Magic Kingdom to mark 40 years with festivities Saturday

By Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel
10:54 a.m. EDT, September 27, 2011

The Magic Kingdom will celebrate its 40th birthday with a parade of costumed characters, fireworks and special merchandise on Saturday.

The parade will begin at about 9:45 a.m., going from the Main Street Train Station to Cinderella Castle. The characters will gather there alongside Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton and cast members with 40 years of Disney World experience.

A ceremony will include memories from the past four decades, a sing-along with the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet, singers, dancers and daytime pyrotechnics.

A one-day-only commemorative T-shirt will be sold, and a selection of artists who have created limited-edition pieces will be at the theme park to sign autographs.

The evening's presentation of "Wishes" will be expanded to include perimeter fireworks usually only fired during special, after-hours events.

Park hours on Saturday will be 9 a.m. to midnight. The weekend also marks the beginning of this year's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-world-40th-celebration-20110927,0,3425101.story

Legoland ready for 'soft' opening this weekend

Employees' families and the park's contractors will sample the theme park's rides, food and other features ahead of Oct. 15 public opening

5:51 p.m. EDT, September 28, 2011

The rides at Legoland Florida are up and ready to roll, as Central Florida's newest theme park prepares for its first guests this weekend — the contractors who built the park and the families of the park's 1,000 employees.

Legoland doesn't open to the public until Oct. 15., but the Winter Haven park is nearly ready, with rides in working order, landscaping all but complete, and hundreds of Lego sculptures scattered throughout the property, waiting to be discovered by eager eyes.

"We're in full training mode. Our merchandise people are filling in the stores, our food people are practicing food preparation," Jill Swidler, the park's marketing director, said Wednesday. "So we'll be ready to go Oct. 15."

Legoland conducted a brief, technical rehearsal Wednesday of part of its water-ski show, the first time the show has been done in full costume. Dubbed "The Battle for Brickbeard's Bounty," the show includes a boxy Lego pirate named Brickbeard and the "spicy and brave" heroine, Ms. Miranda, who defends Legoland's happy harbor with her Lego soldiers and a pirate-eating shark named Sawtooth. The show set comes complete with a large-scale model of a Lego pirate ship.

"We actually have a Lego ship that we modeled this after," said Marc Kish, project manager for Nassal, the Orlando company that built the set piece. "We had to make sure every line and every seam and every placement is true."

The park also gave members of the media a sneak peek of Lego City, with its Boating School, Ford Driving School and Lego City Rescue Academy — a firefighter-inspired race that pits family against family in a bid to battle a burning building.

"The rides at Legoland are really special rides in that, instead of being a passive participant, you're an active participant," said Bill Vollbrecht, the park's senior project designer. "Everything they do, it's hands on. They drive the car — there's no track. They drive the boat on open water."

The park's Lego Technic Test Track was also ready Wednesday. The steel roller coaster offers a high-rise view of the park before riders plunge down a 45-foot drop.

Legoland said it will soon begin selling discount tickets at area Publix Super Markets. At $60 for adults and $50 for children, the tickets cost $15 less than those purchased at the gate and $5 less than pre-opening prices available online.

Park officials also expressed confidence in their annual-pass sales, saying area residents are already clamoring to get into the attraction.

"Our pass sales are going through the roof, totally exceeding our expectations," Swidler said. "We know the locals are totally excited to get in here."

skclarke@tribune.com or 407-420-5664

For video and photos go to the article:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/legoland/os-legoland-construction-update-20110928,0,7504296.story

Enchanted Art and Interactive Game on the Dream

Enchanted Art – Located throughout the ship, the Enchanted Art appears to be a normal piece of Disney art, but as you approach, the scene comes to life, a mini-cartoon if you will. Not only do they look beautiful around the ship, but they entertain everyone from little kids to senior citizens. Each piece of Enchanted Art has several different scenes, so you will see something different each time you approach. The art is so mesmerizing you see adults approach everything hanging on the walls to see if it will spring to life.

http://dclnews.com/videos/2011/08/22/disney-dream-enchanted-art/

Not only does the enchanted art entertain you, it is part of the game Mickey’s Midship Detective Agency. In the lobby, you can sign up for the game, and get a guide booklet and card. As you approach each image with the card, the image springs to life with clues about where to find the kidnapped dalmatian puppies. The game changes each time you play, so you can play more than once.

This interactive game allows you to activate different special effects within the artwork. You start at the detective agency's desk on Deck 4, adjacent to Shutters. You'll meet Mickey Mouse, who will recruit you to join his detective agency to help solve your choice of one of two crimes, involving either missing dalmatian puppies or stolen artwork. Using a map, you'll find pieces of enchanted art throughout the ship. Once at each piece of art, you'll use your "badge," a card with an image of a badge on one side and a 2-D bar code on the other. Facing the barcode toward the art, the sensor will read the card's sequence number, match it to the game that you're playing and your activity to date, and give you an appropriate mini-game to play, as well as the correct results after your mini-game completes. Each game has six potential criminals, ensuring that you won't know who the correct villain is until the game is over. This enjoyable game is fun for the whole family.

Walt Disney World Theme Park Guest Services

ATMs
For your convenience, Automated Teller Machines are located in each Theme Park

Baby Care Centers
You can change and feed your baby at these Baby Care Centers hosted by Carnation. One location in each Theme Park.

Camera Services
Various camera services are available at several Theme Park locations. These services may include film sales, camera sales, camera and digital camera accessories. Film can be purchased at most retail locations.

Credit Cards
Visa is the proud sponsor of the Walt Disney World® Resort. Traveler's checks, cash, JCB, Diners Club Card®, Discover®, MasterCard®, American Express® and Disney Gift Cards are also accepted.

