N.J. Six Flags to make safari ride more like Disney's Animal Kingdom

Taking a page out of the Disney playbook, New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure entertainment complex announced today it is transforming its Wild Safari animal park from a personal drive-thru experience to a safari adventure like Disney's Animal Kingdom.And in 2013, it will merge the animal park with the theme park to create the world's largest theme park at 510-acres. Disney's Animal Kingdom is 500 acres.Six Flags photo of the safari ride vehicleFor...

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Disney and Barneys New York team up for a new Holiday window display

Disney's high fashion push continues as the windows for Barneys New York will will be dressed for Christmas with a Disney fantasy Paris runway show.Disney already has partnered this year with DSW for a new line of Cinderella inspired shoes, Christian Louboutin and his remake of Cinderella's glass slippers, Ashdon Inc. for prom dresses and other renowned designers for a high-end Minnie Mouse collection.Photo from Barneys New York.Now with Barneys,...

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Details announced for Disney's Aulani expansion

A new pool and more dining options are part of the new details coming out for the expansion to take place at Aulani, Disney's resort in Hawaii.Celebrating its first anniversary, Disney plans to start expansion in September and finish in mid-2013, according to a company press release. The 21-acre resort is located in Ko Olina, which is 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and 30 minutes from Waikiki.Disney publicity photoPart of the expansion...

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A look at the new Test Track at Epcot in Disney World

The re-imagined Test Track in Epcot at Disney World will be a new kind of virtual//physical experience, Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick said during a live chat on the Disney Parks Blog yesterday.Disney rendering of new Test Track sign.From what Jeselnick said this sounds as if Disney has taken the concept of Sum of all Thrills from Innoventions -- where you design your own thrill ride through an interactive touch screen and then get into a simulator...

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Disney releases video showing how they take your daughter's face and put it on figurine

I wrote a few weeks ago about how Disney is now putting the faces of girls, ages 3-12, on princess figurines at the World of Disney store at Downtown Disney in Disney World.A Disney publicity photoThe process comes from the D-Tech Me experience Disney unveiled earlier this year when they "placed" people into frozen carbonite as part of Star Wars Weekends.Cameras capture a guest's face from various angles and reconstruct a computer model which...

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'Enchanted' dresses for prom, inspired by Disney

Who's the fairest at the prom?Perhaps next year whoever it is will be rocking a dress inspired by "Snow White."Ashdon Inc. -- maker of gowns that have shown up on the Teen Choice Awards and "The Vampire Diaries" -- has teamed up with Disney to produce a line of prom dresses based on the story of Snow White. It's meant to be the beginning of a tradition: Each prom season, Ashdon said it will unveil a collection inspired by a different Disney princess....

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Disney DVD-Blu-ray release schedule for remainder of 2012

Here's a look at what's coming out the remainder of the year on DVD and Blu-ray from Disney.SEPTEMBER 4: "Hocus Pocus" on Blu-ray.SEPTEMBER 11: "Ghosts of the Abyss" on Blu-ray.SEPTEMBER 18: "Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3" on DVD and Blu-ray, and "The Great Mouse Detective" on Blu-ray and Movie Download.SEPTEMBER 25: "The Avengers" on Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download.OCTOBER 2: Cinderella Diamond Edition on DVD, Blu-ray and Movie Download; and "Pete's...

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Disney develops 30-second 'feel good' Winnie the Pooh videos

Disney has developed a series of short "feel good" moment videos using the characters from Winnie the Pooh to promote some of its new products coming out this Fall.The Disney Consumer Products division created "Smackerel" videos. "Named after Pooh's word to describe a snack or small amount of honey, the Smackerel shorts feature our favorite plush bear in live action puppetry and post effects.," according to the Disney Consumer Products website. Four of the six videos launch this week featuring themes such as, "It's so much friendlier with two"...

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What's happening this week at Disney - Aug. 26 - Sept. 1

This week in the Disney Universe we should learn more about the new Test Track in Disney World as a live chat is going to take place Monday, Aug. 27 about the attraction.Test Track concept drawing by DisneyThere are two major celebrations taking place this upcoming Labor Day weekend. One in Disneyland with the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend and one in Disney World with the Great Irish Hooley at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. AUGUST 27: The Disney...

