Disney's Blizzard Beach

With so many of us dealing with snow and cold weather, I thought this might be a fun twist!

Blizzard Beach Attractions

Disney legend has it that after a freak winter storm blanketed the area with snow, Florida's first ski resort was born. When temperatures returned to normal, the powdery snow turned to slippery slush. Slalom courses, bobsled and toboggan runs became downhill waterslides. The chair lift carried swimmers instead of skiers. The ski jump became the tallest, fastest waterslide in the nation.

You are invited to what has become Disney's Blizzard Beach, the most slushy, slippery, exhilarating beach water park anywhere!


Chairlift
Scale the slopes in a colorful, fanciful wooden chair lift with umbrellas and dangling skis. Hop aboard this one-way access to the top of Mount Gushmore for access to Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher, Teamboat Springs, Toboggan Racers and Snow Stormers.

Cross Country Creek
Kick back and "chill" in an inner tube on this gently meandering river that flows around the entire Park. Bask in the warmth of the sun. Use the Creek as a transportation system to effortlessly get from one area of the Park to the next or just ride along and watch the world drift slowly by.

Downhill Double Dipper
Shoot the tube and blast down the slopes at 25 miles per hour in these side-by-side speed slides. Hop on your inner tube and disappear into a tunnel before remerging seconds before your splashdown. These two parallel 230-foot-long racing slides are a slippery good time.
Height Requirement: 48" (122 cm) or taller

Melt Away Bay
Take a dip in the gently bobbing waters of this bay that is fed by the melting snow run-off from Mount Gushmore. The expansive one-acre pool is great for those who want to wade in and just get their feet wet or take an invigorating swim. Pounding waterfalls make a great retreat when you really need a refreshing plunge.

Runoff Rapids
Take your choice of three incredible inner tube rides that careen down the hill into a refreshing plunge pool. Each flume is different, so try all three! One is completely enclosed, while the others are open. All three twist and turn on tantalizing water-logged journeys down the banks of Mount Gushmore!

Ski Patrol Training Camp
Make a real splash at this training camp play area, designed especially for pre-teens. Swoosh down inner-tube slides, slide hanging from a T-bar, whisk down curvy slides and take a challenging ice-flow walk across floating icebergs.

Slush Gusher
Speed down the 90-foot tall Mount Gushmore in a slush-banked mountain gully. Two humps create brisk fun-filled ups and downs on your journey to the bottom of the mountain. Launch down the slopes in the shadow of Summit Plummet.
Height Requirement: 48" (122 cm) or taller

Snow Stormers
Speed down the slopes in switchback slalom-style racing slides. Bank through the curvy path marked by ski-type gates. Choose from one of three different downhill racing courses. Hop on your mat and compete with your friends. Meet in the plunge pool at the bottom of the course and hop out of the water to start all over again!

Summit Plummet
Look out below! Dare to take the vertical plunge from the top of the world's tallest and fastest free-fall body slide. At an exhilarating height of 120 feet, this sky-scraping ski jump of a thrill ride drops you down the slopes at a speed-limit-breaking 55 miles per hour for a 360-foot long trip back to the lower atmosphere.
Height Requirement: 48" (122 cm) or taller

Teamboat Springs
Bring the whole gang aboard one of the longest family raft rides in the country. Twelve hundred feet of white water and rushing waterfalls make the twisting, turning journey from the top of the mountain to the bottom a giggling, screaming adventure. Three- to six-passenger inner tubes ensure that the family that rafts together, laughs together!

Tike's Peak
Little kids are invited to have mountains of fun in this water play area. The youngest Blizzard Beach goers can slide, splash and swim while sunning in the "snow" in this spot reserved just for them. Gentle body slides, an inner tube slide, interactive fountains, pop jets and a wading pool ensure a chillin' good time.

Toboggan Racers
Race in one of eight side-by-side lanes that toboggan down the mountain. Hang on to your mat and head down the slopes. Exhilarating dips make your charge to the finish line an avalanche of fun.


http://www.disneytravelagents.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/Flash/WDW/Theme%20Parks%20and%20More/BlizzardBeach.html

Happy 10th Anniversary California Adventure!

