Disney News

The Vinylmation Sports line has been expanded, including NFL figures for the Super Bowl.

Prepare to have your sweet tooth teased. The latest “Every Role a Starring Role” video from Disneyland picks the ‘rolls’ of the new Jolly Holiday Bakery Café on Main Street, U.S.A.. Head Chef Janine Ruozi is responsible for these amazing creations (look for the Matterhorn Macaroons).

Did this one may make you hungry, or what?

Jolly Holiday Bakery Café at Disneyland, Sweet Treats originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

Walt Disney World's new "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom" game is now in the testing phase at the park.

The 2012 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will begin blooming soon. In just over a month the park will roll out its 19th festival and the third with HGTV as a sponsor. I think it’s been a great partnership and look forward to seeing what the combined forces can bring this year.

One of the highlights promises to be the Sorcerer Mickey topiary that’s part of the largest-ever Disney front-entrance topiary. There will be a stellar cast of HGTV design celebrities and a great line up of artists at the Flower Power concert  series.

Here’s a sneak peek of this year’s festival news:

• The 19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV runs March 7-May 20.
• Disney’s gardening magic goes a long way when an eight-foot-tall floral Sorcerer Mickey topiary holds court in front of the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth.  Standing atop a 12-foot-tall floral mountain cliff, Sorcerer Mickey directs a riot of color in the manicured shapes of dancing broomsticks, buckets, mushrooms, hippos, alligators and elephants straight from the classic Disney film, “Fantasia.” The scene pops with pink geraniums, white poppies, violet petunias, blue delphiniums and pansies.
• Twice daily each Friday through Sunday of the festival, HGTV designers and hosts share their insights on landscapes and design with Festival Center audiences.  John Gidding of “Curb Appeal: The Block” kicks off the series March 9-11 with curb-appeal design tips for homeowners.
• Music fills each festival weekend when pop music hitmakers of the 1960s and ’70s rule the America Gardens Theatre stage with performances of their greatest songs.  Jose Feliciano ignites the Flower Power concert series March 9-11 with his treasure trove of tunes.  Two new festival acts are in store:  Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (April 27-29) and The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II (May 4-6).

The front-entrance floral spectacle will welcome guests to a festival packed with new gardens and displays, featured speakers and hands-on fun for all ages, including daily gardening workshops with take-home projects for all who participate.

Thirty million blooms, 240 floating mini-gardens on two ponds, 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables, dozens of Disney character topiaries, 30 “flower towers” of impatiens and sweeping beds of original floral designs create a new tapestry of brilliant color across the 260-acre Epcot landscape.  It takes more than one year and 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists to plan and prepare for the 75-day festival.

Halfway through the festival, Disney gardeners remove the cold-hardy blossoms that thrive in March and early April to plant a new crop of flowers that flourish in spring’s warmer temperatures.  And throughout the event, dozens of gardening experts meet guests daily with fresh landscape ideas for 2012.  Daily workshops at the Festival Center let guests dig into projects they can take home at the end of the day.

Don’t Miss!

• The Festival Center- Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend demonstrations and get ideas and tips from master gardeners.  In Future World between Universe of Energy and Mission:SPACE.
• Disney Gardening at Home presentations - Disney horticulturists and local experts like Robert Bowden of Harry P. Leu Gardens will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity. At the Festival Center.
• Special Festival Weekend Celebrations - An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists is scheduled March 23-25; a Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists weekend presents indigenous insects that are part of our world; a Florida Federation of Garden Clubs gathering will be April 27-29; and a Fresh from Florida Farmer’s Market salute is slated for May 4-6.
• Bambi’s Butterfly House, three times the size of the festival’s original, is a-flutter with multiple species of brilliant butterflies.  At Imagination Walkway by Innoventions West.
• Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden - Fabulous Disney fairy topiaries alight to greet young fans who enter this whimsical garden designed with play structures for children ages 2-5.  At the Test Track Walkway.
• The HGTV Designers Stage presents HGTV celebrities each Friday through Sunday and nationally recognized garden personalities Monday through Thursday.  At the Festival Center.
• Flower Power concert series welcomes back 20th century pop favorites this year when Chubby Checker and The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Davy Jones and eight other bands rock the America Gardens Theatre with their timeless tunes.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers and appearance dates subject to change.

