Star Wars Weekends 2014: May 16 – 18, 2014

The first Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios begins tomorrow, and with so many great things happening during this special event I thought I would summarize what you will find going on!

Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is required for Star Wars Weekends, and availability is limited for some events so get to your destination early! Also listen for updates throughout the day as events may be cancelled at any time!

Star Wars Weekends: May 16 – 18, 2014

Scheduled Celebrity Appearances

A highlight of Star Wars Weekends is having the chance to get an autograph from an actual Star Wars Celebrity around Echo Lake! Be warned though, this is not something everyone will be able to do so make sure you choose your celebrity wisely and get there extremely early!

Disney FASTPASS Ticket Required
An extremely limited number of FASTPASS tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis at the main entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to the right of the turnstiles. Based on demand, distribution may begin prior to Park opening. Please note: You must have a FASTPASS ticket to receive an autograph.

To receive a FASTPASS ticket:

Join the line of the celebrity you would most like to meet. You may not save a place in line for other party members.

While in line, you will receive a wristband. Your wristband along with your theme park ticket or pass will entitle you to receive one autograph FASTPASS ticket. Only one autograph FASTPASS ticket will be distributed per Guest. Each Guest must be present to receive a FASTPASS ticket. You may not get FASTPASS tickets for other members of your party.

After receiving your FASTPASS ticket, continue to wear your wristband. You will need to be wearing your wristband to get an autograph.

Your FASTPASS ticket will have a designated autograph return time. Until that time, you may enjoy other Star Wars Weekends activities. At your designated time, proceed to the Celebrity Autograph Location at Echo Lake to show your wristband and present your FASTPASS ticket.

Once FASTPASS tickets for visiting celebrities are distributed, we may distribute a limited number of “stand-by” tickets with a return time. “Stand-by” tickets do not guarantee you an autograph.

Please note: Receiving a FASTPASS ticket for an autograph at Star Wars Weekend will not restrict you from reserving access with FastPass+ for additional attractions, entertainment and more at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Star Wars Weekends celebrities for May 16 – 18, 2014 are:

Ahmed Best – Jar Jar Binks – Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Peter Mayhew – Chewbacca – Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Vanessa Marshall – Hera Syndulla – Star Wars Rebels

Character Meet and Greets

In addition to an awesome variety of Star Wars Characters that you can find walking throughout the Star Wars Weekends crowds, you can find special meet and greets at the following locations:

Meet Disney Pals as Star Wars Stars in Darth’s Mall

Meet the Heroes of the Clone Wars Near the Premiere Theater

Meet the Dark Side near Darth’s Mall

Meet Members of the Jedi Council near Premiere Theater

Meet Members of the Rebel Alliance Near Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue

Entertainment

Throughout Star Wars Weekends there are some AMAZING opportunities to interact with characters, participate in great shows, and see fireworks that will blow your mind!

Stormtroopers at the Gate – Hollywood and Vine Intersection: Watch out for this duo, as their mission is to keep the ‘Rebel Scum’ in line.

Boba Fett Patrol: Boba Fett patrols the Star Wars Weekends Event Stage, and this is your chance to get up close and talk to the universe’s most relentless bounty hunter.

Stormtrooper Patrol: In addition to Boba Fett, you can find Stormtroopers patrolling and guarding the Star Wars Weekends Event Stage. They might ask you a few questions, so be cool!

Legends of the Force: Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade: The Legends of the Force: Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade is filled with Star Wars celebrities, characters, and lots & lots of Stormtroopers! The motorcade begins at the front of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and makes its way to the Star Wars Weekends Event Stage with an awesome welcome and photo opportunity.

Symphony in the Stars: If you haven’t seen fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you are missing out! This year Hyperspace Hoopla (I am crying as I type this) has been replaced with this spectacular fireworks show, and if you have ‘Glow with the Show’ ears you are going to want to bring them along!

Padawan Mind Challenge: Younglings ages 4-11 will enjoy the Padawan Mind Challenge where your intergalactic hosts ask some fun and interactive Star Wars trivia challenges with a few surprises.

Jedi Training Academy: Kids under 12 can hone their lightsaber skills at the Jedi Training Academy with extra opportunities than normal during Star Wars Weekends.