Disney's FASTPASS® Service
Disney's FASTPASS service is sure to help you get the most enjoyment out of your day at each Theme Park! This free Guest Service saves your place in line, allowing you to venture off and experience more of the wonders — before returning to board your attraction with a minimal wait.

First Aid
There is a First Aid Station available in each Theme Park. A resident nurse is on duty who can dispense aspirin and bandages and handle sudden illnesses.

Guest Relations
Available near the entrance to each Theme Park, you can visit these locations for Disney information,dining assistance, faxes, lost & found, currency exchange and as a message center.

Guests with Disabilities.
Guests with hearing disabilities should consult the Guide for Guests with Disabilities or visit Guest Relations for further information on Sign Language services, Assistive Listening Devices, Reflective, Handheld, & Video Captioning, Written Aids, and TTYs.

Kennels
Best Friends Pet Care - operated by Best Friends Pet Care, Inc. is located across from Disney's Port Orleans Resort at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830. Best Friends Pet Care offers accommodations, activities, and amenities for your furry friends. Services also include grooming and doggy day camp.

With the exception of service dogs for Guests with disabilities, pets are not permitted in the Theme Parks or Disney Resort hotels, or on the Disney Resort hotel or Theme Park buses. Pets may, however, stay in the air-conditioned facility, which is a member of the Pet Care Services Association.

Disney Resort hotel reservations do not guarantee space for your pets in the new facility. Reservations at Best Friends Pet Care are not required but are suggested. Call (877) 4 WDW-PETS for more information and to make reservations.

Lockers
For your convenience, lockers may be rented for a small fee to store items during your visits to the Theme Parks.

Park Maps and Daily Times Guide
Found throughout each Theme Park, use these maps to help plan your visit. Maps display locations of all attractions, entertainment, dining throughout the Park with information on Guest Services. There is also a Daily Times Guide, which will advise parade and show times plus character greeting information.

Package Pick-Up
For your convenience, purchases made throughout the day can be delivered to special locations for pick up as you exit the Park. Purchases can also be delivered to Walt Disney World Resort hotels or shipped via UPS or FedEx®.

Stroller Rentals
Strollers are available for rent. Quantities are limited and subject to availability. The stroller rental fee is $15 USD per day* for a single-passenger stroller and $31 USD per day for a double-passenger stroller**.

Length of Stay: For guests who require a stroller rental for multiple days, we offer a Length of Stay rental ticket where you make a one-time payment transaction for as many days of rental that you will need. Upon visiting a Theme Park, simply show your receipt at the stroller rental location and you will be directed through the queue with little or no wait.

We provide this rental service as a convenience to our guests, but they are certainly welcome to bring their own personal stroller or ECV when visiting the Disney Theme Parks and Downtown Disney® area.
* A $100 credit card imprint is required for deposit when renting a stroller or wheelchair at Downtown Disney.

Translation
Disney's Show Translators are available for Guests with limited English fluency for select attractions. Guests may choose from one of the five key languages: French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Guests may rent the units at Guest Relations locations in all four parks by paying a refundable $100 USD deposit. These wireless show translators use leading-edge digital audio technology that allows guests to hear synchronized translated narrations via personal translation units.

Wheelchair Rentals
Limited rentals are available for Guests with Disabilities. Wheelchair and Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV) rentals are available for a fee of $12 USD* for Wheelchairs and $50 USD for ECVs with a refundable deposit of $20 USD. Quantities are limited and subject to availability.

Length of Stay: For guests who require a stroller rental for multiple days, we offer a Length of Stay rental ticket where you make a one-time payment transaction for as many days of rental that you will need. Upon visiting a Theme Park, simply show your receipt at the stroller rental location and you will be directed through the queue with little or no wait.


We provide this rental service as a convenience to our guests, but they are certainly welcome to bring their own personal stroller or ECV when visiting the Disney Theme Parks and Downtown Disney area.
* ECVs are not available at Resort locations and a $100 credit card imprint is required for deposit when renting an ECV at Downtown Disney.

Captain Jack Sparrow teaches kids to sword fight at Disney World

Captain Jack Sparrow teaches kids to sword fight at Disney World
A Mom and The Mouse, Kristin Ford — posted by kristin ford on September, 26 2011

Captain Jack Sparrow coaches my son during his Pirate Tutorial recently at Magic Kingdom. (Kristin Ford/Orlando Sentinel)

For the five years that Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial has been staged in the Magic Kingdom, we have walked past the crowds without stopping, my children eager to get to other attractions. But my son’s recent interest in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise prompted not only a look, but also a plan to stake out a front-row spot in hopes of being picked to join the action.

Our swashbuckling adventure began that day with a trip to the adjacent A Pirate’s League, where my son was transformed into a pirate. (More on that makeover experience to come.) Then we wandered over to the empty stage, where we had our choice of concrete; this 20-minute show is designed for guests to gather informally. Cast members will, however, direct the crowds to leave space for the performers.

The show starts with Sparrow’s shipmate Mack searching for him. When the good captain appears, his appearance and mannerisms are remarkably similar to those of Johnny Depp in the movies. He picks four children to teach the art of sword fighting on stage. (You can see that humorous segment in the video below.) Afterward, more children are invited to come up and take the Pirate Oath with Sparrow.

Certainly the experience was ideal for my son because he was chosen from the audience. But the show is inclusive, allowing many kids the opportunity to participate at the end, and they all received printed scrolls and PhotoPass cards to access all the professional photos taken during the show.

Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial takes place daily at 10:15 and 11:20 a.m. and 12:25, 2:15, 3:20 and 4:25 p.m.

