Disney News and Information — by fans, for fans

Spent the night of July the 3rd at the Magic Kingdom to see their 4th of July Fireworks one night early. For anyone going tonight, you might want to get on the road now to see it yourself. I got some great photos, but there is no way to appreciate this show via photos or video.

The show producer uses fireworks like paint and punctuation and they surround you front, back, and sides with all the pyrotechnics you could possibly fit into 17 minutes. Plus, since its Disney, there’s a great story and fabulous music to go along with it.

I’ve put up a Flickr set with the best shots from last night. If you aren’t going tonight, you’ll at least get a taste of what you’re missing.

The crowds last night were pretty crazy, but Disney had a pretty decent Guest Control plan in place. Where we were, on the Tomorrowland side of the hub, cast members made announcements about how guest control would work between the end of fireworks and the parade, so everyone was aware of where to go.

Basically, everyone in the Magic Kingdom was routed through Fantasyland or Tomorrowland down to where the old Galaxy Theater was located. From there the crowds went backstage into a parking lot and then out into Town Square. Alas, there were still a few bottlenecks, but for the most part, moving bodies around kept traffic flowing between the fireworks and the aprade.

We took our time and wandered around a few stores to let the crowds thin down before before heading out ourselves. A good strategy if you’re going tonight.

The swearing in of new United States Citizens is always an emotional story. But when it happens at at Disney theme park, there is a little extra magic added to the ceremony. This year over 1000 new American citizens were welcomed to the country in a moving ceremony. Then they and their families were the first official audiences to see the newly revised Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

Among those naturalized today were 25 employees of the Walt Disney World resort. Among them was Nicolas Graefe. His story is similar to so many of those who seek US citizenship, but as you might expect, with a Disney twist.

Nicolas (pictured above getting filmed by Disney) lived in Germany when he saw pictures of the 1976 Walt Disney World Parade in a comic book and fell in love with the Disney theme parks. In 1990 he worked at EPCOT as a cultural representative. Then he came back to work for Disney in 1998 when he met his future wife. Now he works for Disney in EPCOT food & beverage. This moment obviously meant quite a bit to Graefe, and he called it “one of his best Disney memories ever.”

After the families had a chance to see the revised Hall Of Presidents, I had a few minutes to speak with Kathy Rogers of Walt Disney Imagineering and Sr. Show Producer for this update. It was a roundtable style interview, so you’ll also hear Leigh Caldwell of Themeparkmom.com and Jeff Kober of MousePlanet.

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I will have more photos and thoughts on the day tomorrow, but now, I’ve gotta run off to the Magic Kingdom to see the Fireworks tonight.

If you’re heading out to your neighborhood fireworks display tomorrow or even one of the Disney parks, you can still sneak in another show by going to SeaWorld Orlando tonight for their special fireworks display. In the above photo technician Andrew Hage checks the connections of several fireworks at the top of SeaWorld’s 400-foot-tall Sky Tower. In the distance is Manta, the park’s all-new flying roller coaster.

SeaWorld Orlando has special fireworks displays this July 4th weekend. The sky-filling displays can be seen at 10:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow.

Photos By: Jason Collier/ Courtesy SeaWorld Orlando

The Independence Day weekend means firework. In Central Florida the place to be is either at the Themeparks or at the Firecracker 400 (now the Coke Zero 400, but whatever). Usually the weekend finds NASCAR drivers out at the theme parks, but not until after the race. This year a few of NASCARs biggest drivers, Kyle Busch and Scott Speed, made a special “pit stop” at Discovery Cove in Orlando.

KYLE BUSCH AND SCOTT SPEED FACE OFF AT DISCOVERY COVE - Leading up to the big race in Daytona, NASCAR drivers and friends Kyle Busch (R) and Scott Speed (L) went head-to-head at Discovery Cove in Orlando on a different kind of vehicle - Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. The drivers also snorkeled with rays and tropical fish, hand-fed exotic birds and relaxed on pristine beaches at the all-inclusive park.

NASCAR’S KYLE BUSCH AND GIRLFRIEND VACATION AT DISCOVERY COVE - NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and his girlfriend enjoyed swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove in Orlando before the big race in Daytona. Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive tropical retreat where guests can swim with dolphins, snorkel among fish and rays, hand-feed exotic birds and relax on pristine beaches.

NASCAR’S SCOTT SPEED AND FIANCÉE VACATION AT DISCOVERY COVE - NASCAR driver Scott Speed and his fiancée got up close and personal with an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Dexter, at Discovery Cove in Orlando. They arrived in town early to relax before the big race in Daytona.

Photos By: Jason Collier/ Courtesy SeaWorld Orlando

Via the Whitehouse.gov blog we get this video of President Barack Obama as he records his speech for the Hall of Presidents attraction that officially reopens on the 4th of July.

I’m guessing President Obama has never been to Walt Disney World since he asks if these are wax figures. I hope he gets a chance to come down to Orlando with his family and see the attraction for himself. It’s pretty powerful, as I said in my review.

I’ll be at the Magic Kingdom tomorrow for a naturalization ceremony for 1000 new American Citizens who will all get a chance to see the new Hall of Presidents attraction. A perfect way to kick off their new lives as citizens of the United States of America.

Disney aficionado Lou Mongello is one of the few fans who have managed to turn their passion for the parks into enough income to support a family. It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving fellow if you ask me. Mongello is so affable that his name has become an informal greeting between Disney fans who encounter each other inside the parks.

Internet Celebrity Robert Scoble has just posted a video interview with Lou Mongello. They talk about Mongello’s love of the parks, how he turned that into his trivia books, wdw radio website and podcasts, and how he works to stay on The Walt Disney Company’s good side.

Congratulations to Mongello, this is a big moment for him to get recognized like the internet media rock star that he is. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

As the areas largest employer Walt Disney World should be expected to contribute back to the community. In many ways the company and its employees go beyond the call of duty and 2008 was no exception. From serving meals to the homeless to coaching Little League, Disney VoluntEARS dedicated a record 204,000 hours in 2008 toward improving the lives of Central Floridians.

This month, Walt Disney World Resort is celebrating and recognizing these efforts by donating nearly $950,000 to local non-profit organizations supported by Disney VoluntEARS.

“The dedication of our Disney VoluntEARS is absolutely inspiring and is truly making a difference,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “I’m extremely proud that our Cast Members make Central Florida a better place for everyone. Their contributions are helping our community during a time when it’s needed most.”

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I’m enjoying the idea from the LA Times’ Dan Fost that Walt Disney was a geek. In an article about the Walt Disney Family Museum Fost identifies Walt’s love of tinkering, appetite for new technologies, and passion for the future as three traits the identify the modern geek.

It leaves me all warm and fuzzy to know I share a trait with Uncle Walt.

(Also you can now follow the Walt Disney Family Museum on facebook)