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“The View” is coming to Central Florida. The ABC talk show will broadcast from Disney’s Animal Kingdom for five shows March 6-10. The hosts will visit all four Walt Disney World theme parks during the stay. Like Disney World, ABC is a property of the Walt Disney Co. “The View” airs at 11 a.m. weekdays... View the full article

The original version of this story by Steve Sansweet first appeared in Disney twenty-three magazine. For more stories about Disney Parks and Disney’s rich legacy, visit D23.com. There’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to Star Wars at Disney Parks, but today we’re looking back to the beginning of the partnership that has inspired thrilling adventures and awe-inspiring spectaculars around the world, and the one attraction that started it all – Star Tours, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary today. When Star Tours first opened at Disneyland park on January 9, 1987, the park stayed open for 60 hours so guests could board Starspeeders over and over for their trip to Endor … a destination they somehow never reached thanks to a nervous, first-time pilot named Rex. Three decades later, and now at three other Disney Resorts across the globe, Star Tours has stood the test of time by living up to the original plans of its savvy designers. Star Tours was always meant to be flexible and upgradeable, to tell different stories and to keep the fun and thrills fresh. What no one could have known 30 years ago was that first Lucasfilm and now Disney would keep Star Wars alive and innovative with new movies, television series, books and merchandise, all of which has turned the saga into a worldwide cultural touchstone. What the attraction eventually became had been on the Walt Disney Imagineering drawing board for more than six years. Company officials approached George Lucas, a longtime Disney fan, with an idea to use devices that trained jumbo-jet pilots. George was already familiar with the 13-ton aircraft simulators – large platforms that could rise and fall or dive and roll as much as 35 degrees to train pilots. Lucasfilm had previously explored some non-Star Tours simulator rides on its own, but the timing was now right for a collaboration, and the idea for Star Tours was born. Tom Fitzgerald, now a senior creative executive with Walt Disney Imagineering, was the attraction’s writer and producer and worked closely with George and people like Dennis Muren, an eight-time Academy Award winner at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). “I remember a key review up at ILM with George Lucas, where (creative director) Tony Baxter and I traveled up to present the original storyline for Star Tours,” Tom recalls. It was there that George set up the idea of combining comedy adventure as well as the classic ‘something goes horribly wrong’ for the storyline. I still think of it as an incredible Master Class and one of the highlights of my career.” Now that the attraction is celebrating 30 years of galactic adventures (having undergone a major update in 2011 along with the addition of elements from Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015 and an exciting new mission based on elements from Star Wars Episode VIII currently in production), Tom was asked why he thought it still feels so fresh. “At Imagineering, the technology is always in service of the story,” he notes. “As a result, our focus is on the incredible storytelling of Star Tours — the characters, the adventures, the story, the music and effects. That’s what keeps people coming back again and again… to relive the moments they loved growing up watching those films, and to step into the story and experience it in an immersive way as only Disney Parks can deliver.” View the full article

The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival has been a huge hit with Disneyland Resort, so I’m excited to tell you that this popular culinary celebration is back daily March 10 through April 16! Each day, guests are invited to celebrate some of the best of delicious California cuisine throughout Disney California Adventure park. There will be even more Festival Marketplaces to enjoy this year, plus enhanced Festival-inspired menus at existing restaurants and eateries, where guests can sip and savor delicious flavors from across the Golden State. Guests will enjoy culinary experiences created for the whole family, including a variety of food, beverage and lifestyle seminars, demonstrations and presentations. The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will also feature ticketed events, such as culinary demonstrations, beer, wine and spirit seminars, premium dining events and demonstrations by celebrity chefs such as Guy Fieri, Jamie Deen, Robert Irvine, Duff Goldman, Emily Ellyn, Keegan Gerhard and more. Tickets for these experiences will be available beginning Feb. 1, so mark your calendars! We’ll have more information to share soon, including the full schedule of premium experiences taking place during the festival. Join us for the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, daily March 10 through April 16 at Disney California Adventure park! View the full article