Celebrity Presentations

Star Wars Weeekends — Zoe getting ready to watch Stars of the Saga

During Star Wars Weekends, the Premiere Theater plays home to some exceptional experiences that include the celebrities visiting the celebration for the weekend.

Make sure that you check to see if there are any FastPass+ available for the following shows!

Some of the scheduled presentations include:

Behind the Force – Star Wars: Rebels
Ashley Eckstein, who is the voice behind Ahsoka Tano, and special guests give a behind-the-scenes “sneak peek” of the upcoming TV show Star Wars: Rebels.

Stars of the Saga
James Arnold Taylor, the Star Wars Weekends 2014 host, and special guests share 30 minutes look into the fascinating lives and movie-making adventures with some of the stars from the Star Wars saga. It’s a talk-show format that is full of fun and surprises!

Stormtrooper Pre-Show
Make sure you head to the Premiere Theater15 minutes prior to Stars of the Saga for a unique and immersive pre-show featuring several Imperial Stormtroopers on a special assignment. I always make sure to get to the Theater early to catch this!!!

Obi-Wan and Beyond starring James Arnold Taylor
James Arnold Taylor, from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, gives us a glimpse into the world of voice acting. James performs over 200 popular and iconic characters, and Zoe LOVES this show!

Special Food and Beverage Options

What would a special event at Walt Disney World be without special food and beverage offerings???

httpv://youtu.be/DRiz6NSEFwk

Star Wars Weekends have some pretty awesome ones this year that are only available during event weekends!

Darth Vader Cupcake: Available at Sunset Ranch Market, ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Studio Catering Company, Pizza Planet Arcade and Darth’s Mall

Yoda Cupcake: Available at Backlot Express, Starring Rolls and Darth’s Mall

Darth Vader Souvenir Popcorn Bucket with Caramel or Regular Popcorn: Available at Popcorn Carts and Darth’s Mall

Stormtrooper Souvenir Mug with Fountain Beverage: Available at Sunset Ranch Market, ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, Studio Catering Company, Pizza Planet Arcade

Admiral Ackbar’s Snackbar in Darth’s Mall featuring a variety of snacks and refreshments.

Throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios you will find additional food, beverage, and alcoholic beverage locations have been added.

Merchandise

Star Wars Weekends event merchandise can be found in Darth’s Mall sponsored by HP which will be located between Toy Story Mania and the Studios Backlot Tour this year.

Again, be prepared for some crazy lines!!! But the treasures inside are worth the wait!

Once inside you will find limited edition pins, specialty gift cards, artwork, collectibles, and commemorative apparel for the entire family!

In addition to Star Wars Weekends logo’ed items, you will also find the Her Universe line of apparel by Ashley Eckstein.

I know that we are all stoked about Star Wars Weekends, and can’t wait to share all of the fun! So make sure you are following our adventures on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

Exploring The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the final and centerpiece attraction of New Fantasyland to open on May 28th at the Magic Kingdom, and I was almost giddy with anticipation to ride at the Walt Disney World Mine Train Event.

Not long after I moved to Orlando, construction began on New Fantasyland and having the opportunity to experience this attraction after watching it being built was amazing.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a family coaster that oozes charm with mild thrills (between Big Thunder Mountain and Barnstormer), an entertaining interactive queue, and story that not only showcases the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs but next generation animatronics that are stunning.

When you first walk up to the Seven Dwarf Mine Train, the first thing that you notice is just how beautiful the queue is! The pathway is lined with trees (and fans) to help give some shade while you wait, and at night the area is lit just enough so you can see while not taking away from how a forest would feel at night.

Hands down my absolute favorite part of the queue are the three interactive areas, which you find once you have entered the mine’s wooden tunnel.

Doc has prepared a series of mining stations for us to explore while we are waiting.

Jewel Sorting – Follow Doc’s instructions, etched into a nearby plank, and help match jewels by color and shape as they flow down a wooden trough—a.k.a. dozens of touch-screen video displays. Watch out for the slippery bars of soap that appear out of no where!!!