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Smile of The Day: Haunted Mansion during the day

In the light of day, the Haunted Mansion at The Magic Kingdom in Disney World doesn't look all that scary. In fact it looks beautiful. Here's another photo from the archives, 1998.                                  © Steven Lieb...

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New line of shoes from DSW inspired by Disney's "Cinderella"

If you don't win a pair of Christian Louboutin's Disney-inspired glass slippers this fall, you're in luck. DSW this week announced a line of dressy shoes inspired by Disney's "Cinderella." Prices for the shoes are just right for us commoners, ranging from $59.95 to $89.95. They will be available at stores and at DSW.com Oct. 1, just in time for the release of Disney's "Cinderella Diamond Edition" on Blu-ray Oct. 2.The five styles...

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Disney launches new corporate blog: Disney Post

In addition to the Disney Parks Blog, The Disney Store Blog and some others out there, Disney has created the official blog of The Walt Disney Company.Called the Disney Post, the blog is supposed to provide a glimpse into the various brands in the Disney portfolio, including: ABC, Disney, ESPN, Marvel and Pixar. Heather Hust Rivera, who wrote the first post, explained that the company's team of bloggers "will show you how the creativity of our products...

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New Goofy attraction opens at Tokyo Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland opened its newest attraction this week, giving guest the ability to redecorate Goofy's room.A Disney publicity photo of Goofy's Paint 'n' Play HouseGoofy's Paint 'n' Play House opened Aug. 24. After entering Goofy's home, guests are given a "Toontone Splat Master," according to the Disney Parks Blog.Once in hand, guests then turn a handle or pull a string to make different colors come out of the Splat Master which you can aim at...

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DVC extends Top of the World Lounge perk through December

The Disney Vacation Club has extended the complimentary access to the Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort to its members until Dec. 29.This was a summer perk which DVC decided to extend because of the popularity.Bay Lake Tower in a photo from the official Disney news site.According to the DVC website, the access is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the lounge reaches capacity. The lounge is popular...

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Latest on all of the Disney races

As the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend comes closer, it's time again to update the status of the  various runs taking place at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World. Many of the half-marathons are booked up and all other events look to be filling up fast. Here is a quick update on the status of the various races.For complete information and registration head to rundisney.com.Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend - Aug. 31 - Sept. 2: Sold outThe...

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New nighttime Cinderella Castle show to unveil in Disney World

A new nighttime projection show on the Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom in Disney World will begin in November, Disney has announced.                                                    ...

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Disney Parks Blog to hold live chat to discuss new Test Track at Epcot

For those wanting to know more about the newly revamped Test Track at Epcot, the Disney Parks Blog will hold a live chat on Aug. 27 to answer many questions.The 1:15 p.m. chat will be with Melissa Jeselnick an assistant project manager with Walt Disney Imagineering. She has been with Disney for 8 years and has worked on Phineas and Ferb Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, The Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Toy...

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Segway tour is returning to Epcot in Disney World

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Disney unveils latest Gingerbread House for Halloween Haunted Mansion in Disneyland

Every year when the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland is transformed into the holiday home for Jack Skellington and the gang from "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas," a gingerbread house is created for the centerpiece of the ballroom scene.                                                                                                     ...

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Smile of The Day: Mickey and Minnie in front of the Cinderella Castle

I've recently been going through old albums and scanning in some photos from trips from a few years ago. Here's one from 1999 at the Cinderella Castle with Mickey and Minnie topiaries welcoming all to The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. How often do you take out the old albums and look at phot...

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Update: Shanghai Disneyland building two hotels

There will be two hotels at the Disney resort in Shanghai when it opens in 2015, according to the ShanghaiDaily.com. Each hotel will be seven stories. The first will be close to the south gate of the new Disneyland Park, will overlook an artificial lake and have a ballroom and parking for 300 cars. The second hotel will be on the west side of the resort and have parking for 400 cars.The Shanghai Disney Resort will be the first Disney resort in mainland...

