Disney World Advice

2011-05-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Kingdom Keepers Quest brings novels to life at Magic Kingdom – A Mom and The Mouse – Orlando Sentinel

UPDATE: Registration begins in early June for the start of the program in the fall.
The Disney Youth Programs division has brought to life the popular Kingdom Keepers novels by Ridley Pearson with an educational challenge in the Magic Kingdom. Kingdom Keepers Quest is a self-guided tour through the Disney World theme park in search of clues to save the magic.
The quest is designed for kids 10 to 12 years old, but is not limited to those ages. Typically, groups of five students and a leader tackle the challenge together, solving puzzles and testing math and language arts skills as they move from attraction to attraction. Each student receives a unique map, and the group has a workbook and a leader guide.
The length of time for Kingdom Keepers Quest varies because it is a self-guided tour, but it could be completed in 3 to 4 hours if started in the morning, said Sarah Domenech, a Disney public relations manager.
“One of the most potent added values of Kingdom Keepers Quest is that it puts the action of literacy back on the ground. Students are able to take a book and live it.,” Pearson said. “Creativity doesn’t come from reading a book or taking a class, it comes from going out and living every day and looking around you. By taking this program, kids will learn to observe, work as a team, take new ideas and process them in new ways, and bring them back into the classroom.”
Quest tickets for Florida residents are $53 plus tax, which includes that day’s admission to Magic Kingdom with a non-park hopper ticket. (There is not a separate price for passholders.) Rates for those living outside Florida depend on the type of ticket purchased and begin at $124 for a three-day base ticket. A minimum of 10 students is required to book the program.
Because this is a self-guided tour, groups may choose the time and day to start, within Magic Kingdom daily operating hours, of course. To register, call 877-939-6884.
Pearson debuted “Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play” at Downtown Disney last month with a book-signing event. Read what that experience was like here.

kingdom-keepers-quest-THUMB.jpg (JPEG Image, 400x225 pixels)

Changes to the Haunted Mansion Queue

2011-03-31T07:17:00.001-07:00

"March 2011, the Haunted Mansion soft opened a brand new interactive queue area. As you enter the courtyard, you can see, touch, hear and play with several new, interactive elements added into the queue experience. Right now the Imagineers are still tweeking things, so the new queue may or may not be open during your visit.

"When it officially opens, your experience will begin with a new story line with characters previously seen only inside the Mansion. And what really grabbed my attention was the new Decomposing Composer’s Crypt. The new tomb has interactive instruments that sound as weird as they look."

- AllEars.net

Water "painting" of Mickey Mouse

2011-03-29T13:56:00.001-07:00

One of the things that makes Disney World stand out from your run-of-the-mill amusement parks is the magic touches you'll find throughout the parks. Sometimes this is in the form of theming to transform your experience and make it seem like you are someplace else. Other times, it's special things that happen randomly. The youtube clip below is an example of this.

Enchanted Tiki Room will no longer be under new management and will instead be returned to its original glory

2011-03-29T13:34:00.001-07:00

"Lastly, and music to your ears, we are certain, we have been sitting on reports that when it re-opens, the Enchanted Tiki Room will no longer be under new management and will instead be returned to its original glory. Perhaps even more gratifying to many, sources have told us that Iago will find himself relocated to an Audio Animatronics graveyard located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where he will become fodder for Imagineers looking to hone their skills. The attraction currently has no known re-opening date, although it’s assumed to be July 1, 2011 at this time as the official site has it listed as closed through June 30."

- StitchKingdom.com

Nifty Tilt-Shift video of Disneyland, Paris

2011-03-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

Advice for Disney First Timers

2011-01-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

General advice

Get the parks early. Take a break during the afternoon. Either go back to your resort and swim or take a nap or just plan on some in-the-park relaxing. Get a snack and sit and watch the people.
Carry as little into the parks as you can get by with.
Stay hydrated. You can get free ice water at any restaurant. The water from the drinking fountains is fairly unpalatable.
Pick up a "Times and Attractions" bulletin at the front of each park. It will have times for all the parades, fireworks, etc. for that day.
You are allowed to visit other resorts. It's worth going to some of them just to look around, even if you aren't eating there at some point.
Lunch time crowds at restaurants are insane. Eat early or late to avoid the crush. We usually eat a big breakfast and then have a snack in the mornings and then eat a late lunch.
Wear comfortable shoes. Most people walk about 5-10 miles per day while at Disney.
Have PhotoPass photographers take your picture with your camera.

