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.