Disney News

In the past couple weeks, both the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida and the Disneyland® Resort in California have hosted events for USA Olympic athletes hoping to make their dreams come true at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

A send-off party for Brittany Viola, a U.S. Olympic Diving Team member, was held inside Planet Hollywood® at the Downtown Disney® Area of the Walt Disney World® Resort. Viola will perform in the women’s 10-meter platform this August. During Trials, she qualified with almost 60 more points than the second place qualifier!

This past Tuesday, the Anaheim-based men’s and women’s USA Volleyball teams were the stars of a special cavalcade on Main Street, U.S.A® at Disneyland® Park. With Mickey and his pals by their side, the teams walked to the beats of the Disneyland® Resort All-American College Band while being showered with red, white and blue confetti. The U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Volleyball Teams are ranked #1 and #5 in the world respectively.

These patriotic tributes were a great way for Disney Parks to recognize the dreams of all U.S. athletes who are on their way to represent our country in the Olympic Games.

Enjoy this video of the send-off cavalcade at Disneyland® Park

By Magic Maker Heather Straight

It’s hard to say who was more excited about visiting Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa on the island of Oahu in Hawaii – me and my husband, or our two young boys. Certainly my husband and I had always put a visit to Hawaii high on our travel “Bucket List,” and our boys, ages eight and five, had been hooked from the first look they had of pictures of the lazy river, the water slides, the pools and the many water play areas. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Honolulu, and were greeted with smiles and fragrant lei in the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa lobby, we knew we were in for the vacation of a lifetime.

Everything about Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa tells a story – the story of Hawaii, its people, its culture, its landscapes – and it’s all done with an attention to detail that Disney does so well. From the exquisite murals lining the beautiful lobby to the colorful photos taken by local Hawaiian children that form a work of art behind the front desk, from the sweeping views of the Pacific ocean on one side to the volcanic mountains on the other, everywhere you turn you immersed in the beauty and history of the Hawaiian islands. Combined with the exceptional service that they are known for, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is a truly remarkable family vacation destination.

The boys divided their time between Aunty’s Beach House and the Waikolohe Valley. Aunty’s Beach House is a major family perk of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, a complimentary kids’ club for children ages three and up, staffed with excellent, well-trained youth counselors that keep children engaged and safe. Aunty’s Beach House features areas for dress-up and imaginative play, arts and crafts, computers, a TV room, an outdoor play area, a magical fireplace for storytelling, and much more. Kids can make volcanoes erupt or concoct “Space Goo” with Stitch, and several premium programs are available for an additional fee. Our boys did Aunty’s Make Believe Magic, a half-day program that included lunch and a magical treasure hunt through Aunty’s Beach House.

The Waikolohe Valley is essentially a 7-acre water park, with pools, slides and a lazy river surrounding the centerpiece, the Pu’u Kilo Volcano. Our whole family spent hours floating on the lazy river, swimming in the pools, rocketing down the water slides, basking in the sun and searching for hidden animals and sea life carved into the sides of Pu’u Kilo Volcano. It was nearly impossible to draw our youngest away from the Menehune Bridge, an immense water play area inhabited by the mischievous “menehune” – the Hawaiian equivalent of a leprechaun. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy could be found hosting poolside parties, and Chip and Dale made regular appearances at Rainbow Reef, the man-made snorkeling lagoon full of colorful fish where the whole family can try their hand at snorkeling.

One afternoon while the boys were playing at Aunty’s Beach House, my husband and I visited the Lani Wai Spa for Lomi Lomi massages (a Hawaiian technique using hot stones and a special massage stick carved from the lomi lomi tree) and relaxation in the outdoor hydrotherapy garden. I consider myself something of a spa connoisseur, and try to fit in a spa visit on every vacation. Lani Wai Spa was easily the most amazing spa experience I’ve ever had, from pools and showers in the hydrotherapy garden to the excellent facilities in the locker and relaxation rooms. I highly recommend the Lomi Lomi massage, a very relaxing experience.