Jewel Washing – After the jewels are sorted, grab ahold of a musical water spigot and start cleaning. Each spigot plays its own melody—heed Doc’s tips and you may hear a collection of familiar tunes! When you are running your hands under the spigots, it helps to think of it as playing a harp rather than holding your hand under a tap.

The Vault – Inside the door of the mountain, enter the center of the vault to find a collection of wooden barrels overflowing with glowing stones. Turn each barrel to see the ceiling above you transformed, and get all of the barrels going at once for a really great surprise.

If you are using FastPass+ for this attraction, which is already available on My Disney Experience, you will skip all of these interactive elements and hop right in after The Vault. If it is a slower day or if you have time, I would totally suggest taking the scenic route.

Once you have made it to The Vault, you will notice that you are in the mine! Once your eyes adjust to the darkness make sure to a moment to look around, because the detail that has been lovingly poured into this attraction is amazing! The carved wood and miner’s equipment laying around is such a great touch.

Well, now we have come to the part that we have all been waiting on for many a long year…and that is the ride itself!

The first thing I noticed about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is that loads quickly and efficiently. You can bring your bags on the ride, and there is a reasonably sized pouch if you would like to use it to stow your items.

The ride doesn’t waste any time, going right into twists and turns that really put a spotlight on the innovative mine train cars.

The track is definitely designed with the rocking motion of the mine train cars in mind, but just because they sway doesn’t mean that this is a bumpy ride by any means. There are five cars per train, and there is a difference in where you ride. The first two cars are probably my favorite, because you can feel the sway the most and get the most visually from the track. Cars two and three are much more mild on the rocking, but the fourth car steps it up a little. And the final car is just a lot of fun, because you are whipped all over the track while rocking at a steady pace.

In the middle of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train you head inside to the mine, where you are greeted with some stunning animatronics! Their new animated faces are amazing, and their movement is fluid and wonderful.

And before you know it, you are being called back to work whizzing down the most thrilling drop of the coaster before heading into some fun curves.

The ride ends with a familiar scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that features pieces from Snow White’s Scary Adventure. I don’t want to talk too much about the end of the ride, because it is a great cherry on top of what is already a solid ride.

If I do have a ‘Best Tip’ for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, it is that you should definitely ride it at night. On my nighttime rides I felt like the queue was more stunning, the animatronics popped more, and the views of New Fantasyland from the coaster are great!

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a solid attraction, with mild thrills and memorable moments. I cannot wait for everyone to take a spin!

Can’t wait for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to open on May 28th? Check out the Miners Wanted Game, and then you can get your own Miners Handbook!

Disclaimer: I was an invited by the Walt Disney World Resort to receive a sneak peek at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as part of a media event, however all opinions and thoughts are my own.

#RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Event Survival Tips

RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Party Ultimate Hashtag — 140 characters formed a hashtag at Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to officially announce the Disney Parks bicoastal, All-Night Extravaganza on Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-24, 2014. (David Roark, photographer)

The #RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Party will kick off the summer at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom from 6 a.m., May 23 to 6 a.m., May 24, 2014, EST.

The #RockYourDisneySide Party marks the third year in a row that the Magic Kingdom will be open for 24 hours straight, and this year guests are encouraged to show their #DisneySide by choosing Good or Evil!

I am already thinking of who I will be Disneybounding as!!! It was really fun to dress up as Elsa for the #RockYourDisneySide Party at the Summer Media Preview, and I think I want to give it another go!

Throughout the 24 hours, there will be special events showcasing the good-vs.-evil of classic Disney stories including character meet-and-greets throughout the parks, special entertainment, event merchandise, and food & beverage offerings. And mixed into the fun are sure to be some really great surprises.

The Disney Parks Blog has also said that they would be hosting another awesome Meet-Up! Make sure you keep an eye on their blog and Twitter accounts for announcements. I like to get their tweets sent to my phone, it is super easy to do, so I can find out as soon as it is announced so I can sign up!

Having survived the first two, at more than 28 hours awake and in the Magic Kingdom, I thought I would share some of my favorite tips for spending 24 Hours in the Magic Kingdom!

