Disney Blog at Magical Kingdoms

By Guest Blogger Kathleen Hubert

For decades, the name Walt Disney has conjured up images of magic, wonder, imagination, joy and laughter for children and adults of all ages. This coming year, The Walt Disney Company has big plans for its movies, videos, television shows and theme parks.

Disney will start off the New Year with a theatrical re-release of one of its most beloved animated classics, Beauty and the Beast. The film is a technological, artistic and historic landmark in the studio’s history. It was the first animated feature film to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and one of the first films to blend traditional, hand-drawn animation with innovative computer imagery. To honor its legacy and introduce it to a new generation of moviegoers, Disney has converted the entire film to 3D from the original computer files, bringing out more of the vividly detailed animation. Disney has planned more 3D re-releases for its classics in the future, including The Little Mermaid and Pixar’s Finding Nemo.

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So, you’ve decided you’re going to book a Disney Cruise, and after much deliberating have also chosen which itinerary you’re going to do. But what about staterooms? There are so many different categories, where do you begin?

Well, the first decision is concierge or non-concierge? Concierge rooms come with several added benefits, the first of which is pre-arrival planning help. A Concierge Service Specialist will help you plan shore excursions and other reservations including Palo / Remy dining, and for the nursery. Once at port, concierge guests are given priority boarding, and can attend a private welcome reception once on-board. Concierge crew members are there to assist with on-board reservations and dining changes, celebration planning, and can help arrange for concierge guests to eat in their rooms instead of the rotation restaurants each evening. There’s also the private concierge lounge, which serves up complimentary snacks and drinks.

Royal Suite on the Disney Dream

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The newest Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Fantasy, floated out of the enclosed building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard yesterday as fireworks filled the sky. This symbolizes one of the final stages of this ship’s construction and marks a significant milestone towards the March 31, 2012 maiden voyage.

The Disney Fantasy features many of the innovations found on her sister ship, Disney Dream, with several new guest experiences exclusive to the ship that are sure to delight every member of the family. New experiences found on the Disney Fantasy include two Broadway-style musical spectaculars for the Walt Disney Theatre, a dining experience at Animator’s Palate where guests’ own drawings magically come to life, an interactive adventure quest starring the Muppets, a splashtacular water play area called AquaLab, a sophisticated nighttime entertainment area for adults inspired by European travel and much more .

The Disney Fantasy will sail seven-night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. All voyages will depart from Port Canaveral, Fla. and include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, or click here.

Disney have finally announced what we’ve all known about for many months – the new DVC property at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Disney Vacation Club is developing an estimated 147 villas as part of the previously announced expansion of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Estimated to open in late 2013 near Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, the resort’s slated to become the 12th Disney Vacation Club property.

“We continually look for ways to expand Disney Vacation Club by creating resort experiences that our Members will love,” said Claire Bilby, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Club. “With the continued popularity of Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, we are thrilled to offer our Members and Guests a new resort option along the monorail beam with easy access to the Magic Kingdom Park, as well as a variety of shopping, dining and recreation experiences.”

Like never before, Disney Cruise Line takes cruise ship entertainment to new heights: Performers soar and surf over the stage in aerial maneuvers … Pirates rappel from atop the ship’s funnel during a swashbuckling adventure … The evening sky lights up with a dazzling display of sound and color.

On the Disney Fantasy, entertainment is designed to charm and bedazzle the entire family. Guests delight to some of the most elaborate original musicals presented at sea, over-the-top deck parties and, bursting above it all, the largest fireworks spectacular aboard a cruise ship.

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The Muppets make their debut on Disney Cruise Line in a new adventure game aboard the Disney Fantasy, the new Disney ship setting sail in March 2012.

Throughout the Disney Fantasy, guests will discover creative and whimsical technical innovations – whether it’s mealtime, playtime or bedtime. “Paintings” spring to life. Guests’ own drawings dance with Disney characters. Interior staterooms have a porthole view of the sea outside. Animated characters chat with guests. The floor beneath children comes alive to movements. Among the highlights:

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We recently polled our forum members to ask their favorites at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, for our inaugural “MK Best of Disney Awards.” And…drumroll please…here are the results!

