My Disney Blog

Independence Day at Walt Disney World!

A popular July 4th tradition at Walt Disney World Resort will continue this year as star-spangled salutes to America's independence are presented all across the Florida Vacation Kingdom.

Here's some of the fireworks fun scheduled for July 4 this year:

• A Fourth of July "Concert in the Sky" will light up the night at Magic Kingdom in honor of Independence Day. Featuring a magnificent display of aerial fireworks, dazzling pyrotechnic effects and dynamic music, the show, entitled "Disney's Celebrate America!-A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky," is a grand tribute to the United States, its people and traditions. The special show is scheduled for 9 p.m. Magic Kingdom also will feature two performances of the "SpectroMagic" nighttime parade, first at 10:30 p.m. and then again at 12:30 a.m. that same night.
• A holiday-inspired finale will be added to Epcot's nightly fireworks extravaganza, "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth." The park's American Adventure pavilion also will feature enhanced entertainment throughout the day, with visits from historic characters who will share their stories. American Adventure also will feature additional performances of its signature musical group, Voices of Liberty, performing patriotic classics.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios will present a special July 4th fireworks show at 9 p.m., with skyrockets and patriotic music filling the air at the showbiz-themed park. The park's popular "Fantasmic!" show, featuring fireworks, animation, dancing waters and Disney characters, will be presented on July 4 at 10:30 p.m.
• Downtown Disney will present July 4th fireworks at 10:30 p.m. for the revelers, shoppers and diners enjoying the nighttime entertainment district.

--- Disney Dean

Toy Story Midway Mania at DCA

Thanks to my buddy "B," I was able to get onto the new Toy Story Midway Mania attraction at DCA. My expectations: they weren’t high, as the concept sounded somewhat lame-o to me and I couldn't see it being much different from Buzz Lightyear (which I actually do enjoy). How I felt afterwards: I rode the damn thing 4 friggin' times and still loved it! It was absolutely incredible...hands down one of my favorite "new" attractions at the park. This photo is one of the many fun posters in the line queue, showcasing the different Midway games that guests play as their vehicle takes them from room to room.



The highlight of the line queue is the giant Mr. Potato Head, voiced by Don Rickles. He actually talks to guests passing by (similar to Roz in the Monsters Inc. attraction) AND moves...with the showstopper being him pulling his ear out and reattaching it. INCREDIBLE!



Here are some shots of the vehicles which seat 4; 2 on each side:





PLENTY of fun imagery to see as you are whisked from game to game:





And here’s what guests look like as they shoot at the video screen liked crazed maniacs:



The video effects in Nemo are not all that great in my opinion; the 3D effects in Toy Story Midway Mania are out of this world. Many cool surprises await you on this one. The drawback? Yup, there has to be one...anticipating Anaheim in the summer, the line queue is going to be hot. Ceiling fans were spinning overhead the other night, and that barely took care of the heat that was already being felt as guests wound around the queue. A small price to pay though for this AWESOME new attraction. See more Toy Story Midway Mania photos at my website.

PATINA RESTAURANT GROUP’S NAPLES RISTORANTE e PIZZERIA ANNOUNCES ANTINORI WINE DINNER

May 29, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA) – Patina Restaurant Group has announced that their downtown Disney restaurant; Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria will host an Antinori Wine Dinner on Tuesday, June 24th. The dinner will consist of a gourmet Italian five course meal prepared by the Naples’ Executive Chef, Joseph Gotti, with wine pairings by Antinori Estate Manager Lorenzo Mottola.

Chef Gotti has created a top notch Italian menu for the dinner. Sumptuous Italian seasonal menu items include Dungeness Herb Crab Salad, Sweet Pea and Meyer Lemon Tortelloni, Aged Balsamic Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly, and Pepper Crusted Buffalo Loin.

The renowned Antinori Estate has been creating beautiful wines since the 13th century when they moved to Florence from Calenzano, a small town between Florence and Prato. Wine remained the family's main passion and activity to the extent that in 1898, when the “Fattoria dei Marchesi Lodovico e Piero Antinori” was founded by the two sons of Marchese Niccolò to continue their family’s history of making Tuscan wines, a fine quality, well-known product. Their tradition has been carried on after 26 generations of Antinori.