Magic Kingdom (MK)

Drive to the MK so you can take the Monorail on your way in. Coming out, take the ferry boat and stand at the back so you can enjoy the view..
You can walk through the castle (my favorite spot in all the parks is the Cinderella fountain just behind the castle)
If you have time to go to Tom Sawyer's Island, look for old paintbrushes that look like they have white wash on them. If you find one, your whole family can get fast passes to either Splash Mt. or Big Thunder Mt. It's not that great a prize, but looking for the paint brushes in the caves, tunnels, and fort is fun.
Skip Stitch's Great Escape and Tiki Birds Under New Mangement. Neither one is worth spending your time on, in my opinion.

Columbia House restaurant has good salads.
Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland is generally considered the best place to get counter service in the Magic Kingdom.
Pecos Bill's in Frontierland has a Fudrucker's style bar for decorating your hot dog or hamberger.
Another option for lunch, especially a late lunch in the heat of the day, is to go to one of the resorts by Monorail or hit Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge (by boat).

After the fireworks, just relax rather than trying to get out. There is always a mass exodus that is crazy. You can do a little looking around in the shops, take pictures, etc. After about 30 minutes you will probably be able to just walk right out.

Epcot

Enjoy the restaurants in the World Showcase. They really add to the experience. A few of the best are

France: Boulangerie Patisserie, for French pastries
Germany: Sommerfest, for bratwurst
Japan Yakitori House, for yakitori (meat or vegetables on skewers)
Norway Kringla Bakeri og Kafe, for pastries, open-face sandwiches
United Kingdom Rose & Crown Pub - Fish and chips

There is a free Segue experience in Intercot. I think you have to be 16 to do it. If you've never been on a Seque it's worth trying. Intercot also has some cool interactive things to do. There is a build your own roller coaster and then ride it thing called "Sum of all Thrills". There is also a thing where you can create a video game staring yourself. This is also where you get the Kim Possible mission phone.
A great place to view Illuminations is at the very front of the World Showcase (towards the big golf ball). There is a boat landing area between a couple of shops where there aren't any trees to obscure your view. However, just about anywhere around the lake will provide a good view. If you can afford it, there is also an Illuminations cruise.
Do the Kim Possible missions. It's a fun experience and gives your kids something to do while you enjoy the museums, exhibits, and shops.
Try to hit some of the street shows in the various countries. They are very entertaining.

Hollywood Studios (HS)

Get FastPass for Toy Story Mania first. They run out very quickly.
StarTours has just been refurbished. Should be great.
HS has some of the most unique shops of the four parks. I usually find my trip souvenir here because the shops are less cookie-cutter than the other parks.
Night time show, Fantasmic, is a must see. The theater fills up quickly. Don't sit too close because you'll get misted from the fountains during the show.
Best counter service restuarants are:

Toy Story Pizza Planet - individual pizzas, salads, cookies
Backlot Express - Hot Dogs/Bratwurst, Hambergers with a bar for dressing them up
ABC Commissary - Some good salads and it's air conditioned and generally not too crowded.

Animal Kingdom (AK)

Flame Tree BBQ near Dinoland is very good and has seating behind with a very nice view of Everest.
Take time to notice theming throughout the park. The Imagineers went out of their way to put special touches throughout the park.
There are not that many attractions and this park can easily be done in 1 day. There is no closing show and the park closes much earlier than other parks. We usually spend 2 half days at this park and spend the evening at Epcot or another park that is going to be open late.
Festival of the Lion King is a must see show.