Pick Six: Tips for Spending 24+ Hours in the Magic Kingdom

1. Pack your bag ahead of time

Be like the Boy Scouts and always be prepared!!! I am usually an advocate of packing as little as possible for your Theme Park trips, but this is the exception to the rule. Try to think of what you will want the most, and pack it with you! For me, my ‘must pack’ list for 24 hour day included adding a travel sized facial cleanser, deodorant, a change of clothes, extra snacks, and playing cards to my normal all-day park bag.

httpv://youtu.be/xEhmt0aiChA

2. Late dinner

I get hANGRY so as I was snacking throughout the day, but I also I pushed all of my meals to a later time than usual. The first 24 Hour Day, we ate dinner at 11:00 at Liberty Tree Tavern and it was a lifesaver! We got to relax, sit down with air conditioning, have a good meal, and spend longer than usual eating to take up more time. It was great!

3. Look for activities, meet-up, and people around you in the Park

While I don’t advocate stalking people on Twitter around the park, it is a good idea to keep an eye on Social Media to see who you talk to that you would like to meet in real life, to look for spontaneous meet-ups, and to get ideas about what other people are doing so you can avoid particularly crowded areas of the Magic Kingdom.

4. Plan on wasting time

You are going to be in the park for a looooooooooooong time, so make sure that you pace yourself. Don’t go all YOLO and try to ride and see absolutely everything on a crazy schedule, because you will tire yourself out. You will have plenty of time, so relax and have fun! Some of my favorite time wasters and things to do that I usually don’t do were playing cards on Tom Sawyer’s Island and going to the shooting range in Frontierland.

httpv://youtu.be/0fXeI0ybzcU

5. Go to sleep early

Think 4:00 pm dinner and 7:00 pm bedtime if you can! You will be getting up crazy early for 24 hour day, and in addition to that you will be awake longer and will be more active than you would be during your usual day. So grab the Early Bird dinner and hit the hay!

6. Have a recovery plan

While a lot of people can get up and get going after staying out, I am not one of them! So I made sure that I had the next day to rest, organize photos, and commiserate with others who took the challenge!

I hope that these tips helped, and that I see you at the #RockYourDisneySide 24 Hour Party at the Magic Kingdom!!!

Make sure you keep up with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for all the #RockYourDisneySide pictures, updates, and more!

Favorite Boat Rides at Walt Disney World

Summer is just around the corner and I thought I’d take a look at some of the boat and water rides at Walt Disney World. These may help cool you down by splashing you or even just with a cool breeze on the water. To borrow a phrase from my friends over at Wedway Radio, everything is better on a boat.

Resort Boats

In the Magic Kingdom Resort area, each of the resorts features boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom and to the neighboring resorts. From Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge as well as the Contemporary on Bay Lake to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian on the Seven Seas Lagoon, boats are constantly crisscrossing the waters around the Magic Kingdom. Also on the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Transportation and Ticket Center, guests can take the Ferry Boats to the Magic Kingdom. Different sizes of boats and launches are found at these resorts for transportation purposes, but guests are also able to rent personal watercrafts, larger pontoon boats and can even rent (with a captain) the Grand One Yacht.

Between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Friendship Boats run back and forth, making stops at the Swan and Dolphin, Boardwalk and Yacht and Beach Club. There are also pontoons and some smaller boats available for rent at the Yacht Club.

Downtown Disney also offers boats along the Sassagoula River to and from Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter.

Attraction Water Rides

Magic Kingdom

My favorite boat or water based attraction at Walt Disney World is Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland. It is true that I love the Disneyland version even more, but I still appreciate this one as it was my first.

Also in Adventureland, the Jungle Cruise takes guests on several rivers including the Nile and the Congo. The campy jokes from the skippers make or break this attraction. If you’ve got a good skipper, it completely makes the ride fantastic.

Frontierland has one of the most thrilling water attractions in Splash Mountain with its five story drop. This classic is also one of the best themed rides with a lot of different elements including tons of audio animatronics.

The Liberty Belle in Liberty Square is another great boat ride. This turn of the century paddle wheeler takes guests on a nice slow ride around Tom Sawyer Island on the Rivers of America.

