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News from around the "World":
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE "WORLD" WALT DISNEY WORLD Mother of monorail driver killed sues Disney Authentic Pizzeria to Open at Epcot’s Italy Pavilion Two-time MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo Headline Inaugural Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic Walt Disney World Monthly Calendar -------------------------------- OUTSIDE WALT DISNEY WORLD Sesame Street bound for Busch Gardens Legoland Florida: Merlin Entertainments reveals details of new Winter Haven park - Legoland is scheduled to open by the end of 2011. E-mail: Legoland to open at Cypress Gardens Orlando's theme parks ending sluggish year on bright note -------------------------------- DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA Private jewelry store in Disneyland set to close Something New On The Horizon At Seaworld San Diego: New Dolphin Show Is Theatrical Spectacular Wine bar re-opens at Disney’s California Adventure -------------------------------- DISNEYLAND PARIS -------------------------------- DISNEYLAND TOKYO What's new at Tokyo Disneyland -------------------------------- LAS VEGAS -------------------------------- BRANSON, MO -------------------------------- NOTE: News sources remove their articles rather quickly. If you receive a "File Not Found" error message, search the source's archives for the story. Certain news organizations require a free registration to view their articles online.
Jenn writes about last week's note regarding the florist serving Walt Disney World: "Hi John and Beth!! Just wanted to add a note about the florist article you mentioned. They will deliver to WDW parks. We have celebrated many special occasions @ WDW in the last 10 years, from B-days to recovering from brain surgeries, to hitting the 5 year mark on a serious illness-marking a great time to celebrate being out of the woods. We have had the candy cake delivered to Le Cellier, and flowers delivered to Tutto's Italiano in Italy; they will accommodate everything. Just wanted to let you and everyone else know. As long as you have a reservation later in the day, say after 2 or 3 ish, like their delivery time, they can get it there, and the restaurant will hold it for you. Very nice to have at the table waiting for the guest of honor!!!"
Beth, our travel agent, writes about introducing your child to the "big kid" rides and dealing with lines at Walt Disney World: Lines, Line and More Lines "So, it’s cold and rainy and the day before Thanksgiving, but we’re determined that my daughter will enjoy her birthday and we enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios around 2:00 in the afternoon. First stop, Tower of Terror. My daughter had never done it and wasn’t sure she wanted to. Luckily for her, they were all out of Fast Passes for the day, and the posted wait time was 75 minutes. We moved on. Next stop: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Again, no more Fast Passes, but the line didn’t LOOK as long as the posted 65 minute wait time so we joined the standby line. Turns out it was every bit that long and then some. Now, this was another one my daughter had never done. She loves the Barnstormer in Magic Kingdom and we told her that going for a 'big kid' ride for the first time was a great way to kick off her 12th year of life. You know, facing your fears and doing something you’ve really wanted to do despite those fears. She cried. Then she begged not to do it. I was feeling guilty about potentially ruining her birthday. So we called her best friend (a fearless child) on the cell phone. God bless Kaitlyn who spent ten minutes pumping my daughter up for the impending ride. The little girl in front of us (and her parents) also worked on her, so by the time we got to the boarding area my daughter had stopped crying and had come to the realization that she was going to do this whether she wanted to or not. Now I personally have a severe problem with motion sickness and the mere thought of a coaster makes me barfy, so as by daughter and my (very brave) boyfriend climbed into their seats I took the chicken exit and waited. A few minutes later their ride was over and their car pulled up right in front of me. My daughter looked at me, then smiled bigger than I’ve seen her smile in years. She admitted that her eyes were closed most of the time, so she was unaware of the inversions she’d been put through. She loved it. Not enough to want to get right back on, but she’ll do it again – and she was clearly so proud of herself that it was worth every minute in line. So, off to have more fun. Don’t waste your time on the so-called ice cream outside R’n’R Coaster… It’s yucky and not worth your money or your snack credits. We grabbed Fast Passes to Voyage of the Little Mermaid then spent about 30 minutes doing the One Man’s Dream exhibit and movie. (After subjecting my boyfriend to five days of Disney travel agent conference, he’s now in wonder of the man that dreamed it all up.) Then, silly us, we thought we’d jump on Toy Story Mania, another one my daughter hadn’t done. We couldn’t get more Fast Passes, so