Disney Heaven

House of Blues Gets A New Name

2011-12-06T22:51:00.000-06:00

It's true! The House of Blues restaurant in Downtown Disney has taken on a new name. The restaurant is now known as "Crossroads at House of Blues". Chef Aaron Sanchez says it's a new dining experience with a new menu, as well. Don't worry - they've kept some of their popular menu items, but now you can find some new goodies to choose from!

(Source: www.wdwinfo.com)

Check Out These Great Vacation Deals

2011-12-06T22:40:00.002-06:00

Create new memories that will last a lifetime at Walt Disney World. These special Disney World vacation packages are only available to you from Pixie Vacations and include:
• Discounted Disney World Resort Accommodations
• Discounted Magic Your Way Base Tickets
• Disney’s Plus Dining**
• FREE DisneyQuest or Disney Water Park Ticket (1 per person with package)

Travel Dates are in February, April and May 2012 with limited dates and availability so contact Pixie Vacations now about this limited exclusive offers.

For more info on vacation packages, please visit www.pixievacations.com. Tell them Disney Heaven sent you!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2011

2011-11-18T22:23:00.001-06:00

It's that time of year again! Are you ready for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party? It's a special event held each winter at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. It's a festive celebration filled with a wonderful holiday parade, sparkling fireworks, and live entertainment!

Festivities began on November 8 and last through December 18, 2011!

For more information, visit here. My family and I have gone, and we had a blast! You don't want to miss this!

Meet Jake At Walt Disney World

2011-11-18T21:54:00.000-06:00

On November 13, Jake from "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" began greeting little ones at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Joining the much-loved pirate are other Disney Junior faves such as June from Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, and Special Agent Oso.

These loveable characters can be found at Hollywood & Vine, as well as the Animation Courtyard.

(Source: www.wdwinfo.com)

WDW Guests Experience Unusual Pirate Ride

2011-09-07T14:52:00.001-05:00

A pirate's life may be for Captain Jack Sparrow, but some guests at Walt Disney World may have preferred a much shorter pirating experience.

Riders were stranded on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction for nearly two hours after the ride suddenly stopped Sunday night.

Disney officials said they tried to automatically restart the ride. When that didn't fix the problem, crews had to manually restart it.

It was not immediately clear where the ride got stuck. No injuries were reported.

(Source: LaughingPlace.com)

Fragrance Collections From Disney

2011-09-01T22:49:00.002-05:00

Discover Disney's new fragrance collection - Imagination & Magic!

"A fragrance collection so magical it could only come from the Disney Store!"

New Disney Princess Dolls

2011-09-01T12:32:00.000-05:00

Check out Disney's new Disney Princess Dolls! They're beautiful! Great collectible for the Barbie Doll Collector of the Disney Collector!

http://www.disneystore.com/designer-princess/mn/1006104/

Disney Shuts Down The Lone Ranger

2011-08-16T11:46:00.000-05:00

In a stunning development, Disney has shut down production on The Lone Ranger, the Gore Verbinski-directed period Western that was to star Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as the title character. Jerry Bruckheimer is the producer and the script is by Justin Haythe. I'm told this all just happened, and Disney pulled the plug because of the budget. I've heard the filmmakers were trying to reduce the film's cost from $250 million (some even say $275 million) down to $232 million. But it wasn't the $200 million that Disney wanted to spend. And between Depp, Bruckheimer, and Verbinski, the gross outlay on the film is substantial.

Halting tentpole movies is certainly is happening with more regularity in Hollywood lately. It's clear that studios are making their bets more shrewdly, particularly with the economic uncertainty that has rocked the stock prices of parent companies of film studios. Even if it means bruised feelings from stars, directors and producers accustomed to having it their way.

This had to be an incredibly tough call for Disney's Rich Ross and Sean Bailey, but they have several huge live-action bets on the table already. Budgetbusters include John Carter, the Andrew Stanton-directed adaptation of John Carter of Mars with Friday Night Lights' Taylor Kitsch in the lead role, which has a budget that has ballooned to around $250 million; and The Great and Powerful Oz, the Sam Raimi-directed James Franco-starrer, is hovering around $200 milllion. But principals Bruckheimer, Verbinski, and Depp have minted money when they've worked together for Disney. Bruckheimer is the longtime cornerstone producer on the Disney lot. Depp has starred in the studio's all-time biggest films including Alice in Wonderland and the four Bruckheimer-produced Pirates of the Caribbean films. Depp and Verbinski teamed for three Pirates installments, grossing billions of dollars for the studio. And Verbinski most recently directed Rango, the Paramount film that is a frontrunner for Best Animated Film Oscar and which grossed $243 million worldwide. Disney has four of the 10 all-time top worldwide grossing films in Hollywood history, and three of them starred Depp. That includes Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which Verbinski directed and which grossed $1.066 billion. The most recent Pirates installment also cracked the $1 billion mark this summer, and Disney's only other film on that all-time Top 10 list is Toy Story 3.

The Lone Ranger has a long history, but Disney counted on Depp to make it relevant with a comedic twist. The series began on the radio in 1933, then became a TV series that ran from 1949-1957, and both were wildly popular as the masked Lone Ranger and Tonto fought crime in the Old West, with the Lone Ranger calling out "Hi Ho, Silver! Away!" as his horse took off.

