Animal Kingdom -- Part II

Entertainment, Parades, & Fireworks

[ ] Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade - Duration: 15 min. - Location: Circles Discovery Island

* The parade portrays Mickey Mouse and Rafiki taking other characters on a camping trip. Towering mechanical animal puppets, whimsical stilt-walkers, colorful Jeeps and Land Rovers, dozens of dancers and infections music combine to celebrate the harmony between man and animals in those lively procession, which winds along shady pathways that are often just 12 feet wide.

Character Meet & Greet

+ Baloo, King Louie - on trail off Asia-Africa walkway

+ Chip 'n Dale - Character greeting trails, Camp Minnie-Mickey

+ Donald Duck, Daisy Duck - Character greeting trails, Camp Minnie-Mickey; Also at Donald's Safari Breakfast, Tusker House, Africa

+ Flik - river overlook off Asia-Africa walkway

+ Goofy - Character greeting trails, Camp Minnie-Mickey; Dinoland U.S.A.; Also at Donald's Safari Breakfast, Tusker House, Africa

+ Jiminy Cricket - Conservation Station, Rafiki's Planet Watch

+ Koda, Kenai - Character greeting trails, Camp Minnie-Mickey

+ Lilo, Stitch - outside Island Mercantile shop, Discovery Island

+ Mickey Mouse - Character greeting trails, Camp Minnie-Mickey; Also at Donald's Safari Breakfast, Tusker House, Africa

+ Minnie Mouse - Character greeting trails, Camp Minnie-Mickey

+ Pluto - Dinoland U.S.A.

+ Pocahontas - Conservation Station, Rafiki's Planet Watch; Character greeting trails, Camp Minnie-Mickey

+ Rafiki - Conservation Station, Rafiki's Planet Watch

+ Terk - across from Pizzafari, Discovery Island

+ Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger - boat landing across from Flame Tree BBQ, Discovery Island

Street Performers

Musicians

+ Gi-Tar Dan - Duration: 20 min. - Location: courtyard, Camp Minnie-Mickey

+ Mor Thiam - Duration: 20 min. - Location: various in Africa; 5 days a week

+ Tam Tams of Congo - Duration: 20 min. - Location: in front of Tusker House, Africa

+ Tropicals - Duration: 20 min. - Location: various in Dinoland U.S.A.

+ Village Beatniks - Duration: 20 min. - Location: in front of Flame Tree BBQ, Discovery Island

Acrobats

+ Smear, Splat, & Dip - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Dinoland U.S.A.

Performance Artists

+ DiVine - Duration: 20 min. - Location: walkway between Africa and Asia

+ Pipa the Talking Recycling Bin - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Conservation Station, Rafiki's Planet Watch

Cultural Representatives

+ Asian Cultural Representatives - Location: pavilion next to Yak & Yeti, Asia

+ Harambe School - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Harambe Village, Africa

Have a Magical Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

(c) Photos Flickr photographers

EPCOT -- Part II

Entertainment, Parades, & Fireworks

[ ] Illuminations: Reflections of Earth - Duration: 30 min. - Location: World Showcase Lagoon

* Synchronized to a symphonic world-music score, this nightly fireworks and special effects extravaganza uses the entire World Showcase as its stage, as strobe lights flash on, and laser beams shoot from various international pavilions. A rotating Earth moves across the water and shows moving images on its continents, eventually unfolding to reveal a giant torch. There's no narration, the show tells the history of the world in three acts: "Chaos", "Order", and "Celebration".

[ ] Kim Possible World Showcase Showdown - Duration: 45-60 min. - Location: World Showcase

* A cell-phone-like 'Kimmunicator' helps you trigger special effects around the World Showcase pavilions in a secret agent scavenger hunt. Your mission? To save the world, by helping Kim Possible and her friends vanquish evil!

Character Meet & Greet

+ Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie - Morocco Pavilion; Jasmine often at ARB Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Alice - Toy Soldier, UK Pavilion; often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Ariel - often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Aurora - France Pavilion; often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Belle, Beast - France Pavilion; Belle often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Cinderella - often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Donald Duck - Mexico Pavilion

+ Esmeralda - often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Goofy - Epcot Character Spot

+ Mary Poppins - Toy Soldier, UK Pavilion

+ Mickey, Minnie Mouse - Epcot Character Spot

+ Mulan, Mushu - China Pavilion; Mulan often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Pluto - Epcot Character Spot

+ Snow White, Dopey - German Pavilion; Snow White often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Winnie the Pooh, Tigger - Toy Soldier, UK Pavilion

