WDW 2009 Ambassadors lead new Magic Kingdom parade as Grand Marshals

Image copyright Disney, all rights reserved.

The new “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” debuted recently at Magic Kingdom with the 2009 Walt Disney World Ambassadors leading the way as the parade’s Grand Marshals.

The parade is part of Disney Parks’ new “What Will You Celebrate?” initiative, which invites guests to celebrate special milestones. The “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” features new songs, Disney characters, floats and a troop of dancers who encourage guests to celebrate with them.

Celebrating their own new roles, Walt Disney World Ambassadors Vanessa Rosas and Clay Shoemaker along with their families, led the parade in a specially designed open-roadster vehicle as the parade proceeded down Main Street. Over the years, Walt Disney World Ambassadors have assumed many different roles, but this is the first time an Ambassador Team has served as parade Grand Marshals.

“For our families to have been with us to experience the Disney Magic that our Cast Members create each day is very rewarding,” said Rosas. “This was absolutely a dream come true for me.”

“To be in the parade as Grand Marshal was an amazing experience." said Shoemaker. "This is a day I will never forget.”

While celebrating one of many magical moments they will share together over the next 12 months, Rosas and Shoemaker recalled their earliest memories of Walt Disney World.

At age 12, Rosas was captivated by Disney magic during her first visit. “As I watched the parade with my family, amazed by all the floats and dancers, Pinocchio came down the street, straight up to me, kissed my hand and stole my heart,” said Rosas.

Shoemaker also remembers the first time he fell for a Disney character. At age six, he fell in love with Cinderella. “My grandmother took me to Cinderella Castle where I met her. She bent down, spoke to me and then kissed me on the cheek,” he said. I guess you could say that my first kiss was from Cinderella.”

Disney releases American Idol Experience song list

Thinking about auditioning for the American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios? Well if you make it past the first couple of rounds, you'll be asked to select a song to sing for the next round of judges. Today, Disney released the song list. Now you'll be prepared if you try to go for the glory. Good luck!


Disney Songs
Best of Worlds
Bet On It
Breaking Free
Circle of Life
Colors of the Wind
Ever Ever After
Go The Distance
Part of Your World
Play My Music
Reflection
Rock Star
This Is Me
You'll Be In My Heart

Country
Achy Breaky Heart
All-American Girl
Amazed
Boot Scootin' Boogie
Breathe
Do You Believe Me Now
How Do I Live (Without You)
I Hope You Dance
I Like It, I Love It
I Told You So
Independence Day
It's Good to be Us
Life is a Highway
Lost
Man, I Feel Like A Woman
My Wish
Our Song
Sweet Home Alabama
This Kiss
Walkin' After Midnight
What Hurts The Most

Disco
Dance Best of My Love
Fame
Hot Stuff
I Will Survive
Knock On Wood
Last Dance
Never Can Say Goodbye
Turn Your Love Around
You're The First, The Last, My Everything

Latin
1-2-3
Bailamos
Just Another Day
La Bamba
Smooth
Turn The Beat Around
Waiting for Tonight

Rock/Pop Up Tempo
Big Girls Don't Cry
Black Horse and a Cherry Tree
Bohemian Rhapsody
Breakaway
Don't Stop The Music
Express Yourself
Face Down
Footloose
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
I Can See Clearly Now
I Feel The Earth Move
I Wanna Dance With Somebody
If Everyone Cared
No One
Old Time Rock and Roll
Over You
Rock With You
Since U Been Gone
Somebody to Love
Suspicious Minds
Sway
The Great Escape
Walk Away
Walking On Sunshine
You Really Got Me Now
You're My Best Friend

Rock/Pop Ballad
A Moment Like This
Alone
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Drops of Jupiter
Home
If It Makes You Happy
Iris
Just Once
Kiss From a Rose
Looks Like We Made It
Stand By Me
Unchained Melody
Walkin' In Memphis
What a Wonderful World
Your Song

Motown
100 Ways
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
For Once In My Life Meduim
Get Ready
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
I Want You Back
I Wish
I'll Be There
Midnight Train to Georgia
New Attitude
Reach Out, I'll Be There
RESPECT
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Stop In The Name of Love
Superstition
Then Came You
Vision of Love
You Are The Sunshine of My Life
You Keep Me Hangin' On
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
You're All I Need To Get By