Epcot's Yakitori House Down for Refurbishment

2011-08-13T13:39:00.001-05:00

Yakitori House at Epcot's Japan Pavilion is down for refurbishment now through November 15, 2011. However, quick service food will be available at the temporary Food and Wine kiosk on the promenade.

(Courtesy of: LaughingPlace.com)

Changes Coming To Downtown Disney

2011-08-13T13:36:00.001-05:00

Disney has announced two new changes coming to Downtown Disney.

Magnetron will be closing at Downtown Disney West Side on September 30th. In its place will come BLINK by Wet Seal featuring apparel, denim and acessories for women, teens and children.

Later this fall Sunglass Icon by Sunglass Hut in the West Side will be transformed into a flagship store featuring cutting edge technology and the latest in sunglass fashion from the around the world.

(Courtesy of: LaughingPlace.com)

Matterhorn To Get Its Own Movie

2011-07-20T17:03:00.002-05:00

With the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise inching closer to the $1 billion mark, Walt Disney Pictures has decided to push forward with its next ride-based film called "The Hill." Based on Disneyland's Matterhorn roller coaster, the film is "a thrilling, fast-paced movie centering on five young adventure seekers who, for mysterious reasons, are called to the top of the mountain and encounter a Yetis on the journey down."

The story is being written by Jason Dean Hall ("Spread") and comes at a time when ride tie-ins are becoming increasingly popular. Disney is also reportedly working on "Haunted Mansion" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" reboots, as well as a film called "Disney's Magic Kingdom" which is being directed by John Favreau. As of this writing, no date has been set for "The Hill."

(Courtesy of: wdwinfo.com)

Lightning McQueen At Disney's Hollywood Studios

2011-07-20T15:25:00.000-05:00

A while ago it was announed Lightning McQueen from Cars and Cars 2 would be added to Lights! Motors! Action! at Disney's Hollywood Studios replacing the Herbie segment. The change has now started and Lightning can be found there.

(Courtesy of: laughingplace.com)

Happy 56th Birthday Disneyland!

2011-07-17T12:54:00.000-05:00

"To all who come to this happy place...Welcome!"

Walt Disney

Did You Know?

2011-07-17T12:48:00.000-05:00

The train at Walt Disney World's Railroad Station named the Lilly Belle is named after Walt Disney's wife, Lillian?

Winnie the Pooh In Theaters July 15

2011-07-16T00:20:00.003-05:00

Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to the Hundred Acre Wood with "Winnie the Pooh," the first big-screen Pooh adventure from Disney animation in more than 35 years. Owl sends the whole gang -- Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, and Eeyore -- on a wild quest to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit. It turns out to be a very busy day for a bear who simply set out to find some hunny.

The Pirates Are Coming To Blu-Ray

2011-07-15T23:53:00.002-05:00

The Walt Disney Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer Films are proud to present the #1 worldwide box office success of 2011 - making over $1 billion globally - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, in stunning high definition Blu-ray™, eye popping Blu-ray 3D™ (a first for the legendary franchise) and Movie Download on October 18, 2011.

(Courtesy of: http://laughingplace.com)

Cars 2 In Theaters Now

2011-07-02T23:47:00.000-05:00

Downtown Disney's AMC Dine-In Theater

2011-07-02T23:37:00.002-05:00

Downtown Disney's AMC Theaters have announced that several of the screens would be converted to Dine-In Theatre Fork & Screen theaters - a concept they’ve had at a few other theatres around the country that allows guests to order and eat a table service meal right from their movie seat before and during the film.

(Source: http://laughingplace.com)

Fantasyland's Storybook Circus Concept

2011-06-20T23:39:00.001-05:00

With the openings of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure behind us, it’s once again time to focus on the ongoing New Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. And today the Disney Parks Blog has offered a look at new concept art for Storybook Circus, the replacement for Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

Storybook Circus is themed around the Disney film “Dumbo,” with the main attraction being a double-carrousel version of the classic Disney theme park attraction. Inside the “Dumbo” tent will be interactive games and other features that will allow guests to have fun while waiting for their turn to ride, rather than standing in a long, hot line.

Nearby, the Casey Jr. Roundhouse will be a detailed water play area featuring mist, squirts and even monkeys, elephants and camels. This area will be located near the re-themed train station.

The Barnstormer coaster will remain, now starring The Great Goofini. Many circus tents will also remain, though their future contents remain a mystery for the moment.

Storybook Circus will open as part of the New Fantasyland expansion, which will debut in phases beginning in late 2012.

(Source: http://insidethemagic.net)

Margaret Kerry & Bill Farmer at Dayton Disneyana

2011-06-20T23:28:00.001-05:00

Meet Margaret Kerry (the model for Tinker Bell) and Bill Farmer (the voice of Goofy) at Dayton Disneyana on Saturday, June 25th from 10 am - 6 pm, and on Sunday, June 26th from 10 am - 3 pm at the Holiday Inn - Dayton Mall.

Dayton Disneyana is a gathering of Disney enthusiasts, collectors and pin traders from all over the U.S., who come to share their Disney experiences, acquire items for their collections, or trade pins similar to the way it is done at Disney theme parks. Free appraisals will be given on Disney items brought to the show.

Dayton Disneyana is hosted by the Plane Crazy Chapter of the Disneyana Fan Club, an international and non-profit organization, of Disney enthusiasts. Admission cost for the event: Individual - $5 for a one day pass / $7 day pass, Family - $10 one day pass / $15 two day pass, Children under 12 are admitted free, when accompanied by an adult.

More Information is available on the Internet at www.daytondisneyana.org.