My Favorite Table Service Restaurants

California Grill (dinner around time of fireworks at Magic Kingdom)
Boma - Animal Kingdom Lodge
'Ohana - Polynesian
Chef Mickey's (for breakfast)
50's Prime Time Cafe - Hollywood Studios
Whispering Canyon - Wilderness Lodge
Artist Point - Wilderness Lodge

Disney World launches online meal reservations

2009-06-22T05:17:00.000-07:00

One of the most annoying parts of planning a Disney World vacation has been making Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs). Because the most popular restaurants are in such demand you almost have to make ADRs 90 days in advance if you want to assure the dates and times you want to dine. The thing that made this so difficult was that you could lay out a plan for the entire week, then call to make your reservations and find out one of your reservations wouldn't work and then have to rework your whole plan.

For years I've wondered why Disney didn't make their reservations system available online so that I could figure out what was available similar to the way I can find airline or hotel reservations. Well, they finally have. The Walt Disney World Online Advanced Dining Reservation system is available via the US website only, and can be accessed at disneyworld.disney.go.com/restaurants/

I have no doubt that this system will be abused by some people who will grab up reservations at the most popular restaurants, but overall, I expect that it will improve customer service by allowing customers to find what they are looking for. I like the features that allow you to enter a range of dates for a particular restaurant so you can find an open reservation any given day. I also like the feature that suggests other restaurants that have openings.

I will definitely be using this system for my next trip!

Lunch at Tusker House and Free Reserved Seating for Finding Nemo Show

2009-04-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

If you are booking your Disney World dining reservations at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, consider booking a lunch at Tusker House. This restaurant is always a popular choice for lunch at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Now, it is even better with a free perk! If you dine for lunch between 1:00-1:40 PM, you will receive a free voucher for a guaranteed seat at the Finding Nemo Show at 3:15 PM. If you dine from 1:40-2:45, you will receive a voucher for a guaranteed seat at the Finding Nemo Show at 4:45 PM. This free voucher allows you to enter the show about 15-20 minutes before showtime with a guaranteed seat for the Finding Nemo show. This will save you alot of time waiting for the popular Finding Nemo Show.

Orlando Sentinel - How did Disney, Universal, SeaWorld fare in 2008? on Tourism Central Florida

2009-04-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

The annual theme-park attendance report by Economic Research Associates and the Themed Entertainment Association is out. (Full story here) Here's how the top North American parks fared, according to the estimates:"

Rank Park Company 2008 Attendance Change
1 Magic Kingdom Disney 17,063,000 Flat
2 Disneyland Disney 14,721,000 -1%
3 Epcot Disney 10,935,000 Flat
4 Disney's Hollywood Studios Disney 9,608,000 1%
5 Disney's Animal Kingdom Disney 9,540,000 0.5%
6 Universal Studios Florida Universal 6,231,000 0.5%
7 SeaWorld Orlando Busch 5,926,000 -2.9%
8 Disney's California Adventure Disney 5,566,000 -2%
9 Islands of Adventure Universal 5,297,000 -2.4%
10 Universal Studios Hollywood Universal 4,583,000 -2.5%
11 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Busch 4,410,000 -2%

Worldwide Rank
1 Magic Kingdom Disney 17,063,000 Flat
2 Disneyland Disney 14,721,000 -1%
3 Toyko Disneyland Disney 14,293,000 2.8%
4 Disneyland Park (Paris) Disney 12,688,000 5.7%
5 Tokyo DisneySea Disney 12,498,000 0.7%

Walt Disney World: Device's audio feature helps blind visualize rides -- OrlandoSentinel.com

2009-04-16T05:13:00.000-07:00

"Heard but not seen at Disney: Device helps blind visualize rides
Disney adds audio for the blind to attraction device that has captions for deaf patrons" - By Jason Garcia

Hear what isn't seen

'Audio description' is the latest feature of a proprietary, wireless system Disney initially created for disabled guests. (WALT DISNEY WORLD / April 15, 2009)

Walt Disney World has rolled out a first-of-its-kind service designed to let even blind guests 'see' its famed attractions.

Called 'audio description,' the service provides visually impaired vacationers with a narrative depiction of the scenes that unfold as they move through rides such as the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean.

It is the latest feature added to a proprietary, wireless system that Disney World initially developed to help disabled guests. The system also includes features for deaf and hard-of-hearing guests, such as amplified sound and hand-held captions.