If you haven’t watched today’s episode of ABC’s Emmy Award-winning show “The View,” you are missing out on some exciting news! The View co-hosts (Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Jedediah Bila and Sunny Hostin) were joined by some very magical friends to announce they are going to Walt Disney World Resort in March to broadcast the show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Tree of Life will be the magical setting for the show’s first time broadcasting from Walt Disney World. Keep watching The View and reading the Disney Parks Blog to get ticket information for these shows. The fun doesn’t end there! The hosts want YOU to come down and experience all the endless magic Walt Disney World Resort has to offer. The View’s Magic is Endless Sweepstakes presented by American Tourister is offering the chance for three lucky viewers to win grand-prize packages including a Walt Disney World vacation for themselves and up to three guests and attend the taping of “The View” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Winners will also receive a $500 Disney gift card. The entry period ends January 29 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The View’s Magic is Endless Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States & District of Columbia, 18 or older. No purchase necessary. Winners must travel between March 3-8, 2017. Viewers can learn more and enter for a chance to win at TheViewMagicIsEndlessSweepstakes.com or by visiting The View’s homepage at abc.com/theview, which contains full details and Official Rules. Want to see how this all went down in the studio? Check out the blog tomorrow afternoon to see an exclusive behind the scenes video with the co-hosts of The View! View the full article

Spring at Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

Being a fan of all things related to Epcot, I can’t wait to attend the Epcot International Festival of the Arts this month. This all-new event is a trifecta of global masterpieces: combining visual, culinary and performing arts for six colorful weekends from January 13 – February 20. Today, I have a first look at commemorative merchandise guests will find during this ultimate cultural celebration. Guests attending this year’s inaugural event will find a variety of shirts featuring one of my favorite characters, Figment from Epcot’s Journey Into Imagination attraction. We’ve also created a shirt for Annual Passholders that includes a small image of Figment on the left sleeve. This shirt will only be sold to Passholders who present a valid Annual Pass. Other items will include a large poster of Epcot concept artwork by Herb Ryman along with a tote bag, a coffee mug, and a TERVIS tumbler. Finally, I have a look at artwork from several artists who will be appearing throughout the festival including Jason Grandt, David Buckley, Jerrod Maruyama, Kristin Tercek, to name a few. The best place to find original artwork from these and other artists is the Festival Center located in the Odyssey building near the entrance to World Showcase. The Epcot International Festival of the Arts will run Fridays through Mondays. I hope to see you there! View the full article

This week’s Disney Doodle focuses on Fauna, one of the good fairies in “Sleeping Beauty.” In the film, the fairies Flora, Fauna and Merriweather, use their magic in only cases of emergencies – including birthday cake prep for Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty). One of Fauna’s contributions is using her magic for cake baking, which inspired artist Ashley Taylor to envision her heading to Main Street Bakery if she had the chance to visit a Disney park. “My favorite part of this illustration is the iconic Sleeping Beauty cake! While Fauna might not be the best baker, her cakes are fun to look at!,” she said “I can see her creating something special for the Main Street Bakery’s window display!” View the full article