“I am excited to host Antinori at our restaurant and create a special menu in their honor,” said Executive Chef Joseph Gotti.  “We are so pleased to put together this special event for our guests.  They are sure to enjoy this experience of pairing fabulous wines and spectacular food,” added Naples General Manager Eric Stenta.

The wine tasting begins at 6:30 PM with dinner following at 7:00 PM.  The dinner is all inclusive and is priced at $80 per person. Reservations are required. Please call (714) 776-6200.

June 2008 Printable Disney Calendar

Looking for a great printable calendar for June 2008?  Barrie at AllEarsNet is putting a month at a time online, for everyone to print and enjoy. She's a wonderful photographer, and I know you're going to love her online printable calendars. So, head on over to AllEarsNet and print out the May 2008 calendar! This month it is a great shot of the Sorcerer's Hat, at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Another amazing photo!

Here are links to the previous months:
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008

I always look forward to seeing the photo for the next month's calendar!! Great job Barrie :)

--- Disney Dean

The Incredible Shrinking Disney Dean

Well, I wasn't so sure I was going to write about this, but after all - it was inspired by an upcoming trip to Disney!! Like a lot of people, I've struggled with weight problems for most of my life. Being 6'5" tall, I can get away with it a little easier, but the ole' metabolism is starting to wear down. So, my doctor talked me into joining Weight Watchers! I must admit - I was pretty darn apprehensive about joining - but it has been an unbelievable experience for me. On May 6th, I walked into my first meeting - VERY FREAKED OUT that I was going. There were a few other men there, but mostly all women (about 45 in all). Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and really got a 'kick' out of me being there. Can you believe Disney Dean goes to Weight Watchers?

Anyway, so I did the official weigh in, and hoped the scale would go that high ;) I weighed in at a lofty 262.2 pounds - YIKES! I guess I had a few too many Mickey Ice Cream Bars! The first few days, I had such a problem figuring out the POINTS system, but after 3 or 4 days, I was well on my way to figuring this system out. I absolutely LOVE IT! I had no idea that some of the stuff I was eating was sooooooo bad for me. For example, at an Italian restaurant chain in our area, they have something like a meat lovers Calzone. That baby was definitely one of my favorite! Little did I know that there are 45 points in one of those. I am fortunate (as many of the ladies at WW tell me) to get a whopping 38 points a day because of my gender, age and starting weight. Right there, that would have been more than my daily points allowance! Whew!

Well, after the first few days - I was getting pretty good at this! I even made it through a Mother's Day Brunch day and only came out a few points over my daily limit. Despite that - I was pretty nervous to go to my first weigh-in. I stepped on the scale, and the person weighing me in gasped and started getting very excited. I lost a whopping 7.2 pounds - to round out at 255.0 pounds. I should be around 200 pounds, so I have a ways to go, but it is definitely a start, and I am going to take it slow. That is kind of a lot to lose in a week, so I am going to try to slow that down a bit, but it is so exciting!

Anyway, I thought maybe I would post from time to time about my WW experience. Would love to hear from others who have found success with WW. The beauty is that you actually CAN eat whatever you want - you just have to make choices and sacrifices and you generally end up making much better choices in the long run. I have started to eat fruits and veggies constantly and figured out they aren't as disgusting as I once thought. If I wanted to eat the meat lover's calzone - I could - I would just cut it in half and take half home - then combine it with some steamed veggies or a salad with a low point dressing or only use a few points worth.

My goal is to hit my 10% by our August trip - that would be 26 pounds. With the heat, I know I will feel much better, and it's worth a shot. Next up: Fitness!

Looking forward to hearing from others!!

