Sum of All Thrills simulator ride at Walt Disney World Epcot

Guests ride the Sum of All Thrills simulator ride at Epcot, during the grand opening of the attraction at Walt Disney World, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. The giant robotic arm --the KUKA RoboSim 4-D Simulator-- powers the riders' experience, in which guests custom design their own thrill ride using math and science principles, and then ride the simulator.

Walt Disney World opened an attraction which allows guests to design their own ride, then experience it on a giant robotic arm simulator.

“Sum of All Thrills,” sponsored by Raytheon, is the first ride in Epcot’s Innoventions pavilion.

The ride begins in a design room. On a touchscreen computer, visitors pick a vehicle shape and determine how fast the ride should go based on ascent, inversions or corkscrews.

The information is saved on a magnetized card strip and fed into the simulator, where visitors experience the track they just designed. The cards are imprinted with numerical identifiers kids can use at home for a Raytheon educational Web site with more math and science problems.

This appears to be a far more sophisticated version of the popular “Design a Coaster” simulator in Downtown Disney’s DisneyQuest.

Grumpy Old Fool’s Halloween Special: The Haunted Mansion Wedding Ring

Years ago, the story of the Haunted Mansion wedding ring was the premier Walt Disney World urban legend. Sadly, the ring was removed during the last HM renovation. I made this video when the ring was still there.

Running time: 3:45

Video

Second-ever Waldorf Astoria opens adjacent to Walt Disney World

(Press release)  Surrounded on three sides by the Walt Disney World® Resort, Bonnet Creek is a 482-acre vacation destination encompassing the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

The Waldorf Astoria Orlando will emulate the elegance and grandeur of its legendary New York namesake.  Comprised of 497 deluxe rooms and suites, the resort will feature signature Waldorf Astoria food and beverage establishments such as Peacock Alley and Bull & Bear, 28,000 square feet of exclusive flexible meeting space and a variety of pre-function areas. The resort’s outdoor facilities boast a formal signature pool, encircled by chic private cabanas and complimented by lush tropical landscaping.

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek will transcend the resort experience with 1,000 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, six distinct dining options, a two-acre lagoon-style pool, 122,000 square feet of meeting space and a variety of pre-function areas.  Its outdoor venues include Bonnet Creek Island, a private retreat ideal for cocktails or storybook weddings.

Guests of both properties can take advantage of the Rees Jones-designed Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, WA Kids children’s program, 24,000-sq.-ft. Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain® and 4,000-sq.-ft. fitness center.

For more information on the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, please call (407) 597-5500 or visit http://www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/. For more information on the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, please call (407) 597-3600 or visit .

Disney to expand Fantasyland at Walt Disney World

ANAHEIM, California (Reuters) – Mickey Mouse’s house and his Toon Town world will make way next year for a vastly larger Fantasyland, in the biggest-ever expansion of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, Walt Disney Co said on Saturday.

his rendering of the new Fantasyland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom was released to the Orlando Sentinel as Disney announced plans for the overhaul at the D23 conference in California on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. You can compare it the set of plans below found at the Soft-Opening side of the Disney Report site (click on images to enlarge.)

The Fantasyland expansion, whose price tag was not disclosed, will open in two stages in 2012 and 2013 and builds on the popularity of the Disney Princess and Fairies franchises, which have topped $4 billion in global retail sales.

Disney theme parks Chairman Jay Rasulo said the Fantasyland project, which breaks ground next year, will be paid for from funds designated for the theme park division’s annual capital expenditures.

Plans call for four Disney Princess characters — Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” and Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” — to be featured in “fantasy lands” where park visitors engage in dancing, storytelling or a birthday party with costumed characters from the films.

The expansion includes two new dining spots — Gascon’s Tavern and the 552-seat Beast’s Castle. A new underwater ride based on “The Little Mermaid, will be built both in the Florida Fantasyland and at the ongoing expansion of California Adventure in Disneyland.

The second phase of the Fantasyland expansion will be an oversized world based on the fairy world of Pixie Hollow from “Peter Pan,” but no other details were available because the attraction was still in early development stages, Rasulo said.

As part of the Fantasyland expansion, Disney plans to double the size of the popular Dumbo ride to add a covered “three-ring circus” waiting area with interactive games and a play area.

Disney Imagineers, who design rides and attractions, said the Toon Town attraction would be dismantled and its popular Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse houses relocated to another section of Walt Disney World.

Rasulo also announced an upgrade to the Star Tours rides at Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney’s Hollywood Studio in Florida to open in 2011.

Star Tours simulates a ride through space aboard spacecraft like those in the original “Star Wars” film.

The updated version features new digital 3D effects and projectors that let ride operators vary “destinations,” as well as upgrades to the Star Speeder cabins, Rasulo said.

Disney’s Newest Princess, Tiana, Will Have Own Show at Walt Disney World

Anika Noni Rose stands side-by-side with the newest Disney Princess, Tiana.

Disney Princess fans around the world will rejoice when the newest Princess, Tiana, fresh from her new movie, The Princess and the Frog, debuts in her very own show at Walt Disney World and Disneyland! She is also Disney’s first African American Princess so this is a real celebration! “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee”, is a jazzy new riverboat show based on her movie and debuts on October 26 in Frontierland at Walt Disney World and on November 7 in New Orleans Square at Disneyland. At both parks, the new show will be performed on the Riverboat while it cruises along the Rivers of America. As the boat approaches the loading docks, pre-selected guests will board with Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis the singing alligator, and the rest of her friends; and then sail down the river occasionally stopping along the way to perform the hit songs from the movie with her own jazz procession in tow. The show will be repeated throughout the day and continue through January 3 at both parks. But don’t worry, this won’t be the last time you see the Princess Tiana for she will find her new home in the Magic Kingdom among her Princess friends. Tiana’s debut at the parks won’t be her first public appearance. Actually that already occurred last week at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Tampa. It was actually “Tiana squared” because accompanying the new Disney Park Princess was Tony Award winner, Anika Noni Rose who portrayed Tiana in the new Disney movie Princess and the Frog which opens in theatres on December 11.

