Archive for the 'Epcot at Walt Disney World' Category
How to get free tickets to Disneyland and Disney World in 2010
September 29, 2009 3:01pm
Starting in 2010, Disney will give away free theme-park tickets to 1 million people who spend a day volunteering in their community.
The give-a-day, get-a-day marketing campaign — which replaces the wildly successful 2009 free-on-your-birthday promotion — starts Jan. 1, 2010 and runs through Dec. 15, 2010.
Volunteers must pre-register online at the HandsOn Network — which represents more than 70,000 nonprofit agencies nationwide — to be eligible for the free ticket.
The tickets are valid at six theme parks in the U.S.:
Disneyland and Disney World to launch official Disney theme park blog
September 28, 2009 10:54am
The Disney theme parks will finally join the blogosphere today in an attempt to bring some of the rabid faithful currently chatting at unofficial fan websites under the corporate umbrella.
Check out the new blog at http://disneyparks.com/blog/.
The blog will be the official source for information about new rides and attractions, exclusive videos and photographs as well as in-depth coverage of events at Disney theme parks in the United States.
When, where and how: Marvel characters in Disney theme parks
September 9, 2009 9:13am
I’ve heard the same refrain for the last week or so: How will Disney ever incorporate the dark and edgy Marvel comic book characters into its family-friendly fairy tale theme parks?
While at first glance the task seems daunting, upon further reflection the opportunities appear endless. It’s certainly not a question of “if” but rather “when, where and how.”
It’s been fun to imagine the juxtaposition of Marvel’s assassins, terrorists, serial killers and vigilantes mixing on Main Street USA with Disney’s princesses, fairies and army of anthropomorphic animals. But Marvel also has a deep bench of heroes and villains in its 5,000-character catalog that would blend seamlessly into Disney’s theme parks.
The early contenders will almost certainly come from the ranks of Marvel’s past films (”Spider-Man,” “X-Men,” “Hulk,” “Iron Man,” “Fantastic Four”) and upcoming releases (”Thor,” “Captain America,” “Avengers,” “Silver Surfer,” “Ant Man”). There’s even a few minor characters that would fit perfectly in specific Disney attractions and themed lands.
Disney’s done it before with “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “The Muppets,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” and even Aerosmith.
And while Disneyland might not be the ideal match for Marvel characters, the superheroes fit like a skin-tight spandex suit in Disney’s “studio” theme parks.
So, keeping in mind that Mickey and Spidey have only been in-laws for less than a fortnight, lets take an unofficial and speculative look at how the marriage of Marvel and Disney might play out in the company’s theme parks around the world:
Get your mouse ears on for the opening of the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco
September 7, 2009 5:59am
Walt Disney, the man whose creativity spawned an international entertainment industry, will finally get his due Oct. 1 when the Walt Disney Family Museum opens in San Francisco.
The interactive museum is in San Francisco’s Presidio, a former U.S. military facility that is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The museum will focus on the life and times of Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and Disneyland, among other internationally known characters, films and businesses.
Highlights will include Disney’s successes and disappointments and the creation of characters that have become an indelible part of pop culture in the U.S.and abroad.
Theme park news: Another Dale Earnhardt coaster, Snow White wins lottery, Hello Kitty attraction, Coney Island closure
August 29, 2009 6:27am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
POV video: Carowinds announces $23-million Dale Earnhardt-themed Intimidator coaster for spring 2010 with stadium-style seating and T-shaped lap bar.