--- The Shrinking Disney Dean

Journey Into Narnia - Prince Caspian Opening Soon at DHS

This summer, some of the characters from C.S. Lewis's timeless fantasy The Chronicles of Narnia come to life at Walt Disney World in Florida. Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian, an all-new soundstage attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, offers an in-depth and unique look into the making of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (released in theaters May 16 by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media Films). The journey begins at the queue where guests can test their knowledge of the Narnia stories. Next, guests will have an option of participating in a meet and greet with Prince Caspian himself against a backdrop of the "Dancing Lawn," the location where the Narnians first confront Prince Caspian in the movie. Fans who can't wait to be transported will have the option to head directly into the new movie attraction Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian. The attraction opens with a narration from the film's director, Andrew Adamson, who explains the behind-the-scenes footage of the making of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian." Guests then pass through an archway carved into stone that reveals an underground vault which holds the stone table where, in the first movie, Aslan sacrificed himself. "Guests and fans alike will be drawn into a different world as they enter the Narnia portal," says Dave Hoffman, art director for Walt Disney Imagineering. "By using audio and visual effects with multiple surround screens, we immerse guests into The Chronicles of Narnia like never before." In addition to the immersive, behind-the-scenes experience, guests can view authentic props from the movie set and costumes worn by the actors and actresses in the film. Even the structure of "Aslan's How," which is visible as guests "cross over" into Narnia, was cast from the same molds as the one used in the actual film. The attraction itself will open in early summer but the meet and greet experience with Prince Caspian is currently open for guests to enjoy. Guests will find it located at Soundstage 4, between Walt Disney: One Man's Dream and Toy Story Mania!, at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Twisney is pretty darn cool!

I read a great story in the Wall Street Journal today, regarding the new website - Twisney.com. I think it's just great, and will obviously be spending some time over there :)

According to the article:
Here’s how Twisney works. If a theme-park guest wandering around Disney World wants to share something with the Twisney audience, they can send a short email to an address supplied by Twisney. Short really means short: Twisney will only pick up the text from the email’s subject line, ignoring the body of the email. Contributors can also send photos from their cellphones.

So, if you're looking for real-time updates of people at the world, check out Twisney!

--- Disney Dean

Karen Allen Thrilled to be back as Marion Ravenwood

It almost seems too good to be true - another Indiana Jones movie will be arriving in movie theaters on May 22nd, and I can hardly stand it! I don't think I will go over the weekend, because it will be too insane, but will be going on the following Monday. In fact, I hope to see it three times at the movie theater! My son is also a huge Indy fan, and is ALMOST as excited as I am :)

So, I was doing some Indy research this evening, and came across a cool Associated Press (AP) story regarding the return of Marion Ravenwood, Karen Allen's feisty character. Apparently, she is just thrilled to be back as Marion, and we couldn't be more proud to have her back as well!

According to Allen: "There had been a rumour for many, many years that they were trying to find a script everybody was going to be happy with," Allen said. "I would get little bits of information from time to time, usually rumour-mill kind of stuff, but I hadn't heard anything for a long time. I had no idea when they finally got a script that my character was back."

Read more about the return of Marion Ravenwood on Yahoo News.

--- Disney Dean

Disney Earnings Top Estimates - Again!

Disney is doing great, and as the Motley Fool says "Disney Earns Its Ears"! Disney once again beat Wall Street profit targets for the quarter, as they have done every quarter since CEO Bob Iger took over. According to the Motley Fool:

Last night's quarter was a beauty. Earnings from continuing operations climbed 23% to $1.1 billion, or $0.58 a share. Revenue inched 10% higher to $8.7 billion, with all four of Disney's operating segments posting year-over-year gains.

Analyst guesstimates were looking for a profit of just $0.51 a share on $8.5 billion in revenue.

Makes me VERY proud to be a Disney Stockholder - even if I don't own that much. If I owned a LOT of it - I would be VERY VERY proud ;) Now if I could just talk my wife into becoming a DVC member, I would be all set!

--- Disney Dean

Splash Mountain YouTube Video

While spending countless hours on YouTube this evening, I ran across a really nicely made video of the Splash Mountain ride at the Magic Kingdom. This is definitely one of my favorite rides, and it was very nice to relive it again. I'll have to wait til August to ride it again for real (almost 2 year wait!), but I know it will be worth the wait.