(Source: http://laughingplace.com)

My Yard Goes Disney

2011-06-07T23:54:00.000-05:00

HGTV and Disney Parks join forces to surprise lucky homeowners with an eye-popping backyard makeover they never thought possible.

In each episode of My Yard Goes Disney, lucky homeowners get a jaw-dropping makeover inspired by Disney Parks that's worthy of major family playtime. In this yard, lions, elephants and zebras are only part of the fun.

(Courtesy of http://hgtv.com)

Seven Dwarfs Get New Gig

2011-03-18T14:18:00.002-05:00

Following in the footsteps of Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, from Peter Pan, who have recently found themselves reinvented as comic foils on that highly successful new animated series, Jake and the Neverland Pirates; Disney's first feature film stars - the Seven Dwarfs - may have just gotten themselves a new gig.

It's expected to be revealed that Disney is developing a pilot for a brand-new television program which may star Doc, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful, Sleepy, Grumpy, and Dopey. The new show might possibly be titled "7D", which will chronicle the Seven Dwarfs' adventures before they meet Snow White.

(Courtesy of: http://laughingplace.com)

Did You Know?

2011-03-17T19:22:00.003-05:00

Disney's Wedding Pavilion was designed to provide the bride and groom a view of the Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle while standing at the altar.

The Pirates Are Coming...Again

2011-03-17T16:44:00.002-05:00

I can' t wait to see this movie! I love Johnny Depp and the Pirates movies! Coming to a theater near you on May 20th...

Create A Car

2011-03-15T16:29:00.001-05:00

Visit the official Cars 2 website, and create your own car today!

http://disney.go.com/cars/#/home

Cars 2 coming to theaters June 24th!

Did You Know?

2011-03-04T12:45:00.001-06:00

When Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse, he originally named the little mouse Mortimer Mouse but was persuaded by his wife, Lillian to change it.

Live-Action Version of The Jungle Cruise Headed Our Way

2011-03-04T10:30:00.001-06:00

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, who voice-starred together in Disney’s Toy Story movies, are teaming up for another Disney project, Jungle Cruise. The two are attached to star in the live-action adaptation of the Disney theme park ride, being produced by Mandeville’s David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman, riding high as part of the producing team behind The Fighter.

Roger S. H. Schulman has been hired to write a new draft of the script for the long-in-development project.

The story’s details are being kept under wraps, but Disney is planning Cruise as a big action-adventure movie with unique aspects that will make it more than just a straight-up adventure.

Hanks is attached to play a family guy while Allen would play a tour boat captain.

The moviemakers plan on having a script completed before going out to directors.
Schulman, repped by Paradigm and Rain Management, worked on Shrek and many of Disney’s straight-to-DVD slate including Mulan 2, Jungle Book 2 and The Fox and the Hound 2.

Hanks is repped by CAA while Allen is repped by WME and Messina/Baker Entertainment.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

No More Evening Extra Magic Hours for Animal Kingdom

2011-03-01T18:23:00.003-06:00

Disney has announced that starting Wednesday, March 2nd, Animal Kingdom will no longer offer Extra Magic Hours (EMH) in the evenings at Animal Kingdom. Instead of having one morning and one evening EMH per week the park will now have two morning EMHs on Mondays and Wednesdays.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Jake and the Neverland Pirates Coming To Disney Junior - Live On Stage!

2011-03-01T18:20:00.004-06:00

Jake and the Never Land Pirates are landing at Disney's Hollywood Studios March 4, 2011, less than a month after they cast off on their first adventure on Disney Channel as part of the launch of Disney Junior programming designed for 2-to-7-year-old children.

At the Walt Disney World theme park, they are playing a role in "Disney Junior--Live on Stage!", a theme park show created for young guests. Co-starring roles in the show are played by the cast of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins -- other shows that are part of the Disney Junior schedule.

"Ever since 'Playhouse Disney--Live on Stage!' premiered in 2001, it has been a chance for our younger guests to experience their Disney Channel friends at Disney's Hollywood Studios," said Dan Fields of Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative director for "Disney Junior--Live on Stage!" "As their circle of TV friends has grown and changed during the years, we've endeavored to make sure those new friends are part of their vacation fun, too."
Like the previous show ("Playhouse Disney--Live on Stage"), "Disney Junior--Live on Stage!" will be presented several times during the theme park day. Guests should check their Times Guide for show times.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Did You Know?

2011-02-25T23:56:00.001-06:00

The fire-breathing dragon in Fantasmic is nicknamed Bucky.