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Best Epcot Restaurant -
Le Cellier Steakhouse

Best Downtown Disney Restaurant -
Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant

Best Signature Restaurant -
(2 joint winners)
Citrico’s
Le Cellier Steakhouse (dinner)

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• The holiday season at Disneyland Resort gets underway Monday, Nov. 14, and will continue daily through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012.
• For the first time, the Holiday season at Disneyland Resort will be extended to celebrate Three Kings Day, known as Día de Reyes. From Jan. 6-8, 2012, look for special décor and entertainment in Frontierland that showcases western and Mexican heritage, along with food themed to this holiday and children’s activities.
• The first Disneyland holiday celebration was in 1955, when Walt Disney placed a Christmas tree in the Hub at the north end of Main Street, U.S.A., near Sleeping Beauty Castle.  For many years now, the tree has been located in Town Square near the Main Street Disneyland Railroad Station.
• Beginning Friday, Nov. 18, “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” show gets a new, Yuletide glow. The show features photos and video of guests creating memories at Disneyland park, with favorite holiday melodies underscoring images of guests enjoying their holidays at Disneyland.
• The lively street show “Phineas and Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” gets a merry twist at Disney California Adventure park, with holiday décor and songs. The show is performed several times a day in Paradise Pier.
• Lanny and Wayne, the techno-savvy elves from the “Prep & Landing” holiday TV specials, make guest appearances in a new holiday prelude sequence in the nighttime “World of Color” show in Disney California Adventure.
• Decorating experts at the Disneyland Resort have to get started early. They trim nearly 700 trees for the season, on display in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, the resort’s three hotels and the Downtown Disney District. The smallest tree is at Storybook Land and the largest is at Town Square – both in Disneyland.
• The Disneyland Christmas tree in Town Square has become a favorite spot for snapping holiday photos. The artificial tree stands 60 feet tall and has 280,000 pine-tip branches molded from actual tree branches. It is decorated with more than 2,000 ornaments, including the three-foot star on top, and nearly 4,800 energy-efficient LED lights. When the Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle show reaches its finale crescendo, more than 60,000 LED lights and 1,200 strobe lights are added to the effect.
• Mickey’s Toontown is decorated with its own distinctive “toon” trees this 2011 holiday season. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse each have personal Christmas trees in the front yards of their Toontown homes, and a cartoon-themed tree beckons guests for photos in front of Toontown City Hall.
• Since the introduction of the artificial Christmas tree and LED lighting technology in 2008, the Disneyland park Christmas tree has used 50 percent less electricity than it did previously.
• Carolers in traditional Victorian holiday garb make regular appearances throughout the season at each of the three Disneyland Resort hotels:  Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
• The Dapper Dans, the popular Main Street, U.S.A., quartet, add holiday songs to their repertoire, with holiday chimes as accompaniment. Favorites range from the traditional “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to “Frosty the Snowman,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Christmas in Killarney.
• The nighttime Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle light show is divided into three “acts” over the course of the evening. Each one begins at the Castle and travels the length of Main Street, U.S.A., finishing at the Town Square Christmas tree. Each act features a magical snowfall, and the final act concludes with “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks.

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Miles of garland, ribbon, twinkling lights and glitter transform Walt Disney World Resort into a winter wonderland during the holiday season.  Here’s a sample of what guests will experience throughout the Vacation Kingdom:

• 1,300 decorated trees throughout property
• A wreath 25 feet in diameter adorning the Cirque du Soleil building at Downtown Disney West Side
• 10 miles of twinkling rope lights in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• 150 tractor-trailer truckloads of decorations for 24 resorts, 4 theme parks, Downtown Disney and other locations
• 15 miles of garland strung and 1,314 wreaths hung throughout the Vacation Kingdom
• 300,000 yards of ribbon and bows draping over Christmas trees across property
• 8.5 million lights strung throughout Walt Disney World Resort
• 100 percent of the lighting used for holiday décor is LED
• 11 countries dressed for Holidays Around the World at Epcot World Showcase
• More than 800 performers each night during Candlelight Processional at Epcot
• More than 200 guest choirs during the entire run of Candlelight Processional
• A Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom with a base 25 feet wide
• One 70-foot-tall tree takes center stage in Disney’s Contemporary Resort entrance lobby featuring nearly 35,800 white LED lights
• 6 life-sized creations cooked up by Walt Disney World pastry chefs, including:
  • One 16-foot-tall gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa baked with 1,050 pounds of honey and involving more than 160 hours of decorating
  • One life-size gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort featuring ponies made of chocolate and fondant, giant candy cane poles, handcrafted poinsettias and hand-painted portraits of famous Disney characters
  • 100 percent chance of snow flurries during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, taking place on select holiday evenings in Magic Kingdom
  • 365 days of the year that guests can shop for holiday merchandise at the Disney’s Days of Christmas shop in Downtown Disney Marketplace

Here’s a preview of the latest Toy Story Toon, “Small Fry,” which will play before Disney’s The Muppets, in theatres November 23.

Buzz Lightyear is left behind at a fast food restaurant when a kids’ meal toy version of Buzz takes his place. While Bonnie’s toys are stuck with the annoying three-inch-tall Buzz impersonator, the real Buzz is trapped in the restaurant at a support group for discarded toys. As Woody and the gang devise a way to rescue their friend, Buzz tries to escape the toy psychotherapy meeting.