runDisney surprise

Hmmm, what's it going to be?

Steampunk Disney

Friend sent over this site with some wonderful re-imagined Disney characters ala steampunk:

an an alternate universe, animation is powered by steam and unicorns. And somehow Mecanique Fairy has tapped into this world with her beautiful fan art.

Happy 110th!

Happy Birthday Uncle Walt!!!!!  Thank you!

#wdwmoms

The day is ticking down...will we hear today if we made it to the next round?

so is today the day?

Rumor has it that the round 3 finalist for the Walt Disney World Mom's Panel will start hearing if they made it thru....fingers crossed!!! #wdwmoms

Disney for Halloween

Had planned on making it down this year for a Not So Scary party but just couldn't wing it...I did find myself with 6 hours to kill last week while on business in Orlando...so where did I spend my time before the airport?  Loved the decorations down Mainstreet USA.

Yippee!!!!

Just got my email that I made it to the next round of the Walt Disney World Mom panel selection for 2012...this "mom" is super, super excited....

The Big 4-0...

Happy Birthday Walt Disney World!!!

Avatar at Animal Kingdom

Well, this could get interesting...guess I'll have to watch the movie now

We have great news to share today. At a press conference happening right now at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Iger and Tom Staggs just announced a long-term creative partnership with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the fantasy world of AVATAR to life at Disney Parks. And it’ll all begin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

2012 Mom's Panel

It's that time of year again...that time where I try to be the bestest Disney "Mom" there is and get on the panel.  Good luck to all.  http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/recruiting

Disney Food

Ran across a nice little blog about one of my favorite things at WDW - The Food!!!

Check out The Disney Food Blog

Grand Floridian Vacation Club?

So is the Grand Floridian slotted to be a Disney Vacation Club destination?

On September 19th, 2011, Disney will shut down the spa at the Grand Floridian in order to begin an expansion project at the resort. The spa, one of only two full-service spas on Disney World property, will remain closed for 18 months. There are no official details on the expansion project, but rumor has it that the new construction will contain more Disney Vacation Club units.

Plans can be found here and here for the proposed construction...looks like DVC to me

Geeky walkthrus of the Fantasyland expansion

Came across this video this morning with some of the CG design tools being used for the Fantasyland expansion.

Own Disney's Land...?

Ok, technically it was Disney's Land.

Hey, Mouseketeers--guess what's just hit the market? That's right: Disney's land. Located on a one-acre lot in the Los Feliz hills, the historic four bedroom, five bath French Normandy-style home was built by Walt Disney in 1932, and features painted ceilings, vaulted beamed ceilings, original stained leaded glass, billiards room, sleeping porch, swimming pool, and not surprisingly, a projection/screening room. A virtual tour can be found here, and we also turned up a 1940 Better Homes & Gardens article about the home on a Danish blog called A. Film L.A. How much cheddar to own the house that Mickey built? It's listed at $3.65 million. 

Disney Backyard

Was wondering when new episodes of this would be coming back...now just to get our backyard in the que!

If you and your family love Disney rides, family resorts and animated characters, we want to transform your backyard! JayTV is teaming up with HGTV to create some of the most amazing backyard transformations you’ve ever seen. It’s a dream come true for families who love Disney!

Duffy the Bear

Sorry, but am I the only one that's not too keen on Duffy the Bear...?

I totally understand synergy and that he's huge in Japan, but on my last trip to Epcot he seems to have overrun the place.  Strange since how he became so popular in Japan was becuase it was an "exclusive item" with only one place to buy it (as well as another park ticket required)...and now he's everywhere at WDW it seems...

Like I said...I just don't get it...do we need a fluffy bear...is the Pooh license running out again?

Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Some first looks at the new value resort, Disney's Art of Animation,  set to open Summer 2012 at WDW.  Will include some much needed family suites:

The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo buildings are planned to exclusively feature family suites which accommodate up to six guests. The concepts show a total of 1,120 family suites—all arranged for added space and comfort.
The concept for these family suites include:

• 2 separate bathrooms
• A master bedroom
• 3 separate sleeping areas within the living space, which includes an "Inovabed"—an impressive piece of furniture that transforms from a generously sized dining or work table to a comfortable bed in seconds.

Bill Nye

We were lucky enough to catch Bill Nye The Science Guy during Engineering Week at Epcot last month. 

A Goofy Movie

Ran across this wonderful live action intro to Disney's "A Goofy Movie"...love it.

http://www.wimp.com/goofymovie/

The Iger Rein

February 25, 1999 -- Disney named Bob Iger president of Walt Disney International.

Our first family trip

Ran across some old video tapes the other day of the first family trip we took to WDW with the 2 youngins...here's the "trailer" of my home movie:

Tiki Tiki Tiki Room

Eeeek...hope we get to see the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room on our trip:

A small fire that closed Adventureland's The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management in mid-January is keeping the attraction shuttered. According to recent visitors to Walt Disney World, the Tiki Room will remain closed for at least another two weeks.

Drink the Kool-Aid!