Disneyland to use recycled cooking oil to power railroad, riverboat

CNBC is reporting that Imagineers at Disneyland have come up with a way to recycle cooking oil to power the Disneyland Railroad and the Mark Twain Riverboat. In addition, the company is using compressed natural gas to fuel the guest trams. This is all part of Disneyland's innovative environmental initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"These initiatives demonstrate Disneyland Resort's ongoing commitment to balancing environmental stewardship throughout our operations," said Michael O'Grattan, senior vice president of resort operations. "These are just a few steps in our ongoing journey to reduce Disneyland Resort's environmental footprint." Used Cooking Oil Fuels Disneyland Railroad Beginning this week, the Disneyland Railroad is being fueled by a special biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil used throughout the Resort. "We have been recycling our used kitchen grease for years, but this innovation takes recycling to another level," said Frank Dela Vara, Disneyland Resort's director of environmental affairs and conservation. "Now the oil used to cook French Fries and other foods is processed to power our Disneyland Railroad and our Mark Twain Riverboat. This move allows the Resort to save approximately 200,000 gallons of petroleum diesel per year." The Disneyland Railroad's five trains have been using a soy-based biodiesel since April 2007. The B99.9 used cooking oil-based biodiesel will continue to reduce emissions by up to 80 percent. Disneyland Resort's Mark Twain Riverboat also will begin using the new biodiesel within the next few weeks.

No word yet on when these initiatives may make their way over to Walt Disney World.

FOX boards the "Dawn Treader"

Well it looks like the third film in the Narnia series will make it to the big screen after all. CNBC reports that FOX is partnering with Walden Media to produce the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third movie in the Narnia series. As you may recall, Disney decided not to continue a partnership with Walden Media after the second Narnia film, Prince Caspian, didn't do quite as well as the initial Narnia movie, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Bear in mind that Caspian still made a profit and was in no way a box office bust. It just didn't make as much as LWW did.

This is one mistake I hope comes back to bite Disney hard. Dropping the option on Dawn Treader really was dropping the ball. I'll be the first to admit the Prince Caspian storyline was a tough one to turn into an action movie, but Disney added a few scenes to bring more action to the story. Dawn Treader is full of action almost from the first moment. We will see a new character (Eustace Scrubb) and won't see Peter or Susan Pevensie, only Lucy.

No word yet on production timetables or a possible release date for Dawn Treader. It will be very interesting to see what happens to the current Prince Caspian attraction at DHS. I wonder what Disney will come up with next to fill that hole when they can no longer run the attraction (which I'm sure is coming pretty soon, with the dissolving of the partnership).

Tip Tuesday: Magical photos with Photopass

Folks who have read this blog may remember my very first Tip Tuesday post about taking full advantage of PhotoPass. After my December 2008 trip to WDW, I have a few more tips for you that will help you even more to make the most of PhotoPass (and that Photo CD).

Those of you who haven't been to WDW in a few years may not realize that Disney now is offering a few new unique photo opportunities. Photographers in certain locations in each park will have you pose in a certain way and take the shot. Later, when you are reviewing your photos, a little Disney magic has been added to these photos to make them even more magical.

Here are some of the places you can take those magical photos:


Magic Kingdom:
On Main Street (including the hub), have a person hold their hands in a cupped position (as if they were holding a tiny bird at their waist) and look at it fondly or with amazement - Tinker Bell will be standing in your hands when you see the picture (see sample above).


Also on Main Street, you can sit on a bench and Stitch will be "eating" some ice cream (well, sort of). This is apparently pretty limited, so be sure to ask.


In Adventureland, near POTC, pretend to be swordfighting with Captain Hook - when you see your picture, he will be there! This is not always available, so check with a PhotoPass photographer about available times.



At the Haunted Mansion, you can have a shot taken in front of the horseless carriage. In the photo are some hitchhiking ghosts. This is mostly available during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, though I've heard some guests have been able to get this shot at other times, so I'd ask a PhotoPass photographer about availability.



Epcot:
In between the Fountain of Nations and World Showcase Plaza you can get a shot of Mickey and friends soaring (or rather Soarin') over your head in a Soarin' glider. This can be a tricky shot, depending on the position of the sun. I tried to get this shot in December, but it apparently didn't turn out.


The Stitch ice cream photo opportunity discussed in the Magic Kingdom is apparently offered here at times, so ask.




Hollywood Studios:
There are quite a few at DHS. The most common is available along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards. You can take a shot pointing at the pavement in total surprise -- Stitch will be breaking out of the pavement to say hi!


In some parts of the park, you can have a shot of you sitting on a bench and Lilo, Stitch (the ice cream shot again), Mickey or Minnie will be sitting next to you. I understand these are offered on a very limited basis, so be sure to ask. I've never been able to get one of these.

I've heard of a magic photo opportunity where you can cross lightsabers with Darth Vader in between showtimes of the Jedi Training Academy near Star Tours. Again, this might be limited, so be sure to ask.



Animal Kingdom:
In and around Discovery Island, you can get a shot of you holding baby Simba in your arms. This is especially cute with kids.

That's all the magic PhotoPass locations I've either personally done or have heard about. If you know of another one, be sure to post a comment! I'd love to hear about it.

Oh, and remember those enhancements I talked about on the previous Tip Tuesday post on PhotoPass? Well you can still add those enhancements here! Of course, not every one will be appropriate, but you at least have some options to work with.

