Reopening Dates Planned for Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando + First Cedar Fair Parks to Open

© Disney

Some major announcements came today with regard to parks reopening, the largest of which is Walt Disney World in Orlando starting to reopen on July 11th (pending final approval from Florida's Governor).  On that day both the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open, and a few days later on July 15th both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot will welcome back guests.

The property has paused new ticket sales and hotel reservations in order to focus on guests with existing tickets and hotel plans - this includes annual passholders.  Guests will need to utilize a reservation system in order to visit the parks to control crowding - the park's attendance will be limited as expected.

The parks will hold off on holding shows, parades and fireworks for now, since these events create crowd gathering situations.  Face masks for anyone aged 3 and up will be required across the entire resort, except for when people are eating or swimming, and touchless temperature checks will be used.

Walt Disney World is a gigantic property, and arguably the largest park (set of parks) reopening that this country will see.  To that end everyone has a lot of questions about the property's 'new normal' so be sure to check out this site for some additional details.

© SeaWorld Entertainment

SeaWorld Orlando has also detailed their plans to reopen their park, which they hope to do on June 11th.  The park would like to hold an employee appreciation/test day on June 10th as well.

The park appears be waiting for final approval from the Governor until they update their website with official plans, however several sites are covering information from their presentation today.  The park will require guests aged two and a half and older to wear a mask, and will also utilize temperature screenings.  Interestingly, they do still plan to have parades though all guest interaction will be removed from them.

The reopening plans include Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove - all properties will have strict social distancing markers in place to keep guests spaced out.  That is an especially big concern for animal exhibits, where visitors commonly gather.

Expect to see more from the park with regard to their full plan as soon as they receive final approval.

© Cedar Fair

It also looks as though we have our first set of Cedar Fair parks to open, the recently purchased Schlitterbahn New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn Galveston.

No specific dates have been set yet for these two water parks to reopen, but the parks did post this today:

"We are pleased that Governor Abbott’s reopening plans now include waterparks. The safety of our guests and associates has always been, and will always be, our top priority.  Schlitterbahn is preparing to reopen our properties mid-June with enhanced safety measures and operational changes throughout both of our parks. We miss you and cannot wait to welcome you back to the Hottest, Coolest Time in Texas."

Unless another Cedar Fair park makes an announcement soon, it seems that these parks opening in "mid-June" could be the first for the company.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Opens to Rave Reviews at Disney's Hollywood Studios

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Disney's Hollywood Studios, a part of Disney World in Florida, has officially opened their blockbuster new dark ride, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.  The trackless attraction is already heading to the top of many park fans favorite ride list, and after watching many spoiler videos of it we can understand why.

The last major component (for now) of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge themed area at Disney's Hollywood Studios, it goes without saving that Disney has saved the best for last.  The rest of the area opened a couple months ago and while the immersive land is heaven on Earth for fans of Star Wars, the latest ride is the cherry on top.

Rise of the Resistance is an amazing trackless dark ride, like we've seen Disney do in the past (mostly overseas), but there's a whole lot more to it than just that.  I don't want to force spoilers onto anyone, so we'll leave it at that, but between tons of special effects, elevation changes, animatronics, projections, simulations and more, the ride checks all the boxes as one of the best around.

And it is drawing the crowds to prove it.  Disney is using a virtual queue via phone app that allows guests to check in as soon as the park opens, then know when they can ride later in the day.  And the ride reservations are 'selling out' within an hour of the park opening on a daily basis.

The attraction's opening in Florida will be joined in California at Disneyland on January 17th, 2020.

If you can't make it to either park, below is one of the best on-ride videos I've seen as it gives nice perspective of the inside of the ride.  Check it out only if you do not want to be surprised the first time you ride!

Renovated Entrance Area + New "Play" Pavilion Headed to Epcot

© Disney

Epcot, one of Disney World's four theme parks, is already seeing a large amount of development that has been announced in the past year or so.  A Guardians of the Galaxy themed indoor roller coaster is currently being built, along with a brand new lagoon show on the horizon, the Ratatouille ride in the France pavilion, and a space themed restaurant for Future World.

But wait, there's more!  Additional changes for Epcot were revealed this week.  The park's entrance area will see the Leave A Legacy display moved to outside the park's gates and replaced with beautiful gardens and a "reimagined" fountain (see concept art up top).  The area will be much more open and feature plenty of green space, and honestly, seems like it is reverting back to how it was when the park first opened.