Disney California Adventure, or simply California Adventure, is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001 as Disney's California Adventure Park. The park is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. On May 28, 2010, it was announced through the official Disney Parks Blog that Disney's California Adventure Park would be renamed to its current title, Disney California Adventure.
This 55-acre theme park was constructed as part of a major expansion that transformed the Disneyland area and its hotels into the Disneyland Resort and consists of five areas: Sunshine Plaza, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, The Golden State, A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier. Each area is meant to resemble various aspects of California, its culture, landmarks and history.

In 2009, the park attracted approximately 6.05 million guests, making it the 11th-most visited theme park in the world, its highest ever attendance total for a calendar year.

Many Disney characters can be found throughout the park, greeting visitors, interacting with children, and posing for photos. Some characters have specific areas where they are scheduled to appear, but can be found wandering as well.

There have been some wonderful new additions such as World of Color, which is a new nighttime show at Disney California Adventure that was designed by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment. This show has more than 1200 fountains and includes lasers, lights, and fire with high-definition projections on mist screens similar to the ones used in Fantasmic! at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The show is expected to change regularly and feature seasonal overlays for Halloween and Christmas, says show creator Steve Davison.

The Pixar Play Parade features floats and characters based on the Disney·Pixar films Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, and Cars.

"ElecTRONica" is an interactive nighttime dance party in Hollywood Pictures Backlot. It is considered a similar experience to Glow Fest, which was staged in the same area in summer 2010, but this party is themed to Disney's new film, Tron: Legacy. ElecTRONica features lights, music, projections, and more to promote the new film. Past performances from live DJs include: Giang Star (Fridays), Michael Paul (Saturdays), Adam Auburn (Sundays) and Josh Billings.

There are some exciting things planned for the future of California Adventure. The one I am most looking forward to is the new Cars Land that will contain three attractions and will span 12 acres (49,000 m2). The first, Radiator Springs Racers, will be an E ticket ride using the technology of Epcot's Test Track. It will be among the most expensive rides ever built at an estimated US$200 million. It will be a detailed dark ride that ends with an outdoor side-by-side dueling racing finale. The ride will begin with a race briefing from Lightning McQueen and end at the Wheel Well Motel from the movie. Some elements said to be featured as road details in the attraction are switchbacks, tunnels, bridges, waterfalls and banked turns.

The other two attractions are going to be smaller family attractions with smaller height requirements featuring Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, a tea-cup like attraction, and Luigi's Roamin' Tires, which looks like the 1960s Tomorrowland "Flying Saucers" ride. Cars Land will also feature a life-size model of Radiator Springs and several dining and shopping venues.

It will take the place of the existing Timon parking lot behind the Tower of Terror and is supposed to open in 2012, after the park celebrates its 10th anniversary. Cars Land will also serve as a connection between the Golden State and Hollywood Pictures Backlot lands, to eliminate the awkward dead end at the foot of the Tower of Terror attraction. Construction began in July 2009. The structural steel has been being laid out for months as they are building Radiator Springs Racers.

Star Wars Weekends

While Disney Imagineers continue to help create the newest Star Tours adventure at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, plenty of Jedi, Wookiees and droids (oh my!) are gearing up for Star Wars Weekends, the annual celebration of all-things-Star Wars at Walt Disney World Resort.

And today you can start making your plans to journey to a galaxy far, far away and step into the Star Wars saga, as we officially announce this year’s event dates for the first time. Star Wars Weekends 2011 will be held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 20-June 12.

The event features one of the galaxy’s largest gatherings of Star Wars characters all around the theme park, offering photo and autograph opportunities (I mean, c’mon – where else can you ask the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, for his autograph??? Just don’t ask him to smile for your photo). There are special Star Wars parades, trivia challenges, Jedi Training Academy, limited-edition merchandise and memorabilia, behind-the-scenes presentations, star conversations and more.

Star Wars celebrities make special appearances in talk shows and grand motorcades, and sign autographs throughout the weekend (here’s a tip: make sure you’re at the theme park first-thing in the morning to secure a spot in one of the celebrity autograph queues for that day).

We’ll announce a complete and more detailed Star Wars Weekends celebrity lineup soon, but we can tell you now about two fan-favorites returning for 2011.

