February 22, 2018 - On the Go in MCO

This year Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Earth Day, April 22, with more wild adventures than ever before as they prepare for an incredible summer filled with all-new events and experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Commemorating the milestone year, the 500-acre adventure park will offer animal encounters, family-friendly activities, specialty desserts and more during an expanded Party for the Planet celebration from April 22-May 5, 2018.

Over the two-week “Party for the Planet celebration, guests can attend conservation talks by animal-care experts and participate in enhanced interactions with some of the more than 2,000 animals that make their home at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited park.

Disney's Animal Kingdom 20th Anniversary Celebration Details — Walt Disney World

Rafiki’s Planet Watch will take center stage for the year-long 20th anniversary. It’s home to fun educational exhibits and activities that help create awareness of animal issues. During the 20th anniversary, Rafiki’s Planet Watch will offer backstage experiences with experts where guests can learn about animal nutrition, visit the veterinary hospital and hear how Disney promotes global wildlife conservation.

Guests can also commemorate their visits to the theme park with special photo opportunities. They can step into an oversized picture frame celebrating the park’s 20th anniversary. Other photo frames support Disney’s “Reverse the Decline,” an initiative created to help protect 10 threatened animal species. One recent success of the program was the birth of two critically endangered Sumatran Tiger Cubs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Just for kids is the chance to earn a limited-edition badge as part of the Wilderness Explorer program. The badge is one of many that youngsters can earn by completing fun activities throughout the park.

Party for the Planet will also include six different Tiffins Talks – themed dinners hosted by animal experts at Tiffins, the theme park’s signature, full-service restaurant. Watch the Disney Parks Blog for more information.

The 20th anniversary fun also includes a commemorative adventure guide, limited-edition merchandise, and a special-edition print created by renowned Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde.

He will be available on April 22 from 1-4 p.m. to sign prints at Discovery Trading Company. Quantities are limited. For more information on Party for the Planet, visit disneyworld.com/PartyforthePlanet.

Here are other experiences and adventures rolling out in 2018 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

April 22 will mark the debut of a brand-new show, UP! A Great Bird Adventure featuring Russell and Dug from the Disney•Pixar animated comedy-adventure film “UP.” The show will give guests the chance to see Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his fuzzy friend Dug in a new adventure that includes encounters with exotic birds from around the world. This free-flying show will be performed multiple times daily.
A “dino-tastic” celebration with Donald and his friends will also premiere Memorial Day weekend in DinoLand, U.S.A. This dinosaur-themed party celebrates Donald Duck’s discovery that his bird ancestors were actually dinosaurs. DinoLand U.S.A. will feature colorful new décor and playful character greetings with rarely seen pals like Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad McQuack and more. A DJ-powered dance party will mix tunes from the truck-o-saurus stage, capping the nighttime festivities.
Memorial Day 2018 commemorates the one-year anniversary of Pandora – The World of Avatar. Here, travelers are transported to a mystical world of floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and breathtaking new experiences. Inspired by the blockbuster film, AVATAR, the epic land invites guests to explore a glowing landscape, encounter a larger-than-life Na’vi Shaman of Songs and soar on the back of a banshee.

For more information about the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, visit DisneyWorld.com/AnimalKingdom.

Waitress the Musical Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Orlando — photo: Joan Marcus

Local auditions for “LULU” in WAITRESS will take place Wednesday, February 28 at Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts

Two little girls are about to get their big break as the critically acclaimed Broadway musical WAITRESS rolls into town next month. Casting directors are looking for two aspiring actresses under age 5 (and three months) to play a “sweet, carefree” young girl in the finale scene of the Tony-nominated show.

Here are the WAITRESS audition details:

WHAT: Live audition for the role of “Lulu” in WAITRESS, part of the Fairwinds Broadway in Orlando series.

WHO: Dr. Phillips Center Director of Education Dana Brazil and a creative team member from the New York production of WAITRESS will interview up to 36 young actresses.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 – 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Actresses must be registered to receive a scheduled appointment time.

WHERE: Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts – Second floor of the Dr. Phillips Center – Anderson Street Entrance

AUDITION INFO: Registration is open NOW at drphillipscenter.org/lulu. Applicants must be under the age of 5 and three months and shorter than 4’2”. Individual applicants are welcome, as are sets of twins or siblings. Once registered, qualified applicants will receive an email with their appointment time or notification of being waitlisted. The audition will consist of the child reading two lines from the show. Prior acting experience is not required. If headshots and resumes are available, parents should bring them but they are not required. Two girls will be selected to share the role; each will perform in four performances during the six-day engagement.

WAITRESS debuts in the Walt Disney Theater Tuesday, March 20 and runs through Sunday, March 25. Inspired by Adrienne Shelley’s beloved film, WAITRESS tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie baker working at a local diner and stuck in a loveless marriage. Her salvation comes in the form of her daughter, “Lulu.” Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, the irresistible new hit features original music and lyrics by six-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles (“Brave,” “Love Song”), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (“I Am Sam”) and direction by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland, Pippin, Hair).

Tickets are now available for WAITRESS and may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases are subject to handling fees.