It’s here! Spring has arrived early at Walt Disney World Resort and today we’re saying goodbye to winter and sharing a special peek at a collection of experiences that’ll usher in the season like never before at our parks. In just a few days, (January 13) we’re debuting a brand new spring festival – the Epcot International Festival of the Arts – that combines visual, culinary and performing arts for six colorful weekends. New art will be unveiled each week and you’ll be able to feast on creations that look almost too good to eat. The festival will also feature different pairings of Broadway talent in concert, performing songs from some of Disney on Broadway’s award-winning shows, including ‪The Lion King‪, Newsies, Aladdin and others. More details. And this season, there are great ways to experience Disney after the sun sets. Nights are already coming alive at Magic Kingdom Park with our latest projection show, “Once Upon a Time.” In this show, Mrs. Potts from “Beauty and the Beast” shares bedtime stories with Chip, taking him (and all of us) on a magical trip through the most adventurous scenes from favorite Disney films like “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.” And Disney After Hours event nights are also returning to Magic Kingdom Park this spring to give you quick access to some of the park’s most popular attractions and character greetings. Disney After Hours is a hard-ticket event that allows you to maximize your time in the park with little to no wait at 25 attractions and experiences, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, Space Mountain and many more. Events begin January 20 and 27 and continue on February 2, 9 and 16, and March 2 and 9, 2017. More details. Our spring celebration at Walt Disney World Resort will include 90 days of bright blooms and whimsical creations at this season’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – running March 1- May 29. A new topiary garden inspired by a vintage Walt Disney short film will debut this year and operating hours of the Festival Center will be expanded during the festival’s opening week. Also this spring, Garden Rocks Dining Packages will be offered for the first time at Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. They’ll be available on select days at Epcot restaurants, combining dinner and guaranteed seating for a performance. More details. And early spring at Walt Disney World Resort this year also means shedding your winter jackets and heading to the water parks and riding a brand new attraction at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon called Miss Adventure Falls. The new family-style raft attraction – set to open in March – will be one of the longest Disney water park experiences as it immerses you in the story of treasure-hunting heroine Captain Mary Oceaneer. During each white-water adventure, you’ll be able to spot some of the treasures Captain Oceaneer gathered from around the world. More details. You can learn more about all of our early Spring experiences by visiting WaltDisneyWorld.com/SpringEarly and by following our hashtag #DisneyEarlySpring on Twitter. Also, keep checking back as we share more updates here on the Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Disney World in Orlando is saluting the military with special ticket prices and room rates in 2017. The offers, for active and retired military personnel of all service branches, include admission for 5 days for $224 plus tax good Jan. 1 through April 8 and April 24 through Dece. 19. Or, buy... View the full article

Happy weekend and happy end of the first week of 2017! We hope your New Year is off to an amazing (and delicious) start! Firecracker Shrimp This year is going to be full of fun and good eats, including the culinary works of art coming to the first-ever Epcot International Festival of the Arts! We have the full menus for the Food Studios too! And don’t forget, the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival starts in August this year! We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… Disney Food News Dates have been announced for the 2017 Delicious Disney, A Chef Series One-day Disney Dining Plans to be tested at the Magic Kingdom! We enjoyed dinner at The BOATHOUSE recently – check out our review! Casey’s Corner at the Magic Kingdom has updated their menu with new specialty hot dogs! We shared the recipe for the Warm Apple Butter Cake from Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel. Choza Tequila Bar is coming to Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion! Cocktails by Cody has published a new book – Fairy Tale Cocktails! Check out our newest YouTube video: Three ways to save on food at Disney World! Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more! We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go. DFB Reader Finds If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or around Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday! DFB reader Chris Banaszek recently shared a photo of the Warm Cinnamon Bread Pudding and Dole Whip from Wind & Waves at Disney’s Vero Beach. Oh my goodness that looks amazing! We’re drooling over here. You know we love La Cava in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion. Well, DFB fan Teresa Kmetz took our advice and ordered the chips, queso, and guacamole on a recent visit. Teresa says she loved our tip to order the trio! Must. Have. Queso! Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us! Deal of the Week: 20% Off the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2017 with code SAVE2017! Now is the perfect time to order the 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! This valuable resource is fully updated for 2017 Disney vacations, and is now available for purchase and download to help you make the most of your dining plans while in Disney World. Just use code SAVE2017 at checkout! The 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is chock full of tons of great features to ensure you have your best Disney trip, every time. These include: A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience. Four free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips! Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning. A comprehensive index of bars and lounges. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic. The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket! We put tons of time, effort, and research into ensuring that we share with you the most relevant, up to date Disney Food Information that’s available. We do this so that you can plan your own Disney visit with confidence, and have the trip of a lifetime, every time. We’d love to share our best tips with you! And remember, because the guide is an e-Book, it’s super easy to download it to all of your mobile devices and take it right into the parks with you! Order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2017 Edition, and receive 20% off with code SAVE2017. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get the latest version of our most popular Guide! And don’t forget to check out our Money-Saving Bundles — More Stuff for Less Dough! Remember, with a 100% money-back guarantee on all of our guides, you have nothing to lose! On to the Round-Up! Mickey Fix found this super cool Star Wars Lightsaber Immersion Blender. WDW for Grownups wrapped up last year with a list of the Top 5 Bars and Lounges. Disney Parks Blog shared how to make your own Disney-inspired coffee mugs! Babble shared a few Disney Princess-inspired recipes. Disney Family shared a perfect winter recipe for (pink) Minnie Mouse Hot Cocoa. Have a great week! We’ll see you back here tomorrow with another great Disney food review! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 1, 2017 Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 3, 2016 Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 10, 2016 View the full article

