We have a GREAT show for you this week as Tony and John discuss the Disney news for the week of 8-17-15 and so much more
Archives for August 2015
Reservations Now Open for New Happy HalloWishes Dessert Party for 2015
This year’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom Park debuts September 15 (on select dates through November 1), and a new Happy HalloWishes Premium Dessert Package is part of the fun.
This premium offering includes viewing a Mickey’s “Boo-To-You” Halloween Parade from the reserved location in the center flag pole area of Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A., followed by sweet treats at festively decorated Tomorrowland Terrace where you have a cool view of Cinderella Castle during the Happy HalloWishes Nighttime Spectacular.
Tables are laden with goodies such as Halloween-themed chocolate-dipped strawberries, adorable ghost meringues, candy corn panna cotta, peanut butter-chocolate pretzel “witch fingers,” spiced pumpkin cheesecake brownies, peanut butter “spider” whoopie pies, seasonal fruits and cheeses, hot chocolate, signature lemonades and Halloween specialties, and coffee and tea. Little ones will love mummy cupcakes, candy corn cupcakes and “worm and dirt pots.”
Have a toast with family and friends with sparkling cider! And a skull mug filled with candy is your very own trick-or-treat takeaway.
Cost is $69, $39 ages 3 to 11. For reservations visit DisneyWorld.com/DINE or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. The standard Wishes Dessert Party will not take place on nights the premium HalloWishes package is offered.
Julie Reihm Casaletto Honored as a 2015 Disney Legend at D23 EXPO
Julie Reihm Casaletto, who was selected to be Disney’s first Ambassador in 1965, was honored as a 2015 Disney Legend at the D23 EXPO, along with eight other beloved contributors to the Disney Legacy. Julie was one of five finalists in the fall of 1964 competing to become Miss Disneyland Tencennial for the park’s 10th anniversary, when the Disney Ambassador program was introduced to help Walt Disney represent Disneyland park throughout the world.
During her tenure, Julie was featured in a special 1965 TV episode of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color,” in which she appeared alongside Walt Disney as he showed viewers upcoming concepts for Disneyland attractions. “Working with Walt was a super learning experience,” Julie shared. “His creative genius often came with a boy-like excitement of discovery.”
When it came time to decide whether the Disney Ambassador program would continue, Julie shared her thoughts with Walt. Both agreed the program was a special opportunity for future emissaries of goodwill to share the joy and magic of Disneyland with the world. Today, the Disney Ambassador program has been introduced across Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Julie has become the model upon which decades of Disney Ambassadors have patterned themselves.
“My purpose was to share the joy, hope and happiness of Disneyland to communities around the world,” Julie said. “Those unforgettable experiences have continued to influence my life and career. For decades, Disneyland has been the pixie dust of my life. I consider Disneyland and all of its wonder to be home.”
Disney Parks Attraction Poster Deluxe Calendar Returns for 2016
Disney is excited to announce that the popular Disney Parks Attraction poster deluxe calendar is returning to select merchandise locations.
The oversized calendar for 2016 will include posters from Disney Theme Parks around the world includingDisneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Each poster is suitable for display in a standard 12-inch by 18-inch frame, with perforations above and below each poster for easy removal after its calendar month. The posters were printed on acid-free and lignin-free paper.
You may recall Disney first introduced attraction poster calendars at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts in fall 2013. That calendar was inspired by the highly recommended “Poster Art of Disney Parks” by Walt Disney Imagineers Vanessa Hunt and Danny Handke as seen in this article. It also paved the way for several apparel items and home goods released in 2014. We’re beyond thrilled to see a new version complete with some of my favorite attractions including the WEDWay PeopleMover, Mickey Mouse Musical Revue and the festive Jingle Cruise in Adventureland.
This calendar (item number is 400009684599) will be found in select merchandise locations at Disney Parks, and will have a retail of $21.95. The calendar may be offered on the Disney Parks online store at a future date.
Which Disney Parks attraction poster is your favorite? Please share in the comments below.
Add Some Fa La La to Your Holidays with a Sleigh Ride at Walt Disney World Resort
It may still be on the warm side here in Central Florida, but it’s never too early to be thinking about the holidays! So when you make your seasonal to-do list, check it twice. And make sure a horse-drawn holiday sleigh ride at Disney’s Fort Wilderness & Campground is on it.
The sleighs—festively festooned with lights, garland and bows, and brimming with cheerful holiday music—take you on a 25-minute trek that glides you through the woodsy landscape and past the campsites of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground all decked out in their holiday finery. Well, you don’t exactly “glide,” as Jay Sanderson, Assistant Animal Operations Manager, Tri-Circle-D Ranch, explains. But that doesn’t make it any less magical.
“Our sleighs are different from our horse-drawn carriages. They are specifically designed to cut through the thick layers of ice and snow that hit Central Florida in December. Okay, scratch the ice and snow part. But they are indeed sleighs that are retrofitted with wheels for our guests’ and horses’ comfort and convenience.”
Brought to you by the same folks who provide the horse-drawn carriage rides the rest of the year, these memorable outings are perfect for a snuggle-up-close romantic rendezvous or an adventure for the whole family. Each sleigh fits four adults or two adults and three children. Larger parties can book more than one sleigh. This fun, distinctive experience replaces carriage rides at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground for the month of December.
According to Jay, it’s not at all unusual to hear, “Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh … Hey! Jingle bells! Jingle bells!” coming from the sleighs as they wind their way through Mother Nature’s own holiday green. These rides have become a popular annual tradition for couples and families alike.
And you’ll be presented with a special limited-edition pin created specifically for this event at the conclusion of your ride. Then you can stroll through the barn to check out where the horses live and get up close and personal with these gentle giants that can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Discover what they eat, how they travel from place to place throughout Walt Disney World Resort and other fun facts. Just keep in mind that the sleighs do go out in a light rain, but your ride may be canceled during inclement weather.
So why not make it a season of joy and memories with a horse-drawn holiday sleigh ride? These magical encounters tend to sell out quickly, so an early reservation is highly recommended.
Holiday sleigh rides run from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and are open to all (in other words, you don’t have to be a registered guest of a Disney Resort hotel), with no minimum age requirement. Call 407-WDW-PLAY (939-7529) to book today.
New Frozen Ever After, Royal Summerhus Details & Renderings Released
New details were released at the D23 Expo on the Frozen Ever After attraction and neighboring Royal Summerhus that are currently being constructed at Epcot.
The Frozen Ever After attraction will transport guests to Arendelle just in time for the “Winter in Summer” celebration. According to Portfolio Creative Executive Kathy Mangum, the attraction’s project team is currently partnering with many of the talented individuals at Walt Disney Animation who helped bring the original “Frozen” film to life, as well as award-winning composers Bobby and Kristen-Anderson Lopez.
“We’re also expanding the Norway pavilion with the addition of the Royal Summerhus – a charming cabin where guests will be able to meet Anna and Elsa,” Kathy said. “This cabin is based on an actual historic log cabin in Norway. In fact, in order to make sure we get the character and detailing right, we just sent our project team to Norway on a research trip to study the country and its cultural arts and crafts in person, just as the film team did.
“We’re confident that this attraction will bring more guests to the Norway pavilion and increase their interest and knowledge of Scandinavian culture, just as the World Showcase was intended to do.”
Disney Parks Podcast Show #224 – Disney News for the Week of 8-10-15 & Infotainment: What We Want to Hear Announced at D23 Expo 2015
We have a GREAT show for you this week as Tony and John discuss the Disney news for the week of 8-10-15 & Infotainment: What we want to hear announced at D23 Expo 2015!
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