Fast Pass To Meet "The Mouse" Coming This Spring

2011-02-24T00:37:00.001-06:00

Magic Kingdom officials have a hunch a really "hot ticket" in their realm this summer is going to be something other than a ride, a snack or a show. Rather, it's a first-ever opportunity to nail down a time to meet with Mickey Mouse.
When meet-and-greets with Mickey move into a permanent new location in Town Square later this spring, Magic Kingdom guests will be able obtain a Disney's FASTPASS ticket specifying a one-hour window when they can return to see the popular character for hugs, photos and autographs -- without waiting in the standby queue. It will mark the first time the complimentary, computerized service has been available for a character meet-and-greet at any Disney Park.
Since spending time with Disney characters is at the top of the "must-do list" of many guests, the FASTPASS ticket will allow them to experience their Mickey Mouse meet-and-greets more conveniently. As a result, guests will be able to devote more time enjoying other Magic Kingdom experiences with family and friends.
The new meet-and-greet location, Town Square Theater, will be located inside the current Exposition Hall area just inside the park entrance. Imagineers already are working to completely transform the space for the new experience. "This isn't just remodeling Expo Hall; it is completely re-imagining this entire venue as a beautiful Victorian-era theater and the new home for Mickey Mouse," Jon Georges, WDI Director, Senior Show Producer, said.
"Mickey and Main Street, U.S.A. are great examples of pure Americana that complement each other very well," Concept Designer Jason Grandt said. "We drew a lot of inspiration from classic Mickey animated shorts such as The Nifty Nineties and Mickey's Grand Opera. Many of the scenes in these shorts look like they take place right on Main Street."
Guests arrive at a building befitting Mickey Mouse's stardom -- with a grand-Victorian-theater elevation, including a marquee that glistens with gold-leaf trim and sparkles with lights. Inside, there's a mosaic floor, lush curtains with gold rope tie-backs and polished-brass chandeliers. Imagineers are creating new elements and surprises for Magic Kingdom guests, including an interactive queue -- with an extra touch of Disney magic -- and highly themed retail shops.
The queue takes guests "backstage," where Mickey is waiting to greet them in a rehearsal-room environment amid posters, steamer trunks and stage props.
In addition, during the New Fantasyland construction, royalty will be visiting as the Disney Princesses will be in Town Square Theater to meet and greet their loyal subjects.
Currently, guests can visit with Mickey Mouse in Tomorrowland, in a location to the right of Space Mountain. Meet-and-greet experiences with the Disney Princesses are currently at Adventureland Verandah.

(Courtesy of: http://laughingplace.com)

Disney's Castaway Cay

2011-02-17T11:59:00.002-06:00

Just had to share this gorgeous picture of Castaway Cay. The photo was taken by Disney CEO Bob Iger as he was arriving at the island retreat. He was kind enough to share it via Disney Cruise Line's Facebook page.

Beautiful, huh? Wish I was there!

(Photo courtesy of: Disney Cruise Lines Facebook)

Disney Junior Live Onstage Coming to the Parks

2011-02-17T11:26:00.002-06:00

Ahoy, mateys! We have some exciting news today for families who enjoy live entertainment and playful pirates!

To celebrate the premiere of the new television creation Disney Junior – which launched Monday – “Disney Junior — Live on Stage!” will debut at Disney Parks in Florida and California. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will present this lively show beginning March 4, and Disney California Adventure park will open the show March 25.

“Disney Junior — Live on Stage!” debuts with a new marquee, new characters and a new segment based on Disney Junior’s newest series, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.” It is scheduled to run daily.

Children and parents who have enjoyed the popular “Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage!” at both parks can look forward to sharing this new production, which brings back three audience favorites (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins) and also introduces the adventures of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.”

“Disney Junior — Live on Stage!” continues the imaginative, family-based fun that comes from being part of a live audience. The entertaining show pops to life with bright visuals and whimsical scenery that fill the stage, while guests enjoy four mini-episodes of playful Disney storytelling, fun songs and interactive moments.

The new, animated adventure series “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” airs daily on Disney Junior, the new multiplatform destination devoted to children ages 2-7 and their families. Disney Junior invites parents and grandparents to join children as they enjoy Disney storytelling and Disney characters, along with learning and developmental themes. In 2012, Disney Junior will also debut as a basic cable and satellite channel in the United States.

(Courtesy of: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog)

Disney-Pixar Bringing Disney Fans a Magazine

2011-02-17T11:13:00.002-06:00

Disney-Pixar Presents, a new monthly magazine featuring characters from the popular Pixar films will hit newsstands in May. The 96 full color pages will offer a mix of brand new stories, classic adventures, puzzles, games and more.

“We’re excited for the launch of Disney-Pixar Presents, teaming with our friends at Disney/Pixar to bring some exciting new material to fans all over the world and introducing a whole new generation to comics,” said Axel Alonso, Marvel Editor-in-Chief. “We’re committed to providing a great product and ensuring these books are available in locations that parents and kids frequent."

In Disney-Pixar Presents: Cars Magazine #1 -- Lightning McQueen organizes a charity race for young cars with special needs, but he didn’t invite Piston Cup champion Chick Hicks. The snub gets Hick’s competitive juices flowing, and he’s out to show McQueen a thing or two about racing! Will Hicks ruin the good nature of the Radiator Springs Rally Race?
(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Raven Symone's Bringing Laughs Back To ABC

2011-02-02T12:10:00.002-06:00

The Great State of Georgia, from ABC Studios, centers on Georgia (Raven Symone), an exuberant curvy performer from the south, and her science geek best friend Jo (Majandra Delfino) who try to make headway in New York City. The pilot was written by author Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes) and Jeff Greenstein (Desperate Housewives). This marks the return to sitcoms for Symone, who made her debut in the genre at age 2 on The Cosby Show. It also brings a companion piece to ABC Family's hot original sitcom Melissa & Joey.

(Courtesy of: http://laughingplace.com)

Bomb Scare at the WDW Resort

2011-02-02T12:04:00.002-06:00

Authorities investigated a suspicious package at the Walt Disney World Resort on Monday.

Authorities said a package was received with no return address at the Shades of Green Resort.

An Orange County Sheriff's Office bomb squad and several other agencies investigated the package but determined it was not a threat.

An OCSO spokeswoman said the bomb squad was called as a precaution due to an international conference that was taking place.