I didn't drink the Disney flavored kool-aid until my mid-twenties or so.  Disney's now aiming for the newborn just hours after birth:

Disney Looking Into Cradle for Customers

Late last month, the company quietly began pressing its newest priority, Disney Baby, in 580 maternity hospitals in the United States. A representative visits a new mother and offers a free Disney Cuddly Bodysuit, a variation of the classic Onesie.

In bedside demonstrations, the bilingual representatives extol the product’s bells and whistles — extra soft! durable! better sizing! — and ask mothers to sign up for e-mail alerts fromDisneyBaby.com. More than 200,000 bodysuits will be given away by May, when Amazon.com is set to begin selling 85 styles for a starting price of $9.99 for two; Nordstrom and Target will follow with more Disney Baby items, including hats.

Death on the carousel

Death on one of the least likely attractions in December:

A 77-year-old woman with a pre-existing heart condition collapsed and died in December after riding the Prince Charming Regal Carousel in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, according to updated guest-injury reports filed with the state.

The First Mickey Watch

February 5 -- In 1934, the first Mickey Mouse watch was patented. The U.S. Patent Office granted the patent to the Ingersoll-Waterbury Clock Company.

Also on this date, Peter Pan opened in theaters in 1953.

Ye Haw Bob

Every trip to WDW we try to do atleast one thing that we've never done...this trip I actually have two on the docket. 

The first is, I hate to admit, I have never been in the Hall of Presidents...this trip all have agreed that Dad get's to do this.  We've been to WDW around 20+ times and somehow this always gets missed.

The second is We have yet to attend a Ye Haw Bob performance.  We're staying at Port Orleans - Riverside on this trip and according to the crowd calendars on touringplans.com everyone else in the Southeast will be in the parks that week so we really have no excuse.  See you in a couple of weeks Bob!

Want to meet Jane?

No, the other ape lady named Jane:

The Jane Goodall Institute is sponsoring an exclusive VIP Weekend at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge featuring the chance to spend time with the renowned primatologist over President's Day Weekend, February 18-21, 2011. Trip highlights include: private VIP transportation to and from Orlando International Airport; three nights in a savanna-view room in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge; exclusive breakfast with Dr. Jane Goodall and some of Disney's famous characters; intimate campfire with Jane Goodall overlooking a savanna, including stories, hot chocolate, s'mores and more; special Backstage Safari Tour; gala dinner featuring an exclusive private performance of the Festival of the Lion King; access to Disney's theme parks with Park Hopper passes.

Today in Disney History

Will be staying at the lovely Dixie Landing in a couple of weeks...but now it's called Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside

February 2, 1967 -- Roy Disney outlined his late brother's plan to build a theme park and the world's first futuristic metropolis (aka EPCOT) in a film that debuted at the Park East Theater in Winter Park, Florida. "Project Florida -- A Whole New Disney World" ran 25 minutes, and showed a "city of tomorrow" that spanned 50 acres, based in an industrial park located between Orlando and Kissimmee.

February 2, 1992: The first phase of the Dixie Landings Resort opened.

New Castle Lighting

Can't wait to see this in person next month on our first 2011 trip (of many, we're APing this year).  Go to the link over on disneyparks to watch the amazing video:

When we announced, as a part of the Let The Memories Begin Campaign, that we would be projecting photographs and videos of our guests every night on Cinderella Castle in Florida and it’s a small world in California, many of my friends and colleagues responded with “Huh?” So I thought I would give you a clearer picture of what is going to be an amazing musical and visual spectacle this year.

Using high-power projection systems and digital mapping techniques that I don’t even begin to understand, the surfaces of these two beloved icons will be transformed through animation, photography and technical ingenuity. Using our guests’ photographs and videos as a starting point, and a WONDERFUL musical score as our guide,Let The Memories Begin will be a fanciful, imaginative, heart-warming and FUN look at the magical memories associated with a visit to Disney Parks. Here’s a look at what to expect.

Disney Dream

Watch the christening of the Disney Dream live this morning over at http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/dream/?sourcecode=16853&CMP=EMC-DCLFY11Q2DDChristeningEM0094

Some more details on Israel

So Disney, the company, sez no...but Shamrock Holdings involved somehow?  Sounds like a mystery still...

Shamrock Holdings, founded by Disney family maverick Roy E. Disney as his family investment firm and still maintaining intimate ties with the Walt Disney Company, is a partner in the Haifa project. The other party Shamrock is working with is New Lineo Cinemas Israel. New Lineo operates two large multiplex/shopping mall complexes in suburban Tel Aviv.

A spokesperson for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts tells Fast Company that Disney has no plans to build a park in Haifa, Israel. However, local politicians, New Lineo and the Israeli press all confirm that the project is going ahead.

Disney in Israel

This seem to be all over the net today...true?

The Holy Land is set to become an even more magical place. Disney has announced that it is to open a theme park in Israel.

The Walt Disney Company, which has amusement parks in the US, France and Hong Kong, is planning to open another in Haifa in 2013.

The park, which will cover 20 acres of land near the Carmel Tunnel, will be home to a 25-screen cinema complex, shops and other entertainment facilities.

The project is expected to cost more than £107 million.