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Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee! comes to the Magic Kingdom for 10 weeks only

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:00:53 +0000

I’m on a countdown now to our December trip and looking out for entertainment and attractions that we haven’t experienced before -- and the Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee! caught my eye.

This swinging musical show is will treat selected theme park guests at the Magic Kingdom to a revue of song and dance to celebrate the upcoming Disney animated feature, The Princess and The Frog.

The show will take place about the Liberty Belle riverboat three times a day from October 26 through January 3, 2010. The Liberty Belle will pull away from the Liberty Square dock carrying 22 dancers, a six-piece jazz band and 30 specially selected park guests!

Guests still ashore will be treated to a display of waving hankies fro those aboard. Sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate the release of the new movie.

Oh and the luck guests will also have a meet and greet with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen when they return to shore.

Now I wonder how I can get us picked to join the crew…

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How to Make your Own Disney Jack-o-lantern this Halloween

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:43:51 +0000

Well I can’t quite believe that Halloween is less than a week away! I love Disney World at this time of year because they have the most fantastic decorations – and carved pumpkins, or Jack-o-lanterns – that look just like Mickey Mouse!

I have to admit that I’ve never carved a pumpkin myself – looks a bit too messy for my liking, that and we don’t really have anywhere to put one. But if I was going to carve a Jack-o-lantern then I’d definitely do it Disney style.

If you are feeling more crafty that me this Halloween season check out this great video showing how to make your own Disney Jack-o-lantern!

The Disney top tips to pumpkin carving include:

Pick your pumpkin – Before you buy, put your potential pumpkin on the floor or ground and make sure it sits straight. If you can “see” where the face should go, it’s the right pumpkin for you.

Start sketching on paper – Once you start cutting into the pumpkin, it’s too late to go back. First, draw your design on a piece of paper (grocery bag, old wrapping paper, newspaper) the same size as your pumpkin. Once you’ve got your design just how you want it, you’re ready to move the design to your pumpkin. Disney’s Event and Decorating Support used an overhead projector and a black marker, but you can just as easily use a toothpick or fork. Hold your pattern to the pumpkin and poke a tiny hole through the paper every half-inch or so. When you take the paper away, you’ll have a dotted outline to follow.

Carve the lid at an angle – If you cut up-and-down around the pumpkin’s stem, your cap could fall through. Don’t worry if you don’t carve a perfect circle. That will actually help you find the “right” way to put the lid back on.

Skip the candle – All of the pumpkins along Main Street, U.S.A use LEDs (light-emitting diodes). Much safer than an open flame, LEDs don’t get hot. The also last longer than a candle and won’t blow out in the wind. New LEDs even flicker like a real flame.
Courtesy of The Disney Parks Blog

Thanks to somegeenkintn for the Magic Kingdom photograph

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Halloween Horror Nights: Universal Studios Florida 2009

A Day in the Life of the Magic Kingdom

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:14:04 +0000

If you’ve ever wondered what a day in the life of the Magic Kingdom looks like then check out this amazing video from Disney Parks:

–More than 500 Walt Disney World
Tips & Secrets–

If you are planning a vacation to Walt Disney World you should definitely check out these great tips and secrets – from saving money to beating the lines – you shouldn’t plan your Disney vacation until you’ve seen them!

Click here to find out more.

D23 Expo Went Down a Storm with Disney Fans

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:51:35 +0000

It’s at times like these that I really wished I lived in the US. The last couple of days have seen Disney fans flock to the inaugural D23 Expo -- the first gathering of its kind actually hosted by Disney for its fans. And believe me they did not disappoint!

Fans visiting the D23 Expo were treated to a presentation by the Walt Disney Studios which revealed surprise after surprise including:

An appearance by Jerry Bruckheimer to reveal not only the title but also footage from the upcoming movie: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
John Travolta appeared with his wife Kelly Preston and their daughter to promote their upcoming film, “Old Dogs”
The Cheapest Muppets Movie Ever Made movie was revealed by the entire cast of the Muppets who arrived on stage sailing a riverboat and treated the audience to a song and dance show
Miley Cyrus sang a song from her upcoming movie: The Last Song
Tim Burton shared a 3D trailer for his upcoming “Alice in Wonderland” film
Guillermo del Toro unveiled Disney’s plans for a new line of movies called Disney Double Dare You, which were inspired by del Toro’s love for the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion attractions. The first movie will be called The Troll Hunter and the plan is to introduce a little family-friendly creepiness into the Disney brand.
Nicolas Cage revealed that The Sorcerer’s Apprentice movie was his idea, as he watches Disney’s Fantasia annually and wanted to adapt it for a live action film. He will be starring as the sorcerer.

Of course the fun didn’t stop there… just as everyone thought the show was over a familiar refrain was heard and a ghostly ship sailed on stage carrying none other than Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow! At this point the title of the latest Pirates movie was revealed: On Stranger Tides. Look out for it in cinemas in the summer of 2011.

I am amazed at the amount of value that was packed into the price of the D23 Expo admission tickets -- and much of this was kept under wraps until the day of the presentation itself. If you get a chance to attend future events make sure you snap up a ticket as soon as they go on sale!

--More than 500 Walt Disney World
Tips & Secrets--

Disney’s New Fantasyland Expansion is No Longer Just a Rumour

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:58:39 +0000

A few weeks a go I shared with you all a rumoured expansion to Disney World’s Fantasyland -- and the great news is that it is a rumour no more!

At Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim yesterday Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo revealed that the plans for Fantasyland would be the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

“Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we’re always exploring new ways to tell new stories in new places,”

Guests will begin to see changes in 2012, with everything planned to complete in 2013.