'We want to make our rich stories available to everyone,' said Greg Hale, vice president of worldwide safety and accessibility for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts."

But it has also become something of a side business for Disney.

Through a three-year contract that was recently renewed, Disney licenses the technology to Houston-based Softeq Development Corp., which markets the system to everyone from other tourist attractions to timber companies.

The system relies on a series of remote, infrared sensors and a durable, hand-held device initially built to withstand drops to the ground, rain and other liquid intrusion, and all manner of other punishment dished out during a day in a theme park.

Customers include the World of Coca-Cola museum in Atlanta, where a former general manager and the current attractions manager are former Disney World executives, and the Hall at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass., a hall of fame dedicated to the New England Patriots football team.

Both of those attractions, like Disney World, use the system to provide services to deaf and blind visitors.

But other types of companies are also interested in buying the hand-held unit itself, which Softeq sells as the rugged "Durateq."

Trey Litel, Softeq's vice president of sales and marketing, said Softeq markets the device to forestry and oil companies, industrial-safety businesses and even restaurants interested in point-of-sale systems that allow servers to run credit-card transactions right at their customers' tables.

Disney earns royalties on the software, which it has patented, and on the hand-held devices, which it developed jointly with Softeq.

Both companies declined to say how much the royalties amount to, but the potential market is significant: For example, Softeq hopes to cultivate clients from among more than 14,000 museums across the country.

Disney first introduced its version of the hand-held device in 2005, but it took company engineers much longer to perfect the audio-description feature. The descriptions must be perfectly synchronized to avoid interrupting an attraction's primary narration.

Engineers had to make various changes along the way. Tests revealed, for instance, that blind guests were uncomfortable using the original, two-ear headphones because they depend on their sense of sound to guide themselves around. So Disney replaced the headphone with a single earpiece, which allows a guest to leave the other ear unobstructed.

The system's narration also had to be carefully selected and produced to distinguish it from the other audio encountered in a Disney attraction.

For example, in the Haunted Mansion, where all riders listen to a ghoulishly themed male voice, the audio description produced by the hand-held device is provided by a female voice speaking in even tones.

Disney rolled out the audio descriptions earlier this spring, just before the Easter rush. The company says it is now working on expanding the service to include descriptions of outdoor areas in its theme parks.

OrlandoSentinel.com

Have a Picnic At Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, Disney News | Magical Mountain

2009-04-14T04:45:00.000-07:00

For those who love the outdoors, especially dining in the outdoors, there is a new choice in dining options at Disney's Animal Kingdom. "Picnic in the Park" will be offered to guests who would like to enjoy a nice family picnic, Disney style.

Guests will place their orders for the picnic at Animal Kingdom's guest-relations office or at the Tusker House Restaurant and then pick up their food at their chosen time. Pick up will be located at the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery right next door to the Tusker House. After that, guests can take their picnic to any one of the 14 designated picnic areas that are available.

Prices start at $24.99 for a meal that includes sandwiches for three people and can go as high as $56.99 for a meal that includes a rotisserie meal for a family of 6. All picnics come packaged in a reusable bag, complete with plates and utensils. They also include a map marked with the picnic area locations.

What recession? Magic Kingdom hits capacity this week

2009-04-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, for instance, the park at one point had to stop letting any guests in at all because it was so full. Disney’s other three theme parks remained open, though he parking lot at Disney’s Hollywood Studios also filled up that day, forcing visitors there to park in the Epcot lot and ride a bus over to the Studios.

There have been several reports from parkgoers that the Magic Kingdom hit capacity again yesterday. Big crowds have also been reported at Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.

Expect them to continue the rest of this week. The week of Easter is historically one of the busiest single weeks of the year for the parks.

Analysts project 10 pct attendance decline at Disney's U.S. parks on Tourism Central Florida

2009-03-31T05:49:00.000-07:00

"Analysts at Goldman Sachs are forecasting attendance at Disney’s U.S. parks will fall as much as 10 percent this year.

