® HDR-PJ260V projector camcorder to document new memories before, during, and after their experience at Disney Parks.

"There will also be a weekly sweepstakes on disney.com/memories where guests can enter daily on the site or text 'SONY' to DISNEY (347639) on their mobile devices, for a chance to win prizes such as a $200 Disney gift card and a Sony HDR-PJ260V camcorder. One winner will be awarded per week," according to a joint news release.

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

                                                            © Disney
Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Five 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 traveled with family. Unlike any other honors, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travelers around the world," the company said in a news release.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge ranked 4th on the list; The Villas and Disney's Wilderness Lodge ranked 15th, Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ranked 16th, Disney's Vero Beach ranked 22nd and Disney's Boardwalk Villas ranked 23rd.

The Wilderness Lodge also ranked 13th in the world.

The top family friendly resort in the U.S. is the KeyLine Cove Resort and Water Park in Gurnee, Illinois. And the top world resort is the Treasure Island Resort & Holiday Park in Biggera Waters, Australia.

The company recognized 504 resorts in 25 markets around the world. Large properties are defined with 100 rooms or more. Here's the complete list.

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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.

                                                                                                               © Steven Liebman

Donald's middle name is Fauntleroy.

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Smile of The Day: Bambi topiary

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

© Steven Liebman

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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 pool on Disney property, not counting water parks.

227,000: The number of lineal feet of carpet, which is enough to stretch from downtown Orlando to the Kennedy Space Center on the Atlantic coast.

23,000: The number of gallons of paint, enough to fill a typical backyard swimming pool.

2,300: The number of parking spaces.

27: The number of acres of landscaping and irrigation at the resort is the equivalent of 20 football fields.

Source: Disney Resorts

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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 with The Great Goofini and Dumbo the Flying Elephant rides.

March 2-4 and March 9-11: The “New Orleans Bayou Bash!” continues on weekends at New Orleans Square at Disneyland park with the sights and sounds of a New Orleans-style celebration. Jazz musicians perform throughout New Orleans Square, and Princess Tiana and her friends from “The Princess and the Frog” will lead guests in hand-clapping, dancing-in-the-streets fun.

March 3-April 2: Atlanta Braves Spring Training returns to Walt Disney World for the 15th consecutive year, with an 18-game home schedule.

Photo from 2011 Flower & Garden Show

March 7: Disney World is expected to start enforcing the hour window given for the Fastpass return times.

March 7-May 20: The 19th Epcot Flower & Garden Festival kicks off with more than 75 Disney character topiaries, plus flower demonstrations and concerts. For a complete list of events, check it out here.

March 13: The annual meeting of the shareholders of  The Walt Disney Company, including remarks by management regarding the company, will be available live via audio webcast at www.disney.com/investors beginning at 8 a.m. PDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT. A replay will be provided through March 28, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. PDT.


March 15-17: Authentic Irish food, music and dance performances set the scene for a three-day St. Patrick’s Day celebration in and around the Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. The weekend of festivities spans Pleasure Island with live stage performances by The Wyndbreakers — Florida’s own “neo-traditional, pub-rockin’, guitar pickin’ Celtic” musicians; Celtic Wave, with its own traditional Irish flair; and Celtic Nova, putting its own twist on popular lrish tunes. Family activities will include face painting and stilt walkers.

March 18-23: Typhoon Lagoon is closed for refurbishment.

March 23: Disney plans to launch Disney Junior, a cable channel aimed for kids 2 to 7 years of age.

March 29:  Disney's new musical Newsies officially opens on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City. The limited Broadway engagement is now until Aug. 19.

March 31: The Disney Fantasy, the 4,000-passenger ship just christened by Mariah Carey, sets sail with The Muppets leading tests in an interactive adventure.

April: Vision House opens at Epcot. The purpose of the Vision House "is to engender sustainable thinking,” Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman said in a news release. "We anticipate that each visitor leaves the exhibit with specific ideas that can help them make their homes and lives more resource efficient and environmentally responsible."

April 15: The Test Track closes for refurbishment. Under a new long-term commitment from GM, the Test Track in Epcot at Walt Disney World will be highlighting Chevrolet cars. The Test Track should re-open by the fall of 2012.

April 1: Disneyland Paris celebrates its 20th anniversary with the world premiere of Dreams - A Magical Immersive Nighttime Spectacular.

April 1-9: The Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World is celebrating Easter with an Easter Eggstravaganza. There are numerous chocolate eggs in there resort lobby. Each egg is 9 to 12 pounds and completely edible, according to the Disney Parks Blog.

April 15: Rapunzel will will be moving from Fairytale Garden in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World to a new spot at the outskirts of Adventureland.

April 15:  ElecTRONica at Disney's California Adventure closes.

April 16 - Fall: Test Track closes for refurbishment.

April 16 - May 26: Liberty Square Riverboat in Magic Kingdom closed for refurbishment.

April 28: The highly anticipated Marvel's Avengers movie will close the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

April 29- May 2: Lights! Motors! Action! Extreme Stunt Show closed for refurbishment.


April 30- May 25: The Frontierland Shooting Exposition in Disneyland is closed for routine maintenance.


April 30: Carnation Plaza Gardens in Disneyland Park will closes to transform to Fantasy Faire.



May 1: Tutto Gusto, a new wine bar adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot, opens.

May 2: The Candy Palace and Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor at Disneyland park opens on Main Street, U.S.A.

May 1-May2: Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland closes for routine maintenance.

May 3: The Big Thunder Ranch in Disneyland will start its Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with an old fashioned Hoedown.

Mid-May: Merida from the new Disney-Pixar film "Brave" will be greet people at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in the Fairytale Garden. The setting will be 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 will be the three bear cubs from the film, who will no doubt be up to plenty of mischief," according to the Disney Parks Blog.

May 4: Marvel's "The Avengers" movie opens nationwide.

May 18-June 10: Star Wars weekends return to Disney World. For the first weekend, May 18-20, the celebrities showing up include: Ray Park – (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace);
Jerome Blake (Rune Haako/Mas Amedda – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) and  Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Clone Captain Rex and Clone Commander Cody – Star Wars: The Clone Wars).

May 21: The Liberty Square Riverboat is expected to reopen after refurbishment.

May 25: The summer version of “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” nighttime show at Magic Kingdom in Walt DIsney World.
May 25-27: Star Wars weekends continue with the following stars showing up:  Andy Secombe (Watto – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace); Ray Park (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace) and Tom Kane (voice of Yoda – Star Wars: The Clone Wars).

May 28: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is scheduled to reopen from refurbishment.

May 31: Snow White's Scary Adventures, one of the original rides from Walt Disney World's opening in 1971, will close for good.

May 31: Disney's Art of Animation Resort opens in Disney World with the first of the four wings opening. The first wing will be the Finding Nemo wing.


May 31-June 3: The ESPNHS Girls Showcase, a weekend sports festival event formerly known as the ESPN RISE Girls Showcase, takes place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World. The showcase features the best female athletic talent in basketball, softball, martial arts, gymnastics and volleyball. Designed to provide the female athlete with training to help improve her game and mentoring that inspires her, this four-day event will feature select high school athletes on the national and international levels.

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