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Aladdin is Broadway bound

Tony-winning composer Alan Menken recently debuted a new song called "Somebody's Got Your Back," a new song for the stage version of Aladdin, according to Playbill.If you've ever seen the Aladdin show in Disneyland then you know that the show already looks Broadway worthy. The last production of the show was this summer at The Muny in St. Louis featuring Tony nominees Robin De Jesus and John Tartaglia as Aladdin and the Genie. Utah's Tuacahn Theater is presenting the musical through October.The movie, released in 1992, was written by Ron Clements,...

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What's happening Aug. 20-Aug. 31 in the Disney Universe

The next two weeks around Disney feature open reservations for a new restaurant, the refurbishment of a favorite attraction, a good run and a Labor Day weekend festival.AUGUST 20: Reservations open for Be Our Guest Restaurant.  AUGUST 22-OCT. 16: Country Bear Jamboree is closed for refurbishment.  The show, at The Magic Kingdom in Disney World is supposed to get shortened by about 5 minutes. A rumor going around a number of Disney boards is that the one segment “Mama don’t shoot little Buford” being cut. Now, I have never been a...

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Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hosts its own Food & Wine Classic

At the same time the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is taking place the Third Annual Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel will be held on Oct. 12-13. The event will include an outdoor festival featuring culinary selections from the hotel's restaurants and lounges, a series of beverage seminars taught by the hotel's certified experts, and opportunities to meet with celebrity chefs Todd English...

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Be Our Guest Restaurant menu released

The full menu has been released for the Be Our Guest Restaurant in the New Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.You can start making reservations starting on the phone at 7 a.m. EDT tomorrow by calling 407-WDW-DINE and you'll be able to make reservations up to 180 days in advance. The first day for reservations will be Nov. 19. You will bee able to stat making the reservations online starting at noon on Aug. 22 at www.disneyworld.com/dine.Disney...

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Performance scheduled released for Night of Joy at Disney World

The lineup has been released for the Night of Joy at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, which will take place Sept. 7 and Sept. 8.   For the past 30 years the Magic Kingdom in Disney World has been home to the Night of Joy, a contemporary Christian musical festival. The after hours event, from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. requires a special ticket. While the artists perform many of the Magic Kingdom rides remain open.Here is the performance schedule. Friday, September 7Cinderella Castle --  Forecourt Stage7:45 p.m. – NEEDTOBREATHE9:50...

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Smile of The Day: Cinderella Castle 25th anniversary

Do you remember this look? To commemorate the Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary the Cinderella Castle was turned into a 18-story birthday cake. This was not the most popular look the Imagineers ever created. The reaction by many was moans and groans and the castle became a punch line for years after.More then 400 gallons of pink paint was used to convert the castle and contained 26 candles, ranging in height from 20–40 feet, 16 5-foot candy...

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Disney launches special Minnie Mouse fashion line

                   Top Photo ©Steven Liebman; Bottom ©DisneyOnly one mouse can pull off the full red-with-white-polka-dot dress -- that, of course, is Minnie Mouse.This fashion diva is known to have more than 200 outfits in her closet, everything from formal evening wear to a cheerleader costume -- plus the matching shoes and bows.So it is no wonder that a...

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New Fantasyland restaurant will start taking reservations Aug. 20

UPDATE: Reservations can be made over the phone starting at 7 a.m. Eastern Time and online starting at Noon.The Be Our Guest Restaurant, the newest place to dine in the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, will start taking reservations on Aug. 20.The first seating for dinner will be on Nov. 19Starting at noon on Aug. 20, reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE and you'll be able to make reservations up to 180 days in advance,...

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Disneyland expands Candlelight Processional

The Candlelight Processional and Ceremony at Disneyland will be expanded for the first time to 20 nights, Disney announced.There will be two performances each night from Dec. 1 to Dec. 20. The first two night will be invitation-only events. The Dec. 3-20 dates will be available to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders and those booking special, to-be-announced dining packages.No special narrators have been announced, nor anything about the dinner...