I hope you enjoy the great Splash Mountain YouTube Video!

--- Disney Dean

May 2008 Printable Disney Calendar

Looking for a great printable calendar for May 2008?  Barrie at AllEarsNet is putting a month at a time online, for everyone to print and enjoy. She's a wonderful photographer, and I know you're going to love her online printable calendars. So, head on over to AllEarsNet and print out the May 2008 calendar! This month it is a great shot of Buzz Lightyear, at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's a terrific shot!

Here are links to the previous months:
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008

I always look forward to seeing the photo for the next month's calendar!! Great job Barrie :)

--- Disney Dean

Walt Disney World, Summer 1978 Pt. 3

When last you saw me circa 1978, I was at the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue, having a great time. This particular photo shows (once again) the expression on a teen who is annoyed with a parent for taking too many photos.



Let’s move on to a happier time from this trip, shall we? Join me as we go to the Top of the World Club in the Contemporary Resort. This photo shows my stepbrother on the left and my dad on the right. In the middle is a WDW employee, Joe Petrovich. I have no idea why his name stuck in my head all these years, but he was the guy who gave the family the VIP treatment while at the resort. I am guessing he must have been in the publicity or marketing department. Joe, 30 years later, here’s a big shout-out to you!



The entertainment for the evening was none other than Trini Lopez! Most likely this appearance was BEFORE he released his disastrous Disco Album later in the year.





Here’s Trini stopping by our table to say “hello.”



Afterwards, we stopped by Trini’s hotel room (dig the mod wallpaper!). Somewhere I believe I still have his autographed photo and souvenir menu from the restaurant. I think that cap of mine must have been glued on.





Just when you think there couldn’t possibly be more, stay tuned for the grand finale: The Luau! You can view more WDW photos on my regular website. Feel free to let me know any requests you have for articles about Disneyland!

Little Einsteins Milk Anyone? Yum!

Disney Consumer Products and Stremicks Heritage Foods™ today announced a new milk beverage line that meets Disney’s new food guidelines, while also providing critical nutrients for families and children. Available in U.S. grocery stores now, Disney Little Einsteins Milk is rBST hormone-free and enriched with 32mg of omega-3 DHA per serving to support brain and eye development and the heart’s health through every stage of life. It is the first Disney-branded refrigerated dairy beverage to launch since Disney announced its food guidelines in 2006.

“The Disney brand and characters are in a unique position to market beverages that kids want and parents feel good about,” said Lance Gatewood, vice president of food, health & beauty for Disney Consumer Products North America. “Disney has a long-term commitment to the health of kids around the world through its new food guidelines, which require the Disney name and its characters to be associated with kid-focused products that limit calories, fat, saturated fat and sugar. Developing this product line with industry leaders such as Stremicks Heritage Foods brings us one step closer in delivering on this commitment.”

Disney Little Einsteins Milk is the first product line to launch as part of a series of healthy dairy and non-dairy beverages currently in development by Disney and Heritage.

“Teaming with Disney provides the opportunity to create healthy products that kids will identify with, while enabling parents to provide a highly nutritional and great-tasting beverage that their children will want to drink,” said Sam Stremick, Director of Sales and Marketing for Stremicks Heritage Foods. “The new Little Einsteins milk line provides parents with an easy option for incorporating nutrients like calcium and DHA into their children’s diets to ensure optimal growth and development.”

Disney Little Einsteins Milk is available as a 64-ounce package in low fat 1% and reduced fat 2%.

--- Disney Dean

Walt Disney World, Summer 1978 Pt. 2

Pt. 2 of the 30th Anniversary of my first WDW trip begins on the Autopia; once again, I am displaying the teen angst that is customary when a doting father is snapping too many photographs. I know how Britney Spears feels! And George, I know you are jealous of the hat!





This shot looks like a real Los Angeles freeway—bumper to bumper!



