45 years ago today, guests at the Disneyland® Park took the first ride on the Pirates of the Caribbean® attraction. Since its opening on March 18, 1967, it has become a guest favorite and a version of it can now be found in 4 Disney Theme Parks.

In honor of its birthday, enjoy some Pirates of the Caribbean® factoids on us!

• The original Pirates of the Caribbean® attraction in Disneyland® Park is the last attraction that Walt helped design. He passed 3-months before it’s opening.
• Written in 1967 by George Bruns and Xavier Atencio, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” is the Pirates of the Caribbean® attraction’s theme song.
• A Pirates of the Caribbean® attraction was not part of the original plans for Magic Kingdom® Park. It was believed that because of Florida’s close proximity to the Caribbean, there would be little interest. Due to high guest demand, the attraction was quickly built and opened by the end of 1973.
• In the queue of Pirates of the Caribbean® at Magic Kingdom® Park, guest will find two skeletons locked in a cell playing chess who are stuck in a stalemate.
• At Disneyland® Park, guests can eat at the Blue Bayou which overlooks the opening to Pirates of the Caribbean®
• The attraction at 3 Disney Parks include references to Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa and the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. All three include the smoke/waterfall effect with projections of:
• Davy Jones and Blackbeard, alternately, at Disneyland® Park
• Blackbeard at Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World® Resort
• Davy Jones at Tokyo Disneyland®
• The Pirates of the Caribbean® attraction can be found inside the Adventureland® Area at Magic Kingdom® Park, Tokyo Disneyland®, and Disneyland® Paris. Disneyland® Park is the only place you will find it in a different land – New Orleans Square.

Check out this video of the Capt. himself, Walt Disney, discussing the plans for the original Pirates of the Caribbean® attraction in Disneyland® Park

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day may only come once a year, but it is ‘just another day’ at Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant in Walt Disney World® Resort’s Downtown Disney® Area. Open daily for lunch, dinner, and late-night light meals, Raglan Road™ serves up authentic Irish food and entertainment. With a design and decor based off pubs in the Emerald Isles, you will likely forget that you are in Central Florida after taking a seat inside.

Guests eating at Raglan Road™ can choose from Irish classics like beef stew, colcannon soup, and Sheperd’s pie. Live entertainment, available most days, includes traditional Irish music from their house band as well as spectacular, award-winning dancers. Guest on-the-go can still curb their hunger at Cookes of Dublin – Raglan Road’s™ quick-service dining location.  Raglan Road™ and Cookes of Dublin are both participating locations for the 2012 Disney Dining Plan.

Tucked in the corner of Main Street, U.S.A.® inside the Magic Kingdom® Park is a hidden gem guaranteed to take you back to a simpler time. The Harmony Barber Shop, located near the Emporium gift shop, is the Magic Kingdom® Park’s fully-functioning barber shop that has been in continuous operation since 1975. Complete with hair tonics and talcum powders, barbers at the Harmony Barber Shop serve approximately 400 guests per week.

“First Haircuts” have turned into the shop’s specialty. All guests receiving their “first haircut” while  inside this quaint shop get an extra special “My 1st Haircut” set of Mickey Ears and a certificate! With a wide range of services, the young aren’t the only guests visiting the Harmony Barber Shop – many are “young at heart!”

At Harmony Barber Shop, even the small details weren’t overlooked.  A turn-of-the-century Western Electric phone box is still used to make phone calls. Also, cast members use a cash register from 1912 to ring up their sales!

Advance reservations for Harmony Barber Shop can be made for those staying at a Disney resort or guests who have a dining reservation. Guests without reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Daily reservations are limited, so be sure to contact your Magic Maker® so your reservation can be made well in advance.

by: Magic Makers Kim Marko and Megan Caceres

From the moment that you walked into the port you could feel the excitement…it was a true celebration Disney Cruise Line® style for their newest cruise ship, the Disney Fantasy™.

On March 1^st, 2012, for the first time ever, New York City played host to the Christening of Disney Cruise Line’s® newest cruise ship the Disney Fantasy™.  Magical Pier 88 will be the port for the outgoing cruises on the Disney Magic® this summer and fall.

We started our adventure by picking up our credentials which included the evening’s itinerary as well as our dining “rotation.” Stopping for pictures before walking the red carpet had us both smiling but nothing in our wildest dreams could explain the feeling as we walked into the Atrium and saw the big champagne bottle surrounded by guests, and Disney Cruise Line® cast members welcoming us with appetizers and champagne but the most thrilling feeling was seeing everyone’s excitement in being there for this amazing event.

We were soon called to the Walt Disney Theater where we were entertained by Disney Fantasy’s™ entertainment cast who gave us a highlight of the wonderful shows that will be appearing on the Disney Fantasy™; Aladdin (from Disneyland® Resort), Believe (from Disney Dream™), and a new production just for Disney Fantasy™, Wishes. Our host for the evening was Neil Patrick Harris who entertained us along with the cast. He was joined by Jerry Seinfeld who provided the comedy and Heather Headley who dazzled us with her amazing voice as she sang songs from Tangled, and The Lion King.

There was quite a lineup of  New York based celebrity guests, including Tim Gunn, Ty Pennington, Alan Cummings, Meredith Veira, Nancy Grace, Mayor Bloomberg, and Bob Iger. After a wonderful show, which only had us wanting to book immediately we were then ushered into the Atrium for the Christening Ceremony. Robert Iger and Karl Holz were joined by the crew of the ship, Mickey Mouse
As Mariah sent her blessings to the ship, the crew, and all who would sail aboard this magnificent ship, confetti rained down upon us and spontaneous exuberance filled the room….it was definitely a moment I will never forget.and the Godmother of the Disney Fantasy™, Mariah Carey. Mariah’s husband Nick Canon and Minnie took over the duty outside the ship and we started the countdown…

After the momentous event the guests headed to the respected dining location for the evening. We were seated at the Royal Court, such a beautiful restaurant and we spent time getting to know our table guests.

The menu was a variety of delectable appetizers, entrees and desserts combined from the wonderful menus of the Disney Fantasy’s™ dining locations. Our appetizers were a sampler of Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp, Smoked Salmon Tartare and Ahi Tuna and Avocado. We then had choices of Mushroom Glazed Portobello, Roasted Duck, Pan Seared Sea Bass, Rack of Lamb or a Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Lobster Tail. If that was not enough our dessert sampler of Celebration Cake, Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brulee and Mini Lava Cake was proof of the wonderful menus that await those cruising on the Disney Fantasy™.

Once we finished our meal and rolled out of the Royal Court guests dispersed and found themselves touring this amazing ship and visiting the after party in the Europa Entertainment District.

We found ourselves wandering the ship from the pool to the spa (I think it was about at this point that we thought stowing away might be a great idea). The spa…can we say that who would want to never leave this wonderful place. We toured the Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, Vibe and Edge…and throughout the tour you could hear the oohs and aahs from everyone as we went from area to area.

The night finally had to come to a close…as all good things do, but as we were leaving we were given some mementos from the night, but even without the mementos this wonderful experience was the best gift in itself. We will never forget our party with Mickey about the wonderful Disney Fantasy™.

The Disney Fantasy™ will take her maiden voyage on March 31, 2012. It’s not too late to join the Disney Fantasy™ for one of the inaugural voyages. Contact your Magic Maker® today to start planning!

*Image of Royal Court is Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art