The Shades of Green Resort is on Disney property but is operated as an Armed Forces Recreation Center for the exclusive use of military members and their families.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Did You Know?

2011-02-02T11:59:00.004-06:00

Walt Disney only attended one year of high school.

Downtown Disney's Lego Store Expanding

2011-01-31T13:49:00.001-06:00

Downtown Disney's Lego Imagination Center will be undergoing a major renovation beginning January 29. The store's square footage will increase by nearly 3,500 square-feet. There will also be exterior models of Disney characters made out of LEGOs. Construction walls will surround the area beginning January 29. While work is being done, the LEGO Imagination Center will be in a temporary location between Once Upon A Toy and Earl of Sandwich. The new LEGO Imagination Center is scheduled to open in mid-April.

(Courtesy of The Dis)

Disneyland's Critter Country Temporarily Closed

2011-01-31T13:45:00.001-06:00

Disneyland's Critter Country will be closed until March. Work began on Splash Mountain and Hungry Bear Restaurant earlier this month, and Disney decided to close the rest of Critter Country while the work is completed. A statement from Suzi Brown, Disneyland Resort spokeswoman said, "Closing the remainder of the land allows us to be more efficient and to perform refresh work that was originally scheduled for later in the year." Critter Country will reopen sometime in March, but Splash Mountain will remain closed through May 26.

(Courtesy of The Dis)

Kids Sail Free on Select Disney Alaska Cruises

2011-01-28T23:53:00.002-06:00

Set a course for the last frontier! As part of each Alaska itinerary, you will experience breathtaking scenery, an abundance of wildlife and the rich history and customs of Alaska’s native culture. Combined with unparalleled Disney quality and service, one-of-a-kind entertainment, immersive experiences plus favorite Disney Characters, it’s a vacation experience that every member of the family will feel was created especially for them.

Offer Details

Book a Verandah or Oceanview stateroom and kids ages 17 and under, traveling with 2 full-fare Guests in the same stateroom, SAIL FREE* on select 7-night Alaskan cruises departing between May 3 to June 7, 2011. Call Pixie Vacations and ask for booking code KFO.
To BookCall Pixie Vacations at: 678-815-1584
Email: Info@PixieVacations.com
Website: www.PixieVacations.com
Get A Free Disney Cruise Line Quote Online

*Offer is only available to U.S. and Canada residents. Rates are in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Valid for stateroom categories 4A through 9D only. The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited. Government Taxes and Fees and Port Adventures not included. Certain restrictions may apply. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or onboard credits. See Disney Cruise Line® brochure for applicable Terms and Conditions.

Did You Know?

2011-01-28T14:38:00.004-06:00

More than 50 million Cokes are consumed each year at Walt Disney World Resort.

Johnny Depp To Play The Wizard

2011-01-28T14:11:00.002-06:00

Is Disney about to embark on an adventure down the yellow brick road? Many signs hint that the movie is "Oz: The Great and Powerful," a Disney prequel to the classic "Wizard of Oz" with Michigan native Sam Raimi directing and Johnny Depp negotiating for the lead role.

The movie will explain how the wizard wound up in the Land of Oz before Dorothy and her three fellow travelers sought him out.

Interesting!

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Meet Disney Cars 2 Newest Character

2011-01-28T14:00:00.006-06:00

ComingSoon.net has your exclusive first look at Raoul ÇaRoule from Disney•Pixar's Cars 2, opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D theaters on June 24. The character is described as follows:

Known as the "World's Greatest Rally Car," #6 Raoul ÇaRoule was born in Alsace, France. A restless soul, Raoul joined the famous 'Cirque du Voiture' French circus where he learned Gymkhana – a graceful, drift-filled motorsport that taught him pinpoint timing and an unparalleled ability to navigate tricky courses with ease. He's the first car to ever win nine consecutive rallies. Raoul is confident he can use his rally experience to pull ahead of his fellow World Grand Prix racers during the three courses' touchy dirt sections, especially with his fans in the stands waving banners that read: "ÇaRoule Ca-Rules!"
(Courtesy of http://comingsoon.net)

Tony Anselmo - Voice of Donald Duck Featured at Walt Disney Family Museum

2011-01-26T23:39:00.001-06:00

In the 1940s, Walt Disney once referred to Donald Duck as the Clark Gable of his stable, meaning that the irascible duck was as important a talent to the Walt Disney Studios as Clark Gable was to MGM Studios. Donald’s importance to the Disney “stable” is evidenced by his starring role in more cartoon shorts (128) than any other Disney character, including Mickey Mouse.

On Saturday, January 22, The Walt Disney Family Museum hosted an event featuring the man behind the voice of Donald Duck for the past 27 years, Disney Legend, Tony Anselmo. Director of Visitor Experience and Interpretation, Donna Tuggle, served as moderator for this rare opportunity to get a peek behind the scenes to hear what goes into the creation of one of Walt Disney’s most enduring and beloved characters.

Donald’s first appearance was in the 1934 Silly Symphony, The Wise Little Hen. As with Mickey, his physical appearance changed over the years from a thinner more elongated figure into the wonderfully rounded Donald we know today. One thing has not changed however, his instantly recognizable voice. The cantankerous duck has been voiced by just two men in his 77 years. There is a poignant link between these two men as we learned during this interesting and entertaining event.