The 24th annual Walt Disney World Marathon began and ended at Epcot on Sunday. Brazilian Fredison Costa won the men's division for the fourth consecutive year, and Brazilian Giovanna Martins prevailed on the women's side for the second time in three years. View the full article

Nearing the stretch run of the race that dominates his calendar, Fredison Costa was challenged. He could not shake Vanilson Neves. Costa's Brazilian countryman was threatening his quest for a fourth consecutive Walt Disney World Marathon title, his sixth in seven years. With abou 4 1/2 miles left... View the full article

Nearing the stretch run of the race that dominates his calendar, Fredison Costa was challenged. He could not shake Vanilson Neves. Costa's Brazilian countryman was threatening his quest for a fourth consecutive Walt Disney World Marathon title, his sixth in seven years. With about 31/2 miles left... View the full article

This week, we introduced Disney Parks Blog readers to the newest member of our family – Stella, a female elephant calf born recently and now exploring the savanna at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We shared a quick video showing Stella taking her first steps on the savanna with her mother – 28-year-old Donna. Stella raises the number of elephants in the Disney’s Animal Kingdom herd to 10, including three males and six females. Check out our original story for more details. And this weekend, you can vote for Mickey Mouse or Goofy to join the NFL Pro Bowl in Orlando later this month. Visit Darrell’s original story to see a special video and to vote for Mickey or Goofy to be added to one of the Pro Bowl teams. Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week. Cross the Finish Line in Style with Products for 2017 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – The 2017 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend returns to Florida from January 4-8. If you plan to cross the finish line in style, here is a first look at commemorative products created for the biggest runDisney event of the year. Enter The Disney Movie Rewards Unforgettable Getaway Sweepstakes Through Jan. 31 – Just keep swimming! In honor of “Finding Dory,” Disney Movie Rewards is giving away a 4-night Disney cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Disney Dream or Disney Wonder. From Screen to Park: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin at Disneyland Park – Head on over to Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin for a wacky ride through the streets of downtown Toontown at Disneyland park! This “hare”-raising adventure is based on the 1988 Academy Award-winning film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg. A Few of My Favorite Things on an Adventures by Disney Holiday Danube River Cruise – The New Year is here, but I can’t stop reliving the amazing time I had on the Adventures by Disney Holiday Danube River Cruise last month. I could go for days about all the things I loved about this experience, but in the interest of time I’ve pulled together a (somewhat) short list of my favorite things from throughout this 7-night, 8-day vacation. Paraplegic Runner Defies All Odds at Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is well under way and already there are countless inspirational stories emerging. One of them is 30-year-old Adam Gorlitsky, who is pushing boundaries and bridging the gap between what it means to be disabled and able-bodied. ‘BEYOND’ begins with ‘Membership Magic Ever After in 2017’ – Fueled by that forward-looking spirit, Disney Vacation Club recently unveiled “Membership Magic Ever After,” a colorful collection of extended Membership Extras from 2016, additional offers and opportunities for 2017 and new Disney developments that together will help pen the next great chapter in our community’s collective story. View the full article