Street Performers

Acrobats

+ Dragon Legend Acrobats - Duration: 20 min. - Location: China Pavilion

+ Serveur Amusant - Duration: 20 min. - Location: France Pavilion

Candy Artist

+ Miyuki - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Japan Pavilion

Improvisational Troupe

+ World Showcase Players - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Italy & UK Pavilions

Juggler

+ Sergio - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Italy Pavilion

Musicians

+ American Gardens concerts - Location: American Adventure Amphitheater

+ The British Invasion - Duration: 20 min. - Location: UK Pavilion

+ 'Hat Lady' Carol Stein - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Rose & Crown Pub, UK Pavilion

+ Jammitors - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Innoventions Plaza, Future World

+ Mariachi Cobre - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Mexico Pavilion

+ Matsuriza Taiko Drummers - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Japan Pavilion

+ Mo'Rockin - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Morocco Pavilion

+ Off Kilter - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Canada Pavilion

+ Si Xiang - Duration: 20 min. - Location: China Pavilion

+ Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps. - Duration: 10 min. - Location: America Adventure Promenade

+ The Voices of Liberty - Duration: 20 min. - Location: American Adventure

Storyteller

+ Honobono Minwa - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Japan courtyard

Have a Magical Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

(c) Photos Flickr photographers

Disney's Hollywood Studios Part II

Entertainment, Parades, & Fireworks

[x] Block Party Bash - Duration: 22 min. - Location: Hollywood Blvd.

* Unlike a parade, the Pixar-themed Block Party Bash is not a continuously moving procession. It's a staged street performance that rolls out and stops. Twice. Dressed as everything from cowgirls to ladybugs, cheerleaders dance to disco, Motown and rock classics. Joining them are acrobats and jumping stilt-walkers, as well as characters from the "Toy Story" films, "A Bug's Life" (1998), "Monsters, Inc." (2001), and "The Incredibles" (2004).

[ x ] Fantasmic! - Duration: 25 min. - Location: outdoor pavilion off of Sunset Blvd.

* My favorite show BY FAR. Disney seems to pull out all of the stops the company could muster--boats, cannons, characters, fireworks, flames, fountains, lasers, music, smoke, even video projected onto water screens. It tells a story of good versus evil, as a dreaming Mickey Mouse imagines colorful animals and princesses and vanquishes Disney villains. Most of the action takes place on a 60-foot-tall island mountain, which sits about 100 ft in front of a semicircular amphitheater. In between is a narrow lagoon that's filled with fountains and hidden special effects. It only places a few times a week, but sometimes twice in one night.

Character Meet & Greets

+ Little Einsteins - Animation Courtyard

+ Belle - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Chip'n'Dale - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Daisy Duck - Sorcerer's Hat, Hllywd Blvd.

+ Donald Duck - Sorcerer's Hat, Hllywd Blvd.

+ Friar Tuck, Little John - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Geppetto - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Green Army Men - Pixar Place

+ Goofy - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Handy Manny - Animation Courtyard

+ Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone - The Magic of Animation, Animation Courtyard

+ Jojo, Goliath - Animation Courtyard

+ Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable - New York Street, Streets of America

+ Lightning McQueen, 'Mater - Luigi's Garage, Streets of America

+ Lilo, Stitch - Sorcerer's Hat, Hllywd Blvd.

+ Luxo Jr. - Pixar Place

+ Mary Poppins, Penguins - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Mickey, Minnie Mouse - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd. and The Magic of Animation, Animation Courtyard (as Sorcerer's Apprentice)

+ Mike, Sulley - Streets of America

+ Pinocchio - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Pluto - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Pocahontas, Gov. Radcliffe - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Power Rangers - in front of Lights, Motors, Action; Streets of America

+ Prince Caspian - Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian, Mickey Ave.

+ Queen of Hearts, Tweedledee, Tweedledum - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Snow White, Evil Queen - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd.

+ Woody, Buzz Lightyear - Woody's Picture Shootin' Corral, Pixar Place

Street Performers

Improvisational Troupe

+ Citizens of Hollywood - Hollywood Blvd. and Sunset Blvd.

Musical Revue

+ High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd. - Duration: 20 min.

Lightsaber Training

+ Jedi Training Academy - Sorcerer's Hat, Hollywood Blvd. - Duration: 20 min.

Musicians

+ Mulch, Sweat and Shears - Streets of America - Duration: 25 min.

Have a Magical Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

The Magic Kingdom Part Deux

Entertainment, Parades, & Fireworks

[ ] SpectroMagic - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Main Street USA

* Magic Kingdom's night parade; A high tech affair that employs electro-luminescent and fiber-optic technologies, light-spreading thermoplastics, and clouds of underlit liquid-nitrogen smoke. The parade also features a memorable soundtrack, many major characters, and thousands of sparkling lights.