Video


http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/disney-a-mom-and-the-mouse/2011/09/captain-jack-sparrow-teaches-kids-to-sword-fight-at-disney-world/

Disney Cruise Line Adds Second Hawaiian Cruise

Based on an overwhelming response to its first Hawaiian itinerary, Disney Cruise Line® is adding a second Hawaiian cruise to its 2012 schedule.

The new 14-night itinerary departs Oct. 14, 2012, from Los Angeles. It includes stops at Kahului, Maui; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Honolulu, O’ahu; and Hilo, Hawai‘i; plus Ensenada, Mexico. In addition, there are eight relaxing days at sea.

Bookings open today at 8 a.m. EDT for Clients who are Platinum and Gold Castaway Club Members. Silver Castaway Club Members and first-time Guests can book beginning Monday, Sept. 26. At this time, bookings are only available by calling the reservation center.

The addition of a second Hawaiian voyage complements a diverse array of 2012 itineraries departing from the West Coast, including cruises to the Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast and Alaska.

September 22, 1999 IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth

IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth begins thrilling Epcot guests with a soft opening. Officially debuting October 1, the nightly show utilizes fireworks, pyrotechnics, laser lights, and fountains to create a visual production on the park's World Showcase Lagoon. IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth is part of the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration, but will be so successful that after the celebration ends - the 2000 will be dropped from the name and the show will continue as IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

The show is currently sponsored by Siemens and has received several awards throughout the years including the 2009 Best Outdoor Night Production Show by Gold Ticket Awards.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, a mesmerizing fireworks, laser and water show featuring a rousing soundtrack, plays nightly for Guests of all ages in the World Showcase area in Epcot theme park.

Seen atop the World Showcase Lagoon, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a spectacular 14-minute, live pyrotechnic show that brings together the past, present and future of our planet and its colorful nations.

Featuring breathtaking fireworks, brilliant bursts of fire, laserlight effects, dramatic fountain barges, a stirring musical score and the world's first spherical video display system—the 350,000-pound Earth Globe—IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is an inspirational nighttime spectacular bursting with surprises for the entire family.


The Story of llumiNations

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot tells the story of our planet in 3 unforgettable acts.

•Act 1: Chaos — Bear witness to the explosion at the dawn of time that brings about the creation of Earth, where you are invited to observe the Inferno Barge, a liquid-propane mechanism launching balls of fire 60 feet into the air.
•Act 2: Order — Behold the glowing Earth Globe as it glides peacefully to the center of the lagoon, illuminated with—and celebrating—the famous faces and achievements of our time.
•Act 3: Meaning — During this final act, the Earth Globe blossoms to reveal a torch and the glow of a thousand fireworks and laserlights that fill the night sky in a shimmering kaleidoscope of color and sound, propelling us into the future.
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth can be viewed anywhere throughout the World Showcase that offers a clear view of the World Showcase Lagoon.

Be sure to check the Times Guide at Epcot the day of your visit for show times. Since IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is an outdoor show, it is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.


Fun Facts
More than 26,000 feet of lights outline the World Showcase pavilions — a string long enough to stretch across the Golden Gate Bridge more than six times.

Private cabanas open September 21, 2010 at Castaway Cay, Disney's island in the Bahamas.

Guests can have a little piece of paradise all to themselves at one of 20 new private cabanas. The premium rental cabanas provide the privacy and luxury of a deluxe beach retreat with an option to add the personalized service of a cabana host.

The majority of the exclusive 325-square-foot beach cabanas will dot the far side of Castaway Family Beach, giving guests more privacy along with a spectacular view of their Disney cruise ship from the cabana's large front patio deck. A handful of private cabanas will be located on Serenity Bay Beach, exclusively for adults, providing the ultimate in upscale seclusion.

Each well-appointed cabana is furnished with comfortable cushioned chairs, luxurious chaise lounge chairs, stylish side tables and a dining table. Other convenient features include a refrigerator, lockable storage unit, outside fresh water shower and sail cloth for shade on the deck.

Amenities included with a beach cabana rental include non-alcoholic beverages, suntan lotion and fluffy towels. A variety of a la carte services and packages will be offered, including special food and beverage options.

Private cabanas are $499 on the main beach and $399 on Serenity Bay.

http://youtu.be/6SdnRnM9xe4

Disney to build multiple-attraction 'Avatar' land in Animal Kingdom theme park

By Jason Garcia, Orlando Sentinel
4:34 p.m. EDT, September 20, 2011

The Walt Disney Co. plans to build a multi-attraction "land" based on the movie "Avatar" in Disney's Animal Kingdom as the first step in a broader licensing deal that will lead to similar attractions in Disney parks worldwide.

"Avatar is just a set of worlds that is really rich and offers so much to explore, we thought that offering a land-based approach gives us a much better opportunity to explore," Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs said in an interview following the announcement.

Disney said it would begin construction of Animal Kingdom's Avatar land in 2013 and expects to open it to guests about five years from now. A company executive indicated that the price tag would be approximately $500 million.

The deal announced Tuesday gives Disney exclusive theme-park rights to use elements from the 2009 blockbuster and from sequels due out in 2014 and 2015. "Avatar," which was directed by James Cameron and grossed nearly $2.8 billion in worldwide box-office receipts, is widely considered one of the most valuable intellectual properties not already tied up by a theme park.

Disney said it plans to build multiple-attraction lands based on the film's fictional world of "Pandora," including themed food and merchandise, rides and entertainment. It's the same approach Universal Orlando has taken with its wildly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which has fueled huge attendance and guest-spending gains since opening in Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park last year.

Cameron said he initially thought Disney would want to build only an individual ride based on his film.