We’re just DAYS AWAY from the very first Epcot Festival of the Arts! And today we have FULL BOOTH MENUS for you! (And, yes. They totally have Pop Tarts on the menu??!??!?!) We’re getting ready for this brand new Festival to kick off Friday, January 13th. This celebration of the arts — focusing on Visual, Culinary, and Performing Arts — will run Fridays through Mondays for six weekends, ending on February 20th. We’ve already learned about the event’s Interactive Workshops where participants will be able to channel their own inner artists, while the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will offer guests the chance to enjoy hearing Broadway talent perform classic Disney songs. (Find out about how you can book a Dining Package for the Concert Series here!) And now, as the debut rapidly approaches, we’re taking a look at the aspect we at the DFB are most interested in: Food Studios (otherwise known as Booths) will be found around World Showcase, both along the Promenade and tucked near a few Pavilions. While you can link to our main Epcot Festival of the Arts page here to see the full menus for all seven of the Food Studios, we thought we’d show you a few of the items we’re most excited to try, so you can start making your own list, too! Click here to see FULL MENUS for each Epcot Festival of the Arts booth!! E=AT² E=AT² will feature an array of “deconstructed” items, from a Reuben and a Deconstructed Breakfast to a BLT with crispy pork belly, tomato jam, and soft poached egg. BLT with Crispy Pork Belly, Tomato Jam, and Soft Poached Egg ©Disney Masterpiece Kitchen Look for Masterpiece Kitchen to be located near the Canada Pavilion — a fitting location for the Wild Mushroom Risotto with aged parmesan, truffle shavings, and zinfandel reduction (given the popularity of the Mushroom Risotto served with the Filet Mignon at Canada’s Le Cellier). Wild Mushroom Risotto with aged parmesan, truffle shavings, and zinfandel reduction ©Disney Masterpiece Kitchen will also serve up Classic Sidecars with a Chocolate Twist, as well as a Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats, Nueske’s Smoked Duck Breast and Cheese. Classic Sidecar with a Chocolate Twist ©Disney Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats, Nueske’s Smoked Duck Breast and Cheese ©Disney Pop Eats! Several aspects of the Festival will focus on the Visual Arts, such as gallery displays featuring the art of Mary Blair and contemporary Disney artists such as Joe Kaminski and Costa Alavezos. Pop’t Art: Modern Designed Sugar Cookie with Chocolate Hazelnut Filling — Pop Eats Food Studio ©Disney Pop Eats! will be celebrating the Visual Arts in its own way, by serving up mini works of food art with the “Pop’t Arts” (designed sugar cookies with chocolate-hazelnut filling) and an Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Chocolate. Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Chocolate — Pop Eats! Food Studio ©Disney Decadent Delights It looks like we should expect the unexpected from Decadent Delights, which will offer a Deconstructed Purple Sweet Potato Pie; Salted Caramel, Bourbon-soaked Cake and Marshmallow Whipped Cream; along with a Crisp Caramel Chocolate Mousse Bar with flavored merengue kisses and passion fruit coulis. Deconstructed Purple Sweet Potato Pie; Salted Caramel, Bourbon-soaked Cake and Marshmallow Whipped Cream — Decadent Delights Food Studio ©Disney Crisp Caramel Chocolate Mousse Bar, Flavored Merengue Kisses and Passion Fruit Sauce ©Disney Painter’s Palate Okay. We’re pretty much PUMPED to try the Trio of Savory Croissant Doughnuts at Painter’s Palate, which will be located in the Odyssey Festival Showplace. Trio of Savory Croissant Doughnuts — Painter’s Palate Food Studio ©Disney The trio’s flavors will include Whipped Herb Cheese with Sea Salt, Chicken Mousse with Fresh Herbs and Everything Bagel Seasoning, and Spicy Tuna with Sriracha Mayonnaise and Sesame Seeds. The trio can be followed up with a Pomegranate Mule (yes, please!) featuring the Ginger People Ginger Beer and Van Gogh Vodka. Pomegranate Mule featuring the Ginger People Ginger Beer and Van Gogh Vodka — Painter’s Palate Food Studio ©Disney The Artist’s Table Look for The Artist’s Table near the American Adventure Pavilion. This might be a great one to visit for those traveling with kiddos, thanks to the Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie. Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie ©Disney A Pan-Seared Scallop with chorizo, roasted red pepper coulis and a parmesan crisp will be available as well. Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis, and Parmesan Crisp — at The Artist’s Table Food Studio ©Disney Cuisine Classique We’ll be very curious to see if the Braised Beef Short Rib with parsnip puree, broccolini, baby tomatoes and aged balsamic at Cuisine Classique will follow the trend set by the recent Holidays Around the World event, which served up portions closer to full-sized entrees (as opposed to the traditional tapas-sized items served at the Food and Wine and Flower and Garden Festivals). Braised Beef Short Rib with Parsnip Puree, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes, and Aged Balsamic — Cuisine Classique Food Studio ©Disney We’re definitely intrigued by what we’ve seen so far! How about you? Remember, to see the FULL MENUS for each booth, head over to our Epcot Festival of the Arts Page! Will you be paying a visit to the Epcot Festival of the Arts? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: First Look: Food Photos From the Epcot International Festival of the Arts News: Epcot Festival of the Arts (with food, of course!) Coming in January and February 2017 Sneak Peek: 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Merchandise View the full article