My other vivid memory of this trip is my stepbrother getting sick from the teacups; did that stop me from spinning those darn things as fast as I could? What do you think?!? Next up are some shots from the Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue, a rollicking Old West Musical show that included a delicious fried chicken dinner and a special red Hoop-De-Doo punch to drink. Very cool how the plates and tankards were done in pewter (or something resembling pewter...). The Dance Hall girls were memorable, too, especially the one I thought looked just like Dolly Parton. Once you get past Dolly, be sure to take note of the shiny polyester Quiana shirts my stepbrother & I are wearing.





The audience even got to participate with musical washboards!



A few grainy pics from the show:





And my dad, always trying to work the waitresses:



More to come in the future, Luau & Top of the World photos. You can view more WDW photos on my regular website. Feel free to let me know any requests you have for articles about Disneyland!

Disney history for this week

Below is an excerpt from the Disney Insider Newsletter:

THIS WEEK IN DISNEY HISTORY
April 9, 1954 - Actor Dennis Quaid, the star of Disney's 2002 live-action release "The Rookie' and the 1998 remake of Disney's "The Parent Trap," is born in Houston, Texas.

April 10, 1988 - Disneyland's America Sings closes in Tomorrowland. The 24-minute production included more than 100 characters and had been in operation since June 1974.

April 12, 1992 - The Euro Disney Resort, featuring the Euro Disneyland Park, opens in France. It will later be renamed Disneyland Paris.

If you haven't signed up for the Disney Insider, you can do that here! I highly recommend it!

--- Disney Dean

Disney Free Dining 2008 is Finally Here!

After a looooong wait by many Disney fans, the Disney Free Dining has been opened up for 2008. At this point, it is open for Disney Visa Card Holders, but is expected to be opened to the general public on 4/10/08.  Essentially, what happens is that you would receive Magic Your Way Plus Dining for the price of Magic Your Way. Mary over at the AWESOME Mousesavers has a great writeup on this, and I will not try to recreate the wheel. I just wanted to let everyone know that it's finally here. SO, if you have the Disney VISA card, you can book now - otherwise you'll likely have to wait a few days until you can book this package. The other option is to find a code for this time frame. For August codes, you'll find out about them at the DIS first. Just go to this link, direct yourself to one of the last few pages, and read up on whether some codes have been started for August, 2008. Some feel it is even a better deal to book a room with a code, than to take advantage of FREE DINING.

For the Disney Free Dining 2008 plan, there are some changes, so you'll want to read up on them at MouseSavers.com. One thing is FOR SURE! If you are going to do this, be sure to book your advance dining reservations (ADR's) RIGHT AWAY! Table service restaurants are notorious for filling up rapidly during this time frame, and you'd hate to buy the plan and not get into table service restaurants! It is usually so busy during this time, that it is difficult, if not impossible, to get walk up reservations at some/many restaurants.

So, whatta you think? Are you going to take advantage of Disney Free Dining for 2008? Leave your comments in the comment section and get the party started! I will be going from August 19-30th, but am staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins, which are supposedly not included in the Free Dining Program :(

--- Disney Dean

It's a Small World Letter from Marty Sklar

If you're a Disney fan, you've likely been following the drama regarding possible changes to "It's a Small World". Marty Sklar, Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering, and Imagineering Ambassador has responded to some of the rumors circulating on the web, regarding potential changes to the attraction. I hold Mr. Sklar in the highest esteem, and really feel good about the things he said in the letter. I can definitely see both sides to this issue, but have full faith in Mr. Sklar. Here is a copy of the letter, which has been posted on many Disney-related websites:

“A MAGIC KINGDOM OF ALL THE WORLD’S CHILDREN”

A local newspaper reporter got it right when she wrote that, after we updated Pirates of the Caribbean last year, “many fans grudgingly acknowledged that… the additions may make the ride more appealing to young park goers.” Now, based purely on rumors that are mostly inaccurate, we are being criticized for touching another one of Walt Disney’s “classics.”