Just around the corner in Fantasyland is one of the quintessential boat rides of all time, It’s A Small World. This journey through the world just celebrated its 50th Anniversary from when it was first created for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

Epcot

In Future World’s the Land Pavilion, Livin’ With The Land (previously Listen to the Land) is my favorite boat ride. This slow moving boat ride takes guests through different ecosystems and talks about aquaculture, farming and fishing. This is one of my ways to cool off from the warm days we have here in Florida and there hardly ever seems to be a wait of more than a few minutes.

As guests make their way into World Showcase, they have a few more options for rides on the water. On World Showcase Lagoon, Friendship Boats traverse the waterway to transport guests between Mexico and Germany, and Canada and Morocco.

Mexico is host to the Grand Fiesta Tour featuring the Three Caballeros. Previously called El Rio de Tiempo, this slow moving boat ride takes a trip through Mexico and some of its cultural offerings. It is fun seeing the Jose and Panchito on a search for the missing Donald across different Mexican locales.

Right next door in Norway, the Maelstrom is a bit more thrilling. There are some lifts and drops, as well as a surprise or two before you go back, back, over the falls. It is still pretty tame as I’ve ridden it with infants without any trouble or fear for their safety without lap bars or any restraints.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The only current water ride at Animal Kingdom is the Kali River Rapids. Granted, I’ve only done this attraction once, but it wasn’t my favorite. I don’t know if it was the feeling of the message of clear cutting being pushed a bit too much or that I simply didn’t find it as fun as Grizzly River Rapids at Disney California Adventure. At least it has a water attraction, which is more than Disney’s Hollywood Studios can say.

To be honest, I could spend hours just riding the resort boats to relax. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pirates and Splash and Livin’ With The Land, but there’s something to be said just chilling on a boat. It’s been said before and I will continue to say it, it’s better on a boat. What’s your favorite way to spend time on the water at Walt Disney World?

Harambe Nights Special Hard Ticket Event – UPDATED 5/2/14

UPDATED 5/2/14

New details have been released regarding the Harambe Nights special event that will be starting on June 7th. Tickets may be purchased online here. There will be a welcome reception from 7 – 7:30pm. After that, from 7:30 – 8:25pm in honor of the 20th Anniversary is the new The Lion King: Concert in the Wild with a celebrity narrator and live orchestra. Celebrity narrators include:

June 7 – Viola Davis

June 15 – To Be Determined

June 22 – Montego Glover

June 29 – David Alan Grier

July 5 – Michael Beach

July 12 – Harry Lennix

July 19 – Joe Morton

July 26 – Alfre Woodard

August 2 – Brian Stokes Mitchell

August 9 – Patina Miller

From 8:25 – 10:30pm guests can enjoy the Harambe Street Party with a live band, dancing, food and drinks. Characters will be available for meet and greets, special artist signings will take place for exclusive artwork and merchandise. Some of the merchandise that will only be able to be purchased during the party include limited edition iPhone 4 and 5 cases featuring artwork from artist Randy Noble of the Lion King, a 20th Anniversary puzzle of the Lion King, and artwork, collectibles and clothing specific to the event.

All food and drinks are included in the ticket admission price. Guests are able to use their ticket to show for complimentary parking as early as 4pm, with park admission as early as 6pm for the party beginning at 7pm. It is recommended that you arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the party in order to secure parking and go through security and to get to Harambe.

Starting June 7th at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a special hard ticket event called Harambe Nights will take place Saturdays through the summer until August 9th. This separately purchased ticketed event takes place in the evening from 7pm until around 10:30pm, primarily in the Africa section of the park. Guests will be able to enjoy African themed tapas, beers and wines included in the ticket price. Also included will be a new telling of the Lion King show in the new Harambe Theater, including a celebrity host.

The evening will start off with a reception with food and beverages, then guests will be ushered into the theater where they will be served a snack before the new Lion King show lasting about 55 minutes. After the show concludes, an African Street Party with more snacks and drinks, music and dancing as well as character interactions will take place in Harambe Village. Around 10pm the party will move to just near the Tree of Life for a dessert party and farewell ceremony.