"I quickly realized that their vision for this thing is far beyond what I imagined," he told reporters. "It was kind of thrilling that they wanted to do a land and really bring the world of Pandora to life."

More Avatar lands would follow down the road. Disney currently has five theme-park resorts worldwide and is building a sixth in Shanghai, China.

"We obviously appreciate that this was a film that was enjoyed by millions globally. So it's now a global product," Disney Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said. "We can clearly leverage the global interest in this property in multiple places, although we don't have any plans at the moment or specifics to announce to you."

Disney will license the rights from Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment studio and Fox Filmed Entertainment.

The Avatar land should provide a huge jolt in the arm for the 13-year-old Animal Kingdom theme park. The youngest of Walt Disney World's four theme parks has been criticized by some park fans for lacking attractions and not amounting to a full-day experience on par with the Magic Kingdom or Epcot.

The last major new ride added to Animal Kingdom was the Expedition Everest roller coaster, which opened in 2006. That ride cost more than $100 million.

A precise date hasn't been set for completion of the Avatar attractions in Animal Kingdom, but an opening sometime in 2016 could allow Disney to capitalize on a fresh wave of fan interest in the 'Avatar' film franchise from the two sequels currently in development. Cameron said the tentative plan is to release the first sequel around Christmas 2014 and the second around Christmas 2015.

"The timing seems to work out well in terms of the sequels," Cameron said. "Really, what we need to resolve is how much of the elements of the second and third films are incorporated into the Avatar land."

Although it prefers to use its own characters and franchises, Disney has licensed third-party content before for use in its theme parks. The company has deals for "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones" and "American Idol," among other properties. But Disney's use of those properties have generally been limited to standalone attractions or, in the case of Star Wars, an attraction plus a relatively contained surrounding area.

Disney's plans for Avatar appear far more ambitious. Staggs said the project would be similar in scope to "Carsland," a 12-acre themed area based on the Pixar animated films "Cars" and "Cars 2." When Carsland opens next year in Disney California Adventure, it will include multiple attractions, stores and restaurants.

It's an approach that has been phenomenally successful for Universal and "Harry Potter," which it licenses from author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment. In addition to themed attractions, Wizarding World, which opened in June 2010, includes shops and eateries peddling fare from the Potter universe, from magic wands to mugs of butter beer.

Sales of food and merchandise in Universal's theme parks were up 90 percent during the first half of 2011 to $171 million. Attendance at the two-park resort soared 52 percent.

Staggs said it is possible that Disney's Avatar land will include food and merchandise based on items found in films, though he said the project is still in very early design phase.

Although Avatar is a science-fiction movie, the film is set on a lush, Earth-like planet with its own flora and fauna. Staggs said that made it a natural thematic fit with Animal Kingdom, which designers always envisioned as including mythical animals in addition to living and extinct ones.

"We just felt like Avatar was the perfect and most amazing mythical world we could think about exploring," Staggs said.

jrgarcia@tribune.com or 407-420-5414

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-world-avatar-attraction-20110920,0,6919277.story

Party like a Pirate

Disney's family.com has some great ideas to have a Pirate Party!

How to Talk Like a Pirate
By Liz Smith

Any pirate worth his salt needs to be able to talk the talk. To instantly become "pirate-like," just add "arrr!" at the end of your sentence -- it's the one thing EVERY pirate says. Here are 10 more words any scoundrel-in-training must master:

AVAST: A nautical term meaning "What's up?" or "What are you doing?"
Example: "Avast, me matey?"

PIECE OF EIGHT: Spanish silver coin, often cut into pieces to make change.
Example: "We be searching the high seas for Long John Silver's lost Pieces of Eight."

WALK THE PLANK: A dire punishment in which one must walk off a wooden board on the side of a ship and fall into the ocean.
Example: "The scurvy scoundrel stole me favorite pirate hat; I'm going to make him walk the plank!"

DOUBLOON: A gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks' pay for an average sailor.
Example: "I'll be saving my doubloons to buy me own pirate ship. Arrr!"

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!: An expression of surprise or fear.
Example: "Shiver me timbers! I just saw a ghost ship!"

SEA DOG: Experienced sailor.
Example: "Blackbeard is one famous sea dog."

JOLLY ROGER: The pirate flag with its skull and crossbones.
Example: "After looting the island, we left our Jolly Roger behind, flying high in the sky."

SCALLYWAG: Bad person.
Example: "Although Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, his fellow pirates thought he was quite a scallywag."

SEA ROVER: Pirate ship.
Example: "Look! On the horizon, there be a dozen sea rovers heading this way!"

ME HEARTY: My friend.
Example: "Ahoy, me hearty, will ye be helping me look for buried treasure?"

http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-209483-how-to-talk-like-a-pirate-t/?cmp=SYN-DIS_DMR_article_209483_HowToTalkLikeAPirate_Fcom_wdshe
http://family.go.com/disney/disney-pirates-crafts-recipes-photo-gallery-pg/?cmp=SYN-DIS_DMR_DisneyPiratesPhotoGallery_Fcom_wdsheDIS_DMR_DisneyPiratesPhotoGallery_Fcom_wdshe

Throw a Pirates of the Caribbean Party
By Cindy Littlefield
Fun Pirate Party Ideas for Kids

Jack Sparrow fans around the globe will be on board for this high seas shindig. Upon arrival, all the guests are fitted with eyepatches before teaming up to search for treasure hidden in a box that bears a remarkable resemblance to Davy Jones' Dead Man's Chest. There's a roster of seaworthy challenges, too, so eager buccaneers can prove they're worth their salt.