The park also plans more changes between Spaceship Earth and the Worlds Showcase promenade, but those will be detailed at a future time.

© Disney

Also announced this week was a brand new, not-yet-named, "play pavilion" that will be built in the long closed Wonders of Life pavilion.  The park describes the pavilion as a space that "will include first-of-their-kind experiences devoted to playful fun, inviting guests into an innovative, interactive city bursting with games and hands-on activities.  Guests at Epcot will interact with their favorite Disney characters in an energetic metropolis unlike anything ever seen before in the park."

That leaves a lot of room for interpretation, but the concept art for the attraction, shown above, makes it look visually impressive at the least.

These two developments, along with all the others previously announced, will be displayed in a new Experience Center that will be within the park.  That is planned to open its doors later in 2019.

EPCOT's Candlelight Processional

Each winter Epcot guests experience a remarkable transformation, Holiday Around the World changes the World Showcase yuletide celebration, with the centerpiece being the Candlelight  Processional at the American Garden Theatre.

With this wide angle shot, you can see just how many performers are required for this Walt Disney World classic. 

Joe Morton, Emmy winner of Scandal and The Good Wife fame, was the guest narrator for the night we attended, and his rich voice resounded through the air as he recounted the Christmas Story

Trumpeters move around the audience during the performance, lending a new definition to surround sound. Here they are on the side wings of the theater, which resemble stain glass church windows.

The music director has a 50 piece orchestra at his disposal, who start out with the Candlelight Overture, an instrumental medley of Christmas Music. The choir is assembled with processional music, composed of traditional Christmas Carols. In this photo, he is conducting the guests as they sing along with Silent Night.

Also under direction is a tremendous choir, led by the Voices of  Liberty singers. If you plan your day just right, you can catch a performance of the Voices of Liberty just prior to a showing of the American Experience. Check in with any of the cast members at the American Experience for details.The acoustics in the lobby area are a great way to indulge yourself in the Christmas Spirit and cool down if it is 84 degrees outside like it was during our visit.

Here are a few of the highlights of the Candlelight Processional performance that we attended. If you plan to go next year, we highly recommend a dining package to ensure a less stressful experience. These performances are so popular that people line up hours prior to the venue opening to make sure they get in. Although this isn't too bad, because then you get to hear the music twice. Our thanks to Mike at Walt Disney World, for helping us and giving us tips for a better experience.

Disney Offers A New Peek Inside Pandora - The World of Avatar

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As a part of their annual Christmas special, Disney released some new footage taken both inside the new Pandora - the World of Avatar themed land, and also inside of of the attractions that will debut with it.  The new land will open later in 2017, and is so far along in the construction process that many floating mountains and other thematic elements can be seen from both inside and outside Animal Kingdom in Disney World.

The video shows a glimpse inside the Na'vi River Journey, a calm boat ride, that looks as beautiful in real life as in the concept art... but it's a quick view that leaves us hungry for more.  The video assures us that the ending of the ride features something special that will be unlike anything we've experienced before.  The video also has a quick look inside the giant theater that will hold Avatar: Flight of Passage, giving a view of the attraction's mechanics. 

Check out the full video, along with plenty of other details, below.

Pandora - The World of Avatar, Star Wars Land + More News from Disney World

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Today Disney Parks made a series of announcements that gave fans a closer look at some of the larger developments currently underway at the Disney World resort.

First, it was announced that Pandora - The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom will open in the Summer of 2017.  Under construction for several years now, the land has made major progress with floating islands already in the sky above the park.

The above photo is of the just revealed entrance bridge to the themed area.  The Disney Park's Blog explains the story behind the look of the bridge, which fits in with the overall theme of the new land.

© Disney

Digging a bit deeper into Pandora - The World of Avatar, several new concept art images of food and retail buildings inside the land were released today.

Above is a look at the main dining location, Satu'l Canteen, which features Na'vi "art and cultural" items as decorations.  Other images show Windtraders, a large gift shop, and an outdoor drink location named Pongu Pongu.

© Disney

This concept art of the Star Wars themed land that is being built at Disney's Hollywood Studios was also released today, showing the land at night once the sun goes down.  It was also announced that a new "adventure" will be added to Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, to feature content from the upcoming Star Wars Episode VIII.