This concept art at the top of this article gives you a view across the new Fantasyland expansion area as if you were hovering above the Cinderella Castle. If you look to the front left you will see some castle walls -- you will walk through these to reach the Princess Realms where Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Cinderella and Belle will have their own meet and greet areas.

Guests will be invited to share a dance with Cinderella in her chateau, join Belle in an enchanting story book performance in the Beast’s castle library and celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies. Of course Tinker Bell and her fairy friends will continue to reign over Pixie Hollow.

The Beauty & the Beast realm will also be home to a new ‘Be Our Guest’ dinner show which I can’t wait to experience.

Ariel will get her very own attraction: Journey under the Sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid; which will also open at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011.

The much-loved Dumbo attraction will also get the pixie dust treatment as part of the Fantasyland expansion. Parents will be pleased to read that the enhanced attraction will have two spinners, increasing the capacity and hopefully decreasing the wait time! It will also have a circus theme -- and a more interactive queue to keep the kids entertained while you wait.

Here’s a video of the announcement from the D23 Expo:

The new Dumbo attraction and the Pixie Hollow meet and greet area will replace the existing Mickey’s Toontown Fair area of the park. Imagineers have yet to announce where the existing Mickey Mouse and friends meet and greets will be moved to.

The makeover will not extend to the west side where attractions such as Peter Pan’s Flight and It’s a Small World will remain untouched.

It sounds as if the enhancements appear to be very little girl orientated with all the princess elements, but Imagineers have assured us that the new Fantasyland additions will be very immersive and interactive and should appeal to little boys too.

You don’t need to worry about a lack of Fantasyland attractions if you’re planning a Disney World vacation before 2011 -- the new construction work will not affect the existing Fantasyland area and we shouldn’t see any major closures. If your children are fans of Pooh’s Playful Spot then you may wish to note that this small play area is likely to close.

Star Tours Attraction to Close October 2010

Clare Swindlehurst — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:24:11 +0000

Did that headline get your attention? Well the bad news is that it’s true. The good news however is that this much loved attraction is getting a major overhaul and will reopen as Star Tours II some time in 2011!

I’m a big fan of Star Tours but over the years it has really begun to suffer the test of time -- not the video so much but the actual ride vehicle -- I swear it gets more rickety every time, although it might just be me getting older!

Anyway, this exciting news was shared with the D23 Expo guests by Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo accompanied by several stormtroopers. Apparently George Lucas has been involved in the storyline -- and there will be physical changes to the ride itself as well as the new video, but Rasulo wouldn’t reveal much more than that.

“Ever since we did our original Star Tours attraction with George, the relationship with Imagineering has been very, very close,” Rasulo said. “We strive for authenticity in everything we do. This is a Lucas idea, this is Lucas storytelling, interpreted by Imagineering.”

A twitter post about the image at the top of the page revealed:

In an exciting scene from the new Star Tours, guests aboard Starspeeders will join in a high-speed pod race through the desert canyons of Tatooine

I’m pretty sure that Imagineers will keep the concept of travelling inside an actual vehicle and I can’t wait to see the finished attraction. If you have any ideas or wishes then post in the comments box -- I’d love to hear them. In the meantime though here’s a taster of what is to come via the short video aired at the Expo.

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Kids Sail Free on Disney Cruises During Spring 2010

Clare Swindlehurst — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:58:15 +0000

Planning a Disney Cruise in early 2010? Well now’s the time to book! Disney Cruise Line has released a limited number of staterooms aboard most of the Disney Cruises where kids under 17 can sail free when accompanied by two full-fare guests sleeping in the same stateroom. All you need to pay for the children is their government taxes and fees.

The dates covered by the offer are:

3 night Disney Cruises – January 7 – April 15, 2010
4 night Disney Cruises – January 10 – April 11, 2010

The offer is limited and applies to new bookings only. Other offers, discounts or onboard credits do not apply and you should see the Disney Cruise Line brochure for applicable terms and conditions.

If you’re interested in finding out more click here to ask a member of the Whimsical Travel team for more details.

Theme Park Tickets – which ticket is right for me?

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Disney Imagineering: The Magic Behind the Magic

Clare Swindlehurst — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:44:21 +0000

Friends and family are always asking us why we keep going back to Walt Disney World. “Surely you’ve seen everything there is to see?” they say to us. Well this quote from a Disney Imagineer pretty much sums it up:

“The closer you look at something, the more you see…”

Disney World isn’t just a theme park -- of course if that’s what you are expecting on your Disney World vacation then that’s probably what you’ll experience. But Disney World is so much more than that. The Disney Imagineers spend hours mixing imagination with vision and technology to really bring magic to life -- and in order to truly experience this magic on your Disney vacation you have to open your eyes and look for it.

Don’t just run from ride to ride -- keep your eyes wide open. While you’re standing in line take time to notice the details, and the story that the Imagineers are telling you, a story which will continue onto the attraction and often out the other side.

Not sure what magic looks like? Watch this video and you’ll start to understand…

Affordable Disney Vacation Packages

Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee! comes to the Magic Kingdom for 10 weeks only

How to Make your Own Disney Jack-o-lantern this Halloween

A Day in the Life of the Magic Kingdom

–More than 500 Walt Disney World Tips & Secrets–

D23 Expo Went Down a Storm with Disney Fans

--More than 500 Walt Disney World Tips & Secrets--

Disney’s New Fantasyland Expansion is No Longer Just a Rumour

Star Tours Attraction to Close October 2010

Kids Sail Free on Disney Cruises During Spring 2010

Disney Imagineering: The Magic Behind the Magic

--More than 500 Walt Disney World Tips & Secrets--

–More than 500 Walt Disney World
Tips & Secrets–

--More than 500 Walt Disney World
Tips & Secrets--

--More than 500 Walt Disney World
Tips & Secrets--