Have fun out there and happy picture taking!

Dreams Come True Parade opens at the Magic Kingdom

(Image courtesy Orlando Attractions Magazine blog)

The Orlando Attractions Magazine Blog has some wonderful pictures from the new "Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade," which started this weekend at the Magic Kingdom. This replaces the Dreams Come True Parade that had been running for quite a while. Be sure to check out the photos over at Orlando Attractions Magazine -- they are really good!

This new parade includes a cast of Disney characters, stilt walkers and other performers that processes down Main Street, U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle to high-energy tunes. Five floats decked out as gift-wrapped packages are part of the procession, and near the castle, Mad Hatter, Genie, Lumiere and Sebastian – the life and light of the party – pop out of four huge boxes. They join about a dozen other Disney characters headed by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse to mix and mingle and dance in the street with Magic Kingdom guests during a 12-15-minute party scheduled to take place three times daily.

Disney pin blog releases sneak preview of new Hall of Presidents pin

The What's HapPINing? pin blog released a sneak preview of one of the new pins celebrating the re-opening of the Hall of Presidents including President Obama. This pin looks very nice and I hope I can find a way to get this pin later this summer. There are several great looking pins coming up in the next few months. You can see them all at Disneypins.com.

Buy 4 nights, get 3 free offer extended - again!

Disney's buy 4 nights, get 3 free offer has been extended - again. I confirmed this today with Beci Mehnkin of Mousefantravel.com. The new deadline for booking is March 29. This offer is good for most travel dates through June 27. Check with your travel agent for details.

So for any of your out there who were still considering taking advantage of this special offer - you still have time!

New details on buyout option for Disney execs

Some new details were released yesterday about the buyout for executives in a story from the Orlando Sentinel:

The Walt Disney Co. offered buyouts Wednesday to more than 600
executives at its U.S. resorts -- including 313 in Orlando -- as the company
struggles to cut costs amid a worsening recession.The company planned to
hand-deliver buyout packages to 619 executives, each of whom will have until
Feb. 6 to decide whether to accept.Disney said it will resort to layoffs if too
few employees voluntarily walk away.

"We hope to achieve our goals with the VSP [voluntary separation plan],
but an involuntary layoff with a lesser severance package will be required if
our goals are not met," Jayne Parker, senior vice president of human resources
for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, wrote in a letter to the affected executives.

In a written statement, Disney blamed the move on the country's hobbled
economy. The parks-and-resorts division is particularly vulnerable as consumer
spending is squeezed by sinking home values, rising unemployment and tightening
credit.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate that combined attendance at Walt
Disney World and Disneyland will drop 7 percent this year."Given the continued
uncertainty of the economic environment, we must manage our business even more productively," Disney spokeswoman Leslie Goodman said in the statement. "This immediate action is designed to allow us to deliver an outstanding guest
experience and remain focused on achieving long-term growth."

Disney declined to reveal the savings it hopes to achieve through the
buyouts. It also would not provide details of the terms of the packages, though
individual offers depend on length of service and other factors, such as pension
accrual.

The buyouts were offered to 313 executives in Orlando at Walt Disney
World, Disney Vacation Club and Disney Cruise Line.

-- click on the link above to read the rest of the article --

I really hope most cast members will weather this economic storm safely. I also hope Disney will do everything it can to keep the magic as magical as it has been. While I'm not pleased about some of the reduced showings of Fantasmic!, I have to accept that Disney has got to do what it can to cut costs - everyone is doing that right now.

Disney stock has taken a massive hit. As of this post, Disney stock was trading just barely above $20/share, down $15/share from the one-year high of $35/share last March. Maybe now's the time to buy Disney stock - I can only hope it will go back up from here, but who knows.

Pins give sneak peek into changes at Small World in Disneyland

The L.A. Times has an article showing some pins that Disney inadvertently released which give a glimpse into some of the changes coming to It's a Small World in Disneyland (see image below, courtesy of The LA Times). Disney fans will recall that Imagineering planned to subtly insert classic Disney characters into different parts of the attraction. Purists were aghast and even Mary Blair, the original artist who created the IASW dolls, pleaded with Imagineering to cancel this idea.



Well Disney decided to move forward with the concept, and personally, I'm glad they did. Based on some of the pin designs, it seems that the Imagineers really did try to make these additions as subtle as possible - almost like a hidden Mickey. I think this will re-invigorate an old attraction. Sure, there is a certain amount of nostalgia when it comes to the originals (though IASW isn't an opening day attraction). But remember this, Walt always said that Disneyland (and Walt Disney World) are ever changing. Walt would have approved of something like this. He never would have wanted any attraction to become set in stone and unchanging.

I just hope these changes make their way to IASW at WDW. I, for one, would actually look forward to riding IASW instead of feeling like my daughter is dragging me onto the attraction.

What do you think? Should Disney update Walt Disney World's IASW like Disneyland's?