Celebrity hosts are subject to change, but include Viola Davis for the opening weekend. Ticket prices are $119 for adults and $79 for children plus tax for general admission and for premium floor seats for the show tickets are $134 and $94 plus tax. Parking for guests with tickets to Harambe Nights is complimentary. Tickets can be purchased starting today, May 1st, by calling 407-934-7639. A limited number of tickets are being sold for this event, so book early if you are interesting in purchasing tickets. As always, information is subject to change. Here is a link to the video some annual passholders received yesterday teasing the event. Tickets may be purchased online as well as over the phone. Either way, tickets may be linked to the guest’s My Disney Experience account for admission to this special event.

Happy Anniversary It’s a Small World!

Today It’s a Small World is among three ground-breaking attractions created for the 1964 World’s Fair celebrating their 50th Anniversary, and we wanted to take a moment to talk about why each attraction is so special to us.

This gentle boat ride is the ‘Happiest cruise that ever sailed around the world’, and was created for the 1964 World’s Fair to salute UNICEF and the children around the world. Filled with beautiful Animatronic Dolls, colorful lands, and an infectious song more than 10 million visitors from 1964-1965.

It was great to see how each of the five Disney Parks around the world celebrated the anniversary of It’s a Small World, but it is really great to hear everyone’s personal connection to the attraction!

httpv://youtu.be/050ZVhjPiNk

My father is a big guy with a southern accent and usually stern face, but his absolute favorite ride at Walt Disney World is It’s a Small World!

I remember on our first trip to Walt Disney World in 1986 we rode It’s a Small World three times, so when my daughter’s, Zoe, first trip rolled around there was only one thing we could do!

As we walked down Main Street, we made our way to It’s a Small World where Zoe shared her first ride at Walt Disney World with my father at her side.

To this day it remains a family favorite ride, and I will never forget the look of delight and love that my father had as rode hand-in-hand with her.

Keep an eye out for our posts on Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and Carousel of Progress that will be coming to you later today!

Do you have a special memory of It’s a Small World?

Studio 25: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 25th Anniversary Event

Studio 25: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios

A WDWCelebrations Commemorative Event

Thursday – Sunday, May 1st – 4th, 2014

WDW Celebrations has put together Studio 25 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios May 1-4, 2014, and we are extremely excited about partnering and celebrating with them!

Studio 25 is an amazing four day event around the Walt Disney World Resort designed to bring old and new Walt Disney World enthusiasts together through signature offerings to complement the official Walt Disney World celebrations planned.

The **tentative** schedule includes group dinners, prizes for trivia challenges and scavenger hunts, group rides, and more! I have to say that I am really looking forward to the new interactive game and group rides! You can find the entire schedule on the WDW Celebrations Page here, and with a schedule that is so full of fun events you don’t have to worry about keeping up with any changes or missing things because they have an Event Alert Service.

Registration for the Studio 25 Event by WDW Celebration is open now, and as an extra bonus a good chunk of the registration fee will go towards the WDWCelebrations Charitable Initiative! The Registration Fee for adults (ages 16+) is $10, of which $3 will go toward the charity donation, and the registration fee for children (ages 3-15) is $6, of which $3 will go toward the charity donation.

More information about Studio 25 and upcoming events will be released on the WDWCelebrations.com website, theWDWCelebrations newsletter as well as the WDWCelebrations official fan page on Facebook and theWDWCelebrations Twitter feed.

We are really excited about attending WDWCelebrations Studio 25, and hope to see you there!

Celebrating Earth Day at Walt Disney World

Earth Day is just around the corner tomorrow and I thought I’d share some of the ways Walt Disney World is celebrating around some of the parks and resorts.

At the Yacht Club, there will be a lady bug release just outside the lobby heading towards the boardwalk.

Saratoga Springs is hosting an afternoon of fun activities at both the High Rock Spring and the Paddock Pools. Some of the games and things to do will include Animal Who Am I?, Earth Day Memory, Marsh Mud Madness, Earth Day Fact or Fiction, a Lady Bug Release, Animal Bingo, Design a Reusable Tote and Beading with “Earth” Charms.

Port Orleans Riverside will play host to fun and games, music and more at Riverside Marina from noon until 3pm with an Earth Day theme.

