Walt Disney World News

Walt Disney Company Continues Focus on Healthy Food Choices for Children

Nutritious Foods at Disney ParksSince 2006, The Walt Disney Company has focused on improving and inspiring healthy eating with children. With theirย unique storytelling and beloved characters, they are the first major media company to make healthier lifestyles for families more appealing and more fun.ย While the larger portion of the emphasis has been place on their television/radio stations and their licensed food products, attention has also been given to the dining options at the Theme Parks as well.

The initiative, calledย Disney Magic of Healthy Living,ย brought a selection of new well-balanced kidsโ€™ meals to its Parks and Resorts. These meals automatically include nutritious sides and beverages such as carrots and low-fat milk unless a parent decides to opt out.

Disney Parks and Resorts proudly reported that of the more than 12 million kidsโ€™ meals served last year in the U.S., parents stuck with the healthier options 6 out of 10 times! ย The next steps will further reduce sodium in kidsโ€™ meals and introduce new well-balanced kidsโ€™ breakfast meals.

Disney will soon introduced the โ€œMickey Checkโ€ tool, an icon meant to call out nutritious food and menu items. By the end of 2012 the โ€œMickey Checkโ€ will appear on menus and select products at Disneyโ€™s Parks and Resorts.

โ€œWeโ€™re proud of the impact weโ€™ve had over the last six years,โ€ said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company.ย  โ€œWeโ€™ve taken steps across our company to support better choices for families, and now weโ€™re taking the next important step forward by setting new food advertising standards for kids.ย  The emotional connection kids have to our characters and stories gives us a unique opportunity to continue to inspire and encourage them to lead healthier lives.โ€

Parents will soon notice a change in someย on-airย programming as well. All food and beverage products advertised, sponsored, or promoted on Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney, and Disney-owned online destinations oriented to families with younger children will be required by 2015 to meet Disneyโ€™s nutrition guidelines. These nutrition guidelines are aligned with federal standards to promote fruit and vegetable consumption and call for limiting calories and reducing saturated fat, sodium, and sugar.

What is your child’s favorite healthy snack or side to get at the parks?

New “Queue-less Queue” coming to Dumbo the Flying Elephantยฎ Attraction

Dumbo the Flying Elephantยฎ Attraction Interactive QueueKids of all ages enjoy taking flight on the Dumbo the Flying Elephantยฎย Attraction when they visit theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park. But soon, the wait before boarding the attraction will be the “star of the show!”

As part of the Newย Fantasylandยฎ Area expansion, the attractionย will gain a second ride carousel and a new interactive queue which will be inside the big top tent in Storybook Circus. This queue is an innovative area created by Walt Disney Imagineering and will redefine how guests see “wait times.”

Dumbo the Flying Elephantยฎ Attraction Interactive QueueGuests wishing to ride the Dumbo the Flying Elephantยฎย Attractionย will receive a “circus ticket” (similar to pagers used at many restaurants). The “circus ticket” will hold their place in line and notify them when itโ€™s their turn to take flight on the airborne pachyderms. While waiting, guests can take center stage by enjoying several play experiences all centered around the circus theme.

The new “queue-less queue” inside the big top tent is scheduled to open to guests in July. A similar system was tested back in 2009 at theย Rock ‘n Roller Coasterยฎ Starring Aerosmith atย Disneyโ€™s Hollywood Studiosโ„ข

 

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Fun Facts

Over the past several days, we have shared some amazing photos of theย Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resort’s newest Value Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Not only is the resort full of “character,” but it provides another option for families needing to accommodate more than 4 people.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out our photo tours, here are the links:

Now that you’ve seen the photos, how about some fun facts about the resort?
  • The total property size of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is 87 acres
  • Bringing a car? There resort has over 2,300 parking spaces!
  • Once fully open, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will create 750 hotel jobs
  • The Big Blue Pool has 310,000 gallons of water and is the largest pool on Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resortย property, excluding the water parks
  • If you combined all three of the swimming pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, you could park 125 cars inside the pools
  • The flooring in Landscape of Flavors food court is made from all recyclable materials. Also eco-friendly, guests will dineย withย real silverwareย onย melamine, reusable dishware instead of paper and plastic
  • As a first at a value resort, guests can enjoy the convenience of a self-service business center inside Animation Hall
  • Its 27 acres of landscaping and irrigation is the equivalent of twenty football fields
  • The 227,000 lineal feet of carpet used at the resort could stretch from downtown Orlando to Kennedy Space Center
  • Everyone has heard of a “yellow brick road,” but what about this: Over 529,000 square feet of ceramic tiles were used in the resort – enough to cover a standard two-lane road four miles long
  • If you stacked up all the doors at the resort, they would be as tall as the Empire State Building
  • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort definitely has a true splash of color. Crews used 23,000 gallons of paint, which is enough to fill a typical backyard swimming pool