On a last note, it was also mentioned at a fan event today that Imagineering has been tasked with dreaming big for upcoming plans for Epcot - sounds good to me!

Disney Announcement Overload From 2015 D23 Expo - Star Wars, Toy Story Land, + More

Last weekend's Disney D23 Expo proved to be an explosion of massive announcements for Disney theme parks across the country, much to the delight of the thousands of adoring fans in attendance.  Not too shabby for us on the interwebs, either.  Almost too much to take in at once, new rides and attractions were unveiled that have been underway for years, and won't open to guests for many more years.

Arguably the biggest news of the Expo presentation on Disney Parks was the long awaited announcement of Star Wars themed lands for both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.

These pieces of concept art that were released show that Disney is most certainly going all-in on the Star Wars lands, both of which will come in at 14 acres - very large expansions to the parks.  Disney is creating an all new, previously unvisited trading planet, where everything will be Star Wars authentic down to the shopkeepers.  Make sure to click these pieces of art to see larger versions with more details.

Each of the new Star Wars areas will have two major attractions, one of which will put riders inside the famous Millennium Falcon, and another that puts us in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance.  The environments look as immersive as they come, meaning Disney plans to do these areas correctly and absolutely load them with details.  Unfortunately there was no mention of even a possible time frame for the lands to open, and rumors point to us waiting until around 2020 to step foot in them.

Disney's Hollywood Studios, currently a bit of 'the little park that could' will also see a massive addition named Toy Story Land.  It will be anchored by what appears to be a repositioned entrance to Toy Story Mania, which will be adding a third track for additional capacity.

Outside the ride will be an 11 acres expansion that shrinks visitors down to the size of toys where they will explore Andy's backyard.  The largest addition here will be a custom roller coaster that looks to have both a lift hill and a launch, with riders sitting in trains that are one giant slinky dog.

Also new to the land will be a pair of family spinner rides, themed to the little green aliens from the movies.  The area will be stuffed with over-sized props, food and retail locations and a purposely immersive theme that is said to be the future direction of the Studios parks.  No opening date was announced for this land.

Animal Kingdom was included in the announcements as well, though just with additional details given on previously announced attractions.  Here is some beautiful concept art for the park's new lagoon nighttime show, named Rivers of Light.  The show will feature "live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery" that will combine to create a show unlike any other at a Disney park.

Animal Kingdom's famous Kilimanjaro Safaris will also be expanded to include to new animals - African wild dogs and hyenas.

Under construction for some time now, we finally have an official name for the new land at Animal Kingdom, Pandora: The World of AVATAR.  Other details, such as the name of the area's e-ticket ride, called AVATAR Flight of Passage, were also revealed.  Disney brought a giant model of the new area as well, showing off an incredibly details and dense land being created.

Also confirmed after being rumored for years, both Epcot and Disney California Adventure will premier Soarin' Around The World next year.  The new films for the super-popular Soarin' rides will feature some of the most famous sights around the world.

All concept art/photos are © Disney

Two More Attractions Closing in Walt Disney World

© Disney

The winds of change continue to blow inside Walt Disney World, which has announced two more large attraction closings this week.

Disney's Hollywood Studios, which has already announced several closures in recent times, will be adding The Magic of Disney Animation to that list.  The attraction will stay open for two more weeks, closing for good after July 12th.

The attraction is one of the originals from the park's opening years, though only a shell of its former self.  Originally visitors strolled along catwalks looking down at Disney animators hard at work, but that was removed over a decade ago.  Now guests are treated to a film presentation with an actor animator, and then are ushered into an area that has interactive elements and character greet areas. 

No word from the park yet on what will replace the attraction - thought it seems we must be getting closer to the anticipated big announcement of the park's new name and (hopefully) selection of new attractions!

Also going away soon will be DisneyQuest, the interactive indoor theme park that has operated at Downtown Disney, soon to be Disney Springs, since 1998.  The building is expected to be repurposed for the already announced NBA themed restaurant/experience that will be a major tenant at Disney Springs. 

The size of the large building makes it a bit easier to understand how Disney is promoting the NBA Experience as more than just a restaurant and store - they'll have plenty of room for all kinds of interactive features over multiple floors.