Disney’s Old Key West Resort will also have the same offerings as many of those at Saratoga Springs. Instead of the Design a Reusable Tote and Beading, Old Key West will have flower pots available to decorate at an additional cost.

The Contemporary will have a Picker Parade where guests can help pick up garbage on the jogging trail.

Animal Kingdom Lodge will have an Ostrich Egg Contest and Auction where proceeds will go to the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund. They will also have Upcycled Crafts where guests can go to Simba’s Cubhouse to create crafts from recycled items.

Both Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness will have tree plantings and recycled materials bird house contests.

Epcot will have Earth Day activities in two locations. In the Seas with Nemo and Friends, guests can get hands on learning about turtle excluder devices and can also learn about conservation and animal rescue efforts. In Innoventions at the Vision House, guests can learn how to shop in a way that is better for the environment in a game and learn about sustainability.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be hosting the Party for the Planet again on Earth Day this year. You can learn more about the specifics of the Party here in the Disney Parks Blog post.

V The Velociraptor Testing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Professor Parker Woodson will be bringing his friend V the Velociraptor to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a ‘Jurassic Jaunt’ with guests in Dinoland U.S.A. beginning April 19, 2014!

Professor Woodson has hand raised V the Velociraptor from birth, so V is excited to be out meeting people and exploring the world all around him.

You will be able to find Professor Woodson and V the Velociraptor roaming around Dinoland U.S.A for limited time from April 19 to May 3, 2014.

Tentatively the daily 30 minute sets for their explorations are 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm.

While I was never lucky enough to meet Lucky the Dinosaur, I am really excited to have Professor Woodson and V the Velociraptor visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland U.S.A at lest for a little while.

And while this may or may not be a permanent addition to the area, I am certainly going to enjoy them while they are here!

We’ll be updating this post with more pictures and videos soon, so keep checking back.

Wordless Wednesday: Mimi Kaboom

Wordless Wednesday – April 16, 2014

: Wordless Wednesday

Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of It’s A Small World At Walt Disney World

Yesterday the Walt Disney World Resort joined in with the other Disney Parks around the world to celebrates the 50^th anniversary of It’s a Small World.

It’s a Small World opened as a tribute to peace and hope at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and is an important part of my family’s heart.

It is my father’s favorite attraction (he makes us ride it at least twice per visit), it was my first ride at Walt Disney World, and we brought it full circle as my father and I rode with Zoe for her first ride ever at Walt Disney World.

As part of a live global sing-along connecting all the Disney Parks around the world, international cast members from the countries of Epcot will lead a choir of children and cast members in song in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=050ZVhjPiNk&list=UUxhza5Nkv4ukqKmIFLE9dgA&feature=share

Throughout the day, in-park performers – the Dapper Dans, Coke Corner Pianist, Notorious Banjo Brothers, Royal Majesty Maker Musicians and Main Street Philharmonic – are scheduled to include “it’s a small world” in their appearances. And, a special moment is planned for Magic Kingdom guests to join in singing the iconic song prior to the 3 p.m. Disney Festival of Fantasy parade.

Thank you so much to John from Big Fat Panda.com for creating an AMAZING video!!! Make sure that you check out his amazing show (especially show #1 with your’s truly) and videos on his chanel.

National Barbershop Quartet Day

Little did I know, and I imagine many of you didn’t either, until just now, that today is National Barbershop Quartet Day. So, since I have a love for barbershop quartets, I thought I’d bring back some of my favorite pictures and talk about a few. I could profess my love of the Deagan Organ Chimes played by the beloved Dapper Dans on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. Or, I could go off on a tangent about the Be Sharps. But instead, I will provide some videos and clips to let them speak, or should I say sing, for themselves.

