Adventurers Outpost Opens At Disney’s Animal Kingdom
by Scarlett Litton on May 15, 2013 2 Comments
Today Mickey and Minnie got a new home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Beastly Bazaar store closed several months ago to make way for this new meet and greet location, Adventurers Outpost. We were there this morning to check out the Big Cheese’s new spot.
Even though the official opening was today, there was still a lot of work being done on the building. Managers and Imagineers were all around working on things and excitedly greeting the first guests. The wait time sign out front wasn’t working properly, and the FASTPASS entrance sign was still covered up. Although there are two different rooms for meeting Mickey and Minnie, only one was in use today. The door to the other room was open; we could see there were still ladders and work materials around, and Cast Members were still painting. Read the rest of this entry »
We Are Looking For Theme Park Podcasts!
by Brian McNichols on May 15, 2013 2 Comments
Do you have a podcast that discusses Disney or Universal theme parks? If so, we would like a word with you to discuss the development of the TouringPlans.com Podcast Network.
We are looking for a number of various podcasts to possibly form a new network which would combine the wonderful content that already exists in the podcasting world with the reach of a popular site like TouringPlans.com. No matter the style, format, or topics of your podcast, we would love to hear from you.
We’re looking toward the future…well okay, the Italy pavilion.
Very, very little would need to change about your podcast yet you would get the backing of a website that gets a few million hits a year (yes, this one). The basic idea is that your podcast, along with a handful of others, would be available via the TouringPlans.com Network feed. Listeners would get the benefit of finding great content all in one place and you would get the benefit of a very wide audience.
This could be a great opportunity for you as well as us and the theme park community as a whole. If you are interested in hearing all the details, please email Brian at Brian@TouringPlans.com by no later than Wednesday, May 22. Your email should include:
- The name of your podcast
- A brief description of what the podcast is about
- Any other details we should know (is your podcast only 20 minutes long, do you only record once a month, is it dirtier than George Carlin’s stand up, etc.)
- The name and email of at least one person from the podcast that we can contact
- A link to a fairly recent episode that you would like us to review for consideration
Simply applying is not a binding agreement so you can send us an email simply if you want to hear more about it and you can remove your application at any time. When we get all of this information we will review your podcast and give you all of the details about what we would expect and what you can expect from us should we decide to partner up. We are very excited to be starting this and we look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
Observations from Disney’s Hollywood Studios: May 13, 2013
by Scarlett Litton on May 14, 2013 1 Comment
Yesterday my good friend and fellow TouringPlans.com researcher Shane was celebrating his birthday at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and I headed out to join him. It was a gorgeous sunny day, not too hot, and was perfect for being outside.
We arrived just after noon and before we even got into the park we noticed all the Star Wars Weekends signs are starting to go up. At first I was surprised to see them up so early and then realized that time has gotten away from me and the event begins this Friday! I love Star Wars Weekends and will for sure be back on Friday to enjoy the first day. Read the rest of this entry »
Details Released About 2013 Epcot Food & Wine Festival
by Rikki Niblett on May 14, 2013 1 Comment
Disney
We are just now finishing up with Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival (its last weekend is May 17 – 19), so now it is time to look toward this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
This year is the 18th annual event at Walt Disney World and will feature more than 25 special marketplaces along the World Showcase promenade. New for this year is the Scotland Marketplace serving up traditional flavors, as well as beers, scotch, and meads. This new booth is in celebration of the movie, Brave.
Also back will be last year’s hit booth, Terra (a vegan booth serving trick’n chicken curry), the Hawaii Marketplace (mmm…Kalua pork slider), and back after a year’s hiatus, Brazil (featuring exciting new menu offerings).
In addition, returning this year will be the Ocean Spray cranberry bog found in between Future World and World Showcase. Here guests will be introduced to the cranberry’s rich heritage.
One of the more popular events that takes place during the event is the Eat To The Beat Concert Series. This year, there will be five new acts. They include the Go-Gos (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), Edwin McCain (Oct. 10-11), The Manhattan Transfer (Oct. 12-13), Spin Doctors (Oct. 31-Nov. 1), and Christopher Cross (Nov. 2-3). Kicking off the event will be STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas. Other acts include The Pointer Sisters, Smash Mouth, Boyz II Men, Sister Hazel, Air Supply, Hanson and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Read the rest of this entry »
Why Tiana is My Favorite Princess
by Brian McNichols on May 14, 2013 31 Comments
As you probably heard, Merida from Disney/Pixar’s movie Brave was recently inducted as an official Disney Princess. This “event” got me thinking about Disney’s Princesses as a whole and how I feel about them.
Most of my life I was a typical, self-centered, middle class American. I have never been prone to idol worship: sure I had Michael Jordan posters on my wall as a teen, but despite the advertising I never really wanted to be like Mike, just play basketball like him (yeah, that didn’t work either). Even as an adult, I never really thought about celebrity role models or their effects. Then I had kids.
Having kids changes a lot, but mostly what it changed for me was that I suddenly had to try to guide another human and prepare them to make future important life choices. That’s pretty heavy. While I still believe parents play the most crucial role in a child’s development, it would feel foolish for me to think that popular culture does not have any influence.