The most crushing blow Adam Gorlitsky absorbed came three weeks after he fell asleep at the wheel. Doctors at a spinal-cord rehabilitation center in Atlanta told Gorlitsky, 19 at the time, with a new reality approaching him at warp speed, that he never would walk again. "It was a rock-bottom moment,"... View the full article

This week Disney Parks Blog author Amanda Adler took us along with her on an Adventures by Disney Holiday Danube River Cruise – and boy were the photos amazing! From snowy scenery to photos of how the holidays are celebrated in Germany and Austria, pictures of this amazing trip are not-to-be missed! Check out Amanda’s original blog post here with all the details on Christmas markets, cookies, local cuisine, traditions, hilltop hikes and more. View the full article

On the same day that scores of celebrity mourners were gathering at the neighboring L.A. homes of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher after their deaths last month, fans and filmmakers were weighing the fate of Fisher's most iconic character, Princess Leia. Cody Christensen, a fan from Cedar City,... View the full article

The Jan. 20 return of the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland park has come an enchanting new television commercial, which first aired on Jan. 2 and will soon be seen throughout the Western U.S. Created by Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group, the spot takes place inside a magical, imaginary place where our classic Disneyland experiences go to be cared for when they leave the resort. “Once Disneyland creates an attraction or experience, it becomes part of the treasured history of the resort,” Disney’s Yellow Shoes Creative Group told us. “In this TV commercial, we’ve created a place where, once one of these attractions or experiences is taken out of a park, it is taken care of and the magic is kept alive … a place where all Disneyland historical attractions reside. In this story, this is the place from which we are caring for, and re-launching, the Main Street Electrical Parade.” Take a look for yourself! Already, our Disneyland Resort fans are captivated by this amazing 30 seconds of magic. Tweets, blog posts and even YouTube analyses are flooding fans’ feeds, as eagle-eyed Disney history buffs scour every shot to identify the artifacts from days of Disney past. Are you as excited as we are for the Main Street Electrical Parade? Don’t miss your chance to be among the first to see its return to Disneyland park during a special premiere event on Jan. 19! Click here for ticket information. The Main Street Electrical Parade comes home to Disneyland park Jan. 20! View the full article

Walt Disney World is canceling its half marathon and children’s races Saturday because of bad weather. The announcement was made about 7 p.m. Friday. Disney said weather conditions show there’s a high risk of lightning, so it’s canceling all running events Saturday out of an abundance of caution. ... View the full article

Walt Disney World is canceling its half marathon and kids races Saturday due to poor weather. The announcement was made about 7 p.m. Friday night. Disney said weather conditions show there’s a high risk of lightning, so it’s canceling all running events today out of an abundance of caution. “While... View the full article