We all agree that “It’s A Small World” is a Disney classic. But the greatest “change agent” who ever walked down Main Street at Disneyland was Walt himself. In fact, the park had not been open 24 hours when Walt began to “plus” Disneyland, and he never stopped. Having started my Disney career at Disneyland one month before the park opened in 1955, I can cite countless examples.

Like all my colleagues at Walt Disney Imagineering, I was pressed into action to help make “It’s A Small World” happen at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. We were all working to complete and open Ford’s “Magic Skyway” and General Electric’s “Carousel of Progress” (I worked on both) as well as “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” for the State of Illinois. But 11 months before the World’s Fair opening, Walt agreed to do “a salute to the children of the world” for UNICEF, and all the Imagineers somehow made it happen.

Mary Blair’s illustrations were, of course, the spark. But this was one of those great Disney “team efforts,” and many Disney legends joined her: Marc Davis; Blaine Gibson; Rolly Crump, Harriet Burns and numerous others. And, of course, Bob and Dick Sherman added that song we can’t get out of our heads. I interfaced with all of them to write and produce a 24-page souvenir book that was sold at the Fair, because Walt wanted to showcase and thank the team for an extraordinary accomplishment.

Now the rumors are swirling that we are “ruining Walt’s creation.” I’ve heard that we are planning to remove the rainforest, add Mickey and Minnie Mouse, create an “Up with America” tribute, to effectively “marginalize” the Mary Blair style and Walt’s classic (all not true).

In fact, just the opposite is true. We want the message of brotherhood and good will among all children around the world to resonate with more people than ever before, especially today’s young people. Our objective is to have everyone who experiences “It’s a Small World” understand (in the words the Shermans’ wrote 44 years ago) that “there is just one moon, and one golden sun, and a smile means friendship to everyone.”

To make “It’s A Small World” even more relevant to our guests, Tony Baxter (who created the concepts for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain and other Disneyland classics) and I arrived at the same place eight years ago. To accomplish our objective, we decided to seamlessly integrate Disney characters into appropriate thematic scenes in the attraction, and do it completely in the distinctive “Mary Blair style.” We spent many long months exploring ways to accomplish this.

We are not turning this classic attraction into a marketing pitch for Disney plush toys (rumors to the contrary). Between Tony, our chief designer Kim Irvine, and me, we represent 128 years creating Disney park entertainment and fun for literally billions of guests around the world. We are not “young marketing whizzes” trying to make a name for ourselves. We were fortunate to have trained, and worked with, all of Walt’s original Imagineers.

In the Shermans’ song, it’s the oceans that are wide, and the mountains that divide. Our goal was, and always will be, to bring people together, and keep this classic “the happiest cruise that ever sailed around the world” (words I personally wrote for that souvenir guide nearly half a century ago).

Or, as Walt Disney phrased it in his introduction to that guide, “a magic kingdom of all the world’s children.”

Martin A. Sklar
Executive Vice President
Walt Disney Imagineering
Imagineering Ambassador

Walt Disney World, Summer 1978

Today I am stepping out of my norm and writing about WDW instead of Disneyland. Almost 30 years ago, when I was 13, my dad took me on a weeklong summer vacation to Disney World. This wasn’t just any trip to WDW; my dad was the GM at a local Philadelphia Radio Station, and through his connections there, somehow got us set on a truly sweet deal with VIP treatment. We stayed at the Polynesian Resort, and as you can tell by this photo and the rest, I wasn’t going anywhere without my favorite patriotic 70’s cap!



My stepbrother & I couldn’t have been more thrilled to have access to the park anytime we wanted (via the Monorail). Don’t look for a happy face in the photographs though; remember, I was a teen, and my dad was taking photos. How uncool! Of course now, I am kicking myself in the *&^ for not being more cooperative and getting him to take MORE photos!





At the beginning of our trip, my dad also arranged for us to have our picture taken with Mickey; not stand in line and wait behind a bunch of other guests...we had a private session at City Hall.



Here are a few other pics around City Hall:



There’s that darn hat again:



And a few from Main Street:



...including my favorite Teen Angst pose: "Dad...stopping taking pictures!”



