Disney News

Adventures by Disney® is taking their adventurers out of the theater and immersing them in the world of Brave with their first-ever Pixar-inspired itinerary, “Scotland: A Brave Adventure.”

This new adventure is a 9-day, 8-night quest through Edinburgh, the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Lewis and Inverness. Families will experience first-hand the history, culture, nature, legends and lore of Scotland that inspired Merida’s story of bravery. In creating “Scotland: A Brave Adventure,” Adventures by Disney’s® trip-planning specialists worked directly with the expert storytellers on Disney•Pixar’s Brave production team to incorporate the castles, landscapes and legends that inspired the settings and characters in the film – creating a Scotland experience that could only come from Disney. Guests will find some of that inspiration in the historic Black House of Arnol and the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, both of which served as reference for the Witch’s cottage, and Dunnottar Castle, one of the inspirations for the DunBroch family’s home.

“‘Scotland: A Brave Adventure’ combines the creative genius of Pixar Animation Studios with Disney’s ability to bring iconic stories to life in a whole new way,” said Josh D’Amaro, Vice President, Adventures by Disney®. “For the first time ever, our guests will be fully immersed in the legends and locations that inspired the film. Brave is the perfect tale for Adventures by Disney® to share; Merida’s experience speaks to the importance of the family bond – a cornerstone of any Disney vacation.”

As with any Adventures by Disney® itinerary, guests will participate in authentic, hands-on activities. On the Isle of Skye, adventurers will partake in traditional highland games, make Scottish pastries – a favorite treat of Merida’s triplet brothers – and take lessons in Celtic music and dance. While traveling through Inverness, guests will participate in two of Merida’s favorite activities – horseback riding through the Caledonian Forest and archery at Glamis Castle. In Edinburgh, families will learn the art of tapestry-making at Dovecot Studios.

Another signature of an Adventures by Disney® vacation, families will visit the Scotland’s most treasured historical sites – Eilean Donan and Edinburgh Castles, the ancient Callanish Standing Stones and Dun Carloway Broch on the Isle of Lewis – but in unique ways that only Disney could dream up. Why just walk the shores of Loch Ness when you can go on a canoe expedition searching for “Nessie” and discovering the picture-perfect Urquhart Castle?

In the capital city, travelers will tour the Royal Mile, including privately-guided visits to the Palace of Holyroodhouse – the Scottish home of the Royal Family – and the National Museum of Scotland, where they will learn fascinating details of the ancient period in which Brave is set.

This new adventure to Scotland is only one of two new itineraries for 2013. Adventures by Disney® previously announced a Southeast Asia itinerary. Featuring Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, the 12-day, 11-night itinerary will give adventurers the opportunity to experience some of Asia’s most exotic and culturally-rich cities – including Saigon, Hanoi, Hoi An, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.

All of Adventures by Disney’s® itineraries feature two knowledgeable Adventure Guides who serve as leaders, storytellers, companions and personal concierge – taking care of all the details for a truly hassle-free travel experience. Since its launch seven years ago, Adventures by Disney® has been recognized by numerous travel organizations for its excellence in family tourism and was ranked #1 among Tour Operators and Safari Outfitters for Families in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best awards 2011 readers’ survey!

All 2013 itineraries will be available to book starting today, May 23, 2012.

The Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure® Park will serve its first guest on Friday, June 15th, when the new Buena Vista Street area opens in the park. The restaurant, under direction of Executive Chef Andrew Sutton, will showcase the tastes of contemporary Southern California cuisine.

The interior of the Carthay Circle Restaurant recalls the grandeur of its namesake – the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles – the location where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937. The menu will feature a wide selection of local craft beer, wine, meat, and seafood.

Just a few of the selections you will find on the menu:

Grilled Jamaican Jerked Kingfish with a Tropical Salsa of Pineapple, Mango, Black Beans and Lime

Crispy Firecracker Duck Wings Finished with Soy, Lime and Sriracha Chili Sauce

Angus Flank Steak Cobb salad with Mine Shaft Blue Cheese, Bacon, Avocado and Arugula with Cabernet Essence

Fried Banana Split Monte Cristo Sundae

Carthay Circle Restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner and will provide guests with reserved center stage viewing of World of Color*. Advance Reservations may be made by your Magic Maker® 60-days in advance.

*For guests dining between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., each guest purchasing and appetizer and an entrée or an entrée and dessert receives a ticket to center stage viewing area for the FIRST show. Guests dining between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. will receive access to the SECOND show (with same purchase).

If you are just as excited for the Cars Land opening on June 15th as we are, be sure to tune into Part 2 of the season finale of America’s Funniest Home Videos tonight! The show was taped inside Cars Land at Disney California Adventure® Park and will give a glimpse of what guests will be able to experience when Cars Land opens in less than a month!

Check your local listings for air time of AFV on your ABC station.

runDisney has announced details on the course for the 2013 Walt Disney World® Marathon. Taking place on Sun, January 13, 2013, this year’s event will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Marathon.

With a course that travels through all four Walt Disney World® theme parks, the Walt Disney World® Marathon route offers plenty of scenary for runners and will be the most magical 26.2 miles you will ever run on Earth! The course starts at Epcot®, continues on to the Magic Kingdom® Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios® before an exhilarating finish back at Epcot®. Along the way, you will find many photo opportunities along the way with Disney characters and parade floats.

In celebration of the 20th Anniversary, runDisney has made a couple changes to the route. Between miles 8 & 9, the course will take a lap around the Walt Disney World® Speedway! Also, a run through Champion® Stadium, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves will be part of the course! A “Mile 20 Spectacular” is also being planned inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, but full entertainment details have yet to be released! Also, an additional post-race party will be held in the Downtown Disney® Area on Sunday.

Registration is currently open for all of the different Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend races. Please contact your Magic Maker® for full details.

This morning, fans of all ages will assemble at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® for the opening day of Star Wars™ Weekends. This annual sci-fi event, which is included with regular theme park admission, includes several different interactive activities, exclusive merchandise, and meet-and-greet opportunities with Star Wars™ celebrities and characters. Be sure to watch our Facebook page as we post some updates and photos from the event all weekend long!

One of this year’s celebrity meet-and-greet opportunities will be with Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars™: The Clone Wars. While these autograph sessions are a lot of fun, sometimes they turn a little “weird!” Check out the video below.