Anthony Daniels, known worldwide for his portrayal of everyone’s favorite protocol droid, C-3PO, will return this year for Weekend 1 (May 20-22) and Weekend 2 (May 27-29). Trivia fact: C-3PO (or “See-Threepio” as many fans remember) is one of the few characters to appear in all seven Star Wars feature films.

Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano (pictured above), in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” will appear each weekend this year as Celebrity Host of a behind-the-scenes talk show entitled “Clone Wars: Behind the Force.” Ashley is no stranger to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Ashley, who grew up in central Florida, had one of her first show-business roles as a parade performer at the theme park.

Peter Pan released February 5, 1953

Peter Pan is the fourteenth full-length animated feature film in the Disney canon. It was the last Disney animated film to use the RKO Radio Pictures logo in 1953.

In Edwardian London, in the neighborhood of Bloomsbury, George and Mary Darling's preparations to attend a party are disrupted by the antics of the boys, John and Michael, acting out a story about Peter Pan and the pirates that was told to them by their older sister, Wendy. Their father angrily declares that Wendy has gotten too old to continue staying in the nursery with them, and it's time for her to grow up. That night they are visited in the nursery by Peter Pan himself, who teaches them to fly with the help of his pixie friend, Tinker Bell, and takes them with him to the island of Never Land.

A ship of pirates is anchored off Never Land, commanded by Captain Hook with his sidekick Mr. Smee. Hook boldly plots to take revenge upon Peter Pan for cutting off his hand, but he trembles when the crocodile that ate it arrives; it now stalks him hoping to taste more. The crew's restlessness is interrupted by the arrival of Peter and the Darlings. The children easily evade them, and despite a trick by jealous Tinker Bell to have Wendy killed, they meet up with the Lost Boys: six lads in animal-costume pajamas, who look to Peter as their leader. John and Michael set off with the Lost Boys to find the island's Indians, who instead capture them, believing them responsible for taking the chief's daughter Tiger Lily.

Meanwhile, Peter takes Wendy to see the mermaids, where they see that Hook and Smee have captured Tiger Lily, to coerce her into revealing Peter's hideout. Peter and Wendy free her, and Peter is honored by the tribe. Hook then plots to take advantage of Tinker Bell's jealousy of Wendy, tricking her into revealing the location of Peter's lair. The pirates lie in wait and capture the Lost Boys and the Darlings as they exit, leaving behind a time bomb to kill Peter. Tinker Bell learns of the plot just in time to snatch the bomb from Peter as it explodes.

Peter rescues Tinker Bell from the rubble and together they confront the pirates, releasing the children before they can be forced to walk the plank. Peter engages Hook in single combat as the children fight off the crew, and finally succeeds in humiliating the captain. Hook and his crew flee, with the crocodile in hot pursuit. Peter gallantly commandeers the deserted ship, and with the aid of Tinker Bell's pixie dust, flies it to London with the children aboard.

Mr. and Mrs. Darling return home from the party to find Wendy not in her bed, but sleeping at the open window; John and Michael are asleep in their beds. Wendy wakes and excitedly tells about their adventures. The parents look out the window and see what appears to be a pirate ship in the clouds. Mr. Darling, who has softened his position about Wendy staying in the nursery, recognizes it from his own childhood, as it breaks up into clouds itself.

Peter Pan’s Flight is a popular ride found at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee make appearances in the parades, as well as greetings throughout the theme parks.

Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and the Pirates are featured in a scene during Disneyland's version of "Fantasmic!"

On our cruise this past December, Peter Pan was a close and personal friend to my kids. He spent a good amount of time with them in the Oceaneer's Club playing pirate and crowing with my son into the lobby of the ship! Wendy has also been one of our favorites to cruise with leading my children in a game of 'Wendy Says' when she did not have people in her line! My son and Captin Hook were great fun to watch as he chased Hook everywhere laughing and yelling "Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock." Hook was a great sport and even gave AJ the 'I'm watching you' look from across the ship. Peter Pan will remain one of our favorite Disney movies and the characters have a special place in our heart! Thanks for the great memories!

Fairy Tale Suite Debuts at the Disneyland Hotel

Dream happily ever after in the new Fairy Tale Suite at the Disneyland® Hotel, a 750-square-foot getaway providing a Fantasyland®-like romantic retreat for couples on the top floor of the newly renovated Dreams Tower.