Photos of Finding Nemo Family Suites – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all the details of the new rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort tie to a storyline of one of four films. In the Finding Nemo suites,ย guests will find coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights in the dining area while rusty metallic tiles in the bathroom make guests feel as though they are in the submarine. Characters will also take center stage as the Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaidย sections of the Resort open in phases later this year.

All 1,120 family suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six guests. The 864 standard The Little Mermaidย rooms will sleep up to four when they open.

โ€œAs more and more families travel and make memories together, they also want to stay together, which has created demand for family suitesโ€ย said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, US and France.

Here is a photo tour of the newย Finding Nemoย themed Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

photo credits: Magic Makersยฎ Danny Cox & Traci Elswick

Opening dates for the remaining three sections of the resort are:

  • Cars โ€“ Jun. 18
  • The Lion King โ€“ Aug. 10
  • The Little Mermaid โ€“ Sep. 15

Contact your Magic Makerยฎ to check on availability for accommodations at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for your upcoming stay!

Big Blue World – Photo Tour of the Grounds at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Thursday’s opening of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort placed guests into the middle of the big blue world of Nemo and friends. The whimsical theme of the two Finding Nemoย buildings and The Big Blue Pool area is spectacular!

Kids young and young-at-heart are making a splash over the Big Blue Pool, the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney Worldยฎ Resort measuring 11,859 sq ft. You feel like you are swimming with Dory and Nemo as underwater speakers periodically pipe in music and messages from the film characters. The Big Blue Pool area also features a giant-sized Crush and Mr. Ray (whose wings span 27 feet).

Take a photo tour of the exterior of the Finding Nemoย themed section and The Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

If you haven’t already, take a peak at the Animation Hall area of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Stop back later for a look inside the Finding Nemoย Family Suites!

Disneyโ€™s Art of Animation Resort Amazes Guests – Animation Hall Photos

Yesterday, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort opened to rave reviews from its first guests, press, and other VIP visitors.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. While we agree, we are afraid that these pictures just won’t doย Walt Disney World’sยฎ newest Value Resort justice! Enjoy these pictures of Animation Hall. Check back later for more pictures of the Resort!

Fun at Epcotยฎ with Children

Epcot World Showcaseby Magic Makerยฎ Leilani Wagner

โ€œHey kids, today we are going to Epcotยฎ!โ€ย  โ€œYAY!โ€

That is the typical reaction from our kids-no matter of their age. Contrary to popular belief, Epcotยฎ is not a dreaded journey though mindless, boring exhibits reminiscent of a middle school field trip.ย Sure, there are educational rides through hanging, soil-less gardens, fish being raised in tubes and tubs, and of course the march around the world of foreign cultures.ย But kids love these attractions, and let me tell you why.

The many, varied countries in Epcotยฎ provide opportunities for your kids to do something we all like to doโ€ฆeat. They can sample food from all over the world in a safe environment.ย Each country makes it easy and relatively inexpensive to sample various food and drink native to their country. The different smells, colors and variety will keep their interest all day.ย The different entertainment such as dancing, shows, drummers and speeches all combine to keep the excitement at a high level.ย You can take your time and see everything and not feel rushed.ย  You will need time, however, as Epcotยฎ is very large. Stroller recommended!

Epcot World ShowcaseJust to add a little more excitement to your next trip with children to Epcotยฎโ€ฆhere are some ideasย we’veย done with our kids while touring the World Showcase.ย  We give our kids a mission to find a specific type of item in each country (usually while Iโ€™m shopping) that represents that country and simply take their picture with that item.ย  ย IE: hat or clothing, a Disney plush toy, etc.ย  One time we gave them a budget and told them the number of countries at Epcotยฎ– their goal was to work together to purchase candy/chocolate from each country to take back home with us. This prolonged the โ€œmagicโ€ as we relived it when weโ€™d open a new candy in the following weeks.