President Barack Obama moves into the Hall of Presidents

President Barack Obama is going to be hanging out at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in a starring role for at least the next four years. No, not the real flesh and blood president, but an amazing Audioanimatronic likeness. President Obama is just about ready to become the latest star in Disney’s Hall of Presidents, which re-opens in July. In addition to adding the current president, Disney gave the attraction a little spiffing up.

President Obama joins many recent presidents in actually taking on a speaking role in his own voice. In this incarnation of the Hall of Presidents, he will be joined vocally by “George Washington” and “Abraham Lincoln.” While seeing him in Audioanimatronic form might not be as exciting as meeting him in person, at least you won’t have to go through Secret Service clearance. With the talent of Disney’s Imagineers in recreating lifelike gestures, you might just feel like you’re in the president’s presence.

Above, Imagineer Joe Cutry programs the President in preparation for his debut, which isn’t much more than a month away. He’ll remain in his starring role at the Hall of Presidents for his entire term before giving up the starring role to a future leader.

‘American Idol’ winner is going to Disney World

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kris Allen or Adam Lambert won’t just be crowned the next “American Idol” — one of them is going to Disney World.

Whichever singer wins will shout the famous phrase “I’m going to Disney World!” in a commercial airing after the show’s Wednesday finale. He’ll also croon “When You Wish Upon A Star” in the spot.

Disney said a camera crew will capture the celebratory pronouncement on the Nokia Theatre stage moments after “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest announces the champion’s name. The Fox competition is down to Allen, a 23-year-old college student from Conway, Ark., and Lambert, a 27-year-old theater actor from San Diego.

The “Idol” tie-in relates to the “American Idol” attraction that opened at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. this year.

Last year’s “Idol” winner David Cook starred in a similar commercial. Earlier this year, an attraction based on “Idol” opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Disney licensed the rights to create the attraction, which allows allow guests to audition and perform before a live studio audience, from “Idol” co-producers 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia.

New balloon flies 400 ft. over Downtown Disney

WDW has just launched their newest attraction, located in Downtown Disney. Their 105 foot high “Characters in Flight” balloon will soar 400 feet, carrying up to 30 passengers in its gondola. The balloon was built  by French Balloon maker Aérophile.

When the weather cooperates, passengers will be able to get a 360 degree view for up to 10 miles. The balloon is tethered to a special star shaped landing dock, and a quick mooring system will hopefully keep the lines from getting too long.

Rides on the balloon are $16 for adults and $10 for children (10 and under).

A similar balloon has been soaring over Paris for a decade, and has proven to be a huge success.

Celebrity chef Cat Cora to open new Walt Disney World restaurant

Disney's Boardwalk in Orlando, FL

UPDATE – Kouzzina is opening August 15, 2009. Here’s a link to Disney’s page, which includes menus.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., March 17 /PRNewswire/ — Chef Cat Cora and Disney are joining together to open an exciting new family dining restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Kouzzina by Cat Cora will feature a menu of Mediterranean-style cuisine that pays tribute to the chef’s Greek roots.The restaurant, to be owned and operated by Disney, is scheduled to open by fall 2009 in the space currently occupied by Spoodles.

“I am pleased to welcome Cat Cora and her engaging new concept for Kouzzina to the Walt Disney World Resort,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “This collaboration between Cat and Disney represents a significant step in our ongoing commitment to offer unique culinary experiences and choices for our guests.”

As a Mississippi native born to a family of Greek restaurateurs, Cora grew up immersed in two different and flavorful cultures, and has taken from that unique background the kitchen “know-how” handed down through generations. The cuisine at Kouzzina (Greek for “kitchen” and pronounced “koo-zee-nah”) will showcase Mediterranean cuisine and Chef Cora’s philosophy to create simple yet sensational meals.

Cora said that the new restaurant will feature “time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves.”

She began working with Disney in 2008 by creating a Disney Video on Demand series to showcase ways to help families develop more healthy eating habits. “I’m extremely excited about this latest extension of my relationship with Disney,” she said. “Together, we’re going to develop a truly amazing contemporary Mediterranean restaurant.”

The first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network’s hit show “Iron Chef America,” Cora is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She also is Executive Chef for Bon Appetit magazine. In addition to hosting the instructional cooking demonstrations for Disney Video on Demand, Cora has been a featured chef at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland Resort.

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort

T. Rowe Price to sponsor Epcot exhibit

T. Rowe Price Group is hopping onto a new financial attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida. T. Rowe Price said Monday it will sponsor a new interactive financial education exhibit at Innoventions at Epcot inside Walt Disney World.

The exhibit — The Great Piggy Bank Adventure — is slated to open May 19. The game is designed for a whole family to play.

Once inside the exhibit, visitors set financial goals, learn about savings and work on ways to keep up with the cost of inflation and diversify their investments. “Empowering parents to initiate discussion of the topics of saving and investing with their children is more important than ever before,” said Edward C. Bernard, T. Rowe Price Group vice chairman, in a statement released Monday.

The Baltimore-based money management firm declined to disclose the financial details of the sponsorship.