The Be Sharps (The Simpsons)

This quartet of Homer, Chief Wiggum (later replaced by Barney), Apu and Principal Skinner was relatively short lived, but fantastic nonetheless. These guys are meant to mimic the Beatles in their meteoric rise to fame, eventual fighting within the group, and even rooftop concert. Their style, however, is pure barbershop quartet. I love their cover of Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby. I would love if Universal Studios would add walk around characters like the Be Sharps. I hear there are several pictures around Springfield of them. I’ll have to see if I can find them on my next visit there. Guess who provided the singing voices for the Be Sharps …?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pURFU3pL93o

The Dapper Dans (Disneyland & Magic Kingdom Parks)

These mainstays have always had a place in my heart and a place in the Disney parks since 1959. The guys that you may see walking right down the middle of Main Street USA, or riding, if you’re lucky and in Disneyland, serenade guests with classic tunes from centuries past even. I love seeing these gents in their bright uniforms singing songs from the Music Man, Disney tunes and songs I learned from my grandparents like Marizy Doats and Shave & A Haircut. Last year, I did get the opportunity to catch the Dapper Dans giving the barbershop quartet treatment to some contemporary boy band songs. It was quite entertaining. During special events, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom, the guys don makeup and sometimes even pickaxes and perform ghoulish songs as the Cadaver Dans. I love their colorful outfits throughout the year also, but my favorite is probably their Christmas costume. I’ve even been lucky enough to have the Dans sing to me in Harmony Barbershop while I was getting my haircut!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A7G6Bczj-k

Okay, I couldn’t not include one of my favorite recent discoveries in the barbershop quartet genre. This is Jimmy Fallon’s cover of R. Kelly’s song Ignition (Remix) as his group the Ragtime Gals. If you haven’t seen this segment before, take a break from your day and enjoy a few minutes by searching for the other renditions they’ve performed.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2LiFsdrXF4

Happy National Barbershop Quartet Day!

Baby Care Center- Magic Kingdom

This post is the third in a mini series, there will be four total; one for each theme park. If you have a Disney, Travel, or Mommy blog (or any other kind of blog you think this could fit into) and are interested in using this post and the ones that follow, please contact me! Part one was Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and part two was Epcot. This time we will be exploring Magic Kingdom.

The Entrance

The Baby Care Center at Magic Kingdom is located right next door to First Aid, between Casey’s Corner and Crystal Palace.

Unfortunately it is my least favorite location out of the parks, but, don’t get me wrong, I’m still very grateful that it’s there. Since I usually travel alone with the little one (while my husband is at work) I have to juggle all our stuff. That’s one super helpful perk of having a stroller, it’s a place to stow things & babies have a lot of things! Just like Epcot, the Magic Kingdom Baby Care Center does not allow strollers inside. You have to park them at the door.

Signage

When you walk in the door, you’re greeted with a curio cabinet showcasing the baby products available for sale inside.

Curio with merchandise

As you pass the display, the nursing room is on the right. Also like Epcot, this one is a community nursing room. Four padded rocking chairs in a very dimly lit room. It’s soothing, but I wish it was a tad brighter; it takes some time to adjust between that light level and the bright Florida sun outside. Also in the room are two small tables and some outlets for pumping or phone charging. Unlike Epcot this one has 2 doors, an in door on one end and an out door on the other end. Be aware if you sit on the out door wall and the door opens all the way, you can pretty much see into the park. So if you are on the shy side when it comes to nursing in public, I’d stay away from that wall.

Blurry, but a shot of the other 3 rockers from the 4th rocker.

The out door, see how your in line with it if you’re in the rocker on the left?

Continuing on from the nursing room is a very large feeding/play room! It has a TV, some books and a big layout. It has 3 high chairs, 4 kid sized tables, lots of child sized stools, and 8 full sized chairs.

Feeding/play room

To the left of the feeding room is the changing room. They have 5 large padded changing tables, a hand washing sink and a restroom.

One corner of the changing room.

Another corner of the changing room, with the sink.

The next, and final room is the kitchen. Just like the other Baby Care Centers, it has a sink, microwave, bottle warmer, mini fridge; and it also sells any baby necessities that you have run out of or forgotten.

Kitchen

List of items available

A fun fact- this Baby Care Center, then called Baby Services, has been around since the opening of the Walt Disney World Resort! “Facilities for changing infants, preparing formula, warming bottles. Babysitting not available in Theme Park. Babysitting services available at hotels.”

Stay tuned for our last Disney installment of our Baby Care Center series, Disney’s Animal Kingdom!