The voice of Donald Duck was created by Disney Legend, Clarence Nash. The Donald voice we love today was actually one of several animal voices Clarence created to entertain children while on his route as an Adohr Milk Company deliveryman. During an impromptu audition at the Disney Studios, Clarence ran through his repertoire of animal voices without much reaction. But, when he came to his voice of a goat reciting Mary Had Little Lamb, one of the staff got Walt Disney, who, upon hearing Clarence’s goat exclaimed, “That’s our talking duck!” And the rest is history. Clarence provided the voice for Donald Duck for the next 50 years.

Tony Anselmo’s first Disney movie experience was Mary Poppins. He was fascinated with the animation and the ability of live-action characters to interact in a fantasy world of animation. He was left asking the question, “How did they do that?”

Tony decided to learn all he could about animation and set forth to create a portfolio of his work that might gain him entry into a career in the world of animation. He wrote to several of Walt Disney’s great animators, now known as Walts’ Nine Old Men. He was gratified to actually receive responses and encouragement from these talented men. He took to heart their advice to learn figure drawing and took classes at night to learn more and hone his skills. At age sixteen, he took his portfolio to the Disney Studios and received favorable reviews. He was advised to take courses at Cal Arts to build upon his current talent. He mentioned that he could not afford Cal Arts and that his father wanted him to go to business school. Tony was asked to leave the room for a few minutes. When invited to return, he was informed that he was the recipient of a Disney Family Fellowship. “So,” Tony said, “the Disney family paid for my education.”

After a couple of years at Cal Arts, Tony was invited to attend the Disney School of Animation, created by Ron Miller, at the Disney Studios. He was part of a class of about fourteen students which included such future talents as Joe Ranft and Tim Burton. The Disney School of Animation was an inspiration to Tony. The faculty was made up of instructors who were retired or long-time animators who had worked with Walt Disney. The mission of the School was to pass on the skills of the original Disney masters to a new generation of animators.

Tony recounted working with Jack Hannah, who had been animating Donald as far back as the 1930s. Jack relayed the philosophy of animating Donald and bringing his personality to the screen. There was a standard of excellence conveyed by the Disney animation veterans as stated by Eric Larson: “Do your best because this (your work) will be around long after we are gone.”

On his first day at the Disney Studios, Tony met Clarence Nash, who took the new students on a tour of the Studio, and treated the group to a few comments in Donald’s voice. A friendship was established and Clarence would stop in on a regular basis to see how Tony was doing. He showed Tony how the Donald voice was created. Tony could not produce the voice at first, but with practice, he was able to produce a reasonable Donald voice. It was just for fun. Tony had no aspirations of performing Donald’s voice in any public way. However, he enjoyed the challenges Clarence periodically came by to offer, such as “How would Donald say this….?” The visits were fun, but Tony saw no real reason for them other than perhaps Clarence had too much time on his hands. Meanwhile, Tony went on to do clean up animation on several Disney animated features beginning with The Little Mermaid up through Home On The Range.

When asked how it came to be that he became the voice of Donald Duck, Tony related that it was a bittersweet situation that he neither envisioned nor pursued. In 1984, Donald’s 50^th anniversary, Clarence Nash finally appeared to be receiving the acknowledgement he so richly deserved. An appearance on The Tonight Show and his selection as the 1985 Tournament of Roses Parade Grand Marshall were but two of several 50^th anniversary celebratory events for Donald (Clarence). On January 1^st 1985, Tony noticed that Clarence did not appear as the parade’s Grand Marshall. Soon after, Tony was invited to visit Clarence at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank. Clarence informed Tony that he would be passing on soon and that he had made arrangements for Tony to take over the task of providing Donald’s voice. With the loss of his friend imminent, the news that he was now going to be the voice of Donald was not a cause for excitement. He now realized why Clarence had been stopping by all those years. He was sad to lose a friend, but had a new challenge to undertake.

For The Prince and the Pauper, Tony had the rare honor being one of two animators to animate the same character he gave voice to. The other was former classmate and Pixar legend Joe Ranft, who animated and gave voice to the caterpillar Heimlich in a bug's life.

Providing Donald’s voice can be physically taxing. After producing one of Donald’s long tantrums in the recording studio, Tony sometimes feels light-headed. He once asked Jack Hannah if Clarence ever had the same problem. In his gravelly voice, Hannah replied that Clarence had fainted several times in the studio.

To keep his voice sharp and consistent, Tony never voices Donald before 11 am (so his sinuses are clear) and never eats before recording (food can affect the voice). Many words are impossible for Donald to articulate: words that start with a “t” sound like “d,” words with the letter “s,” especially double “s,” are easily distorted. With practice, Clarence, the studio and later Tony have learned that short sentences work best for Donald. Perhaps the best piece of advice Tony received was, if you come across a word that Donald can’t articulate, find another word that means the same thing.

Tony explained that preserving the integrity of the character is paramount. Some new shows have had scripts that have Donald making statements that seem out of character. When these situations arise, Tony has pushed back to the scriptwriters to ensure that his words represent what Donald actually would say. Donald would never say “Hey, baby!” but he would say “Hiya toots!” Tony reminds us that he is simply a steward of Donald’s voice and character until the torch is passed on. Whoever carries the torch must continue to maintain that integrity.