The Cake
Jack's Pirate Skull Cake: Modeled after Jack Sparrow's Jolly Roger, this sheet cake pays tribute to the most beloved pirate to sail the Caribbean. There's a printable template for the skull and crossbones, which are simply cut out of marshmallow fondant and set atop black buttercream frosting.

Make a Pirate Skull Cake

Pirate Party Decorations
A few props, such as seashells and fish netting, will lend a touch of the Caribbean apropos to your pirate party setting. For the table, choose appropriate pirate colors: black or red tablecloth and paper plates and cups, and bone white napkins. You can even pick up a package of "gold" coins at a dollar store and place a little stack of them beside each place setting.

Pirate Party Crafts
Pirate's Eyepatch: These distinctive cover-ups are a cinch to craft out of black foam and sewing elastic. Before the party, make a patch for each "pirate" on the guest list and they'll be ready to custom fit when everyone arrives.


Make Pirate's Eyepatches

Pirate's Treasure Chest:

This decorative box is perfect to stash party favors, gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins, or other pirate-themed trinkets in. Then you can use it as a prop for the Pirate Loot Treasure Hunt described below.


Make Pirate's Treasure Chests


More Pirate Party Activities
Pirate Loot Treasure Hunt:

The aim of this group search is to follow a set of clues that lead to a pirate chest filled with party favors. To set up the hunt, you have to work backwards, first picking the perfect place to hide the chest. Write a clue to that location and hide it in another spot. Then write a second clue, this time to the spot where you hid the previous clue. Hide the second clue and write a third clue to the location of the second clue and so on until you have clues hidden in a half dozen spots. To start the treasure hunt, gather the group and give them a clue to where the sixth clue (the clue you hid last) is located, and let the fun begin.

Capture the Pirate Flag:

This spinoff of the classic game of Capture the Flag uses two distinctive Jolly Roger flags (you can buy one of these for as little as $2.95 online, or even make your own). Or, if you'd rather, you can use different colored bandanas. Players who are tagged become members of the opposing pirate crew.

Walk the Plank Relay:

For this timed relay, you'll need to set up a plank. You can use a real piece of wood, such as a 2-by-4, or you can set strips of cardboard end to end to create a faux board. Another option is to cut a long strip from a roll of burlap. At the far end of the plank, set a bowl filled with gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins on a small table or chair. Set an empty bowl beside the starting end of the plank. Divide the guests into 2 teams and have the first team line up at the start. On cue, the first player walks the plank as quickly as possible, takes a coin out of the bowl, brings it back and deposits it in the empty bowl, and then tags the next player in line, who starts his or her turn. The game continues in this way until all the coins have been moved. Then, the second team is up. The team that completes the relay in the lesser time wins.

Sept. 15, 1996 - Ellen’s Energy Adventure opens at Epcot

In a playful update to the signature attraction at the Universe of Energy pavilion, Ellen DeGeneres welcomes Guests into her nightmare: a “Jeopardy!” match where the clues are solely about energy - something she knows nothing about -against Albert Einstein and her genius college roommate, Judy (Jamie Lee Curtis).

Fortunately, neighbor Bill Nye (of “Bill Nye, the Science Guy”) jumps in to teach her everything she needs to know. As Guests follow Bill and Ellen in moving theater cars, they travel back in time to the beginning of the universe, through the world of dinosaurs and back to the present, where humans confront the energy challenges looming in the future. Returning to her nightmare, Ellen mounts an impressive comeback, but the outcome hinges on Alex Trebek’s final Jeopardy clue: What is the one source of power that will never run out? Think hard - although the theater cars are partially powered by the 80,000 photovoltaic solar cells mounted atop the pavilion, it’s not the sun.

General Information:
Location: Epcot Theme Park
Universe of Energy Pavilion
Height Requirement: Any Height
Category: Fun for Everyone
Mild but Wild Rides
Indoor

Fun Facts
Michael Richards from "Seinfeld" plays a caveman in Ellen's Energy Adventure

During the transition from Theatre II to Theatre I, Johnny Gilbert, the Jeopardy! announcer, first announces that "If you'd like to have your own energy nightmare, place a self-addressed stamped envelope under your pillow, or, check us out on the web at www.energynightmare.game." (a fictional website) Then, in traditional game show style, he mentions that as a consolation prize, “Some contestants on Jeopardy! will receive a year's supply of energy. Energy, You Make The World Go ‘Round." This line is actually a tribute to the original attraction, whose pre-show film featured a song titled, "Energy (You Make The World Go ‘Round)."

Hidden Mickey
There is one Hidden Mickey towards the beginning of the Theatre II film; it is only on-screen for 3 seconds.

Handicapped accessibility: Guest remains in wheelchairs (up to 6 wheelchairs are ramped onto ride vehicles), guests in EVCs (with joystick) may also remain in chair, guests in motorized scooters must transfer to a traditional wheelchair

How were stern characters chosen for Disney Cruise Line’s Fantasy?

A Mom and The Mouse, Kristin Ford — posted by kristin ford on September, 14 2011



Disney Cruise Line recently celebrated the milestone of placing the final building block on the Disney Fantasy, and now officials have revealed which character sculptures will be seen on the stern.

It’s Dumbo holding a bucket of paint in this trunk and Timothy perched on his hat holding a paintbrush. With so many characters to choose from, why were the flying elephant and his tiny friend chosen?

“We discussed a whole variety of characters and story ideas during many brainstorming sessions,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Diego Parras. “Ultimately, the idea of Dumbo and Timothy kept surfacing to the top, and we kept asking ourselves, what’s more ‘Fantasy’ than a flying elephant? Or the friendship of an elephant and a mouse? We immediately knew they would be the perfect match for the Disney Fantasy.”

