Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from the upcoming Disney movie, Tangled, are now greeting guests in Fantasyland® at Disneyland® park. Beginning October 24, both characters also will appear at Fairytale Garden in the Magic Kingdom® Park at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando.
You can also see Rapunzel and Flynn Rider on the big screen when Tangled debuts in theaters this Thanksgiving.
From Magic Maker® Jeff Williams
If you’ve ever watched your child go into anaphylactic shock from a severe allergic reaction to food, you get a little hesitant to eat out at restaurants and do a lot of traveling. When we booked our first Walt Disney World® vacation when my son was 4, I was very nervous about being able to find something for him to eat at the restaurants. Well, let me tell you, I need not have worried. When I called to make our advanced dining reservations, I was asked if anyone in our group had dietary concerns or food allergies. I explained that my son had life threatening allergies to Milk, Eggs and Peanuts. They made a note of his situation on all of our reservations. I was still sure that I would need to be very vigilant while at the Resort.
When we arrived and went to our first counter service eatery, I was pleasantly surprised to see that all of the places offered soy milk. The Cast Members were very knowledgeable and helped determine what my son could safely eat. So far, so good. The next hurdle was going to be the table service restaurants and their endless buffet lines. They all have incredible food to be sure, but how would we know what he could and couldn’t eat?
To my surprise upon check in at our first table service restaurant, the chef came out and took us through the entire buffet line and explained exactly what ingredients were in each dish and which items to avoid. I was flabbergasted that a simple note on a table reservation made it all the way through the chain of communication to a chef that cared enough to spend that kind of time making sure that my family could enjoy our meal safely. THAT is just one of the many “Disney Touches” that keeps me coming back year after year.
Contact your Magic Maker™ to help make your dining arrangements and discuss with them any special dietary needs or concerns you may have.
Karamelle-Küche, an Old World German caramel shop, is opening its doors to let the scent of fresh caramel float through the walkways of the Germany Pavilion
and onto Epcot® World Showcase. Karamelle-Küche is German for Caramel Kitchen. This new shop will engulf you in the sights and smells of an old world German caramel shop. Guests can watch cast members making fresh caramel popcorn, caramel apples and caramel-covered strawberries and marshmallows. Werther’s Original candy is on the shelves, and the shop also includes gourmet caramels, cookies, brownies, fudge and cupcakes. It will not only will carry items made fresh daily but a variety of specialty merchandise and gifts that are only available at Epcot®. The shop replaces the Glas und Porzellan shop.
A favorite Disney Vacation Club Resort, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, is getting a facelift. A major room refurbishment is underway that will make the villas feelfresh, more high tech and modern. New flat–panel TVs, gorgeous granite countertops and the addition of a sleeper chair in the one and two bedroom villas as well as new bedding and pillows, drapes, rugs, chairs, carpeting, lamps and furniture bring the resort up to date. The renovation will take place building by building.
When you walk into one of the newly renovated villas at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, you really notice a difference. The warm colors are very elegant while still capturing the playful nature of Key West.
Guests do not need to be members of Disney Vacation Club to stay at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
Disney’s newest resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort, is scheduled to open Summer 2012. 
This new Disney Value Resort hotel, will draw its inspiration from 4 classic Disney animated films: The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Disney·Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Cars. Each one of the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort buildings are being designed to make you feel like you are part of one of 4 beloved animated films.
The 864 rooms planned within The Little Mermaid buildings will be sea-inspired with an eye towards value.
The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo buildings are planned to exclusively feature family suites which accommodate up to six guests. The concepts show a total of 1,120 family suites—all arranged for added space and comfort. The concept for these family suites include 2 separate bathrooms, a master bedroom, and 3 separate sleeping areas within the living space, which includes an “Inovabed”—an impressive piece of furniture that transforms from a generously sized dining or work table to a comfortable bed in seconds.
Kids and kids at heart will be able to romp through one of the 4 courtyards—one courtyard for each film—where there will be icons and sculptures to interact with and play around. Make a splash in the main pool—complete with a pool bar—or relax in one of the 2 quiet pool areas. Planned amenities at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort include an animation-themed food court, arcade, retail location and interior airline check-in stations.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is scheduled to be located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom® theme park and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It will be a smoke-free Resort; smoking will be permitted only in designated outdoor smoking locations.
Specific booking dates haven’t been released yet. Please continue to check back for more information and details.
