Click Image To See larger View

New Attractions, Experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — In the Walt Disney World theme park famous for all things Hollywood, it’s curtain up on the launch of new attractions, new looks, new breakthrough experiences…

…and a brand-new name.

Disney-MGM Studios will be renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios, effective January 2008, announced Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort.

“The new name reflects how the park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment that today’s Hollywood has to offer — in music, television, movies and theater,” she said.

Framed by the park’s supporting cast of classic Hollywood architecture are shows and attractions straight from contemporary Hollywood, such as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” and many more. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is also the place to meet favorite character stars of today including Lightning McQueen and Mater from Disney-Pixar’s “Cars,” Power Rangers and Little Einsteins.

Read the rest of this entry

MEET HANDY MANNY: Handy Manny, the popular Playhouse Disney character, is the newest member of the Disney-MGM Studios family. He will begin making regular meet-and-greet appearances in the Disney-MGM Studios theme park the week of Nov. 18, 2007. Also, coming in 2008 to the theme park, Handy Manny will debut as part of the cast in a new show entitled “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Read the rest of this entry

Thousands of Twinkly Crystal Lights Create Icy Cascade

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A dazzling new lighting spectacle is transforming the iconic Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort into a glimmering, shimmering ice palace at holiday time.

Bathed in more than 200,000 tiny white lights, the castle glows and glistens as “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish” delights Magic Kingdom guests nightly, starting Nov. 12.

Read the rest of this entry

Captain Jack Sparrow trains youngsters in the art of sword fighting just outside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in the Magic Kingdom. It’s just one of the interactive entertainment shows presented for Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Several times daily, the feisty pirate and mate Mack entertain Disney guests with a fun-filled pirate tutorial.

NEW SPIN ON MAGIC KINGDOM FUN – Walt Disney World guests are treated to a ride with the Mad Hatter himself on the Mad Tea Party attraction in Fantasyland. The unexpected “Magical Moment” happened as part of “The Year of a Million Dreams” celebration taking place at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort through December 2008.

‘HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL’ MANIA: Guests can catch even more “Wildcat Fever” with the new, high-energy experience High School Musical 2: School’s Out! at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park. Guests can sing along with five new songs from the hit Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical 2 and dance along as the crew shows off some of their sweetest moves. And, as a shout-out to the movie that started it all, the grand finale features a rockin’ remix of “We’re All in This Together.” (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

ROOTIN’ TOOTIN’ GOOD TIME: (L-R): Jessie, Woody and their trusty horse Bullseye invite everyone to Woody’s Cowboy Camp in the Magic Kingdom theme park. Starring the three pals from the Disney-Pixar hit film “Toy Story 2,” the show features a musical, rollicking hoedown with young cowpokes giddy-upping their way through a cowboy obstacle course — maneuvering around parents donning hats shaped like cacti, mountains and mine shafts. It’s one of the “interactive entertainment” experiences Disney Parks created for the Year of a Million Dreams. (David Roark, photographer)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Framed through the lens of renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, more stars are playing out their fantasies, living out their Disney dreams.

Actress Rachel Weisz is Snow White, tennis star Roger Federer is King Arthur from “The Sword in the Stone” and actress Julie Andrews is the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” with actress Abigail Breslin as Fira from “Disney Fairies” in a new wave of celebrity images celebrating “The Year of a Million Dreams” at Disney Parks.

They join Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella, Beyoncé as “Alice in Wonderland” twirling in a teacup and David Beckham atop a steed as Prince Phillip from “Sleeping Beauty” in a 14-page insert appearing later this year in several Condé Nast publications. Johansson, Beyoncé and Beckham also starred in the first flight of Leibovitz images last January.

The new photographs, placing stars in classic Disney fairy tale settings, continue the “Disney Dream Portrait Series” of celebrity images produced by Leibovitz as Disney Parks announces an extension, through 2008, of its “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration.

Read the rest of this entry

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The lakeside setting of Downtown Disney becomes the canvas for more than 150 artisans to display original creations during the 32nd annual Festival of the Masters at Walt Disney World Resort, Nov. 9-11, 2007.

Festival of the Masters, presented by Sharpie®, is a nationally recognized art show which is ranked among the country’s best outdoor art festivals each year.

To qualify for Festival of the Masters, artists must have earned a primary award in a juried art festival within the last three years. Prospective exhibitors submit award verification and samples of their art to a jury of art experts who select the participants. This process ensures that visitors to the Festival will be treated to one of the finest collections of art in the nation.

Sculpture, jewelry, painting, photography, glass, and digital art are just some of the art genres showcased at this year’s event. Street painters from the Central Florida Chalk Artists Association will decorate some 6,000 square feet of sidewalk with unique drawings. Youngsters can take in the fun with live music, face painting and interactive kid’s zones.

House of Blues will celebrate the creative spirit of folk art during the 9th annual “Where the Art Meets the Soul” Folk Art Festival at Downtown Disney West Side.

Read the rest of this entry

ON A ROLL: A new Segway experience is now being offered at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests can take the “Wilderness Back Trail Adventure” at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground aboard the Segway “x2″ personal transporter. The “x2″ features deeply treaded tires and higher ground clearance than other Segway models to provide a smooth, stable ride through the trail-like terrain. The new, two-hour tour is offered twice a day on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Cost is $85. Following a training session, guests take the off-road Segways along the backwoods trails through Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Guests must be 16 years or older to participate. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-TOUR. Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground is the first Disney resort to offer a Segway tour. Epcot offers popular Segway experiences aboard the Segway “i2″ model. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)