Join us below the fold for some topiary trivia:

The largest number of front-entrance topiaries ever, 1,000 brilliantly hued butterflies, 240 floating mini-gardens and 30 million blooms paint a landscape masterpiece at the 19th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 7-May 20 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Among this year’s fun festival facts:

•  30 million blooms blanket the park throughout the festival, which runs 75 colorful days.
•  The festival’s front-entrance Fantasia topiary scene comprises 28 topiaries - more than have been used in any front-entrance display.  The 28 include Sorcerer Mickey, three ostriches, two hippos, two alligators, two elephants, nine stars, a spiral and eight mushrooms.
• 22,615 plant plugs of 15 plant varieties make up the Fantasia front-entrance topiary.  They include reindeer moss for Sorcerer Mickey’s face and red begonias for his hat; creeping fig for Mickey, hippos and gators; Sweet Ayssum, and three shades of Lobelia  simulate water spilling over a large topiary rock made up of Black Scallop Ajuga upon which the Sorcerer stands.
• 4,000 Blushing Bride air plants from Guatemala color the two hippos’ tutus and 300 Cotton Candy air plants from Peru feather the wings and tails of the three ostrich topiaries.  Smaller air plants are used as ostrich slippers.
• 1,250 feet of quarter-inch irrigation tubing is woven into the Fantasia front-entrance topiaries.
• Dozens of additional Disney character topiaries represent the largest collection of Disney character topiary in the world and include classic film stars like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Cinderella and Tinker Bell.
• At least 25 different plants, grasses and mosses of various colors, including pink and red begonias, dusty miller, palm fiber, palm seeds, ficus and lichen, are used to create and define features of additional festival topiaries.  More color has been added to the topiaries than in any previous topiary presentation.
• 1,000 native butterflies represent up to 10 species at the expansive Bambi’s Butterfly House. Among the garden’s two dozen nectar plants are Cape Royal plumbago, passion flower, coral honeysuckle, blazing star, butterfly bush, scarlet milkweed and canna lily.
• More than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; 250,000 of those are annual blossoms installed for the festival.
• Festival plants include 60 different species of trees, 47 types of palms, and 48 varieties of bedding plants.
• 150 hands-on gardening demonstrations and seminars will be presented.
• Thirty “flower towers” of impatiens line Innoventions Plaza.
• 240 floating mini-gardens, each three feet in diameter, of multi-hued impatiens provide splashes of color on two ponds that border the walkway between Future World and World Showcase.
• 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables in clay pots, barrels and urns enhance the landscape throughout Epcot.
• 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists are needed to install the festival landscape, topiaries and many exhibits; 100 Epcot horticulturists maintain topiaries and other festival displays.
• It takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.
• The festival’s weekend Flower Power concert series includes 11 artists and groups known for more than 100 Top 40 hits.  This year’s musical hit-makers from the 1960s and ’70s include Jose Feliciano, Starship starring Mickey Thomas, The Guess Who, The Spinners, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (NEW!), The Orchestra starring former members of ELO (NEW!), Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone and Davy Jones.

EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Blooming Soon originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

The magical sights and sounds of Disneyland Resort can now be discovered with “Disneyland Explorer,” the official Disney Parks app for iPad, available as a free download from the App Store.

I like the photo-realistic aspect of this app. The photos, video and special activities inspired by the classic attractions and entertainment at the resort look like this could be a lot of fun to use in between trips to the park.

Disneyland Explorer App Now for Free on the iPad originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

I love a good story that brings warmth and happiness, I mean literally warmth. The BlanketEARs are a group of Disney World cast members dedicating to are sprinkling a little extra pixie dust throughout the community by knitting and crocheting items for donation to various charitable organizations in and around Central Florida.

Established in 2007, the BlanketEARs started out as a small group that would get together once a week to knit caps for soldiers deployed overseas. Over the years the group grew into a sizable organization and expanded their efforts to include baby caps, afghans and pet mats. They meet once a month for an evening workshop to work on various projects as well as to learn new skills — a new stitch, pattern and even learning to quilt.

This past holiday season, the BlanketEARs delivered more than 150 caps and blankets to hospitals in the Orlando area.

“The thought of someone personally creating items makes patients feel cared for and blessed. It means a lot because the Disney BlanketEARs took the time to make something that can bring joy and comfort,” said Alexsandra Rosello, a coordinator at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute.

Cast Member Kelly Ann Antalek was inspired to start the BlanketEARs here in Florida after reading about a similar group in California. She quickly learned that there were many local organizations that would gladly take hand knitted crafts.

“My motivation is simple.” Says Antalek. “The more I crochet, the more I can donate to people in need.”

Looking forward, the BlanketEARs aspire to reach out to more charities in need of assistance and hope to include wheelchair totes and scarves among their donations.

Disney Cast Members Are BlanketEARs originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

With this latest video I’m continuing my Expressions series. This series is about capturing the details of the parks that help make the magic and provide memories of a lifetime. If you can’t be at the parks today, perhaps watching an Expressions video will at least put you in the spirit.

Thanks for watching.

Expressions – A Day at the Magic Kingdom originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

Universal Orlando passholders will no longer get early entry to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

SeaWorld presents "Bands, Brew and BBQ" on weekends from February 11 through March 4.