DisneyQuest was the first in what was planned to be a whole chain of similar buildings across the nation.  One opened in Chicago but quickly closed, no others made it off the ground.  The Orlando version limped along for years, though almost all of the interactive games and rides are quite outdated in 2015.

A specific closing date was not announced, though it will be sometime in 2016.

Universal Orlando Brings NBC to CityWalk + NBA Moves to Disney

© Universal Orlando

After being under construction for quite some time, Universal Orlando has revealed what will replace the former NASCAR Sports Grille in Orlando's CityWalk.  The NBC Sports Grill & Brew will be the "ultimate sports dining experience," featuring an expansive menu of 75 items and over 100 HD TVs located throughout - showing NBC Sports, of course.

Opening this Fall, the new restaurant will also feature an open kitchen located in the middle of the establishment.  This will allow guests to watch their food being prepared on custom open-fire grills.  With "brew" in the name, there will be over 100 different kinds of beer available, including a custom brew for the restaurant.  And outdoor beer garden will offer a great place to relax after a day in the parks.

It also looks like CityWalk's NBA City will also be closing at the end of August - no word yet on a replacement venue.  Not at all coincidentally, today Disney announced that the NBA Experience will be opening at Disney Springs - formerly Downtown Disney.  The "entertainment experience" will feature a restaurant and store, along with "hands-on activities."  It sounds like it will be considerably larger than what was offered at CityWalk.  Interesting to see the NBA switch between properties, but it sounds like it is a smart move for both entertainment centers.

Disney World Announces Disney Springs

Visitors to Disney World in Florida will have more shopping, dining, and entertainment options than ever before when the three year renovation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs is complete.  The heavily renovated area will charm guests with "beautiful open-air promenades, meandering springs and waterfront charm."

At the end of 2010 Disney announced plans to change Downtown Disney into the Hyperion Wharf, a waterfront district with a fairly different theme than Disney Springs will have.  The Wharf concept was eventually dropped, and now with this much larger expansion announced we know why.

Disney Springs will be separated into four unique areas, with the largest expansion taking place in the area of the former Pleasure Island night-club filled party zone.  The party ended there years ago, so the space is ripe for redevelopment.

The part closest to the parking areas will be The Town Center, "which is oriented around a series of bubbling natural springs that first attracted settlers to the area," according to Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs.  The Town Center will feature many new retail locations with "iconic" brands features.

As for parking, that will be quite different too.  Two new garages will be utilized to free up space to allow all this development to take place.

Above The Town Center and along the water will be the Landing, an expansive area that features various dining options.  The waterways that can be seen in the above concept art will flow through each of the sections, connecting and uniting them.  No names have been mentioned yet, but the announcement promised some uniquely Disney restaurants for the area.

Joining these areas will be the existing West Side and the Marketplace, both of which will see numerous changes.  The wide walkways of the West Side will be filled with an overhead trestle that will allow for unique views, and the Marketplace will see an expanded World of Disney store among many other changes.

Here's a current aerial view of the current Downtown Disney, with the West Side on the left, Pleasure Island in the center, and the Marketplace on the right.  The area around and below Pleasure Island will see the largest of the changes.

The Disney Springs expansion will create more than 4,000 jobs once it is fully open, and 1,200 construction jobs over the three years of work.  Opening in phases, all the changes should be done by 2016.

Trip Planners Get Ready: MyMagic+ Is Here

© Disney

After several years of work and one heck of a large price tag, Disney Parks have finally revealed some concrete details on their next generation FastPass system.  Well, really, the ability to skip the lines for attractions is only one part of MyMagic+, which is the new name of the program.  Generally speaking, MyMagic+ is a set of "tools" that guests visiting the parks will be able to use to customize their vacations more than ever before.

Revealed by Disney today on their official Blog, some of the highlight of the system include:

- The My Disney Experience website, which allows visitors to preplan their trip to the Florida parks in detail, including scheduling ride experiences, shows, and dining before ever even arriving at Disney World.  An app for phones will allow guests to change their plans and reservations on the spot when in the parks.

- The use of the MagicBand once at the resort, a literal wrist band that will serve as park tickets, Fastpass+ entry vehicle, room key, PhotoPass card and even a method of payment for souvenirs, if you like.