[ x ] Wishes - Duration: 12 min. - Location: Main Street

* Wishes features memorable vignettes and music from beloved Disney films, along with a stellar fireworks display, while Jiminy Cricket narrates a lump-in-your-throat story about making wishes come true. Cinderella Castle is used as a backdrop for various mood lighting.

[ ] Frontierland Hoedown

[ ] Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade - Duration: 30 min. - Location: MS-->LS-->FL

*Floats feature Mickey, Goofy, and most of the Disney storybook gang. The "Celebrate" them rings out, though classic Disney tunes are woven in the score to accompany the story told throughout each float. Performers in bright costumes wave flags and perform high-energy dance numbers.

[ ] Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! - Duration: 20 min. - Main Street USA

Character Meet & Greets

Mickey Mouse & Friends

+ Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse - Judge's Tent, Mickey's Country House, Mickey's Toontown Fair

+ Donald Duck - Across from Frontierland Shootin' Gallery

+ Goofy - Left of Splash Mountain, Frontierland

+ Pluto - Town Square, Main Street USA

Princesses

+ Ariel - Adventureland

+ Aurora - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Belle - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair, after Storytime with Belle, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Cinderella - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Jasmine - Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Adventureland, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Snow White - Town Square outside of Expo Hall, Main Street USA, Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Faire, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Tiana, Prince Naveen - Behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, Liberty Square

Other Characters

+ Aladdin - Magic Carpets of Aladdin

+ Alice, Mad Hatter - Mad Tea Party, Fantasyland

+ Buzz Lightyear - Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland

+ Captain Hook, Mr. Smee - Pirates of the Caribbean, Adventureland

+ Chip n' Dale - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Daisy Duck - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Dopey - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Fairy Godmother - Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle, Fantasyland

+ Gus, Jacques - Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella - Fairytale Garden, Fantasyland

+ Mary Poppins - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Penguins - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Peter Pan, Wendy - Pirates of the Caribbean, Adventureland

+ Pinocchio - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet - Pooh's Playful Spot, Fantasyland, Crystal Palace, Main Street USA

+ Rafiki, Timon - Adventureland front entrance veranda

+ Stitch - Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland

+ Tinker Bell, Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist, Terence - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair

+ Woody, Jessie - Splash Mountain, Frontierland

Street Performers

Musicians and Singers

+ Casey's Corner Pianist - 20 min. - Casey's Corner patio - Main Street USA

+ Dapper Dans - 20 min. - Main Street USA

+ Fantasyland Woodwind Society - 20 min. - Fantasyland

+ Main Street Philharmonic - 20 min. - Main Street USA

+ Main Street Saxophone Four - 20 min. - Main Street USA

+ The Notorious Banjo Brothers and Bob - 20 min. - Frontierland

Street Shows

+ Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial - 20 min. - left side of Pirates of the Caribbean entrance, Adventureland

+ Frontierland Hoedown - 20 min. - 4:45pm - in front of Prairie Outpost, Frontierland

+ Magic Kingdom Welcome Show - 8 min. - Park entrance inside turnstiles

+ Main Street Trolley Parade - Three 5 min. shows - Mornings only - Main Street USA

Improvisational Troupe

+ Citizens of Main Street - Main Street USA

Performance Artist

+ PUSH, The Talking Trash Can - 20 min. - walkway between Indy Speedyway and Auntie Gravity's, Tomorrowland

Flag-Lowering Ceremony

+ Flag Retreat - 20 min. - Town Square, Main Street USA

Tomorrow -- Dining at the Magic Kingdom!

Have a Magical Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

What's New? WDW 2010

So it’s a new year. A lot of us won’t get to see Disney until our arrival date—I know I haven’t been to WDW since Sept. ’08. So, because of this, I thought I’d blog about everything new and exciting that’s waiting for us down at our new home!

MAGIC KINGDOM
Barack Obama has finally joined the Hall of Presidents! The attraction has been completely redone, including a new movie with a new narrator (Morgan Freeman) and all-new staging.

Tinker Bell and her fairy friends now pose and sign autographs at the Toontown Hall of Fame.

The seven-month $12 million refurbishment has made Space Mountain more exciting with a darker, quieter track and faster swoops and drops; a more colorful view of space; and an optional souvenir photo.

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority has new audio narration.

Donald Duck is among the Disney characters who shake their tail feathers at the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party.

New characters have been added to the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.

Princess Tiana has now officially joined the princesses and now greets and signs autographs with Prince Naveen in Liberty Square.

The Pirates League makeover salon transforms adults and children into swashbucklin’ pirates.