*Artist renderings show concepts only. Final design is subject to change.
La Hacienda, the new table service restaurant in the Mexico Pavilion of Epcot‘s World Showcase is now open. Guests are welcome to walk up for seating currently with reservations available starting October 15.
The smallest details combine to create a striking exterior blends beautifully with the pavilion both inside and out. The pavilion is designed to look like a warm, inviting home with a casual-but sophisticated, south-of-the-border ambience. Fabulous views of the World Showcase Lagoon offer front row seating for “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” fireworks spectacular. Music will be piped into the dining room nightly for the show.
La Hacienda shares air-conditioned space with La Cantina, the new quick-service location, up until about 2:30 in the afternoon, when they stop indoor seating to get ready for dinner guests.
Can’t wait to try this new restaurant? Contact your Magic Maker® about making a dinner reservation.
The entertainment team at the Walt Disney World® Resort is developing a new parade for Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ featuring some favorite Pixar pals. While details are still being worked out, we do know that four Pixar characters not currently seen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ – Remy and Emile from “Ratatouille” and Carl and Russell from Disney/Pixar’s “Up” – will be added to the lineup. The tentative title for the new parade is “Pixar Pals Cavalcade” and will feature music from the “Pixar Play Parade” from Disney California Adventure®.
Block Party Bash will make its final performance on January 1, 2011. The new show is scheduled to open January 16. We’ll post more details as they are released.
There’s a new fairy in Pixie Hollow at the Walt Disney World® Resort and her name is Vidia. She’s known as the fastest-flying fairy there is and now you’ll be able to meet Vidia at the Magic Kingdom® Park along with Tinker Bell and her other friends including Terrance, Silvermist, Rosetta, and Fawn.
Vidia is one of the stars of the upcoming movie “Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue” set to be released on Blu-ray, DVD and via movie download on September 21.
For just 14 days in August and 14 days in September-October, Chef Mickey’s restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is adding a lunch buffet, complete with Disney Characters to meet and greet diners.
High demand for the free dining package necessitates the expanded dining time, but anyone (not just guests on the package) can make a reservation.Cost is $28.75 including tax, $15.97 ages 3 to 9, under 3 free.
Dates are now through Aug. 28, and Sept. 19-Oct. 2. Lunch hours are 12:30-2:30 p.m. Breakfast and dinner are still offered as usual.
Contact your Magic Maker® to help with your dining reservations.
Free Dining is available for select dates through September 2011*.
Click here for details or click below to request a quote.
2010 Christian music Artist of the Year Casting Crowns and past Christian music “Artists of the Year” Third Day, mercyme and Chris Tomlin head a star-powered 16-act lineup set for Disney’s Night of Joy 2010 Sept. 10-11 when the long-running Christian music event makes its return to Magic Kingdom® Park at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.
Also part of the two-night event (when specific acts play one evening each): David Crowder*Band, Family Force 5, Red, BarlowGirl, Day of Fire, Smokie Norful, Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, Sidewalk Prophets, Thousand Foot Krutch and Britt Nicole.
We have a first look at the 2010 Night of Joy Concert Schedule (artist/times subject to change without notice)
Friday, September 10
| Artist | Stage | Showtimes |
| Group 1 Crew | Galaxy Stage | 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m. |
| David Crowder* Band | Cinderella Castle Stage | 7:45 p.m. |
| Sidewalk Prophets | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 8:15 p.m. |
| Casting Crowns | Cinderella Castle Stage | 9:45 p.m. |
| 10th Avenue North | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 9:45 p.m. |
| BarlowGirl | Galaxy Stage | 10:45 p.m. & 12:15 a.m. |
| Thousand Foot Krutch | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 11:30 p.m. |
| Chris Tomlin | Cinderella Castle Stage | 11:45 p.m. |
Saturday, September 11
| Artist | Stage | Showtimes |
| Smokie Norful | Galaxy Stage | 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m. |
| Family Force 5 | Cinderella Castle Stage | 7:45 p.m. |
| Britt Nicole | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 8:20 p.m. |
| Third Day | Cinderella Castle Stage | 9:45 p.m. |
| Day of Fire | Rockettower Plaza Stage | 9:45 p.m. & 11:20 p.m. |
| LeCrae | Galaxy Stage | 10:30 p.m. |
| MercyMe | Cinderella Castle Stage | 11:45 p.m. |
| Red | Galaxy Stage | Midnight |