we just got in the standby line. I will never, ever again make that mistake. The sign said the wait was 40 minutes. We waited one hour and 55 minutes. Seriously! Us and a few hundred others who were as stupid as we were. The Fast Pass people were all accommodated immediately, and there was a never-ending stream of them. By the time we got in we’d missed our showing of Little Mermaid. (Fortunately, Disney will accept Fast Passes even after the stated return window so don’t throw them out.) Now we’re cold and wet and frustrated and more than a tad irritated - both at Disney for allowing lines to become so insanely long (Walt would be horrified) and at ourselves for being dumb enough to stand in a line that long. We took my daughter to see the Osborne Lights then shared a little pizza and a salad at Pizza Planet before returning to catch the Little Mermaid show. We then had to run all over the park looking for a pin to commemorate Emily’s first ride on Rock’n’Roller Coaster. Our long wait for Toy Story Mania had eliminated the possibility of seeing Fantasmic and every live show in the park. We stopped at the popcorn stand on Hollywood Blvd and discovered the hard way that the popcorn that smells so good really isn’t. In fact, it’s not even warm. It was getting late and the park was closing soon so we started our trek back to the hotel to have birthday cake and faux champagne. Lessons: * Sometimes you need to push your kids to cross the fear barrier. If you’re lucky, they’ll thank you for it later. * Ask if the ice cream is real ice cream and if the popcorn is warm BEFORE you buy if the answers make a difference to you. * If you’re at the back of a line that seems impossibly long and is barely moving, stay no more than 10-15 minutes to verify your suspicions, then get out of line and do something else. Life’s too short to spend two hours waiting for ANY attraction. * Get into parks as early as humanly possible if you hope to get a lot accomplished. If you arrive after lunch time then know in advance that you probably won’t check many things off your list - especially if you are after those 'E ticket' rides. * Even a rainy, cold day with long lines can make for a good birthday experience. After all, a day at Disney World beats pretty much all the other options."
Off the Beaten Path - Discover the Undiscovered at Walt Disney World Resort LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - High-flying elephants and spinning teacups usually take center stage when a guest is thinking of Walt Disney World Resort. But did you know that 9-pound lemons flourish at The Land pavilion at Epcot, or that sunset safaris explore Africa-inspired savannas in the middle of Florida? Guests who take a second - or third - glance will come across countless undiscovered gems within the 40-square-mile Vacation Kingdom. Here’s a sample of "the unexpected": Experiences: Find treasure at The Pirates League at Magic Kingdom - This buccaneer experience in Adventureland features makeovers that turn guests ages 3 and up into savvy swashbucklers. Guests who want to join Captain Jack’s motley crew will receive a pirate identity, be transformed into a pirate by a sea-sailing Pirate Master, gain access to a secret treasure room and unlock clues to more pirate encounters within Adventureland. All three packages include a sword and sheath, earring and eye patch, temporary tattoo, exclusive pirate coin necklace, map case folder, a personalized pirate oath and a pirate portrait. Packages start at $49.95 plus tax (407/WDW-CREW). Take a spin on a Segway Personal Transporter - The Segway PT, originally the "Human Transporter" first displayed to the public at Epcot Innoventions in 2002, is the world’s first self-balancing personal transporter that uses advanced technology, gyroscopes and tilt sensors to emulate human balance. Guests can put these high-tech machines to the test in two tours offered most days at Epcot and also at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. * Around the World at Epcot is a two-hour tour that allows guests to operate the device throughout World Showcase before the area opens to park guests ($99/person not including tax; tours are daily at 7:45, 8:30,9 and 9:30 a.m.). * Simply Segway is a one-hour program that gives guests a product overview, training and indoor riding time at Innoventions ($35/person not including tax; daily at 11:30 a.m.). For both programs, class size is limited to 10 guests (407/WDW-TOUR). * The Wilderness Back Trail Adventure at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort is a two-hour beginner’s tour that allows guests to experience the outdoors first-hand on a Segway X2 Personal Transporter. The program also includes a product overview and training ($90/person not including tax; tours are Tuesday-Saturday 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.). Harmony Barber Shop a cut above the rest - Sit back in the barber’s chair and experience a good old-fashioned haircut at Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. Located near the Emporium and with a signature candy-striped pole outside, the shop transports guests to a simpler time when barbershop quartets