Upon entering the Fairy Tale Suite, Guests are welcomed by pixie dust and the appearance of Tinker Bell, who illuminates a crystal castle encased in the wall. A marble foyer descends into an enormous bedroom with a panoramic view of the Disneyland Resort through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Sage and champagne colors used throughout the suite elegantly blend the combination of blond and glass furniture. The suite’s centerpiece is a plush, royal-canopy bed, and the room’s finishing touches include elegant crown molding, automatic drapes and a custom-designed dresser from which a flat-panel television magically ascends at the touch of a button.

The focal point in the suite’s bathroom is a beautiful, hand-cut mosaic of a stylized Sleeping Beauty Castle. The mirror disguises a television, and the double-vanity countertop twinkles with dozens of shooting stars. Domes and Corinthian columns mix thematically with an abundance of modern amenities, including a steam shower and Jacuzzi tub featuring chromo-therapy.

The Fairy Tale Suite further expands the portfolio of signature suites at the Disneyland Hotel, which is undergoing a significant “re-imagination” project that includes remodeling guest rooms, building a new pool and water play area with monorail-inspired slides, renovating the existing pool, and opening a new restaurant and bar. Other one-of-a kind options now available include the Mickey Mouse Penthouse, Pirates of the Caribbean Suite and Big Thunder Suite.

Pirates IN the Caribbean Disney Magic

One of my favorite activities on our Disney cruises is the Pirates IN the Caribbean party. This event is a part of the Disney tradition that makes their cruises so special. I would encourage you to add to your packing list pirate attire! It is not required, but it does make for a fun evening!

Pirates IN the Caribbean
Ship: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder
This deck party celebrates what it means to be a pirate. The event begins with a pirate-themed dinner in one of the Main Dining restaurants. After dinner, venture to Decks 9 and 10 for a treasure trove of entertainment starring some of your favorite Disney Characters bedecked in pirate garb. As the fun hits full swing, skull-and-cross bone projections signal the arrival of Captain Hook, Mr. Smee and a gang of pirate baddies. But not to worry, you can be sure Mickey and friends save the day. Featuring a breathtaking finale, revel in a spectacular fireworks display*-the only one in the world that is offered by a cruise line.
*Fireworks are weather permitting and not offered during 2011 Alaskan cruises.

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Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean
Ship: Disney Dream
A family-friendly interactive show featuring the famous Disney characters. Guests become members of Mickey's Pirate Crew as they participate in a series of pirate-themed musical numbers. As a new addition to "Mickey's Pirates IN the Caribbean" celebration, the skies above the Disney Dream will explode with brilliant colors during "Buccaneer Blast!", the largest fireworks* extravaganza presented aboard a cruise ship. This pyrotechnic spectacular is choreographed to songs from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Peter Pan and the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the Disney theme parks.
*Fireworks are weather permitting.

Kids Sail Free On Select Disney Alaska Cruises

Knock Knock

(Who's There)

Juneau

(Juneau Who?)

Juneau it's a great time to plan your Disney Alaska Cruise?

Set a course for the last frontier! Book a Verandah or Oceanview stateroom and kids ages 17 and under, traveling with 2 full-fare Guests in the same stateroom, SAIL FREE* on select 7-night Alaskan cruises departing between May 3 to June 7, 2011. As part of the Alaska itinerary, guests will experience breathtaking scenery, an abundance of wildlife and the rich history and customs of Alaska’s native culture. Combined with unparalleled Disney quality and service, one-of-a-kind entertainment, immersive experiences plus favorite Disney Characters, it’s a vacation experience that every member of the family will feel was created especially for them.


7-Night Alaskan Cruise


Departing from Vancouver to visit

Juneau • Skagway • Ketchikan • Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic day at sea)

Plus, two fun-filled days at sea


Hurry! The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited.

Contact us today and ask for booking code KFO.


*Offer is only available to U.S. and Canada residents. Rates are in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Valid for stateroom categories 4A through 9D only. Government Taxes and Fees and Port Adventures not included. Certain restrictions may apply. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or onboard credits. See Disney Cruise Line® brochure for applicable Terms and Conditions.