Somehow he shamed me into smiling for this one (note big beehive hairdo toppling down on the right!)



More to come in the future, including Hoop-De-Doo, Luau, & Top of the World photos. You can view more WDW photos on my regular website. Feel free to let me know any requests you have for articles about Disneyland!

Disney PhotoPass Resources

Over the past few trips, we have really come to rely on the Disney PhotoPass service. Before we looked into it, we just assumed it was one of those annoying services that guilted you into buying photos that the photographers had chased you down to take. In retrospect, I should have known that Disney would have done it up right, and they have definitely managed to do a great job with it. While we don't completely rely on the Disney PhotoPass service, we do make use of it while at Walt Disney World. We love the fact that you can go back and view all the photos online. The PhotoPass photographers will even take pictures of you with your own camera if you request it. My experience with the photographers has been great - always wonderful and happy Cast Members.

I wanted to share a few great resources with you, to help you make your decision:
Stitch Kingdom's "Definitive Guide to Disney's PhotoPass" is absolutely wonderful!
The Disney PhotoPass Tips and Maps page (detailing where to find a PhotoPass photog)
PhotoPass Information on Walt Disney World Homepage

There is NO CHARGE to get a PhotoPass card, or to create an account. They will hand it to you when you first use the service, and you can even have multiple cards, grabbing one as often as you'd like. The big question is managing several cards, but some people find it easier to use multiple cards than to try to find it each time you want to have a photo taken. The only charge is for the prints, the CD, etc.

Some of the things you can do with the PhotoPass account include:
1) Ordering high quality prints of your favorite photos
2) Get your photos on a CD
3) Share the photos online with family and friends
4) Enhance photos with character signatures and Disney borders. You can even crop them to suit your needs
5) Create customized PhotoCards, Photobooks and PhotoMovies

You can also upload your own photos and create Disney keepsakes!! The photos will only be available online for 30 days after they are claimed, so you won't have a lot of time to make your decisions.

NOW - here's the deal! If you pre-order the PhotoPass CD (for this - you cannot combine photos from multiple accounts), the price for the CD would be $99.95. For this, you can load up on PhotoPass photos, at 300 dpi, and then make prints from the photos on disc.

Do you have tips for Disney PhotoPass, and want to pass them along to others? Just post your information in the comments section, and get the party started ;)

--- Disney Dean

Magic Kingdom YouTube Tour Video

I just ran across a really awesome series of YouTube Videos, courtesy of DISUnplugged (actually heard about it on the DIS). There are three YouTube videos in all (links to the other two below Part I), and watching it really helped with my Disney withdrawal! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

Click Here for Part II
Click Here for Part III

--- Disney Dean

MVMCP 2008 - Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Dates

The always awesome AllEars.net has posted the 2008 dates for MVMCP (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party). You'll definitely want to check out the page on AllEars.Net, but here are the dates that they have listed:

November 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 21, 30
December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 19

Tickets reported go on sale on May 1, 2008. Would you believe Disney Dean has NEVER been to MVMCP? That's right - I have NEVER been to this, but it is on my short list of things I absolutely, positively, for sure have to do within the next few years. I became a Disney addict over the past 3 years, so I'm trying to catch up to all the other Disney fanatics out there :) Since we will be going in August for two weeks, probably can't do another trip during MVMCP, but you never know!! What's bizarre is that we were there during MVMCP in 2005 and 2006, but didn't know enough about it to go at the time!!

For more information on this very popular special event, check out the following:
AllEars.Net
DisneyWorld

From what I hear - it's best to buy tickets early, as some dates sell out rather quickly.

Do you have tips on buying tickets, or making the most out of MVMCP? Would love to hear about them - just share it in the comments section, and get the party started!

--- Disney Dean

Spring Sale at Disney Shopping

Some great new deals on DisneyShopping.com this week, with a 60% off Spring Sale going on right now! You don't even need a promo code to find the great deals.