Walt Disney World is canceling its half marathon and kids races Saturday due to poor weather. The announcement was made about 7 p.m. Friday night. Disney said weather conditions show there is high risk of lightning Saturday in the area and are canceling all running events out of an abundance of... View the full article

From January 12 until February 22nd, guests visiting Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort for the day can purchase a Disney Dine-on-the-Go one-day, quick-service offering that includes one lunch quick-service entrée and one non-alcoholic beverage that’s good until 4 p.m., and one dinner quick-service entrée and one non-alcoholic beverage that’s good after 4 p.m. (Dessert is not included). Guests can purchase Disney Dine-on-the-Go at Magic Kingdom Park Vacation Planning booths. Certificates also are available for children ages 3 to 9. Participating restaurant locations include Casey’s Corner, Columbia Harbour House, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and Pinocchio Village Haus. Valid park admission is required to utilize the certificates. Price is $29.00, and $12.00 for ages 3 to 9. View the full article

The Avatar world opening at Disney's Animal Kingdom this summer is expected to transform the theme park much like Cars Land did at Disney's California Adventure. That's what Christine McCarthy, chief financial officer of The Walt Disney Co., told analysts Thursday at the Citi Internet, Media &... View the full article

As Disney Vacation Club celebrated “25 years and BEYOND” in 2016, you could say 2017 is the year “BEYOND” begins. Fueled by that forward-looking spirit, Disney Vacation Club recently unveiled “Membership Magic Ever After,” a colorful collection of extended Membership Extras from 2016, additional offers and opportunities for 2017 and new Disney developments that together will help pen the next great chapter in our community’s collective story. Among the instantly popular 2016 offerings continuing in 2017 are the Member Lounge for Members visiting Epcot (a lofty space on the second floor of the park’s iconic Imagination! Pavilion), complimentary events after hours in Disney Parks (events to be known this year as “Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic”), doubled Walt Disney World Resort merchandise discounts (the new 20 percent discount, up from the previous 10 percent discount, is valid at select Disney-owned-and-operated shops at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort), expanded Walt Disney World dining discounts (Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is now the only Walt Disney World-owned-and-operated table-service restaurant excluded from the 10 percent discount offer) and the waiving of the customary $95 RCI transaction fee (for new RCI reservations made in 2017). New offerings for 2017, meanwhile, include the addition of a proposed 14th resort to the neighborhood (Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, scheduled to open in 2017 and not yet fully registered or available for sale), the first Eastern Caribbean Member Cruise (an already-sold-out Aug. 26-Sept. 2 voyage aboard the Disney Fantasy ship – another Member Cruise first) and the expansion of a personalized vacation-planning service that allows Members to modify a reservation by speaking to the very Member Services Advisor who helped make that reservation in the first place (this service debuted in 2016 for Disney Vacation Club Resort reservations and is scheduled to expand to all reservations – including those beyond Disney Vacation Club Resorts – later this year). Add a growing slate of new offerings from our neighboring Disney Parks (where the first Epcot International Festival of the Arts and the highly anticipated debut of Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are among the headline-grabbing additions), and there’s never been a better time to hear the words “welcome home.” I’ll continue to post updates about “Membership Magic Ever After” offerings throughout the year as new details become available. In the meantime, access the latest information online at disneyvacationclub.com/everafter. You should not purchase or add on a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort in reliance upon the continued availability or renewal or extension of these offers. Some elements of Membership Magic are incidental benefits, which are subject to change or termination without notice, may require the payment of a fee, and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions and may only be available to Members at various times. Membership Extras are also subject to availability and block–out dates may apply, including high periods of demand such as Christmas and New Year’s Day. To receive any Membership Extras, purchasers must present a valid Disney Vacation Club Membership Card along with a corresponding valid photo ID. Effective April 4, 2016, Members who do not purchase an ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Development Inc. will not have access to Membership Extras. Theme Park admission is not part of Membership. View the full article