- Guests who are unfamiliar with the theme parks can choose from preselected lists of rides, dining, character meet and greets, and even fireworks viewing locations using the planning tools.  The preset itineraries are made up to create park visits for a variety of guests - those with kids, without, etc.

The Orlando Sentinel has a good write up of the new system, including some downsides to the use of the technology in the parks.  While everyone saw it coming, it's certainly a bold next step in customizing a Florida vacation.  And no, there most certainly won't be a button to click to schedule your day trip to Universal for Harry Potter!

Happy 40th, Magic Kingdom!

Forty years ago tomorrow the Magic Kingdom, part of the greater Walt Disney World, officially opened to guests.  A lot of folks would rather ignore their 40th birthday, but after all those years of creating magic memories for millions of visitors, the Magic Kingdom's special anniversary is happily being celebrated.

While the park has changed quite a bit over those forty years, there's still plenty of original attractions to be found.  The Enchanted Tiki Room, Dumbo, Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, Jungle Cruise... there's plenty of original magic to be found.

The future of the park is as bright as ever, as the large Fantasyland expansion is well underway with a phased opening planned to start late next year.   The greater resort, which has expanded to four theme parks, two water parks, more hotels than I can count, and almost every other recreational activity out there, has plenty planned for the future, too.

Here's to another forty years - I have a feeling the park will look just as great at 80!

10 Years Later - The Sun Still Shines at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Editor's Note: This article was provided by Chris, the last of our 'new' authors from several months ago. Chris has been working behind the scenes on some projects, but will be contributing stories from time to time.   A warm welcome to NPN! ~Mike

Disney's 1,307 room Animal Kingdom Lodge recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary. The Lodge, located outside the parking lot of the Animal Kingdom theme park, also just received the Four Diamond rating from the AAA travel club.

One of the biggest draws for the hotel -- and a fact that makes it unique among all hotels -- is the ability to watch animals in the Lodge's 40 acre man-made savannah from the convenience of your own hotel room balcony. Approximately 70% of the Lodge's rooms offer a savannah view from the balcony. Disney spokespeople boast that the animals graze 22 hours per day in the savannah -- in full view of the Lodge's guests. This feature offers a rare chance to view animals that are more active in the night, when the temperature drops. In this respect, the Animal Kingdom Lodge offers an advantage over Kilimanjaro Safaris -- a jeep tour located in the Animal Kingdom theme park -- in that guests do not need to rush to the attraction in the cooler mornings to guarantee the best shot of seeing active animals.

Besides several overt differences (e.g., live animals), Animal Kingdom Lodge looks somewhat reminiscant to the Wilderness Lodge. There's reason for that -- both lodges were designed by Peter Dominick. The Animal Kingdom Lodge opened April 16th, 2001, but it wasn't until another 7 years that it earned its first expansion. On February 18th, 2008, Disney opened the first phase of its Disney
Vacation Club hotel, the Animal Kingdom Villas.

Despite the reference to the Animal Kingdom theme park in the Lodge's name, one must take a bus or drive from the Lodge to reach the Animal Kingdom theme park. Of note, the resort is accessible for free to anyone by the Disney bus transportation system -- simply board a bus heading to the Animal Kingdom Resort from any of the resort's four theme parks. Contained within the resort are four eateries -- Jiko, Boma, The Mara, and Sanaa.

New "Hyperion Wharf" Opening At Downtown Disney

© Disney 2010

Since the closing of the club-centered nighttime district Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney fans have wondered what would replace the area.  Disney has let the mouse out of the bag and announced the new Hyperion Wharf area, planned for a 2013 opening.

As described by Disney, "the district will come to life with a nostalgic yet modern take on an early 20th century port city and amusement pier. By day, stylish boutiques and innovative restaurants will draw you in and by night, thousands of lights will transform the area into an electric wonderland."

The new area will feature a relaxing waterside park (seen above), expanded pedestrian walkways, and increase overall dining options at Downtown Disney by 25%.

Other areas of Downtown Disney will see renovations as well.  The LEGO Imagination Center will be expanded and feature new outdoor displays that feature classic Disney movies.  The AMC Theatre will receive new digital technology, a do-it-yourself concession stand, and the State's first Fork & Screen Theatre.

Check out more drawings of the new area on the Disney Parks Blog.