There are a whole bunch of girl's apparel items, with Spring/Easter dresses and bonnets, tank tops, shoes, sweaters, and much more. My wife and I were just looking at some really great items, including their skirts and capris. In northern Minnesota, we REALLY don't get much of a spring, so we have a limited time when our daughter could wear such items. Many of their tshirts are $4.99, which is a great deal for Disney shirts. There are tons of great items in the boys department too! Many tees are $4.99 in boys as well. The deals in the toy department don't seem quite as good, but there are a few deals in there.

Let us all know if you find something good, ok? Remember - if you get to $50 in purchases, you can have it shipped for $5 if you apply the promo code SHIPFOR5.

--- Disney Dean

To DVC or Not to DVC - That is the Question

Alright all you Disney Vacation Club (DVC) people! I have a question for you! For about a year now, I have dreamed of becoming a DVC member. I am a huge fan of Animal Kingdom Lodge, so I would definitely love the Animal Kingdom Villas as my home resort. We have some new friends in town that are DVC members (actually at Animal Kingdom), and they were telling us how wonderful it is - AND making us very jealous :) I know many people are so happy with DVC, and was hoping to get some encouragement or even some information the other way, which would help us make the decision. I know there are a ton of variables as to whether it is a good thing for an individual family, and I honestly think that it might be good for our family. Any stories or information you could share from an insider's perspective? Would really love to hear from more DVC members out there! Thanks in advance...

--- Disney Dean

April 2008 Printable Disney Calendar

Looking for a great printable calendar for April 2008?  Barrie at AllEarsNet is putting a month at a time online, for everyone to print and enjoy. She's a wonderful photographer, and I know you're going to love her online printable calendars. So, head on over to AllEarsNet and print out the April 2008 calendar! This month it is an amazing nighttime shot of Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. You'll love this shot!

Here are links to the previous months:
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008

I always look forward to seeing the photo for the next month's calendar!! Great job Barrie :)

--- Disney Dean

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit Coaster Coming to Universal

ORLANDO, FL (March 19, 2008) – Adrenaline pumping and music thumping, you find yourself heading straight toward the sky.  Suddenly, you are doing 65 mph, 17 stories over Universal Studios.  Gasping with excitement, you rock out to a song you picked before strapping in.  And, it’s all on video.  Once the adventure is over, you edit the video to send to your friends.   

This is true high-tech, customizable, multi-sensory entertainment.  Scheduled to open in spring 2009, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will stake its claim as the most technologically advanced roller coaster in the world.  The Universal Creative team is combining audio and special effects engineering, sophisticated on- and off-board video and one-of-a-kind guest personalization to create a roller coaster experience unlike any other.   

“This is the perfect intersection of the digital age and theme park entertainment,” said Mark Woodbury, President of Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts.  “Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit blends roller coaster intensity and guest interaction in a way where no two experiences will be the same.” 

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit touts six near-miss moments and first-ever thrills including a record-breaking loop.  Ride vehicles feature the brightest and most innovative color changing LEDs in the world.  High-energy visual displays fill the queue line.  With up to four ride vehicles on the tracks at any given time, and with concert lighting and special effects mixed in, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be a true high-intensity, multi-sensory experience that is unmatched. 

Guests can customize their ride experience by choosing what song will play while they’re on the roller coaster.  LED boards in the queue lines will display song options from five genres (classic rock, rap, country, pop and disco).  Once on-board, guests can choose their song or let the coaster’s digital sound system choose for them.  When the ride is over, guests will be able to customize footage from their experience and compile it into a take-home music video. 

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be located near the Jimmy Neutron attraction traveling the southern perimeter of the Universal Studios theme park, over to the CityWalk lagoon and back. 

About Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort has created some of the world’s most innovative theme park attractions based on pop culture’s most compelling films and stories.  Guests experience two exciting theme parks – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure as well as Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre restaurant, shopping and nighttime entertainment complex; and three magnificently themed on-site Loews hotels – the Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and the Royal Pacific Resort.  Flagship experiences featured in the theme parks include “Shrek 4-D,” “Seuss Landing,” “Jurassic Park River Adventure” and “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.”  More information is available at www.universalorlando.com.