The investment in a young talented artist by the Disney Family Fellowship decades ago has provided a wonderful return. The young sixteen-year-old Tony Anselmo has evolved into a fine animator and excellent voice artist. In September 2009, Tony became a Disney Legend, cementing his place Disney history.
Once again, The Walt Disney Family Museum provided a wonderful afternoon of insight and entertainment. We look forward to enjoying Tony’s work for many years to come.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Construction Begins on Disneyland's Main Street USA

2011-01-26T23:26:00.001-06:00

Disneyland's Main Street USA is a bit of a maze for visitors now that workers are doing construction on the main thoroughfare of the theme park.

Crews began working last week on the cement on Main Street U.S.A. The work will take place mostly at night, for almost two months, said David Gill, a Disneyland Resort spokesman.

On Friday, visitors could see construction walls starting at Town Square near the park’s entrance down to Sleeping Beauty Castle. Disney conducts roadwork on Main Street on an as-needed basis, usually every three to five years, Gill said. Crews last did a similar project in January 2009.

During this year’s project, Main Street vehicles, including the omnibus and streetcars, are banned from the street. The vehicles are expected to return in early March, Gill said.

Previously, Disney reported that the vehicles would come back Feb. 16, but they are now scheduled to resume operation later.

A parade also is on hiatus during construction.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Disney at the 83rd Academy Awards

2011-01-26T23:20:00.001-06:00

Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 3 is among the nominees for Best Picture at the 83rd Academy Awards and has also been nominated for Best Animated Feature. The other Best Animated Feature nominees are "How to Train Your Dragon" (Dreamworks) and "The Illusionist" (Sony Pictures). Disney's "Tangled" was not nominated in the Best Animated Feature category.

Original Song nominees include “I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater -and- “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman.

As well as garnering nominations for Best Picture, Animated Feature Film and Original Song Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 3" is nominated for Sound Editing and Adapted Screenplay (Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich).

Teddy Newton's "Day & Night" (Pixar) the animated short that appeared in theaters with "Toy Story 3" has been nominated for Animated Short Film.

"TRON: Legacy" received a nomination for Sound Editing.

Disney Pictures "Alice in Wonderland" was nominated for Art Design, Costume Design, and Visual Effects

Other Disney Company related nominations include:

Iron Man 2 (Marvel Studios Production (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment, Distributed by Paramount) in Visual Effects
The Tempest (Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films Production (Miramax)

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Mickey's Toon Town Fair Closing

2011-01-26T23:10:00.001-06:00

According to the latest passholder mailer, Mickey’s Toontown Fair will close down on February 12th. So visit now, while you can. If not… you can always check out MousePlanet’s final Tribute.

(Courtesy of http://screamscape.com)

I think this is so sad that Mickey's Toon Town Fair is closing. I understand that they want to make changes and increase the size of Fantasyland to make way for new adventures. But what about Mickey and the gang? Are we forgetting the biggest icon of Disney? What about the children who want to visit Mickey and Minnie's houses? And what about Goofy's Barnstormer and Donald's Boat? Does anyone know what's happening to these places?

Lap Bars Coming To Splash Mountain

2011-01-26T23:01:00.002-06:00

The rumors are 100% true... Splash Mountain is currently adding a large single lap bar to each and every row on the logs. As outraged as I am about the very concept of this, unfortunately we as guests, have only ourselves to blame. Apparently there are a large number of morons out there who think it’s funny / cool / xtreme to either stand-up during portions of the ride, combined with an equal number of stupid tourists who think that at the first time of a ride stoppage, they are free to jump out of the log and go wandering about inside the mountain. Then the real fun begins as CMs are sent out to search every nook and cranny inside the gigantic structure for these lost guests before they can turn the ride back on. (So maybe we should all agree, as a theme park loving community, that if we’ve in a park and see someone doing something stupid... say something and stop them.)

Adding insult to injury, this will cut down on the capacity of the ride as well in two ways. Previous policy allowed for groups of three that could fit (3 kids, 2 adult & 1 small child) to sit in one row, for a maximum of 12 riders per log. Now I know this didn’t happen all the time, but with the new lap bars two riders per row is all that will be allowed. Secondly, the ride’s capacity will be cut again as the dispatch time between logs has been raised from 12.5 seconds to an estimated 15-20 seconds per log to allow for increased loading time to deal with guests loading more slowly due to the lap bars and time for the ride crew to give each bar a quick tug.

Now for the good news... the lap bars are nothing like what Universal put on Ripsaw Falls. Instead they are very similar in style to what is used on Big Thunder Mountain. I’ve also been sent a pictures showing off the new restraints. Thanks to everyone who responded about this... I must have had between 20-25 different people contact me today to confirm this unfortunate news.

(Courtesy of http://screamscape.com)

Featured Disney Site

2011-01-17T10:46:00.002-06:00

This week's featured Disney site is...

Pixie Vacations
We are Disney Vacation Planners and past Cast Members who know how to save you time and money on your Disney vacation!
http://pixievacations.com/

Spread a little pixie dust their way! And be sure to tell them Disney Heaven sent you!

Enjoy!