The firm, which downgraded shares in the Walt Disney Co. from “buy” to “neutral” last week, expects attendance declines at Walt Disney World and Disneyland to accelerate later this year. Goldman estimates that year-over-year attendance fell 4 percent during Disney’s second fiscal quarter, which ended Saturday, and that it will fall 5 percent in the third quarter and then 10 percent in the fourth, which runs from July through September.

Attendance at Disney World and Disneyland fell about 5 percent during the company’s first quarter, which ended Dec. 27.

Goldman says the attendance declines would be stepper were it not for Disney’s buy four nights, get three free hotel promotion. But that comes with its own costs – the firm projects that Disney’s hotel-room revenue will sink as much as 30 percent from a year ago."

Full Article:

What You Do To Protect Your Kids While at Walt Disney World?

2009-03-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some suggestions from parents on DISboards.com:

We always go to the bathroom with our kids, never let them go alone.

We also never allow the kids in any of the resort elevators alone.

Any ride or show the kids sit between adults. (room permitted)

Any dark pre-show (HISTA, Ellen) we hold hands so we always know where they are at.

In waiting lines we always have the girls between us.

We take their pic each morning so we know what they were wearing in case of them getting lost.

Oldest carries a cell phone to call us if we get seperated.

Disney Interactive Studios Announces Toy Story Mania!, Inspired by the Disney/Pixar Feature Film "Toy Story," Exclusively for Wii - Yahoo! Finance

2009-03-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Interactive Studios today announced Toy Story Mania!, inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated feature “Toy Story,” will be released exclusively for the Wii™ home video game console this fall. Toy Story Mania! showcases an array of entertaining games based on the new Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort attractions, while featuring the iconic characters and humor from the popular Disney/Pixar “Toy Story” franchise.

“The ‘Toy Story’ franchise is a fun, dynamic and heart-warming series containing characters and themes that connect with every age group,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Toy Story Mania! combines those popular elements with the unique antics of the new theme park attraction for the ultimate in family entertainment.”

In Toy Story Mania!, players experience the fast-paced, zany fun of the Toy Story Mania! theme park attraction, which is an interactive experience requiring 3D glasses and involving rapid or quick-firing shooting galleries. In addition to galleries adapted from the attraction, the game includes new and original galleries and a series of mini games, all hosted by beloved characters from the movies. The thematically-connected levels are designed for up to four players of all ages with competitive and co-operative multiplayer options. Toy Story Mania! also includes bonus 3D features, transforming the game experience with eye-popping visuals.

The Pixar-created “Toy Story” and ”Toy Story 2” have both had successful box office and DVD sales. The Disney Digital 3D™ theatrical re-release of “Toy Story” is in the works and will open in theatres on October 2, 2009, followed by the 3D re-release of “Toy Story 2” opening on February 12, 2010, leading up to the premiere of “Toy Story 3” in 3D summer 2010. Toy Story Mania! is the first video game to place characters from these films into a carnival game setting and is expected to resonate with fans of the films and the attraction, as well as gamers who like pick-up-and-play party games.

Developed by Papaya Studio, Toy Story Mania! will be available this fall exclusively for Wii.

Balloon set to drift over Downtown Disney by

2009-03-25T04:35:00.000-07:00

The new balloon ride at Downtown Disney is nearing completion. Orlando Sentinel has some pictures of the baloon that will be used to carry guests 400 feet in the air.

Orlando Sentinel - Video of the shuttle Discovery lifting off, as seen from the Beach Club resort by

2009-03-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

The following link has a video of the launch of Discovery as seen from Disney. I thought it was pretty cool. My parents called me Sunday night from Sebring, FL to tell me they had witnessed the shuttle launch. Sebring is about 100 miles away or so. I would dearly love to see a night launch!

Orlando Sentinel - Video of the shuttle Discovery lifting off, as seen from the Beach Club resort by

Orlando Sentinel - More parents feed their kids apples instead of fries at Disney parks on Tourism Central Florida

2009-03-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

Whether by default or by choice, it appears Disney’s theme-park guests are opting to feed their kids healthier foods while eating in the parks.

