Family Fantasy Cruise Sweepstakes

FamilyFun.com has a sweepstakes to win a trip on the new Disney Fantasy! This is a great site and I know I am eager to go on the Fantasy! Enter to win - and if you don't win give me a call and we can book your trip!

http://familyfun.go.com/sweepstakes/disney-cruise-line-sweepstakes/?int_cmp=ILC_Homepage_FamilyFantasyCruiseSweepstakes_160x153

Disney News

Magic Kingdom: Fantasyland opening will start with Storybook CircusBy Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

The first phase of Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland expansion to open will be Storybook Circus, which will be available to theme-park guests in "early 2012," according to "Mickey's Monitor," a quarterly mail-out for Walt Disney World annual passholders.
Storybook Circus, under construction essentially on the grounds once known as Mickey's Toontown Fair, will be based on Disney's 1941 animated feature "Dumbo," with big-top circus tents leading to the relocated Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride. Eventually, the Fantasyland addition will have side-by-side dueling versions of the Dumbo attraction, connected by a new interactive queue, but the "Monitor" says the second of the two rides will be added in "the near future."
Other elements listed for Storybook Circus are a new water-play area featuring Casey Jr., the locomotive featured in the film, and the Great Goofini, a roller coaster previously known as the Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre farm. It's being retooled with a daredevil theme.

This first area to open is near the Mad Tea Party attraction and the border with Tomorrowland, within earshot of the Tomorrowland Speedway cars. The Fantasyland expansion eventually will include a dark ride called Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid; an area devoted to "Beauty and the Beast" with Be Our Guest restaurant, Gaston's Tavern and other elements; and an additional coaster known as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. They are expected to open in phases over the next two years.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-fantasyland-first-phase-20111107,0,815207.story

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Is Play-Tested at Walt Disney World
posted by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Social Media Manager

Watch carefully over the coming days and you may see people casting spells in Adventureland. Walt Disney Imagineering has recruited Cast Members to test a new interactive experience: Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.

Early next year, Disney Guests become the heroes in this role-playing trading-card game as they try to defeat the Disney Villains who are working to take over the Magic Kingdom. Armed with magic spells in the form of special cards, players must search for the magic symbols that lead them to the animated villains’ hiding places. By casting different magical spell cards, these Sorcerers can do battle with Yzma, Kronk and other ne’er do wells hiding throughout the land. From fireballs to frantic frogs and cyclones, there are spells to bring down each and every villain, with a simple flick of the wrist.
The game will be included in park admission.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/11/sorcerers-of-the-magic-kingdom-is-play-tested-at-walt-disney-world/

Disney's Hollywood Studios - Jake and the Never Land Pirates

Jake from Jake and the Never Land Pirates, a popular Disney Junior show, will join Disney Junior Play ‘n Dine at Hollywood & Vine November 13, 2011 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Jake joins Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso and June from Little Einsteins for this character dining experience.

Guests will be able to get into the action by swabbing the deck, rowing the boat and shouting ‘yo ho’ to songs from the show including “Roll Up the Map,” “Hot Lava” and “Talk Like a Pirate.” Also beginning November 13, Jake will join the Stars of Disney Junior at their meet and greet location in the Animation Courtyard. Guests can also see Jake in Disney Junior – Live on Stage! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Be aware that in order to make way for Jake, the Little Einsteins will no longer be able to meet (and greet) guests in the Animation Courtyard.

Sweet video from Extreme Home Makeover with family at Aulani

Adventures by Disney® Excursions

Adventures by Disney®, the award-winning family travel provider, invites you to go on the ultimate Southern California adventure with "Lights…Camera…Magic!" During this daylong guided group excursion, you will be immersed in the magic of Disney and the history of Hollywood in unique, unexpected and unforgettable ways.

You will see where the Disney legacy began-the Walt Disney Studios. All around you, the story of The Walt Disney Company comes to life as you tour the historic Studio Lot, explore the fascinating Disney Archives, shop at the Studio Store and enjoy lunch at the Studio Commissary—experiences only Disney can offer.

You'll also go behind the scenes for a private visit to the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater or the Kodak Theater-home to the Academy Awards®—and explore fun and fascinating Hollywood Boulevard. Later, cruise down the legendary Sunset Strip to Beverly Hills, where you will stroll along world-famous Rodeo Drive. Then, it's off to Malibu for a reception—and a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean—at Gladstone's beachfront restaurant, a celebrity favorite.

Adult Price: $199
Child Price: $189 (ages 4-9)

Adventures By Disney® started out as an incredible vacation of a lifetime travel group with adventure trips across the globe. They have now started these mini adventures. This past year Adventures By Disney® added some exciting and popular excursions in Europe and Alaska along with Disney Cruise Line. Now they are adding this option for those who may not want the whole trip experience or find it out of their budget. Contact me and I can help you plan your adventure!