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Walt Disney World Marathon Medal revealed and update on the race

The much anticipated 20th anniversary commemorative Walt Disney World Marathon medal has been unveiled.The design features a circular shape with two spinning elements, including a medallion with classic and modern Mickey Mouse images and quotes from Walt Disney.                                                        ...

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Great Irish Labor Day festival at Disney World

Disney's Pleasure Island in Disney World is planning a hooley for Labor Day.Hooley is a Irish slang for part of celebration and Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant (one of my favorite places to eat) is planning on the Great Irish Hooley Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.The band Full Set will appear at the First Great Irish Hooley.The weekend, according to a Disney news release, will feature six Irish bands, Irish Dance Workshops, Celtic face...

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Final phase of Disney's Art of Animation resort opens Sept. 15

The last phase of Disney's new Art of Animation Resort will open Sept. 15. Disney photo of a room inside The Little Mermaid wing by Kent Phillips,The Little Mermaid wing will feature 864 standard hotel rooms that can sleep up to four guests. The area is inspired from the undersea kingdom of the movie "The Little Mermaid" including the characters of Ursula, King Triton and Sebastian.The Flippin’ Fins pool, one of three pools at the resort. This...

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New Phineas and Ferb experience coming to Disney World

You will soon be able to interact with with Phineas and Ferb in a virtual experience at Walt Disney World for a limited time.Starting Sept. 1, guests at Downtown Disney West Side will will be able to play with the animated characters in  “Phineas and Ferb & YOU: A Brand New Reality,” according to a Disney news release.Up to three guests at a time will be invited to stand inside the virtual experience set.  Phineas and Ferb, Agent...

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Update on makeover taking place in France Pavilion in Epcot

                                 © Steven LiebmanThe renovation at the Bistro de Paris in the France Pavilion at Epcot should be complete by mid-December and open with a new name. There will also be some changes to the Boulangerie Patisserie bakery shop. The Disney Parks Blog recently held...

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Swampy from 'Where's My Water' is coming to Disney World

It looks like Swamy the Alligator will try to find his water at Disney World.A new mobile site Where's My Water at Disney's Water Parks has been put up by Disney and states the hero of the hit app is planning on coming to Florida.The "Where's My Water" star has soared to popularity on the game app front becoming one of the most popular downloads on iTunes. Swampy has become so popular that Disney started its own line of merchandise.  Now, this...

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Disney will place your daughter's face on a princess doll

We just put up an item looking at how Disney is trying to make animatronics look more real, but they can already capture your face and put it on a figurine.Starting Aug. 26, at the World of Disney store at Downtown Disney in Disney World, young girls, ages 3-12, will be able to get their faces placed on a princess figurine.A Disney publicity photoThe process comes from the D-Tech Me experience Disney unveiled earlier this year when they "placed"...

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Disney research comes up with face cloning process

For years Audio-Animatronics has been a staple at Disney attractions. (Here's a quick history.) But one of the problems the company has had to deal with is how to exactly duplicate facial expressions. Much of the time this has been hampered not by the mechanical process, but by the "skin" placed over the mechanics.Now, Disney Research Zurich has come up with a process for designing, simulating, and fabricating synthetic skin that mimics the face.According to the research abstract, the process begins with capturing 3-D facial expressions of a...

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Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin starts its own dining plan

One of the attractions of staying on Disney property is the use of the Disney Dining plan. That works everywhere except if you stay at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin.Now, the Swan and Dolphin have instituted its own dining program called the Dining Passport Program. The two resorts have 17 different restaurants and lounges, ranging from formal dining to a 24-hour self-service buffet to a poolside café. According to the Swan and Dolphin loyalty...

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Disney celebrates the 'punk rock primate' this month

This is Cotton-Top Tamarin Month at Disney's Animal Kingdom.This tiny, endangered primate is found only in Colombia, but have been on exhibit at the  Animal Kingdom since 1998.A Disney publicity photo of a cotton-top tamarin“We created this celebration as a way to highlight the effects that humans have on natural habitats,” said Anne Savage, Conservation Director for Disney’s Animal Programs, in a news release. “Conservation celebrations are...

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