Behind the Scenes: Imagineers Use Digital Technology to Create Art for New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park

posted on November 1st, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid is one of several attractions currently under construction in the New Fantasyland expansion of Magic Kingdom Park. This is a very exciting time as various elements are currently being installed in the attraction. Walt Disney Imagineers are currently putting the finishing touches on a sweeping seaside mural that will welcome guests to the load-in area of this attraction. This video, provided by WDI, shows how Imagineers created an experimental process using digital technology to design the mural, and then used portable tablets to guide them in the artistic process when it came time to put paint on canvas. How do you think it turned out?

Mickey Tests Some Magic Words at Walt Disney World

posted on October 31st, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Guests visiting Magic Kingdom Park tonight are in for a real Halloween treat. For the first time in the park’s history, Mickey will be talking with guests and testing some new tricks backstage at Town Square Theater.

Because tonight’s test is open to a very limited number of guests – Mickey and his pals at Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, and Walt Disney Imagineering helped us create this video to share with all of you.

Sweepstakes winner to sail on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship before maiden voyage

A Mom and The Mouse, Kristin Ford — posted by kristin ford on October, 27 2011 10:16 AM

Want to be one of the first onboard Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Fantasy? HGTV’s Sailing in Grand Style Sweepstakes is giving one lucky winner a trip on a preview cruise, departing March 26. The grand prize is a three-night cruise for four people in a deluxe oceanview stateroom with verandah, including all meals (excluding Palo and Remy), tips, taxes, fees and transportation to Port Canaveral. Airfare to and from Orlando is also included if the winner lives outside a 200-mile radius of Orlando. To enter, you must be 21 years or older prior to Oct. 11 and a legal resident of the United States. One entry is allowed per person per day and can be found online here. The deadline to enter is Nov. 14. See official rules here. http://www.hgtv.com/sailing-in-grand-style-sweepstakes-rules/package/index.html The maiden voyage of the Disney Fantasy is March 31. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/disney-a-mom-and-the-mouse/2011/10/sweepstakes-winner-to-sail-on-disney-cruise-lines-newest-ship-before-maiden-voyage/ Note from Renee - And if you don't win a trip....I can help you plan one! The Fantasy looks incredible!

Magic Your Way Package Plus A Free Dining Plan Continues

Magic Your Way Package Plus A Free Dining Plan

Hungry for a great deal? Now through Dec. 17, 2011, buy a non-discounted Magic Your Way package for 4 nights and 5 days at select Disney Value Resorts and get a FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan. Or, buy a non-discounted Magic Your Way package for 4 nights and 5 days at select Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resorts and get a FREE Disney Dining Plan. Offer Details: This Vacation Package Includes: Accommodations Magic Your Way Base Ticket A Dining Plan Booking Window: Now – Dec. 17, 2011 Travel Window: Valid for arrivals most nights: Jan. 8-12, 2012 Jan. 21 – Feb. 2, 2012 Feb. 11-16, 2012 March 3-8, 2012 March 24-29, 2012

Walt Disney World to be Featured on ‘The Chew’

Walt Disney World to be Featured on ‘The Chew’ Oct. 26 posted on October 25th, 2011 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager
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The Walt Disney World Resort will be featured on ABC’s “The Chew” tomorrow at 1 p.m. EST.

Chef Mickey recently visited the set of this new ABC daytime show to award an audience member with a trip to Walt Disney World for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. A clip featuring the Hazelton family’s Disney vacation will be featured on tomorrow’s show. Be sure to check your local listings.

When is the last time you called a pay phone in the U.K.?

For those of you who miss the days of pay phones and conversations before caller ID, there are three phone booths outside the restrooms at the UK at EPCOT that you can call. Center is a standard pay phone but right and left are the red British style phone booths. People take pictures in them. It is fun to to call the people while they are in them and engage in fun conversations - or call your friend/family at EPCOT!





Here are the numbers:
U.K. Phone Booths
•Right Booth: 407 827-9861
•Left Booth: 407 827-9862
•Center Booth: 407 827-9863

Canada Phone Booth
•407-827-9884

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is released on October 22, 1993

The Nightmare Before Christmas, often promoted as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, is a 1993 American stop motion musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to "Christmas Town". Danny Elfman wrote the film score and provided the singing voice of Jack, as well as other minor characters. The remaining principal voice cast includes Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page and Glenn Shadix.

The genesis of The Nightmare Before Christmas started with a poem written by Tim Burton when he was a Disney animator in the early 1980s. With the success of Vincent in 1982, Disney started to consider The Nightmare Before Christmas as either a short subject or 30-minute television special. Over the years, Burton's thoughts regularly returned to the project, and in 1990, Burton and Disney made a development deal. Production started in July 1991 in San Francisco. Walt Disney Pictures decided to release the film under their Touchstone Pictures banner because the tone was rather dark for children. The Nightmare Before Christmas was met with critical and financial success. Disney has reissued the film annually under their Disney Digital 3-D format since 2006.

Disneyland celebrates this movie during the holiday season with the influence of Jack Skellington:

Haunted Mansion Holiday (09/16/2011 - January 2012)

Join ‘Jack Skellington’ and his friends for look at what happens when Halloween and Christmas collide in this spectacular transformation of ‘The Haunted Mansion’. The mansion has been taken over by the characters from Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ in this annual Disneyland tradition. “Sandy Claws,” a.k.a. Jack Skellington himself welcomes guests to enter. Once inside, you will discover the mansion decorated for a “Scary Christmas and fun for the entire family.