Historical Disney - the Skyway

November 9, 1994:
Disneyland closes the turnstiles at the end of this day on one of its oldest and most popular attractions, the Skyway - a gondola lift attraction. The Skyway, opened since 1956, is closed due to the enormous impending cost to retrofit it for earthquake safety.

November 9, 1999:

Exactly five years after the grounding of the Skyway at Disneyland, the Skyway at Florida's Magic Kingdom carries its last guest. It had been a popular attraction ever since Walt Disney World first opened in 1971.

The Skyway was a gondola lift attraction at Disneyland, at the Magic Kingdom, and at Tokyo Disneyland. Since all versions of this attraction took riders back and forth between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, the route from Tomorrowland was called Skyway to Fantasyland, and the route from Fantasyland was called Skyway to Tomorrowland.

November 8th at Disney World

Today Walt Disney World presents Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom for the first time this season.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a special event held each winter on select nights at Magic Kingdom theme park. Purchase of an additional event admission ticket is required to attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This festive celebration is filled with live entertainment, spectacular fireworks and an oh-so-jolly holiday parade.

Celebrate the magic of the season in the holiday wonderland of Magic Kingdom theme park. Gather with loved ones for a festive sight- and sound-filled special event that is sure to make you merry!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party features:

• The enchanted Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle
• Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, complete with a special appearance by Santa Claus himself
• An exclusive holiday fireworks extravaganza — Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season
• Live entertainment featuring Disney Characters
• Meet and greet opportunities throughout Magic Kingdom theme park with some of your favorite Disney Characters
• Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa
• A magical snow fall on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions

November 8, 2011 - December 18, 2011 on select nights

November 8, 1980 - Although running since September, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has an official opening in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. A mine train roller coaster located in Frontierland, it is the second one of its kind (as a Big Thunder Mountain first opened in Disneyland in 1979).

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a rollicking runaway train of a roller coaster that rushes through the gold-mining town of Tumbleweed in the Frontierland area at Magic Kingdom theme park.

A ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad provides mild but wild thrills to those aboard—from big kids and teens to adults not up for the really big thrills found on the other 2 Magic Kingdom "mountain" attractions: Space Mountain and Splash Mountain.

But this ain't no kiddie coaster either. Climb aboard, partners, and you'll be warned to "hang onto your hats and glasses 'cause this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness."

Listen to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad wheels chug-chug, then ratchet and race across seemingly rickety tracks. Swoop around sweeping turns and tear up rolling hills that dip or drop into canyons and caverns, slip under a booming waterfall or swish through the ribs of a dinosaur skeleton.

The steam whistle blows-another curve is coming up Better hold on!

And keep your eyes open, there are spectacular sights through the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad gold-mining camp and cactus-scattered desertscape. Be on a lookout for critters. A bleating billy goat guards a mountain peak. A family of opossums hangs overhead at the entrance to a cave. Bats, chickens and donkeys complete the Old Western-themed scenes.

Thar's Gold in the Big Thunder Mine!

Or there once was, so goes the legend. Gold hounds made a mad rush to the 2.5-acre Big Thunder Mountain and settled in the town of Tumbleweed. Everything was fine as cream gravy until a flash flood washed over the mountain and ruined any chances of mining more gold. But this didn't dampen anyone's spirits.

Dismissing the fact the Tumbleweed saloon's in danger of sinking, the townsfolk gather in their favorite watering hole to cash in their current riches for a raucously good time before heading for drier digs.

Wait, not everyone's here. Have you seen Cousin Ed? There he goes! Clad in his longjohns, he's caught up in the flood and is spinning through the waters while sitting in his bathtub. Doesn't he look surprised!

The other big surprise for the town is that the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad trains that transported the gold ore from mining sites to the town have developed a mind of their own and they're running loose on the tracks—climb aboard!

For some added fun, take a ride in the daylight, then again under the night sky. You might catch something you didn't see or hear with each trip you take on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Guest Policies

• Due to the nature of the experience, service animals are not permitted on this attraction.
• Guests with young children may take turns experiencing attractions. See a Cast Member for additional information.
• For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure.
• Expectant mothers should not ride.
• Guests must transfer from their wheelchair, motorized scooter or ECV to board the ride vehicle.
• Supervise children at all times. Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

Location: Magic Kingdom Theme Park, Frontierland
Height Requirement: 40 inches (102cm) or taller
Category: Thrill Rides, Mild but Wild Rides

• FASTPASS Service
• Rider Swap
• Pal Mickey
• Wheelchair Accessible