entertained and getting a haircut was a real treat. "First Haircuts," the establishment’s specialty, treats young’uns to pixie dust, bubbles, Mickey Mouse stickers and an extra-special "My 1st Haircut" set of Mouse Ears. Haircuts are $18 for "Baby’s First Haircut;" $15 for children; $19 for adults; first-come, first-serve. Sunset Safari at Disney’s Kingdom Lodge offers up-close encounters with exotic creatures - Guests staying at the lodge can enter a serene animal reserve for an up-close encounter on the Wanyama Safari. Just before sunset seven nights a week, guests board a specially designed vehicle that explores the resort’s three savannas. Guests get picture-perfect views of more than 200 mammals and exotic birds and then partake in a savory South African feast at the resort’s signature restaurant, Jiko-The Cooking Place. The 3 ½-hour experience, including dinner, is $170. For reservations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, call 407/W-DISNEY. The Land at Epcot mixes science and entertainment to grow one-of-a-kind plants - Behind the brightly colored, mosaic façade of The Land pavilion at Epcot sits offices where greenhouse magic takes place. "Horti-tainment," a mix of horticulture and entertainment, creates some of the most visually interesting fruits and vegetables found under one roof anywhere in the world. Among the highlights: a world-record harvest from a single tomato vine (see below); Mickey Mouse-shaped cucumbers, watermelons and pumpkins; 9-pound lemons, and more. ‘Tomato Tree’ sets record with 32,000 tomatoes - The Tomato Tree at The Land pavilion at Epcot has blossomed into a record-setting plant. The tree was recognized as an official Guinness World Record Holder, with a one-year harvest of more than 32,000 tomatoes and a total weight of 1,151 pounds. Guests can spot the tree during the pavilion’s Living with the Land boat ride. Take the ultimate divein a 6-million-gallon indoor aquarium with more than 65 species of marine life, including sharks, turtles, eagle rays and diverse tropical fish. DiveQuest at Epcot offers guaranteed calm seas, no current, unlimited visibility, incredible marine life and bright coral structures. Additionally, you become part of the show. Your family members and friends (with Epcot admission) can view your dive through any of the 56 giant acrylic windows at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Guest must be at least 10 years of age and must provide proof of SCUBA certification to participate. Price of $175/person (not including tax) includes a limited edition T-shirt, refreshments, dive certificate and a dive log stamp. Call 407/WDW-TOUR for information. Build your own roller coaster at the DisneyQuest CyberSpace Mountain attraction - Bill Nye the Coaster Guy walks guests through the design process where they choose from three different speeds, three world settings (fire, ice or outer space) and an infinite number of track combinations. The roller coaster of your dreams (or nightmares!) can do flips, corkscrews and even wild maneuvers such as a loop that flies off the tracks. A digital card tracks guests’ personal coasters and the simulator re-creates it both visually and physically. Downtown Disney guests must be 51" to ride, 407/W-DISNEY for more information. Learn to hula dance at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, where complimentary classes take place most days in the resort’s lobby. Auntie Kaui, a hula dancer and instructor with 50 years experience, leads most of the classes offered Monday through Saturday at 3:45 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon. Weekday classes are geared toward the younger set, with leis and grass skirts aplenty, while the Saturday morning lessons encourage guests of all ages to do the hula shake. And whether guests stay for five minutes or the full two-hour Saturday classes, they’ll learn a variety of chants and dances from such tropical locales as Hawaii, Tahiti and more. The Archery Experience at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground - Whether novice or expert marksman, an archery guide offers training and tips on how to hit the bulls-eye. Open to resort guests (ages 6 and up) and non-guests alike, the 90-minute experience costs $25 (plus tax) per person, includes equipment and instruction and can be booked up to 180 days in advance by calling 407/939-7529. Offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons. Merchandise & Dining: New, stylish boutique at Downtown Disney is sure to turn heads - Tren-D, the newest retail shop at Downtown Disney Marketplace, is packed full of retro, urban-inspired merchandise. With its designer flair and eclectic offerings, the specialty store is a one-of-a-kind destination for fashion-conscious shoppers seeking trendy apparel and novel accessories. Offerings include organic loungewear, embroidered handbags, jeweled sunglasses and hip accessories set among stylish art and unique furnishings. The eclectic environment offers a raw and unfinished feel with jeweled chandeliers, distinct fixtures and mod furnishings. Designers such as Kidada Jones, Tarina Tarantino and Roxy showcase their artistry - blending it with