There are hands on exhibits in many places in Epcotยฎ such as Innoventionsยฎย Entertainment Facility. Our girls truly loved these activities and we often had to pry them out of there to see the other exhibits and rides.ย Turtle Talk with Crush is the most fun you can have with an animated character! We had so much fun watching the kids interact with Crush! And donโ€™t forget to check out Club Cool where you can taste soft drinks from all over the world, at no additional charge!

The rides and attractions at Epcotยฎ are a popular draw for kids as well. Soarinโ€™โ„ข Attraction, Mission: SPACEยฎ Attraction, Test Trackยฎย Attraction and the rides within the different countries are favorites of my kids. If your little one is a bit shy of the bigger rides in the other parks, rest assured there are slower, calmer rides that everyone will enjoy throughout Epcotยฎ.ย  The pace is a bit slower as well, which you may appreciate after days of running through Magic Kingdomยฎ Parkย and the other parks.

Take the kids to Epcotยฎ and see the world.

 

Final Days of Snow Whiteโ€™s Scary Adventuresยฎ Attraction

Snow White's Scary AdventuresAfter 40 years of operation, Thursday, May 31st, will mark the final day of theย Snow Whiteโ€™s Scary Adventuresยฎ Attraction atย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park. One of the fourteen remaining opening day attractions atย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park’s opening on October 1, 1971, the attraction will be removed to make way for the new Princess Fairytale Hall.ย 

Princess Fairytale Hall is part of the Newย Fantasylandยฎ Area expansion that is taking place right now at theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park. This royal area will become the new home for guests to meet-and-greet their favorite Disney Princesses. Design of the building calls forย a castle-like entrance of stone and stained glass windows, ย a large gallery with high ceilings and portraits of Disney Princesses, and elegantly finished rooms for guests to meet the Princesses in.

Princess Fairytale Hall is set to debut in late 2013. In the meantime, guests will find the Princesses in various meet-and-greet locations spread throughout theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park. Consult your Times Guide for exact locations and times during your visit.

Car Masters Weekend Racing into Downtown Disneyยฎ Area

Fans of Disneyโ€ขPixar’s Carsย will be running “full throttle” this weekend as theย Walt Disney Worldยฎย Resort presents Car Masters Weekend. The event, which is now in its second year, is a celebration of everything Cars.

This years activities include:

  • Meet-and-Greets with Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Finn McMissile
  • Movie marathon of showings of Carsย and Cars 2 atย AMCยฎ Downtown Disney 24
  • Test-driveย RIDEMAKERZยฎย ย model cars
  • Car Show presented by Hess – with over 100 classic, muscle and exotic cars as well as some of GM’s newest models on display
  • NEWย  Appearance by automotive designer Chip Foose – contributing designer of Ramone from Cars
  • NEWย  LEGOยฎย interactiveย zone
  • NEWย ย Cars-themed topiaries
  • NEWย  Dance party with live DJs

Karting at Car Masters WeekendAlso just announced for this year is high-performance karting from the Richard Perry Driving Experience!ย This karting experience will challenge your driving skills in a high-action race environment while trying to score the best lap time in your racing group. Cost is $20 (plus tax) per person and is open to any licensed drivers age 16 and older. Each additional ride is $10. All participants must sign a waiver, and closed-toed shoes are required.

Hours for the Car Masters Weekend in the Downtown Disneyยฎ Areaย is 9:30 a.m. โ€“ 7 p.m. on June 2nd & 3rd, 2012.

Happy Memorial Day – Magic Kingdomยฎ Park Flag Retreat Ceremony

On this Memorial Day, may we remember all of the brave men and women who have passed while serving and protecting our country.

“Actually, if you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them and up my spine is growing this red, white and blue stripe.”ย  –ย Walter Elias Disney

Since theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park opened back in 1971 through present, the Flag Retreat Ceremony has taken place in Town Square. As a tradition that was started inย Disneylandยฎ Park, this ceremony performed by the Disney Security Color Guard, The Main Street Philharmonic, the Dapper Dans, and a special Honorary Veteran of the Day selected from that day’s guests. Held daily at 5pm, the ceremony is a wonderful way for young and old toย honorย our military and our country.

Please enjoy our video of theย Magic Kingdomยฎ Park Flag Retreat Ceremony:

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