Since Disney’s theme-park restaurants in 2006 overhauled their kids-meal menus to make healthier dishes the default selection for both side orders (ie: apple slices instead of French fries) and drinks (milk instead of soft drinks), Disney says the majority of its guests are picking the nutritious options.

According to company data, 65 percent of guests at Walt Disney World and Disneyland ordered the healthier side dish and 68 percent ordered the healthier drink last year during Disney’s fiscal fourth quarter, which runs July through September.

Guests at Disney’s international parks were even more nutritious. In Hong Kong, 98 percent chose the healthier side and 96 percent chose the healthier drink. And in Paris, 85 percent chose the healthier drink – though just 15 percent picked the healthier side.

The data were culled from 485 Disney-operated restaurants.

Orlando Sentinel - More parents feed their kids apples instead of fries at Disney parks on Tourism Central Florida

So, what do you order for your kids when you are at Disney? I'd say it's about 50/50 for us. I think it's partly the hot weather, the lack of variety for kids, and a need for fiber in their diet (our kids seem to have trouble with regularity when traveling) rather than "healthy" per se. I can't say we worry about being healthy all that much when we are on vacation.

Orlando Sentinel - Orlando makes rich travelers' wish lists on Tourism Central Florida

2009-03-04T05:20:00.000-08:00

According to the survey results, three in ten affluent leisure travelers are interested in visiting New York City and Las Vegas during the next two years. One in four is interested in visiting Maui, San Francisco and Honolulu, and approximately two in ten are interested in traveling to Orlando or San Diego. Four new destinations made the top ten domestic list in the most recent iteration of the survey, which is conducted every two years: Honolulu, Orlando, Napa/Sonoma and Hilton Head Island.

Orlando Sentinel - Orlando makes rich travelers' wish lists on Tourism Central Florida

This is pretty fascinating stuff. You are talking about people here who can basically afford to vacation where they want (within reason). I realize we're not talking about the rich and famous, but $150K/year is probably enough to afford to go to Europe if you want. So 2 out 10 of these people surveyed are interested in going to Orlando! Wow! That helps explain how Disney is able to keep all those deluxe resorts filled all the time. I'm always amazed when I go to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, etc. and realize they have those huge resorts filled to capacity almost all the time for hundreds of dollars per night per room. More power to them!

Orlando Sentinel - Disney theme-park bookings have slowed despite discounts on Tourism Central Florida

2009-03-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger said this evening that theme-park bookings have slowed, despite the company's heavy discounting efforts.

"We're on par with where we were a year ago. But we're discounting in the marketplace," Iger told analysts at the Deutsche Bank Securities media and telecom conference. "So the bottom line will be affected somewhat by that."

Disney had said in early February that bookings between January and June were running slightly ahead of last year's pace, thanks largely to its seven nights for the price of four hotel-and-ticket promotion.

Still, the Disney chief pointed to the recent opening of the new American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios as evidence that the company will keep making long-term investments in its parks despite the deep recession.

"We'll continue to look at opportunities like that," Iger said. "We'll continue to invest carefully and selectively and strategically."

Orlando Sentinel - Disney theme-park bookings have slowed despite discounts on Tourism Central Florida

It's interesting to see how Disney is weathering the economic downturn. If I read this correctly, sounds like their discounts are mostly working when it comes to actually getting vistors to the parks, but those guests are spending less while they are there.

One has to be encouraged that Iger still sees the need for investing in the parks even during tough times. They will need to be positioned to take advantage of the recovery, when it happens, since Harry Potter's Wizarding World will, in my opinion, draw a lot of folks away from Disney, for the first time.

I'm still hoping that Disney will come out with some even better deals before all is said and done. It's a buyer's market for the vacationer!

GM's last lap on Epcot's Test Track? -- OrlandoSentinel.com

2009-03-04T05:14:00.000-08:00

One of Walt Disney World's marquee sponsorship deals is in jeopardy.

Struggling U.S. auto giant General Motors Corp. is considering pulling out as sponsor of Test Track, the high-speed Epcot attraction among the most popular rides in all of Disney World.

A 10-year contract between Disney and GM expires this year. And GM, which lost $31billion last year and is relying on loans from the federal government to stay in business, may not be able to afford to renew the pact.