Disney-inspired creations. New, fashionable Mickey Mouse earhats "all the rage" - Trendsetters and fashion gurus can strut their stuff with new Mickey Mouse earhats that come in a variety of vibrant colors and styles to suit guests of all ages. In addition to traditional earhats, there are specially designed ears with character-specific themes. Gal versions don pink veils, jeweled princess crowns or wild cheetah prints. For the boys, pirate scarves and hoop earrings adorn the headgear, plus Stitch-themed offerings and more. And with the Create Your Own Ears option, guests can custom design their own pair. The Mickey Mouse earhats are available in limited quantities at select locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort starting at $11.95. Creative minds are put to good use at Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney Marketplace, where kids can build and customize toys in five uniquely themed rooms. The Build Your Own Mr. Potato Head display has customizable options including Mickey Mouse ears, a sorcerer’s hat and a teacup vehicle from Disney’s Mad Tea Party attraction. Guests can also enjoy the Build Your Own Lightsaber display, which is a step-by-step "Star Wars" merchandise experience that invites guests to build custom lightsabers with dozens of unique possibilities. It’s the ultimate toy-store shopping experience where kids and families can play and create together. Walt Disney World guests are put right inside their own fairy tale thanks to the special offerings of the Walt Disney World Florist. From popping the question to a birthday or anniversary to "just because," the choices are endless. Surprise moments can be created during a Disney dining experience. A park-goer can return to a guestroom strewn with rose petals. Or a lover can be surprised, during a carriage ride, with a glass slipper - nestled on a pillow made of flowers, ribbons and pearls. Guests can visit www.disneyflorist.com or call 407/827-3505. In World Showcase, young guests can create their own Epcot souvenirs at the park’s Kidcot Funstops. Craftsmen teach the budding artisans how to create one-of-a-kind masks or musical instruments using their own magical touch. Parents and children alike will love to "travel the world" and discover these activity-filled craft areas at each of the pavilions. Epcot is a World Showcase for art lovers - Epcot World Showcase has been a "showplace" of nations since its grand opening in 1982. But beyond the pagodas in Japan and the longboats in Norway lies a whole other world: treating art lovers to museum-quality galleries. Current exhibitions are located at Norway, China, Japan, Morocco, The American Adventure and Mexico. Admission to the exhibitions is included with general park admission. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge houses a diverse collection of African art sure to impress amateurs and aficionados alike. Sculptures and carvings throughout the resort tell stories that help familiarize guests with Africa and its diverse countries and regions. Among the art is the 16-foot-tall Igbo Ijele mask, a piece created and exported by the Igbo people of Nigeria specifically for use in the lodge. Guests can slurp a sandwich at the 50s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where peanut butter and jelly take yummy milkshake form. At this fabulous 1950s kitchenette, the servers holler for guests to take their seats among Formica tables, pull-down lamps and knickknacks, checking in periodically to make sure each person eats their veggies and cleans their plate. Wash it down with a PB&J shake. A popular place to take a break at Epcot is Club Cool, where guests can savor complimentary samples of Coca-Cola products from countries around the world including China, Israel, Italy and Costa Rica. Coca-Cola products are available for purchase, including Frozen Coke, Style My Coke (contour bottle wrappers) and an array of merchandise. The Dole Whip, sold at Aloha Isle in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom, combines pineapple soft serve in a delectable swirl with either vanilla or chocolate ice cream. The tasty, fruit-flavored treat can also be ordered with pineapple chunks or as a dole whip float, all sinfully sweet for a mid-day cool-down, and each for $5 or less. For more information about Walt Disney World Resort, guests can visit www.disneyworld.com or phone 407/824-4321. (Source: Press release, 01/22/10)
Are You Suffering Withdrawal From WDW? You know ... that empty feeling you get when you arrive back home from your vacation at WDW and realize it may be a while before you experience that Disney magic again? We have had that feeling ourselves many times. Yet, we always seem to feel better when we read about the experiences of others who share their trip reports with us. It's almost like being there again. We invite you, our readers, to send us some feedback about your experiences during your latest vacation at WDW. Reports on Disney weddings, honeymoons, cruises, and resort vacations on and off Disney property are all welcome. Send your email to: johngross@affordabledisney.com . Thanks!
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