New 2012 design t-shirt

Quite a few new pieces of merchandise in the 2012 line of Walt Disney World merchandise has been introduced into the parks. We’ve got pictures of that, plus a few other fun or bizarre, as the case might be, additions to the shelves.

At the Magic Kingdom, they continue to make shifts in the product line up inside the main street shops (rendering that nice new map and directory they had recently produced obsolete), in fact the Trophy shop finally got its sports related merchandise (and other men’s attire) back after a long run of Tinkerbell and Minnie Mouse related women’s apparel and accessories. I think this is a home run.

More home runs below the jump in our gallery:

If you like this or other Disney theme park merchandise, you can find a lot of it on DisneyStore.com these days.

Disney World Merchandise Update – 2012 Collection Has Arrived originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

The first shoe has dropped in the Kodak bankruptcy case when the company asked a judge to terminate its sponsorship of the Oscars Theater in Hollywood. It’s costing the company a lot of money to have its name up there on the corner of Hollywood and Vine Highland. Now we’re left to wonder when the other shoe will drop with Kodak’s sponsorship in Disney’s theme parks.

To make matters more interesting many of the creditors Kodak is trying to work out refinancing deals are movie studios, including Disney. Kodak owes Disney $4.2 million. It’s also not good news for the owners of the theater as the AMPAS, who runs the Academy Awards, is thinking about moving the Oscar ceremony to another theater soon.

Kodak seeks to end sponsorship of Hollywood Theater are Disney Parks Next? originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

We’re less than two months away from the christening ceremony of the Disney Fantasy (taking place in New York City, btw). The information about the ship is starting to flow like a firehose now. Take, for instance, this new video showcasing the new and improved water features coming to the Disney Fantasy:

I wonder if the new hot tub on the top deck means the hot tubs where you can look down and see the water under your feet are gone. Those were great. The kids play area looks like it will be more accessible to a greater age range, so that’s good. I also like the ‘wade-up’ bar. How about you?

Exploring the Disney Fantasy’s New Water Features originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

Congratulations are due to SeaWorld San Diego for opening a terrific eco-friendly enhancement. If you have an electric car and are helping reduce green house gases in the environment, you can now “top off you batteries” while visiting Shamu and his friends.

As part of the SeaWorld Cares program, they just installed 4 “Free” electric car charging units for park guests in the parking lot. They will work with any 120 volt or 240 volt electric vehicles. Already several guests have used the charging station and once the word gets out, I’m sure more will be on the way.

Okay, Orlando. You’re now officially behind the times. At a minimum I expect to see these at EPCOT ASAP.

(via the SeaWorld blog)

Electric Car Recharging Stations Added to SeaWorld San Diego originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

This morning we gave you the top 5 activities for adults to do on a Disney Cruise, at least according to Disney. Tonight they’re back with Top 5 things for kids todo.

I imagine they had a hard time narrowing it down.

Top Five Things for Kids To Do On A Disney Cruise originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

Star Wars Weekends returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012, as fans gather to celebrates the Star Wars film saga and the hit animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. We’re still waiting to hear who will fill out the celebrity lineup on the weekends, but with the new Star Tours having a year under its belt, it should be a great event.

The centerpiece of the celebration will be the spectacular 3-D attraction, “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.” The attraction, which opened last spring at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, uses eye-popping 3-D, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology to immerse guests in the Star Wars galaxy like never before.

“Jedi Training Academy,” one of the interactive entertainment experiences at the theme park, allows young guests to learn from a Jedi Master before testing their newly acquired skills in a battle with Darth Vader.

Also featured at Star Wars Weekends: the chance for fans to purchase one-of-a-kind Star Wars memorabilia, Star Wars games, plus there’s special Star Wars parades and motorcades, star conversations and autograph sessions with Star Wars actors and creative talent. The ever-popular “Hyperspace Hoopla” ends each Star Wars Weekends day with a show filled with comedy, dancing, high-energy music and many of the famed Star Wars characters.

For more information and future updates, guests may go online to disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends.

Star Wars Weekends Returns for 2012 Galactic Fun originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

Disney theme park fans know one word when it comes to finding a piece of theme park history to take home with them. That word is MouseSurplus. With a new location in Kissimmee, MouseSurplus is full of costumes, props, signs, and attraction vehicles that will make the Disney fans heart skip a few beats.

Now they get to share that passion with the audience of A&E series “Shipping Wars” on a episode airing February 7, 2012 at 9pm ET. The show will feature a a move of a Star Wars AT-AT Walker and and X-Wing Fighter from MouseSurplus along 192 in Kissimmee all the way to Orem, Utah.

The props were originally part of the F.A.O. Schwartz store in Las Vegas that closed in 2004. I remember them fondly.