Imagineers chose Goofy for the stern of the Disney Magic, Donald Duck and his nephews for the Disney Wonder and Sorcerer Mickey for the Disney Dream.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/disney-a-mom-and-the-mouse/2011/09/how-were-stern-characters-chosen-for-disney-cruise-lines-fantasy/

Aulani Videos

Auntie's Beach House
Many Ways to Get Wet at Aulani


Behind the Scenes at Aulani

RVing to Disney

With high airfares and baggage costs, many people choose to drive to their Disney vacation. Several years ago we purchased a RV and use this to make the 20 hour drive more enjoyable - and still the cost of gas is less than air for our family and we have all the comforts of home on the move.

There are some tricks to using a RV as your transportation. One tip I can tell you is about parking at the port for cruises. We have found the best deal is to stay at a hotel with a shuttle to the ship. The port charges more for the RV and the hotels do not so that makes the parking by far the best deal, plus you get a chance to have a nice shower and bed before your cruise! Our favorite is the Radisson at the Cape.

Another tip that is not known by many is for dumping your RV when you get to Disney World. You can do this at Fort Wilderness Campground, even if you are not staying in your RV there, as long as you are staying on the Disney property. We use the RV for transportation and stay at a resort during our Disney vacation portion. Just pull in to Fort Wilderness Campground after checking in to your resort and they will let you use their facilities. You will need a room key and photo ID.

I would love to hear if anyone else has some good tips for driving an RV to Disney! Please feel free to comment!

Top 5 Free Or Low-Cost Epcot Food & Wine Festival Activities

Annual Walt Disney World Festival
Starts Sept. 30
AJ Wolfe, The Disney Food Blog

The following is a guest post from the Disney Food Blog's AJ Wolfe as part of WESH's extended coverage of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World.

The 2011 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is coming up quickly! Only a couple of weeks left until the official Sept. 30 start date, and we're here to make sure you're prepared to enjoy yourself!

The festival runs for 45 days and includes highlights for any food lover. Celebrity chefs, nationally-known personalities, historic wineries, regional dishes, and trendy subjects like mixology and chocolate will all be a part of this year's festival -- and that's just the beginning!

But don't let that fool you. Just because this is the largest Food and Wine Festival in the country doesn't mean that it's too expensive to enjoy. One of my favorite parts of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival each year is the fact that there are several events, seminars, and activities that fit into any budget! That's right -- you won't have to break the bank to take part in some extraordinary Food & Wine Festival opportunities. (However, note that you will have to pay Epcot admission to participate in these activities.) Here are my top five low-cost -- and even free -- opportunities at the festival this year.

Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars And Mixology Seminars

Ranging in price from $10-14, these 45-minute seminars offer the chance to hear (and see!) the experts.

Culinary Demonstrations -- Here, about 100 guests will be seated in front of a show kitchen where successful chefs will create a dish for all to see. The best part? The guests get to sample the dish while it's being created on stage! The dish will be paired with a wine or beer, which guests also get to sample.

Note that quite often a meet-and-greet will be held with the chef after the seminar; this could be a great way to get a photo and autograph from your favorite Food Network chef!

Culinary Demonstrations are held daily during the festival at 1, 3 and 5 p. m.

Beverage Seminars -- Here, guests will hear an expert discuss the individual qualities and attributes of wine and beer samples. Usually the expert is a representative from the winery or brewery represented in the seminar. It's customary for guests to sample three or more types of wine or beer at these events. And if you find a wine you like, be sure to purchase a bottle at The Cellar in the Festival Center -- have it signed by the vintner after the seminar!

Beverage Seminars are held daily at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

Mixology Seminars -- Mixology Seminars are new this year, but promise to be the beginning of some very interesting happy hours! In these events, mixology experts will show new ways to experiment with spirits. Of course, guests will have the chance to taste the outcome!

Mixology Seminars are held daily at 6 p.m.

Guests can book tickets online here, or call 407-WDW-FEST to book. Note that Disney World Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Tables in Wonderland members can all receive a discount on demonstrations and seminars taking place Monday through Thursday during the festival. These groups must call the 407-WDW-FEST to book the discounted rate.

Events with celebrity chefs like Food Network's Robert Irvine and Cake Boss Buddy Valastro are already selling out, so get your tickets soon!

International Marketplace Booths

What most people think of when considering the Epcot Food and Wine Festival are the dozens of regionally-themed booths set up around the World Showcase Lagoon. This year, 30 booths will be selling food from all different regions and countries, including three new additions -- Hawai'i, the Caribbean Islands, and Portugal!

Booths sell a variety of tapas and sample-sized menu items from classic regional dishes to brand new wines never before sold in The United States! Menu items range from $3-8, though drink samples could be more expensive when larger sizes are offered. Many of the items will be available for purchase with a Disney Dining Plan snack credit, and guests can use Disney Gift Cards to purchase items at the booths. Booths are open for business from 11am through Park Closing every day during the festival.

This year, be sure to check out the new Portugal wine bar and stop by the returning Scandinavia booth. Long-time favorites at the festival include booths representing Canada, Germany, Ireland, and Mexico -- be sure to stop by the festival early in the day to avoid the long lines that form in the evening and on the weekends!

Eat To The Beat Concert Series

Every year, Epcot brings some of my favorite bands from the 70s, 80s, and 90s to play the nightly Eat to the Beat Concert Series -- free events (with Epcot admission) held in the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure pavilion.

This year, new additions include the Gin Blossoms, the Pointer Sisters and The Orchestra, starring former members of ELO. Favorites like Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, Taylor Dayne, Howard Jones and Richard Marx will be returning.