As the Disney fans that we are, my 4 year old daughter is heavily invested in the Disney Princesses. We have seen all of their movies, met them all at the parks, and have a bedroom dedicated to them (my daughter’s…not mine…really). She has even become interested in the mediocre Sofia the First Disney Junior television series. Read the rest of this entry »
Observations from Magic Kingdom: May 11, 2013
by Scarlett Litton on May 13, 2013 39 Comments
Last week Disney announced it would host a special coronation ceremony making Merida an official Disney Princess. Although Brave is actually my least favorite Pixar movie, it was rumored that all the other Disney Princesses would be there, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see them all together!
The ceremony was at 9:30am, so we needed to be at the park pretty early for a good spot. With 2 toddlers, a very slow McDonald’s Drive-Thru, and a not-so-magical on-property traffic ticket, we were a bit late. We got to Magic Kingdom just a bit after Rope Drop and headed straight to Cinderella Castle. Most of the area directly in front of the castle was roped off for the Social Media Moms conference, and invited media and regular guests took up most of the hub. We wandered around a bit before settling on a spot just at the back of the hub in front of the Partners Statue. The view wasn’t great, but I would be able to get a glimpse of the princesses, and we would be able to hear. Read the rest of this entry »
Disneyland Reveals Details of Opa! A Celebration of Greek Culture
by Seth Kubersky on May 11, 2013
Photo copyright Disney
As we shared back in March, Disneyland Resort is planning to celebrate Greek culture with an Opa! festival later this month. The event be held at both Disneyland Resort parks over the weekend of May 25 to 27.
This week Disneyland released details on the food and entertainment that will feature at this event. Activities will take place daily from 10am to 6pm in the small world mall area of Disneyland Park and Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure. You’ll find line dancing, wine seminars, and food tastings at Disney California Adventure; Hercules will conduct “Olympic training” games at Disneyland Park.
The above events (excluding food and drinks) are included in regular park admission. In addition, Executive Chef Christine Weissman, Greek celebrity Chef Argiro Barbarigou, and Greek winemaker Christina Boutari will present “Celebrate Greece: A Culinary Experience,” a 4-course dinner at DCA’s Golden Valley Winery on May 26 at 8pm. Tickets are $150, including tax, gratuity, and reserved World of Color viewing (park admission separate); click here for reservations and tickets.
Limited Time Magic For Walt Disney World and Disneyland – Mother’s Day
by Rikki Niblett on May 11, 2013 2 Comments
Limited Time Magic for next week will help honor that special lady in your life: the one you call mom.
On May 12 (Mother’s Day; this is your reminder to make sure you have a present for your mom!), guests who enter one of the four Walt Disney World theme parks or one of the two Disneyland Resort theme parks will receive a special flower to mark the occasion.
For those who are looking for the perfect gift, take mom shopping. Disney will be offering some special watches for the occasion. At Walt Disney World, they can be found at Tren-D or World of Disney in Downtown Disney. On the west coast, they will be available at both World of Disney in Downtown Disney and Fortuosity Shop at Disneyland Park.
Happy Mother’s Day!
10 Things to Do When Pregnant at Disneyland
by Tammy Whiting on May 10, 2013 20 Comments
Have you ever seen a very pregnant lady at Disneyland fighting the crowds, pushing a 2-year-old in a stroller, and sweltering in the heat and thought, “She looks miserable?” Have you ever been that very pregnant lady at Disneyland? Well, whether you’ve been that Mom-to-be before, will probably be her in the future, or just love someone who’s been pregnant (or will be!) at Disneyland, this article is for you.
Now let me say right up front, going to Disneyland when you’re pregnant may not be the perfect time to go, but it doesn’t have to be a bad time! You can still have a great vacation. Here are a few ideas for you, in honor of mothers and mothers to be. And, if you remembered that this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day, you get a gold star (metaphorically speaking of course)!
1. Consult Your Doctor – The first and most important tip should be the most obvious – talk to your doctor before you go. Make sure he’s/she’s okay with the walking, the standing, the heat, and everything else that’s typical of a Disneyland vacation. You’re not the first person to ask, and they know what you need.
2. Listen to the Ride Restrictions – If a ride says it’s not for expectant mothers, it’s not for expectant mothers. Don’t do it. You may be fine, but it’s not worth it. The ride will still be there the next time you visit. You won’t be pregnant forever, even though it may feel like it.
3. Ride Some Rides – Don’t worry, there are some rides you can ride! As long as you can get in and out of the vehicles safely, there are several rides that offer no drops, sharp terms or jarring of any kind. In the Disneyland Park, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and it’s a small world all come immediately to mind. In Disney California Adventure, The Little Mermaid-Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is your tamest option there. But again, carefully look at those ride restrictions each time before boarding a ride! Read the rest of this entry »
Observations from Disney’s Animal Kingdom: May 8, 2013
by Scarlett Litton on May 9, 2013 13 Comments
Yesterday Animal Kingdom celebrated International Migratory Bird Day. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t that exciting…but it was different so I decided to check it out and do a couple of other things in the park. I decided to get to the park early and actually made Rope Drop! Crowds were supposed to be fairly low according to the Crowd Calendar and I was looking forward to a quiet day.
When I arrived I headed straight for Kilimanjaro Safaris. I love to visit this attraction in the morning before it gets too hot and the animals are more active. I only waited about 10 minutes, but then the actual ride took over an hour! Apparently an Addax was in the road and caused a huge back up. None of the vehicles could move for over 30 minutes. This could have been really fun if we were stopped near the elephants or hippos. However, we were in the White Rhino area and they were all hiding so we just stared at dirt the entire time. Luckily the rest of the safari was great and we even saw the cheetahs up and running around. Read the rest of this entry »