The full press release is below the jump:

MouseSurplus to be featured on Hit A&E Series “Shipping Wars”

Episode Premieres February 7, 2012 at 9:00 PM ET

Orlando based Disney Collectible clearinghouse, MouseSurplus, to be featured on the hit A&E series “Shipping Wars” shipping one of a kind Star Wars props: a 25 foot tall Star Wars AT AT Walker and 8×6 foot X-Wing Fighter to a customer in Utah.

The segment was filmed on location at the MouseSurplus store front in Kissimmee, Florida. The episode, “May the Ship Be With You”, is the 10th episode of the series and premieres February 7, 2012 on A&E at 9:00 PM ET.

The AT AT Walker and X-Wing fighter are shipped from Kissimmee, Florida to Orem, Utah by one of the stars of the series, Roy Garber. Although Roy is a Star Wars fan and is excited about the job, it doesn’t come easy, as noted on the “Shipping Wars” website: “Roy lands the shipment of his dreams when he gets to haul some large one-of-a-kind props from his favorite sci-fi movie. But when he is cut-off by another trucker on the highway, he’s afraid it may have damaged these priceless movie artifacts.”

The Star Wars AT AT Walker and X-Wing Fighter replicas featured in the episode were custom made for the FAO Schwartz at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. The replica pieces were sold to MouseSurplus when the store closed in January, 2004. The AT AT Walker replica measures 25 feet tall, weighs over 2,000 pounds and took over a dozen people and close to 80 man hours to assemble at the MouseSurplus headquarters.

MouseSurplus to be featured on Hit A&E Series “Shipping Wars” originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

The number one question I get about Disney Cruise Line is what is there for adults to do. Trust me, you’ll be overwhelmed with options from the moment you board. But just in case you’re not convinced, DCL has a new video with the “Top Five” adult activities on a Disney cruise ship.

Which of these are you most likely to do, or do you have another favorite?

Top 5 Things For Adults To Do On A Disney Cruise originally posted on
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

                          

Disney and Chase Bank are now offering a new version of their presumably popular Disney themed credit card.  Previously the only offering was the Disney Rewards card.

Image Copyright Disney and Chase Bank

An overview of the total offering for each card is at disneyrewards.com. 

The new Premier card comes with a $49 a year fee, earns 2% in rewards dollars on gas, grocery, restaurants, and ‘most’ Disney locations, and 1% on everything else.  This contrasts with the older Rewards card, which is 1% on all purchases with the occasional promotion to earn more.   

In addition, if you’re not a Disney passholder, you get a similar package of discount benefits similar (but not the same) as those afforded to passholders.  These include 10% discounts at Disney Store locations and disneystore.com.  Plus a variety of discounts on merchandise and guided tours at Disneyland and Disney World.

One new perk is that on Premier you can now use your Disney Rewards dollars as a statement credit against airline tickets charged to the card. 

Both cards offer also offer 0% promo APR’s for 6 billing cycles on Disney reservations. 

That’s the good news. 

Some of the downsides are (Premier terms) (Rewards terms):

• like most cards, the if you co-mingle special APR financing and regular APR financing, you have no control over which is paid back first.
• The new Premier cards have a $49 a year fee that you need to take into account on your usage pattern (you have to spend $4,900 of year on the card, just to recoup the $49 fee and ‘break even’).  The base Rewards card has no fee currently.
• It comes with a pretty high interest rate at 14.24% variable.  If you pay off every month or better, no issues, but that will cancel the benefits of the 6 month free interest for qualified vacations. 
• Daily interest accrues from the day you make a charge (no grace period for new purchases)

So if you need a credit card, travel to Disney a lot and can make use of the perks, one of these two cards might just help you defray the costs of visiting your favorite Disney places.

Sample menus released from the Art of Animation Resort's Landscape of Flavors Food Court.

Welcome to Episode 87 of the Disneybrit Podcast for Wednesday 1st February 2012.

It is the start of a new era at Disneybrit HQ as we welcome the winner of Disneybrit Idol and our newest co-host to the show. We have to say a BIG thank you to Paul Boniface for the TRON inspired intro idea!

We begin the show with our usual news and rumours (what there is of them) and then swiftly move on to a group discussion about the Disney Magic’s return to Europe. Is it expensive or not?

Following on from that, Nick LoCicero join us to give his inital thoughts on the latest Magic Kingdom attraction, Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom and then to end the show our new co-host brings us a review of their visit to the John Carter Press event followed by some event audio.

Don’t forget you can contact us via email at podcast@disneybrit.com and now on our new Voicemail. Call us from the US on 407 545-7980. Why not call us from the parks if you are out there!

So, without any further ado, sit back, recline your seat, relax and enjoy this episode of the Disneybrit Podcast.