Disney News

The Walt Disney World® Resort’s newest resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has now set opening dates beginning on May 31, 2012.

Located near Disney’s Pop Century Resort, the new resort will offer 1,120 family suites (including a bedroom and living room) themed after “The Lion King,” “Cars” and “Finding Nemo” animated films.  The family suites are designed to comfortably accomodate up to six guests.  Each suite includes two separate bathrooms, a master bedroom, and three separate sleeping areas within the living space.

The scheduled opening dates are:

• Finding Nemo (Grand opening) – Opens May 31
• Cars – Opens June 18
• Lion King – Opens August 10
• Little Mermaid – Opens September 15

You can now start making reservations to stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for your vacation to the Walt Disney World® Resort.  Talk to your Magic Maker® for more information or click below to request a quote.

*Images are Walt Disney Imagineering Concept Art, actual construction may vary

by Magic Maker® Danny Cox

The Walt Disney World® Speedway has always been a place of thrills and excitement, but over the course of the past 18 years…things have “slowed” down a little. Everyone at Walt Disney World® Resort realized this and knew it was time to “speed things up” once again. Driving a stock car is one incredible piece of excitement and not something that guests get the chance to do elsewhere, but an update was long in the making. Now Walt Disney World® Resort has done so and added a touch of flash and dash to the mix.

Starting on January 16, 2012, guests were able to visit the Walt Disney World® Resort and have the chance to drive the Speedway’s new line of “Exotic Cars.” This isn’t just something those in the field of mechanics will be interested in either. That line includes a Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, Audi R8, and a Porsche 997 S.

Guests are going to have the opportunity to do one of two options:

• $99 for a ride-a-long with a professional instructor driving them around the track.
• $199, guests can drive themselves with the instructor sitting in the passenger seat beside them coaching them and offering feedback.

Upon arriving at the facility, guests will be shown a short training video and get instructions/rules from certified professionals. Please do yourself and all those around you a favor – Follow these rules. This is a dangerous place and trying to be a show-off or big shot could result in serious injury or worse. Walt Disney World® Resort wants to keep you safe so help out and keep them safe as well.

Oh, don’t worry if you’re someone that doesn’t know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle because none of these cars have a clutch or stick shift. Every car can be driven in “automatic” mode or by shifting gears with hand paddles located right behind the steering wheel. Coming from someone having no idea how to drive stick, the hand paddles really are quite simple. After your training, you’ll be taken outside where you can pick which vehicle you’d like for your drive or ride. We as press had to draw randomly from a hat and I was lucky enough to draw the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. It is an absolutely gorgeous vehicle and handles like you wouldn’t believe.

After all is said and done, a photo taken by a crew member is available to purchase. You can also buy a video of your trek around the course on DVD ($89) or a computer jump drive ($99). This video shows the whole ride from two angles – a camera pointed inside at you and one pointed outside at the road.

Trust me that the video is a great keepsake because you not only get to watch the course but your reactions as well while driving. There is a ton of information that also is shown including lap times, lowest rates of speed, highest rates of speed, lap times, and so much more. It’s great to check out your speeds too because you aren’t able to do so while driving. The speedometer is covered up so guests aren’t distracted.

If you’re looking for something new to try at Walt Disney World® Resort, please do yourself or someone you care for a favor and head to the Speedway. Six laps around the one-mile course in any of these beauties will have your adrenaline pumping and your hands shaking.

Ready to shift your next vacation into “high gear?” Ask your Magic Maker® how to add the Exotic Driving Experience to your upcoming Walt Disney World® Resort vacation!

We have shared several articles about the New Fantasyland expansion and the great amount of attention Imagineers are paying to the little details. With these new areas of the Magic Kingdom® Park comes the need for new cast member costuming.

Walt Disney Imagineering and Creative Entertainment have worked hand-in-hand to create new costumes for each area of New Fantasyland. These unique garments help tell a story of your surroundings and create a rich sense of community.

With last week’s opening of Storybook Circus, we saw costumes inspired by the “Big Top.” The bold colors of them evoke the spirit of the ringmaster or sideshow barker with tails and detailing provide a look of the 1930s.

Take a look into the design process and story behind the New Fantasyland Costumes

Last Wednesday, we shared about the “Soft Opening” of Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom® Park.

Imagineers and construction crews are hard at work making sure no details are missed in every aspect of the New Fantasyland. Recently, a massive mural was installed at the Be Our Guest Restaurant. This mural will serve as a backdrop making restaurant guests feel like they are part of the “Beauty and the Beast” movie.

Take a look at this amazing mural and how much detail is being placed into it.

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