The Pau Hana Room, the community room, offers complimentary daily Hawaiian craft classes (we made floral lei, fern bracelets, kukui nut bracelets and sea turtle pendants) as well as a place for the family to play Wii or Playstation games, catch a movie, send home a video post card or learn the basics of hula. It’s also the place to pick up a hand-held device (similar to an iPhone) and set off on the Menehune Adventure Trail, an interactive adventure through the grounds of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

While we did set off for adventures around Oahu, such as Pearl Harbor and the North Shore, we could have easily stayed our entire week at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa and never been bored. Playing on the beach with sand toys and boogie boards (complimentary for Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa guests), stand-up paddleboard and outrigger rentals, and a host of excursions offered by Adventures by Disney have something for all ages. Nightly story telling, star gazing, and an amazing show called the Starlit Hui carry the entertainment well into the evening hours.

I could go on and on for pages and pages about Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, the service, the food, the spacious and comfortable rooms, the friendly and helpful Cast Members, the adventures and more, and still not be finished describing what was, so far, the most magical family vacation we’ve ever taken.

The highest compliment I can pay is this – scarcely a day goes by that my boys (and often my husband!) don’t ask when we’ll be going back to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

Epcot® has announced the addition of two new events for this year’s International Food & Wine Festival.

The Marketplace VIP Access Chef Tour will provide guests with tastes from five selected marketplaces around the World Showcase and a behind-the-scenes interaction with the chefs. The two hour tour will include five preselected dishes and five adult beverages and is available every Wednesday starting at 10:30am. Cost is $90 plus tax and requires separate park admission.

An Italian Regional Food & Wine Luncheon will creatively pair wines with casual, authentic dishes for its guests. The luncheon will take place Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon – 2pm at Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar inside the Italy Pavilion. Cost is $75 plus tax and requires separate park admission.

Many of your favorite events from past Food & Wine Festivals will also be returning this year. We will bring you more details on the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival as they become available. Bookings for all Food & Wine Events open on 8/14 at 7am, so be sure to contact your Magic Maker® to discuss your event options.

Did you know that Disney FREE Dining is available for select dates of Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival? Request a free no obligation quote now!

To all who come to this happy place: Welcome! Disneyland® is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland® is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America … with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world. – Walt Disney

When Walt Disney opened the gates to Disneyland® Park 57 years ago today, no one imagined it would be what it is today. Even though Walt encountered many obstacles and was told numerous times that he was making a grave mistake, he continued to follow his dream. Today, more than 500 million guests have visited Disneyland® Park, becoming a source for memories that will last a lifetime!

In celebration of Disneyland® Park’s 57th Birthday, enjoy these Fun Facts:

• Disneyland® Park, “The Happiest Place on Earth,” occupies 85 acres of land about 27 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
• Disneyland® Park features 8 themed lands – Main Street, U.S.A®, Tomorrowland®, Fantasyland®, Frontierland®, Critter Country, Adventureland®, New Orleans Square, and Mickey’s Toontown.
• When Disneyland® Park opened on July 17, 1955, it had 18 major attractions. Now, guests will find more than 60 different adventures and attractions!
• It takes approximately 5,000 gallons of paint each year to keep Disneyland® Park looking as beautiful today as it did 57 years ago.
• Each year, more than 1 million annuals are planted at Disneyland® Park.
• Approximately 30 tons of garbage is collected each day in the Park.
• No visit to Disneyland® Park is complete without food! Each year, an estimated 3 million hamburgers, 2 million hot dogs, 1.6 million servings of popcorn, and 2.8 million churros are served.
• The Costuming Department is responsible for approximately 800,000 pieces! Annually, about 300,000 buttons are replaced on costumes!
• Each night, custodial cast members wash and steam clean the streets of Disneyland® Park.
• The Disneyland® Band has marched more than 3,500 miles in over 90,000 performances since opening day in 1955. The repertoire of the band includes more than 400 musical numbers.

What is your favorite part of Disneyland® Park? Tell us in the comment section below!

If this doesn’t snap you out of your case of the “Mondays,” we’re not sure what will!

For just over a year, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade has been energizing the guests and bringing a beat to the streets of Disneyland® Park. Mickey Mouse kicks off the parade by playing the drum along with a six-member drumline. Each of the parade floats has their own unique rhythm and instruments that tie-in with the particular storyline.

Gather ’round, turn up the sound, and enjoy this music celebration!