Saturday, March 26, 2011

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings Celebrates Platinum Milestone of ‘Happily-Ever-Afters’ at Walt Disney World Resort

(Walt Disney World News) To mark the 20th anniversary of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons, Disney has announced special wedding packages plus a unique campaign showcasing the happily-ever-after stories of real life couples who have tied the knot at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland and aboard Disney Cruise Line.

"The 'Bringing the Fairy Tale to Life' campaign is a tribute to all the brides and grooms who have shared their special day with us," said Korri McFann, Worldwide Marketing Director of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons. "We are honored to have our guests recall cherished memories during Disney's 'Let the Memories Begin' campaign, where Disney is sharing real home videos and photos submitted by guests."

Couples will be highlighted in print and online advertisements as well as at Behindthefairytale.com.

In honor of the platinum year, Disney has also created a specially priced wedding package perfect for vow renewals: the Memories Collection. Throughout the 20-month celebration, couples are invited to create new memories through intimate ceremonies at Walt Disney World Resort. The Memories Collection includes up to six guests, including the couple, a floral bouquet for the bride, solo violinist, transportation (three-hour limousine charter) and a professional photographer for one hour.

SHOWCASING NEWEST PRINCESS GOWN AT DISNEY: Alfred Angelo designer Michael Shettel joins model in proudly unveiling The Cinderella Platinum wedding gown during Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons platinum celebration on March 17, 2011, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. A select group of wedding and mommy bloggers were among the first to see the glamorous gown that celebrates the fairytale that inspired it -- “Cinderella.” It is the first addition to the celebrated collection of Disney princess-inspired wedding gowns that launched early this year with Disney Consumer Products and Alfred Angelo. The gown will be available in select Alfred Angelo signature stores in late September 2011. (Diana Zalucky, photographer)

Ceremony locations include: Conch Key Marina at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Narcoossee's Landing at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Luau Beach at Disney's Polynesian Resort.

Disney has been making memories come true for couples and their families for two decades with a variety of wedding offerings. Traditionally recognized as a top-ranked wedding and honeymoon destination, Walt Disney World Resort currently hosts more than 1,000 couples tying the knot each year. Beyond Disney's Wedding Pavilion, nuptials at Walt Disney World Resort also take place in outdoor garden settings, gazebos and courtyards, as well as indoor resort locations. All told, more than 40,000 couples have married at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland and aboard Disney Cruise Line.

To celebrate 20 years of happily-ever-afters, Disney has partnered with Alfred Angelo to create a Platinum Anniversary wedding gown so that brides everywhere may be a part of the celebration.

The Memories Collection is priced at $1,991 in honor of the 1991 opening year of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons, and will take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. More information: DisneyWeddings.com or 321/939-4610.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Walt Disney Imagineering First Look at New Haunted Mansion Queue

(From Disney Parks Blog) Attention Foolish Mortals: Walt Disney Imagineering has an exclusive first look at the new interactive queue being added to the Haunted Mansion attraction at Magic Kingdom Park – and it’s something you’ll want to check out. Your experience will now begin with a new story line inspired by some of your favorite characters previously seen only inside the Haunted Mansion. There are new crypts and other “spooky” sights to see as well as my favorite tombstones with witty epitaphs to the dearly departed like, “Drink A Toast To Our Friend Ken, Fill Your Glass And Don’t Say ‘When.’”



Today, Walt Disney Imagineering show producer Eric Goodman and show designer and art director Pete Carsillo are giving Disney Parks Blog readers a first video tour of the queue and a look at the amazing Decomposing Composer’s Crypt. The new Tomb has two sides of interactive instruments that sound as weird as they look. See for yourself.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Re-Imagineered Star Tours Returns in Late May with New Intergallactic Routes, 3D and More

From the time Star Tours debuted at Disneyland Park in 1987 and at Walt Disney World Resort in 1989 until the attraction went dark for "reimagining" in fall 2010, guests embarked on a journey to the Moon of Endor and beyond, with a trainee pilot named REX at the controls of 40-passenger Starspeeder 3000 spacecraft.
Now the Star Tours attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida (scheduled to reopen May 20) and at Disneyland Park in California (scheduled to reopen June 3) puts a whole new twist on virtual space travel with Starspeeder 1000 craft -- predating the Starspeeder 3000 because the new show depicts an earlier chapter of the Star Wars saga than the original Star Tours did. But fear not: Techno-wizards are equipping passengers on the 1000 with the ability to experience the new adventure in eye-popping 3D -- wherever that adventure may take them.
The destination is not necessarily what guests expect -- unless they expect the unexpected -- as C-3PO, a new pilot (by accident) takes the controls for a journey to the "metropolitan" planet Coruscant or to Tatooine an arid planet on the "Outer Rim," or to some other planet within Star Wars' mythical universe. Even the outcome of the adventure may change from one "launch" to the next.

NEW ADVENTURES FOR STAR TOURS: In an exciting scene from the new Star Tours, guests aboard Starspeeders will join in a high-speed pod race through the desert canyons of Tatooine.  The launch of the new Star Wars based attraction was announced at the D23 Expo in Sept. 2009 by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo.

‘THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE’ FOR THE JEDI IN ALL OF US -- Bridging that “long time ago” between the two Star Wars trilogies, spectacular new Star Tours adventures in 3-D will debut in 2011 in Disneyland park, taking voyagers – for the first time – to Coruscant and other destinations in the Stars Wars galaxy. The power of the Force and the magic of Disney once again will combine for this immersive experience in Tomorrowland. Fans also will be able to enjoy this exciting adventure in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Topiaries from the Flower & Garden Festival

A collection of topiary photos from the 18th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, running for 75 days from March 2 to May 15, 2011.
TO INFINITY AND….: Buzz Lightyear from the Disney Pixar “Toy Story” movies strikes a pose in topiary form. Buzz joins his pal Woody at the entrance garden in front of the park. Dozens of character topiaries join stunning floral displays, workshops, the Flower Power concert series and presentations by HGTV personalities – all included in regular Epcot admission. (Gene Duncan, photographer).
HOWDY PARDNER: Woody the Pullstring Cowboy from the Disney Pixar “Toy Story” movies strikes a pose at the entrance garden in front of the park, greeting guests to the festival . (Gene Duncan, photographer).

TAIL-WAGGERS: Lady and the Tramp add to the magnificent topiary displays which features dozens of character topiaries, stunning floral displays, workshops, the Flower Power concert series and presentations by HGTV personalities – all included in regular Epcot admission. (Gene Duncan, photographer).