Disney and GM are negotiating new terms but have so far been unable to strike a deal. GM has indicated it wants a resolution by the end of this month.

"We're still in discussions with them and haven't made a decision," GM spokeswoman Kelly Cusinato said. "It's definitely one that I think people are doing everything they can to preserve."

It is a lucrative partnership for Disney: Though neither company would discuss the terms, Automotive News reported last month that GM pays Disney close to $5million a year.

GM and other original corporate sponsors in Epcot, which opened in 1982, paid as much as $35million over 10years for their initial contracts, according to a former Epcot executive. The German engineering giant Siemens AG is currently paying Disney a reported $100million over 12years to sponsor Epcot's Spaceship Earth attraction.

Disney would not discuss details of its talks with GM.

"We continue to have a relationship with General Motors and are having ongoing discussions about continuing our relationship," spokeswoman Kim Prunty said Tuesday.

For GM, the marketing advantages of its Test Track sponsorship are obvious. The attraction is a top draw in Epcot, which lures an estimated 11million visitors each year, making it the second-busiest theme park at Disney World and the third-busiest in the United States.

The ride features vehicles, controlled by onboard computers, that carry guests through a series of simulated car-safety tests. During the 5 1/2-minute ride, guests are exposed to 100-degree temperature changes; bounced around hairpin turns; and hurtled through a final, outdoor sprint that reaches 60mph — the fastest top speed of any ride at Disney World.

Logo everywhere
GM's presence is everywhere. The carmaker's corporate logo is splashed throughout the pavilion that houses the ride. The queue includes a room featuring aerial photos of GM "proving grounds" around the world, from a desert track in Mesa, Ariz., to a cold-weather course in northern Ontario. Guests exit through a swanky showroom displaying more than a dozen GM vehicles and a gift shop hawking pink Cadillac ball caps, die-cast Corvettes and electronic-toy Hummers.

There are even computer terminals and a customer-service desk for guests to order GM sales brochures.

When the ride debuted in March 1999, GM's then-vice president for marketing and advertising in North America said it would "help build brand awareness, corporate image and ultimately introduce new customers to GM dealers and our products."

The benefits extend beyond advertising. Disney also purchases GM vehicles — including Chevy Trailblazers and Silverados and Saturn Vue hybrids — for its corporate fleet as part of the sponsorship deal, according to people familiar with the arrangement.

But as valuable as the pact is to GM, the company may no longer be able to afford it. The automaker has warned that it could go bankrupt without as much as $16.6billion in loans from the U.S. government — on top of $13.4billion in taxpayer loans it has already received.

GM would not be the first major corporate sponsor to drop out at Epcot. General Electric, ExxonMobil and AT&T are all former sponsors, while newcomers include Siemens and Hewlett-Packard. Theme-park analysts also say they are certain Test Track would continue operating even if GM pulled out, as the ride's capacity is vital to managing park crowds.

But losing GM would further pressure profits at Disney World, which is relying on deep hotel and ticket discounts to keep visitors coming despite the struggling economy.

Replacements?
Finding a replacement sponsor also could be tricky. A rival company is unlikely to want to take over a GM ride without making substantial changes, said Steve Baker, a former Epcot executive in charge of corporate sponsorships.

"Anybody coming in paying that kind of money would want their own fingerprints," said Baker, who is now president of Baker Leisure Group, an Orlando themed-entertainment consulting firm.

The most likely targets for a replacement sponsor at Test Track would be other car manufacturers. But the entire industry is struggling as the global recession depresses auto sales.

Marketing executives at Toyota Motor Corp. have discussed internally the prospect of sponsoring Test Track. But Joe Tetherow, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales USA, said "it would be premature to speculate on what's going to happen."

"We're cutting a lot of costs right now," Tetherow said. "But, obviously, there's going to be opportunities from time to time that come along that we might want to take a look at."