Universal Studios Orlando unveils eight Halloween Horror Nights mazes: Saw, Wolfman, Chucky, Dracula, Frankenstein, Silver Screams, Leave it To Cleaver and The Spawning. Six scare zones: Lights Camera Hacktion, Cirque Du Freak, Horrorwood Die-In, Apocalypse, Containment, War of Living Dead. (Orlando Attractions)
Disneyland’s Snow White wins $5.2 million lottery jackpot, feels “like Cinderella.” (O.C. Register)
Busch Gardens Tampa adding Sesame Street Safari of Fun for Spring 2010: kiddie coaster, flume ride, carousel, swing ride, water play area. (Orlando Sentinel)
Three-course dinners for $20 to $30 at Orlando, Fla., restaurants
August 26, 2009 5:55am
Florida’s theme-park capital is serving up great meal deals in September for its fourth annual Orlando Magical Dining Month, when dozens of restaurants will offer fixed-price, three-course dinners for $20 to $30. Though not exactly cheap (McDonald’s, anyone?), this promotion lets you live the high life for half the price at some places. And it benefits others too: $1 from each meal goes to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.
Deal: Restaurants offer limited-choice dinner menus consisting of an appetizer, entree and dessert for either $20 (”casual dining” places) or $30 (”upscale dining” places) per person. Beverage, tax and tip are extra.
Tested: I called Norman’s, at the tony Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, and was able to reserve the deal for Sept. 25. Its $30 special menu, which gave two choices for each course, would normally cost $54 (if you chose the free-range breast of chicken entree) or $62 (with the pan-cooked fillet of Key West yellowtail).
Theme park news: Wildebeest water coaster, Kennywood launch coaster, Epcot tequila bar, water park Speedo ban
August 15, 2009 9:34am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
* Holiday World announces the $5.5 million Wildebeest, the world’s longest water coaster, for May 2010 at Splashin’ Safari water park in Indiana. Photos. (Coaster Warriors)
* Kennywood in Pennsylvania announces an as-yet-unnamed $5.5 million launch coaster with a 90-degree drop and three inversions for 2010. Video. (News Plus Notes)
* D23 Expo announces dates and times for keynote speakers Iger (CEO), Cook (Studio), Rasulo (Parks) and Lasseter (Pixar).
* Photos: “Princess and the Frog“ movie exhibit opens in Animation attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Laughing Place)
* Princess Tiana (”Princess and the Frog”) to join finale float in Once Upon a Dream parade at Disneyland Paris. (DLRP Magic)
Theme park news: Return of Captain EO? Ratatouille E-Ticket ride? Casper the Friendly Ghost theme park?
August 1, 2009 7:29am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
— Former Dreamland amusement park to reopen as a heritage attraction with the oldest roller coaster in the UK and other vintage rides.
— Why? $1 billion Casper the Friendly Ghost theme park with monorail and coaster opening in Dubai.
— Epcot releases celebrity reader lineup for Christmas Candlelight Processional. Newcomers: Vanessa Williams, Isabella Rossellini & Whoopi Goldberg. (Orlando Sentinel)
Theme park news: Bye-bye Big Bad Wolf, Club 33 waiting list, fact-checking Epcot’s future, Darth Vader dance-off
July 25, 2009 7:04am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
> Popular Mechanics fact-checks five Epcot rides that predicted the future. (Orlando Updates)
> Waiting list for one of 480 membership slots at Disneyland’s private Club 33: 18 years. (OC Weekly)
> Video awesomeness: Darth Vader dances to MC Hammer’s “You Can’t Touch This” at Star Wars Weekends 2009 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Longer version. (Orlando Attractions)
> Free X2 after-hours ride time on Friday nights this summer at Six Flags Magic Mountain plus 2 free tacos and milkshake with paid admission.
Theme park news: World of Color concept art, China building Neverland tribute, Obama records Disney World audio track
July 18, 2009 7:02am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
Pictures: World of Color concept art from Blue Sky Cellar at Disney’s California Adventure. New website. (Disneyland News Today & Mice Age)
“Mouse Ears” author David Koenig calls fatal monorail accident at Walt Disney World “years in the making.” (Mouse Planet)
Latest accident: Twelve hurt when two Disney buses crash at Walt Disney World. (Orlando Sentinel)
Blueprints: Fantasyland remodel calls for dueling Dumbo rides, “Gaston” restaurant & plenty of character meet ‘n’ greets at the Magic Kingdom. (Disney Report)