Scott And Carol Present - Project Future - A Look At How Disney Chose Orlando

How do you like a good yarn with a happy ending? Is it okay if a skulduggery is thrown in and the mystery is known from the beginning, but exactly how it was solved isn’t revealed to the end? If that is your cup of tea, then Project Future, by Chad Emerson might be of interest. He has documented the process of selecting Orlando for the location of Walt Disney World.

When Walt wanted to go east of the Mississippi River, he turned to the late Harrison “Buzz” Price to help determine the best location for the project. As early as 1955 Walt had begun talking about the project with people both inside and outside the company, many different locations were considered, but Walt and Roy had obtaining lots of land as their major objective. They did not want so be surrounded by other businesses as quickly as had happened in Anaheim.

The law firm headed by William Donovan, the former head of the OSS during World War II was selected to insulate Disney from any Florida contact until they were ready to announce the project. The use of fronting corporations and collateral contacts is detailed to help give readers an understanding of how these big projects are concluded. The legends of whose plane they used for research travel and how the Disney Company bought the land without the using their name are explained. The Florida newspaper that discovered who the mystery investor was, but withheld publishing it to prevent derailing the project is revealed.

When asked what the most surprising thing he discovered Chad replies, “The most surprising thing to me was how close Walt Disney World came to being located somewhere else than Orlando (especially the near miss in Palm Beach.)” The Niagara Falls, New York City, and Saint Louis options are all explained, including the reason for not being selected. He also discovered how many of the key players have still not been recognized for their role in the project, maybe due to their naturally reticent past in espionage.

The major meeting in Boston that almost derailed the project is discussed, although there are some things about that meeting that still are not known. How some Disney team members personal travel plans were examined for clues as to the location of the project. This fast-paced book gives readers a real appreciation for the lengths of security needed to make something like Project Future succeed.

According to Emerson the most important decision related to Project Future was “Making a huge and technologically advanced (and expensive) investment in the resort’s infrastructure. All of that swamp draining require large amount of great engineering. Disney could have done it cheaper but it would not have lasted as well and for as long as it has toady.” During a Disney symposium at last year’s IAAPA, it was talked about how even during the most recent massive hurricanes the runoff of all the extra rainwater was still contained on Disney property in the retention system.

At the first public announcement of Walt Disney World, on October 25, 1965 at the Egyptian Room in the Cherry Plaza Hotel, the project was revealed. But that isn’t the end of this story; Emerson relates the legislative hurdles that were also overcome. Equally as important as the land constraints, the political solutions also contributed to the Walt Disney World we visit today. So looking back 45 years, this is a mouse that truly roared in central Florida. A great read and a must for anyone interested in amusement park or Disney Company history.

Talk About Prime Real Estate

Walt Disney World has announced a new residential development, named Golden Oak Residential Resort Community. The new area will be located in the middle of Walt Disney World, somewhat in between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The first phase of the development will contain only 30 homes, and the prices for them will range between $1.5 and $8 million.

So I'll never live there! The development comes with all sorts of perks - it will have a golf course, club house, private lake, and VIP transportation and access to the theme parks. The 980 acre Golden Oak will also be home to a Four Seasons Resort as well in the future.

The homes that will be built will all be of a predetermined style, depending on your neighborhood. They are all custom built, but their appearance will fit within certain guidelines. It's like a very private, very rich version of Disney's Celebration.

If you want to read more, or slap down $25k to reserve your plot, check out the Golden Oak website.

Disney Parks Making News

Fans of "Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" at California Adventure rejoice - the show has been saved for now. The Disney Parks Blog announced that the show's run has been extended, with no closing date listed. The reason given was "popular demand" but you have to wonder. Sounds like plans for the Toy Story Musical are on hold, or dead.

In other news, Disney Parks announced an entire new resort for Walt Disney World - Disney's Art of Animation Resort. The never-finished other half of the Pop Century Resort will be it's new home, and it will feature four movie themed sections: Cars, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Finding Nemo. The resort will feature almost 2,000 themed rooms when it opens in late 2012.

Read more details on both items at the Disney Parks Blog.

Sabrina's Brochure Spotlight: Walt Disney World 1989

When I decided to do a Disney brochure this week, I knew I was making a time commitment. This brochure is a detail lover's dream! And with so many individual parks to cover, I could probably spend the better part of the next week dissecting it. But I do enjoy sleeping once in a while, so I'll cover the basics and let you read the fine print for yourselves!