Concerts are held three times nightly -- 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. -- and the set list is different each time! Even if you don't want to wait in line to get a seat, the concerts are held in an amphitheater, which means you'll be able to listen even if you're just walking by on your way to the next International Marketplace Booth!

Festival Passport

In 2010, Disney World introduced the Festival Passport as part of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival -- and what a fun introduction!

This little booklet can be procured for free at the Festival Center, and offers a list of every dish on the menus at the International Marketplace Booths around the World Showcase. For every dish you purchase, get a stamp in your passport representing the booth's country or region. This is a very fun activity for kids as they collect stamps from all different countries (and sample new foods!), and for adults as they compete with one another to collect the most stamps!


Festival Center Events, Including HGTV Home Entertaining Seminars

The Festival Center -- set up in the old Wonders of Life pavilion in Epcot's Future World -- will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day and serves as the hub for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. This will be the location for many of the culinary, beverage and mixology seminars, and also houses several other low-cost and free events and activities for guests!

The schedule here will be different each day, but here are just a few of the free (with Epcot admission) opportunities available:

HGTV Home Entertaining Seminars -- Your favorite HGTV hosts will be at the festival for the first time this year! Join them Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. for tips on the ultimate entertainment room, holiday table setting, herb and vegetable gardening and kitchen designs. These seminars are free with Epcot admission, and they're first-come, first-served when it comes to seating. If you can't wait to see Vern Yip, Lisa LaPorta, Emily Henderson, or one of four more HGTV hosts, be sure to attend!

Meet and Greets -- Excited to meet your favorite celebrity chef? Photo and autograph sessions happen multiple times per day in the Festival Center. Be sure to check the daily schedule at the Center to find out who you could meet that day. (Tip: Usually chefs will do a meet-and-greet after they've done a seminar at the Festival Center, so check out the seminar schedule for details.) Get there early for popular chefs; lines can be long.

Authors Without Borders -- Some of your favorite culinary authors will be attending the festival, and these 30-minute sessions offer guests the chance to hear them speak about their latest work! Meet-and-greets and autograph sessions are often held after these events. Once again, check the daily schedule for details and times once you arrive at the festival.

Authentic Taste Seminars -- If you'd like to attend a culinary seminar but don't want to shell out the cash, these free (with Epcot admission) events are held often at the Festival Center. In these seminars, experts in the field celebrate the origins, properties, and history of pure ingredients. While you can often find a spot in these seminars at the last minute, popular topics like chocolate do increase your chances of standing in line to get in.

Clearly there's plenty to do without breaking the bank at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival this year. But that's not all that's available! The Disney Food Blog offers extensive coverage of the special events, seminars, demonstrations, booths, and activities scheduled for the Festival in our online Epcot Food and Wine Festival pages. Come check out all of the fun opportunities you'll have to enjoy 45 festival days this Fall! We'll see you there!

AJ Wolfe is the owner and executive editor of The Disney Food Blog, a website covering all things food and drink in Walt Disney theme parks and resorts. The Disney Food Blog is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.


Read more: http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/29158131/detail.html#ixzz1XmwwegY0

E-book guides visitors through Epcot food & wine festival

A Mom and The Mouse, Kristin Ford — posted by kristin ford in the Orlando Sentinel's Daily Disney

Just in time for this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, the author of DisneyFoodBlog.com and The Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, has created a guide to help navigate the popular event.

Like her other projects, AJ Wolfe’s new e-book is thorough. She, of course, explains the many components of the festival, such as seminars, celebrity chef meet-and-greets, signature tastings and concerts. It’s all valuable information laid out in an easy-to-find and easy-to-read format.

But the sections that most interest me are the touring plans and “crawls.” Wolfe offers various strategies for guests with different interests in mind, including those with only a day or two to visit and veterans who only want to see the new stuff.

I especially like the “With the Kids Strategy” in The Disney Food Blog Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Wolfe offers ideas to engage the kids throughout the park so that the family is moving around World Showcase, allowing parents to sample much of the food.

In the “crawls” section, Wolfe describes must-see stops for lovers of beer, seafood, desserts. There also are more varied plans, such as the “Continent Crawl” and the “Food & Wine Classics Crawl.”

To buy the 125-page food & wine guide, go to http://dfbminiguides.com/foodandwine. The price is $13.95, but readers can use code CHEF to get $2 off, and the purchase includes five downloads. There is a money-back guarantee if a reader is unhappy for any reason.

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs Sept. 30 to Nov. 13.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/

Downtown Disney's Restaurants plan fall food festival

With Epcot International Food & Wine Festival running from Sept. 30 to Nov. 13, the Levy restaurants in Downtown Disney have organized their own fall food festival.

Fulton's Crab House

Culinary demonstration: 1 p.m. Oct. 6 demonstration on how to prepare pan-seared wild Alaska king salmon: $11

Signature dinner: 7 p.m. Nov. 2 with chef Ron Cope; $150 per person.


Portobello

Culinary demonstrations: 1 p.m. Oct. 7 with chef Steven Richard preparing his one of a kind biramisu dessert, $11; and 1 p.m. Oct. 20 with James Beard Foundation award-winning chef Tony Montuano preparing insalatina di cappensante dorate, $13

Signature dinner: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the restaurant's waterside trattoria with chefs Steven Richard and Tony Montuano; $150 per person.

Wolfgang Puck Café

Culinary demonstration: 5 p.m. Oct. 19 with chef Chris Albano will be preparing a pumpkin ravioli dish; $11

Signature dinner: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12; $135 per person.

For more information or to place a signature dinner reservation, call 407-939-3463.

Morocco Pavilion opens at Epcot September 7, 1984

The Morocco Pavilion is part of the World Showcase within Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort. It was the first expansion pavilion to be added to World Showcase, opening on September 7, 1984.