Say goodbye to the long-empty Tomorrowland Skyway Station as it has been demolished & removed.

EPCOT
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure is a new high-tech scavenger hunt around the ‘world’.
Living with the Land is reopened in 2009 after a refurbishment.

Test Track now features a post-show area displaying a Chevy Volt Extended Range Electric Vehicle that appeared in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Remy from Disney’s Ratatouille now appears as a small audio-animatronics creature at Chefs de France.

At the Japan pavilion the Tin Toy exhibit has been replaced by Timeless Beauty: World Heritage Sites of Japan.

Mexico’s new La Cava del Tequila offers 70 varieties and a ‘tequila ambassador’ to teach the history of the drink.

Kidcot children’s arts-and-crafts stations in Future World have been removed.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
The American Idol Experience lets you compete for a chance at ‘stardom’.

A street show High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! features songs from HMS3.

Luxo Jr. (Pixar’s hopping desk lamp) performs in Pixar Place.

Fantasmic is now only performing a few nights a week.

The indoor ABC Commissary no longer serves breakfast. Instead outdoor Fairfax Fare food court will.

The Sounds Dangerous sound-effects show is only open seasonally.

The ambient sound inside Once Upon a Time gift shop is now the actual radio broadcast of the 1937 premiere of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Kids can now draw and color at the new arts and craft area near the exit of Rock n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

The colorful chicken coop featured in Hannah Montana: The Movie is now a prop on the Studio Backlot Tour.

The Coca-Cola bottle in front of the Studio Backlot Tour has been replaced so now it opens to spray mist.

The hot air balloon outside of MuppetVision 3-D and Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat have been repainted.

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
At Festival of the Lion King host Timon’s eyes now blink and move.

Two male giraffes were born at AK in Oct. ’09.

Amphibian widows at Conservation Station now display unusual frogs, newts, salamanders, and toads.

WATER PARKS
Summer guests can now meet Goofy at Blizzard Beach and Lilo and Stitch at Typhoon Lagoon.

DOWNTOWN DISNEY
Characters In Flight takes guests on a 400 ft hot-air balloon ride above the West Side.

The Virgin Megastore and Starabilias memorabilia shop is now closed.

Although the Pleasure Island’s club scene was closed in 2008, their new restaurant and bar, Paradiso 37, features ‘street cuisine’ from North, South, and Central America and nightly entertainment.

SPORTS AND REC
The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex is installing large video screens at many of its venues.
Disney has introduced two new tours: Epcot’s Nature-Inspired Design and Holiday DeLites.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience has lowered the minimum age for it’s ride-along program to 14.

The Pirate & Pals Fireworks Voyage, formerly the Magical Fireworks Voyage, is now open to all guests, not just those booking Disney’s Grand Gatherings.

Two foot races are no more: Disney’s Race for the Taste during Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K… the Wine & Dine Half Marathon will pass through multiple theme parks and end at Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. It will be held Oct. 1 & 2.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Rooms at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort have undergone an extensive renovation that includes flat-screen TV's and all-new furnishings and carpet.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort has redone some rooms in a pirate theme; all others have a subtle 'Finding Nemo' decor.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground have added archery lessons as well as bicycle abd surrey rentals.

The Downtown Disney Holiday Inn is scheduled to reopen this year.

Three new Disney Vacation Club properties opened in 2009: Bay Tower Lake at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.

A Four Seasons hotel, golf course, and vacation-home complex is being built on the site of the former Eagle Pines golf course.

First announced for 2009, a luxurt pet resort is now promised for 2010-2011.

RESTAURANTS
Kouzzina is opening at the BoardWalk Resort (replacing Spoodles).

The Wave at the Contemporary Resort (replacing Concourse Steakhouse).

Sanaa at the new Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Effective Feb. 7, 2010: Cinderella's Royal Table will feature Cinderella in the lobby and other Disney princesses mingling with guests in the dining room.

Walt Disney World no longer sells all-beef hot dogs. They will now be a mixture of chicken and beef.

PRACTICAL MATTERS
Disney is experimenting with a centralized Fastpass distribution system where guests can pick up multiple Fastpasses at one location.

A new handheld device delivers audio descriptions of visual images at 33 attractions for use by the blind; the same device has captions for hearing-impaired guests.

You can now order over 500+ theme-park merchandise items online at DisneyStore.com.

A new mobile website mdisneyworld.com offers a handy overview of the resort.

SPECIAL EVENTS
MK's Totally Tomorrowland Christmas show has replaced Twas the Night Before Christmas.

At Epcot, Lights of Winter has been removed and gospel choir D'Vine Voices has been added.