GM's last lap on Epcot's Test Track? -- OrlandoSentinel.com

I understand Disney's need/desire for sponsorship of the pavilions at Epcot, but I have to wonder how effective this really is for the sponsor. Perhaps the time is ripe to look to new ways for Disney to fund their pavilions. Instead of one mega sponsor, perhaps they should look for numerous smaller innovative car companies that could have "booths" at FastTrack. Maybe it would allow the public to actually get educated about automotive innovation instead of having one company try to push their line of cars.

I would love to see some of the X-Prize cars, for instance, at FastTrack. Or how about something that actually demonstrates hydrogen power, electric vehicles, bio-fuels, etc. It just seems like there are lots of options for "sponsors" that could actually provide interesting information/demonstrations rather than a car showroom.

I'd hate to see TestTrack go the way of the Wonders of Life pavilion, but I frankly wouldn't even notice if GM wasn't there anymore. If GM is going to take my money in the form of taxes, then I sure want to know they are using it wisely. I'm not convinced TestTrack is all that great a use.

Going Home: Manatee Returns to Natural Habitat After WDW Rehab (UPDATE: Video) | StitchKingdom.com

2009-03-03T04:14:00.000-08:00

Ever since reading "Sam the Seacow" my son has been a sucker for manatees so I know he'll love this story.

Going Home: Manatee Returns to Natural Habitat After WDW Rehab (UPDATE: Video) | StitchKingdom.com

As part of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), Disney’s Animal Programs team helps to take final measurements and readings Feb. 24, 2009 as they prepare to release a manatee into his natural habitat at Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, Fla. The manatee, named “Bock,” was released Tuesday into the warm waters of the St. John’s River. The manatee, rescued as an orphan from the St. John’s River in 2001, arrived at Epcot in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. in 2003 weighing about 500 pounds. At Epcot, marine mammal experts weaned him from a bottle and began feeding him a diet of romaine lettuce, fruits and other vegetables. “Bock” now weighs more than 1,000 pounds and is approximately eight years old. Prior to his release, he was fitted with a satellite tracking belt to follow his movements and allow for behavioral observation. His progress will be monitored by the MRP in which Disney’s Animal Programs has been involved since 2001 when the partnership was established. The MRP is a cooperative group of nonprofit, private, state and federal entities that monitors the health and survival of rehabilitated and released manatees.

Orlando Sentinel - Disney hotels begin online check-in on Tourism Central Florida

2009-02-27T05:19:00.000-08:00

As a technology person, this is the type of thing that I love to see Disney doing. It not only makes the guest experience better, but it probably helps them save money, too.

Orlando Sentinel - Disney hotels begin online check-in on Tourism Central Florida

Walt Disney World said today it has begun allowing guests at its hotels and time shares to check-in online up to 10 days before they arrive at the resort.

Designed to speed the check-in process – and make it more automated – the service allows Disney guests to provide check-in information, register the names of everyone in their party, advise the hotel of their arrival times and request room preferences (though Disney says requests are not guaranteed). Guests can also opt to provide a credit card number ahead of time to cover room charges during their stay.

Once they arrive at the resort, Disney says the pre-checked-in guests will visit a special welcome center where their room keys and other material will already be waiting. Meeting planners can also arrange private group check-ins at Disney resort convention centers or other spots.

The online check-in service is “the latest benefit created as part of our continuous effort to provide a seamless and hassle-free arrival experience for our guests as they begin their Disney vacation,” Kevin Myers, Disney World’s vice president of resort operations, said in a prepared statement.

Disney Work Park Hours

2009-01-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

According to reports on user groups, the new park hours system on the main US Disney web site is giving inaccurate times. If you are relying on their web site to plan your trip, then you might want to look elsewhere instead. For instance, you can go to the WDWInfo site.

Christmas fun

2008-12-16T04:40:00.001-08:00

I came across a couple of things at Disney's Family.com web site worth passing along. The first is another personalize video creator similar to the one being used to promote next year's "What will you celebrate?" theme at Disney. In this case, you can create a personalized video with Santa, including a picture of your child (or whomever). You can view the one I created and create your own by going to http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/42302-raccoontrails/

The second item that I've really enjoyed are the "Scared of Santa" pictures. These are absolutely hysterical. One of my favorites so far is this one.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!