Layout
The Moroccan Pavilion, designed to look like a Moroccan city with a realistic Minaret, features the only pavilion in which the country's government aided in the design. Guests to the pavilion gain insight on the lifestyle and culture of the Moroccan people through the Gallery of Arts and History. The Fes House shows guests the typical Moroccan house. Inside the pavilion, North African plants including citrus trees, date palms, and olive trees, and fountains. The courtyard plays hosts to entertainment, including a belly dancing show in the evening. Restaurant Marrakesh, along with the Tangierine Cafe, serve Moroccan fare, including roast lamb in Tajine, Couscous, and Harira soup. Six shops adorn the pavilion, selling patrons everything from rugs to leather goods, and traditional Moroccan clothing.

Some of the major defining structures of the pavilion include Chellah, a replication of the necropolis in Rabat, and the Koutoubia, a replica of the minaret of the same name in Marrakesh. A replica of Bab Boujeloud, the gateway to the Fez medina leads you to a Bazaar area.

King Hassan II actually sent Moroccan artisans to design and create the many mosaics. Due to Islamic religious beliefs on the content of art, the mosaics contain no representations of people. The government also sponsors the pavilion, while a corporation holds sponsoring rights on every other pavilion.

The Tower of Terror in Disney's Hollywood Studios is seen at an angle from the Morrocan pavilion, and the top of the Tower is designed so it blends in with the Morrocan architecture.

Attractions and Services
Dining
Restaurant Marrakesh - Serves various types of Moroccan cuisine including: Harira soup, Pastilla Appetizers, couscous, various lamb dishes, and shisk kabob.

Tangerine Cafe - Serves hummus, various salads, rotisserie chicken, Baklava along with beverages including coffee, mint tea, slushies, beer, and carbonated beverages

ShoppingTangier Trades - Sells jewelry, Moroccan clothing and shoes, mirrors made from camel bones, and daggers

Brass Baazar - Mosaic fountains and brass and silver plates and mirrors

Outdoor Baazar - extension of the Brass Baazar. Items include decorative ceramic tiles and vases, Moroccan instruments, and handmade baskets.

Medina Arts - More ceramics.

Casablanca Carpets - Offers Moroccan-made rugs, lanterns, and sconces.

Souk-Al-Magreb - Sells belly dancing how-to's, couscous and the cooking utensils to make couscous, fez hats, and rose water

Entertainment

Mo'Rockin - Rock and roll music set to Arabian rhythms

Meet Disney Characters from the filmsAladdin, Princess Jasmine & Genie.

What’s new, different at 2011 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

A Mom and The Mouse, Kristin Ford — posted by kristin ford on August, 30 2011 10:41 AM Orlando Sentinel

The first Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom is just two weeks away, and repeat visitors will notice a few changes. Most are the result of Mickey’s Toontown Fair closing for the Fantasyland expansion construction, a Walt Disney World spokesperson said.

Alice & Mad Hatter’s Treat Trail, which started in Toontown and ended by Space Mountain in Tomorrowland, has been re-imagined as Br’er Rabbit’s Candy Patch and will be near Splash Mountain in Frontierland.

As is tradition, popular Disney characters will appear in their Halloween costumes for meet-and-greets. This year, the main site will be in the Town Square Theater, which is where Mickey and Minnie relocated when their houses were removed from Toontown earlier this year. The Disney Princesses will be in the theater as well, and Duffy the Disney Bear and Winnie the Pooh and friends will be outside by the flagpole. Their rarely seen counterparts can be found throughout the Magic Kingdom, including Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs, who also have moved into Frontierland.

The face-painting station in Toontown, which was free during the Halloween party, has closed. Guests who are interested in costuming and makeovers can visit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Cinderella Castle and A Pirate’s League in Adventureland, where packages start at $49.95 for princesses and $29.95 for pirates. Reservations should be made in advance at 407-WDW-STYLE. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique stays open until 8 p.m. on party nights.

Finally, Disney’s Villains Mix & Mingle has a few new “tweaks and shrieks,” I’m told. In the stage show, Facilier has his own song, another song has been imported from a Tokyo Disneyland parade, and the dancers have new costumes.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight Sept. 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30; Oct. 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31; and Nov. 1. The party requires a separate ticket for admission, and prices vary depending on date. For a breakdown, see the chart here (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/special-events/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/).

Disney Cruise Line Videos

What will their story be? A real-life adventure with pirates (and princesses) in the Caribbean? A delightful romance where a mother and father rediscover the spark that brought them together? Or laugh-filled moments their family will retell for years to come?

You can live these stories and more on an enchanting voyage with magic for everyone of every age. Click on the videos below and enjoy!

Revamped Enchanted Tiki Room reopens at Magic Kingdom

By Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

The birds are singing again at Walt Disney World. The Magic Kingdom's incarnation of the Enchanted Tiki Room officially reopened at the theme park on Monday. The attraction — now dubbed "Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room" — had been closed since a fire damaged the building and some winged animatronics in January.

The previous show, which touted "new management" and featured Disney characters Iago ("Aladdin") and Zazu ("The Lion King"), has been abandoned in favor of a retro approach.

"This is really a tribute show … to the original Tiki Room show that Walt Disney did in 1963 and which opened here in the Magic Kingdom as the Tropical Serenade in 1971," Imagineer Eric Jacobson said in a video on the Disney Parks Blog.

Disneyland's Tiki Room is considered to be the first creation that Walt Disney fashioned with full-blown animatronics.

The new/old Magic Kingdom version sports new show programming, lighting, remastered audio and a centerpiece with a smoke effect.