Enchanted Tiki Room Has Small Fire

2011-01-13T15:45:00.002-06:00

A small fire broke out at Walt Disney World's Enchanted Tiki Room, forcing guests to evacuate the popular show Wednesday.
Disney officials said the call came in about around 5:30 p.m. about the fire, which started in the attic of the attraction, located in the Adventureland area of the Magic Kingdom.
Guests were quickly evacuated from the area, and the Enchanted Tiki Room remains closed Thursday.
A Reedy Creek Fire Department spokesman said firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading beyond the attic, and the building's sprinkler system went off, helping to extinguish the flames.
No one was injured, and the Tiki Room was the only attraction that had to be closed.
The cause of the fire and extent of damage remains under investigation.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

"Ozzie & Harriet's" David Nelson Has Passed Away

2011-01-13T15:37:00.001-06:00

David Nelson has died at the age of 74 of complications from colon cancer. David was the elder son of The Nelson family, a real life family that also starred in a popular sitcom of the 50's and 60's. In the early days of the Disney Channel viewers were introduced (or re-introduced) to The Nelsons -- Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky. In 1987, two years after Rick's tragic death in an airplane crash, the cable network aired a special produced by David Nelson titled "Rick Nelson: A Brother Remembers." The Nelson family legacy continues to be celebrated within Disney as Rick's twin sons are scheduled to perform during the Epcot Flower Power Concert Series.
(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers, and AllStar Weekend To Perform At Concert For Hope

2011-01-13T15:30:00.001-06:00

Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers and AllStar Weekend will perform Sunday, March 20 at the third annual Concert for Hope presented Staples with all proceeds benefiting lifesaving cancer research at City of Hope.

It is gratifying to see a young generation of musical artists come together to support a future free from cancer,” said Bob Cavallo, Disney Music Group chairman and long-time supporter of City of Hope, through its Music and Entertainment Industry fundraising group. “We are fortunate to have the commitment of these talented young artists to help City of Hope fulfill its mission of conducting innovative research and saving lives.”

“Some of the most important advances in cancer treatment originated from the work of dedicated City of Hope researchers, including the development of many of the most widely used cancer drugs. It is an honor to support this remarkable institution and its work to advance medicine and pursue research that saves lives around the world,” said Gary Marsh, president, entertainment, and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.

The Concert for Hope will take place at Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk on Sunday, March 20. Tickets will be available at 10 AM on Jan. 15 at LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone 800-745-3000.

(Courtesy of http://laughingplace.com)

Featured Disney Site

2011-01-06T16:49:00.003-06:00

This week's featured Disney site is -

Orlando Vacation
http://orlandovacation.com/
Offering great Walt Disney World vacation packages just for you!

Disney Dream Arrives Home

2011-01-06T16:29:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T22:56:00.003-06:00

May the Lord bless you all with a safe and Happy New Year in 2011!

Disney Makes Its Way To The Awards Once Again

2010-12-15T23:17:00.001-06:00

The Walt Disney Studios are making their way back to the Academy Awards - the 83rd - to be exact. Out of 15 films, Disney has four films up for nomination in the Visual Effects category. These films are "Alice In Wonderland", "Prince of Persia", "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", and "Tron: Legacy". The awards are scheduled to air on February 27, 2011.

(Source: LaughingPlace.com)

Disney's Newest Ship Set To Come Home

2010-12-15T22:59:00.001-06:00

The Disney Cruise Line took delivery of its newest ship, the Disney Dream, from the Meyer Werft shipyard this week in Bremerhaven, Germany. The traditional maritime ceremony included the lowering of the Meyer Werft flag and raising of the Disney Cruise Line flag on the mast of the ship. Captain Mickey, Donald Duck and the crew members of the Disney Dream joined the celebration. The Disney Dream is set to arrive at its home in Port Canaveral on January 4, 2011.

(Source: LaughingPlace.com)

Tangled Finishes In Third

2010-12-15T22:42:00.005-06:00

Disney's "Tangled" finished in 3rd place this weekend pulling in a total of $14.3 million! The story is that of Rapunzel done in classic "Disney-style". Featuring the voice talents of Mandy Moore as Rapunzel and Zachary Levi as Flynn Ryder, Tangled has surpassed Disney's three previous films - "Princess and the Frog", "Bolt", and "Meet the Robinsons" according to the movie's earnings.

(Source: LaughingPlace.com)

Captain Jack Returns

2010-12-15T21:54:00.002-06:00

Yep! The very talented, very handsome Johnny Depp is once again putting on his pirate gear for yet another installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies! "On Stranger Tides" will hit theaters May 20, 2011. Joining Captain Jack will be his long-time friend and foe Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) with newcomers Angelica (Penelope Cruz) and Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Join the adventure as Captain Jack searches for the Fountain of Youth.

Click here to view the trailer. Enjoy! I know I will! *smile*

Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade 2010

2010-12-08T00:30:00.006-06:00

Isn't this the most beautiful thing you've ever seen! I so wish I was there this year! We've been to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at WDW's Magic Kingdom,and it's just awesome! But then, I think, everything at Disney is awesome! *smile*

If you were able to go WDW for Mickey's Party this year, we'd love to hear about it!

(Picture courtesy of LaughingPlace.com)

Sneak Peek at Mickey Mouse Snowman Popcorn Bucket

2010-12-08T00:03:00.003-06:00

This adorable bucket will be arriving at Disneyland on December 9th!
(Source: LaughingPlace.com)

Disney Dream Ship Plays "A Dream Is A Wish"

2010-12-07T18:20:00.002-06:00

Watch the following YouTube video to hear the ship play this Disney classic tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_Vt2YIGNNA

Welcome...

2010-12-06T15:48:00.001-06:00

I'd like to welcome all of my Disney friends to my new Disney Heaven blog! I love, love, love Disney, and I look forward to sharing my world of Disney with you! So, come on in, sit back and have a Coke, and enjoy your journey through the magical pages of Disney Heaven!

Have a magical day!