When it comes to expanding their offerings, Disney is not capable of doing anything small. Whether it's a new restaurant, a new attraction, or an entirely new area, you can bet your bottom dollar that it's going to be big and impressive. As the brochure cover indicates, the biggest thing to hit Walt Disney World in 1989 was the brand new Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. But as we flip through the pages, you'll see that this was only the tip of the iceberg.

Keeping track of everything that was added to Walt Disney World in 1989 is no easy feat. The designers of this brochure decided to make it even more difficult by placing "NEW" banners across the tops of many of the photos, some of which depict rides and attractions that were actually added in previous years. This particular photo is true to its banner, as it highlights one of the many shows set to premier at the Disney-MGM park. But beware of imposters!

There's no questioning the "newness" of this particular attraction. Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park (now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios) most certainly did make its debut in 1989, and as with all things Disney, it took "state-of-the-art" to a whole new level. Hollywood Boulevard, complete with a replica of the famous Chinese Theatre, was recreated. The Great Movie Ride brought classics to life right before guests' very eyes. You could add your own sound effects to a movie, have your senses assaulted by explosions and floods, and even witness new movies and TV shows being filmed.

The Magic Kingdom needs no introduction. A staple of Walt Disney World since it opened, this is a park where imagination comes to life. If yours is a little rusty, perhaps you can rejuvenate it by reading the description of Mickey's Birthdayland, which encourages you to wish the jolly ol' mouse a happy 60th birthday. Only trouble is, the year was 1989 and Mickey turned 60 in 1988! (That's also when his Birthdayland opened, by the way.) Perhaps he was stuck in a time warp?

Magic Kingdom actually did welcome a new attraction in 1989, although you'd have to read through this entire section to learn about it. Dreamflight, presented by Delta Air Lines, replaced the former If You Could Fly attraction in Tomorrowland. Utilizing an Omnimover ride system, Dreamflight took its passengers on a journey through the history of aviation.

Hmm... I'm starting to think that this entire brochure is stuck in a time warp! Not a single thing labeled as "new" on these pages actually opened in 1989. Maelstrom, along with the rest of Norway, joined EPCOT Center in 1988. The spectacular IllumiNations show also premiered in '88. And Captain EO? Why, he had been around since 1986! I guess "new" is a relative term within the context of this brochure.

Although it is not mentioned, there was one new addition to EPCOT in 1989: The Wonders of Life pavilion, which opened late in the year. Perhaps it was not far enough along to merit a write-up in the '89 brochure.

Visiting Walt Disney World is more than a day trip. It's an experience. Even back in the '80s, the resort featured many different lodging options. Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, the first moderately priced property at Disney, was enjoying its first full season of operation in 1989. (It opened on October 1, 1988.)

On a side note, nothing spells '80s culture like a dude in a pastel-colored suit! [upper left-hand corner] Thank goodness that we as a society have come to our fashion senses since then!

Of all the pages in this brochure, these are the ones which deserved to have that "NEW" banner slapped all over them. And yet...nada. Since Disney apparently has fallen down on the job in this one instance, allow moi to enlighten you!

Two words: Pleasure Island. This former entertainment and nightlife mecca appeared on the scene in May of '89. Two more words: Typhoon Lagoon. This new water park, featuring "the world's largest inland surfing lagoon" among other things, also debuted in 1989. It complemented the existing River Country swimming area nicely. And while the Disney Village Marketplace was not new, its name was. Prior to 1989, this shopping and dining village had been known as Walt Disney World Village. (It has undergone yet another name change since 1989, but let's save that little nugget for a future post!)

Whew... I'm beat! If nothing else, sharing this brochure has made me painfully aware of how much Disney history I have yet to learn. How is it that I always walk away from these posts with something new on my to-do list?

It's Almost Winter, Head To Florida

The Swan and Dolphin Resort at Walt Disney World is having a special trip giveaway to coincide with the upcoming presidential election. And this time of year? Who wouldn't want a trip to Florida?

The winner of the Presidential Vacation Contest will receive a two night, three day stay in the Presidential Suite at the resort, a complimentary $250 food certificate to be used at the Hotel Resort, limousine service and red carpet greeting upon arrival, and Park Hoppers passes for your stay!

If you want to read more and enter you can head over to the official entry page. The winner will be announced the same day as the next President, November 5th!